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TO VIEW sit back from your monitor 2 feet and place your index finger about 10 inches in front of your eyes and focus on your finger. This will cause your eyes to go comfortably cross eyed. Keep that same cross eyed focus and notice there are now 3 photos in the back ground. Do not let your eyes leave the cross eye as you look at the middle picture which has appeared. Now increase or decrease how much your eyes are cross eyed until the image pops into 3D. Your eyes will want to leave the cross eye, but fight that urge. This is an acquired skill and takes practice. Stop if it's uncomfortable.
I cannot believe the price of hotel rooms in Belfast. Last year I was able to get a room for three nights in May at the Ramada Encore for Euro 252 this year they are looking for Euro 406 for the same dates [ and don’t forget that Sterling has dropped against the Euro by about 15% ]. The asking price at the Malmaison is Euro 374. I should mention that these are the prices if your booking can be cancelled or changed free of charge. In 2015 the Ramada charged me Euro 175.50 for three nights.
Malmaison Hotel Belfast is a hotel within a listed building in the city of Belfast. It is on the corner of Victoria Street and Marlborough Street.
It is built in what were two seed warehouses from the 1860s, retaining some original features including iron pillars and beams and carved stone gargoyles. It has 64 rooms, in bordello style, two rock’n’roll theme suites, and a bar and brasserie. It caters for meetings and conferences for up to 22 people. Before becoming the Malmaison it was The McCausland Hotel.
Marylebone Warwick Balfour (MWB) bought the Malmaison boutique hotel group in 2000. In 2004 it bought the McCausland Hotel in Belfast, and reopened it as the Irish Malmaison in December that year.
Once upon a time, I guess Kingsnorth was a small leafy village, set in loamy countryside, rarely visited. Indeed this is what Hasted suggests.
Set a mile or two outside Ashford, all was calm and peaceful until the railways came to Ashford and the town grew and grew.
In the 21st century, Kingsnorth is found from the main road into the town centre, along a busy road to where the old village pub still sits. And opposite is the start of Church Hill, at the top, not surprisingly, sits the church.
Inbetween now is a large and modern housing estate, and beside the church, a busy school, even busy on a Saturday morning due to football practice and the fleet of MPVs and Soccer Moms taking their darlings for a kickabout.
It is the modern way, after all.
St Michael sits quietly next door to the school, the end of a footpath leading to another housing development on the Brenzett road, were an old friend once had a house. And I can remember him leading us on a walk over the fields through clouds of Gatekeepers where we found, as today, the church open.
I took a few shots then, but am back now to complete the task.
First highlight was the 17th century graffiti in the porch.
In truth it is a small and simple church, mostly clear what looks like modern glass, though a single panel of ancient glass is in one of the north have windows and a single panel of wall painting on the side of the north chancel arch.
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KINGSNOTH,
THE next parish south-eastward is Kingsnoth, sometimes called Kingsnode, and by Leland written Kinges-snode.
THIS PARISH is so obscurely situated as to be but little known, the soil in it is throughout a deep miry clay; it is much interspersed with woodlands, especially in the south-east part of it, the whole face of the country here is unpleasant and dreary, the hedge rows wide, with spreading oaks among them; and the roads, which are very broad, with a wide space of green swerd on each side, execrably bad; insomuch, that they are dangerous to pass except in the driest time of summer; the whole of it is much the same as the parishes adjoining to it in the Weald, of which the church, which stands on the hill nearly in the middle of the parish, is the northern boundary, consequently all that part of it southward is within that district. There is no village, the houses standing single, and interspersed throughout it At no great distance eastward from the church is the manor house of Kingsnoth, still called the Park-house, the antient mansion, which stood upon a rise, at some distance from the present house, seems from the scite of it, which is moated round, to have been large, remains of Mosaic pavement, and large quantities of stone have been at times dug up from it. South-eastward from the church is Mumfords, which seems formerly to have been very large, but the greatest part of it has been pulled down and the present small farm-house built out of it; westward from the church stands the court-lodge, now so called, of East Kingsnoth manor, it is moated round, and seems likewise to have been much larger than it is at present, and close to the western boundary of the parish is the manor-house of West Halks, which has been a large antient building, most probably of some consequence in former times, as there appears to have been a causeway once from it, wide enough for a carriage, which led through the courtlodge farm towards Shadoxhurst, Woodchurch, and son on to Halden, remains of which are often turned up in ploughing the grounds. In the low grounds, near the meadows, is the scite of the manor of Moorhouse, moated round. The above mansions seem to have been moated round not only for defence, but to drain off the water from the miry soil on which they were built, which was no doubt the principal reason why so many of the antient ones, in this and the like situations were likewise moated round. There is a streamlet, which rises in the woods near Bromley green, and slows along the eastern par to this parish northward, and joining the Postling branch of the Stour near Sevington, runs with it by Hockwood barn and under Alsop green, towards Ashford. Leland in his Itinerary says, vol. vii. p. 145, "The river of Cantorbury now cawled Sture springeth at Kinges Snode the which standeth sowthe and a lytle by west fro Cantorbury and ys distant of Cant. a xiiii or xv myles."
THE ROYAL MANOR OF WYE claims paramount over this parish. The lord of that manor, George Finch Hatton, esq. of Eastwell, holds a court leet here for the borough of East Kingsnoth, which claims over this parish, at which a borsholder is yearly appointed; subordinate to which is THE MANOR OF KINGSNOTH, which in early times was the residence of a family to which it gave name, who bore for their coat armour, as appeared by seals appendant to their antient deeds, Ermine, upon a bend, five chevronels; and John de Kingsnoth, who lived here about the latter end of king Edward I. sealed with that coat of arms; yet I find that Bartholomew de Badlesmere, who was attainted about the 17th year of king Edward II had some interest in this manor, which upon his conviction escheated to the crown, and remained there until Richard II. granted it to Sir Robert Belknap, the judge, who had, not long before, purchased that proportion of this manor which belonged to the family of Kingsnoth, by which he became possessed of the whole of it; but he being attainted and banished in the 11th year of that reign, that part which had belonged to Badlesmere, and was granted by the king to Sir Robert Belknap, returned again to the crown, a further account of which may be seen hereafter. (fn. 1) But the other part of this estate, which belonged to the family of Kingsnoth likewise, henceforward called the manor of Kingsnoth, which seems to have been the greatest part of it, on the petition of Hamon Belknap his son to parliament, to be enabled in blood and lands to his father, notwithstanding the judgement against him, was restored to him, and he was found by inquisition to die possessed of it in the 7th year of king Henry VI. Soon after which I find Sir Thomas Browne, of Beechworth castle, treasurer of the king's houshold, to have become possessed of it; for in the 27th year of that reign, he obtained licence for a fair in this parish, on the feast of St. Michael, and that same year he had another to embattle his mansion here and to inclose a park, and for freewarren in all his demesne lands within this manor; and in a younger branch of his descendants this manor continued down to Richard Browne, esq. of Shingleton, in Great Chart, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Andrews, of Lathbury, in Buckinghamshire, and dying soon after the death of king Charles I. Elizabeth, their only daughter and heir, carried it in marriage to Thomas, lord Leigh, of Stoneleigh, who afterwards alienated it again to Andrews, in which name it continued till Alexander Andrews, executor and devisee of William Andrews, in 1690, conveyed this manor, with the farm called the Park, the manor of Morehouse, and other lands in this parish, being enabled so to do by act of parliament, to the company of haberdashers of London, as trustees, for the support of the hospital at Hoxton, commonly called Aske's hospital, in whom they are now vested. There is not any court held for this manor.
THE OTHER PART of the above-mentioned estate, which had formerly belonged to the family of Badlesmere, and had escheated to the crown on the attainder of Bartholomew de Badlesmere in the 17th year of king Edward II. remained there until Richard II. granted it to Sir Robert Belknap, on whose attainder and banishment in the 11th year of that reign it returned again to the crown, whence it seems, but at what time I have not found, to have been granted to the abbot and convent of Battel, in Sussex, by the name of THE MANOR OF EAST KINGSNOTH, together with the manors of West Kingenoth, in Pluckley; Morehouse, in this parish; and Wathenden, in Biddenden, lately belonging to that monastery, in as ample a manner as the late abbot, or any of his predecessors had possessed them, (fn. 2) and they continued part of the possessions of it till its dissolution in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when they came into the hands of the crown, where they staid but a short time; for the king that year granted these manors to Sir Edw. Ringsley for his life, without any rent or account whatsoever; and four years afterwards the king sold the reversion of them to Sir John Baker, one of his council, and chancellor of the first fruits and tenths, to hold in capite by knight's service. He died in 1558, possessed of this manor, with the advowson of the church of Kingsnoth, and the manors of West Kingsnoth and Morehouse, held in capite, in whose descendants the manor of East Kingsnoth, with the advowson of the church, descended down to Sir John Baker, bart. who, in the reign of king Charles I. passed it away by sale to Mr. Nathaniel Powell, of Ewehurst, in Sussex, and afterwards of Wiarton, in this county, who was in 1661 created a baronet; and in his descendants it continued down to Sir Christopher Powell, bart. who died possessed of it in 1742, s.p. leaving his widow surviving, whose trustees sold this manor and advowson, after her death, to Mrs. Fuller, widow of Mr. David Fuller, of Maidstone, attorney-at-law, who in 1775 devised them by will to her relation William Stacy Coast, esq. now of Sevenoke, the present owner of them. There is not any court held for this manor.
MUMFORDS, as it is now called, though its proper and more antient name is Montfort's, is a manor in this parish, which was once the residence of the family of Clerc, written in antient deeds le Clerc, and afterwards both Clerke and Clarke, in which it continued till about the latter end of the reign of king Edward I. when Henry le Clerc leaving no issue male, Susan his daughter and heir carried it, with much other inheritance, in marriage to Sir Simon de Woodchurch, whose descendants, out of gratitude for such increase of fortune, altered their paternal name from Woodchurch to Clerke, and in several of their deeds subsequent to this marriage, were written Clerke, alias Woodchurch. They resided at Woodchurch till Humphry Clerke, esq. removed hither in Henry VIII.'s reign. (fn. 3) His son Humphry Clerke, about the end of queen Elizabeth's reign, sold this manor to John Taylor, son of John Taylor, of Willesborough, who afterwards resided here. His son John Taylor, gent. of Winchelsea, alienated it, about the beginning of king Charles I.'s reign, to Edward Wightwick, gent. descended of a family originally of Staffordshire, who bore for their arms, Argent, on a chevron, argent, between three pheons, or, as many crosses patee, gules, granted in 1613. He afterwards resided here, as did his descendants, till at length Humphry Wightwick, gent. about the beginning of king George II.'s reign removed to New Romney, of which town and port he was jurat, in whose descendants this manor became afterwards vested in several undivided shares. At length Mr. William Whitwick, the only surviving son of Humphry, having purchased his mother's life estate in it, as well as the shares of his brother Martin's children, lately sold the whole property of it to Mr. Swaffer, the present possessor and occupier of it.
WEST HALKS, usually called West Hawks, is a manor, situated near the western bounds of this parish, being held of the manor of Kenardington; it formerly was the residence of a family of the name of Halk, who bore on their seals a fess, between three bawks, and sometimes only one, and were of no contemptible account, as appears by old pedigrees and writings, in which they are represented as gentlemen for above three hundred years. Sampson de Halk, gent. died possessed of this manor about the year 1360, and held besides much other land at Petham and the adjoining parishes; but about the latter end of king Henry VI.'s reign, this manor had passed from this family into that of Taylor, in which name it continued till the latter end of king Henry VII. when it was alienated to Clerc, whose descendant Humphry Clerke, esq. about the end of queen Elizabeth's reign, passed it away to Robert Honywood, esq, of Charing, who settled it on his fourth son by his second marriage Colonel Honywood. How long it continued in his descendants, I cannot learn; but it has been for some length of time in the name of Eaton, of. Essex, Mr. Henry Eaton being the present owner of it.
Charities.
HUMPHRY CLARKE, gent. of this parish, left by will in 1637, a parcel of land, called Pightland, containing about three acres, in the eastern part of this parish, for the benefit of the poor of it.
MRS. ELIZABETH MAY, in 1721, gave by will 9l. every third year, chargeable on Bilham farm, to be paid, clear of all deductions, to this parish in turn, during a term of years therein mentioned, to be applied yearly towards the binding out a child an apprentice, of the poorest people in three parishes in turn, as has been already mentioned more at large under Sevington. One girl only has as yet been put out apprentice from this charity, by this parish.
The number of poor constanly relieved are about twentyfive, casually twelve.
KINGSNOTH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Limne.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, is small, consisting only of one isle and one chancel, having a square tower steeple at the west end, in which are five bells. In the isle is an antient gravestone, coffin-shaped, with old French capitals round it, now illegible. In the chancel is a stone, with an inscription on it in brass, for Thomas Umfrey, rector, no date; and a monument for Thomas Reader, A. M. son of Thomas Reader, gent. of Bower, in Maidstone, obt. 1740. Against the north wall is the tomb of Humphry Clarke, esq. made of Bethersden marble, having the figures of him and his wife remaining in brass on it, and underneath four sons and five daughters. Over the tomb, in an arch in the wall, is an inscription to his memory, set up by his daughter's son Sir Martin Culpeper, over it are the arms of Clarke, Two pales wavy, ermine, impaling Mayney. In the glass of the south window of the isle are several heads remaining, and in the north-west window the figure of St. Michael with the dragon. The north chancel fell down about thirty years ago. It belonged to the manor of Mumfords, and in it were interred the Wightwicks, owners of that manor; the gravestones of them, nine in number, yet remain in the church-yard, shut out from the church; and on one next to theirs, formerly within this chancel, is the figure of a knight in armour, with a lion under his feet, and an inscription in brass, for Sir William Parker, son of William Parker, esq. citizen and mercer of London, obt. 1421; arms, On a fess, three balls.
The advowson of the rectory of this church was formerly parcel of the possessions of the priory of Christ-church, and at the dissolution of it in the 31st year of Henry VIII. came into the king's hands, where it remained till that king in his 34th year, granted it in exchange, among other premises, to archbp. Cranmer, (fn. 4) who did not keep it long; for four years afterwards, he reconveyed it, with the consent of his chapter, back again to the king, (fn. 5) who soon afterwards granted it to Sir John Baker, one of his council, and chancellor of his first-fruits and tenths, who died possessed of the manor of East Kingsnoth, together with the advowson of this church, in the year 1558, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir John Baker, bart. who in the reign of king Charles I. alienated it, with that manor, to Mr. Nathaniel Powell. Since which this advowson has continued in the like succession of ownership with that manor, as may be seen more fully in the account of it before, to the present patron of it, William Stacy Coast, esq. now of Sevenoke.
There was formerly a pension of forty shillings payable from this church to the abbot of Battel.
¶This rectory is valued in the king's books at 11l. 9s. 9½d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 2s. 11¼d. In 1578 it was valued at sixty pounds, communicants one hundred. In 1640 it was valued at fifty pounds only, and there were the like number of communicants. It is now worth about one hundred and forty pounds per annum. The rector takes no tithes of wood below the hill southward. There are about seventeen acres of glebe land.
www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp583-592
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There has been a Church in Kingsnorth from Saxon Times but the present building probably dates from the 11thC. There are examples of 13thC and 14thC stained glass remaining in some of the windows. The chancel was rebuilt in the 18thC following a storm and the two side chapels were demolished at this time. Major restoration was carried out in the 19thC at which time the stained glass in the East Window was installed. At this time and again in the 1920s work was carried out to try and cure the problem of rising damp due to the high water table. In 2006 major restoration was once again required and in addition to repairs to the tower and external stonework it was decided that an extension would be built on the site of the old chantry chapel on the north side of the building and that the interior of the church would be re-ordered. This involved digging out the interior of the church and laying a new suspended floor to try and cure the problem of the rising damp (This has been largely successful). The old pews and choir stalls were replaced with modern stackable pews to enable a more flexible use of the space, new lighting and a new heating system was installed. This has resulted in a light airy user friendly building. At the back of the church a glass screen was erected forming a separate area. This provides a space where parents can take their children if they become restless during the services. The ground floor of the extension consists of a large meeting room with kitchenette plus toilet. On the first floor there is a choir vestry and church office. There are currently plans to install a second toilet on this floor. On the second floor there is a further small meeting room and a store room.
Map showing hard-to-reach and besieged areas in Syria, as of 6 May 2014.
Credit: Department for International Development.
Available free for editorial use under Creative Commons-Attribution license.
Instagram: instagram.com/45surf
Sony A7RII Photos: Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens: Fine Art Galleries and Creating High-End Fine Art Prints on Fuji Crystal Supergloss Metallic Facemounted to Acrylic! Dr. Elliot McGucken Fine Art
I had fun visiting Prolab Digital by the LAX ariport to witness the creation of a fine art print for the band the Who's Charity Auction! :) I was always curious how the face-mounted! prints were made! :)
Not so long ago, I was honored with an invitation to donate one of my fine art prints to The Who's charity auction benefitting Teen Cancer.
Well, I hope my art is able to help a bit! It's quite an honor.
Given the cause, I decided to go big and print a 40"x60" museum-quality, fine art rendition of a fortuitous Malibu sunset recently photographed with the new 42 mp Sony A7RII! Please find the photograph of the sunset here:
www.flickr.com/photos/herosjourneymythology45surf/2020220...
As a physicist who worked on CMOS photosensors and an artificial retina for the blind, I have always been fascinated by the amazing evolution of digital cameras and sensors, and that interest recently carried over into the art and science of printing fine art photography. What makes an optimal fine art print? I visited Prolab Digital to ask some questions while documenting the creation of the museum-quality archival print. This also tied into a book I am working on, which is a beauty-driven approach to photography. Every element of photography, from camera and lens selection, to settings and composition, to computers and software, to printing, can be seen as an answer to the simple question, "How do I best capture and share beauty?"
Fine art photography can be broken down into three basic stages, all dictated by beauty--capturing beauty's light, bending and shaping beauty's light, and liberating the beauty's light in a fine art print. The first stage centers about the optimal capture of beauty's light out in the field via the blending of optimal compositions, sensors, settings, and glass. The second part consists of bending and shaping the beauty's light in post--in software such as Lightroom or Photoshop. And the third part consists of liberating the light in the finest manner possible via a combination of printing and mounting on the materials most capable of projecting the original beauty's light--the light that began in the landscape, passed on though the camera's sensor and then through a computer and software, and now travels forth from the wall of a gallery or museum.
For the finest rendition, we choose to print on Fuji Crystal Archival paper--either the metallic or super-gloss which makes the light pop. Both papers have tiny metallic crystals of silver halide which reflect the light in a manner that makes a print look backlit, thusly bringing it to life with a magical glow. The light literally emanates from the scenic landscape, just as it did when first captured in the field. Fuji describes their line of "crystal" papers:
"Fujicolor Crystal Archive Paper is a silver halide color paper, designed exclusively to produce high-image-quality color prints on both analogue and digital printers. This paper incorporates latest silver halide emulsion technology, coupler technology and layer design technology to deliver enhanced color reproduction, white purity, image stability and handling of the photo."
The print is then face-mounted to a sheet of 1/8" or 1/4" acrylic UV resistant acrylic via an adhesive. Not only does this thin layer of plexiglass serve to capture and liberate a gallery's high-end lighting fixtures in a way that brings the landscape to life, but it also serves to protect the print. While scratches on acrylic can be buffed out, once an aluminum print is scratched or damaged, it is very hard (if not impossible) to repair. The resistance to UV rays keeps the print from fading.
To further enhance the experience, we use acrylic with an anti-reflective coating, known to the industry as "P99 non-glare plexiglass." This equivalent to the "museum glass" used in more traditional framed and matted prints, is well-worth the premium, as it cuts down on the glare from ambient light and reflections from the environment. Without the reflective coating, the viewer of the art will see their own reflection, or reflections of the lights and windows in the room. When we go to a gallery or museum and cast our gaze upon a seascape, we want to see the art, and not a reflection of ourselves! :)
The physics of anti-reflective coatings consists of applying thin layers of film to the glass's surface with a thickness chosen in proportion to the wavelengths of visible light, so that when the light reflects, the wavelengths of the incoming and outgoing wave match up in opposition, and thus cancel one-another, thereby "disappearing" the reflection. This is not easy to do, but we photographers always pay premium for lenses and filters coated with the anti-reflective coatings, so as to optimize the capture of beauty's light. And thus it makes sense to mount a print to glass with anti-reflective coatings, so as to liberate the beauty's light in an optimal manner.
For longevity and durability, the print is mounted to aluminum with a metal cleat attached to the back for hanging. Sandwiched between a solid sheet of aluminum on the back and UV-resistant acrylic on the front, the print is frozen in time, and will never wrinkle nor crease.
Well, I'm working on a book on all this--the full odyssey of creating museum-quality/gallery-quality prints! :)
Original Caption: Freshly-Cut Access Road to New Trailer Park
U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 412-DA-1957
Photographer: Reaves, Bill, 1934-
Subjects:
Travis, Lake (Travis county, Texas, United States) lake
Environmental Protection Agency
Project DOCUMERICA
Persistent URL: catalog.archives.gov/id/544450
Repository: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001.
For information about ordering reproductions of photographs held by the Still Picture Unit, visit: www.archives.gov/research/order/still-pictures.html
Reproductions may be ordered via an independent vendor. NARA maintains a list of vendors at www.archives.gov/research/order/vendors-photos-maps-dc.html
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
Use Restrictions: Unrestricted
Dining in the Docklands is to get a whole lot more interesting as a new wave of restaurants open in the south Docklands in time for summer.
Dieter Bergmann along with Szabi Csitari, Head Chef of the award winning restaurant, the Winding Stair, and Sirin Lewendon, a restaurateur from London, will lead the way with the opening of Riva on Hanover Quay in late April. Seating 70 customers, Riva will offer a continental menu using only organic ingredients and an extensive wine list.
Next door, the Herbstreet Bistro will open in May with dining space for approximately 50 customers inside and 20 more in an outdoor seated area, Herbstreet's focus will be on simply prepared, good value food in an urban waterfront setting. It will open early for breakfast and serve food all day until 11 pm. The restaurant will be putting a major emphasis on minimising its carbon footprint.
Real Gourmet Burger will offer a range of thirty organic gourmet burgers from Gallery Quay in July 2008. The restaurant will occupy 2000 square feet and accommodate up to 100 customers. This will be the third restaurant for Real Gourmet Burger with the other units located at the Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire and Ballsbridge.
The Crystal Boat, an Asian restaurant specialising in seafood, will also open during the summer period at Gallery Quay. The restaurant will occupy 2,000 square feet over two floors and will accommodate 90 customers.
The new restaurants will join ely hq, Milanos, Bridge Bar and Grill, Il Valentino, KC Peaches and Café Java already trading in the area.
The Grand Canal Dock area is already home to commercial tenants including McCann Fitzgerald, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Beauchamps, PFPC Bank, Arup Consulting Engineers and Accenture who will be shortly joined by Hong Kong Shanghai Bank.
Grand Canal Square is the centrepiece of the Grand Canal Dock area and was designed by renowned landscape architect, Martha Schwartz. Grand Canal Square's red glowing angled light sticks and green lighted seating area has brought a significant "wow factor" to the area since its official opening in mid-2007. The Square will be one of the leading architectural and cultural hot-spots in the Docklands.
Facing onto Grand Canal Square will be the 2,200 seater Grand Canal theatre, which was designed by Studio Libeskind and is currently under construction. In addition, a five-star hotel, designed by renowned Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus, is due to be completed later this year and will be operated by Monogram Hotels.
"The Grand Canal Dock area is really coming into its own with a solid range of restaurants and cafes. Ideally located in a busy commercial area and with major cultural and leisure facilities due to open there in 2009, Grand Canal Square will become one of the focal points of the city," said Paul Maloney, Chief Executive of the Docklands Authority.
We dream to give ourselves hope. To stop dreaming - well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate.”
― Amy Tan, The Hundred Secret Senses
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just found this wonderful beach with a tiny lighthous
but i had my kids with me so i dint really get the time i whanted to explore it and take the images i whanted (my kids dont like it when mommy has the camera with her ) haha
According to the limited information Herkimer scheduled production for single propeller commercial version of this engine in the early 1940's. Other than a few repro’s, fabricated by welding two twins together, it appears no commercial engines were actually produced or sold.
The military version sports a coaxial drive for contra rotating propellers with a dual point distributor in the back. It measures 11.5 inches long, 8 inches wide plug to plug, 5 inches high, and weighs 4 pounds- 12 ounces; it burns gas with oil mixed in for lubrication. As the war approached a few were produced for military testing but one or two either failed or were destroyed by the Army, which ended the program. This engine is believed to be the only engine, or possibly one of two original engines that survived.
Like the OK twin it has a single updraft carburetor with manifold tubes extending to each cylinder. Interesting is the tubes that make up the manifold appear to be rolled from brass sheet stock with the seams soldered.
See Tim Dannels article in his Engine Collectors Journal, Volume 32 number 3, Issue 183, July 2007.
Courtesy of Dave and Gloria Evans
Paul and Paula Knapp
Miniature Engineering Museum
To prevent prisoner escapes, the SS surrounded the camp with a double row of electrified barbed wire fencing. There were cases in which desperate prisoners, unable to bear the camp terror, chose to throw themselves "on the wire"--the term used in the camp jargon to describe suicide by electrocution on the electrified fence. The total length of the fence was 1.2 miles at the Auschwitz I main camp and 7.4 miles at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
The Lighthouse was then a silvery, misty-looking tower with a yellow eye, that opened suddenly, and softly in the evening. Now—
James looked at the Lighthouse. He could see the white-washed rocks; the tower, stark and straight; he could see that it was barred with black and white; he could see windows in it; he could even see washing spread on the rocks to dry. So that was the Lighthouse, was it?
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VENI VIDI VISIT:
The BEST not-so touristy FREE WALKING TOUR of ROME www.venividivisit.org
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Austin wanted to take Tristan to see the dinosaurs. So we packed up the boys and headed down to DinoWorld just south of us. Tristan loves dinosaurs now so it was great to see and hear his reactions to all the life-sized dinosaurs down there. The park is almost twice as big as the last time we went, so it ended up being a fun time. Especially since it was in the 60s the entire time we were there. :) We also got to see their new-ish Jurassic Park-type animated dinosaur exhibits.
5910 is returning to Thirlmere after taking part in the ARHS [ACT} tour to Cooma.
Cooma Branch, ACT, 28th May, 1989.
To the right is a water channel designed to allow jet skis to drag race trains. This northbound CN was moving so fast with its empty tank cars that the jet ski didn't stand a chance and is barely visible in the distance.
All kidding aside, I raced to Hwy K in St. Lawrence to get ahead of this train and barely made it. Behind the Norfolk Southern power is a Ferromex locomotive which was the real reason I wanted to see this train.
See this train and many other from this Saturday's adventures here: youtu.be/r0OBvON-O9o
Concrete pillboxes built to replicate Nazi bunkers rest on an old cattle farm now an area of critical environmental concern managed by the BLM in southwest Oregon, Sept. 26, 2018. BLM photo: Matt Christenson
A quiet oak savanna in southwest Oregon has a World War II story to tell.
It was the summer of 1942 when thousands of young American troops started arriving in Oregon to prepare for battle.
Only months prior, immediately after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII, the U.S. Army broke ground on Camp White, a massively ambitious training ground for troops north of Medford.
The national war effort was ramping up, and from the rationing at home to the drill sergeants yelling at new draftees, the task at hand was unified: Get America prepared for war as fast as possible.
At Camp White, in the heart of the Rogue River Valley, it got loud very quick.
Construction crews worked 24 hours a day until the base, consisting of 1,300 structures, was complete. Barracks, mess halls, a railroad, full electrical grid and sewer system were all built in six months.
And then the troops arrived.
The newly reinstated 91st Division went on 91-mile-long hikes.
They fired bazookas, mortars and tanks.
And they attacked concrete pillboxes built to replicate Nazi bunkers.
Despite creating what was then Oregon’s second most populous city at 40,000 people, there are now only a few lasting structures proving Camp White ever existed. Sadly, there are even fewer first-hand memories.
The pillboxes are still standing, though. They simultaneously represent a mostly forgotten military legacy and since 2013, an opportunity for historic preservation.
After decades of private cattle farming, Camp White’s pillboxes now rest on public land.
Read the full story about the Camp White pillboxes that rest on the northeast side of Upper Table Rock, an area of critical environmental concern for the BLM: www.facebook.com/notes/blm-oregon-washington/the-wwii-leg...
Wasn't expecting to see this vehicle Today!, and this vehicle appears to be Brand New at L&I Coaches, and maybe the first New Vehicle that L&I Coaches of Westgate and Westwood in Thanet have ever bought, and I also first saw this vehicle at Dover Castle last week but couldn't get a shot.
And be sure to check by my other acount: www.flickr.com/photos_user.gne?path=&nsid=77145939%40..., to see what else I saw Very Recently!!
Yes I'm back again.
However due to my main computer on which I edit my work being struck down with a big bad virus, this picture and all the others I am uploading, were Unedited but have now been replaced with Edited versions. So enjoy and Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I do still hate everything about this shit that is new Flickr and always will, but an inability to find another outlet for my work that is as easy for me to use as the Old BETTER Flickr was, has forced me back to Flickr, even though it goes against everything I believe in.
I don't generally have an opinion on my own work, I prefer to leave that to other people and so based on the positive responses to my work from the various friends I had made on Flickr prior to the changes I have decided to upload some more of my work as an experiment and to see what happens.
So make the most of me before they delete my acount: www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/?details=1, to stop me complaining!!
Winnipeg Tribune. Loop the Loop to Brandon [map]. Scale not given. In: The Winnipeg Tribune. The Winnipeg Tribune Tourist Edition. Winnipeg: 1926, p. 65.
Published Monday, May 31, 1926.
Image Courtesy of University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
I Decided To Make Paper Cut Art My Profession
jh-siesta.com/art/i-decided-to-make-paper-cut-art-my-prof...
I decided to remake my Flying Scotsman model into a style more like my model of Gordon from Thomas and Friends, as they are brothers in-universe. I took Gordon and redid the boiler to use SNOT-work and revised the tender to look more like the one usually used by the engine. (although I must admit, the tender is not a perfect copy of the real world design) A lot of rework was needed, as some parts were difficult to find or not existent in dark green, although it helped that I have quite a stockpile of this color on hand, and an older Flying Scotsman model I disassembled to reuse it's pieces.
...and yes, I know the very front portion of the frame (the part over the guiding wheels) is too long. There isn't really much I could do about it, as I did try to modify it, but it threw all the other proportions off, so I changed it back.
To be very honest, I never got a chance to ride the Barnstormer before Toon Town closed, nor got a good look at the outside. So I am not 100% sure how different this is to how it was before.
I tried! The last few times I was there last year, I always went up to the ride, hoping to get in at least one before they closed Toon Town. But it was always a 45+ minute wait....and far too hot outside to deal with that!
Regardless, the setup they have now looks great. The theming of not just the entrance, but the queue and the ride itself (which you can now see a lot more of) is fantastic.
Link to my youtube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=shanYlLU6Zc
A simple diorama of Hong Kong's MTR subway station and China Motor Bus Terminus on the surface. The train and buses are diecast cars made by TINY, a Hong Kong's toy company. Otherwise everything else is scratch-built by me. The diorama is integrated with the Daiso display case, maxmise the use of space to display the cars and enhance viewing appreciation.
Plaque: They said one to another. Behold. Here comes the dreamer... Let us slay him... And we shall see what will become of his dreams. Genesis 37: 19-20
opened as 16-room Windsor Hotel, c. 1925, later named Marquette Hotel • purchased, 1945, by Loree & Walter Bailey (1915-1988), renamed Lorraine after Bailey's spouse and the song Sweet Lorraine, a 1940 hit by Nat King Cole • added second floor, 12 rooms • later addition converted Lorraine to motel with more guest rooms and drive up access • upscale motel for African American clientele • guests included musicians recording at Stax Records, e.g., Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Ethel Waters, Otis Redding, Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett • at least two hits written here, “In the Midnight Hour” and “Knock on Wood”
site of April 4,1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) as he left his room, No. 306 • Bailey set aside King's Room and adjoining 307 as memorial • hours after assassination, while on the switchboard, Loree suffered a stroke, died five days later • Bailey placed her shoes in a display case in Rm. 306 • James Earl Ray (1928-1998) charged with murder of King, pled guilty, convicted, 1969, later recanted his confession
Bailey declared bankruptcy, 1982, building to be auctioned • self-described “black radical” D’Army Bailey (b. 1941), a circuit court judge, organized Memphis philanthropists to "Save the Lorraine" from possible demolition • motel building now part of the National Civil Rights Museum (1991) • Wikipedia
SepiaTown • The Crucible –Memphis Magazine • Memphis Manhunt –History Matters • Findings on MLK Assassination -National Archives • King Assassination Conspiracy Theories —NPR • King Assassination Conspiracy Trial • trial transcript
Marker: Originally the Windsor Hotel (c.1925) and later one of only a few hotels for blacks, it hosted such entertainers as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, B.B. King, and Nat King Cole. Walter and Loree Bailey bought it in 1942, renaming it the Lorraine. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside room 306 on April 4, 1968, making it a symbol for the civil rights movement. In 1982, a local nonprofit group saved the site from foreclosure for use as America's first civil rights museum.
New and beginning farmers are able to receive education, experience and support from the Agricultural Land Based Training Association (ALBA), whose graduates of their Farmer Education Course (PEPA) can then move on to agricultural related careers or continue a farming association for up to five incubator years where they can rent farm land, at their 100-acre facility in Salinas, Ca., on Nov. 14, 2018.
The Agricultural Land Based Training Association (ALBA) is a training program that helps low income farmworkers and others learn how to become farmers. New farmers begin with a series of classroom courses and on-hands training, and graduate to farming their own piece of land on the farm. Eventually these new graduates hope to become successful farmers.
ALBAâs Farmer Education and Enterprise Development (FEED) Program educates and trains new farmer-entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and establish viable organic farm businesses or advance their careers. To accomplish this, ALBA has 100 acres of organic land, an experienced team with diverse expertise, and a hands-on, 5-year farmer development program. FEED is comprised of three main components:
1.The Farmer Education Course (PEPA) is a one year, bilingual, 300-hour curriculum featuring classroom instruction and field-based training, readying participants to launch an organic farm business.
2.The Organic Farm Incubator allows course graduates to launch their farm on ALBAâs land. Starting at ½ acre, farmers gradually scale up to 5 acres over 4 years under ALBAâs supervision before transitioning to fully independent farming.
3.ALBA Organics, aggregates, markets and ships participantsâ products to growing markets around California. Doing so gives farmers access to clients that would otherwise be out of reach and allows them to focus on growing and business management in their initial years.
For more information about PEPA please see www.albafarmers.org/programs/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the USDAâs focal point for the nationâs farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs. The FPAC team includes, Farm Service Agency (FSA) (www.fsa.usda.gov/), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/), and Risk Management Agency (RMA) (www.rma.usda.gov/).
USDA FPAC Farm Service Agency (FSA) is equitably serving all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA is a customer-driven agency with a diverse and multi-talented work force, dedicated to achieving an economically and environmentally sound future for American Agriculture. The vision is to be a market-oriented, economically and environmentally sound American agriculture delivering an abundant, safe, and affordable food and fiber supply while sustaining quality agricultural communities.
Here, FSA works with non-profit organizations such as ALBA to provide program information and outreach to beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and limited income farmers. ALBA works with a unique farmer base of nontraditional, diverse and beginning farmers.
FSA staff has worked with ALBA for many years in the following ways:
1. Provide classroom training to new ALBA students at the ALBA farm during their regular coursework. FSA provides training on:
a. How to apply for a farm loan and prepare a cash flow statement.
b. How to apply for FSA programs that help with risk management on the farm, such as the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or other regional crop insurance options.
c. How to apply for Disaster Assistance through FSA in case of an adverse weather event or other emergency.
2. FSA has provided micro loans, operating loans and ownership loans to help ALBA farmers become independent and successful in their operations. FSA has provided Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) payments to these farmers.
3. FSA has provided bookkeeping training courses to ALBA students, on farm tours, and has helped students apply for USDA scholarships to attend agricultural conferences and other trainings.
4. FSA has referred ALBA farmers to NRCS for help with resource management issues.
âThese farmers are the future face of American Agriculture. It is so important for FSA to help them get a strong start in ensuring the success of their operations, said FSA County Executive Director Vivian Soffa. Carlos will need support when he graduates from ALBA and hopefully FSA will be able to assist him with his capital needs when he is farming on his own in this very competitive agriculture market. Familiarity with FSAâs programs at the beginning of a new farmerâs endeavor may be the difference between success and failure.â
For more information please see www.usda.gov.
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
We made our annual trip to London in November. We travel down by coach from Slaithwaite and stay at The Cumberland Hotel at Marble Arch. It’s actually a weekend ladies shopping trip that is run as a fundraiser for Slaithwaite Brass Band – I’m the only bloke that goes every year! We decided ( the two of us) to stay down in London until Thursday this time as we wanted to see weekday London and be able to explore a bit further afield on foot. We covered up to 16 miles a day, which is tough going on crowded pavements with hundreds of busy roads to cross. I photographed anything that looked interesting but I bent a contact in the CF card slot, fortunately I had quite a few SD cards with me and the 5D has dual slots so I was able to carry on using it. It’s currently at Lehmann’s getting fixed.
With it being close to Christmas the decorations are up everywhere so there was plenty of colour at night. In Hyde Park the Winter Wonderland was in full swing, we’ve never bothered going to it before but I went twice at night this time. It is massive this year, I couldn’t get over how big it is and the quality of some of the attractions. The cost and effort involved must be phenomenal – it was quite expensive though. It was very difficult to photograph, with extremes of light (LED’s) and darkness and fast moving rides into the bargain. I think I have some decent usable stuff but at the time of writing I am only part way through the editing process so I don’t know for sure.
We set off at around 8.15 am every day and stayed out for at least 12 hours. The weather was poor for a day and a half with drizzle and very dull grey conditions, fortunately we had some pleasant weather (and light) along the way as well. Being based at the end of Oxford Street – Europe’s busiest shopping street – meant that I did quite a bit of night shooting on there. Although I carried a tripod everywhere I only used it once and that was during the day! Because there is always a moving element in almost every shot it seemed pointless using a tripod. I would have got some shots free of movement – or I could have gone for ultra-long exposures to eliminate people and traffic but it would have been problematic I felt. In the end I wound the ISO up and hand held – fingers crossed.
We walked out to Camden Market and Locks but it had been raining and we were a bit early as many were only just setting up for the day. We tried to follow routes that we hadn’t used before and visit new places. We paid a fortune to get in St Pauls but you can’t use cameras. This something that I fail to see the point of, ban flash if you want but if you are going to encourage tourism why ban cameras when there is nothing in particular happening in there. It’s a rule that seems to be applied arbitrarily in cities around the world. Fortunately we could take photos from the outside of the dome, which was real reason for visiting, and we had some great light. Expensive compared with a couple of euros in some famous cathedrals. I’ve wanted to walk to Canary Wharf for a number of years and this year we did. We crisscrossed the Thames a few times and tried to follow the Thames path at other times. We covered around ten miles but it was an interesting day. It was also very quiet for the last four or five miles. We got there about 12.00 and managed to get a sandwich in a café in the shopping centre at the foot of the high rise office blocks before tens of thousands of office workers descended from above. It was mayhem, packed, with snaking queues for anywhere that sold food. We crossed to the other side of The Isle of Dogs and looked across to the O2 Arena and the cable car, unfortunately there isn’t a way across for pedestrians and it was around 3.00 pm. With darkness falling at around 4.30 we decide it was too late to bother. We made our way back to the Thames Clipper pier to check the sailing times. They sail every twenty minutes so we had a couple of glasses of wine and a rest before catching the Clipper. Sailing on the Thames was a first in 15 trips to London. The Clipper is fast and smooth, the lights had come on in the city and there was a fantastic moon rise. It was nigh on impossible to get good shots at the speed we were traveling though and there were times that I wished I could be suspended motionless above the boat. Again, hopefully I will have some usable shots.
We felt that the shopping streets were a little quieter, following the Paris massacre it was to be expected, I might be wrong as we were out and about at later times than previous trips. I think I have heard that footfall is down though. It was good to get into some of the quieter backstreets and conversely to be stuck in the city business district – The Square Mile- at home time. A mass exodus of people running and speed walking to bus stops and the rail and tube stations. It was difficult to move against or across the flow of bodies rushing home.
Whilst the Northern(manufacturing) economy is collapsing, London is a giant development site, it must be the tower crane capital of Europe at the moment. It was difficult to take a shot of any landmark free of cranes, it was easier to make the cranes a feature of the photo. It’s easy to see where the wealth is concentrated – not that there was ever any doubt about it. The morons with too much money are still driving their Lambo’s and Ferraris etc. like clowns in streets that are packed with cars , cyclists and pedestrians, accelerating viciously and noisily for 50 yards. They are just sad attention seekers. From Battersea to Canary Wharf we walked the Thames Embankment, the difference between high and low tide on the river is massive, but the water was the colour of mud – brown! Not very attractive in colour. We caught a Virgin Train from Kings Cross for £14.00 each – a bargain!. We had quite a bit of time to kill around midday at Kings Cross so I checked with security that I was OK to wander around taking photos, without fear of getting jumped by armed security, and set off to photograph the station and St Pancras International Station across the road. I haven’t even looked at the results as I type this but I’ll find out if they are any good shortly. Talking of security, following Paris, there was certainly plenty of private security at most attractions, I don’t know if it was terrorism related though, I can’t say I noticed an increased police presence on the streets. It took us three hours and five minutes from Kings Cross to being back home, not bad for a journey of 200 miles. I can’t imagine that spending countless billions on HS2 or HS3 is going to make a meaningful (cost effective) difference to our journey. Improving what we have, a little faster, would be good. There are some bumpy bits along the route for a mainline and Wakefield to Huddersfield is the equivalent of a cart track – and takes over 30 minutes – it’s only a stone’s throw. Time to get back to editing.
My Withdoll Cathy came with cracks in her right ankle leg piece. They began to chip when I move her ankle joint. :(
Several bunion surgical procedures are available to the podiatric physician. Bunion surgery will remove the bony enlargement, restore the normal alignment of the toe joint, and relieve foot pain. A simple bunionectomy, in which only the bony prominence is removed, may be used for the less severe deformity. Severe foot bunions may require a more involved procedure, which includes cutting the bone and realigning the joint.
We had a trip to Prague in January – for Jayne’s birthday - we don’t buy Christmas or birthday presents, we travel instead. We left snowy England for a very, very dull and grey Czech Republic. Yet again I was on a photographic downer looking at the weather forecast, grey is the colour that haunts me. Fortunately it was dull grey and not burnt highlight inducing bright grey.With the grey sky acting like a big diffuser I was going to have deep shadow and contrast to deal with. We had three very short spells of broken cloud which gave us a bit of sun and colour, which I managed to more or less anticipate so we managed to be in decent locations every time – generally somewhere high.
We had been upgraded to a five star hotel, apparently our original choice was flooded. We got compensation and five star hotel upgrade– a first for me. The Art Nouveau Palace has a beautiful interior, with beautiful rooms, the breakfast room was fantastic, as was the breakfast it has to be said. We were able to have an early breakfast so were out on foot just after eight. It was very cold – and dull! We spent the whole week well wrapped up. It drizzled for a day, but never really wet us, it snowed for a day, again we didn’t get wet and the snow didn’t settle. We walked 65 mile, spending plenty of time checking buildings and their interiors out – and coffee shop and bar interiors it has to be said. Although it was dull and sometimes wet I decided that the Camera was staying in my hands for the whole trip. Whenever I put it in my backpack for one reason or another I regret it.
Again, I didn’t look at any photographs of Prague before we got there, I like to just walk and discover, with the DK guidebook in my pocket (which is full of photos it has to be said). We like to get off the beaten track and see the grittier side of the places we visit – within reason! Prague has an incredible tram network, over 1000 trams – with many of them Tatra Eastern Bloc machines. The system seems chaotic but in reality it is incredible with one of the largest networks and highest usages in the world. The trams and cars frequently share the same road space with very little in the way of drama, none of the inexplicable and pathetic constant horn blowing one finds in many countries. Once it became apparent that buildings with a grey blanket as a background were going to be a bit un-inspirational I decided that the trams would be a good focal point instead. Where I have photographed one of the older trams against a background without clues it is easy to imagine that the photos were taken fifty years ago.
The train network also provided photo opportunities. The rolling stock ranges from old Eastern Bloc to very modern double decker’s and pendolinos. There are three stations although we visited the main station and Smichov. The main station interior is art deco and has been renovated by a private company. The exterior and the platforms are very rundown with a grim eastern bloc 1950’s feel –but it works! We discovered to our amusement that we could just walk across multiple lines, no health and safety, just keep your eyes open and don’t walk under a train – you’ll make a mess. Smichov station was grim, it didn’t help that it snowed all day and was grey and bitter. We felt like we were in a 50’s film set in Russia, broken concrete platforms and dereliction. With both stations there was another world underneath them. The underground Metro is running seamlessly and efficiently away beneath your feet. I didn’t have any problems taking photos anywhere but I was very open and obviously a tourist, I didn’t act covertly or suspiciously. There was only one occasion I was stopped and that was in a shopping centre – full of CCTV cameras filming everyone else!
We discovered old and beautiful- and very large- shopping centres hidden away in quite a few places. Brass framed windows and doors, shops thriving, there was a massive camera shop with thousands of second hand cameras, too much to look at. Many of the landmark buildings prevent photography, some make a small charge, some encourage it, the DK guide book gives a good indication regarding camera use. Nothing stops many people though, they just shoot away regardless, usually wanting a picture that includes their self. Prague is surrounded by low hills and has a fair few towers that you can pay a few pounds to go up, so viewpoints are plentiful. I think we visited most of them. I read about the Zizkov Tower, which looks like a Soviet rocket on the horizon and we headed straight for it - after crossing the rail lines! Set in a quiet residential area, there wasn’t a soul about. Two beautiful girls on reception and we parted with a few pounds, into the lift and were on the observation deck with no one else up there. There are fantastic views over the city, but! It is through two layers of not very clean glass so you go for the view rather than sharp panoramas. Still a fascinating place, with a nice café bar and very clean toilets – there are toilets everywhere, usually manned with a fee. Places are well staffed compared with home were three students are supposed to run a 20 screen multiplex cinema.
Graffiti was prominent, no matter how grand the monument, some moron would have daubed it. How do they get away with it in a 24 hour city centre with a strong police presence? The place is very clean, constantly being swept. What did surprise me, was that many buildings, that looked grand and built of stone, from a distance, were actually rendered with very low quality brickwork concealed. When restored the building look very impressive, others are missing the outer render from ground level to a fair height.
I need to cut this short really, I like to put a background story to the photos and although it would be better to individualise it to a specific photo or group of photos I don’t have the time to do that. I do try to give specific detail in the title bar after I have uploaded, this is time consuming enough although I’m pretty proficient at it by now. There are many things I would like to write that should be of interest to anyone thinking of going to Prague but I’ll have to let the pictures do the talking. As usual I am unlikely to be selective enough with my uploads, I’m not very good at leaving photos out so I just upload and be damned.
9th World Pride / 50th Capital Pride PARADE at Thomas Circle South along 14th Street between L Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC on Saturday afternoon, 7 June 2025 by Elvert Barnes Photography
En route to Freedom Plaza
Visit WORLD PRIDE 2025 PARADE website at worldpridedc.org/events/parade/
Elvert Barnes WASHINGTON DC GAY PRIDE Archives at elvertxbarnes.com/dc-gay-pride-1
Elvert Barnes GAY PRIDE Archives at elvertxbarnes.com/gaypride
Elvert Barnes June 2025 at exbphoto.com/2025
Who here likes consistency? You know, that warm, familiar feeling every time you go to Taco Bell (going down or out.. up to you)... very consistent? You've been there enough times and you've generally had all their menu items and your opinion is that "it's alright". Then there's that one time out of the blue, you decide to try something vegetarian off the Fresco menu, only to realize it was a horrible, horrible mistake? Well, that's kind of like what happened with this particular entry: Figma Megumin from Kono Sabarashii Sekai ni Shyukufuku wo!.. however you pronounce that.
As with 99% of the magical girl entries on my list, I know nothing about the actual character. Couple of Wiki pages presents a personality that, as expected, fits the way she looks. As taken from a Fandom page:
"Megumin is a straightforward girl, who speaks in an old-style Japanese dialect. She can be very hyper and lively at times and has chuunibyou tendencies like the rest of the Crimson Demon villagers. She is very intelligent, but has very little self-control, especially when it comes to using Explosion magic. She has no problem wasting her spell on empty plains or abandoned castles, as long as she can use Explosion once a day."
There seemed to be quite a bit of excitement when the figure was announced a while back, so as I always do, I found a decent deal on one that had a few issues while out and about, figuring "it's a Figma, it'll be alright" and away I went. The issues being that this was an Amazon Warehouse deal, so it wasn't complete, though the only thing that was missing was the instruction manual. The peg holding her cape in place had snapped off, and her head wasn't in place, of which the latter I figure I could just go home and pop that sucker right back in because, well, wouldn't be the first time a head came off a Figma after being jostled.
Well, jokes on me. After trying with no success, I took to the Internet, and read a crap ton of negative reviews on this figure, ranging from poor QC to horrible design. The head thing? Wasn't the only one; several complaints on Amazon said the same thing, with most not even bothering to try to attach the head. I had to grind the hole to widen it before the neck joint would actually fit, and now it's a bit loose and prone to falling off. I read stories of the staff showing up broken. Seems overall, these Konosuba girls (as they are called) have been plagued with QC issues.. I'm glad I didn't pay MSRP on this figure, let me tell you.
Megumin comes with a typical payload when it comes to Figma. There's the figure, three total face plates (slight smile, attacking, scared), her hat, her cape, alternate hair with eye patch, energy effect for eye, staff, purple orb for staff, spell effect with staff end for attaching said effect, her Familiar Chomosuke, six additional hands plus one dedicated spell casting hand, and the usual Figma stand.
Based on the screen caps I've seen, it appears that overall, Max Factory has captured the overall silhouette of Megumin herself, and her look when equipped with her gear. Of course, she's a lanky Japanese school girl, so not exactly hard for Figma to replicate. Chomosuke is freakin' adorable.. not quite Kirby adorable, but pretty damn close. Sculpting details are up to snuff, with clean fingers, good texture detailing on the outfit, and some minor muscle definition on her bare back. Face plates look spot on.
Articulation is pretty typical for a Figma.. when she doesn't have her cape on. You have full motion ankles, single jointed knees, full motion hips, waist, mid torso movement, full motion shoulders combined with bicep swivel, standard elbows, wrists, and head articulation. Mid torso movement is limited due to the joint being embedded inside her outfit, which is a soft rubber material. I'm not sure if it's like this for all the recent Figma (I'm kind of behind schedule), but Megumin features this hinged joint which allows for a deeper range of motion when it comes to head tilt, while at the same time offering the same ball jointed base base of head joint that permits the standard range of motion there. The cape itself has two points of articulation, allowing for a simulated flow look which is great, but putting the cape on also limits the range of motion when it comes to raise the arms up into an overhead position. Her skirt also limits the movement of the upper legs, which in turn limits the number of stances you can have her in. Because of this, I found it very difficult to balance Megumin on her tiny feet, and as such a stand is pretty much needed for everything.
Paint work is, as expected, solid across the board. Even the yellows appear to be well applied, with no significant overspray or lumpy paint residue. The only ugly paint spot are the silver on her buckle and her necklace, which are relatively ugly, but not "gouge my eyes out" level. Decal work is at its usual level of excellence.
Building quality and design is where things kind of went South. I've already talked about my problems out the box above, but there's more to discuss. First and foremost, that stupid, stupid hat. So, someone, in their infinite wisdom, decided that rather than have the hat attach via a peg or something like that, decided the best way to have the hat sit on her head is the put a really thin piece of plastic on the inside of the hat, and have that clip between the two hair pieces.. sounds alright in theory until you realize actually getting the thing to fit in their is a nightmare because there really isn't enough clearance to slide the front hair piece in place should you try to get the hat in place first. So instead you end up leaving a slight gap, and cramming the hat on her head, hoping for the best. The eye effect is a separate piece, and it is up to the owner to use their hamburger finger to squeeze this tiny plastic piece, probably the size of a syringe needle, into place so it doesn't fall out of the hair. I found that the joints on the figure, while fine by themselves, aren't really meant to carry the weight of the staff, particularly if it has the energy effect attached on the end of it. The body itself is pretty typical build, so no too many complaints here.
So in the end, we had the potential for an outstanding Figma, one having vibrant colour and personality., only to have a multitude of QC issues and crappy design choices knock it down a few pegs. Without her hat and cape, Megumin is honestly average at best, as she really can't do much other than sligh variations of standing up. I guess if the cape wasn't broken on mine, at least I would keep the cape on constantly as it does add to the character. But that hat.. it's such a hassle to put it on you either never take it off or you just give up. The best parts of this set are the scared face and of course, Chomosuke.
Better luck next time, I suppose.
Going to have to move the SS and the Elky out of the way.
1:64 Johnny Lightning:
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS
Dioramas 2018 Release 3
"Barn Finds"
A&M Salvage
N. Baynard
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Olympus M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
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Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Olympus M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
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Welcome to Woodside Press, a traditional letterpress printing studio located in New York City's historic Brooklyn Navy Yard. We create printed items of the highest quality for individual, business, and institutional clients. To the graphic-design community we offer typesetting and type-reproduction services, and we are also New York City's leading facility for hot-metal typography, with Linotype and Ludlow typecasting machines and an impressive range of classic and decorative typefaces.
The Iconic Ford Power Live Event took Place at Brands Hatch to Celebrate The Blue Badged Ford Motor Company and their Iconic Cars From both the Past and The Present. From Escort Mexico's to Modern Ford Mustang GT'S there was Everything for the Ford Enthusiast to enjoy.
The Support Races Featured During the Day were also Full of Different Makes and Models of Ford Racing Cars From The Focus RS to the Ford Escort and the Iconic Sierra Cosworth and even the Iconic Enduro KA series was Present and with Drivers and Spectators Ready the Racing was about to begin.
Lets Turn to the Race Track and See what is the First Support Race to make it onto the Race track.
Champion Of Brands (Qualifying)
First up Champion of Brands and with Fast and High Speed Action from Thease Machines Lets See who took that all important People Position to Start the Race in P1.
In First Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 50.154 and a Top Speed of 86.70mph. Amazing work there Tom a truly Heroic and Brave Drive for Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Best Lap Time of 50.397 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Fantastic Work Niall Very Fast and Quick Driving.
In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 50.399 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Another Incredible Driver in Colin Pushing Hard and Almost Taking Second Place from Niall. I think we are in for some Really Intense Racing but who will be Fast Enough to on Track to Take Victory?
Champion Of Brands (Race 1 Results)
After a Thrilling Battle that saw Tom Mills take Pole Position its time to find out who Won the Race and out of The Top Three Could Anyone else on the Grid Challenge them for a Spot on the Podium. Lets Find Out.
In First Place and taking the Win was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.518 and an Average Speed of 77.40mph. Incredible work there Niall Beating back Tom to take Victory in the First Race and a Well Determined Drive to Secure it.
In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.706 and an Average Speed of 77.38mph. Amazing Drive there Tom Keeping up with Niall and a Fantastic Battle thought the entire Race too.
In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his RAY GR18 with a Lap Time of 50.820 and an Average Speed of 77.32mph. A Great Victory for Third Place on the Podium Colin showing a Determined Drive and a lot of Bravery thought the Race.
What an Incredible First Race to Start out the Days Events and with Another Coming up Soon after is it possible for Another Competitor to take Victory and the Spotlight? Lets Take A Look.
Champion Of Brands (Race 2 Results)
Race 2 Up Next and The Final Time for Anyone Racing in Champion of Brands to Score Points and Take Victory in either First Second or Third Place. After a Thrilling End to Race 1 which Saw Tom Mills getting Beaten by Niall Murray it was time to see who could Once Again bring the Roar and Thunder Home for a Final Time.
In First Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.584 and an Average Speed of 84.84mph. Another Incredible Drive from Niall to once again take The Final Pole Position for Champion of Brands. Brilliant Drive there Niall.
In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.606 and an Average Speed of 84.47mph. Another Well Deserved Second Place for Tom Showing Incredible Car Control and Bravery Pushing the Limits on Every Corner to Keep up with Niall. Fantastic Drive Tom.
In Third Place was (Lucan Romenek) in his Van Diemen JL13 with a Lap Time of 50.927 and an Average Speed of 83.92mph. Very Well Done there Lucan Fantastic to see a New Driver take a Step onto the Podium and Celebrate the Victory.
What an Exciting Opening Day here at Brands Hatch for Ford Power Live with Champion of Brands Providing some Well Deserved Winners in Niall Tom Lucan and Colin. Well Done to all other Drivers taking Part and Continuing to Improve and do what it is that you Love. Keep Up the Momentum and Never Give Up Hope of One Day Making it to the Top Step of the Podium.
Lets See what Track Action is Next Up onto the Circuit as the Action Continues to Hot Up.
Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Qualifying)
Clubman Sports Prototypes were up next and thease Mad Looking Machines are known for their Supreme Aerodynamics as well as Insane Straight Line Speed. each Driver will have to be on the ball and Keeping their Machine under Constant Control as they will be Powering round this 1,2 mile Indy Circuit at Speeds of at Least 90mph.
Lets Look to the Track to see who Qualified where and see who will be starting the Race on Pole.
In First Place and taking Pole Position was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Best Lap Time of 47.146 and a Top Speed of 92.23mph. Amazing Drive there Steve Very Fast and Committed for Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Best Lap Time of 47.784 and a Top Speed of 91.00mph. Well Deserved there Clive Pushing that Mallock for all its worth and taking Second Place.
In Third Place was (Alex Champkin) Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Best Lap Time of 48.129 and a Top Speed of 90.35mph. Very Well Done there Alex Taking Third Place and a Spirited Drive with it.
A Very Fast and Fierce set of Drivers Ready to take on the Indy Circuit. Lets Get Right Down to the Action for Race 1.
Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 1 Results)
After A Thrilling Battle in Qualifying Between Steve Clive and Alex which of them will be Poised and Ready to Attack on the Race Track to either Defend maintain or even potentially Loose their Positions to the other Drivers. Lets Find Out.
In First Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.076 and an Average Speed of 76.87mph. Incredible Driving there Steve Taking the Victory and the Spoils that come with it Amazing Work from you and The Entire Team.
In Second Place was (Alex Champkin) in his Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Lap Time of 47.515 and an Average Speed of 76.84mph. Another Super Drive by Alex to move him up into Second Place on the Podium. Fantastic Work and Driving Ability.
In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.802 and an Average Speed of 76.81mph. Very Well Done there Clive Super Driving and an All Round Great Victory for Third Place.
An Exciting Opening Race for Clubman's with Steve Dickens taking Both Qualifying and the First Race Win. Can he Do it again For Race 2 or will the likes of Alex and Clive Hunt Him down and take that Victory away Stay Tuned to find out as We Go Racing Once Again.
Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 2 Results)
In First Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.475 and an Average Speed of 87.35mph.
In Second Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30 PR with a Lap Time of 48.784 and an Average Speed of 86.84mph.
In Third Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.448 and an Average Speed of 86.63mph.
What an Exciting End to Race 2 with a New Winner in P2 being Pete Richings Well Done Pete Amazing work and a well deserved Podium Spot. Will Pete be able to Retain that Second Place or even Improve though as we head into the Final Round in Race 3.
Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 3 Results)
In First Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30PR with a Lap Time of 48.218 and a Top Speed of 88.27mph. Incredible Driving Pete taking the Top Step of the Podium and the Race Win. A Truly Excellent Drive.
In Second Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 47.986 and an Average Speed of 88.17mph. Very Well Done again Steve Putting in a lot of Hard work to Reach Second Place.
In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 With a Lap Time of 47.883 and an Average Speed of 88.08mph. Another Amazing P3 for Clive with a lot of Strong Determination Behind the Wheel.
What a Race Weekend for the Clubman's with Many Different Victories and Winners in Clive Steve Pete and Alex all Looking to Fight it it on Track and take Home those Valuable Championship Winning Points. Well Done to all other Competitors as well Keep Pushing Hard and Making Memories that will Last Forever.
Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Qualifying)
Now it was time for the Creative Solutions Sports 2000's to hit the Track and After a Thunderous Performance by the Classic Clubman's Lets see what thease Mean Machines Have to Offer. With Speeds once again Reaching Nearly 92mph thease cars are Monsters and Driving and Controlling One is going to be Very Challenging with all that Break Horse Power.
Lets take a Look at Qualifying and see which Drivers made it to the Front end of the Grid for Race 1.
In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was ( Neil Burroughs) in his Gunn TS12 with a Best Lap Time of 47.202 and a Top Speed of 92.12mph. Fantastic work there Neil Once Again showing the Skill and Commitment Needed for a Championship Winning Drive.
In Second Place was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Best Lap Time of 47.400 and A Top Speed of 91.74mph. Great Work there Tom a Well Controlled and Well Balanced Car on the Race Track to Take P2 on the Grid.
In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Best Lap Time of 47.474 and a Top Speed of 91.59mph. Well Done Josh Really Amazing work to take P3 on the Grid for The Race.
What a Fantastic Qualifying Session with Battles Happening all over the Field but Neil Tom and Josh have made it into the Top Three and so Lets Find out in Race 1 which of them will be Taking Home Victory.
Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 1)
In First Place and Taking Victory was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.471 and an Average Speed of 62.75mph. Amazing Work Tom taking yourself from P2 in Qualifying to P1 and The First Race Win, Incredible Drive.
In Second Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.457 and an average Speed of 62.69mph. Fantastic Work Michel and a Really Strong Drive to take P2 in the Race. A Fantastic Drive.
In Third Place was (Giles Billingsley) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 49.321 and an Average Speed of 62.31mph. Awesome Work there Giles a Brilliant Drive to Get P3 and the Last Spot on the Podium.
What an Exciting First Race with Tom Stoden being the First Race Winner in Sports 2000. A Big Congratulations to Michel and Giles too for some Heroic Driving and their Further P2 and P3 Finishes. Lets Find out what Race 2 Brings us Next.
Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 2)
After a Really Hectic First Race which saw Tom Stoden Take P1 followed by Michel Gibbins and Giles Billingsley it was Time for Race 2. Lets see if Anyone Else can Challenge these Almighty Three Drivers at the Front of the Field.
In First Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.878 and an Average Speed of 70.46mph. Incredible Drive for Joshua Taking P1 from Tom Stoden and Claiming his First Race Win of the Weekend. Amazing work Josh.
In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.409 and an Average Speed of 70.35mph. Another Very Confident and Fast Drive by Tom to Achieve Second Place showing Just How Talented and Brave of a Driver Tom is Fantastic Performance Tom.
In Third Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.395 and an Average Speed of 70.32mph. Really Good Drive there Michel Fantastic Car Control and a lot of Fast Race Pace. Well Done.
What Another Epic Race to Witness with a New Winner on the Top Step of the Podium being Joshua Law a Well Deserved Win from a Very Talented Driver. Amazing work to both Tom and Michel for their Respective P2 and P3 Finishes. With Race 3 Up Next who will be Taking Home that Final Pole Position of the Weekend for Sports 2000.
Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 3)
The Final Round of the Day for the Sports 2000's and with Joshua Law Defending his People Position at the Front Will anyone be able to dethrone our New Race Winner. Lets Find Out.
In First Place and Taking the Victory was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.479 and an Average Speed of 89.11mph. What a Drive Michel Taking P1 and the Final Race Win. Incredible Work.
In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 47.680 and an Average Speed of 88.95mph. Amazing work Once Again Tom Proving Just How Competitive This Racing Series for Drivers is.
In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.938 and an Average Speed of 88.92mph. Great Work there Josh Really Good Drive in Taking P3.
What an Amazing Set of Races for the Sports 2000's with Many Different Victories for the likes of Joshua Tom Michel and Giles Drivers who Really Put the Pedal to the Metal when it really matters. Fantastic Work to all other Drivers on Track as well and Good Luck as the Season Continues.
Focus Cup Championship (Qualifying)
Next Up we take a Look to the Focus Cup Championship a Racing Series which Features the use of Ford Focus Road Cars Built to Racing Specifications. Thease Cars all Use The ZTEC 2.0 TDCI Engines and Have Proven to be Very Quick and also Very Twitchy when out Racing.
Lets Take a Look at Qualifying to see what Drivers Have made it to the Front of the Gird to start out the Days Racing.
In First Place taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.625 and a Top Speed of 74.17mph. Great Work there Simon Very Fast Driving while Keeping the Car on the Race Track to clock in a Perfect Lap of the Indy Circuit for P1.
In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.880 and a Top Speed of 73.85mph. Very Well Done there Scott with a Blisteringly Quick Lap To take P2 on the Grid for the First Race.
In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 59.025 and a Top Speed of 73.67mph. Very Well Done Gary Pushing Hard and Making every Millie Second Count to take P3 on the grid.
Three Very Quick Drivers in Simon Scott and Gary all Looking to take that First Race Win. Which One of them Can Do it. Lets Find Out as Race 1 Begins.
Focus Cup Championship (Race 1)
In First Place and Taking Victory was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.725 and an Average Speed of 72.88mph. Congratulations Simon what an Epic Drive to Victory and a First Win of the Day for you. Very Well Done.
In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.776 and an Average Speed of 72.49mph. Amazing Work there Scott Well Driven and Controlled Thought the entire Race.
In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.909 and an Average Speed of 72.39mph. Great Drive there Gary and A Brilliant Finish on the Podium in P3.
What an Exciting First Race for the Focus Cup showing Just How Fast thease Cars are and How Brave each Driver has to be to take Moves and Dive Bombs to work there way to the Front of the Grid. Lets See what Race 2 Brings and Can Simon Keep His Defence of P1.
Focus Cup Championship (Race 2)
In First Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.914 and an Average Speed of 68.78mph. Incredible Work there Gary taking P1 and The Race Win what a Fantastic start to the Weekend for Him.
In Second Place was (Richard Avis) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.506 and an Average Speed of 68.70mph. what a Drive there From Richard Fantastic to see a New Face in P2 on the Podium and a Well Deserved Victory in Second Place.
In Third Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.283 and an Average Speed of 68.61mph. Very Well Done there Scott Pushing Hard and Making sure to Stay in the Top Three. Fantastic Drive.
Another Incredible Race with a Different Driver in Richard Avis taking Second Place with an Incredible Drive and Sheer Speed and Talent. Congratulations to both Gary and Scott as well for their Fantastic Finishes Too.
Now for Race 3 and its the Final Time to see who will be taking Home that Last P1 Victory for the Focus Cup Championship.
Focus Cup Championship (Race 3)
In First Place was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.228 and an Average Speed of 71.60mph. Amazing Work as Usual Scott putting in One Final Flying Run to Gain Another Race Victory. Great Drive.
In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.972 and an Average Speed of 70.23mph. Another Really Impressive Drive by Scott to take P2 in the Final Race for The Focus Cup.
In Third Place was (Rob Gaffney) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.238 and an Average Speed of 70.19mph. Very Well Done Indeed Rob Finishing P3 and taking his First Podium of the Weekend. Phenomenal Drive.
What an Amazing End to the Focus Cup Championship at Brands Hatch with Many Different Victories for Simon Scott Rob and Gary who all Drove out of their Skin and showed Phenomenal Car Control and Ability to Drive. Fantastic Work to all the other Drivers too Keep Working Hard and Most Important of All Enjoy what you Love Doing.
MSVR Elise Trophy (Qualifying)
Next Up is the MSR Elise Trophy
with the Focus of this Race being on the Lotus Elise S1 S2 and S3 with Just One Qualifying Session and Just 1 Race This will be A Test of Will Power and Determination on the Track to see who can Take Victory.
First Lets look to Qualifying and See who will be Starting on the Front Row.
In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Maurizio Sciglio) in his Lotus Elise S2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.544 and a Top Speed of 81.21mph. Fantastic work there Maurizio to take P1 and start o the Front Row of the Grid.
In Second Place was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Best Lap Time of 53.914 and a Top Speed of 80.65mph. Very Well Done there Jason Putting in one Hell of a Quick Time to Gain P2 on the Grid.
In Third Place was (Simon Walsh) in his Lotus Elise S2 111R with a Best Lap Time of 54.076 and a Top Speed of 80.41mph. Incredible Drive from Simon to put Himself in P3.
With Three Very Quick Drivers in Maurizio Jason and Simon it was Time to see if Anyone Could challenge them and Win the Only Race of the Day for the Lotus Elise Trophy.
MSVR Elise Trophy (Race 1)
In First Place taking The Victory was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Lap Time of 54.638 and an Average Speed of 66.83mph. Fantastic Victory for Jason taking P1 and The Race Win for the Elise Trophy. Phenomenal Driving too.
In Second Place was (John Lamaster) in his Lotus Elise S2 135R with a Lap Time of 54.781 and an Average Speed of 66.75mph. Fantastic work John and So Great to see a New Face on the Podium Taking P2 what an Incredible Driver.
In Third Place was (David Alexander) in his Lotus Elise S1 with a Lap Time of 55.589 and an Average Speed of 66.62mph. Very Well Driven Dave Keeping an Eye out all over the Place and Bringing Home a Superb P3 Finish.
A Brilliant Race for the Elise Trophy and Victories for Jason John and David as well as Maurizio and Simon for their Heroic Efforts in Qualifying. Congratulations to Jason on the Race Win and Good Luck to all other Drivers in this Series.
Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)
Now it was Time to head Back to the Blue Badged Ford Machines Once again as the Modified Ford Series Rolled out onto the Race Track with each car being Heavily Modified from their Road Counterparts. With Escort Cosworth's and RS200's Roaring and Ready to go it was Time to see what the First Group A set of Drivers could do in Qualifying.
Due to how large the Grids were and the Fact that both Group A and Group B Have Different Races I will only be putting up results from both Qualifying Sessions from Group A and Group B. I will Leave a Link Below each Qualifying Session so you can Get All the Race Result's and Action from the 4 Different Races.
Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)
In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was (David Cockell) in his Ford Escort Cosworth with a Best Lap Time of 49.872 and a Top Speed of 87.19mph. Very Well Done David Keeping that Escort on the Track Must Have Taken some Practice no Doubt Amazing work on Getting Pole.
In Second Place was (Wayne Crabtree) in his Ford RS200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.121 and a Top Speed of 85.06mph. Very Fast Drive from Wayne to take P2 and a Very Solid Drive Thought.
In Third Place was (Michael Saunders) in his Ford Escort MK1 Mexico with a Best Lap Time of 51.129 and an Average Speed of 85.05mph. Very Well Driven by Michael Being Able to Keep up with Both Wayne and David Must Have Ben a Real Pain but what a Fantastic Achievement.
What a Fantastic Set of Legendary Drivers all Battle Hardened and Ready to take on the Might of the Indy Circuit. But there can Only be One Winner who do you Think will Win the First Race? Click the Link Below to get all of the Race Results from this Racing Series.
(Link to Group A Race Results)
www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751
Modified Ford Series Group B (Qualifying)
Now it was Time for Group B to make a stance and see what their Modified Ford Racing Machines could do. with How Fast and Action Packed Group A Had Been During both The Races and Qualifying Group B was looking to be much the Same.
Lets Waste No Time in Finding out who Has Taken Pole Position for the First of 4 Races.
In First Place Taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Neil Jessop) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 52.030 and a Top Speed of 83.57mph. Fantastic Work there Neil and a Really Quick Escort to match too. Very Well Done.
In Second Place was (James Harris) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.928 and a Top Speed of 80.63mph. Amazing work there James Pushing Hard and Giving the Old Girl everything she has to offer.
In Third Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 54.892 and a Top Speed of 79.22mph. Awesome Drive there from Malcom Overcoming a lot of Pressure to put in an Incredible Lap for P3.
What an Amazing Line up for Group B with Plenty of Experienced Drivers who know their cars inside out. But who will be Brave Enough to challenge the Top Three Drivers for Victory. Find out for Yourself at the Link Below.
(Link to Group B Race Results)
www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751
Enduro KA (Qualifying)
The Final Qualifying Session of the Day Had Come and its the Enduro KA'S. with all of the Cars on the Grid being Models of the Popular Ford KA made Between 1998-2009 thease Cars were Fun City cars that could get you from A to B with Ease. They were Also Build on a tight budget meaning that Handling Performance and Comfort were a Big Selling point of thease Brilliant little cars.
The Racing Versions seen here in the pictures however are built for Racing. they use different tyres but still the same Legendary 1.3 Dura Tec Engine found in their Road Going Counterparts.
Lets Take a look at Qualifying and see which KA and Driver made it to the top step of the podium.
Enduro KA (Qualifying)
In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.495 and a Top Speed of 68.48mph. Fantastic Work Adam and Martyn Really Pushing the Car for all its worth.
In Second Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.713 and a Top Speed of 68.25mph. Fantastic Drive there from Both Alex and Chris Claiming P2.
In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.921 and a Top Speed of 68.03mph. Very Well Done there Matt Great Drive and Awesome Car Control.
Three Very Quick and Determined Teams and with 4 Races to Race in this will be a Very Close and Tight Battles Between all Teams and Drivers. Skill and Talent will be crucial to survival and Who will be able to take the First Victory of Race 1. Lets Find Out.
Enduro KA (Race 1 Results)
In First Place Taking the Victory was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.688 and an Average Speed of 67.95mph. Congratulations Both Alex and Luke on a Superb Race Victory and Well Done to hold off the Pressure from the other Competitors.
In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.416 and an Average Speed of 67.92mph. Very Well Done to both Adam and Martyn for that Amazing P2 Finish.
In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.664 and an Average Speed of 67.79mph. Incredible Work there Matt Amazing Drive and a Really Super Looking Car.
An Exciting Opening Race for the Enduro KA Series with Three Different Teams on the Podium in Alex Reade Motorsport Octane Junkies and Fat Boys Racing. Amazing work to all of you Now Lets see what Action Race 2 Brings and whether or not Alex Reade Motorsport can Hold onto that 1st Place.
Enduro KA (Race 2 Results)
In First Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.557 and an Average Speed of 67.94mph. Another Incredible Drive from both the likes of Alex and Luke to Keep their P1 Finish From the First Race. Amazing Work.
In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.621 and an Average Speed of 67.90mph. Fantastic Work Once Again to the likes of Adam and Martyn Another Set of Drivers Keeping their Second Place Finish.
In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:04.005 and an Average Speed of 67.39mph. Well Done once again Matt Perfect Driving and a Well Balanced Car out there.
Looks like the Top Three Remain the Same even After Two Races but will Race 3 Bring a New Twist to the Current Driver and Team Standings. Lets Find Out.
Enduro KA (Race 3 Results)
In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.849 and an Average Speed of 67.57mph. Amazing Work there Adam and Martyn managing to topple the likes of Alex and Luke to Earn P1.
In Second Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.584 and an Average Speed of 67.51mph. Well Done there Matt Improving up to P2 and Taking Home a Well Deserved Finish in the Standings for Race 3.
In Third Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.606 and an Average Speed of 67.44mph. Very Good Come Back Drive for Both Luke and Ale to Finish Third Great Driving.
Many Twists and Turns Have Benn brought into Race 3 with the Top Three Drivers now being Shuffled Around the Gird into different Positions. With One More Race to Go who will be The Last Driver of the Day on the Top Step of the Podium.
Enduro KA (Race 4 Results)
In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.442 and an Average Speed of 67.82mph. An Amazing Final Win for the Day to Octane Junkies Adam and Martyn Smith Congratulations and Very Well Driven.
In Second Place was (Piston Heads Peter Dignan) with a Lap Time of 1:03.781 and an Average Speed of 67.54mph. Incredible work there Peter Getting P2 and Standing on the Podium and Incredible Achievement.
In Third Place was (IP Racing Oliver Wilmot and Scott Parkin) with a Lap Time of 1:03.710 and an Average Speed of 67.47mph. Very Well Done to both Scott and Oliver on that Fantastic P3 Achievement. Something Very Special to Remember for both of you.
And With that The Days Racing at Brands Hatches Ford Power Live comes to an End and what an Incredible Array of Both Cars Teams and Drivers on Display Today. A Big Congratulations to the likes of Adam Martyn Luke Chris Peter Matt Oliver and Scott for their Incredible Achievements and All Other Drivers Keeping the World Of Motorsport Alive and Well.
Keep Working Hard everyone Else. Your Time Will Come.
See You All Again Next Year!!!!
abrindo o coração...
passei três meses doente...
numa vida escura,
em se dizendo, em um quarto escuro,
olhos escuros,
me apaixonei pelo erro
erro era pensar que amava o ogro,
era um ogro mesmo...
um cara totality NO SENSE, NO RESPECT!!!!!
mentiras e minhas lástimas contra toda essa dor...
dores que me doiam o coração
e eu jorrava lágrimas de sangue
sangue esse que me expus a contar um pouco
de toda essa dor...
me expus dentro das paredes de um museu
onde eu pude expressar minhas angústias, a dor
e que dor... "deus", que dor!
fiquei com marcas em várias partes do corpo
porque criei varios "tumores" no corpo,
tumores com pus e sangue... muito sangue...
como dizia o poeta, quando as rosas morrem ficam os espinhos...
enfim, eu vi que ali, naquele museu era meu momento...
meu amadurecimento dentro da mágoa, dessa maldita dor, desse sangue todo...
maldito sentimento!
e eu fui la e fiz,
até mesmo contra a inveja!
eu fui la e fiz!
muitas pessoas se importam e lutam por muito pouco...
tanta doença sem cura.
tanta gente com fome.
mas, temos tantas outras coisas tão maiores e bonitas ao nosso redor...
tanta competição, pra quê?
desleixos, eu sou isso, tu es aquilo, ele é isso...
tanto importa!
essa rua não é minha
essa rua não es tua
essa rua não é de ninguém!!!!!
briga por causa de pau, de beleza, de egolog, de toda essa merda...
tem gente balançando a bundinha como o TCHAN
e tá achando que tá dançando DUB!!!
pagando mico direto
depois diz que é inveja... arf!
apelação explicita!!!!!
gritando e dizendo que ta cantando... tanto talento, onde por favor?!
a venda pra gringo! o mercado da bunda! - país do sexo (?)
talento vem de dentro...
tantas fantasias, máscaras, mascarados!!!
FUK FASHION PEOPLE!!!!
STYLE IS ATITUDE!!!!
pode alguém aqui me dizer o que é NORMAL?
tem tanta gente se achando velho barbudo
e querendo se debater com os jovens cheios de idéias...
cheios de coragem e atitude...
tem uns que vão se perder
tem uns que tão pagando pra ficar.
e assim vai...
tanta luta boba e cansativa por NADA!
pensando bem,
to achando que esses barbudos tão perdendo a vez
- que tanto medo é esse? - que insegurança é essa? -
é tanto julgamento!
esses barbudos que nem são barbudos
estão perdendo o desejo que essa mocidade toda tem.
a energia, a vibração! a verdadeira luta!
e olhe que os verdadeiros mestres barbudos
"tão aí, e não param por nada e pagam muito caro por eles"
eles são raízes e eles sim servem de exemplo pra essa mocidade bonita!
como dizem os bons, quem é de VERDADE, sabe quem é de MENTIRA!
e tem os baba ovo
mas, eu nao faço parte dessa massa suja!
eu sou totality OUT SIDE! de tudo isso.
PQP!!!!
tanta hipocrisia e falta de entendimento e de respeito!!!
fraqueza - lute pelo teu!
força - conquiste o teu!
só queria dizer que eu tava tão doente, tão doente
que mal conseguia sair da cama,
sair de casa...
olhar o mar...
era a dor de pensar que amava demais...
e não era amor, era paixão!
(des)ilusão! carência.
também cheguei a pensar que dali eu não tinha mais rumo...
sem inspiração, sem vontade para nada
tanta força é essa minha
que nem essa dor me derrubou, nem ele mesmo e nem vocês podridão!
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
falsidade e mentiras
TANTA MALANDRAGEM
TANTA CARETICE
TANTA FORÇA BRUTA
TANTA POBREZA DE ESPÍRITO
QUE DISPUTAS INÚTEIS!
vai pra lá DESPACHO(S)
K(Y)LL(E) THESE SHIT PhUNKS!!!!! huh!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGqroT1FZ5Y
essa é a minha new erah
welcome to the jungle, babie!
u donno who u're fucking with! ha! ;)*
++++LOVAH!
- HATE!
..♥!
We made our annual trip to London in November. We travel down by coach from Slaithwaite and stay at The Cumberland Hotel at Marble Arch. It’s actually a weekend ladies shopping trip that is run as a fundraiser for Slaithwaite Brass Band – I’m the only bloke that goes every year! We decided ( the two of us) to stay down in London until Thursday this time as we wanted to see weekday London and be able to explore a bit further afield on foot. We covered up to 16 miles a day, which is tough going on crowded pavements with hundreds of busy roads to cross. I photographed anything that looked interesting but I bent a contact in the CF card slot, fortunately I had quite a few SD cards with me and the 5D has dual slots so I was able to carry on using it. It’s currently at Lehmann’s getting fixed.
With it being close to Christmas the decorations are up everywhere so there was plenty of colour at night. In Hyde Park the Winter Wonderland was in full swing, we’ve never bothered going to it before but I went twice at night this time. It is massive this year, I couldn’t get over how big it is and the quality of some of the attractions. The cost and effort involved must be phenomenal – it was quite expensive though. It was very difficult to photograph, with extremes of light (LED’s) and darkness and fast moving rides into the bargain. I think I have some decent usable stuff but at the time of writing I am only part way through the editing process so I don’t know for sure.
We set off at around 8.15 am every day and stayed out for at least 12 hours. The weather was poor for a day and a half with drizzle and very dull grey conditions, fortunately we had some pleasant weather (and light) along the way as well. Being based at the end of Oxford Street – Europe’s busiest shopping street – meant that I did quite a bit of night shooting on there. Although I carried a tripod everywhere I only used it once and that was during the day! Because there is always a moving element in almost every shot it seemed pointless using a tripod. I would have got some shots free of movement – or I could have gone for ultra-long exposures to eliminate people and traffic but it would have been problematic I felt. In the end I wound the ISO up and hand held – fingers crossed.
We walked out to Camden Market and Locks but it had been raining and we were a bit early as many were only just setting up for the day. We tried to follow routes that we hadn’t used before and visit new places. We paid a fortune to get in St Pauls but you can’t use cameras. This something that I fail to see the point of, ban flash if you want but if you are going to encourage tourism why ban cameras when there is nothing in particular happening in there. It’s a rule that seems to be applied arbitrarily in cities around the world. Fortunately we could take photos from the outside of the dome, which was real reason for visiting, and we had some great light. Expensive compared with a couple of euros in some famous cathedrals. I’ve wanted to walk to Canary Wharf for a number of years and this year we did. We crisscrossed the Thames a few times and tried to follow the Thames path at other times. We covered around ten miles but it was an interesting day. It was also very quiet for the last four or five miles. We got there about 12.00 and managed to get a sandwich in a café in the shopping centre at the foot of the high rise office blocks before tens of thousands of office workers descended from above. It was mayhem, packed, with snaking queues for anywhere that sold food. We crossed to the other side of The Isle of Dogs and looked across to the O2 Arena and the cable car, unfortunately there isn’t a way across for pedestrians and it was around 3.00 pm. With darkness falling at around 4.30 we decide it was too late to bother. We made our way back to the Thames Clipper pier to check the sailing times. They sail every twenty minutes so we had a couple of glasses of wine and a rest before catching the Clipper. Sailing on the Thames was a first in 15 trips to London. The Clipper is fast and smooth, the lights had come on in the city and there was a fantastic moon rise. It was nigh on impossible to get good shots at the speed we were traveling though and there were times that I wished I could be suspended motionless above the boat. Again, hopefully I will have some usable shots.
We felt that the shopping streets were a little quieter, following the Paris massacre it was to be expected, I might be wrong as we were out and about at later times than previous trips. I think I have heard that footfall is down though. It was good to get into some of the quieter backstreets and conversely to be stuck in the city business district – The Square Mile- at home time. A mass exodus of people running and speed walking to bus stops and the rail and tube stations. It was difficult to move against or across the flow of bodies rushing home.
Whilst the Northern(manufacturing) economy is collapsing, London is a giant development site, it must be the tower crane capital of Europe at the moment. It was difficult to take a shot of any landmark free of cranes, it was easier to make the cranes a feature of the photo. It’s easy to see where the wealth is concentrated – not that there was ever any doubt about it. The morons with too much money are still driving their Lambo’s and Ferraris etc. like clowns in streets that are packed with cars , cyclists and pedestrians, accelerating viciously and noisily for 50 yards. They are just sad attention seekers. From Battersea to Canary Wharf we walked the Thames Embankment, the difference between high and low tide on the river is massive, but the water was the colour of mud – brown! Not very attractive in colour. We caught a Virgin Train from Kings Cross for £14.00 each – a bargain!. We had quite a bit of time to kill around midday at Kings Cross so I checked with security that I was OK to wander around taking photos, without fear of getting jumped by armed security, and set off to photograph the station and St Pancras International Station across the road. I haven’t even looked at the results as I type this but I’ll find out if they are any good shortly. Talking of security, following Paris, there was certainly plenty of private security at most attractions, I don’t know if it was terrorism related though, I can’t say I noticed an increased police presence on the streets. It took us three hours and five minutes from Kings Cross to being back home, not bad for a journey of 200 miles. I can’t imagine that spending countless billions on HS2 or HS3 is going to make a meaningful (cost effective) difference to our journey. Improving what we have, a little faster, would be good. There are some bumpy bits along the route for a mainline and Wakefield to Huddersfield is the equivalent of a cart track – and takes over 30 minutes – it’s only a stone’s throw.
Both professional massages and those done by your partner are special. Letting go of your tension can improve your physical and emotional health. Keep reading to find out more on massages and how they are beneficial.
Make sure to drink a lot of water following a massage. Stimulated tissues release toxins. Drinking water will help to flush them out and minimized any adverse side impacts. During the first hour after your massage you should drink at least two glasses of water, and another eight before 24 hours ends.
Offering a terrific massage is all about feeling out your partner. The best massage therapists will tell you that you need to let your hands read the body. Follow the bodies curves and lighten pressure as you go over bony areas. Modify the shape of your hand to fit in the curves of the body.
Avoid holding your breath while your massage therapist is working. You could have knots that are extremely painful, yet the therapist can not massage them out successfully if you hold your breath. Try to breathe through the muscle pain, and make use of a combination of deep breathing and visualization. In your mind, image the area and imagine the knot is a lump of butter, melting in the warm sunshine.
The Japanese love to take part in a kind of massage called shiatsu. This makes use of the pressure from the masseuse's fingers pressed in a rhythm on your acupuncture meridians. The pressure is applied for a few to lots of seconds, boosting energy flow and returning the body to balance. It doesn't leave you sore, either!
Use candles to set the mood. Candles supply subtle lighting, while simultaneously developing an enjoyable atmosphere. Fragrant candles are also a terrific idea. Position them equally throughout the room, at varying elevations. It is also important to be safe when making use of candles. Keep them away from hanging fabric such as curtains.
Do not think twice to talk to your doctor about massages. If you deal with back pains or muscle pains on a regular basis, ask your doctor if massages would be an excellent solution. Your doctor should be able to advise an excellent massage clinic in your area and even write you a prescription.
Be proactive about how you are feeling when you get a message. Make sure you tell your therapist about any areas of focus. You are not going to feel better if you don't say anything when she is not getting intense adequate to get rid of those knots.
Prior to getting a massage, inform your massage therapist of all the trouble areas you have. If you don't you could end up losing half of your massage time on areas that need a lot less work to feel excellent! This communication will offer your therapist a plan of action for the limited time there is readily available.
Increase the benefits of your exercise routine by massaging your body before and after exercising. Massages before exercising can boost blood flow to muscles. Use your fists to make mauling motions on your arms and legs. Doing massages after exercising can help speed up muscle recovery and better waste removal. You can do these by rubbing along your muscles using your palms or fists moving in the direction of your heart.
To perform a pregnancy massage, have the expectant mommy lie on her side and gently rub her back making use of a circular motion. A pregnancy massage is specifically beneficial during the third trimester when the weight of the child develops pressure points in the expectant mommy's lower back and buttock areas.
Be on time, or a little early. Besides being excellent etiquette, being punctual can in fact help your massage be reliable. When you are running late, you are usually in a frenzied state, increasing anxiety levels and putting your body on edge. In a massage, this means it will take you longer to loosen up and you could not get all of the benefits of an enjoyable rub down.
Massaging your own shoulders can be enjoyable if you do it right. Beginning at the top of your spine, making use of one hand or two, use your hand to stroke from skull to shoulders. Then work your means across the shoulder outwards. Go back in the direction of the neck and repeat the process.
When booking a massage treatment, pick a time which is easy for you to attend. You need to get there early, and you shouldn't be in a rush to leave. Talk to them about their policy on cancellations to ensure you don't get even more burnt out if you have to reschedule.
Talk honestly to your massage therapist. Tell them about any injuries or trouble areas prior to your massage. Do not hesitate to say something if you feel discomfort. After all, you are supposed to relax from this.
Where you get a massage needs to be relaxing. The massage is about tension release and relaxation. Noisy environments just stress people out. Make it so the person can fall asleep if they want to. Play some soft music, dim the lights and you'll develop a nice calm atmosphere.
You should put in the time to get more information about the human body, specifically its muscles and nerves. You will be able to offer better massages as soon as you know where sensitive nerve endings are located and have a better idea of where muscles are. You will also understand the pains you experience a lot better once you know more about your body.
Put on loose fitting clothing to your massage. Your masseuse will ask you to disrobe down to the level of your comfort, and so the last thing you really want to do is struggle with numerous layers or tight clothing as you get all set for your massage! Many individuals put on workout clothing when they get a massage.
You should now have adequate details to make an informed decision about whether a massage is ideal for you. Not everyone wishes to have a massage. Use these strategies or go see a therapist. You will feel a lot more relaxed and not have to fret about chronic pains anymore.
Prior to getting a massage, inform your massage therapist of all the trouble areas you have. In a massage, this means it will take you longer to loosen up and you could not get all of the benefits of an enjoyable rub down.
Where you get a massage needs to be relaxing. Your masseuse will ask you to disrobe down to the level of your comfort, and so the last thing you really want to do is struggle with numerous layers or tight clothing as you get all set for your massage! Lots of people put on workout clothing when they get a massage. www.profesyonelmasajsalonu.com