View allAll Photos Tagged Versatile
Outfit: Ruxy-Kayra
* Introducing a stunning single-piece ensemble, enhanced with a versatile HUD that lets you effortlessly change colors and patterns to match your mood. Designed to fit Legacy and Lara X bodies perfectly, this eye-catching outfit is proudly featured in this round of We Love Roleplay. Embrace your style and make a statement!
Body Tattoos: *Find the Fish* 3rd Anniversary Gift.
*Unlock a world of creativity with this fabulous pack, featuring trendy makeup, stunning body tattoos, and various tintable items. This special gift is waiting for you as part of our exciting 3rd-anniversary celebration! Don’t miss your chance to visit and claim it while supplies last. Embrace the fun and add a splash of color to your life!
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We Love Roleplay
WS: weloveroleplay.weebly.com/
LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/We%20Love%20RolePlay/131/1...
FLICKR: www.flickr.com/groups/weloveroleplay/
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Ruxy
Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/1553322@N22/pool/cursiichella/
IW: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Summer%20Time/227/224/22
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*Find the Fish*
Facebook VIP group : www.facebook.com/groups/3601303776767805
Flickr Group : www.flickr.com/groups/14813046@N25/
MP:marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/209695
In World Store 1 : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Upolu/43/214/201
In World Store 2: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Buenos%20Aries%20City/146/...
CC Most Versatile - Pi or Pie
Originally, I cut this first small piece from the berry pie, knowing that the first piece often gets damaged during removal. I was going to cut a second, larger piece for my photoshoot with the idea of having a more perfect subject to photograph. Somehow, while heating up the slice of berry pie, and adding whipped cream, blueberries and a few pomegranate seeds, I grew attached to this little piece of pie and decided to make it the subject. The heavenly aroma of the pie once heated played a big part in my interest. So I decided to go with the theme of an imperfect piece of pie. I did not wipe up the berry smudge on the plate. No fine china for this shot either, but an everyday dish. I can guarantee that this piece of pie tasted just as good as any other piece of the pie.
The pie was purchased at Gizdich Ranch in Santa Cruz county. They are well worth a visit if the line isn't too long.
media-sl.com/2020/08/08/versatile-last-chance-event-new/
GIVEAWAY
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The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Lots of thanks to Sharon for this months brill themes.
In this month's challenge, for the second week running, 9 members entered 90 photos, so all members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms. J, Sandi, Pat, Maria, Robin, Sharon, Dave, Linda and Andy.
This montage features at least two photos per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Versatility is my final project after a one year photographic course. All the pictures are made from my old pictures of flowers.
Have you made your way to the current round of FaMESHed!?
For this release, I wanted to make something that would offer cozy Autumn vibes while being versatile enough to look great in your home no matter the season.
Since the Silvia Daybed is Uni-HUD compatible you have oodles of customization options, right at your fingertips.
Have a look at the additional details below, or stop by to see it inworld.
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➥ Silvia Daybed - Available Now at FaMESHed!
❣ Animations:
↳ PG - 14 Single, 6 Couples.
↳ Adult - 14 Single, 6 Couples, 19 X-time.
❣ Copy/Mod. Custom Materials Enabled.
❣ 15 Land Impact.
♕ Uni-HUD compatible sections♕
» B - 4 Woods
» M - 4 Metals
» C1 - 24 Colors
» C2 - 24 Colors
» C3 - 24 Colors
» CP - 24 Patterns
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I hope you all enjoy this release and I look forward to seeing your photos. Don't forget to submit them to our group!
♥ Cielo
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CC Most Versatile - Eat Your Veggies
Some of the vegetables in this dish came in a package of precut, mixed veggies. I don't plan on doing that again as the cutting makes them go bad quicker. And the asparagus was quite woody. They must have used the parts of the plant that I would normally cut off when prepping. Also, the precut round carrots are just plain boring and make me think of cafeteria food. The food was still delicious, with added flavors of wine, ginger, lemon grass paste, and low sodium soy sauce.
CC Most Versatile - Shades of Brown
Encountered on a walk. Possibly star thistle? I can recognize star thistle when it is green, but it looks different when dry.
An Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" assigned to the 3rd Wing flies over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Feb. 27, 2018. The Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" is the U.S. Air Force’s premium fifth-generation fighter asset.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite its protracted development and various operational issues, USAF officials consider the F-22 a critical component of the service's tactical air power. Its combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness enable unprecedented air combat capabilities.
Service officials had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs. In 2009, the program was cut to 187 operational production aircraft due to high costs, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile F-35. The last F-22 was delivered in 2012.
Development
Origins
In 1981, the U.S. Air Force identified a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to replace the F-15 "Eagle" and F-16 "Fighting Falcon". Code named "Senior Sky", this air-superiority fighter program was influenced by emerging worldwide threats, including new developments in Soviet air defense systems and the proliferation of the Su-27 "Flanker"- and MiG-29 "Fulcrum"-class of fighter aircraft. It would take advantage of the new technologies in fighter design on the horizon, including composite materials, lightweight alloys, advanced flight control systems, more powerful propulsion systems, and most importantly, stealth technology. In 1983, the ATF concept development team became the System Program Office (SPO) and managed the program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The demonstration and validation (Dem/Val) request for proposals (RFP) was issued in September 1985, with requirements placing strong emphasis on stealth and supercruise. Of the seven bidding companies, Lockheed and Northrop were selected on 31 October 1986. Lockheed teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics while Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas, and the two contractor teams undertook a 50-month Dem/Val phase, culminating in the flight test of two technology demonstrator prototypes, the YF-22 and the YF-23, respectively.
Dem/Val was focused on risk reduction and technology development plans over specific aircraft designs. Contractors made extensive use of analytical and empirical methods, including computational fluid dynamics, wind-tunnel testing, and radar cross-section calculations and pole testing; the Lockheed team would conduct nearly 18,000 hours of wind-tunnel testing. Avionics development was marked by extensive testing and prototyping and supported by ground and flying laboratories. During Dem/Val, the SPO used the results of performance and cost trade studies conducted by contractor teams to adjust ATF requirements and delete ones that were significant weight and cost drivers while having marginal value. The short takeoff and landing (STOL) requirement was relaxed in order to delete thrust-reversers, saving substantial weight. As avionics was a major cost driver, side-looking radars were deleted, and the dedicated infra-red search and track (IRST) system was downgraded from multi-color to single color and then deleted as well. However, space and cooling provisions were retained to allow for future addition of these components. The ejection seat requirement was downgraded from a fresh design to the existing McDonnell Douglas ACES II. Despite efforts by the contractor teams to rein in weight, the takeoff gross weight estimate was increased from 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) to 60,000 lb (27,200 kg), resulting in engine thrust requirement increasing from 30,000 lbf (133 kN) to 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class.
Each team produced two prototype air vehicles for Dem/Val, one for each of the two engine options. The YF-22 had its maiden flight on 29 September 1990 and in flight tests achieved up to Mach 1.58 in supercruise. After the Dem/Val flight test of the prototypes, on 23 April 1991, Secretary of the USAF Donald Rice announced the Lockheed team as the winner of the ATF competition. The YF-23 design was considered stealthier and faster, while the YF-22, with its thrust vectoring nozzles, was more maneuverable as well as less expensive and risky. The aviation press speculated that the Lockheed team's design was also more adaptable to the U.S. Navy's Navalized Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), but by 1992, the Navy had abandoned NATF.
Production and procurement
As the program moved to full-scale development, or the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) stage, the production version had notable differences from the YF-22, despite having a broadly similar shape. The swept-back angle of the leading edge was decreased from 48° to 42°, while the vertical stabilizers were shifted rearward and decreased in area by 20%. To improve pilot visibility, the canopy was moved forward 7 inches (18 cm), and the engine intakes moved rearward 14 inches (36 cm). The shapes of the wing and stabilator trailing edges were refined to improve aerodynamics, strength, and stealth characteristics. Increasing weight during development caused slight reductions in range and maneuver performance.
Prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautics manufactured the majority of the airframe and performed final assembly at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia; program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provided additional airframe components as well as avionics integration and training systems. The first F-22, an EMD aircraft with tail number 4001, was unveiled at Marietta, Georgia, on 9 April 1997, and first flew on 7 September 1997. Production, with the first lot awarded in September 2000, supported over 1,000 subcontractors and suppliers from 46 states and up to 95,000 jobs, and spanned 15 years at a peak rate of roughly two airplanes per month. In 2006, the F-22 development team won the Collier Trophy, American aviation's most prestigious award. Due to the aircraft's advanced nature, contractors have been targeted by cyberattacks and technology theft.
The USAF originally envisioned ordering 750 ATFs at a total program cost of $44.3 billion and procurement cost of $26.2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 1985 dollars, with production beginning in 1994. The 1990 Major Aircraft Review led by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney reduced this to 648 aircraft beginning in 1996. By 1997, funding instability had further cut the total to 339, which was again reduced to 277 by 2003. In 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) further reduced this to 183 operational aircraft, despite the USAF's preference for 381. A multi-year procurement plan was implemented in 2006 to save $15 billion, with total program cost projected to be $62 billion for 183 F-22s distributed to seven combat squadrons. In 2008, Congress passed a defense spending bill that raised the total orders for production aircraft to 187.
The first two F-22s built were EMD aircraft in the Block 1.0 configuration for initial flight testing, while the third was a Block 2.0 aircraft built to represent the internal structure of production airframes and enabled it to test full flight loads. Six more EMD aircraft were built in the Block 10 configuration for development and upgrade testing, with the last two considered essentially production quality jets. Production for operational squadrons consisted of 37 Block 20 training aircraft and 149 Block 30/35 combat aircraft; one of the Block 35 aircraft is dedicated to flight sciences at Edwards Air Force Base.
The numerous new technologies in the F-22 resulted in substantial cost overruns and delays. Many capabilities were deferred to post-service upgrades, reducing the initial cost but increasing total program cost. As production wound down in 2011, the total program cost is estimated to be about $67.3 billion, with $32.4 billion spent on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and $34.9 billion on procurement and military construction (MILCON) in then year dollars. The incremental cost for an additional F-22 was estimated at about $138 million in 2009.
Ban on exports
The F-22 cannot be exported under US federal law to protect its stealth technology and other high-tech features. Customers for U.S. fighters are acquiring earlier designs such as the F-15 "Eagle" and F-16 "Fighting Falcon" or the newer F-35 "Lightning II", which contains technology from the F-22 but was designed to be cheaper, more flexible, and available for export. In September 2006, Congress upheld the ban on foreign F-22 sales. Despite the ban, the 2010 defense authorization bill included provisions requiring the DoD to prepare a report on the costs and feasibility for an F-22 export variant, and another report on the effect of F-22 export sales on U.S. aerospace industry.
Some Australian politicians and defense commentators proposed that Australia should attempt to purchase F-22s instead of the planned F-35s, citing the F-22's known capabilities and F-35's delays and developmental uncertainties. However, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) determined that the F-22 was unable to perform the F-35's strike and close air support roles. The Japanese government also showed interest in the F-22 for its Replacement-Fighter program. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) would reportedly require fewer fighters for its mission if it obtained the F-22, thus reducing engineering and staffing costs. However, in 2009 it was reported that acquiring the F-22 would require increases to the Japanese government's defense budget beyond the historical 1 percent of its GDP. With the end of F-22 production, Japan chose the F-35 in December 2011. Israel also expressed interest, but eventually chose the F-35 because of the F-22's price and unavailability.
Production termination
Throughout the 2000s, the need for F-22s was debated, due to rising costs and the lack of relevant adversaries. In 2006, Comptroller General of the United States David Walker found that "the DoD has not demonstrated the need" for more investment in the F-22, and further opposition to the program was expressed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England, Senator John McCain, and Chairman of U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Senator John Warner. The F-22 program lost influential supporters in 2008 after the forced resignations of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force General T. Michael Moseley.
In November 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the F-22 was not relevant in post-Cold War conflicts such as irregular warfare operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in April 2009, under the new Obama Administration, he called for ending production in FY2011, leaving the USAF with 187 production aircraft. In July, General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated to the Senate Committee on Armed Services his reasons for supporting termination of F-22 production. They included shifting resources to the multirole F-35 to allow proliferation of fifth-generation fighters for three service branches and preserving the F/A-18 production line to maintain the military's electronic warfare (EW) capabilities in the Boeing EA-18G "Growler". Issues with the F-22's reliability and availability also raised concerns. After President Obama threatened to veto further production, the Senate voted in July 2009 in favor of ending production and the House subsequently agreed to abide by the 187 production aircraft cap. Gates stated that the decision was taken in light of the F-35's capabilities, and in 2010, he set the F-22 requirement to 187 aircraft by lowering the number of major regional conflict preparations from two to one.
In 2010, USAF initiated a study to determine the costs of retaining F-22 tooling for a future Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). A RAND Corporation paper from this study estimated that restarting production and building an additional 75 F-22s would cost $17 billion, resulting in $227 million per aircraft, or $54 million higher than the flyaway cost. Lockheed Martin stated that restarting the production line itself would cost about $200 million. Production tooling and associated documentation were subsequently stored at the Sierra Army Depot, allowing the retained tooling to support the fleet life cycle. There were reports that attempts to retrieve this tooling found empty containers, but a subsequent audit found that the tooling was stored as expected.
Russian and Chinese fighter developments have fueled concern, and in 2009, General John Corley, head of Air Combat Command, stated that a fleet of 187 F-22s would be inadequate, but Secretary Gates dismissed General Corley's concern. In 2011, Gates explained that Chinese fifth-generation fighter developments had been accounted for when the number of F-22s was set, and that the U.S. would have a considerable advantage in stealth aircraft in 2025, even with F-35 delays. In December 2011, the 195th and final F-22 was completed out of 8 test EMD and 187 operational aircraft produced; the aircraft was delivered to the USAF on 2 May 2012.
In April 2016, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee proposed legislation that would direct the Air Force to conduct a cost study and assessment associated with resuming production of the F-22. Since the production halt directed in 2009 by then Defense Secretary Gates, lawmakers and the Pentagon noted that air warfare systems of Russia and China were catching up to those of the U.S. Lockheed Martin has proposed upgrading the Block 20 training aircraft into combat-coded Block 30/35 versions as a way to increase numbers available for deployment. On 9 June 2017, the Air Force submitted their report to Congress stating they had no plans to restart the F-22 production line due to economic and operational issues; it estimated it would cost approximately $50 billion to procure 194 additional F-22s at a cost of $206–$216 million per aircraft, including approximately $9.9 billion for non-recurring start-up costs and $40.4 billion for aircraft procurement costs.
Upgrades
The first aircraft with combat-capable Block 3.0 software flew in 2001. Increment 2, the first upgrade program, was implemented in 2005 for Block 20 aircraft onward and enabled the employment of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Certification of the improved AN/APG-77(V)1 radar was completed in March 2007, and airframes from production Lot 5 onward are fitted with this radar, which incorporates air-to-ground modes. Increment 3.1 for Block 30 aircraft onward provided improved ground-attack capability through synthetic aperture radar mapping and radio emitter direction finding, electronic attack and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) integration; testing began in 2009 and the first upgraded aircraft was delivered in 2011. To address oxygen deprivation issues, F-22s were fitted with an automatic backup oxygen system (ABOS) and modified life support system starting in 2012.
Increment 3.2 for Block 35 aircraft is a two-part upgrade process; 3.2A focuses on electronic warfare, communications and identification, while 3.2B includes geolocation improvements and a new stores management system to show the correct symbols for the AIM-9X and AIM-120D. To enable two-way communication with other platforms, the F-22 can use the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) as a gateway. The planned Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) integration was cut due to development delays and lack of proliferation among USAF platforms. The F-22 fleet is planned to start receiving Increment 3.2B as well as a software upgrade for cryptography capabilities and avionics stability in May 2019. A Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint (MIDS-J) radio that replaces the current Link-16 receive-only box is expected to be operational by 2020. Subsequent upgrades are also focusing on having an open architecture to enable faster future enhancements.
In 2024, funding is projected to begin for the F-22 mid-life upgrade (MLU), which is expected to include new sensors and antennas, hardware refresh, cockpit improvements, and a helmet mounted display and cuing system. Other enhancements being developed include IRST functionality for the AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD) and more durable stealth coating based on the F-35's.
The F-22 was designed for a service life of 8,000 flight hours, with a $350 million "structures retrofit program". Investigations are being made for upgrades to extend their useful lives further. In the long term, the F-22 is expected to be superseded by a sixth-generation jet fighter to be fielded in the 2030s.
Design
Overview
The F-22 "Raptor" is a fifth-generation fighter that is considered fourth generation in stealth aircraft technology by the USAF. It is the first operational aircraft to combine supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform. The F-22 has four empennage surfaces, retractable tricycle landing gear, and clipped delta wings with reverse trailing edge sweep and leading edge extensions running to the upper outboard corner of the inlets. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); for speed brake function, the ailerons deflect up, flaperons down, and rudders outwards to increase drag.
The aircraft's dual Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 augmented turbofan engines are closely spaced and incorporate pitch-axis thrust vectoring nozzles with a range of ±20 degrees; each engine has maximum thrust in the 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class. The F-22's thrust-to-weight ratio at typical combat weight is nearly at unity in maximum military power and 1.25 in full afterburner. Maximum speed without external stores is approximately Mach 1.8 at military power and greater than Mach 2 with afterburners.
The F-22's high cruise speed and operating altitude over prior fighters improve the effectiveness of its sensors and weapon systems, and increase survivability against ground defenses such as surface-to-air missiles. The aircraft is among only a few that can supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-inefficient afterburners; it can intercept targets which subsonic aircraft would lack the speed to pursue and an afterburner-dependent aircraft would lack the fuel to reach. The F-22's thrust and aerodynamics enable regular combat speeds of Mach 1.5 at 50,000 feet (15,000 m). The use of internal weapons bays permits the aircraft to maintain comparatively higher performance over most other combat-configured fighters due to a lack of aerodynamic drag from external stores. The aircraft's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and composites comprise 39% and 24% of the structural weight.
The F-22's aerodynamics, relaxed stability, and powerful thrust-vectoring engines give it excellent maneuverability and energy potential across its flight envelope. The airplane has excellent high alpha (angle of attack) characteristics, capable of flying at trimmed alpha of over 60° while maintaining roll control and performing maneuvers such as the Herbst maneuver (J-turn) and Pugachev's Cobra. The flight control system and full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) make the aircraft highly departure resistant and controllable, thus giving the pilot carefree handling.
Stealth
The F-22 was designed to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar. Measures to reduce radar cross-section (RCS) include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets and curved vanes that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces and turbines from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material (RAM), and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The F-22 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. The aircraft's flat thrust-vectoring nozzles reduce infrared emissions of the exhaust plume to mitigate the threat of infrared homing ("heat seeking") surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. Additional measures to reduce the infrared signature include special topcoat and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight.
Compared to previous stealth designs like the F-117, the F-22 is less reliant on RAM, which are maintenance-intensive and susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Unlike the B-2, which requires climate-controlled hangars, the F-22 can undergo repairs on the flight line or in a normal hangar. The F-22 has a Signature Assessment System which delivers warnings when the radar signature is degraded and necessitates repair. While the F-22's exact RCS is classified, in 2009 Lockheed Martin released information indicating that from certain angles the aircraft has an RCS of 0.0001 m² or −40 dBsm – equivalent to the radar reflection of a "steel marble". Effectively maintaining the stealth features can decrease the F-22's mission capable rate to 62–70%.
The effectiveness of the stealth characteristics is difficult to gauge. The RCS value is a restrictive measurement of the aircraft's frontal or side area from the perspective of a static radar. When an aircraft maneuvers it exposes a completely different set of angles and surface area, potentially increasing radar observability. Furthermore, the F-22's stealth contouring and radar absorbent materials are chiefly effective against high-frequency radars, usually found on other aircraft. The effects of Rayleigh scattering and resonance mean that low-frequency radars such as weather radars and early-warning radars are more likely to detect the F-22 due to its physical size. However, such radars are also conspicuous, susceptible to clutter, and have low precision. Additionally, while faint or fleeting radar contacts make defenders aware that a stealth aircraft is present, reliably vectoring interception to attack the aircraft is much more challenging. According to the USAF an F-22 surprised an Iranian F-4 "Phantom II" that was attempting to intercept an American UAV, despite Iran's assertion of having military VHF radar coverage over the Persian Gulf.
Our Daily Challenge: To your health
Compositionally Challenged: January's Most Versatile: Mirror reflection
This versatile transport is a joint-venture of M-Throne and StarCorps engineers, who met for an exchange of experience on how to get large quantities of troops quickly to the battlefield. It is available in several configurations for any purpose. Shown here is the variant with anti-aircraft turret and dual machine guns.
You`ll find more information on this and all other StarCorps units here !
A slice of Victoria sponge anyone.
(Actually made in the Cosori Air Fryer as an experiment - it was delicious.)
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thanks very much Sharon for setting these super themes.
In this month's challenge, 12 members entered 112 photos, and 9 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms J, Robin, Maria, Sandi, Pat, Sharon, Dave, Andy and Carissa.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Opps - 🙀 - I forgot to set the link to December most Versatile post. But it's done now. 😊 (Sat 7th)
Versatile boots can be smart with a good skirt or casual with skinny jeans. They are lovely and comfy and cozy in winter so their season is probably done until near the end of the year.
August Most Versatile - Feet - for Compositionally Challenged
While down on the gravel to photograph some flower petals, Charlie flopped down right in the way and started grooming himself.
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thank you very much Sharon for setting these fab themes.
In this month's challenge, 10 members entered 92 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Maria, Ms J, Robin, Linda, Sandi, Sharon, Dave and Andy.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
The B-25 was a versatile bomber that served with every major Allied country and in every theater of the war. I don't think I'll build all of these but I might build one more :) I'll probably design a few more variants, I need one to represent the North Africa/Mediterranean theater, perhaps a PBJ, and one to represent Panchito which is the B-25 I was lucky enough to ride on. (see my joy riding album for pics)
From the upper right moving clockwise the planes represented here are:
B-25J "Miss Mitchell"
B-25J of the Air Apaches
B-25D/Mitchell Mark II "Grumpy"
B-25J "Russian Ta Get Ya"
B-25B Doolittle Raider
The versatile C-45 family of transport and trainer aircraft began life in 1937 as the Beechcraft Model 18 light twin. The Model 18s were widely accepted by commercial aviation operators as a good economical short haul transport prior to the war. The Army Air Corps saw its commercial success and ordered 11 aircraft prior to the beginning of World War II. At the outbreak of the war, the Army Air Corps ordered the C-45 into production. Although used primarily as a transport aircraft, the C-45 was also produced in the AT-7 navigational training, AT-11 bombardier/gunnery training and the F-2 photo reconnaissance trainer versions. By the end of the war, Beech had built 4,526 examples of the C-45 and its variants.
I think this is the first airplane that I've actually completed. I started a C-47, Mosquito and F-22 but unfortunately they have remained WIPs. I am attracted to graceful aircraft an the Twin-Beech is absolutely beautiful. I plan on building more in different color schemes so stay tuned. (I also have about five models/ builds to upload)
Thanks for looking!
The most versatile craft in the Colonial Defense Navy, the F-80 was designed from the beginning to be modular and customizable to adapt to a wide-array of combat scenarios. New modular systems are still in development as this carrier-bourne starfighter campaigns across the galaxy in the fight for peace and justice. The Sabrehawk may be new, but it is quickly finding itself host to many new fighter aces.
Another blanket! 100 x 140 cm. Handmade, a versatile mix of vintage and new fabrics and organic cotton terry on the back.
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thanks very much Sharon for this months super themes.
In this month's challenge, 11 members entered 94 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms J, Dave, Robin, Maria, Linda, Sandi, Sharon, Andy.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Cute Pixie Haircut with Versatile Bangs
sarasotabradentonhairsalon.com/cute-pixie-haircut-with-ve...
more on my blog
Canon AE-1 | Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 | Kodak Max Versatility 400 (expired 2006-09)
( scan from print - SOOC - unedited )
© All rights reserved - Please don't use this image without my permission
Versatile, cozy, and stylish. Available in a variety of rich colors and unique prints for endless combinations.
Includes both PBR & legacy versions.
For LaraX, PetiteX, Meshbody Legacy, Legacy Perky Petite, Legacy Pinup X Bombshell, Ebody Reborn.
Sold separately.
Not only can this serve as an efficient critter-catching-cup, a couple of discount airlines have used a similar setup for their public address system.
The talented and versatile naturalist Mark Catesby (1682-1749) in the second volume of his marvellous natural history of North America gives a set of descriptions and drawings of plants and trees paired with snakes. Thus his rendering of Echinacea purpurea, eastern Purple Coneflower (called by him Chrysanthemum americanum) also shows an elegantly curling Caecilia maculata, Glass Snake. How he came to associate our Coneflower with that Snake I don't know. It's a little curious that he didn't paint it with Bumblebees or this wonderful Emerald Lover of Stamens, Agapostemon virescens, one of the boringly named Sweat Bees. On a warm sunny day both insects can hardly be overlooked on this flower... And here in Lincoln Park I certainly saw no snakes!
Dakara is a stunning new avant top and shorts set by Rapture for the Inspirations Event, in gleaming metallic leather. Avant but versatile enough to make a statement at a club, Dakara combines attitude, sex appeal and fashion forward design.
Inspirations runs September 10th - 30th and this months theme is Gaga.
Inspirations taxi : slurl.com/secondlife/Nolan/85/84/2525
RAPTURE™ Taxi to Mainstore: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20of%20Paradise/27/12...
RAPTURE™ Marketplace:
marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/129419?id=129419
RAPTURE™ Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/2689197@N22/
RAPTURE™ Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/RAPTURE/679570202103915?ref=hl
RAPTURE™ Blog: rapturebyginrayna.wordpress.com/
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Stylecard
Dakara two piece - RAPTURE™
Grid Boots - silver - Garbaggio (for Slink High feet)
LadyOfHighgarden Bracers (gacha) - silver - .aisling
Coven Mask - silver - LaGyo
Hair - Ninel - Zibska
Makeup - Makeup - League, Soiree, Jumo, {MUA}, [mock]
Nails (applier for Slink) - Cracked Mirror - HOLLYHOOD
Picture by Eleseren Brianna
This montage is a representative selection of the ten themes, and contains at least one image per theme and at least one image per member. This particular canvas showcases 13 photos, selected from the 80 photos entered by 10 members, 3 of whom completed all ten themes.
To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Thank you Sharon for this fab Compositionally Challenged Group challenge.
German postcard, 1991. Emmanuelle Béart and Michel Piccoli in La belle noiseuse (Jacques Rivette, 1991).
On 12 May 2020, Michel Piccoli, one of the most original and versatile French actors of the last half-century, has died aged 94. He appeared in many different roles, from seducer to cop to a gangster to Pope in more than 200 films and TV films. Among the directors he worked with are Jean Renoir, Jean-Pierre Melville, Jean-Luc Godard, Agnès Varda, Luis Buñuel, and Alfred Hitchcock.
Michel Piccoli was born Jacques Daniel Michel Piccoli in Paris in 1925 to a musical family. His French mother Marcelle was a pianist and his Italian father Henri Piccoli was a violinist, who worked in the cinema. At boarding school, the introverted teenager Michel developed a profound love for the stage. He later studied drama under Andrée Bauer-Thérond and then trained as an actor at the René Simon drama school in Paris. In 1945, he began his stage career with the Renaud-Barrault theatre company at the Théâtre de Babylone in Paris. He made his film debut in Sortilèges (Christian-Jaque, 1945), but his first proper film role was in Le Point du jour/The Mark of the Day (Louis Daquin, 1949). He subsequently lent his talents to Jean Renoir in French Cancan (1954) starring Jean Gabin, and René Clair in Les Grandes Manoeuvres/The great manoeuvres (1955) with Gérard Philipe. It took six more years to become ‘box office’ as a film actor with the gangster film Le Doulos/The Finger Man (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1961), starring Jean-Paul Belmondo. He then had his international breakthrough with his leading role opposite Brigitte Bardot in Jean-Luc Godard's Le Mépris/Contempt (1963). Hal Erickson at AllMovie: “Like Hollywood's Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Gary Cooper, Piccoli was possessed of that rare gift of being able to adapt himself to virtually any kind of material without altering his essential screen persona. And like those aforementioned actors, Piccoli's talents suited the prerequisites of a wide variety of directors” He worked with some of the best international film auteurs: Agnès Varda at Les Créatures/The Creatures (1966) opposite Catherine Deneuve, Alain Resnais at La Guerre est finie/The War Is Over (1966), Jacques Demy at Les Demoiselles de Rochefort/The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), and Alfred Hitchcock (Topaz, 1969).
Michel Piccoli starred in four of the best-known films of French director Claude Sautet, Les starting with Choses de la vie/The Little Things in Life (1969) with Romy Schneider. Invariably he was cast as a symbol of bourgeois respectability whose quest for personal fulfilment appears destined to end in failure. James Travers at French Film Guide: “Sautet did more to humanise Piccoli than perhaps any other filmmaker, particularly when the actor was cast alongside Romy Schneider (in Les Choses de la vie and Max et les Ferrailleurs), the actress who became one of Piccoli's dearest friends.” A darker, more disturbing Piccoli can be seen in the films he made for Luis Buñuel, in particular Le Journal d'une femme de chamber/ The Diary of a Chambermaid (1964), Belle de jour/Beauty of the Day (1967) and Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie/The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Piccoli was one of the most visible faces in the European cinema, with films like Les Noces rouges/Wedding in Blood (Claude Chabrol, 1973), Themroc (Claude Faraldo, 1973), La Grande bouffe/The Big Feast (Marco Ferreri, 1973), Atlantic City (Louis Malle, 1980), and Salto nel vuoto/A Leap in the Dark (Marco Bellocchio, 1980), for which he won the Best Actor Award at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. In 1982, he won the Silver Bear at the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival for his chilling role in Une étrange affaire/Strange Affair (Pierre Granmier-Deferre, 1981). Both as an actor and as a producer Piccoli supported such young filmmakers as Bertrand Tavernier (Des enfants gates/Spoiled Children, 1977), Jacques Doillon (La Fille prodigue/The Prodigal Daughter, 1981) and Leos Carax (Mauvais sang/Bad Blood, 1986). In 1976, Piccoli recorded his remarkable career on the page when he co-wrote a semi-autobiography, Dialogue Egoistes. He has been married three times, first to actress Éléonore Hirt (1954-?), then for eleven years to the singer Juliette Gréco (1966-1977) and finally, from 1980 on to writer and actress Ludivine Clerc. He has one daughter from his first marriage, Anne-Cordélia.
In the 1980s, Michel Piccoli resumed his stage career, starring in Peter Brook's acclaimed Paris productions of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (1981, 1983) and Patrice Chéreau's staging of Marivaux's La Fausse Suivante (1985). He continued to star in films, such as in Milou en mai/Milou in May (Louis Malle, 1990) for which he was nominated for the César. In 1991, Piccoli again won international acclaim for his portrayal of an artist suffering from a creative block in La belle noiseuse (Jacques Rivette, 1991) with Emmanuelle Béart. Piccoli turned his hand to film directing, starting with a segment for the Amnesty International film Contre l'oubli (1991). His first feature was Alors viola/So There (1997), followed by La Plage noire/The Black Beach (2001) with Dominique Blanc, and C'est pas tout à fait la vie dont j'avais rêvé (2005). Not surprisingly, he was chosen to impersonate Mr. Cinema in Agnès Varda Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma/The One Hundred and One Nights of Simon Cinema (1995). He subsequently continued to do steady work in pictures of varying quality, with highlights being the psychological thriller Généalogies d'une Crime (Raul Ruiz, 1997) with Piccoli as a doctor caught up in a murder mystery, and Je rentre à la maison/ I'm Going Home (Manoel de Oliveira, 2001) with Catherine Deneuve. In 2001 he was the recipient of the Europe Theatre Prize. In 2002, he supported Lionel Jospin's presidential campaign. Piccoli is vocally opposed to the Front National. In 2012, he won the David di Donatello (the Italian Oscar) for his role as the pope in the comedy-drama Habemus Papam/ We Have a Pope (Nanni Moretti, 2012). Since then he made again several films. James Travers at French Film Guide: “There is something utterly seductive about Piccoli's screen portrayals, which comes from the actor's irresistible personal charm and his ability to project, very subtly, the inner neuroses, desires and venality of his characters. No wonder he is so well-loved by critics and audiences, and so eagerly sought after by filmmakers. Indefatigable, talented and generous, Piccoli deserves his reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation.” Michel Piccoli passed away on 12 May 2020 in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle, France. He was 94.
Sources: James Travers (French Film Guide), Hal Erickson (AllMovie), Wikipedia and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
This montage is a representative selection of the ten themes, and contains at least one image per theme and at least one image per member. This particular canvas showcases 13 photos, selected from the 93 photos (a new record) entered by 10 members, 7 of whom completed all ten themes.
To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Thanks Sharon for this brill Compositionally Challenged Group challenge.
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Loads of thanks to Linda for setting these themes.
In this month's challenge, 10 member entered 92 photos, and 8 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order are: Maria, Sandi, Dave, Linda, Lesley, Simone, Sharon and Andy.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Normally, I use two photo slots for the title and group icon. But! I thought that with 10 players and 8 maximums, I could use all 18 slots - 2 pics from each of the maximums, and 1 each from the other players. This won't be the new norm, as I miss having the group icon. The title and icon together, breaks up the regimentation, and creates a counter point. It seems that we can have two much regimentation after all.
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We absolutely loved seeing Green Jays on this holiday! What gorgeous birds they are. Lots of bird photos coming up : )
"A brilliant green, yellow, and blue jay of the tropics whose range barely stretches to southern Texas, the Green Jay is a noisy, colorful delight. The birds travel in conspicuous family flocks through brushlands and forests, seeking insects, small vertebrates, and fruit to eat. Like other jays and crows, this species is an incredibly versatile forager equally comfortable at picking, gleaning, pouncing, and even flycatching." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Jay/overview
Thursday, 6 February 2020: our temperature just before noon is 1C (windchill -3C). Sunrise is at 8:05 am, and sunset is at 5:36 pm. The forecast is for mainly sunny with cloudy periods in the afternoon. The clouds decided to come just a little bit early.
The 8 photos I have posted today were taken on Day 10 of our 13-day birding trip to South Texas, in March 2019. I won't be going on holiday anywhere this year, but really want to finish off this trip as soon as I can.
Because it has been about 10 months since we went on this holiday, I have to check maps for names of the locations we visited, and any other information I gathered. Thank goodness the photos I took with my Nikon P900 have the GPS data and automatically appear on the Flickr map. Then it is easy enough to add my Canon photos to the same marked locations.
This day started off with leaving the hotel that we had driven to on Day 9, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Brownsville, and driving to the first stopping place for Day 10. We stayed at this hotel for three nights, before having to drive all the way back to Houston on 30 March, ready to fly back home to Calgary.
Our early morning drive on Day 10 started off with driving in the wrong direction for quite a distance. One fun thing that happened as a result of this mistake, was that we spotted two beautiful Agave plants growing on either side of someone's front gate. We stopped in awe at the gorgeous orange flowers that grew from the tip of each leaf spike. I had never seen anything like these before and, once I got back to Calgary, I searched and searched on Google Images for photos that would give me an ID for these plants. Nothing - absolutely nothing - so I thought they must be something really unusual. Indeed, they were, lol! Some time after our return home, Anne B sent an email saying, guess what, these flowers were fake! She had looked at a close-up and could see the fabric lines and some frayed edges. A fun memory.
Once we were heading in the right direction, we drove east from Brownsville to Boca Chica, which is on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The first bird we saw was a Meadowlark, perched on top of a Yucca plant along the Boca Chica Highway. Closer to Boca Chica Beach, there were police vehicles, and at one place we were stopped by two men. One told us we could not go any further, but the second man told us we could go on. Managed to get a couple of very quick photos of Laughing Gulls on the beach, and then we were told to leave. Apparently, there was going to be some test at the SpaceX Space Launch Facility there. We were able to grab a couple of quick shots of the SpaceX prototype from the road, then quickly continued on our drive away from the area. Quite exciting.
"The SpaceX South Texas Launch Site is a spaceport and test at Boca Chica Village near Brownsville, Texas, for the private use of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX).
Its stated purpose is "to provide SpaceX an exclusive launch site that would allow the company to accommodate its launch manifest and meet tight launch windows." The launch site was originally intended to support launches of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles as well as "a variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles",[4] but in 2018, SpaceX announced a change of plans, stating that the site would be used exclusively for SpaceX Starship. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk indicated in 2014 that he expected "commercial astronauts, private astronauts, to be departing from South Texas," and he foresaw launching spacecraft to Mars from there."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site
From Boca Chica, our next stopping place was the Sabal Palm Sanctuary. On the way there, we briefly stopped to take a few photos of a beautiful Harris's Hawk perched on a high wire. In order to get to the Sanctuary, we had to drive through an opening in "The Wall". I had really been hoping that, at some point, we would actually see a length of The Wall, having heard about it endlessly on TV.
"The Sabal Palm Sanctuary is a 557-acre (225-hectare) nature reserve and bird sanctuary located in the delta of the Rio Grande Valley in Cameron County near Brownsville, Texas. It is noted for being one of the last locations in the Rio Grande Valley with a profuse grove of sabal palms, an edible-heart-bearing palm much prized by pre-Hispanic inhabitants and noted by early explorers. As a relatively habitat-rich remnant of this Valley, it is a prized birdwatching and butterfly watching location for persons interested in the ecology of the Valley and adjacent states of northern Mexico.
The Sabal Palm Sanctuary closely approaches the southernmost point in the state of Texas, and is the southernmost point accessible to the public.
The Sanctuary occupies a parcel of the former Rabb Plantation, a 19th-century sugarcane plantation on the bank of the Rio Grande - at that time, a river deep enough to float light steamboats. The plantation's produce was shipped directly from the riverbank; the successful plantation's Queen Anne mansion, built by Frank and Lillian Rabb in 1891-1892, was adaptively remodeled in 2013 to serve as the Sanctuary's visitor center." From Wikipedia. The Mansion is a really fine building.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabal_Palm_Sanctuary
Our final stop of the day was South Padre Island, where we had many good sightings. We were planning to go there the following morning, but decided we had time to also call in at the end of Day 10.