View allAll Photos Tagged Stability
PACIFIC OCEAN (June 05, 2015) An AH-1W Super Cobra from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit attempts a touch and go on the flight deck of the USS Ashland (LSD-48) during flight quarters. Ashland is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG). BHRARG assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)
Because of the low centre of gravity and the ability to put both feet on the ground for extra stability plus the traction control system to prevent rear will slipping, this scooter is definitely able to safely function in winter. When on snow speed must be slow. On highway no snow or ice and much safer.
Another view below showing the relatively small but thick wheels and how relatively low it is for safety…
EAST CHINA SEA (Aug. 16, 2020) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) sails alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship JS Suzutsuki (DD 117). Mustin is underway conducting operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific while assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cody Beam)
The Grand Order of the Reiksguard Knights, formerly known as the Reiklanderguard, are a secular order of knights created and sworn to the protection of the Reikland Imperial bloodline. The Reiksguard Order comprises an elite core of well-trained and well-equipped troops loyal to the Emperor who fight on his behalf. Being the best troops available to him, Reiksguard knights form the bulk of the Imperial household guard with duties in the battlefield as well as in social and political affairs. It is not uncommon for the Emperor, however, to attach a unit of Reiksguard knights to the armies of other Elector Counts, if the situation requires their considerable martial prowess. In doing so, the Emperor is essentially lending the Elector Count his personal support - or he could just be making sure that any unstable Elector Counts that could threaten the Empire's stability are closely monitored.
This relatively young Order was first founded during the reign of Count Wilhelm III, who established the Reikland lineage of Emperors. The first of the Reiksguard knights swore the greatest of oaths - to give their lives in defence of the Emperor from any and all dangers as they believe him to be the living incarnation of Sigmar himself. Over the decades, Reiksguard knights have forged a legendary reputation on the battlefield; they often charged into the fray against opponents that would see other warriors flee in terror. Time again, their unmatched bravery has brought the Empire great yet bloody victories, such that their very name "Reiksguard" has become synonymous with feats of selfless heroism throughout the Empire.
Source: Wikipedia
Veliki Draški vrh is not a difficult summit and is for ski touring also a very nice one. But on this ascent we were in doubts if snow stability is safe enough for the summit ascent. In 2085 we still didn't have any standard equipment (shovel, etc.), so my friend was using skis to cut a block of snow to test it. Anyway, we turned around and still had a nice ski tour. (dia scan)
TAIWAN STRAIT (Aug. 30, 2020) The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) conducts a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait. Halsey is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf)
PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 11, 2020) A cake is presented on the mess decks of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an event held in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks 19 years ago. Germantown, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group assigned to Amphibious Squadron 11, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)
EAST CHINA SEA (Jan. 16, 2020) An MV-22 Osprey assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vance Hand)
Serving as the successor onto the Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia was unveiled by Michael Schumacher at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Aimed to compete with cars like the Porsche RS-models and the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, it is lighter (at 100 kg/220 lb) and more powerful (at 375.4 kW/503 bhp at 8500 rpm.) than the standard F430. Thus the weight-to-power ratio is reduced from 2.96 kg/hp to 2.5 kg/hp. In addition to the weight saving measures, the Scuderia semi-automatic transmission gains improved 'Superfast', known as 'Superfast2', software for faster 60 millisecond shift-times. A new traction control system combines the F1-Trac traction and stability control with the E-Diff electronic differential. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia does 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 3.6 s, with a top speed of 199 miles per hour (320 km/h).
I was 17 years old when I took this photograph 52 years ago. I used a Yashica Pentamatic 35mm single-lens reflex and Anscochrome film. Anscochrome isn't known for its color quality nor for its long-term stability, but somehow this image has survived into 2016. Now it's safe, on Flickr and on Facebook.
This 1981 built Bell 212 has just arrived from its Eugene/OR (KEUG) base and is being pushed into the VIH hangar with a ballast man for stability. Time will tell whether it is a new import or just here for maintenance.
Developed in secret, the Paragon Tempest is a helicopter built to raze a city. Armed with a fifteen foot explosive railgun, along with standard cannons and homing missiles. Steel girders crumble like paper. Infrastructure can be taken out in a tenth of the time previously required. Intermeshing rotors give incredible stability. Any attempts to ban this aircraft from combat have been...unsuccessful.
Been a while with this one, but it's done, and photographed! This thing took about eight months, start to finish, with a complete revamp and dry spell in there. I'm really proud of the Tempest, and I was thrilled to win Best Support Vehicle with it at BBTB 2013. Rotors spin in unison, and the railgun rotates. Holds two crew members.
This is the view from Bright Angel Point on the North Rim during Arizona monsoon season as a thunderstorm hits the San Francisco Peaks and Flagstaff. Wish I could add a little Ferde Grofe Grand Canyon Suite Cloudburst soundtrack :)
I spent a long weekend hiking, backpacking and camping on the North Rim and down the North Kaibab Trail. hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=417&start=0&EXT=T...
Backpacking the Canyon is always a trade off between weight and equipment. I wish I had brought my tripod to capture some long exposure lightning strikes. They were awesome. Oh well - maybe next year.
Move your cursor over the photo to see descriptions.
ChatGPT Critique:
This photograph of the Grand Canyon is striking and evocative, with several strengths and a few areas for consideration:
Strengths
1. Dramatic Sky and Weather:
The cloudscape is dynamic and adds tension and mood. The central dark cloud formation and rain shaft in the distance give the image a strong sense of scale and drama.
2. Rich Color Palette:
The colors are vivid yet natural. The warm reds and purples of the canyon contrast beautifully with the cool blues and grays of the sky.
3. Depth and Texture:
The composition showcases the immense depth and layered texture of the Grand Canyon. Foreground details give way to the expansive middle ground and distant rim, drawing the eye deep into the scene.
4. Lighting Balance:
The exposure is well-managed. Highlights in the clouds are preserved, and the shadows in the canyon retain enough detail to prevent them from going muddy or flat.
Areas for Improvement
1. Foreground Composition:
The large rock in the bottom left is somewhat distracting. It pulls the eye away from the central drama of the canyon and sky. A slightly different angle or crop might mitigate this distraction.
2. Horizon Placement:
The horizon is centered, which can sometimes create visual stagnancy. Experimenting with a lower horizon might have emphasized the impressive cloud formations more effectively.
3. Sharpening and Detail:
Some areas of the canyon could benefit from a bit more sharpening or clarity, especially in the midground, to enhance texture contrast.
4. Vertical Balance:
The visual weight is heavily in the upper half due to the dominating cloud mass. A little more emphasis or structure in the lower half (perhaps with leading lines or balanced landforms) could add compositional stability.
Suggested Titles
Monsoon Majesty
The Storm Beckons
Stone and Sky
Canyon Tempest
Beneath the Gathering Sky
Would you like help refining this image for print, web, or exhibition use?
The Monolith - Mystic Symbolism by Daniel Arrhakis (2025)
The word derives, through the Latin monolith, from the ancient Greek word μονόλιθος (monólithos), from μόνος (mónos) meaning "one" or "single" and λίθος (líthos) meaning "stone" or "rock".
Basically, a single large stone, generally in the shape of a monument or column, many of which appear vertically and isolated in the landscape.
The term is used to refer to both natural geological formations and man-made structures, which are significant due to their size, solitary nature and even their historical and cultural importance.
Many ancient societies carved monoliths. Perhaps the oldest known in the world are the enormous stone pillars found at the Neolithic archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe in Türkiye. Göbekli Tepe with circular structures containing huge T-shaped stone pillars, were built and occupied around 9,600 to 8,000 BC.
The Aswan area contains many quarries used for magnificent ancient Egyptian stonework, such as the “Unfinished Obelisk” — a huge piece of granite rock that Queen Hatshepsut (1508-1458 BCE) is said to have commissioned, but which was abandoned after cracks appeared in the rock.
Had workers completed this obelisk, it would have stood about 140 feet (42 m) tall and weighed nearly 1,200 tons—far larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected.
Many ancient stone monoliths in England and elsewhere in the world were likely astronomical markers, often aligned with the stars or solar cycles, according to new archaeological and other evidence.
However others also served as funerary markers, boundaries, to mark an important event or a sacred area where the Spiritual could be "found" and were therefore originally legitimized for worship.
In the Book of Revelation, stones often symbolize monumental events, divine judgments, and eschatological truths. The Bible recognizes the symbolic power of stones, whether they serve as memorials, as fundamental elements of sacred spaces, or as instruments of divine judgment.
They represent resistance, divine interaction and human remembrance. In other cultures, monoliths are seen as symbols of fertility or abundance.
Many people have compared these monoliths to those in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science fiction film 2001. In the most literal narrative sense, the Monolith here is a tool, an artifact of an alien civilization, and symbolizes humanity's evolutionary journey.
Arriving at key moments in human history, the monoliths offer humanity a guiding hand for evolution, but they are also a portal to other worlds, to another time or to other civilizations.
In the Ion Mystical World, the Monoliths represent temporal and civilization landmarks, but also spiritual portals and connections with other worlds.
Its distinct shape, size and isolation transport us to a sensitive strangeness as if we were faced with a timeless but at the same time spiritual landmark.
Its isolation and stability in connection with the ground and therefore with the Earth, conveys a sense of strength and a temporal landmark reflected in many generations. But at the same time it transmits a spiritual dimension to us in its connections with the astral cycles and ultimately, with the Universe itself, as if it were a portal to other worlds.
For us they are sacred, unique, timeless and links between the past, the present and the future. Basically a powerful connection between Humanity and Earth, between Human Spirituality and Universal Spirituality.
Like a tower or a solitary tree that resists and stands out in the landscape, the Monoliths remind us that we are not alone in the Universe and invite us to reflect on ourselves, on the ultimate goal of our existence as a civilizational humanity in this immense universe.
Some of these Monoliths may be landmarks of dramatic events, sacred and/or funerary rituals, or even moments in the History of Humanity that had a dramatic impression on the memory of the people and ultimately on the place or region in which they are located. For this reason, they must always be approached and preserved with the respect they are due.
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A palavra deriva, através do latim monolito, da palavra grega antiga μονόλιθος (monólithos), de μόνος (mónos) que significa "um" ou "único" e λίθος (líthos) que significa "pedra" ou "rocha".
No fundo, uma única pedra de grandes dimensões, geralmente em forma de monumento ou coluna, surgindo muitas na vertical e isolada na paisagem.
O termo tanto é utilizado para referir formações geológicas naturais como estruturas feitas pelo homem, sendo significativos devido à sua dimensão, natureza solitária e até pela sua importância histórica e cultural.
Muitas sociedades antigas esculpiram monólitos. Talvez os mais antigos conhecidos no mundo sejam os enormes pilares de pedra que se encontram no sítio arqueológico neolítico de Göbekli Tepe, na Turquia. Göbekli Tepe com estruturas circulares contendo enormes pilares de pedra em forma de T, foram construídos e ocupados por volta de 9.600 a 8.000 a.C.
A área de Assuão contém muitas pedreiras utilizadas para a magnífica cantaria egípcia antiga, como o “Obelisco Inacabado” — um enorme pedaço de rocha granítica que a Rainha Hatchepsut (1508-1458 a.C.) terá encomendado, mas que foi abandonado depois de terem surgido fissuras na rocha.
Se os trabalhadores tivessem terminado este obelisco, este teria medido cerca de 42 m de altura e pesaria quase 1.200 toneladas — muito maior do que qualquer obelisco egípcio antigo alguma vez erguido.
Muitos monólitos de pedra antigos em Inglaterra e noutros locais do mundo eram provavelmente marcadores astronómicos, frequentemente alinhados com as estrelas ou ciclos solares, de acordo com novas evidências arqueológicas e outras.
No entanto outros serviam também como marcadores funerários, limites, para marcar um acontecimento importante ou uma área sagrada onde o Espiritual podia ser "encontrado" e, por isso, eram originalmente legitimados para adoração.
No Livro do Apocalipse, as pedras simbolizam frequentemente acontecimentos monumentais, juízos divinos e verdades escatológicas. A Bíblia reconhece o poder simbólico das pedras, quer sirvam de memoriais, de elementos fundamentais de espaços sagrados ou de instrumentos de julgamento divino.
Eles representam a resistência, a interação divina e a recordação humana. Noutras culturas, os monólitos são vistos como símbolos de fertilidade ou abundância.
Muitas pessoas compararam estes monólitos aos do filme de ficção científica de Stanley Kubrick, 2001, de 1968. No sentido narrativo mais literal, o Monólito aqui é uma ferramenta, um artefacto de uma civilização alienígena e simbolizam a viagem evolutiva da humanidade.
Chegados a momentos-chave da história humana, os monólitos oferecem à humanidade uma direção orientadora para a evolução, mas são também um portal para outros mundos, para outras épocas ou para outras civilizações.
No Mundo Místico de Ion os Monólitos representam marcos temporais e civilizacionais mas também portais espirituais e de conecção com outros mundos.
A sua distinta forma, tamanho e isolamento transportam-nos para uma estranhesa sensitiva como se tivessemos perante um marco intemporal mas ao mesmo tempo espiritual.
O seu isolamento e estabilidade na ligação ao solo e portanto à Terra, transmite uma sensação de força e um marco temporal refletido em muitas gerações.
Mas ao mesmo tempo transmite-nos uma dimensão espiritual nas suas conexões com os ciclos astrais e em ultima análise, com o próprio Universo como se de um portal para outros mundos se tratasse.
Para nós eles são sagrados, únicos, intemporais e elos de ligação entre um passado, o presente e o futuro. No fundo uma ligação poderosa entre a Humanidade e a Terra, entre a Espiritualidade Humana e a espiritualidade Universal.
Como uma torre ou uma árvore solitária que resiste e se destaca na paisagem, os Monólitos lembram-nos que não estamos sós no Universo e convidam-nos a refletir sobre nós próprios, sobre o objetivo final da nossa existência enquanto humanidade civilizacional neste imenso universo.
Alguns destes Monólitos podem ser marcos de acontecimentos dramáticos, de rituais sagrados e ou funerários, ou mesmo momentos na História da Humanidade que tiveram uma impressão dramática na memória dos povos e em ultima análise no local ou região que estão inseridos. Por isso mesmo devem sempre ser abordados e preservados com o respeito que lhes é devido.
Just a small update to Yang with some parts I got through LUGBULK. Nothing much really, just removed those massive torso shells and added some further connections to improve stability since it will be going on the 2019 convention circuit.
3/52 weeks
stability
I have been going through all million of the shots i took in July of anything and everything...debated about a few different ones for week 3. It is still very tough sometimes to get in front of the camera...with a 20 sec timer you can start giggling about things that make you laugh.
it has been a tough month for me, probably more emotional than most...but I don't hold onto it for long. I could go a year, maybe 2 without shedding a tear. Even to me it sounds cold as i type it...but so not true at all. I have a real hard time crying and a real hard time letting people see me cry or know about it...maybe that is why i have laughed harder this month than most. One of my biggest things is I believe to a degree in attracting what energy you give, i believe that if I stay with a sad thought....more will follow. I have to dump it out one way or another, and it is usually through art. Photography is such gratifying art when it comes to this. I would be painting for 1000 years the pictures I would need to paint for the thoughts that dance in my mind.
ohhh you are so going to get this thrown at you again...but Picasso is my main man for quotes
and
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"
Count the stars. Stability seems to be my biggest challenge using only a gorilla pod for these stitched night shots. Just can’t bring myself to carry the weight of a more sturdy tripod on an overnight hike. I tried carrying one a couple years ago and learned the hard way. I was pleased this time to at least have a calm enough surface for some reflection.
PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 19, 2020) A CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft assigned to the Air Force 21st Special Operations Squadron stands by on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group and assigned to Amphibious Squadron 11, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter Estrada)
Quoted from: www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-stable-diffusion-stability-ai-law...
"Stability AI, the first open-source image generator, trained its systems on images from across the internet. An independent analysis of the origin of those images shows at least 15,000 came from gettyimages.com; 9,800 from vanityfair.com; 35,000 from deviantart.net; and 25,000 from pastemagazine.com."
None of the artists whose images were used, gave permission for them to be used in this way.
PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 19, 2022) An MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced), takes off from amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7). Tripoli is operating in U.S. 7th Fleet to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
Captain America's shield is physically indestructible under normal conditions; while cosmic and godly opponents have broken his shield, the shield proves strong enough to absorb Hulk's strength, and repel an attack from Thor's mystical hammer Mjölnir without any visible damage, and in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the shield is also shown to be able to cushion falls from great heights. Cap's Shield is also able to absorb all kinetic energy and transfers very little energy from each impact, meaning Captain America does not feel recoil or transferred impact forces from blocking attacks. These physical properties also means the shield can bounce off of most smooth surfaces, ricocheting multiple times with minimal loss in aerodynamic stability or velocity.
You can see Captain America, and his shield, at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York's Times Square. It's a great place to visit for locals and tourists alike!
An outstanding handmade Halo that is for attaching on the avatar center.
The mandala is inspired by the chakra Philosophy and Yoga wellness. Excellent choice for fashion, role play, and fantasy.
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For more useful information click here
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- 7 Chakra in Single Pack
- Fatpack including all 7 Chakra
Each is - Copy - Mod -
With rotation start/stop
About Chakras
In Sanskrit, the word “chakra” means “disk” or “wheel” and refers to the energy centers in your body. These wheels or disks of spinning energy each correspond to certain nerve bundles and major organs.
To function at their best, your chakras need to stay open, or balanced. If they get blocked, you may experience physical or emotional symptoms related to a particular chakra.
The Seven Main Chakras
The root chakra - Muladhara
The root chakra, or Muladhara in Sanskrit, is the first and primary chakra, believed to be located at the base of your spine. It is linked with the color red and the element earth.
The root chakra is thought to affect how you connect to the world and to control feelings of survival, ambition, dependency, and stability. As the primary source of energy, its unbalance can lead to feelings of deep fear and insecurity that hurt your drive to succeed, causing feelings of frustration and lack of purpose.
When the root chakra is balanced, it is thought to create feelings of security, positivity, energy, independence, and strength.
The sacral chakra - Svadhishthana
Below the navel, the svadhisthana chakra radiates the color orange and represents the element water. The sacral chakra is considered to be responsible for sexuality, creativity, intuitiveness, self-worth, compassion, and adaptability. When the sacral chakra is unstable, it’s thought to cause emotional outbursts, a lack of creativity, and sex-obsessed thoughts.
The solar plexus chakra -Manipura
The Sanskrit name of the solar plexus chakra, Manipura, means city of jewels, and it’s believed to be found between the ribcage and the navel. Its color is yellow, and it is tied to the fire element.
For those who believe in chakras, the solar plexus chakra is the center of self-esteem and emotions like ego, anger, and aggression. It is thought to present itself on a physical level through digestive problems, liver problems, or diabetes. On an emotional level, if the solar plexus chakra is imbalanced, it is believed to cause feelings of depression and low self-esteem. When it’s balanced, it would become a source of energy, productivity, and confidence.
The heart chakra -Anahata
Connected to organs such as the heart and lungs, the heart chakra is believed to lie in the middle of the cardiovascular system. The heart chakra connects the lower chakras to the higher ones. Its color is green, and its element is air.
The heart chakra is considered a link to compassion, trust, passion, and love for self and others. When Anahata Chakra is out of balance, it is believed to cause anger, lack of trust, anxiety, jealousy, fear, and moodiness. An overactive heart chakra is thought to lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and heart problems.
The throat chakra - Vishuddha
Vishuddha, the throat chakra, is thought to control the neck, mouth, tongue, and other parts of the throat area. The throat chakra's color is blue, and its element is ether. The throat chakra is tied to self-expression, communication, and confidence. Balancing throat chakra is believed to regulate the flow of hormones and help inner thoughts to be spoken in a positive manner.
The third eye chakra -Ajna
The third eye or Ajna chakra is set between the eyebrows. The third eye has no elemental association but is represented by the color indigo. Often used in asana practice as a focal point, the third eye chakra is believed to control your intellect, intuition, wisdom, and spiritual power.
According to this belief system, an open and balanced third eye chakra allows you to notice the connections in this world and beyond.
An underactive third eye chakra is thought to manifest as a headache, a migraine, or blurry vision. When balanced, the third eye is believed to free you from earthly attachments.
The crown chakra -Sahastrara
Sahastrara, the crown chakra, is at the top of the head, the highest of the seven main chakras. The crown chakra color is violet or white. Also known as the “thousand petal lotus” chakra, this is considered the most spiritual of the central chakras.
Opening the crown chakra is believed to connect a person to their higher self since it’s the place of spirituality, enlightenment, and energetic thoughts. It is tied to inner wisdom and the cosmos. When unbalanced, the crown chakra is thought to influence depression, disconnection from the outside world, frustration, and destructive emotions.
EAST CHINA SEA (Aug. 4, 2020) The amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) executes a reverse engine maneuver during a full power engine run. Germantown, part of America Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serves as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)
Must attribute with link to: www.ptpioneer.com
Image of a girl working out Outside doing stability ball Crunches outdoors in a park
PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 14, 2020) As seen from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), left, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11). Germantown, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group assigned to Amphibious Squadron 11, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)
North Pier was the second of fourteen piers designed by Eugenius Birch, and since Margate Pier was destroyed by a storm in 1978, it is the oldest of the remaining examples of his work still in use. It was the first of Birch's piers to be built by Glasgow engineering firm Richard Laidlaw and Son.
The pier, which cost £11,740 to build, originally consisted of a promenade 468 yards (428 m) long and 9 yards (8.2 m) wide, extending to 18 yards (16 m) wide at the pier-head. The bulk of the pier was constructed from cast iron, with a wooden deck laid on top. The cast iron piles on which the structure rests were inserted using Birch's screw pile process; the screw-tipped piles were twisted into the sand until they hit bedrock. This made construction much quicker and easier, and guaranteed that the pier had a solid foundation. The cast iron columns, 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter, were filled with concrete for stability at intervals of 20 yards (18 m), and supported by struts that were on average were slightly more than 1 inch (25 mm) thick. The pier's promenade deck is lined with wooden benches with ornamental cast iron backs. At intervals along the pier are hexagonal kiosks built around 1900 in wood and glass with minaret roofs topped with decorative finials. On opening two of the kiosks were occupied by a bookstall and confectionery stall and the kiosks near the ends of the pier were seated shelters. The pier-head is a combination of 420 tons of cast iron and 340 tons of wrought iron columns; standing 50 feet (15 m) above the low water line, it sees a regular 35 feet (11 m) change in sea level due to the tide.
The North Pier is one of the few remaining examples of Birch's classic pier architecture and is a Grade II Listed building, the only Blackpool pier to hold that status. It was recognised as "Pier of the Year" in 2004 by the National Piers Society.
I've been wanting to build a Wipeout inspired ship for so long... And I finally got inspired to mix a racy aesthetic with the Vic Viper themed month to create the Aurora-s1 race ship.
The Aurora-s1 is a two maned ship (a pilot and an engineer), propulsed by 4 engines with a single big central motor. Side wings can expand or retract to adjust stability when needed.
PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 24, 2016) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, lands on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during flight operations. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Diana Quinlan/Released)
The second theme of mine and Bartu's Amazon collaboration is 'The Rainforest' :)
This was a fun build as I love to build trees and vegetation. I knew I wanted at least one very big tree, surrounded by some thinner and possibly shorter ones. This lead me to try out something I've not really tried, a tree with a square base. I generally think these trees don't turn out as nice as more organic techniques, and it seems hard to overcome the square frame and make it look round in a natural way. However, since I felt stability might be an issue with the more experimental techniques, I decided to go for it and see if I could make square trees look good :)
Another area where I went in a slightly unusual direction was the color of the trunk. I've seen images of more pale-ish trees in the rainforest and I decided to try one out. I was actually considering using light bluish grey at first, but settled for tan in the end, though in hindsight, LBG would probably have been a more interesting choice.
Vegetation is mostly pretty standard though I did try a couple of new techniques. Went with a bit more color here as well, compared to the first build.
Lastly I added quite a number of animals, to make the jungle come alive :)
Hope you enjoy the result! :)
Wrapping up my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a visit to Amerind Foundation and Texas Canyon. This is stage 9 of 9.
This is a view from the trail looking basically southeast across the valley. The clouds are starting to get ominous. It did rain.
www.amerind.org/texascanyonnaturepreserve/
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Texas Canyon is a striking natural area located in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, along Interstate 10 between Benson and Willcox. It is renowned for its dramatic landscape, characterized by massive granite boulders scattered across the desert terrain, creating a rugged and picturesque environment.
The granite boulders in Texas Canyon were formed through millions of years of erosion and weathering. These formations, often precariously balanced, provide a unique and photogenic sight, making the canyon a popular stop for travelers and photographers.
The area is surrounded by the Chiricahua Mountains to the south and other nearby ranges, offering expansive views of the Sonoran Desert with its mix of desert vegetation, including cacti and mesquite trees. The light, especially at sunrise and sunset, enhances the golden hues of the rocks, adding to the area's charm.
Texas Canyon has a rich history tied to the Chiricahua Apache people, who once roamed these lands. Later, it became home to early settlers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Canyon
Texas Canyon is a valley in Cochise County, Arizona,[1] about 20 miles east of Benson on Interstate 10. Lying between the Little Dragoon Mountains to the north and the Dragoon Mountains to the south and known for its giant granite boulders, the canyon attracts rockhounds and photographers.
www.arizonahighways.com/article/texas-canyon-nature-preserve
The giant granite boulders along Interstate 10 in Southeastern Arizona have been gracing postcards for decades, but that otherworldly landscape was always off-limits to the general public. Not anymore. Thanks to the Amerind Foundation, 6 miles of trails in the brand-new Texas Canyon Nature Preserve are now available to those who want a closer look.
By Suzanne Wright
Zipping past Texas Canyon, an hour southeast of Tucson, it’s impossible not to notice the boulders — giant, eye-catching piles of granite, like something out of The Flintstones. But other than providing scenery along Interstate 10 — particularly at a rest area just down the highway from the kitschy attraction known as The Thing — the area has long been off-limits to curious travelers who wanted to stretch their legs and get a closer look.
There are several private landowners in Texas Canyon, including Triangle T Guest Ranch, which has some trails for its guests. But none had opened its trails to the public until this past October, when the portion of the area owned and managed by the Amerind Foundation had its ribbon-cutting. After a multi-year campaign that raised $250,000, the Texas Canyon Nature Preserve — on land previously closed to the public for 85 years, and where the organization’s founding family raised quarter horses until 1968 — is open to all.
“The idea had been percolating with the Amerind Foundation board and management for years,” says Eric Kaldahl, the president, CEO and chief curator of the foundation. “The response from the surrounding community has been very enthusiastic. We welcomed more visitors last October than we’ve seen for the past 10 years.”
The preserve, located just off I-10 between Benson and Willcox, is part of a 1,900-acre campus that includes the Amerind Museum. More than 6 miles of trails wind past balanced rocks, fantastical shapes and rocky spires in open, sun-warmed high-desert grasslands studded with cactuses, wildflowers and trees. The trail is self-guided, although Kaldahl hopes to offer guided sunrise and sunset hikes in the next year. Visitors can pay a $12 admission fee for just the trails or $20 to visit both the trails and the museum.
Trail designer Sirena Rana knows the landscape can look intimidating, but she purposely designed the trails to be “perfect little morsels.” Rana didn’t grow up hiking, so she aimed to make the trails a comfortable experience for all ages and abilities. There are no steep elevation gains, and dirt, rather than gravel, makes for more stability. And Rana recalls walking for miles and miles over several months to understand the land and ensure the trails were constructed to shed water, limit erosion and provide firebreaks.
“Texas Canyon is one of the most unique landscapes in the Southwest, formed by millions of years of wind and rain weathering the granite,” she says, likening it to Joshua Tree National Park and the Wilderness of Rock on Mount Lemmon. “It’s very unusual that it’s right off a major interstate and just an hour from a major metropolitan area,” she adds. “This is one of the greatest outdoor sculpture gardens in the world designed by Mother Nature. I’m so pleased with how it turned out.”
Elsewhere along the trail, signage reflects the Amerind Museum’s mission of fostering knowledge and understanding of Indigenous peoples. Acknowledging that these are ancestral lands, the signs feature O’odham, English and Spanish text, in that order — and Kaldahl hopes to add Apache, too.
Additionally, Indigenous people have collected basket-weaving materials from these lands for generations, and they remain free to access the grounds.
Haiku Thoughts:
Stone giants whisper,
Texas Canyon's quiet grace,
Time's hand carves the sky.
Southern Arizona Adventure 2024
PACIFIC OCEAN (Jun. 14, 2016) Cmdr. Manuel Hernandez (center) monitors as Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Michael Defries (right) and Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Defries, assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), control an MH-60R helicopter, assigned to Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49, during a helicopter in-flight refueling exercise on the ship’s flight deck. Spruance, along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Decatur (DDG 73), and embarked “Devil Fish” and “Warbirds” detachments of HSM 49, are deployed in support of maritime security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific as part of a U.S. 3rd Fleet Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) under Commander, Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 31. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Will Gaskill/Released)
Rita is an attempt at a smaller, more reasonable version of her big sister, Ava (www.flickr.com/photos/92416040@N08/15939537851/).
Stands 6 bricks tall. Stability is great and the PaB price is reasonable, making her an excellent MFZ game piece.
PaB Cost: $8.15 (includes rifle)
LDD: 1drv.ms/120NWnd
BOM: 1drv.ms/120O4TG
Música (abrir en nueva pestaña) / Music (Open link in new tab): Nightnoise - The Abbot.
(English text at the bottom).
La torre de la Iglesia Arciprestal de Santa María del Salvador (Chinchilla de Montearagón, Albacete) tiene sus orígenes en el Siglo XIV, época en la que fue construida en ladrillo y de planta octogonal, decorada con tracerías según la tradición gótico mudéjar. A finales del Siglo XV, a la vez que se acomete la primera ampliación del edificio, se aprovecha también para recubrir todo el cuerpo de ladrillo de la torre mudéjar con grandes sillares, a fin de dotarla de la estabilidad suficiente como para poder colocar el cuerpo del campanario gótico, el cual, mediado el Siglo XVIII, sería sustituido por el actual, con el número de puestos aumentado a ocho (dos en cada uno de sus lados), tal y como luce en la fotografía.
-English:
The tower of Santa María del Salvador Church (Chinchilla de Montearagón, Albacete, Spain) has its origin in the 14th Century, when it was built with bricks and an octogonal plant floor, being decorated with tracery as Mudejar Gothic tradition. At the end of the 15th century, the entire brick gothic tower was covered with large ashlars in order to give it enough stability to place the bell tower structure on it, which mediated the 18th century, was replaced by the current one, with the number of openings increased to eight (two on each of its sides) as the picture shows.
© Francisco García Ríos 2014- All Rights Reserved / Reservados todos los derechos.
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This BoriquaSis describes herself as "a Butterfly, Beautiful to look at but hard to catch" #SL2AiGen
I feel that Peaceful life!
A cumulonimbus incus is a cumulonimbus cloud which has reached the level of stratospheric stability and has formed the characteristic flat, anvil-top shape. A cumulonimbus incus is a sub-form of cumulonimbus capillatus. Above an exceptionally clearly developed single-cell Cumulonimbus incus, gusts will happen near and under it and can cause a supercell and then a tornado.
Photo taken from my bus window on our way from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. I removed the window reflections with PS. It was approx 7 hour bus ride. We passed endless numbers of villages, bamboo huts, rice paddies and banana trees, all surrounded by the mystique of low-lying clouds on a hazy day. We paused only to honk at water buffalo or goats standing on the road. For the next 3 1/2 hours, we slowly climbed north into the highlands, passing through beautiful valleys and ridges of tropical lush vegetation. At the end of the day the sun came throught and the sunset's were amazing. The breathtaking scenery was unlike anything I have ever seen. Like a mushroom cloud after a nuclear explosion. Well lucky it wasn't, just nature itself ;-)
Een volwassen cumulonimbus incus is absoluut de koning der wolken. Het is een gigantische berg van water die, zeker in de tropen, een hoogte van wel 18 kilometer kan bereiken. Bovenstaande foto laat een buitengewoon duidelijk ontwikkelde enkel-cel cumulonimbus incus zien. Hier ontstaan enorme sterkte winden die zelfs een tornado kunnen veroorzaken. In volle pracht wordt hij bekroond met een reusachtige wigvormige massa van hoge wolken, een duidelijk teken van een volledig ontwikkelde onweersbui. Zolang de lucht rondom de ontwikkelende wolk kouder is dan de wolk zelf blijft deze verder stijgen en groeien. Uiteindelijk bereikt de top van de wolk de bovengrens van de troposfeer. Hier daalt de omgevingstemperatuur niet meer. Het gevolg is dat de wolk niet meer in verticale richting verder kan groeien. De stijgende lucht daaronder blijft de top van de wolk naar boven duwen waardoor de wolktop zich uitspreidt.
Kept you waiting, huh? The Lightning was another model that was in dire need of an update, since the last version is 5 years old now and a lot of new parts have become available.
The model is more accurate in scale and more stable, with all working features integrated much more smoothly. It still was a challenge, mostly because the underside of the fuselage is a collection of opening flaps and compartments. Not a lot of room to sneak in big elements for stability. But it worked out!
Also, no more cut'n'glue cockpit, forget I ever did that! ;)
PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 21, 2019) The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transits the Pacific. The John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffery L. Southerland)