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+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
NAe São Paulo is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Brazilian Navy. São Paulo was first commissioned in 1963 by the French Navy as Foch and was transferred in 2000 to Brazil, where she became the new flagship of the Brazilian Navy. In December 2014 it was announced that São Paulo will be expected to continue active service until 2039, at which time the vessel will be nearly 80 years old.
From this carrier, the Marinha do Brasil operates its only fixed-wing aircraft, and these were initially A-4 Skyhawks. In 1997 Brazil negotiated a $70 million contract for purchase of 20 A-4KU and three TA-4KU Skyhawks from Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Skyhawks, modified A-4Ms and TA-4Js delivered in 1977, were among the last of those models built by Douglas. The Kuwaiti Skyhawks were selected by Brazil because of low flight time, excellent physical condition, and a favorable price tag. The Brazilian Navy Re-designated AF-1 and AF-1A Falcões (Hawks), the ex-Kuwaiti Skyhawks arrived in Arraial do Cabo on 5 September 1998.
Anyway, the Skyhawks' life span was limited and in 2005 the Brazilian Navy started looking for a potential replacement, while the AF-1s were to kept operational due to limited military budgets. On 14 April 2009, Brazlian aircraft manufacturer EMBRAER signed a contract to modernize 12 Skyhawks, nine AF-1s (single-seat) and three AF-1As (two-seat). This upgrade will restore the operating capacity of the Navy 1st Intercept and Attack Plane Squadron (VF-1). The program includes restoring the aircraft and their current systems, as well as implementing new avionics, radar, power production, and autonomous oxygen generating systems. The first of the 12 modified Skyhawks was delivered on 27 May 2015. EMBRAER stated that the modifications would allow the aircraft to remain operational until 2025, by which time a successor was to be fully operational.
Several replacement candidates were evaluated under Brazil's F-X2 fighter program together with the Air Force which was looking to replace its Northrop F‐5EM and Dassault Mirage 2000C aircraft. In October 2008, Brazil selected three finalists: the Dassault Rafale, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen. The Brazilian Air Force initially planned to procure at least 36 and possibly up to 120 aircraft later, while the Brazilian Navy was looking for 24 aircraft (20 single seater and 4 two-seaters with dual controls) until 2025.
In February 2009, SAAB submitted a tender, and on 5 January 2010, reports claimed that the final evaluation report placed the Gripen ahead of other contenders; the decisive factor was reportedly lower unit and operational costs, the most compact size and the Swedish manufacturer's willingness to accept EMBRAER as a technological partner for the aircraft's further development, especially for the navalized version.
Amid delays due to financial constraints, President Dilma Rousseff announced in December 2011 the Gripen NG's selection and the start of a joint Swedish-Brazilian joint venture called SABRA. Argentina and Ecuador were interested in procuring Gripens from or through Brazil, and Mexico and Argenitina were potential export targets for SABRA's navalized Gripen derivative that was tailored to the Marinha do Brasil's needs.
The respective SABRA aircraft was appropriately christened "Grifo" and the development of thei 4th generation fighter started immediately after closing the cooperation deal in 2011. While based on the SAAB 39, the Grifo became a very different aircraft, due to several factors. The major influence was the carrier operation capability, which called for major structural modifications and enforcements as well as special equipment like foldable wings, a strengthened landing gear, an arrester hook and a new engine that would better cope with the naval environment than the Swedish RM 12 engine, a derivative of the General Electric F404-400.
Additionally, the mission focus of air superiority with additional attack capabilities was reversed, and the need for excellent low speed handling for carrier approaches was requested.
This led to a complelety different aircraft layout, with the SAAB 39's instable canard design being changed into a conservative aircraft with conventional tailplanes. The nose section was shortened in order to provide the pilot with a better field of view, while the more powerful F414-EPE afterburning turbofan was moved slightly forward due to CG reasons, resulting in a slightly shortened rear fuselage.
A mock-up of the new aircraft for the Brazlian Navy was presented and approved in early 2012, and the government placed an official order for two prototypes. Even though the Grifo appeared like a completely different aircraft, it shared a lot of elements with the SAAB 39, so that development time and costs could be reduced to a minimum - and the first prototype, internally designated EMB 391-001, made its maiden flight in early 2013. The second aircraft followed 3 months later.
The Grifo's equipment includes an AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA), capable of executing simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks, and providing higher quality high-resolution ground mapping at long standoff ranges. The AESA radar can also detect smaller targets, such as inbound missiles, and can track air targets beyond the range of the aircraft's air-to-air missiles, which include the AIM-9 Sidewinder for close range and the AIM-120 AMRAAM for medium range.
The Grifo features, like the Gripen fighter, an advanced and integrated electronic warfare suite, capable of operating in an undetectable passive mode or to actively jam hostile radar; a missile approach warning system passively detects and tracks incoming missiles.
The Grifo can be tailored to specific missions through external sensor pods, e .g. for reconnaissance and target designation. These include Rafael's LITENING targeting pod, Saab's Modular Reconnaissance Pod System or Thales' Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod. On the Brazilian Navy's request the Grifo is also designed that it can be equipped with an aerial refueling system (ARS) or "buddy store" for the refueling of other aircraft, filling the tactical airborne tanker role.
The two prototypes completed a thorough test program until summer 2015 and subsequently went on a sales tour in South America and Asia. In the meantime, serial production started at EMBRAER's Gavião Peixoto in November 2015. The first serial machines, now officially designated AF-2A, arrived at the Brazilian Navy's São Pedro da Aldeia air base where a new Intercept and Attack Plane Squadron, VF-2 'Arquieros' (Archers) was founded. The squadron became operational in April 2016 and Grifos embarked on NAe São Paulo for the first time in September 2016, serving alongside the venerable AF-1.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Payload: 5,300 kg (11,700 lb)
Length: 13,54 m (44 ft 4 in)
Wingspan (incl. wing tip launch rails): 8.32 m (27 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)
Wing area: 30.0 m² (323 ft²)
Empty weight: 6,800 kg[330] (14,990 lb)
Loaded weight: 8,500 kg (18,700 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (31,000 lb)
Wheel track: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Powerplant:
1 × General Electric F414-EPE afterburning turbofan with
a dry thrust of 54 kN (12,100 lbf) and 85 kN (19,100 lbf) with afterburner
Performance:
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2,204 km/h (1,190 kn; 1,370 mph) at high altitude
Combat radius: 800 km (497 mi, 432 nmi)
Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,983 mi) with drop tanks
Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
Wing loading: 283 kg/m² (58 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.97
Maximum g-load: +9 g
Armament:
1× 27 mm Mauser BK-27 Revolver cannon with 120 rounds
Eight hardpoints (three on each wing and two under fuselage)
for a wide range of guide and unguided ordnance of up to 14,330 lb (6.5 t)
The kit and its assembly:
The fictional Grifo is the result of a generic idea of converting a canard layout aircraft like the Saab Viggen into a conventional design. The Viggen was actually a serious candidate, but then I found an Italeri Gripen in the stash without a real purpose (it had been cheap, though), and with Brazil's real world procurement as background, the more conservative Grifo was born.
I wanted to use as many OOB Gripen parts as possible, and there are actually only a few external donations involved – with the outlook of converting further Gripens this way. You never know… ;)
Work started with the wings, which were cut off of the fuselage shell. Having the landing gear retract into the fuselage (much like the X-29) is a convenient detail of the Gripen, making the wing transplantation easier than on a Viggen where the wells have to be moved, too.
The original canard attachment points were faired over/hidden. The pointed Gripen nose with its pitot was cut off and replaced by a shorter, more stocky nose tip - from an F-4 Phantom II IIRC. Once the fuselage was completed, the wings were mounted, closer to the air intakes. This went smoothly, only some gaps on the undersides had to be filled.
Once the wings were in place I had to make a decision concerning the stabilizers. Despite the plan to use as many OOB parts as possible I found the OOB canards to be too sharply swept and considered several donation options.
I eventually settled for the most unique option: the stabilizers are actually main wings from a (rather malformed) Italeri/Dragon 1:200 F-117 that comes as a set with the B-2 bomber. A part of the F-117’s fuselage flank was cut off and taken over to the Grifo, too, so that these create ‘muscular’ bulges.
The stabilizers were mounted on scratched consoles/trailing wing root extensions that were somewhat inspired by the F-16’s tail design – putting the stabilizers directly onto the fuselage would have looked awkward, and with this solution I was able to extend the Gripen’s BWB-design all along the fuselage. As a side effect these consoles also offered a plausible place for rearward chaff dispensers.
The rear fuselage was shortened by 3mm, too – through the shorter nose and the wings further forward, the rest of the aircraft looked rather tail-heavy. While 3mm does not sound much, it helped with overall proportions.
The cannon fairing and the OOB pylons were taken over, as well as the cockpit interior. For carrier operations, several details were added, though: folding wing mechanism seams were engraved on the wings and an arrester hook with a fairing added under the tail section, flanked by new stabilizer fins.
The landing gear was basically taken OOB, too, but lengthened with styrene inserts for a higher stance: the main struts are now 2mm longer, while the front strut is 3mm taller. The latter was reversed, so that a catapult hook could be added to the front side, and slightly bigger wheels were mounted, too, so that the Grifo now has a rather stalky stance with a nose-up attitude. Simple, but effective!
The Sidewinders were taken OOB while the pair of AGM-84 Harpoon comes from Italeri’s 1:72 NATO weapons set.
Painting and markings:
I used the contemporary AF-1 paint scheme in three shades of grey as benchmark. These are FS 36187 (RAF Ocean Grey), FS 36307 (Flint Grey) and FS 36515 (Canadian Voodoo Grey) - sourced from a painting guide from Brazilian decal manufacturer FCM and backed by other knowledgeable sources from the region, too. And while the Ocean Grey appears a bit dark, I think that overall the colors are authentic. All paints are Modelmaster enamels.
After basic painting a light black ink wash was applied and panels highlighted through dry-brushing with lighter tones.
The cockpit interior was painted in Neutral Grey (FS 36173), while the landing gear became all-white.
The Brazilian Navy markings had to be improvised - there are 1:72 AF-1 decals available, but either not obtainable or prohibitively expensive - or both. Therefore I rather improvised, with basic Brazilian Navy markings from a vintage FCM Decal sheet for various Brazilian aircraft.
The respective roundels and codes actually belong to helicopters, and I had to wing it somehow. Unfortunately, the old FCM decals turned out to be ...old. Brittle and very delicate, application was already messy and they did not adhere well to the model. To make matters worse the acrylic varnish turned cloudy, so that a lot of paintwork repair had to be done - not helping much with a satisfactory kit finish. :(
Another interesting conversion – I am amazed how purposeful the Grifo looks. It reminds me with its high stance of a modern A-4 Skyhawk (what it somehow is), and there’s also some Super Étendard in it, esp. in the profile? At some point before painting it also had a somewhat Chinese look - maybe because the top view and the wing planform reminds of the classic MiG-21…? The wings might have been placed 3-4mm further backwards, since it is always difficult to judge proportions while work is still, but the Grifo looks convincingly like a real aircraft (model).
Aeronaves bonita! :D
"Ama chi ti ama,non amare chi ti sfugge,ama quel cuore che per te si strugge:Non t'ama chi amor ti dice ma t'ama chi guarda e tace".
"Love those who love you, do not love who escapes you, he loves the heart that yearns for you: Do not you love those who love tells you he loves you but who looks and silent".
- W. Shakespeare
Those that can act and remember the lines of the play get the best parts, everyone else is in the choir, if you can't remember the words, just make it look like you know them.
If you needed glasses, there were two types, a wire design as worn by the boy in front (typical British school boy of the 1950s to 1960s in glasses) often in either blue or pink, sometimes brown, or a plastic frame in brown or black, these normally broke after a short time either across the nose bar or at the hinge side, the method of repair was a piece of self adhesive sticking plaster, the repairs often had to last for up to a year.
A few children (not normally found in council schools) had parents who paid for private frames for their children's glasses, and some quite good designs could be found.
The standard NHS children's specs that were designed in the late 1940s lasted up to the mid 1970s Many children preferred to suffer and go without glasses due to the amount of teasing for any child wearing them received at the time.
Orange County Fashion Week 2015
Orange County, CA – The California Riviera is no stranger to luxury or style and this year’s OCFashion Week (OCFW) will exude both those traits during its full week of events, beginning with World of Fashion Photography Exhibit and gala at Newport Lexus on Friday, February 27th and culminating in the Couture Designer event at Dawson Fine Art on Thursday, March 5th.
Each night holds something magical and fashionable, beginning at 6 pm with cocktails. Showtime on the runway begins at 7 pm, with after-parties at 10 pm. Each night is presented by Newport Lexus with signature sponsors by Toni & Guy Academy Manna Kadar Cosmetics, runway styling by Betinnis in Brea and will spot light a different charity each night. Orange County Fashion Week is produced by Hauteoc Inc. Discover the World You've Been Missing. Discover the World of Orange County.
NEWPORT BEACH, FEBRUARY 28th, 2015 – OC Fashion Week is proud to announce that this season’s 2015 presenting sponsor, Newport Lexus of Newport Beach, will be the site for this year’s SUGAR RUSH. The event will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm and will showcase makeovers, a celebrity runway show and the Fashionably Responsible Awards Reception. The night will also feature models from popular television show America's Next Top Models.
Beginning at 7 pm, Brit B of BeachCandy Swimwear will open the presentation showcase of Orange County Sugar Rush designers with a preview of her latest collection of swimwear, followed by the Fabulous Life of Claire Farewell’s London designer wear. As the night continues, designers Victoria by Elizabeth, According to Kimberly and Men’s Undercover Underwear debuts an exciting runway tribute to OC Fashion Week’s to retailers and fashion designers that embrace both cause and commerce in their business practices. Jewelry, handbag and accessories designers will showcase their goods, alongside pop-up shops with a portion of the proceeds donating to Working Wardrobes, which has helped more than 70,000 victims of abuse and addiction regain control of their lives by helping them dress for success.
Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to receive makeovers throughout the evening by Manna Kadar Cosmetics founder and CEO Manna Kadar. A noted industry expert, beauty editor and makeup artist to an impressive roster of celebrity clients, Manna has made her mark as a true trendsetter in the world of beauty.
Other evening highlights include a runway show featuring past contestants from America’s Next Top Model and up-and-coming designers that give back to this fashion-studded evening.
Meet the Designers:
Brit B. of BeachCandy Swimwear: A native of Orange County, with her signature store in Corona del Mar, Brit B. creates custom swimsuits for clients with the goal of making every woman feel beautiful and comfortable.
Claire Farwell of Claire Farwell London: A former model and survivor of cancer, Farwell has not only succeeded in one of the toughest industries she has also been a tireless supporter of women fighting cancer.
Manoni Handbags and Accessories: Hand-crafted out of full-grained ostrich and crocodile, every handbag is designed for the chic, fashion-forward-thinking woman.
Victoria by Elizabeth: Pencil Skirt Designers innovating style bringing the elegance of women, by heart and soul.
Kimberly Luu of According to Kimberly: Born and raised in Orange County, the multitalented Luu is a clinician, blogger and designer whose first design won Top Five at OC Fashion Week’s 2011 Designer competition. That was just the beginning of her success story.
Salt Shoes SALT SHOES are uniquely designed with your comfort in mind. But having flexibility by way of look and color is what makes Salt Shoes the “IT” wedge or heel to get. Interchangeable straps allow you to create a new look with each outfit.
What a Betty
What A Betty designs have been seen everywhere from gorgeous brides, to celebrities on the red carpet and has been on hit TV Shows such as “Revenge” and "VH1", and high fashion and bridal magazines.
Undercover Underwear
Adriana Viano is the owner and founder of UnderCover MensWear Inc. Adriana always had the vision that the privilege of the right, sexy and comfortable underwear and loungewear should not only be for women. She always believed that men were in need of their own "Victoria's Secret". UnderCoverMensWear.com is an on line only boutique with unique and innovative products carefully chosen from around the world. All items sold in the on line store will not be found in any department stores.
Shot those pictures during a trip to Japan in November 2015. The Tournament was held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, it was the 16th of November and the 3rd day of the Tournament.
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In the midst of lockdown numero uno in Lahore over the weekend, I decided to head to my village in Radhan, a half an hour or so from Sargodha. Traffic in Lahore was beyond light, almost absent, so we hit the motorway quickly and reached Sargodha earlier than expected. I thought the drive through the city would have been a much desired breeze as well but the residents of the city seemed to be out and about per their normal routine. Clearly the rules set upon the larger cities hadn’t taken effect here yet. But it was the village that was the bubble existing above and beyond everything that seemed to be happening in the world.
Unlike the rest of it, or at least the West, Pakistan has taken the approach of slow roll-out in what was likely going to be a long-term lockdown. We had started with 2 days on March 21st, now we are at 15 and everyone assumes that will be extended in the same slots indefinitely. A few stories about the treatment of those who have revealed their state of being positive to the State have been frightening to the point that unless faced by death, I think people will stick it out in their rooms. And some might also prefer to die there.
There are articles abound about people in the north testing positive, then running away from the health facilities to God knows where. No one has a real clue what is happening of course and beyond the “We love China” anthem the PM is singing, what we are really hoping for is one of those hospitals our “all-weather friend” built in 8 days, (or was it 18), to pop up in at least one province each. Personally, I would rather the People's Republic ended the internment of a million Muslims but we seem to have already signed off on that being ok.
The poor are scared out of their wits because we have extremely high numbers of workers in the larger cities who earn their income on a daily basis and with the shutdown, they don’t have a clue as to how to feed their families. Those of the Sahib e Taufeeq are therefore anxiously and quickly trying to distribute ration for a month to as many families as possible. Meanwhile the Sahib e Maal contingent is interneting themselves to wherever that will lead, which we will soon discover.
In Lahore, if one meets someone, all one talks about is the virus. For a while at least. That has been my experience of the under 50 crowd. It’s like the greeting of “salam” changed to “yaar yeh kya cheez aa gayee hai?” which then moves forward into exchanges of updates and readings per each person’s interest and/or fear of death. Since I have been most influenced by my friends and elders who, while taking sensible precautions, believe in the “jiss ko hona hai, uss to hona hai” (whoever’s going to get it is going to get it) school of thought, I have little to offer.
While being holed up, I scan Drudge and get the scariest breaking updates of the world on a daily basis. It makes me smile that the US has already ingrained into the public that 18 months are on the horizon for this nightmare and we are going forward in 15 day increments. I guess if the Pakistani Government made a similar announcement of 180 days (plus), people would just be like “screw it” and brazen defiance would follow. The rest of my days are spent humming tunes to come up with melodies for the kalam in my book which I then share with my friend, Ustad Imran and we play with it till its ready for upload on a gorgeous insta page, courtesy of Hiba.
Meanwhile, the rumour mills are spewing out new suggestions daily. High on the list is bio-weaponary going out of hand. China-US-Israel are the three villains most frequently named. On the spiritual side a trusted spiritual master says it is the fasid jinns, who, in collusion with fasid humans, are creating this havoc. Like millions, I have all my hopes tied to the return of Imam Mahdi (as) who might appear to save the day.
The Saudis closing Umra, cancelling Haj and making the tawaaf practically void is what saddens the believers the most. As one who had intended to perform the Haj this year, it is no doubt tremendously disappointing. But then I had heard from my Mamu many years before he passed that the Haj would stop in the future. I just imagined that it would happen because of war, not a plague. The Naqshbandis were told by their Spiritual Master, Sheikh Nazim (ra), that blight would arise from China and spread into the world and would disappear one day just like it came. In the days through it, he had advised his disciples to give sadqa to express their gratitude for life.
But coming back to the story of the village. After having lunch and meeting Pathani, who worked for me for 20 some years and is now retired, I sat with the women who work in the house near their out-door kitchen. I began the conversation in the way I had been taught these past few days in Lahore. Except it was in Punjabi.
“Yaar eh ke shay saddey pichay peh gayee hai” (what is this strange thing that has come after us?)
The women looked at me but no one said anything. I waited but they seemed to be waiting also, I gathered, for me to continue. When I didn’t, they just went back to what they were doing. I gave it another shot.
“So everyone in Lahore is holed up in their houses and living in fear,” I attempted raising the bar from casual conversation to sensationalism. “No one goes anywhere and all the markets are closed.”
Again I received nothing.
I think one woman said, “Jiya” in a tone which best translates into a flat “I guess” or “Mmm hmmm.”
I started smiling. “You guys are really lucky,” changing gears yet again, this time offering praise of good fortune. “You can roam around and it’s so beautiful here. And clean. And the food is good and fresh. And there’s hardly any people.” I racked my brain for more positives. “And it hasn’t turned hot yet so the weather is perfect.”
This time instead of one, I got three “Jiyas” and one “Jiya Ji.” It made me give up. I’ll try again tomorrow I thought. I got a charpaaye and spend the rest of the day in the massive garden reading books I had brought with me from Lahore and again, humming the melody of the next tune. It was by Baba Farid Kot Mithan (ra) and I have to say it had an effect on my heart that was superbly softening. Sometimes the words made me smile and sometimes I cried. I love the range of the arc that poetry can make, going from the earth to the sky, from the sun to the moon, from the day to the night and from the heart to the heart.
The next day I went for a walk in the kinoo gardens. The fruit has been picked but the orange blossoms were in full bloom and deeply intoxicating. I sat under a tree brimming with the flowers and listened to music on my Ipod. At lunch the women sat nearby, possibly feeling bad for me that I always came all alone. I decided, incorrigibly, to mention the virus again.
“So to stay safe you have to wash your hands A LOT. My teacher, Qari Sahib, says to just stay in a state of wudu. Even if you are not going to pray soon.”
I looked at each woman one by one, this time awaiting their favoured response.
“Jiya,” said one. “This is a good suggestion.”
I was dying to ask if they did that or prayed but gained control of myself.
Usually the gate to the house is left open for people from the village, essentially women, to come in and say hello to the arrivals from the city. But this time Pathani had given strict instructions to the chawkidaar to not let anyone in.
“Not even Ghulam Biwi?” I asked. As I write this I wonder if her name is Ghulam Bibi re-pronounced Biwi in the village or if she was literally named “the wife of Ghulam.” Probably the former. How would anyone know the husband’s name at birth?
“No,” she decided. “Best to be safe. She roams around the whole village and God only knows where else all day.”
Amma Ghulam Biwi was an old woman in her 70s who was almost deaf. On every visit I had made in the last few years, she had come to see me. She had a lovely voice and knew tons of Punjabi songs, film and spiritual kalam, and would sing to me. She loved Nur Jahan tracks from the 60s and I enjoyed my time with her. The conversations were by sign of course. She loved me and I loved her.
She was the reason I had come to understand that the prayers of a poor person, who one is kind to, far exceed in their expression the prayers of even one’s own parents. “Takhtaan te bakhtaan,” is what she always asked for me. Thrones and best of fortunes! I’m pretty sure neither of my parents ever prayed for thrones for me! Plus I often heard her address God as “Takhtaan te bakhtaan aaliya,” which meant she was asking Him to give me of Himself and that which is His. Not to mention the ask of never-ending wealth and telling Allah to give me more and more and more. Again, I don’t think my parents asked for that either! If they did it would have indeed been strange. Then there was “Allah raazi howey iss tun,” the most elevated prayer of all, “God, be pleased with her.”
I was a little bummed that I was not going to see her but it seemed like the thing to do. But fortune had other plans. Later in the afternoon I went to the family graveyard, just outside the women’s house and adjacent to the haveli the men occupy. For the second time in my lifetime, I went to the graves inside the mosque where my grandfather, his brother and their father are buried. Usually I just sit in the area outside where the rest of our family, including my mother and sister are, but I had visited the village a month before with my Nani (kind of) who is in her 90s and had gone inside with her.
When we had arrived at the graveyard then, just the walk from the car to the graves, only a few feet away, had taken so long and seemed so tiring for her that I had told her to just pray from there and not walk the extra few feet to where her father and brothers were buried. She had waived me away as if I had suggested something beyond ludicrous and said, “Then why am I here?”
With her nurse holding her on one side and me on the other, we had gone into the small room where the three graves lay in a line. In the back was a large marble slab and on it was a Surah from the Quran. She had kept insisting she wanted to read it herself but when I asked if she wanted a chair brought in while she did so, she had waived me away again. Apparently it was another absurd idea. I told her I would read it for her and while she sat at the feet of her father, I recited the Surah.
It was Al-Mulk and I remember crying the whole way through it. I didn’t understand it all of course but I wept because of the lines addressing the ungrateful who will be asked if a warner came to them and they will say, yes, a warner did come but we rejected him. I cried because I didn’t understand why they rejected him and I hoped I wasn’t one of them because rejection has its own layers. And I sobbed because of those I love deeply who live restless lives in perpetuity but refuse to unhinge themselves from a position that they took for one reason, one incidence or another, that had now taken hold of them, replacing all their happiness with anxiety and paranoia to live a life lifeless.
But it was the second line that never left me from that first time I read it for it had triggered a significant part of my understanding of the Quran.
"He who created death and life, that He may test which of you is best in deed.
And He is the Bestower of Honor and Oft-Forgiving."
The revelation had formed a chunk of my address at the book launch: that the verses of deep consequence referencing “deed,” giving it a singular, exalted status repeatedly by God, tie in precisely and inextricably with the multitude of verses on Nabi Kareem (saw) as the one to follow and obey. Making his deed one’s own rendered one “best” indeed.
This was going to be the second time I would enter the room inside the mosque. I had heard earlier in the morning, quite randomly, that my mother used to take the Quran to her father’s grave every day after he passed while she was in the village. To read it for him, to send the blessings of her readings to him. I had never done that before even though my family members had died almost 23 years ago. But on this day that I did it I knew it meant the beginning, albeit a late one, of doing it for them in the future.
It was on my way back from the graveyard that I saw Amma Ghulam Biwi standing near the gate of the house with her cane and some cloth she was carrying. From a distance she didn’t recognize me even though I waived at her but when I got close, she threw the cane and cloth on the ground, raising her hand up in the air, letting out a cry of joy.
Normally she would greet me with her favourite song by Nur Jahan; "Chan mahiya teri rah pai takni aan. Tariyan tu puch le ve chan kolun puch leh, sareian tu puch le, mein sayn nahin sakni aan." The words translated into "Dearest sweetheart, I have been looking for you to come my way for so long. Ask the stars, go ask the moon. Ask them all, I haven't slept a night waiting for you." I always laughed at the intensity of the tone. It made me wonder if she was a Scorpio like me.
When I got close to her I tried to yell that it’s best we don’t meet like we normally do but of course she didn’t understand a word. Next thing I knew she had thrown her arms around me, pulled me towards her and planted a wet kiss on my cheek. I burst out laughing while I heard the gate-keeper doing his best to scream out that that was not the way to meet in these times. She walked at a snail’s pace so it took us a while to reach the house from the gate and someone brought a chair for her to sit on and some kinoo juice to drink.
She had once told me she would say prayers and breathe them on water, something we call “pani dumm karna,” meaning making a water have the capacity to heal through the effect of verse from the Quran. I had a half finished bottle of water with me so I handed it to her and gestured for her to make me one. But before that I played the part of a mime and explained that the whole world was under attack by a disease and people were sick and dying. That required a decent amount of touching my forehead and sticking my tongue out as if fatigued beyond belief. And it worked! “Bimari aa gayee ae?” she said. And I nodded in the affirmative vigourously, holding my palms up in the air, signaling for her to pray for all of us.
I listened as she spoke the prayers out one by one for the water. The prayers have to be recited in a specific number, usually 11 but she went over a few times so she must have different system. I recognized the prayers and each time I thought she was done and got up to take the bottle from her, she waived me away as if annoyed by my impatience. The wave of dismissal must be a thing of older women from Radhan. The prayer that struck me was “Qulna ya naaro, kuni bardan wa salaman ala Ibrahim (as).” “We (God) said, ‘Fire, be cool and safe for Ibrahim (as).’”
The verse was in my book in the chapter on Trust. Also I was studying deeply each mention of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) in the Quran these days with Qari Sahib. Each incidence was extraordinary for he was Khalil Allah, the Friend of God. His asks, his bestowings, every action, was spell-binding through the tafseer of Ghaus Pak (ra). I know he is the only one who gives the exegesis of the word Ibrahim in specific verses to be the soul. That itself changed everything entirely as suddenly it was about me. And everyone else!
Before Amma Ghulam Biwi left, she looked at me with deep anguish and said her heart ached that I kept bending over. I had been doing my stretches while she sat in the chair and was touching my toes over and over, holding the position and counting to eight. I wanted to tell her that I was fine so I tried giving her a thumbs up but she just looked extremely bewildered so I decided to leave it alone. We said our goodbyes. My info on the disease devouring the world had left no impact on her so she hugged and kissed me again, then shuffled out of the house.
On my last day at breakfast, one of the women who brought me my meal asked, “So what is the news from Lahore?”
I was thrilled that I had managed to pique enough interest that she had gotten some information on her own about it which she wanted to relay to me.
“You heard about the extension of the lockdown?” I asked expectantly.
She looked blasé.
“No. I’m just asking what is going on there?” As in “What’s up in Lahore?”
“Oh,” I said. “Nothing much,” I responded, taking on her indifference and expressing my capitulation. “It’s more of the same. Who knows what will happen?”
She smiled at me and left to go back to the kitchen.
The village! The simplicity of life is apparent always. In the scenery and the quietness, the apparel and the taste of the food cooked without any overwhelming flavours or colour of individual ingredients, yet incomparably delicious. But the glaring cut-off from the world is from lack of technology interceding in life, as relates specifically to the internet. And this applies of course to those of my age, 50 and above. Maybe even just the women since I don’t interact with any men at all while there.
My three days spent there left me happy and smiling as I gathered my stuff to return to a city that I also deeply love. I felt grateful that in these times of extreme gravity and not having a clue as to who will live another day, life can still have a lightness to it. Recently I saw a beautiful painting the famed British artist, David Hockney, made to life the spirits of the world in this time of gloom. “Do remember, they can’t cancel spring,” is what he said. In that vein, my motivation to make music set to words written by poets extraordinaire and spiritual masters had accelerated. I also wanted to alleviate the sadness of the world. Because I already knew the effect of sound on the soul. It was a major part of my new writing:
"In Risala Qusheria I had read page after page of what was said about the effect of sound on the heart. Imam Ali (ratu) and others like him attest to the fact that every single thing in the Universe is in a state of zikr, remembrance, of Allah As-Sami’, The Hearer of All. And most surprising of all, it wasn’t just elements of nature, the birds, the bees, water and wind. It was instruments when played without a voice, it was the wheel of the potter, it was the rope that pulled water from a well. Hazrat Abu Suleman Durani (ra) said, ''A beautiful voice does not insert anything into a heart. It only resonates with and makes alive that which lies in it already.'"
Who knows what lies inside hearts except those who occupy them but one line rings true for all of us and it comes most beautifully worded in Punjabi by my Pir Mehr Ali Shah Sahib (ra.) For the ask from God of those who know Him, as opposed to those who merely worship Him, focuses on what can be bestowed, as opposed to what can be withdrawn.
Sha Allah wat aawin uwa ghariaan
May those moments come back again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0x2U1fWwS8&feature=youtu.be
kalam by Ustad Imran Jafri on insta @the.softest.heart
Studio Boise, a local photography studio, hosts a monthly shootout that's free to models and photographers. It is a nice event but very chaotic, you have to use their lighting and backdrops, can't move anything, and you're vying for the attention of models. Despite all this it is a good place to meet new models for future collaborations.
As soon as I spotted Roree I knew I wanted to shoot with her, as did all the other shooters. I asked, she accepted, but there was a queue to use the designated backdrop. I saw the makeup mirror was free so we started there, and then moved to the backdrop. Roree's personality matches her looks.She is a college student home on Thanksgiving vacation but she will be back for Christmas so we're already pondering shoots then. Wish me luck!
I took these photos in mid-November 2023.
Hand formed loops of copper are adorned at the bottom with a sterling silver puffed lentil shaped bead. I hammered the copper for textural interest. I then applied a patina and hand polished the copper for a rosy glow. I used brass wire to secure the bead to the copper. This assemblage is suspended from my signature sterling silver earwires, which have been oxidized and hand sanded.
I love the contrast achieved from the three metals used in this eclectic pair of earrings.
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f3.5 Macro IS PRO
27 stacking images
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I do sell my Work so if you’re interested in any photos, you can buy it with a good price!
Send me an email: kietbull@gmail.com and tell me which photo(s) you want.
Buy me a coffee: paypal.me/KietHuynh490
© All rights reserved.
...of AUTO on my D50, not understanding what the mystical word aperture meant. Bokeh? Never heard of such a thing...
Today I scrolled through some of my 'old' stuff, or let's say stuff from my former self, from the days I hardly knew anything about photographing. There were some keapers, and I even had bokeh in many of them, how peculiar. I learned to look for bokeh in September this year... Quite the newbie here, oh yeah.
This summery one is taken in the last days of May this year. I remember that day, it was my first visit to our summer house for this year. And that is always special.
It is so much fun to go through older photos, done with the knowledge you then had. Before this autumn, the only thing I was aware of was angles and composition, those I knew how to do, those were the things I went for. Everything else was a big question mark.
So why this rendevouz today, why now? Because I'm supposed to be cleaning my appartment, getting all the christmas stuff on their places. I really don't wan't to do that right now, so I just sit here, surfing the net and postponing the hidious thing called cleaning up.
Excellent choice Hannah.
(Edit: whazup with my spelling today.... here becomes hear and knew becomes new... oh dear, someone get me a new brain for today....)
Those planning a weekend break in Budapest take note. From 15 March anyone taking photographs in Hungary is technically breaking the law if someone wanders into shot, under a new civil code that outlaws taking pictures without the permission of everyone in the photograph. According to the justice ministry, people taking pictures should look out for those who are are aware they are about to be photographed and are not waving in protest, nor trying to hide or run out of shot.
Officials say expanding the law on consent to include the taking of photographs, in addition to their publication, merely codifies existing court practice. However, Hungary's photographers call the law vague and obstructive, saying it has left the country of Joseph Pulitzer and photography legend Robert Capa out of step with Europe
This is a photograph from the Lucan Harriers Athletic Club "Tom Byrne Memorial" 5KM Road Race and fun run which was held in Lucan, Co. Dublin, Ireland on Sunday 11th May 2014 at 11:00. The race invited runners, joggers and walkers of all levels including those training for the Women's Mini Marathon, Parkrunners and Fit4Life Groups. The weekly PARKRUN which is held in Griffen (www.parkrun.ie/griffeen/) was cancelled this weekend to allow runners to take part in this race instead. The race started outside SuperValue Lucan. Passing by the Lucan Harriers Club House the race proceeded into Griffeen Park where the participants completed about 2.5KM of the course before returning back on the road to the finish on the Lucan Harriers track. Thankfully the unseasonally cold and wet weather didn't dampen the atmosphere and over 200 people participated in the event. Well done again to all at Lucan Harriers AC for a superbly organised 5KM event. The race commemorates one of the founding members of Lucan Harriers AC - Tom Byrne.
We have an extensive set of photographs from today in the following Flickr Album: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157644652669113/
Timing and event management was provided by Precision Timing. Results are available on their website at www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer with additional material available on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davidprecisiontiming?fref=ts) See their promotional video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7_TUVwJ6Q
Reading on a Smartphone or tablet? Don't forget to scroll down further to read more about this race and see important Internet links to other information about the race! You can also find out how to access and download these photographs.
The majority of this race is run within Griffeen Valley Park which is managed by South Dublin County Council. The entire Park consists of over 200 acres. Griffeen was developed during the 1980s and comprised of a series of public open spaces from around the Lucan area. The River Griffeen flows through the park as it flows to meet the River Liffey in Lucan Village.
Some Useful Related Internet Links
Google Streetview of the Tom Byrne 5KM Race Start opposite SuperValue Lucan: www.google.ie/maps/@53.347572,-6.451045,3a,75y,98.5h,90t/...
Entrance to Lucan Harriers Clubhouse and Race Finish: www.google.ie/maps/@53.346014,-6.451393,3a,75y,90h,90t/da...
Garmin Connect Trace of the 5KM Course: connect.garmin.com/course/6185679
Our Photographs from 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157629812294720/
Our Photographs from 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157626653268125/
Our Photographs from 2010: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157624265105284/
Lucan Harriers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lucan.harriersac?fref=ts
Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media ?
Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.
We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.
This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.
I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?
You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.
I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?
If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.
Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.
In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.
I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?
Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.
We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs
We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?
The explaination is very simple.
Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.
ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.
Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?
As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:
►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera
►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set
►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone
►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!
You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.
Don't like your photograph here?
That's OK! We understand!
If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.
I want to tell people about these great photographs!
Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets
Missing these amazing NC Sunsets right now. Taken at the Whalehead Club, Corolla, NC, USA, on a Mamiya RZ67 ProII with the 65mm f/4 on Kodak Ektar 100.
Armyworms are those annoying worms that show up in late summer/fall, falling out of trees all over. Then they turn into those small drab moths that crowd around your porch lights and get in your house every time you open the door. Happy to see something putting them to good use. Jumping spiders are awesome at eating pest insects.
Female Bronze Jumper (Eris militaris)
Armyworm (Spodoptera sp.)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Those who dare to bare were there on the Great Hill, Central Park January 12th 2014. Improv Everywhere's No Pants Subway Ride 2014 New York City!
Donation Information:
If you would like to help those affected by Wednesday's storms, the American Red Cross is accepting donations in a couple of ways.
Make out your check to "American Red Cross - Neighbors in Need", and mail it to:
American Red Cross - Neighbors in Need
300 Chase Park South
Hoover Alabama 35244
If you prefer to make a donation on-line, please click here to visit alredcross.org
-To apply for federal disaster assistance online, go to www.disasterassistance.gov
-To apply over the phone, call 1-800-621-3362 between the hours of 7am and 10 pm.
-The United Way has set up a hotline to help victims find low cost temporary housing. Call 211 for more details.
Volunteer Information:
-United Way's Hands on Birmingham - www.handsonbirmingham.org
-Volunteers in Tuscaloosa are asked to register at St. Matthias Episcopal Church on Skyland Boulevard
-Volunteers in Calhoun County must register at the Ohatchee Police Department
-Volunteers in Concord must register at the YMCA on 4th Avenue South
-Webster's Chapel leaders are looking for volunteers with vehicles who can distribute supplies to tornado victims. Volunteers should go to the Webster's Chapel Fire Station
Drop off Locations:
-Harvest Church in Northport is accepting donations for tornado survivors
-Christian Service Mission at 3600 3rd Ave South is accepting personal care items, baby supplies, and other items of basic need
-First Baptist Church Trussville is a drop off point for donations Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm
-Church of the Highlands on Grants Mill Road is accepting items of basic need
-Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Alexandria is collecting donations of bathing supplies
-Clear Branch United Methodist Church in Argo is a drop off location from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday
-Mark Ferrier Ministries has a drop off point at 97.7 Fox FM radio in Jasper
-Alabaster First United Methodist Church accepting donations for storm survivors at Restore Building behind the church
-Holy Faith Temple is accepting donations for tornado survivors in Childersburg
-Central Baptist Church of Jasper is collecting supplies for victims in Cordova.
-McAlpine Recreation Center at 1115 Avenue F in Ensley is now a drop off point
-108 Haynes Street in Talladega is collecting donations for survivors in East Alabama
-East Birmingham Church of God on First Avenue North is collecting supplies
-All Books-A-Million stores are collecing monetary donations for the Salvation Army
-East Birmingham Church of God in Christ on 1st Avenue is collecting supplies
-Aldrich Assembly of God is collecting relief supplies at Lucky's Market in Montevallo and Sammy's Fresh Market in Wilsonville.
-Vance town community center is collecting donations for survivors in Vance
-Helena Cumberland Presbyterian Church is accepting donations all week from 9am until 6pm.
-Donations in Calhoun County may be dropped off at Eagle Point Baptist Church in Jacksonville and Word Alive Church in Coldwater.
-Jasper Jaycees are accepting donated items at the fairgrounds on Airport Road. Cash donations can be made at Bank of Walker County. Call 205-221-3928 for more info.
-Hardin's Chapel Church in Ragland is an official EMA site
-Cullman county donation locations: Eagle Point Church, Isaiah 58-Word Alive Church, Piedmont Benevolence and Salvation Army
-UAB is holding blood drives at the North Pavillion from 10am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday. 7am to 2pm Tuesday and Friday
Places to pick up items or get help:
-People with disabilities who have lost medication or equipment can call 205-251-2223 ext 102
-United Way has set up a hotline to help victims find low cost temporary housing - call 211
-There will be a physician on site and medicine available at Scott School through Saturday from 7am to 7pm
-Tornado survivors in Hale and Greene counties can get help at Springfield United Methodist Church in Eutaw and at Johnson Hill United Methodist Church in Union
-Toiletries and clothing are available for pick up at Plum Grove Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa. If you need transportation, call 205-292-5836
-Food and water stations for victims are set up at the Leland Shopping Center, Forest Lake Baptist relief center and Skyland Elementary.
-Aldridge Community Missionary Baptist Church in Parrish has food, formula, clothes and water for any storm survivors who need help.
-Victims in St. Clair County can get food, water and other supplies at the Shoal Creek Community Center.
-Tarps available in St. Clair County at Odenville Fire Department, Pell City Fire Station One, Reiverside Fire Department
-The Salvation Army has set up mobile canteen operations in Forest Lake, Holt High School and on 15th Street in Alberta City.
-Tornado victims in Hale and Greene Counties can get help at Springfield United Methodist Church in Eutaw and at Johnson Hill United Methodist Church in Union.
-The Masonic Lodge in Pleasant Grove is serving meals and distributing supplies to tornado victims.
-Bethel Baptist Church in Pratt City is providing food and shelter to tornado survivors in that community
-Food, water and other supplies are available at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Hueytown.
-The Red Cross has opened feeding stations at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Knighten's Volunteer Fire Department, Webster's Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, First Baptist Church of Williams, Mt. Olive Volunteer Fire Department in Ohatchee and the Ellis Community Fire Department.
-Hardin's Chapel Church in Ragland is an official EMA site
-Free first aid station is open in Pleasant Grove from 9am to 6pm at 615 Pleasant Grove Road Monday through Friday
-Free medical clinic at Scott School in Pratt City 7am to 7pm
Shelters:
-Bethel Baptist Church in Pratt City is providing food and shelter to tornado victims in that community.
-The American Red Cross has set up shelters at the Belk Center in Tuscaloosa, First Baptist Church in Hanceville, the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, the Civic Center in Cullman and First United Methodist Church in Springville.
-American Red Cross shelter in St. Clair County is at Greensport Baptist Church in Ashville
Insurance office locations:
-Allstate Insurance has mobile claims centers set up at the Lowe's in Bessemer, the Winn-Dixie at River Square Plaza in Hueytown and the K-Mart on Skyland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.
-State Farm has centers set up at Lowe's in Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Bessemer and Fultondale.
-ALFA has centers at the Save-a-Lot in Cullman and the ALFA Service Center in Gadsden.
-Farmers Insurance has centers at Home Depot in Tuscaloosa, the Forest Square Shopping Center in Forestdale, and the Farmers district offices in Vestavia Hills and Pell City.
Misc:
-A battery charging station is set up at the Walmart in Tuscaloosa. Flash lights are also being given away while supplies last.
-If you have loved ones who are still missing in the Birmingham area, call 205-787-1487 or 205-787-1488.
-Greater Birmingham Humane Society lost and found pet hotline open 8am to 5pm daily: 205-397-8534. Hotline is for Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties
-Official FEMA mobile disaster recovery center in Sumter county: Geiger Town Hall 201 Broadway
-Victims in Pratt City are in need of trash bags and baskets to help collect their personal belongings
-Calhoun County needs rope, tools, gloves, masks, tarps, first aid supplies and baby supplies
-Some local contractors in Tuscaloosa are offering free debris removal. Call 205-248-5800.
-Samaritan's Purse in Tuscaloosa is providing free debris removal and free tarps. Call 205-345-7554.
-The McWane Center in Birmingham is offering free admission to anyone who brings supplies for tornado victims.
-A dusk to dawn curfew is in effect for all of Cullman County.
-An 8pm to 6am curfew is in effect in the city of Tuscaloosa.
Ugh, just look at those poor pitiful tomato plants. It was a very long, dry and miserably hot summer. And even with us trying our best to keep them going, the tomatoes just couldn't endure. 😖
Now for those of you who like a good Hot Sauce such as Tabasco and who enjoy dark chocolate then you should love this. These little wedges of spicy goodness are a delightful break from the usual chocolate candy. They give the phrase Hot Chocolate a whole new twist. Fabulous!!
Savor this without calories in the Lightbox - press L
10/365
App Used - CameraBag: Cinema framing
January 25, 2010
My plan for today was to find something interesting around the house. We have a couple of old radios and I played with those for awhile. I also dug out some old computer parts and shot those and I just let the concept form itself. Having the two very different technologies side-by-side made me think of the waste of modern tech. There are few hardware repairs these days, you just replace the ailing card, board, monitor or whatever... but in the old days people repaired things. They changed tubes, soldered connections, replaced wires, and so on. A perfect example is this X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card that never worked very well and deteriorated quickly... if only a fix was this easy... :/
Ah well, the tech collision made for some interesting pondering while I played with the idea.
Strobist info: SB600-1/64@24mm bare with a #362 tipton blue gel camera left. SB600-1/64@70mm snooted down to a 2cm circle with a 12" foam shoot directly overhead with a #18 flame gel. Triggered with Pocket Wizard II's. Camera setup: Nikon D60 | 50mm | ƒ/3.5 | ISO 100 | 1/100s — hand held. A few minor fixes with the ACDSee 3.1Pro light EQ and a color bump with Topaz Adjust 3 in Photoshop
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Oh yeah... and this... -=Omi=- tagged me to spill eight quirky factoids about myself... *sigh*. Since this is the second time I was asked, I decided to just do it... now get off my back people! ;)
8 quirky facts about me:
1. We departed our wedding reception in a '49 Pontiac convertible borrowed from my wife's aunt... and then we went to Starbucks in our wedding clothes. The Baristas asked if we had just come from a costume party.
2. I've lived in four countries on three continents and visited twenty others. People always ask what my favorite place is... I have about ten and they are all over the globe.
3. I don't have a favorite or least favorite food. I'll eat just about anything as long as I know what it is.
4. Although I don't partake very often because... well... the frau makes me sleep in the guest room when I do, I occasionally like to indulge in good single malt and cuban cigars. Dalwhinnie became a favorite after visiting the distillery in the Highlands last fall.
5. I have a voyeuristic interest in the trappings of Goth subculture. Not the mopey emo or the spiky street-punk stuff but the high-end, couture variety. It's not at all my style and I'm way too old to start now (lol) but the creative, romantic, vintage, over-the-top styles fascinate me.
6. I designed and built most of the furniture in my living room. I love the deep tones of Cherry and Mahogany and quality craftsmanship quickens my pulse.
7. Once, while building an outdoor theater set, I spent a whole day in a harness hanging from a cable, 30 feet off the ground, to weld some of the upper framework.
8. I have far too many hobbies and extracurricular activities. I barely have time for the things I SHOULD be doing. ;)
And I also decided to add a bonus factoid... I'm a lefty. Being left-handed almost always means being close to ambidextrous out of necessity because it is a very right-centric world and we all learned to adapt over the years. I can use both hands nearly equally but I prefer to write and draw with my left hand. My favorite lefty line, "Only left-handed people are in their right mind."
For those of you in and around New Orleans, I´m in a group exhibition at the old U.S. Mint to benefit the NOLA Rising United Artist Front Mural Arts Program.
It´s a silent auction and it all goes down for two days only, this Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25 from 9am to 5pm.
Some of the artists in the show include Banksy, Shepard Fairey, El Celso, Ken Kenan, Starhead, Rex Dingler, Tony Nozero, Amy Martin and many many more.
So come on down, support an excellent cause and enjoy the first weekend of Jazz Fest, as well!
The Nola Rising United Artist Front Mural Arts Program
U.S. Mint
400 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70611
April 24 and 25 from 9am to 5pm
Contributing Artists:
BANKSY / Shepard Fairey / STARHEAD / Ray Noland / El Celso / Amy Martin / Justin Hampton / Tony Nozero / Dr. Bob / Christopher Porche West / Rex Dingler / Joe Russo / Cherie Langford / Allison Termine / ARTCAR by Kelly Isreal / Ken Kenan / Bruce Davonport Jr / Layla Messkaub / Blaine Capone / Len Cowgill / Robert Guthie / Sarah Rosedahl / Brandon Dauphin / Ussama Hanna / Crista Rock / Amy Loewy / Scott Moseley / Lance "Varg" Vargas / Max Prophet / Mardi Claw / Mary Moses / Alleyn Evans / Stephanie Stelmach / 32 Brandongirl / GRAILIVES / Anthony Turducken / Sharky of Black Sails Photography / Donn Davis / Damon Rosenzweig / Kyle Chase / Beverly Cook / B-Kay / Emily Macafore / Bryan Barnes / Anthony Posey / Karen Miller / Graciel / Christian Silva / Sean Evans / Real Abstract / Joe Iurato / Tony Depew / Mia Volkommer / Carla Malone Steck / Peter Lundberg / Joan Davis / MAGS / Vall Webb / Dave Warnke / Arthur McLean / Jim Flynn / Sean Geatreaux / Michelle Brecher / O...Phuck / KelleyGirl / INSPIRE / Peaceswirl / SLIC / Will Frank / NEMO / Tammy Vitale / Dave Watkins / FOKUSED / GAIA / Lady Ma Dia / Shera Simon / James Peterson / Natalie Maloney / Pauline Patterson / Sheri Mora / Angela Pate / Dori Ashton / Steve Collins / The Grey Ghost / Nick Hasslock of the New Orleans Tile Co. / Leonard Lopp / Jon Curry / Michelle Augusto / Julie A. Miller / Melissa Levine / Cono / Jenna Colby / SoTx / Natalie Maloney / James Dingler / Real Abstract / Gracie! / B-Kay / Stevie Collins / Amzie Adams
...and many more...
Attached to a large boulder that will stop anyone from trying to drive a car down the path that leads down to the old tree.
In the early part of 2011 I had the chance to visit Crich Tramway Village. Its some where I had been many years as a young boy and lets face it a local mecca to those with a lens :)
These are the few shots that made it from that day to give a flavour of whats on offer. I fully intend to go back later in the year but this time on a family trip rather than a tog day out.
Crich (pronounced /ˈkraɪtʃ/ ( listen), with a long I) is a village in Derbyshire in England. It is the home of the National Tramway Museum inside the Crich Tramway Village, and at the summit of Crich Hill above, a Memorial Tower for those of the Sherwood Foresters regiment who died in battle, particularly in World War I.
Built in 1923 on the location of an older tower called Crich Stand, the Memorial Tower is the destination of an annual pilgrimage on the first Sunday in July. Set 1,000 feet above sea level, it has 52 steps to the top, from which eight counties can be seen, including landmarks such as the Humber Bridge and Lincoln Cathedral.
In 1009 Æþelræd Unræd (King Ethelred the Unready) signed a charter at the Great Council which recognised the position and boundaries of Weston-on-Trent and several other manors including Crich.[2] The charter shows that Weston controlled the nearby crossings of the Trent. The land was listed as eight hides at Weston upon Trent, and a hide at Crich, Morley, Smalley, Ingleby and Kidsley. This land was then given to Morcar, the King's chief minister, and he was unusually given rights that were normally reserved for the King alone. He was given the responsibility for justice and exemption from the Trinoda necessitas, he alone could decide a fate of life or death without the need of the authority of the King or his sheriff. Morcar was given further lands in Derbyshire. Weston (and Crich?) again come under the control of Æþelræd Unræd, when Morcar and his brother were murdered by Eadric in 1015.
A workhouse was opened in 1734 on the edge of Nether Common. It could accommodate 40 inmates, and accepted paupers from other parishes, including Melbourne, Pentrich, Willington, Mercaston and Denby.
Crich was the setting for the ITV drama series Peak Practice (along with Ashover for a time). Crich is home to 'The Briars', a residential youth centre for the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham. It hosts approximately 5000 young people a year from across the East Midlands, working with them on personal, social and spiritual themes. Images of the village also appear in the 2007 film "And When Did You Last See Your Father" starring Colin Firth. In the film Firth is seen riding a motorbike up Chapel Lane.
Geologically, Crich lies on a small inlier of Carboniferous limestone (an outcrop on the edge of the Peak District surrounded by younger Upper Carboniferous rocks).
Quarrying for limestone probably began in Roman times. In 1791 Benjamin Outram and Samuel Beresford bought land for a quarry to supply limestone to their new iron works at Butterley. This became known as Hilt's Quarry, and the stone was transported down a steep wagonway, the Butterley Company Gangroad, to the Cromford Canal at Bullbridge. Near there they also built limekilns for supplying farmers and for the increasing amount of building work. Apart from a period when it was leased to Albert Banks, the quarry and kilns were operated by the Butterley Company until 1933.
Quarrying in the early 1900s
The gangroad, descending some 300 feet in about a mile, was at first worked by gravity, a brakeman "spragging" the wheels of the wagons, which were returned to the summit by horses. However, in 1812 the incline was the scene of a remarkable experiment, when William Brunton, an engineer for the company, produced his Steam Horse locomotive.
In 1840, George Stephenson, in building the North Midland Railway, discovered deposits of coal at Clay Cross and formed what later became the Clay Cross Company. He realised that burning lime would provide a use for the coal slack that would otherwise go to waste. He leased Cliff Quarry and built limekilns at Bullbridge. They were connected by another wagonway including a section known as "The Steep", a 550-yard self-acting incline at a slope of 1 in 5.
Cliff Quarry closed in 1957, although a small amount of limestone extraction still occurs at the western end; it was bought by the Tramway Museum in 1959.
Hilt's Quarry closed in 1933 and is derelict. For 38 years, Rolls-Royce used it for dumping low-level radioactive waste such as enriched uranium, cobalt-60 and carbon-14. Following a campaign and blockades by villagers in the Crich and District Environment Action Group, dumping ceased in 2002. In 2004 the Government backed an Environment Agency document banning further dumping, and Rolls-Royce will be required to restore and landscape the site