View allAll Photos Tagged Stability
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society6.com/product/stability264359_framed-print
All the prints, Daniel Vicario's shop
*Working Towards a Better World
I have been thinking long and hard about why our present day psyche has changed so drastically and have come to the conclusion that we are bringing up our children to focus on the ego, rather than the community. It seems to me that we put too much emphasis on material things and not enough on the spiritual or the whole. Yes, we need to teach our children to succeed and do their best but not at any cost without caring about others. We seem to encourage greed rather than sharing, perhaps we need to concentrate more on cherishing each other, our climate and the environment. When we work as a team we produce more through the sharing of ideas and creativity.
We need to coexist better, be more understanding, less critical, more open, less closed. Together we can achieve a great deal more than alone.
I have chosen the colours black and green because of their meaning found on the Color Pro: Color Meaning website:
www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
"Green
Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money.
Green
"Green has great healing power. It is the most restful color for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance. Sometimes green denotes lack of experience; for example, a 'greenhorn' is a novice. In heraldry, green indicates growth and hope. Green, as opposed to red, means safety; it is the color of free passage in road traffic.
Use green to indicate safety when advertising drugs and medical products. Green is directly related to nature, so you can use it to promote 'green' products. Dull, darker green is commonly associated with money, the financial world, banking, and Wall Street.
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.
Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.
Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
Olive green is the traditional color of peace".
Black
"Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.
Black is a mysterious color associated with fear and the unknown (black holes). It usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humor, 'black death'). Black denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color (black tie, black Mercedes). In heraldry, black is the symbol of grief".
Black gives the feeling of perspective and depth, but a black background diminishes readability. A black suit or dress can make you look thinner. When designing for a gallery of art or photography, you can use a black or gray background to make the other colors stand out. Black contrasts well with bright colors. Combined with red or orange – other very powerful colors – black gives a very aggressive color scheme.
Interestingly I have followed a few articles written by the New York Times columnist, David Brooks, who has written recently 3 interesting articles about this subject, On April 7th he wrote an article entitled
"What Candidates Need",
www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/opinion/david-brooks-what-cand...
then on April 11th he wrote an article entitled
"The Moral Bucket List"
www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/opinion/sunday/david-brooks-th...
and finally today he wrote an article entitled
"When Cultures Shift"
www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/opinion/david-brooks-when-cult...
I find that David addresses many of my concerns quite well in these articles so decided to share them with you.
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! xo❤️
PHILIPPINE SEA (June 21, 2021) The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) sails alongside the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) during a replenishment-at-sea. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 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 Jonathan D. Berlier)
After a few years of stability, the Cardiff Bus fleet is now seeing a number of interesting changes, with the first batch out of a total of 36 electric Yutongs soon due as replacements for the remaining Transbus and Alexander Dennis Darts, and the remining Scania OmniCity artics.
The first sign of the fleet changes came earlier this year with the acquisition of a dozen Mercedes Citaros from Bus Vannin (numbered 141-52) to see off a number of the Darts and some of the 10 original shape Alexander Dennis Enviro300s. The withdrawal programme has been hastrened by the arrival of four Alexander Dennis E20D MMCs on hire from Mistral (numbered 271-4) and five Wright Solar-bodied Scania L94UBs and K230UBs (numbered 768-72) from Go South Coast's Swindon depot.
My photograph focuses on the latter and shows Scania K230UB 772 cruising down Westgate Street in the City Centre in October 2021. She is distinctive in carrying an all-over blue livery, whilst others retain blue and green.
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)
Most people hate flies, but never seen its face for details.
Motic 4X
120 studio lights exposures stacked
Sony NEX-3NL
Show details for test stability
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.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 11, 2020) Royal Australian Navy, Republic of Korea Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and United States Navy warships sail in formation during the Pacific Vanguard 2020 exercise. Pacific Vanguard serves as an opportunity to exercise and improve multinational interoperability at all levels; to improve tactical proficiency; and to adapt to ever changing regional challenges. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) 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 Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel Hardgrove)
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)
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. 26, 2020) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Breanna Delafuente, from Long Beach, Miss., assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), prepares to launch a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 from the ship’s flight deck. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit 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 Vincent E. Zline)
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)
Zwei Weltbilder stehen einander gegenüber. Für das Pentagon ist (seit 2001) Stabilität der strategische Feind der USA, während diese für Russland die Voraussetzung für Frieden ist.
Seit zwei Jahrzehnten wendet das Pentagon die "Rumsfeld/Cebrowski-Doktrin" im "Erweiterten Mittleren Osten" an, um Instabilität, Chaos, Bürgerkrieg und Massenterror zu erzeugen. Das Pentagon fungiert als autonomes Entscheidungszentrum, das sich der Macht des Präsidenten entzieht. Es ist eine zivil-militärische Verwaltung, die anderen Militärs ihre Ziele auferlegt.
Das Pentagon hat eine 60.000 Mann starke Geheimtruppe. Sie erscheint nicht in offiziellen Dokumenten und arbeitet ohne Uniform. Angeblich gegen den Terrorismus eingesetzt, sind sie es, die ihn in Wirklichkeit praktizieren. Die offiziellen US-Armeen hingegen sind dem Kampf gegen die russischen und chinesischen Rivalen gewidmet.
(Thierry Meyssan, aus www.voltairenet.org/article213167.html)
In meinem Buch " L’Effroyable imposture” (Der inszenierte Terrorismus) [1] [2] schrieb ich im März 2002, dass die Anschläge vom 11. September darauf abzielten, die Zustimmung der US-Amerikaner zu gewinnen:
- Im Innland für ein Massenüberwachungssystem (Patriot Act);
- Und im Ausland für eine Wiederaufnahme der imperialen Politik, über die es damals keine zugänglichen Dokumente gab.
Erst 2005, als Oberst Ralph Peters – damals Kommentator von Fox News – die berühmte Karte des Generalstabschefs der "Umgestaltung" des "Mittleren Ostens" [3] veröffentlichte, wurde alles klarer. Es war damals ein Schock in allen Kanzleien: Das Pentagon plante, die Grenzen der französisch-britischen Kolonialherrschaft (Sykes-Picot-Sazonov Abkommen von 1916) ohne Rücksicht auf irgendeinen Staat, auch wenn er ein Verbündeter war, neu zu zeichnen.
Jeder Staat in der Region hat von da an alles in seiner Macht Stehende getan, um zu verhindern, dass der Sturm über sein Volk hereinbricht. Anstatt sich mit den Nachbarländern gegen den gemeinsamen Feind zu vereinigen, versuchte jeder, die Hand des Pentagons auf seine Nachbarn umzuleiten. Der symbolträchtigste Fall ist der der Türkei, die mehrmals ihren Kurs wechselte und den wirbeligen Eindruck eines tollwütigen Hundes erweckte.
Aber die Karte, die Oberst Peters enthüllte — welcher den Verteidigungsminister Donald Rumsfeld hasste — erlaubte nicht, das ganze Projekt zu verstehen. Bereits bei den Anschlägen vom 11. September hatte er einen Artikel in der Zeitschrift der US-Armee, Parameters [4] veröffentlicht. Er bezog sich auf die Karte, die er erst vier Jahre später veröffentlichte, und schlug vor, dass das Komitee der Stabschefs sie mittels grausamer Verbrechen durch Subunternehmer durchführen lassen sollte, um sich nicht die Hände schmutzig zu machen. Man konnte denken, er bezöge sich auf private Armeen, aber die Geschichte zeigte, dass sie sich auch nicht auf Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit einlassen konnten.
Das letzte Wort des Projekts fiel im "Office of Force Transformation", das Donald Rumsfeld in den Tagen nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September im Pentagon gründete. Dieses Büro war von Admiral Arthur Cebrowski besetzt. Dieser berühmte Stratege war der Designer der Computerisierung der Armeen [5]. Man konnte glauben, dass dieses Büro ein Mittel war, um seine Arbeit zu vollenden. Aber niemand stellte diese Reorganisation mehr in Frage. Nein, er war da, um die Mission der US-Armeen umzuwandeln, wie die wenigen Aufnahmen seiner Vorträge in Militärakademien bezeugen.
Arthur Cebrowski verweilte drei Jahre damit, allen höheren US-Offizieren, also allen heutigen Generalstabsoffizieren Unterricht zu geben.
Was er lehrte, war ziemlich einfach. Die Weltwirtschaft wurde mehr und mehr global. Um die führende Macht der Welt zu bleiben, mussten sich die USA dem Finanzkapitalismus anpassen. Der beste Weg war, den entwickelten Ländern zu garantieren, dass sie die natürlichen Ressourcen der armen Länder ohne politische Hindernisse ausbeuten könnten. Daher gliederte er die Welt in zwei Teile: auf der einen Seite die globalisierten Volkswirtschaften (einschließlich Russland und China), die als stabile Märkte dienen sollten, und auf der anderen Seite alle anderen, die ihren staatlichen Strukturen beraubt und dem Chaos ausgeliefert werden müssten, damit die transnationalen Unternehmen deren Reichtum ohne Widerstand ausbeuten könnten. Um dies zu erreichen, müssen nicht-globalisierte Völker nach ethnischen Kriterien aufgeteilt und ideologisch beherrscht werden.
Die erste Region sollte die arabisch-muslimische Zone von Marokko bis Pakistan sein, mit Ausnahme von Israel und zwei benachbarten Kleinststaaten, die die Ausbreitung des Brandes verhindern sollten, Jordanien und Libanon. Das war, was das Außenministerium den "Erweiterten Mittleren Osten" genannt hat. Dieses Gebiet wurde nicht nach den Erdölreserven definiert, sondern nach den Elementen der gemeinsamen Kultur seiner Bewohner.
Der Krieg, den sich Admiral Cebrowski vorstellte, sollte zunächst die gesamte Region abdecken. Er sollte die Spaltungen des Kalten Krieges nicht berücksichtigen. Die USA hatten dort keine Freunde oder Feinde mehr. Der Feind definierte sich auch nicht durch seine Ideologie (die Kommunisten), oder seine Religion (den "Kampf der Zivilisationen"), sondern ausschließlich durch seine Nichtintegration in die globalisierte Wirtschaft des Finanzkapitalismus. Nichts könnte diejenigen schützen, die das Unglück hatten, keine Mitläufer zu sein, d.h. unabhängig zu sein.
Dieser Krieg sollte nicht nur den USA allein erlauben, die natürlichen Ressourcen zu nutzen, wie es bei den früheren Kriegen der Fall war, sondern allen globalisierten Staaten. Die USA interessierten sich übrigens nicht mehr wirklich für die Rohstoffausbeute, sie wollten vor allem die Arbeit weltweit aufteilen und andere für sich arbeiten lassen.
All dies brachte taktische Veränderungen mit sich, in der Art und Weise Krieg zu führen, da es nicht mehr darum ging, den Sieg zu erringen, sondern um einen "endlosen Krieg" zu führen, wie Präsident George W. Bush es ausdrückte. In der Tat, alle seit dem 11. September begonnenen Kriege werden noch an fünf verschiedenen Fronten fortgesetzt: Afghanistan, Irak, Libyen, Syrien, Jemen.
Es spielt keine Rolle, ob die alliierten Regierungen diese Kriege gemäß der Mitteilung der Vereinigten Staaten interpretieren: Es sind keine Bürgerkriege, sondern Schritte eines vom Pentagon vorgegebenen Plans.
Die „Cebrowski-Doktrin“ erschütterte die US-Armeen. Sein Assistent Thomas Barnett schrieb einen Artikel für Esquire Magazine [6] und veröffentlichte dann ein Buch, um sie der breiten Öffentlichkeit genauer vorzustellen: Die Neue Karte des Pentagon [7].
Die Tatsache, dass in seinem nach dem Tod von Admiral Cebrowski veröffentlichtem Buch, Barnett sich selbst die Vaterschaft von dessen Lehre zuschreibt, darf nicht zu einer Illusion führen. Das ist nur ein Mittel für das Pentagon, keine Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Das gleiche Phänomen war zum Beispiel beim "Kampf der Kulturen" zu beobachten. Ursprünglich war dies die "Lewis-Doktrin", ein Kommunikationsargument, das im Nationalen Sicherheitsrat entwickelt wurde, um der Öffentlichkeit neue Kriege zu verkaufen. Sie wurde der breiten Öffentlichkeit von Bernard Lewis‘ Assistent, Samuel Huntington, präsentiert, der sie als akademische Beschreibung einer unausweichlichen Realität vorstellte.
Die Umsetzung der Rumsfeld/Cebrowski-Doktrin hat viele Überraschungen erlebt. Einige kamen aus dem Pentagon selbst, andere von den Völkern, die man zermalmte. So wurde der Rücktritt des Kommandanten des Central Command, Admiral William Fallon, organisiert, weil er aus eigener Initiative einen vernünftigen Frieden mit dem Iran von Mahmud Ahmadinedschad ausgehandelt hatte. Sein Rücktritt wurde von... Barnett selbst organisiert, der einen Artikel veröffentlichte, in dem Fallon wegen beleidigenden Äußerungen gegen Präsident Bush angeklagt wurde. Oder aber das Scheitern der Desorganisation Syriens ist auf den Widerstand seines Volkes und den Eintritt der russischen Armee zurückzuführen. Das Pentagon hat dann die Ernte niedergebrannt und eine Blockade des Landes organisiert, um es auszuhungern; Racheakte, die seine Unfähigkeit zur Zerstörung staatlicher Strukturen belegen.
Während seines Wahlkampfes hatte Donald Trump gegen den endlosen Krieg gekämpft und für die Rückkehr der GI‘s. Es gelang ihm, keine neuen Fronten zu öffnen und ein paar Männer zurückzubringen, aber er konnte das Pentagon nicht zähmen. Letzteres hat seine „ohne Unterschrift" angeheuerten Spezialeinheiten entwickelt und den libanesischen Staat ohne sichtbaren Einsatz von Soldaten zerstört. Diese Strategie setzt es nun in Israel selbst um, indem es im Zuge der Konfrontation zwischen Hamas und Israel anti-arabische und antijüdische Pogrome organisiert.
Das Pentagon hat mehrmals versucht, die "Rumsfeld/Cebrowski-Doktrin" auf das Karibische Becken auszudehnen. Es plante einen Umsturz, nicht des Regimes von Nicolás Maduro, sondern der Bolivarischen Republik Venezuela. Es hat den Sturz schließlich aufgeschoben.
Es ist zu beachten, dass das Pentagon eine autonome Macht geworden ist. Es verfügt über ein gigantisches Budget das etwa dem Doppelten des gesamten französischen jährlichen Staatshaushaltes entspricht (ohne Gebietskörperschaften und Sozialversicherung). In der Praxis geht seine Macht weit darüber hinaus, da es alle Mitgliedstaaten des Atlantischen Bündnisses kontrolliert. Es soll dem Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten Bericht erstatten, aber die Erfahrungen von Präsident Barack Obama und Donald Trump zeigen uns genau das Gegenteil. Ersterer konnte General John Allen seine Politik gegenüber Daesh nicht aufzwingen, der andere wurde vom Central Command irregeführt. Es gibt keine Anhaltspunkte dafür, dass es mit Präsident Joe Biden anders sein wird.
Der jüngste offene Brief der ehemaligen US-Offiziere [8] zeigt, dass niemand mehr weiß, wer die US-Armeen anführt. Wie auch immer ihre eines Kalten Krieges würdige politische Analyse ist, sie widerlegt nicht deren Feststellung im Brief: Die Bundesverwaltung und die Generalstabsoffiziere sind absolut nicht mehr auf derselben Wellenlänge.
Die von der Washington Post veröffentlichten Arbeiten von William Arkin zeigten, dass der Bundesstaat nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September einen Schwarm von Agenturen, die von der Abteilung für Sicherheit des Vaterlandes überwacht wurden, organisiert hatte [9]. Unter größter Geheimhaltung fangen sie die Kommunikation aller Menschen in den USA ab und archivieren sie. Arkin hat gerade in Newsweek enthüllt, dass das Verteidigungsministerium seinerseits geheime Spezialeinheiten geschaffen hatte, die sich von denen in Uniform unterscheiden [10]. Sie sind heute für die Rumsfeld/Cebrowski-Doktrin zuständig, egal, wer das Weiße Haus und seine Außenpolitik betreibt.
Als das Pentagon 2001 Afghanistan und dann Irak angriff, nahm es seine klassischen Armeen - es hatte keine anderen - und die seines britischen Verbündeten. Während des "endlosen Krieges" im Irak stellte es jedoch irakische, sunnitische und schiitische Dschihadisten auf, um das Land in einen Bürgerkrieg zu stürzen [11]. Eine Gruppe von ihnen, die von Al-Qaida stammt, wurde 2011 in Libyen eingesetzt, eine weitere im Irak 2014 unter dem Namen Daesch. Allmählich haben diese Gruppen die Rolle der US-Armeen eingenommen, um die Drecksarbeit und die Massenmorde zu erledigen, die Oberst Ralph Peters 2001 beschrieben hatte.
Heute hat niemand im Jemen, im Libanon und in Israel Soldaten in Uniform gesehen. Das Pentagon hat selbst für deren Rückzug Werbung gemacht. Aber es gibt 60.000 geheime US-Spezialeinheiten, also ohne Uniform, die in diesen Ländern durch Bürgerkrieg Chaos fabrizieren.
[1] 11. September. Der inszenierte Terrorismus: ’Kein Flugzeug traf das Pentagon, Thierry Meyssan, De facto (2002).
[2] Entgegen einer landläufigen Meinung, handelt dieses Buch nicht von den Anschlägen des 11. September. Nur der erste Teil ("Blutige Inszenierung") zeigt die materielle Unmöglichkeit der offiziellen Version. Die anderen beiden Teile befassen sich mit der Politik der Massenüberwachung ("Tod der Demokratie in Amerika") und dem bevorstehenden imperialen Projekt ("Das Imperium attackiert").
[3] “Blood borders. How a better Middle East would look”, Ralph Peters, Armed Forces Journal, June 1, 2006.
[4] “Stability. America’s ennemy”, Ralph Peters, Parameters, #31-4, Winter 2001.
[5] Transforming Military Force. The Legacy of Arthur Cebrowski and Network Centric Warfare, James R. Blaker, Praeger Security International (2007).
[6] “Why the Pentagon Changes Its Maps. And why we’ll keep going to war”, Thomas Barnett, Esquire Magazine, March 2003.
[7] The Pentagon’s New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-first Century, Thomas P. M. Barnett, Paw Prints (2004).
[8] “Open Letter from Retired Generals and Admirals”, Voltaire Network, 9 May 2021.
[9] Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State, William M. Arkin & Dana Priest, Back Bay Books (2012).
[10] “Exclusive: Inside the Military’s Secret Undercover Army”, William M. Arkin, Newsweek, May 17, 2021.
[11] Sous nos yeux, Kapitel: "Die Verschmelzung der beiden Gladios und die Vorbereitung von Daesch", S. 122 ff., Thierry Meyssan, Demi-Lune éd. (2017)
------------------------------------------------------------
Das Pentagon hat zehnmal mächtigere geheime Spezialeinheiten aufgebaut als die CIA (Newsweek)
(aus www.voltairenet.org/article213155.html)
Der Journalist William Arkin, ein unbestrittener Experte der Sekretariate für Verteidigung und Sicherheit des Vaterlandes, hat eine umfangreiche Untersuchung auf der Newsweek-Website veröffentlicht [1]. Er enthüllt die Existenz von 60.000 geheimen Spezialkräften in den US-Streitkräften.
Diese erscheinen jedoch nicht in den Organigrammen des Verteidigungssekretariats, sondern als Subunternehmer von 120 verschiedenen Unternehmen. Sie können jederzeit, überall auf der Welt, oder sogar in den USA, in Uniform oder in Zivil intervenieren.
Diese Pentagon-Agenten haben ausgeklügelte Mittel, um ihre Gesichter und Fingerabdrücke so zu verändern, dass sie biometrischen Identifizierungssystemen entrinnen.
Die Genfer Konvention erkennt Personen, die ohne Uniform handeln oder ihre Identität verheimlichen, nicht die Eigenschaft von Soldaten zu.
Dieses Programm, bekannt als "Unterschriftenreduzierung", wurde 2013 geschaffen und ist den Kongressabgeordneten unbekannt.
Übersetzung: Horst Frohlich
[1] “Exclusive: Inside the Military’s Secret Undercover Army”, William M. Arkin, Newsweek, May 17, 2021: www.newsweek.com/exclusive-inside-militarys-secret-underc...
DSC_0114kl
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"
PHILIPPINE SEA (March 14, 2020) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) launches a torpedo during an anti-submarine exercise. Mustin is underway conducting operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific while assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s largest principal force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Askia Collins)
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)
Must attribute with link to: www.ptpioneer.com
Image of a girl working out Outside doing stability ball Crunches outdoors in a park
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)
An old image when I had my time shooting on one of the most bombed islands in World War II.
***Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM ӏ Exposure details: 17mm at f/8, 1/400s, ISO 400
One person can exemplify stability in a changing world.
This Subtractive Filter Harris Shutter Effect image was constructed from three successive frames after warping/registering static details on the crossing guard. A moving camera gave colored background ghosts due to parallax shift, while moving pedestrians generated additional colored ghosts.
Quick links to related images
Read how to construct this type of image from three sequential photos.
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Dr. Larue: "Well we would have unexplicable tremors, tramatic changes in the weather, and if we didn't achieve stability our world is headed for disaster."
*lightbalb pops*
Mayor: "Oh we're doomed."
~ Horton Hears a Who
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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WMI Military Intelligence Report 03032104
WMI Intelligence Operatives report a new threat to the stability of the South Africa theater. Mobile combat units have been spotted in the Luange and Mucusso wilds bearing the livery of the South Angolan Nationalists. It's unknown if these units have crossed the border into the Nambia conflict zone at this time.
These new players are believed to be part the South Angolan Nationalist Desert Strike Team Ordinarily Riding Machines more commonly referred to as SANDSTORM. The South Angolans have managed to acquire the latest in military technology including GEN 5 fighters and Uberpowerfull mobile armor as seen in the above image capture. The J'ba Fofi armoed unit nicknamed the Witch Spider supports a single pilot and onboard artificial intelligence for autonomous usage.
To date only 3 SANDSTORM sitings have been reported and it's WMI Military Intelligence's belief that more reports are imminent.
Report Ends.
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South Angolan Nationlist Anthem.
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For Frankie C:
Hey dude. I know the trans green isn't on the approved color list but I figured that we'd need some sort of trans for the "latest in military technology". I also tried to make it as STUDless as possible but sorta failed. I did throw a bigass gun on there for yah though (shamelessly stolen from LegoJunkie). I'm also not sure what a SANDSTORM standard issue uniform looks like so I just took a stab at it. Well four random stabs I guess. It's also a little on the big side and has plenty of sci-fi jazz - sorry bout that homie.
SASEBO, Japan (Aug. 9, 2020) Landing craft, air cushion 10, assigned to Naval Beach Unit 7, prepares to enter the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) as the ship conducts amphibious operations. Germantown, part of the 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)
INDIAN OCEAN (March 7, 2019) Lt. Eric Jensen, from Austin, Texas, signals an EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is deployed in 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/Released)
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.
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.
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Abandoned Abused Street Dogs.
Back Story .........................................
Long day so I'll start at the beginning .
Arrived just after first light, Mama was at the gate.
Opened the bingo room, filled the dog bowl then
with Mama on point we went up to the roof for a recon.
Sent out the usual sharp whistle across the swamp and
Rocky was in motion. When he arrived at the same same
spot Mama and Rocky did the wild crash and chase game.
Spent four + hours on the roof addressing some of the
alien marks on the walls.
Remember I said change was coming and I wasn't kidding.
By 11AM the heat on the roof was getting to us so we took
off for the bingo room. Dogs were given fresh food an water.
Next on the to do list is a visit over where the head monk is.
Big bag of special food was made ready for all the hooligans
that live over there, same place where the cave is.
With Rocky and Mama in tow we circumvented the DMZ and
did an exit across the cement walking bridge.
One item I wanted to pick up from the head monk is another
colorful braided bracelet.Actually I wanted 3 more.
The 40 Baht charged for each bracelet goes in a donation box.
You most likely notice them on my wrist in many of my photos.
There was maybe 80 or 100 new colorful bracelets on display but Mr Murphy had to make his presents known.
Dug through all of them and could only find one that fit my hands. The woman who was showing them was perplexed cuz
they just didn't fit. I took her hand and placed it on mine. Her hand only covered my palm. We both had a big laugh and I took the only one that semi- fit, such is life..... ;-)
So now lets talk about this photo ...................................................
Mama and Rocky were waiting for me about 40 meters away.
When the business was finished with the bracelet and all the
hooligans were fed and cared for we took off along the base of
the monkey mountain. There's a very steep and very old set of
cement stairs that goes straight up. Might mention, these steps are quite precarious, dangerous and lacking in stability.
Anyway Mama an Rocky insisted on going for a hike by taking
a detour straight up said cement steps.
They kept stopping and looking back at me to make sure we were all on the same page. Well I figured this was a good time
to just follow along plus they needed something different to do.
Couldn't believe they were so full of energy cuz I wasn't !
Not after the time we spent on the roof in the boiling hot sun.
Mama was on point while Rocky stayed close to me. When I sat
Rocky laid right next to me even when Mama went far ahead.
In-fact at one point Mama was about 100 + meters up ahead of
us. She was out of sight and I could tell Rocky didn't like her
doing that but like a loyal bodyguard he stayed right next to me.
An hour later we all descended back down the mentioned steps.
Going down was really hard on the knees, not theirs just mine.
Wandered back over to the bingo room where more water an
food was consumed by the three of us. .
Made it home around 3:30PM where 3 more hooligans awaited
my timely arrival.
It'll be a couple days before I can return to The Dog Palace.
No# 1 went to Bangkok today and won't be back any time soon.
Her youngest brother is in the hospital for surgery so her return is up in the air for the time being.
It's my job to hold down the fort until her return, plus the new
bike goes in tomorrow for it's license which was out dated the
last day of December.Both bikes have been sitting 4 six months.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments ..... The End .....
Otis Redding , Satisfaction.
Thank you for your comments and donations.
Thank You.
Jon&Crew.
Please help with your donations here.
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Winter day at Starved Rock State Park. Visiting canyons . Photographing Ice formations. Digital photography.
Hadrian's Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of Great Britain. It was the second of three such fortifications built across Great Britain, the first being Gask Ridge and the last the Antonine Wall. All three were built to prevent military raids by the Pictish tribes (ancient inhabitants of Scotland) to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in the Roman province of Britannia to the south, and to physically mark the frontier of the Empire. Hadrian's Wall is the best known of the three because it remains the most physically preserved and evident today.
The wall was the northern border of the Empire in Britain for much of the Roman Empire's rule, and also the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its use as a military fortification, it is thought that the gates through the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade taxation.
A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England, where it is often known simply as the Roman Wall. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. English Heritage, a government organization in charge of managing the historic environment of England, describes it as "the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain".[1]
Sections of Hadrian's Wall remain near Greenhead and along the route, though other large sections have been dismantled over the years to use the stones for various nearby construction projects.
Sections of Hadrian's Wall remain near Greenhead and along the route, though other large sections have been dismantled over the years to use the stones for various nearby construction projects.
The Roman name of the Wall
No stone inscription survives to confirm what the Wall was called in antiquity, and no historical source gives it a name. However, the discovery of a small enamelled bronze Roman cup in Staffordshire in 2003 has provided a clue. The cup is inscribed with a series of names of Roman forts (see also the botrom of this page) along the western sector of the Wall, together with a personal name and a phrase:
MAIS COGGABATA VXELODVNVM CAMBOGLANNA RIGORE VALI AELI DRACONIS
Here we have Bowness (MAIS, followed by what must be the correct name for Drumburgh-by-Sands (COGGABATA) until now known only as CONGAVATA from the late Roman document, the Notitia Dignitatum. Next comes Stanwix (VXELODVNVM), then Castlesteads (CAMBOGLANNA), before we get to the most tantalizing part.
RIGORE seems to be the ablative form of the Latin word rigor. This can mean several things, but one of its less well-known meanings is ‘straight line’, ‘course’ or ‘direction’. This was used by Roman surveyors and appears on a number of inscriptions to indicate a line between places. So the meaning could be ‘from the course’, or better in English 'according to the course'.
The Staffordshire Moorlands cup, which provides the ancient name of Hadrian's Wall.
The Staffordshire Moorlands cup, which provides the ancient name of Hadrian's Wall.
There is no such word as vali, but in antiquity Hadrian’s Wall was known as the Vallum, the Latin word for a frontier which is today incorrectly applied to the ditch and mounds dug by the Roman army just south of the Wall. The genitive form of Vallum is Valli, so one of the most likely meanings is VAL[L]I, ‘of the frontier’. Omitting one of a pair of double consonants is common on Roman inscriptions, and transcribing an inscription from a written note is the easiest way to miss out letters. Another similar bronze vessel, known as the Rudge Cup (found in Wiltshire in the 18th century) has VN missing from the name VXELODVNVM, for example, although the letters appear on the Staffordshire cup. The Rudge Cup only bears fort names.
The name AELI is also in the genitive. This was Hadrian's nomen, his main family name and we know that the Roman bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was called Pons Aelius.
Finally we have the name DRACONIS, which can be translated as ‘[by the hand – or property] of Aelius Draco’. It was normal for Roman manufacturers to give their names in the genitive (‘of’), and ‘by the hand’ would be understood. The form is common, for example, on samian pottery.
The translation, therefore, could be:
‘Mais, Coggabata, Uxelodunum, Camboglanna, according to the line of the Aelian frontier. [By the hand or The property] of Draco’.
This would mean the Romans knew Hadrian's Wall as Vallum Aeli, 'the Aelian frontier'.
Dimensions
Hadrian's Wall was 80 Roman miles (73.5 English miles or 117 kilometres) long, its width and height dependent on the construction materials which were available nearby: east of River Irthing the wall was made from squared stone and measured 3 m (9.7 ft) wide and 5 to 6 metres (16–20 ft) tall; west of the river the wall was made from turf and measured 6 metres (20 ft) wide and 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) high. This does not include the wall's ditches, berms, and forts. The central section measured 8 Roman feet wide (7.8 ft or 2.4 m) on a 10 foot base.
Route
Map showing the location of Hadrian's Wall.
Map showing the location of Hadrian's Wall.
Hadrian's Wall extended west Segedunum at Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. The A69 and B6318 roads follow the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The Wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 kilometres (9 mi) in the west and 110 kilometres (68 mi) in the east.
Hadrian
Hadrian's Wall was built following a visit by Roman emperor Hadrian (AD 76–138) in AD 122. Hadrian was experiencing military difficulties in Britain, and from the peoples of various conquered lands across the Empire, including Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania, and many of the peoples conquered by his predecessor Trajan, so he was keen to impose order. However the construction of such an impressive wall was probably also a symbol of Roman power, both in occupied Britain and in Rome. Frontiers in the early empire were based more on natural features or fortified zones with a heavy military presence. Military roads or limes often marked the border, with forts and signal towers spread along them and it was not until the reign of Domitian that the first solid frontier was constructed, in Germania Superior, using a simple fence. Hadrian expanded on this idea, redesigning the German border by ordering a continuous timber palisade supported by forts behind it. Although such defences would not have held back any concerted invasion effort, they did physically mark the edge of Roman territory and went some way to providing a degree of control over who crossed the border and where.
Hadrian reduced Roman military presence in the territory of the Brigantes and concentrated on building a more solid linear fortification to the north of them. This was intended to replace the Stanegate road which is generally thought to have served as the limes (the boundary of the Roman Empire) until then.
Construction
Construction probably started in 122 AD and was largely completed within eight years, with soldiers from all three of the occupying Roman legions participating in the work. The route chosen largely paralleled the nearby Stanegate road from Luguvalium (Carlisle) to Coria (Corbridge), which was already defended by a system of forts, including Vindolanda. The Wall in part follows the outcrop of a harder, more resistant igneous dolerite rock escarpment, known as the Great Whin Sill.
The initial plan called for a ditch and wall with 80 small, gated milecastle fortlets every Roman mile holding a few dozen troops each, and pairs of evenly spaced intermediate turrets used for observation and signalling. The wall was initially designed to a width of 3 metres (10 ft) (the so-called "Broad Wall"). The height is estimated to have been around 5 or 6 metres (16–20 ft). Local limestone was used in the construction, except for the section to the west of Irthing where turf was used instead as there were no useful outcrops nearby. The turf wall was 6 metres wide (20 ft) and around 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) high. Milecastles in this area were also built from timber and earth rather than stone but turrets were always stone. The Broad Wall was initially built with a clay-bonded rubble core and mortared dressed rubble facing stones, but this seems to have made it vulnerable to collapse and repair with a mortared core was sometimes necessary.
Roman fort at Corstopitum.
Roman fort at Corstopitum.
The milecastles were of three different designs, depending on which Roman legion built them — the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Legions, whose inscriptions tell us were all involved in the construction. Similarly there are three different turret designs along the route. All were about 493 metres (539 yd) apart and measured 4.27 metres square (46.0 sq ft) internally.
Construction was divided into lengths of about 5 miles (8 km). One group of each legion would create the foundations and build the milecastles and turrets and then other cohorts would follow, building the wall itself.
Early in its construction, just after reaching the North Tyne (construction worked from east to west), the width of the wall was narrowed to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) or even less (sometimes 1.8m) (the "Narrow Wall"). However, Broad Wall foundations had already been laid as far as the river Irthing, where the Turf Wall began, and many turrets and milecastles were optimistically provided with stub 'wing walls' in preparation for joining to the Broad Wall; a handy reference for archaeologists trying to piece together the construction chronology.
Within a few years it was decided to add a total of 14 to 17 (sources disagree) full-sized forts along the length of the wall, including Vercovicium (Housesteads) and Banna (Birdoswald), each holding between 500 and 1,000 auxiliary troops (no legions were posted to the wall). The eastern end of the wall was extended further east from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Segedunum (Wallsend) on the Tyne estuary. Some of the larger forts along the wall, such as Cilurnum (Chesters) and Vercovicium (Housesteads), were built on top of the footings of milecastles or turrets, showing the change of plan. An inscription mentioning early governor Aulus Platorius Nepos indicates that the change of plans took place early on. Also some time still during Hadrian's reign (i.e., before AD 138) the wall west of the Irthing was rebuilt in sandstone to basically the same dimensions as the limestone section to the east.
Vallum at Hadrian's Wall near milecastle 42
Vallum at Hadrian's Wall near milecastle 42
After the forts had been added (or possibly at the same time), the so-called Vallum was built on the southern side. It consisted of a large, flat-bottomed ditch 6 metres (20 ft) wide at the top and 3 metres (10 ft) deep bounded by a berm on each side 10 metres (33 ft) wide. Beyond the berms were earth banks 6 metres (20 ft) wide and 2 metres (6.5 ft) high. Causeways crossed the ditch at regular intervals. Initially the berm appears to have been the main route for transportation along the wall. The Vallum probably delineated a military zone rather than intending to be a major fortification, though the British tribes to the south were also sometimes a military problem.
The Wall was thus part of a defensive system which, from north to south included:
* a glacis and a deep ditch
* a berm with rows of pits holding entanglements
* the curtain wall itself
* a later military road (the "Military Way")
* a north mound, a ditch and a south mound to prevent or slow down any raids from a rebelling southern tribe.
Roman-period names
The remains of milecastle 39, near Steel Rigg
The remains of milecastle 39, near Steel Rigg
The Roman-period names of some of the Hadrian's Wall forts are known, from the Notitia Dignitatum and other evidence:
* Segedunum (Wallsend)
* Pons Aelius (Newcastle on Tyne)
* Condercum (Benwell Hill)
* Vindobala (Halton Chesters)[2]
* Hunnum (Rudchester)[2]
* Cilurnum (Chesters aka Walwick Chesters)[2]
* Procolita (Carrowburgh)
* Vercovicium (Housesteads)
* Aesica (Great Chesters)[2]
* Magnis (Carvoran)
* Banna (Birdoswald)
* Camboglanna (Castlesteads)
* Uxelodunum (Stanwix. Also known as Petriana)
* Aballava (Burgh-by-Sands)
* Coggabata (Drumburgh)
* Mais (Bowness)
Outpost forts beyond the Wall include:
* Habitancum (Risingham)
* Bremenium (Rochester)[2]
* Ad Fines (Chew Green) [1]
Supply forts behind the wall include:
* Alauna (Maryport)
* Arbeia (South Shields)
* Coria (Corbridge)
* Vindolanda (Little Chesters)[2]
* Vindomora (Ebchester)[2]
Garrison
The wall was garrisoned by auxiliary (i.e., non-legionary) units of the army (non-citizens). Their numbers fluctuated throughout the occupation, but may have been around 9,000 strong in general, including infantry and cavalry. The new forts could hold garrisons of 500 men while cavalry units of 1,000 troops were stationed at either end. The total number of soldiers manning the early wall was probably greater than 10,000.
They suffered serious attacks in 180, and especially between 196 and 197 when the garrison had been seriously weakened, following which major reconstruction had to be carried out under Septimius Severus. The region near the wall remained peaceful for most of the rest of the 3rd century. It is thought that many in the garrison may have married and integrated into the local community.
Part of Hadrian's wall near Housesteads.
Part of Hadrian's wall near Housesteads.
After Hadrian
In the years after Hadrian's death in 138, the new emperor, Antoninus Pius essentially abandoned the wall, though leaving it occupied in a support role, and began building a new wall in Scotland proper, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north, the Antonine Wall. This turf wall ran 40 Roman miles (about 37.8 mi or 61 km) and had significantly more forts than Hadrian's Wall. Antonine was unable to conquer the northern tribes and so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he abandoned the Antonine Wall and occupied Hadrian's Wall once again in 164. It remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain.
In the late 4th century, barbarian invasions, economic decline, and military coups loosened the Empire's hold on Britain. By 410, the Roman administration and its legions were gone, and Britain was left to look to its own defences and government. The garrisons, by now probably made up mostly of local Britons who had nowhere else to go, probably lingered on in some form for generations. Archaeology is beginning to reveal that some parts of the Wall remained occupied well into the 5th century. Enough also survived in the 8th century for spolia from it to find its way into the construction of Jarrow Priory, and for Bede to see and describe the Wall thus in Historia Ecclesiastica 1.5, although he misidentified it as being built by Septimius Severus:
“ after many great and dangerous battles, he thought fit to divide that part of the island, which he had recovered from the other unconquered nations, not with a wall, as some imagine, but with a rampart. For a wall is made of stones, but a rampart, with which camps are fortified to repel the assaults of enemies, is made of sods, cut out of the earth, and raised above the ground all round like a wall, having in front of it the ditch whence the sods were taken, and strong stakes of wood fixed upon its top. ”
But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries and even into the 20th century a large proportion of the stone was reused in other local buildings.
In fiction
Sycamore Gap (the "Robin Hood Tree")
Sycamore Gap (the "Robin Hood Tree")
* Hadrian's Wall was featured extensively in the movie King Arthur (which depicted the story of the people the Arthurian legends were supposedly based on). The one kilometre (0.6 mi) long replica, located in County Kildare, Ireland, was the largest movie set ever built in that country, and took a crew of 300 construction workers four and a half months to build. The fort in the movie where Arthur and his Sarmatian "knights" were garrisoned was based on the Roman fort named Vindolanda, which was built around AD 80 just south of Hadrian's Wall in what is now called Chesterholm, in Northern England. In the movie, the fort is attached to the wall.
* Sycamore Gap, a section of the wall between two crests just west of milecastle 38, is locally known as the "Robin Hood Tree". This location was used in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, as the setting for an interlude during Robin's journey from the White Cliffs (actually shot at the Seven Sisters Hills) to Nottingham via Aysgarth Falls.
bighugelabs.com/flickr/scout.php?mode=history&id=1352...
[...] True stability results when presumed order and presumed disorder are balanced. A truly stable system expects the unexpected, is prepared to be disrupted, waits to be transformed [...]
-- Quote by Tom Robbins, American Novelist (1936)
(Italian volcano Stromboli vs Sun)
Sunset view from Tropea, Italy (August, 2007)
PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 11, 2021) An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) lands on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st MEU, 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.
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/
Chat GPT
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 â 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
Pennybacker Bridge, Austin, TX
Taken from one of may favorite places in Austin--off the cliffs near the 360 bridge at sunset.
Just before Thanksgiving, I decided to get myself a decent tripod for Christmas. Until then, I did my landscapes and HDRs either on a wobbly old tripod or handheld. I was hoping to get a tripod that was good enough to do more serious landscapes including HDRs and long exposures but also light enough travel around and bring on a airplane. This image, taken back last November, was my first serious attempt to test the stability of the new tripod. I'm happy with the performance since my old tripod was not stable enough to do a clean 30 second exposure.
Explore #421 | 01/10/2010
PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 26, 2020) The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) transit the Philippine Sea to maintain stability in the region. America, flagship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, assigned to Amphibious Squadron Eleven, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 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 Seaman Matthew Cavenaile)