Global warming is a reality and we are already starting to have shortage of water. We have to be disciplined and conserve water. Here in the USA we have huge lakes practically dried up, and this is NO JOKE! Not all states have sufficient water and rely on other states, what happens when there is not enough????

 

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a beautiful day and spread love and kindness! ❤️❤️❤️

  

The most recognizable church on Anglesey, St. Cwyfan's, is popularly know as the Church in the Sea (or eglwys bach y mor in Welsh). Perched on a tiny island called Cribinau, encircled by a sea wall, this simple medieval church dates to the 12th century. It is thought to be dedicated to the Irish St. Kevin, who founded the monastery across the sea at Glendalough in Co Wicklow, Ireland.

 

It may seem an odd and perilous place to build a church, but it originally stood at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth Cwyfan and Porth China, as shown on John Speed's map of Anglesey from 1636. In the decades after this the sea slowly eroded the coast in the two bays enough that the peninsula was cut off, turning it into an island.

A causeway was built to the island to allow parishioners to get to the island. Its remains are visible in the picture below. However, even with the causeway, sometimes high tides prevented access. At those times services were held in a room in the nearby house, Plas Llangwyfan, which was specially consecrated for the purpose.

 

The waves continued to eat away at the island until, in the late 19th century, some of the graves surrounding the church began to fall into the sea. At this time the church was also disused and roofless, having been replaced by a new church further inland. However, in 1893 local architect Harold Hughes, concerned for the fate of this evocative old church, raised money to save the it by constructing a seawall around the island and restoring the building.

 

Although the church was initially built in the 12th century, only a small portion of the south wall dates from this period. Most of the walls were rebuilt during a 14th century reconstruction. In the early 16th century an aisle was added to the north side, accessed through an arcade of three arches, but it was demolished in the early 19th century as the cliff edge eroded ever closer. The infilled arches can now be seen in the outer wall, after the old cement mortar was removed during refurbishment in 2006. This refurbishment also involved limewashing the walls, making them very white, to the consternation of some locals who were used to the old grey appearance.

 

This tiny church was at the centre of a big controversy in the 18th century. In 1766 the Bishop of Bangor appointed Dr Thomas Bowles as the parish priest of Trefdraeth, which included St. Cwyfan's as a chapelry. Unfortunately Dr Bowles spoke no Welsh, and only five of the 500 parishioners understood English. They protested against his appointment and eventually the case was heard in the ecclesiastical court in 1773. The judge ruled that Bowles should not have been appointed, as Welsh speaking priests should be sent to primarily Welsh speaking parishes. However, once a priest has been granted ecclesiastical freehold of a parish it is very difficult to remove them, so the judge ruled that he should be allowed to stay in his post, which he did until his death later that year.

This Class B building is one of the most recognized on the West Palm Beach skyline," said Ron Kent, senior vice president of Jack Lupo. "It displays architectural charm from another era and is an extremely valuable and prestigious property."

 

At 93,000-square-feet, the building boasts a roster of more than 100 tenants, said Tom Robertson, director, and co-broker at Jack Lupo. "Due to its proximity to the courthouse, it is home to numerous law firms, as well as brokerages and other professional services companies.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.loopnet.com/Listing/224-Datura-St-West-Palm-Beach-FL/...

www.emporis.com/buildings/130878/harvey-building-west-pal...

www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/12/17/daily...

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

 

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Throughout your life people will come and go. Many will mean nothing to you but some will have a profound influence. It may be subtle it may be obvious. You may not understand the lesson at first. It may hit you years later. It may be an important person, or a close relative or friend. A beggar or homeless man that you hand some change to in a brief second. It may be his dirty hand or a glint in his eye that you remember. It may be a word or a speech you have listened to. But if you look carefully at this person and listen for that voice inside, the one that guides you the one that matters, there in lies a truth a life lesson. This is a saint. Sent to you for a reason, they are there to teach you something. Don’t falter. Don’t rush by too fast, still the moment even if only briefly. Absorb, learn and go forward. These are blessings in disguise. This is recognizing your saints.

  

Picture is of a man who lives in an insane asylum on an island in the Mediterranean. He spotted me and my camera, jumped up from his bench in the court yard and grabbed at my shirt, tugging at it, begging me to take his picture. I smiled and said ok. He ran over to the wall and said ‘here, take it here’. He stood up so proud and stared straight. I took his picture and told him I would be back next year and he would have it then. Promise. I did go back. Asked the aids where this man in my picture was. They pointed to a room upstairs, said he never leaves it now. He saw me enter his dark room and recognized me even after a year had passed. He asked if I brought the picture said he was waiting a long time. I said to him a year is not that long and a promise is a promise. He could not move much. Reached for the photo, smiled and set it by his small night stand. He told me he was dying of cancer and had not long to live. He told me I had made him happy and would look at that photo and smile at how he use to be. He thanked me. I left.

I then knew that when he died someone would place that photo into his coffin. I knew then how important my work could be. Recognize your saints.

 

SS

 

Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portugese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

 

The fort has a colourful history, the Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble” which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

 

The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle", withstood the Boxing Day Tsunami which damaged part of coastal area of Galle city. It has been since restored. The Galle Fort also houses the elite Amangalla resort hotel, located near the Dutch Reformed Church. It was originally built in 1684 to house the Dutch Governor and his staff. It was then converted into a hotel and named then as the New Oriental Hotel in 1865, which catered to the European passengers traveling between Europe and Galle Port in the 19th century.

  

Eventhough the gayfeathers have finished blooming weeks ago, they still are artistic with the back lighting.

Circle Dance: Shinnecock Reservation, L.I., NY: Labour Day Pow Wow, September 2006.

 

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Shinnecock Tribe

Rte 27-A, Montauk Hwy

Southhampton, NY 111968

631-283-6143

State recognized; (no BIA office liason - seriously ridiculous!)

 

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Shinnecock Indian Nation: An Ancient History and Culture.

 

Since the beginning, Shinnecock time has been measured in moons and seasons, and the daily lives of our people revolved around the land and the waters surrounding it. Our earliest history was oral, passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, and as far back as our collective memory can reach, we are an Algonquin people who have forever lived along the shores of Eastern Long Island.

 

Scientists say we came here on caribou hunts when the land was covered with ice. But our creation story says we were born here; that we are the human children of the goddess who descended from the sky. It was she, the story goes, who caused the land to form beneath her feet from the back of Great Turtle, deer to spring forth from her fingertips; bear to roar into awakening, wolf to prowl on the first hunt. It was she who filled the sky with birds, made the land to blossom and the ponds and bays to fill with fish and mollusks. And when all was done, the Shinnecock, the People of the Shore, appeared in this lush terrain. We are still here.

 

As coastal dwellers, we continue to prize the bounty of the sea, the shellfish, the scaly fish, which for thousands of years provided the bulk of our diet. We were whalers, challenging the mighty Atlantic from our dugout canoes long before the arrival of the big ships, long before the whaling industry flourished in the 19th century.

 

In the 1700's, we became noted among the northeastern coastal tribes for our fine beads made from the Northern quahog clam and whelk shells. The Dutch, who arrived on our shores before the English, turned our beads (wampum) into the money system for the colonies.

 

The Shinnecock Nation is among the oldest self-governing tribes of Indians in the United States and has been a state-recognized tribe for over 200 years. In 1978, we applied for Federal Recognition, and in 2003, we were placed on the Bureau of Indian Affairs' "Ready for Active" list.

 

Traditionally, decisions concerning the welfare of the tribe were made by consensus of adult male members. Seeking to shortcut the consensus process in order to more easily facilitate the acquisition of Indian lands, the Town of Southampton devised a three member trustee system for the Shinnecock people. This system of tribal government was approved by the New York State legislature in February of 1792. Since April 3, 1792, Shinnecock Indians have gone to the Southampton Town Hall the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April to elect three tribal members to serve a one- year term as Trustees. In April of 2007, the Shinnecock Indian Nation exercised its sovereign right as an ancient Indian Nation and returned to one of its basic Traditions: it bypassed the Southampton Town Hall and for the first time since 1792 held its leadership elections at home, where they will remain.

 

The Trustee system, however, did not then and does not now circumvent the consensus process, which still remains the governing process of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Major decisions concerning the tribe are voted yea or nay by all eligible adult members, including women, who gained the right to vote in the mid-1990s. Also in that period, the Shinnecock Nation installed a Tribal Council, a 13 member body elected for two years terms. The Council is an advisory body to the Board of Trustees.

 

Today, we number over 1300 people, more than 600 of whom reside on the reservation adjacent to the Town of Southampton on the East End of Long Island. While our ancestral lands have dwindled over the centuries from a territory stretching at least from what is known today as the Town of Easthampton and westward to the eastern border of the Town of Brookhaven, we still hold on to approximately 1200 acres.

 

With modest resources, we have managed to build a community to help us better meet the demands of an ever expanding and intrusive world. In addition to the Shinnecock Presbyterian church building and its Manse, our infrastructure includes a tribal community center, a shellfish hatchery, a health and dental center, a family preservation and Indian education center, a museum, and playgrounds for our children. Also on our list of recent achievements is the design and development of an official Shinnecock Indian Nation flag and an official seal.

 

Our skilled craftspeople and fine artists find employment within the Tribe as well as the surrounding area. The number of tribal members holding advanced degrees in law, business, medicine, social sciences and liberal arts continues to grow, and tribal members hold positions of responsibility in all areas, including teaching, banking and counseling, both within and outside the Shinnecock community.

 

One of the earliest forms of economic development that the Shinnecock Nation undertook was to lease Reservation acreage to local area farmers for their crops, mainly potatoes and corn. While the project did bring in a small income for the Tribe, the resulting damages from pesticides leaking into the ground water and polluting our drinking water supply were enormous. We had great expectations for our shellfish hatchery (Oyster Project) but brown tide and general pollution forced it to close before it had the chance to develop into the business enterprise it was planned to be. In the summer of 2005, the Tribe began reseeding parts of its waterways with oysters, and celebrated a renewal harvest of Shinnecock chunkoo oysters at the Tribal Thanksgiving Dinner, November 2006.

 

At the present moment, the Shinnecock annual Powwow is the economic development project of record for the Shinnecock Nation. Revived in 1946 as a benefit for our church, the Powwow has evolved into an event that hosts thousands of visitors. But we are at the mercy of the weather. For the past two years, rainstorms have forced us to drastically revise our budgeting plans. We are now exploring Indian Gaming as a means of attaining the much needed self-sufficiency that will enable us to perform the sacred duties laid out for us by the Ancestors — to protect, manage and maintain the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

 

By Bevy Deer Jensen

Shinnecock Nation Communications Officer

 

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For more information on the Shinnecock Nation, please visit: www.shinnecocknation.com/

 

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photography: a. golden, eyewash design, c. 2006.

 

Pine siskins (Spinus pinus) are migratory finches, known for their recognizable streaks and slender bills which separate them from American sparrows and other similar sized finches. With an outstanding power to thrive in the winter, Pine Siskins often fly in flocks. This nomadic finch ranges widely and erratically across the continent each winter in response to seed crops. Better suited to clinging to branch tips than to hopping along the ground, these brown-streaked acrobats flash yellow wing markings as they flutter while feeding or as they explode into flight. The Pine Siskin is the most common of the "winter finches" to be found at your feeders. These birds will readily visit yards where an adequate food supply can be found. Backyard birders who offer nyjer seed in tube, sock, or platform feeders, as well as offering black oil sunflower seed and a source of fresh water, will frequently be visited by pine siskins. These birds may also nibble at suet feeders. Yards with seed-bearing flowers will also be attractive to pine siskins. Pine Siskins have difficulty opening the large striped sunflower seeds, so they may hang around whole sunflower seed feeders if heavier-billed birds are messy eaters and drop seed bits.

 

Click on the link below to explore your options. Select from fine art prints, canvas, acrylic or metal prints for your home or office. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on updates, sales, and new blog posts.

www.cuttsnaturephotography.com

The Supermarine Spitfire is probably one of the most recognizable and iconic aircraft in history, with a total production number of 20 351. As I have always been fond of it, I decided to give it a try, even though it is my very first propeller aircraft model.

 

About the aircraft

The history of the Spitfire started in 1934, with the first flight of the famous K5054 prototype taking place on 5th March 1936. After the initial delays, the first Spitfire Mk. Is started to reach the operational units in 1938, and since then the type became a stronghold of RAF fighter forces, with a number of substantial improvements being introduced over the whole duration of WWII. Most of these improvements were directly correlated with the development of another icon, the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Consequently, 3 generations of Spitfires are commonly recognized: early Merlins (Merlins with a single-stage supercharger, Spitfires Mk. I, II, III, V, VI, and PR XIII), late Merlins (60 and 70 series Merlins with a two-stage supercharger, Spitfires Mk. VII – IX, PR X, PR XI, and Mk. XVI), and the last generation utilizing more powerful and heavier Rolls-Royce Griffon (Mk. IV, XII, XIV, XVIII, PR XIX, XX, 21-24). Among all those Marks, the Mk. IX and XVI were by far the most numerous, and their introduction was a major step in RAF’s capabilities. The idea for Mk. IX came out of necessity, as after the introduction of Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in late 1941 it became obvious that the then-standard Spitfire Mk. V was no match for the newest Luftwaffe addition. As the two-stage Merlin 61 became available, the Supermarine proposed to address this issue with an interim Mk. IX variant, which was basically Mk. V airframe fitted with the new engine. At the beginning, it was planned as just a short-term fix, with the revised Mk. VIII being the “ultimate” late-Merlin variant. However, the Mk. IX proved to be so successful that there was no point in disturbing its production lines, and it remained in production until the end of the war with constant upgrades being added (e.g. Merlin 66 engine). An interesting twist in the history of the Mk. IX is the Mk. XVI variant, which even though gained a new Mark number, differed only by the fact that instead of the British-built Merlin 66, its US licensed-built Packard Merlin 266 variant was utilized.

 

About the building process

The Spitfire is my very first propeller-driven aircraft, and it was basically an accident that I even started it. I was playing with some trans-clear canopy solutions and after one of the attempts I thought “Well, this looks like a Spitfire canopy”. As it turned out, it was perfectly scaled to my favorite 1:33 scale, so I had no choice but to continue. Still, the idea to make a WWII fighter was not new to me, as for years I’ve been a great fan of a number of different designs by other builders, so I’ve always wanted to have one for myself. As the Spitfire is an extremely common topic, it is impossible to mention all my inspirations. Still, by far the most prominent one was the Spitfire Mk. IX by Ed Diment, which even utilizes the same scale as mine. Another big inspiration was a much bigger Spitfire Mk. I by Lennart Cort. In fact, I had a very hard time deciding on the scale, as his 1:18 Spitfire looks so amazing it gave me second thoughts. Other, smaller designs, which were extremely useful for me, were the Spits by Dierett89, Sydag, BuildArmy, and picardbricks. As I mentioned before, the first part I got together was the canopy, followed by the engine section. Then, I got stuck a bit with the wings, as I really wanted to include the dihedral on them. Finally, I was able to slightly minimize the solution proposed by Nick Goodwin, which fitted nicely with the rest of the plane. The shape of the wings was also a bit painful to get right, but as I decided to go for the “clipped” wings, I didn’t have to make them fully elliptical, which made it much easier. The rest of the fuselage was quite easy. A big challenge overall was the very disappointing variety of dark green pieces, which I had to compensate for with the extensive amount of stickers. Here, the solution proposed by Maks in his Su-24

turned out to be very handy – I just had to use an awful lot of stickers from 76907 Lotus Evija set. I must say that the results look surprisingly good, as the colors match perfectly.

 

About the model

The model represents a Supermarine Spitfire LF. Mk.XVIe in a 1/33 scale. The camouflage is based on the aircraft currently stored in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. It was produced in 1944 and served in the 421 Squadron of the Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1956 it was moved to the RAF museum in Hendon, having a short episode in the 1967 Battle of Britain film. Since 1977 it has been in the possession of the Polish Aviation Museum, where currently it is presented in the camouflage of the Polish 308 Squadron as TB995 ZF-O. The original aircraft of this designation was delivered to 308 Sqn. on 15th March of 1945, and the Squadron was mainly involved in the anti-V1 and V2 operations. As the Mk. XVI was introduced in 1944, there are so misconceptions about its configuration. Similarly to what happened to P-51 Mustang, the late Spitfire variants were fitted with the teardrop “bubble” canopy. Even though it was used in a number of different Marks, including Mk. IX, it is most commonly associated with Mk. XVI, as due to the shorter production, a much higher percentage of them received this upgrade. Still, the “razorback” Mk. XVIs were also quite common, being virtually indistinguishable from the standard Mk. IXs, which is the case for the TB995 ZF-O. As the model is significantly smaller than my usual jets, I wasn’t able to include as many working features as usual. Still, it has movable flaps, a working tail, and working landing gear.

  

Bdrc

The most recognizable monuments of Pisa, and one of the most famous landmarks.

 

Pisa Cathedral - a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli.

 

Pisa Baptistery - a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building. It became the second building, in chronological order, in the Piazza dei Miracoli, near the Duomo di Pisa and the cathedral's free-standing campanile, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 

| 500px | Instagram |

 

You may recognize this bike from last summer's photo!! =)

 

Focus 52 | Week Twenty-Three | Down Low | Blogged!!!

Recognize the Risen Son through your tears?

 

I took this Easter morning in a moment of inspiration, with this scripture in mind:

"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-boni!" (which means Teacher).

Tobia (10 months old) is son of Costantino aka "Constantine The Great"

 

He is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog, a water dog.

This is the only breed of dog that is officially recognized as specialized in truffle hunting.

This Class B building is one of the most recognized on the West Palm Beach skyline," said Ron Kent, senior vice president of Jack Lupo. "It displays architectural charm from another era and is an extremely valuable and prestigious property."

 

At 93,000-square-feet, the building boasts a roster of more than 100 tenants, said Tom Robertson, director, and co-broker at Jack Lupo. "Due to its proximity to the courthouse, it is home to numerous law firms, as well as brokerages and other professional services companies.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.loopnet.com/Listing/224-Datura-St-West-Palm-Beach-FL/...

www.emporis.com/buildings/130878/harvey-building-west-pal...

www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/12/17/daily...

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

 

The recognizable, bright orange tail cone of a Firefly regional airline's ATR 72-600 turboprop. I photographed this shot as I disembarked from the aircraft.

 

Actually, "Now Everyone Can Fly" is Air Asia's marketing slogan but I thought it would be an apt title for this image. 😀

Recognized by their white, papery bark, Silver Birch trees are found throughout Scotland’s wooded countryside and boggy moors. These delicate, yet hardy trees reminded me of my beloved aspen back home, and provided a nice foreground element to the Highland mountains beyond and one of the only colorful sunrises during our trip to Wester Ross.

www.optimalfocusphotography.com

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Recognizing very few plants, I bought a copy of Zoe Devlin's "The wildflowers of Ireland" (a wonderfully thorough guide). I believe that this is Red Valerian. This plant was growing out of old stone walls everywhere. It is an introduced species, not sure from where. With it's mild climate and regular rainfall, Ireland sometimes has problems with introduced species becoming very comfortable in thier new home.

A not very well known Victorian house nestled in the picturesque Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto. It is referred by some as the "Witch House" due to a previous owner placing a papier mâché witch in the window during the 1990's. Constructed 1866.

 

"Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood in central Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Administratively, it is defined as part of the Cabbagetown-South St. Jamestown neighbourhood. It largely features semi-detached Victorian houses and is recognized as "the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in all of North America", according to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association.

 

Cabbagetown's name derives from the Irish immigrants who moved to the neighbourhood beginning in the late 1840s, said to have been so poor that they grew cabbage in their front yards. Canadian writer Hugh Garner's novel, Cabbagetown, depicted life in the neighbourhood during the Great Depression.

 

The area today known as Cabbagetown was first known as the village of Don Vale, just outside Toronto. Before the 1850s it consisted of farmland dotted with cottages and vegetable plots. It grew up in the 1840s around the Winchester Street Bridge, which before the construction of the Prince Edward Viaduct was the main northern bridge over the Don River. This was near the site where Castle Frank Brook flowed in the Don River. By the bridge the Don Vale Tavern and Fox's Inn were established to cater to travellers. In 1850 the Toronto Necropolis was established in the area as the city's main cemetery.

 

In the late 19th century the area was absorbed into the city. It became home to the working class Irish inhabitants who were employed in the industries along the lake shore to the south in Corktown. Brick Victorian-style houses were built throughout the area. The name Cabbagetown purportedly came from stories of new Macedonian and Irish immigrants digging up their front lawns and planting cabbage. In this era the Cabbagetown name most often applied to the area south of Gerrard Street, with the part to the north still being called Don Vale. It was a working-class neighbourhood, with approximately 50% of the residents renting houses. It reached its peak of prosperity just before the First World War, which is from when many of the brick homes in the area date. The various architectural styles visible in the neighborhood range from Second-Empire to Bay-n-Gable and High Victorian Terraces, with excellent examples being Francis Shields' House at 377 Sackville St.

 

After the war the area became increasingly impoverished. A large number of poorer residents moved in, many resorting to share one house among multiple families. The nineteenth-century brick houses began deteriorating and, as landlords saw less value in the neighbourhood, they were not maintained. It became known as one of Toronto's largest slums and much of the original Cabbagetown was razed in the late 1940s to make room for the Regent Park housing project. A new immigrant influx also lead to the beginning of ethnic diversity in the neighbourhood. The remaining section to the north, then still known as Don Vale, was also slated to be cleared and replaced by housing projects. In 1964 a Toronto Star writer wrote that "Cabbagetown has become a downhill ride and if you're on way up, you don't dare stay there for long unless you live in Regent Park."

 

The construction of new housing projects was halted in the 1970s. In Don Mount this effort was led by Karl Jaffary, who was elected to city council in the 1969 municipal election along with a group of like-minded councillors who opposed sweeping urban renewal plans. John Sewell led the effort to preserve Trefann Court, which covered the southern section of the original Cabbagetown. A bylaw was approved in the 1970s to ban any building higher than four storeys, in reaction to the high density high-rises being built in neighbouring St. James Town.

 

Cabbagetown was gentrified by affluent professionals, beginning in the 1970s. Many residents restored small Victorian row houses and became community activists. Darrell Kent, a resident and local businessman, is recognized by the community as having been the driving force behind the restoration of many of the area’s beautiful and unique Victorian houses. As Kent was a gay real estate agent, gay men and some lesbians made up the earliest gentrifying groups of Cabbagetown. They are still a significant part of the population today, and the area is considered queer friendly.

 

In 1983 the Globe and Mail wrote,

 

Cabbagetown is probably the epitome of successful labelling. The core of the area—generally defined as being bounded by Parliament, Wellesley and Dundas Streets and the Don Valley—was once Toronto's skid row. Today, about a decade after the area was invaded by young professionals, speculators and real estate agents, there are still a few derelicts around to give the area colour. The houses, meanwhile, sell for upward of $200,000.

 

35 years after that article was written, most homes in the area sell for well over $1 million.

 

Vestiges of a 1960s, counter-culture ambiance remain at vintage clothing stores, health food stores and a gestalt therapy clinic. A Victorian farm, once the site of a zoo, is located adjacent to Riverdale Park West, where a weekly farmer's market is held. A short distance away is the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, home of the Cabbagetown Boxing Club, a reminder of an earlier, and rougher, past. In recent years, some businesses from the nearby "gay village" of Church and Wellesley, have relocated to the area, attracted by cheaper commercial rents.

 

Despite gentrification, residents from public housing projects and affluent home owners mingle at a discount supermarket and a community medical clinic. Panhandling and drug-dealing are part of the urban landscape; so are gourmet shops, upscale boutiques and arts festivals, book launches and wine-tastings at local restaurants. Paradoxically,

 

The Gerrard and Parliament neighbourhood, located near Dundas and Sherbourne Streets, has the largest concentration of homeless shelters and drop-in centres in Canada. The area is also distinguished by a large number of rooming houses and other forms of low-income housing.

 

Toronto (/təˈrɒntoʊ/, locally /təˈrɒnoʊ/) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,731,571 in 2016, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anchor of the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration of 9,245,438 people (as of 2016) surrounding the western end of Lake Ontario, while the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) proper had a 2016 population of 6,417,516. Toronto is an international centre of business, finance, arts, and culture, and is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

 

People have travelled through and inhabited the Toronto area, located on a broad sloping plateau interspersed with rivers, deep ravines, and urban forest, for more than 10,000 years. After the broadly disputed Toronto Purchase, when the Mississauga surrendered the area to the British Crown, the British established the town of York in 1793 and later designated it as the capital of Upper Canada. During the War of 1812, the town was the site of the Battle of York and suffered heavy damage by American troops. York was renamed and incorporated in 1834 as the city of Toronto. It was designated as the capital of the province of Ontario in 1867 during Canadian Confederation. The city proper has since expanded past its original borders through both annexation and amalgamation to its current area of 630.2 km2 (243.3 sq mi).

 

The diverse population of Toronto reflects its current and historical role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada. More than 50 percent of residents belong to a visible minority population group, and over 200 distinct ethnic origins are represented among its inhabitants. While the majority of Torontonians speak English as their primary language, over 160 languages are spoken in the city.

 

Toronto is a prominent centre for music, theatre, motion picture production, and television production, and is home to the headquarters of Canada's major national broadcast networks and media outlets. Its varied cultural institutions, which include numerous museums and galleries, festivals and public events, entertainment districts, national historic sites, and sports activities, attract over 43 million tourists each year. Toronto is known for its many skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, the CN Tower.

 

The city is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the headquarters of Canada's five largest banks, and the headquarters of many large Canadian and multinational corporations. Its economy is highly diversified with strengths in technology, design, financial services, life sciences, education, arts, fashion, aerospace, environmental innovation, food services, and tourism." - info from Wikipedia.

 

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The Statue of Liberty is an icon, a national treasure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Each year millions who cherish her ideals make the journey to experience her history and grandeur in person. She is the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope.

The Statue of Liberty was built in France between 1875 and 1884. The 225 Ton statue was disassembled and shipped to New York City in 1885. The statue was reassembled on Liberty Island in 1886, although the torch has been redesigned or restored several times since its installation. The statue would undergo many changes and improvements over the years. In 1907, the first elevator was installed inside it, and in 1916, it was illuminated for the first time after being converted to electric power. It would go dark for two years during World War II, due to blackout regulations. The torch was replaced entirely in the 1980s.

In 1865 Frenchman , a political intellectual , Édouard de Laboulaye proposed the idea of presenting a monumental gift from the people of France to the people of The United States. Sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi was in attendance for Laboulaye’s proclamation. Of like mind with Laboulaye’s cause, Bartholdi began conceptualizing the colossal structure that would soon be known as Liberty Enlightening the World. Bartholdi was designing the Statue, he also took a trip to the United States in 1871. During the trip, Bartholdi selected Bedloe's Island as the site for the Statue. Although the island was small, it was visible to every ship entering New York Harbor, which Bartholdi viewed as the "gateway to America.

 

A huge amount of cash was required to build her. The Fund raising process begun. Despite these efforts, fundraising for the pedestal went slowly. To spark public action, in 1885, Joseph Pulitzer placed an ad in his paper the New York World inviting readers to donate to the cause. In exchange, Pulitzer printed each donor’s name in the newspaper. The public rose to the challenge with 120,000 people donating over $100,000 and securing the remaining funds needed for the Statue’s pedestal.

 

In 1876, French artisans and craftsmen began constructing the Statue in France under Bartholdi's direction. The arm holding the torch was completed in 1876 and shown at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The head and shoulders were completed in 1878 and displayed at the Paris Universal Exposition. The entire Statue was completed and assembled in Paris between 1881 and 1884. Also in 1884, construction on the pedestal began in the United States.

After the Statue was presented to Levi P Morton, the U.S. minister to France, on July 4, 1884 in Paris, it was disassembled and shipped to the United States aboard the French Navy ship, Isère. The Statue arrived in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885, and was met with great fanfare. Unfortunately, the pedestal for the Statue was not yet complete and the entire structure was not reassembled on Bedloe's Island until 1886.

 

Once the pedestal was completed in 1886, the Statue was reassembled with surprising speed by a fearless construction crew - many of whom were new immigrants. The first piece of the Statue to be reconstructed was Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel's iron framework. The rest of the Statue's elements followed without the use of scaffolding - all construction materials were hoisted up by steam driven cranes and derricks. In order to sculpt the Statue's skin Eiffel used the repoussé technique developed by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. This technique was the process of molding light-weight copper sheets by hammering them onto the Statue's hallowed wooden framework. Although Fort Wood remained on Bedloe's Island, it was not an obstacle in the design, construction, or reassembly of the Statue of Liberty. Instead, the star-shaped structure became a part of the Statue's base - the pedestal sits within its walls.

It was inaugurated on Oct. 28, 1886 with a ceremony presided by President Grover Cleveland and accompanied by a water parade of about 300 vessels. Cleveland saluted Bartholdi, the sculptor, as “the greatest man in America today.” The day's wet and foggy weather did not stop some one million New Yorkers from turning out to cheer for The Statue of Liberty. Parades on land and sea honored the Statue while flags and music filled the air and the official dedication took place beneath the colossus "glistening with rain." When it was time for Bartholdi to release the tricolor French flag that veiled Liberty's face, a roar of guns, whistles, and applause sounded.

 

The Statue of Liberty was designated a National Monument in 1924 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. In 1956, Bedloe’s Island was renamed Liberty Island by a joint resolution in Congress.

 

Detailed information collected from internet.

Shot with Nikon Z7 and Nikon 24-70, from a boat in evening.

Posted on 2024 Election date 05 November 2024.

 

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Perry is proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South cozily nestled along Florida's Nature Coast. We are a family friendly community in which to raise your children, work, or simply to stop by and visit. Our historic downtown is lined with friendly home town shops and features our recently restored steam locomotive era train station. Perry is a full-service, low cost place to call home.

 

The City has been honored to receive the highest national financial reporting award for twenty years in a row. Our taxes are lower than over 170 other cities in Florida. We are home to an "A" scholastically rated high school. We have a variety of festivals throughout the year highlighted by the Florida Forest Festival which includes the "World's Largest Free Fish Fry." Some of the finest fresh and saltwater fishing (including scalloping) is centered here.

 

Hunters come from all over to experience prime Nature Coast hunting. Many freshwater springs, including the world's largest, are just minutes away. The area's economy is diverse with both manufacturing and agricultural employment opportunities. Our state of the art hospital recently opened a multi-million dollar medical arts facility. We welcome you to learn more, come visit, and experience family friendly Perry!

 

Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead. It is not known how this name was chosen. In 1875 the name was changed to Perrytown after Madison Stark Perry, Florida's fourth Governor. Later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

 

The City of Perry is the only incorporated city in Taylor County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. The City's population as of 2004 was estimated to be 6,703. (U. S. Census Bureau)

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.cityofperry.net/

Perry is proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South cozily nestled along Florida's Nature Coast. We are a family friendly community in which to raise your children, work, or simply to stop by and visit. Our historic downtown is lined with friendly home town shops and features our recently restored steam locomotive era train station. Perry is a full-service, low cost place to call home.

 

The City has been honored to receive the highest national financial reporting award for twenty years in a row. Our taxes are lower than over 170 other cities in Florida. We are home to an "A" scholastically rated high school. We have a variety of festivals throughout the year highlighted by the Florida Forest Festival which includes the "World's Largest Free Fish Fry." Some of the finest fresh and saltwater fishing (including scalloping) is centered here.

 

Hunters come from all over to experience prime Nature Coast hunting. Many freshwater springs, including the world's largest, are just minutes away. The area's economy is diverse with both manufacturing and agricultural employment opportunities. Our state of the art hospital recently opened a multi-million dollar medical arts facility. We welcome you to learn more, come visit, and experience family friendly Perry!

 

Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead. It is not known how this name was chosen. In 1875 the name was changed to Perrytown after Madison Stark Perry, Florida's fourth Governor. Later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

 

The City of Perry is the only incorporated city in Taylor County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. The City's population as of 2004 was estimated to be 6,703. (U. S. Census Bureau)

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.cityofperry.net/

Together we’re building a new identity ecosystem, a globally recognized universal biometric ID blockchain system. It will be a biometric smartchip ID that will be tracked worldwide by AI to solve the 17 sustainable development goals.

 

The Mark of the Beast is a Certification Mark of authentication (the new global standard), affirming that all who are involved with this new global biometric digital ID blockchain are compliant with the core principles of the 17 Sustainable Development goals, which have been adopted by all the United Nations Member States. No one will be able to buy or sell or do anything in society without this Certification Mark. This Mark will now become mandatory for all. Without it, you will be arrested.

 

Through the means of a microchip implant we will be able to eradicate human trafficking (we cause the crisis, and then we offer you the solution). Every kind of supposed virtuous cause will be exploited to promote the 666 Beastchip. Climate change…take the smartchip…blah, blah, blah. Refugees…take the smartchip…blah, blah, blah. Human rights…take the smartchip…blah, blah, blah. Fight poverty…take the smartchip…blah, blah, blah. For the sake of equality, inclusiveness, and sustainability…take the smartchip…blah, blah, blah.

 

www.accenture.com/us-en/services/blockchain/digital-identity

 

There are only six original covered bridges remaining today in the State of Illinois. Perhaps the most recognizable one is the Red Covered Bridge.

 

This one-lane Howe through truss bridge was built in 1863 at a cost of $3,148.57. Spanning 95 feet across the Bureau Creek on the Old Dad Joe Trail (TR 246), the Red Covered Bridge is located in Bureau County less than a mile north of Princeton, Illinois. The bridge is situated on what was known as the Galena Trail, which was the first state road in Northern Illinois. It connected the City of Peoria on the Illinois River with the lead-mining town of Galena in the northwestern corner of the state, and ran straight through the town of Princeton where Main Street is located today. The bridge underwent renovations in 1973. Amazingly, it is still open to traffic!

 

The decision to cover the bridge was made so that livestock would not become frighten as they crossed over the river. A sign above the entry on each end warns travelers: “FIVE DOLLARS FINE FOR DRIVING MORE THAN TWELVE HORSES MULES OR CATTLE AT ANY TIME OR FOR LEADING ANY BEAST FASTER THAN A WALK ON OR ACROSS THIS BRIDGE.”

 

The bridge is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is considered the symbol of Bureau County, Illinois.

 

© All rights reserved - - No Usage Allowed in Any Form Without the Written Consent of the photographer, Mark S. Schuver.

 

The best way to view my photostream is on Flickriver: <a href="http://www.flickriver.com/photos/nikon66/"

FABBRY FACTORY

Universally recognized as having "invented" amarena cherries and fruit syrups, Fabbri's story is one in which the protagonists are the men and women who, over the last century, have helped to make the company an international success and to promote Italian quality throughout the world.

There are many ways to tell a story. We have decided to place people and their experiences at the heart of ours, because Fabbri’s story is one in which the protagonists are the men and women who, over the last century, have helped to make the company an international success and to promote Italian quality throughout the world.

 

Gennaro Fabbri gave the first blue and white jar in Fabbri’s history to his wife, Rachele, as a sign of his love and his appreciation for having created her amarena-cherry recipe. But little did he know that that one small gesture would have given the world the joy of such a unique flavor for many generations to come.

 

Fabbri 1905, History

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR6eVq9gfOQ

www.fabbri1905.com/en/480/history

 

Fabbri recipes

www.fabbri1905.com/en

 

The syrup you see on my photo is made with

6 parts of water

1 part of "amarena Fabbri" syrup

 

"Panettone"

is the typical Christmas cake in Italy, has its origins in Milan

and this "panettone" you see in the photo has inside Amarena Fabbri.... wood, delicious with cream....

enjoy......

  

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“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera…

  

they are made with the eye, heart and head.”

  

[Henry Cartier Bresson]

  

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Please don't use any of my images on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.

  

© All rights reserved

The Pagoda is one of the most recognizable structures at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in worldwide motorsports.

The current Pagoda was built during the massive construction project from 1998-2000 at IMS that included the original, 2.605-mile road course, Formula One-style pit side garages and media center. The Pagoda towers in its magnificence centered on the start-finish line. It has nine tiers or viewing levels and reaches a height of 153 feet, equal to a 13-story building. The flagpole on top extends to 199 feet. The glass panels facing the main straightaway were built in England.

 

Housed in the new Pagoda are state-of-the-art facilities for race control, safety, timing and scoring and radio broadcast booths. Behind the new Pagoda tower is the Pagoda Plaza area, a focal point for spectators who wish to take a break from viewing the on-track action.

 

The Pagoda Plaza is fully landscaped with grass and a brick walkway shaped like the oval. A 36-inch strip of bricks runs from the track’s start/finish line, underneath the Pagoda tower and into the middle of the plaza. Large video screens show on-track action and messages. The area is an ideal location for spectators and families to relax.

 

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an automobile racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon 200, and formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix. It is located on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, approximately six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis.

 

Constructed in 1909, it is the second purpose-built, banked oval racing circuit after Brooklands and the first to be called a 'speedway'. It is the third-oldest permanent automobile race track in the world, behind Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile. With a permanent seating capacity of 257,325, it is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.

 

Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its construction. It has two 5⁄8-mile-long (1,000 m) straightaways, four geometrically identical 1⁄4-mile (400 m) turns, connected by two 1⁄8-mile (200 m) short straightaways, termed "short chutes", between turns 1 and 2, and between turns 3 and 4.

 

A modern, FIA Grade One infield road course was completed in 2000, incorporating part of the oval, including the main stretch and the southeast turn, measuring 2.605 mi (4.192 km). In 2008, and again in 2014, the road course layout was modified to accommodate motorcycle racing, as well as to improve competition. Altogether, the current grounds have expanded from an original 320 acres (1.3 km2) on which the speedway was first built to cover an area of over 559 acres (2.3 km2). Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, it is the only such site to be affiliated with automotive racing history.

 

In addition to the Indianapolis 500, the speedway also hosts NASCAR's Verizon 200 and Pennzoil 150. From 2000 to 2007, the speedway hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and from 2008 to 2015 the Moto GP.

 

On the grounds of the speedway is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, which opened in 1956, and houses the Hall of Fame. The museum moved into its current building located in the infield in 1976. Also on the grounds is the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort, which originally opened as the Speedway Golf Course in 1929. The golf course has 14 holes outside the track, along the backstretch, and four holes in the infield. The site is among the most visited attractions in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, with 1 million guests annually. The speedway has served as the venue for the opening ceremonies for the 1987 Pan American Games. The track is nicknamed "The Brickyard" (see below), and the garage area is known as Gasoline Alley.

 

On November 4, 2019, Hulman & Company announced the sale of its company, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IndyCar Series and associated enterprises to Penske Corporation, owned by Roger Penske.

 

(Wikipedia)

Ten subspecies are currently recognized, although the reproductive isolation mechanisms such as vocalization and geographic distributions of these populations still remain to be studied:

 

H. l. psaroides - Vigors, 1831: Originally described as a separate species. Found along the Himalayas from the Kunar Valley (north-eastern Afghanistan) and northern Pakistan through Arunachal Pradesh (northern India) and the central Himalayas to north-western Myanmar

Assam black bulbul (H. l. nigrescens) - Baker, ECS, 1917: Found in Assam and Manipur (north-eastern India), and the Chin Hills (western Myanmar)

Burmese black bulbul (H. l. concolor) - Blyth, 1849: Originally described as a separate species. Found from eastern Myanmar and southern Yunnan (southern China) through Indochina

H. l. ambiens - (Mayr, 1942): Found in north-eastern Myanmar and western Yunnan (southern China)

H. l. sinensis - (La Touche, 1922): Found in northern Yunnan (southern China)

H. l. stresemanni - (Mayr, 1942): Members of this race have white heads. Found in central Yunnan (southern China)

H. l. leucothorax - (Mayr, 1942): Members of this race have white heads. Found in central China

H. l. leucocephalus - (Gmelin, JF, 1789): Members of this race have white heads. Found in south-eastern China

H. l. nigerrimus - (Gould, 1863): Originally described as a separate species. Found in Taiwan

H. l. perniger - Swinhoe, 1870: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Hainan (off south-eastern China)

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"I don't recognize the distinction between nature poetry and, what would be the other thing? Human civilization poetry? We are creatures of the earth who build our elaborate cities and beavers are creatures of the earth who build their elaborate lodges and canal operations and dams, just as we do. The human is unique in that it's taken over, but that's no reason to say that the human is of a different kind, a kind created in the image of some god while all the others are created in the image of mere lumps of dirt. . . . Poems about other creatures may have political and social implications for us."

Galway Kinnell (1927 - )

 

The Union Canal in Edinburgh at sunset.

 

Best Viewed Large On Black

 

Union Canal, Polwarth, Edinburgh [?]

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“pain and love have no borders,

even if we raise walls not to see the pain

and we put boundaries to not recognize love.”

 

(Enzo Bianchi)

 

“il dolore e l'amore non hanno frontiere,

anche se noi alziamo muri per non vedere il dolore

e mettiamo confini per non riconoscere l'amore.”

 

(Enzo Bianchi)

  

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Mozart - Lacrimosa

 

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or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;

 

clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;

oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;

 

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Questo è un racconto fotografico, realizzato in due giornate nel maggio di quest'anno 2023, nel paese di Limina, in provincia di Messina (lo stesso Santo è celebrato nel paese di Calatabiano, in provincia di Catania, con una spettacolare corsa in discesa !), si realizzano così due tipiche feste religiose tradizionali siciliane che hanno in comune la devozione verso questo santo, San Filippo: egli viene raffigurato di colore “nero” poiché una leggenda lo vede protagonista di una lotta negli Inferi contro Lucifero, dalla cui lotta ne viene fuori ricoperto di fuliggine. San Filippo è un santo molto festeggiato non solo in Sicilia, ma lo è anche nel Salernitano, in Calabria (questi culti si realizzano seguendo il suo percorso fatto in vita) fino ad arrivare al suo culto nell’isola di Malta. La vicinanza con Taormina (paese nel quale abito e lavoro) dei paesi di Calatabiano e Limina, mi facilita certamente il compito di realizzare fotografie di queste feste tradizionali, compatibilmente coi miei turni lavorativi; in entrambi i paesi le feste si svolgono in due giornate; in quel di Limina durante la prima giornata il Santo viene portato in spalla da una chiesa posta in lieve periferia nel paese di Limina fino “al borgo Murazzo”, che dista circa 8 chilometri, sono così 8 Km che vengono percorsi correndo ininterrottamente (tranne una breve sosta di raccoglimento in località “Durbi”); poi ad otto giorni di distanza (la cosiddetta “ottava”) il Santo esce portato in spalla con una corsa “sfrenata-indiavolata” che inizia da un’altra chiesa nel centro di Limina, giungendo poi dopo una ripidissima e faticosissima salita in cima al “Monte Calvario”, poi ridiscende e girovaga tra i quartieri del paese, (ed oltre, fino alla contrada "Durbi", per poi ritornare in paese): non si tratta di un semplice girovagare, in momenti ben stabiliti, il Santo viene “fatto ballare” con uno sfrenato andirivieni su percorsi rettilinei alternato ad un movimento rotatorio vorticoso su se stesso: questa è una differenza sostanziale con la vara di Calatabiano (quest’ultima è pesantissima, circa 12 quintali, percorre un percorso impervio, molto ripido e scosceso in discesa, con “gradoni” in pietra molto alti in parte mancanti , questo è un antico percorso realizzato per giungere al castello Normanno), sicché in Calatabiano la “parodia” con gli esorcismi compiuti dal Santo Nero, consiste nella relativa velocità impressa al Santo durante il percorso, invece a Limina, la vara essendo più leggera, consente ai devoti andature rapide, rettilinee e vorticose, moviemnti anch’essi che rievocano i movimenti convulsi compiuti dagli indemoniati sottoposti agli esorcismi del Santo (un certo rischio di capovolgimento è insito in entrambe le vare). Nel paese di Calatabiano San Filippo acquista l’appellativo di “Siriaco”, cioè proveniente dalla Siria, mentre nel paese di Limina Egli acquista l’appellativo “d’Agira”, dal nome del paese, in provincia di Enna, dove egli morirà: è sempre lo stesso santo (cambia un pochino la fisionomia del volto), in entrambe le statue la mano destra è alzata ad inviare una benedizione, oppure ad effettuare un esorcismo, la mano sinistra stringe un libro (è il documento “apotropaico” che gli diede San Pietro, per consentirgli di vincere le forze del Male). Aggiungo qualche breve cenno sulla vita di questo santo, anche per cercare di capire come nasce il suo culto in Sicilia, come anche in altri paesi al di fuori dell'isola. Le fonti che parlano di San Filippo sono due, chiamate “le Cronache di Eusebio d’Agira” e “le Cronache di Atanasio”, queste cronache tra loro sono in buona parte discordanti, tranne le descrizioni sulle sue caratteristiche di sacerdote e di taumaturgo, sulle sue capacità di compiere esorcismi scacciando i demoni dagli impossessati. Egli nacque probabilmente in Tracia (regione sud-orientale della penisola balcanica nel 40 d.C. (?), all’epoca era una provincia romana, ai tempi d’Arcadio, imperatore romano d’Oriente, nato da padre siriano e da madre romana, nella sua infanzia fu educato ai principi del Cristianesimo che andava propagandosi anche in quelle terre. Egli giunge dalla Tracia a Roma, viene ordinato sacerdote da Pietro, ed è proprio da Lui che viene mandato in Sicilia (terra pagana sotto il dominio Romano), col compito di evangelizzare quei luoghi e compiere esorcismi; sbarca a Capo Faro a Messina iniziando fin da subito il suo mandato, poi percorre la fascia orientale della Sicilia dirigendosi a sud verso l’Etna (ecco che Limina e Calatabiano, interessati dal suo passaggio, grazie alle sue capacità di guaritore ed esorcista, gli divengono devote); giunge così al paese di Agira (Enna), dove lì muore dopo quarant’anni di Apostolato nell’isola.

 

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This is a photographic story, taken over two days in May of this year 2023, in the town of Limina, in the province of Messina (the Saint himself is celebrated in the town of Calatabiano, in the province of Catania, with a spectacular downhill race! ), two typical traditional Sicilian religious festivals are thus held which have in common the devotion towards this saint, San Filippo: he is depicted as "black" in color since a legend sees him as the protagonist of a fight in the Underworld against Lucifer, from whose fight he it comes out covered in soot. San Filippo is a much celebrated saint not only in Sicily, but also in the Salerno area, in Calabria (these cults are carried out following the path he followed in life) up to the cult of him on the island of Malta. The proximity of the towns of Calatabiano and Limina to Taormina (the town where I live and work) certainly facilitates the task of taking photographs of these traditional festivals, compatibly with my work shifts; in both countries the celebrations take place over two days; in Limina, during the first day, the Saint is carried on his shoulders from a church located on the outskirts of the town of Limina to "the village of Murazzo", which is about 8 kilometers away, thus 8 km which are covered by running continuously (except for one short rest stop in the “Durbi” area); then eight days later (the so-called "octave") the Saint comes out carried on his shoulder with a "wild-desperate" run that starts from another church in the center of Limina, arriving after a very steep and tiring climb to the top of the “mountain Calvario”, then descends again and wanders through the districts of the town (and beyond, up to the "Durbi" district, to then return to the town): it is not a simple wandering, at well-established moments, the Saint comes " made to dance" with an unbridled coming and going on straight paths alternating with a swirling rotary movement on itself: this is a substantial difference with the Calatabiano launch (the float is very heavy, around 12 quintals, and travels along an impervious, very steep and steep path downhill, with very high stone "steps" partly missing, this is an ancient route built to reach the Norman castle), so that in Calatabiano the "parody" with the exorcisms performed by the Black Saint consists in the relative speed given to the Saint during the journey, however, in Limina, the launch being lighter, allows the devotees rapid, straight and whirling gaits, movements which also recall the convulsive movements performed by the demoniacs subjected to the Saint's exorcisms (a certain risk of capsizing is inherent in both floats). In the town of Calatabiano San Filippo acquires the name of "Siriaco", that is, coming from Syria, while in the town of Limina he acquires the name "from Agira", from the name of the town, in the province of Enna (Sicily), where he died: it is always the same saint (the physiognomy of the face changes a little), in both statues the right hand is raised to send a blessing, or to carry out an exorcism, the left hand holds a book (it is the "apotropaic" document that gave Saint Peter, to allow him to defeat the forces of Evil). I add some brief information on the life of this saint, also to try to understand how the cult of him was born in Sicily, as well as in other countries outside the island. There are two sources that speak of Saint Philip, called "the Chronicles of Eusebius of Agira" and "the Chronicles of Athanasius", these chronicles are largely discordant with each other, except for the descriptions of his characteristics as a priest and a miracle worker, on his ability to perform exorcisms by expelling demons from those possessed. He was probably born in Thrace (south-eastern region of the Balkan peninsula in 40 AD (?), at the time it was a Roman province, at the time of Arcadius, Eastern Roman emperor, born to a Syrian father and a Roman mother, in In his childhood he was educated in the principles of Christianity which was also spreading in those lands. He came from Thrace to Rome, was ordained a priest by Peter, and it was by him that he was sent to Sicily (a pagan land under Roman rule), with the task to evangelize those places and carry out exorcisms; he lands at Capo Faro in Messina, starting his mandate immediately, then travels along the eastern strip of Sicily heading south towards Etna (here Limina and Calatabiano, affected by his passage, thanks to the his abilities as a healer and exorcist become devoted to him); he thus reaches the town of Agira (Enna), where he dies after forty years of apostolate on the island.

 

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Limina, S. Filippo torna a correre dopo due anni di pandemia. E’ la rievocazione dei miracoli

  

Limina. San Filippo d'Agira, il film della festa 2022

  

Festeggiamenti di San Filippo d’Agira - Limina 11 maggio parte 1

  

PROMO San Filippo D'Agira - Limina (ME) 2022

  

Festeggiamenti in onore di San Filippo d’Agira - Limina 21 maggio 2022 parte 2

  

Festeggiamenti in onore di San Filippo d’Agira - Limina 21 maggio 2022 parte 3

 

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The Other Son | Official US Trailer

  

The Other Son | "Joseph meets with his Rabbi" | Official Clip

 

Mehdi Dehbi in The Other Son

  

Mehdi Dehbi in The Other Son

  

Mehdi Dehbi in the Making of The Other Son

  

Tuđi sin / The Other Son

 

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 7

  

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 2

  

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 5

  

Il figlio dell'altra - Trailer

 

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 6

 

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 9

 

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 4

  

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 3

 

IL FIGLIO DELL'ALTRA, trailer italiano, regia di Lorraine Lévy

 

Lorraine Lévy ''Le Fils de L'autre''

 

IL FIGLIO DELL' ALTRA - Clip 8

   

Perry is proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South cozily nestled along Florida's Nature Coast. We are a family friendly community in which to raise your children, work, or simply to stop by and visit. Our historic downtown is lined with friendly home town shops and features our recently restored steam locomotive era train station. Perry is a full-service, low cost place to call home.

 

The City has been honored to receive the highest national financial reporting award for twenty years in a row. Our taxes are lower than over 170 other cities in Florida. We are home to an "A" scholastically rated high school. We have a variety of festivals throughout the year highlighted by the Florida Forest Festival which includes the "World's Largest Free Fish Fry." Some of the finest fresh and saltwater fishing (including scalloping) is centered here.

 

Hunters come from all over to experience prime Nature Coast hunting. Many freshwater springs, including the world's largest, are just minutes away. The area's economy is diverse with both manufacturing and agricultural employment opportunities. Our state of the art hospital recently opened a multi-million dollar medical arts facility. We welcome you to learn more, come visit, and experience family friendly Perry!

 

Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead. It is not known how this name was chosen. In 1875 the name was changed to Perrytown after Madison Stark Perry, Florida's fourth Governor. Later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

 

The City of Perry is the only incorporated city in Taylor County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. The City's population as of 2004 was estimated to be 6,703. (U. S. Census Bureau)

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.cityofperry.net/

Perry is proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South cozily nestled along Florida's Nature Coast. We are a family friendly community in which to raise your children, work, or simply to stop by and visit. Our historic downtown is lined with friendly home town shops and features our recently restored steam locomotive era train station. Perry is a full-service, low cost place to call home.

 

The City has been honored to receive the highest national financial reporting award for twenty years in a row. Our taxes are lower than over 170 other cities in Florida. We are home to an "A" scholastically rated high school. We have a variety of festivals throughout the year highlighted by the Florida Forest Festival which includes the "World's Largest Free Fish Fry." Some of the finest fresh and saltwater fishing (including scalloping) is centered here.

 

Hunters come from all over to experience prime Nature Coast hunting. Many freshwater springs, including the world's largest, are just minutes away. The area's economy is diverse with both manufacturing and agricultural employment opportunities. Our state of the art hospital recently opened a multi-million dollar medical arts facility. We welcome you to learn more, come visit, and experience family friendly Perry!

 

Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead. It is not known how this name was chosen. In 1875 the name was changed to Perrytown after Madison Stark Perry, Florida's fourth Governor. Later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

 

The City of Perry is the only incorporated city in Taylor County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. The City's population as of 2004 was estimated to be 6,703. (U. S. Census Bureau)

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.cityofperry.net/

After the fall of the Ann Arbor and the formation of Conrail, the State of Michigan, recognizing the fragility of rail service in northern lower Michigan, stepped up and purchased most of the former Ann Arbor trackage and provided subsidies for the Michigan Northern to operate the former Pennsy line from Comstock Park to Mackinaw CIty. For a period, the Michigan Interstate, also known Ann Arbor Railroad System until it was split between the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay to run it from just north of Ann Arbor to Alma, with the remaining northern portion from Alma to Elberta to be operated by the Michigan Northern. The MN was headquartered out of Cadillac and was a disaster of an operation from day 1. By 1984, the Michigan Northern had the plug pulled by the State on their subsidies and made TSBY the sole operator of the State owned lines. With only the line from Pellston to Mackinaw City, only 1 customer on that stretch, and with outstanding payments not made to Penn Central, the Michigan Northern folded and the line was removed.

 

Despite the sad ending to the Michigan Northern, their roster was a wet dream of power. An eclectic mix of 1st generation EMDs, Alcos, and Baldwins, including the last 2 RF-16 Sharks, it was a hidden gem in Northwestern Lower Michigan. With the sun just coming up, power is parked all around the Cadillac shop facilities awaiting the next assignment in November 1978. Photographer unknown.

Recognized as a separate species by the International Ornithological Committee, the Myrtle split from Audubon's Warbler during the last ice age. Magee Marsh.

Tobia, one year old, is son of Costantino aka "Constantine The Great". He is fascinated with the snow!!!!

 

He is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog, a water dog.

This is the only breed of dog that is officially recognized as specialized in truffle hunting.

recognize anyone?

The Prince’s Palace in Rab is one of the most important monuments on the island and one of the most recognizable buildings of Rab’s medieval architecture. Although it has not been preserved in its fully original form, its appearance, location, and surviving parts testify to the long and rich history of the town of Rab. Today, the Prince’s Palace houses the offices of the Rab city administration and the council chamber.

 

Location and Urban Context

 

The Prince’s Palace is situated in the heart of Rab’s historical core, close to the port, as was often the case with administrative buildings during Venetian rule.

Its position was not accidental – it served as a symbol of secular authority at a strategic point from which the administration, judiciary, and everyday life of the town were controlled.

 

History and Purpose

 

The Prince’s Palace was the seat of the comes Arbae (the Count of Rab), the official who represented Venetian authority during the period when Rab was part of the Venetian Republic (from the 10th century until 1797).

 

Roles of the Prince’s Palace throughout history:

 

Administrative center – the place where political and economic decisions for the town and island were made.

 

Judicial center – court hearings were held here, and verdicts were issued.

 

Residence of the prince – the official residence and working quarters of the Venetian representative.

 

Archive and administrative building – housed the city archive, records, statutes, and council decisions.

 

Architectural Features

 

The Prince’s Palace is a complex of buildings from various periods: from the Romanesque council hall overlooking Donja Street, to Gothic extensions and Renaissance interventions.

 

Although not fully preserved today, the following features remain recognizable:

 

1. Façade and Exterior Appearance

 

A combination of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural elements.

 

Stone as the dominant material.

 

Rich window frames, trifora and bifora windows, characteristic of Dalmatian communal palaces.

 

2. Inner Courtyard

 

The former palace had an inner courtyard with passages connecting different parts of the complex, as well as a cistern.

 

The courtyard was used for public gatherings, receptions, and judicial ceremonies.

 

3. Administrative Rooms

 

Rooms for the council, chancery, and archive were located on the upper floors.

 

A separate section served as the prince’s residence, distinct from the public functions.

 

Reconstructions and Current State

 

Over the centuries, the Prince’s Palace suffered various damages, alterations, and losses. Parts of the complex were demolished or modified in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, only some original elements survive, but:

 

architectural traces still allow a clear identification of the palace’s position and volume,

 

archaeological research has confirmed the continuity of an administrative center at this site,

 

conservation works have preserved the most valuable elements, such as Gothic windows and sections of Renaissance façades.

 

The Prince’s Palace in Rab’s Cultural Identity

 

For the people of Rab, the Prince’s Palace is not merely a ruin or historical building – it is a symbol of the town’s thousand-year-old autonomy. Even in its altered form, it remains one of the key landmarks of the old town, especially in the context of:

 

the 14th-century Rab Statute,

 

the tradition of self-governance and communal institutions,

 

the urban coherence of the historical town center.

  

The Knežev dvor (Prince’s Palace) in Rab is one of the most important monuments of historical and administrative power on the island and a defining landmark of the medieval architecture of the town of Rab. Although it has not survived in its complete original form, its surviving sections, location, and architectural traces bear witness to the long and rich history of the city.

________________________________________

Location and Urban Setting

The Knežev dvor is located in the very heart of Rab’s historic core, near the Cathedral complex and the famous “four bell towers.” It stands close to the main urban axis (the ancient Decumanus), in an area where the most significant civic, religious, and noble institutions were concentrated throughout the centuries.

Its position was carefully chosen—this palace symbolized secular authority and oversight of administrative, judicial, and civic affairs.

________________________________________

Historical Role and Purpose

The palace served as the official seat of the knez (count or governor of Rab), the Venetian-appointed official (comes Arbae) during the centuries when Rab belonged to the Venetian Republic (from the 10th century until 1797).

Functions of the Knežev dvor through history:

•Administrative center – where political, economic, and civic decisions for the island were made.

•Judicial hub – hosting court hearings and legal proceedings.

•Residence of the prince – official living and working quarters of the Venetian representative.

•Archive and chancery – housing important records, statutes, and decisions of the town council.

________________________________________

Architectural Characteristics

Originally, the palace was a complex of several buildings built across different periods, from Romanesque foundations to Gothic expansions and Renaissance alterations.

Although today only parts remain, several features can still be recognized:

1. Exterior and façade

•A combination of Gothic and Renaissance elements.

•Dominated by finely worked local limestone typical of Dalmatian coastal architecture.

•Decorative window frames, including biforas and triforas, similar to those seen on other Dalmatian civic palaces.

2. Inner courtyard

•The former palace included a courtyard, likely with arcades and internal connections between administrative, residential, and ceremonial spaces.

•It served for official gatherings, receptions, and legal ceremonies.

3. Interior rooms

•Chambers for the town council, the chancery, and the archive were located on the upper floors.

•A separate section contained the private living quarters of the knez, ensuring separation between public and residential functions.

________________________________________

Reconstruction and Present State

Over the centuries, the Knežev dvor suffered damage, reconstructions, and partial demolitions. Significant parts were altered or lost during the 19th and 20th centuries. Nevertheless:

•Architectural remnants still reveal the palace’s original volume and layout.

•Archaeological research has confirmed the continuity of administrative activity on the site.

•Conservation efforts have preserved valuable elements such as Gothic windows and Renaissance façade fragments.

________________________________________

Cultural Significance for Rab

For the people of Rab, the Knežev dvor is more than a historical structure—it represents centuries of autonomy, governance, and civic identity. Even in its altered form, it remains a symbolic anchor of the old town, especially in relation to:

•the medieval Rab Statute (14th c.),

•traditions of local self-government,

•and the architectural integrity of the historic core.

________________________________________

Summary

The Knežev dvor of Rab was once a prestigious center of Venetian governance and the heart of civic authority. Today it stands as a historical and architectural monument that preserves the memory of Rab’s medieval prominence. Though fragmented, it still radiates historical significance and remains essential for understanding the political and urban development of the island.

 

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s084 11876 RabOtok1926 Knežev dvor. 1926. Brusić Vladislav: Otok Rab Nakladnik: Franjevački kamporski samostan sv. Eufemije

 

Knežev dvor na Rabu jedan je od najvažnijih spomenika povijesno-administrativne vlasti na otoku i jedan od najprepoznatljivijih objekata rapske srednjovjekovne arhitekture. Iako danas nije sačuvan u potpuno izvornom obliku, njegov izgled, položaj i sačuvani dijelovi svjedoče o dugoj i bogatoj povijesti grada Raba. U Kneževu dvoru danas su smješteni uredi rapske gradske uprave i vijećnica.

________________________________________

Položaj i urbanistički kontekst

Knežev dvor smješten je u srcu povijesne jezgre grada Raba, uz kompleks katedrale i tzv. „četiri zvonika“. Nalazi se u blizini glavne gradske ulice (tzv. Decumanus), u zoni u kojoj su se tijekom stoljeća koncentrirale najvažnije upravne, crkvene i plemićke institucije.

Njegov položaj nije slučajan – bio je simbol svjetovne vlasti na strateškom mjestu iz kojeg se kontrolirala uprava, pravosuđe i svakodnevni život grada.

________________________________________

Povijest i namjena

Knežev dvor bio je sjedište rapskog kneza (comes Arbae), dužnosnika koji je predstavljao mletačku vlast u razdoblju kada je Rab bio dio Mletačke Republike (od 10. st. pa sve do 1797.).

Uloge Kneževa dvora kroz povijest:

•Upravni centar – mjesto gdje se donosile političke i gospodarske odluke za grad i otok.

•Središte pravosuđa – ovdje su se održavale sudske rasprave i izdavale presude.

•Rezidencija kneza – službeni stan i radni prostori mletačkog predstavnika.

•Arhiv i uredovna zgrada – čuvao se gradski arhiv, zapisi, statuti i odluke vijeća.

________________________________________

Arhitektonska obilježja

Izvorni Knežev dvor bio je kompleks zgrada iz raznih razdoblja, od romaničkih temelja preko gotičkih dogradnji do renesansnih intervencija.

Iako danas nije u potpunosti sačuvan, prepoznatljiva su sljedeća obilježja:

1. Fasada i vanjski izgled

•Kombinacija gotičkih i renesansnih arhitektonskih elemenata.

•Kamen je dominantni materijal, s tipičnom dalmatinskom obradom.

•Bogati prozorski okviri, trifore i bifore, karakteristične za dalmatinske komunalne palače.

2. Unutarnje dvorište

•Nekadašnji Knežev dvor imao je unutarnje dvorište, često s arkadama i komunikacijama između različitih dijelova kompleksa.

•Dvorište se koristilo i za javna okupljanja, dane primanja i sudske ceremonije.

3. Upravne prostorije

•Prostorije za vijeće, kancelariju i arhiv bile su smještene u gornjim katovima.

•Poseban dio je bio namijenjen stanu kneza, odvojen od javnih funkcija.

________________________________________

Rekonstrukcije i današnje stanje

Knežev dvor je kroz stoljeća pretrpio niz oštećenja, pregradnji i gubitaka. Dio kompleksa srušen je ili izmijenjen u 19. i 20. stoljeću. Danas se vide samo neki očuvani elementi izvorne zgrade, no:

•arhitektonski tragovi i dalje omogućuju jasnu identifikaciju položaja i volumena dvora,

•arheološka istraživanja potvrdila su kontinuitet upravnog centra na tom mjestu,

•konzervatorski radovi sačuvali su najvrednije dijelove, poput gotičkih prozora i dijelova renesansnih pročelja.

________________________________________

Knežev dvor u kulturnom identitetu Raba

Za Rabljane Knežev dvor nije samo ruševina ili povijesna građevina – on je simbol tisućljetne gradske autonomije. Čak i u izmijenjenom obliku, ostao je jedan od ključnih točaka identiteta starog grada, naročito u kontekstu:

•rapskog Statuta iz 14. stoljeća,

•tradicije samouprave i komunalnih institucija,

•urbanističke cjelovitosti starogradske jezgre.

  

Gospel Movie Clip | "Knocking at the Door" (5) - The Lord Is Knocking at the Door: Can You Recognize His Voice? (2)

 

Introduction

The Lord Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice" (Jhn 10:27). Clearly, the Lord is speaking to search for His sheep upon His return. The most crucial thing for Christians to do as they await the coming of the Lord is to seek to hear the voice of the Lord. How is one able to recognize the voice of the Lord, though? What is the difference between the voice of God and the voice of humans?

Recommend to you: Good Christian Movie

 

Image Source: The Church of Almighty God

Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html

 

The Supermarine Spitfire is probably one of the most recognizable and iconic aircraft in history, with a total production number of 20 351. As I have always been fond of it, I decided to give it a try, even though it is my very first propeller aircraft model.

 

About the aircraft

The history of the Spitfire started in 1934, with the first flight of the famous K5054 prototype taking place on 5th March 1936. After the initial delays, the first Spitfire Mk. Is started to reach the operational units in 1938, and since then the type became a stronghold of RAF fighter forces, with a number of substantial improvements being introduced over the whole duration of WWII. Most of these improvements were directly correlated with the development of another icon, the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Consequently, 3 generations of Spitfires are commonly recognized: early Merlins (Merlins with a single-stage supercharger, Spitfires Mk. I, II, III, V, VI, and PR XIII), late Merlins (60 and 70 series Merlins with a two-stage supercharger, Spitfires Mk. VII – IX, PR X, PR XI, and Mk. XVI), and the last generation utilizing more powerful and heavier Rolls-Royce Griffon (Mk. IV, XII, XIV, XVIII, PR XIX, XX, 21-24). Among all those Marks, the Mk. IX and XVI were by far the most numerous, and their introduction was a major step in RAF’s capabilities. The idea for Mk. IX came out of necessity, as after the introduction of Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in late 1941 it became obvious that the then-standard Spitfire Mk. V was no match for the newest Luftwaffe addition. As the two-stage Merlin 61 became available, the Supermarine proposed to address this issue with an interim Mk. IX variant, which was basically Mk. V airframe fitted with the new engine. At the beginning, it was planned as just a short-term fix, with the revised Mk. VIII being the “ultimate” late-Merlin variant. However, the Mk. IX proved to be so successful that there was no point in disturbing its production lines, and it remained in production until the end of the war with constant upgrades being added (e.g. Merlin 66 engine). An interesting twist in the history of the Mk. IX is the Mk. XVI variant, which even though gained a new Mark number, differed only by the fact that instead of the British-built Merlin 66, its US licensed-built Packard Merlin 266 variant was utilized.

 

About the building process

The Spitfire is my very first propeller-driven aircraft, and it was basically an accident that I even started it. I was playing with some trans-clear canopy solutions and after one of the attempts I thought “Well, this looks like a Spitfire canopy”. As it turned out, it was perfectly scaled to my favorite 1:33 scale, so I had no choice but to continue. Still, the idea to make a WWII fighter was not new to me, as for years I’ve been a great fan of a number of different designs by other builders, so I’ve always wanted to have one for myself. As the Spitfire is an extremely common topic, it is impossible to mention all my inspirations. Still, by far the most prominent one was the Spitfire Mk. IX by Ed Diment, which even utilizes the same scale as mine. Another big inspiration was a much bigger Spitfire Mk. I by Lennart Cort. In fact, I had a very hard time deciding on the scale, as his 1:18 Spitfire looks so amazing it gave me second thoughts. Other, smaller designs, which were extremely useful for me, were the Spits by Dierett89, Sydag, BuildArmy, and picardbricks. As I mentioned before, the first part I got together was the canopy, followed by the engine section. Then, I got stuck a bit with the wings, as I really wanted to include the dihedral on them. Finally, I was able to slightly minimize the solution proposed by Nick Goodwin, which fitted nicely with the rest of the plane. The shape of the wings was also a bit painful to get right, but as I decided to go for the “clipped” wings, I didn’t have to make them fully elliptical, which made it much easier. The rest of the fuselage was quite easy. A big challenge overall was the very disappointing variety of dark green pieces, which I had to compensate for with the extensive amount of stickers. Here, the solution proposed by Maks in his Su-24

turned out to be very handy – I just had to use an awful lot of stickers from 76907 Lotus Evija set. I must say that the results look surprisingly good, as the colors match perfectly.

 

About the model

The model represents a Supermarine Spitfire LF. Mk.XVIe in a 1/33 scale. The camouflage is based on the aircraft currently stored in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. It was produced in 1944 and served in the 421 Squadron of the Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1956 it was moved to the RAF museum in Hendon, having a short episode in the 1967 Battle of Britain film. Since 1977 it has been in the possession of the Polish Aviation Museum, where currently it is presented in the camouflage of the Polish 308 Squadron as TB995 ZF-O. The original aircraft of this designation was delivered to 308 Sqn. on 15th March of 1945, and the Squadron was mainly involved in the anti-V1 and V2 operations. As the Mk. XVI was introduced in 1944, there are so misconceptions about its configuration. Similarly to what happened to P-51 Mustang, the late Spitfire variants were fitted with the teardrop “bubble” canopy. Even though it was used in a number of different Marks, including Mk. IX, it is most commonly associated with Mk. XVI, as due to the shorter production, a much higher percentage of them received this upgrade. Still, the “razorback” Mk. XVIs were also quite common, being virtually indistinguishable from the standard Mk. IXs, which is the case for the TB995 ZF-O. As the model is significantly smaller than my usual jets, I wasn’t able to include as many working features as usual. Still, it has movable flaps, a working tail, and working landing gear.

  

”Recognized by [VSCO] Curation team" on September 27th 2016.

Recognize these?

Coffee having fun in the snow!

 

She is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog, a water dog.

This is the only breed of dog that is officially recognized as specialized in truffle hunting.

I should advise you that the original photo was not taken by me and in all honesty I have no idea who the photographer was, if he or she comes across this work and does not like what I have done I will delete it, or if they like it I will recognize them.

 

The Stick-Together Families

 

The stick-together families are happier by far

Than the brothers and the sisters who take separate highways are.

The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make

A circle at the fireside that no power but death can break.

And the finest of conventions ever held beneath the sun

Are the little family gatherings when the busy day is done.

 

There are rich folk, there are poor folk, who imagine they are wise,

And they're very quick to shatter all the little family ties.

Each goes searching after pleasure in his own selected way,

Each with strangers likes to wander, and with strangers likes to play.

But it's bitterness they harvest, and it's empty joy they find,

For the children that are wisest are the stick-together kind.

 

There are some who seem to fancy that for gladness they must roam,

That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home.

That the strange friend is the true friend, and they travel far astray

they waste their lives in striving for a joy that's far away,

But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done,

Are the brothers and the sisters who together share their fun.

 

It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,

That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;

It's the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;

There you find the gladdest play-ground, there the happiest spot to live.

And, O weary, wandering brother, if contentment you would win,

Come you back unto the fireside and be comrade with your kin.

Edgar A. Guest

 

Human Family

 

I note the obvious differences

in the human family.

Some of us are serious,

some thrive on comedy.

 

Some declare their lives are lived

as true profundity,

and others claim they really live

the real reality.

 

The variety of our skin tones

can confuse, bemuse, delight,

brown and pink and beige and purple,

tan and blue and white.

 

I've sailed upon the seven seas

and stopped in every land,

I've seen the wonders of the world

not yet one common man.

 

I know ten thousand women

called Jane and Mary Jane,

but I've not seen any two

who really were the same.

 

Mirror twins are different

although their features jibe,

and lovers think quite different thoughts

while lying side by side.

 

We love and lose in China,

we weep on England's moors,

and laugh and moan in Guinea,

and thrive on Spanish shores.

 

We seek success in Finland,

are born and die in Maine.

In minor ways we differ,

in major we're the same.

 

I note the obvious differences

between each sort and type,

but we are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

 

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

 

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

Maya Angelou

 

With heartfelt and genuine thanks for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, be well, keep your eyes open, appreciate the beauty surrounding you, enjoy creating, stay safe and laugh often! ❤️❤️❤️

Girl Scout Day recognizes and celebrates the Girls Scouts of the USA(GSUSA). This date celebrates the creation of the first Girl Scout group on March 12, 1912. On March 12, 1912 Juliette Gordon Low started the first Girl Scout group in Savannah Georgia with 18 girls. The Girls Scouts became a national organization, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950. Today, there are millions of girls involved with Girl Scouts. Americans eagerly await the annual Girls Scout cookie drive. It teaches the girls valuable skills, and generates income to support girl scouting activities. And, you get to munch on a variety of delicious cookies. Most people buy several boxes. I can't stand them, and the girls are relentless.

 

Happy Girl Scout Day!

 

We're Here! : Photographic Editing Offences [PHOENIX]

 

Running out of ideas for your 365 project? Join We're Here!

 

Now for the offense....... Some people may not realize that many of my photographs are fantasy. I see photographers as falling into two basic groups. Recorders and Constructivists. I am definitely a constructivist. In this image I have deliberately left my edges less than I should so what I do can be seen. We had no girl scout uniforms. I found a couple of them from the web. I had no cookies. Same solution. My hands were turned the wrong way. Easy cut, rotate and paste. My left hand was all wrong so I just flipped the right one and moved it into place. I had no punch line. So I placed a burning house in the background. A little tone adjustment, a little cloning, a little erasing, a little smudging............ Voilà! Art!

Forgive me flickrites, for I have sinned......... again........

 

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

Location: Haveri karanataka,india

 

The Indian spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is a large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population. When in water it can be recognized from a long distance by the white tertials that form a stripe on the side, and in flight it is distinguished by the green speculum with a broad white band at the base.

This duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum bordered by white. At rest the white stripe stands out and the long neck and the bill with yellow tip and orange red spots at the base are distinctive in the nominate subspecies. The red spots at the base of the bills are absent in haringtoni. It measures 55–63 cm (22–25 in) in length and 83–95 cm (33–37 in) across the wings, with a body mass of 790–1,500 g (1.74–3.31 lb). These are mainly grey ducks with a paler head and neck and a black bill tipped bright yellow. The wings are whitish with black flight feathers below, and from above show a white-bordered green The male has a red spot on the base of the bill, which is absent or inconspicuous in the smaller but otherwise similar female. The male does not have an eclipse plumage. The legs and feet are bright orange to coral red. Juveniles are browner and duller than adults.

 

The eastern spot-billed duck is darker and browner; its body plumage is more similar to the Pacific black duck. It lacks the red bill spot, and has a blue speculum.

 

Both males and females undergo a complete post-breeding moult, dropping all their wing feathers simultaneously.