of 60m above sea level.

 

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are NOT retreating. [Al Gore was mistaken] Periodically the glacier advances over the L-shaped "Lago Argentino" ("Argentine Lake") forming a natural dam which separates the two halves of the lake when it reaches the opposite shore. With no escape route, the water-level on the Brazo Rico side of the lake can rise by up to 30 meters above the level of the main lake. The enormous pressure produced by this mass of waters finally breaks the ice barrier holding it back, in a spectacular rupture event. This dam/rupture cycle is not regular and it naturally recurs at any frequency between once a year to less than once a decade.

Inle Lake (Burmese: အင်းလေးကန်, pronounced: [ʔɪ́ɴlé kàɴ]) is a freshwater lake located in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District of Shan State, part of Shan Hills in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 116 km2, and one of the highest at an elevation of 880 m. During the dry season, the average water depth is 2.1 m, with the deepest point being 3.7 m, but during the rainy season this can increase by 1.5 m.

 

The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The lake drains through the Nam Pilu or Balu Chaung on its southern end. There is a hot spring on its northwestern shore.

 

Although the lake is not large, it contains a number of endemic species. Over twenty species of snails and nine species of fish are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these, like the silver-blue scaleless Sawbwa barb, the crossbanded dwarf danio, and the Lake Inle danio, are of minor commercial importance for the aquarium trade. It hosts approximately 20,000 brown and black head migratory seagulls in November, December and January.

 

In June 2015, it becomes the Myanmar's first designated place of World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It was one of 20 places added at at the Unesco's 27th Man and the Biosphere (MAB) International Coordinating Council (ICC) meeting.

 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

The people of Inle Lake (called Intha), some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake's shores, and on the lake itself. The entire lake area is in Nyaung Shwe township. The population consists predominantly of Intha, with a mix of other Shan, Taungyo, Pa-O (Taungthu), Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar ethnicities. Most are devout Buddhists, and live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts; they are largely self-sufficient farmers.

 

Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with single cylinder inboard diesel engines. Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar. This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. However, the leg rowing style is only practiced by the men. Women row in the customary style, using the oar with their hands, sitting cross legged at the stern.

 

Fish caught from the lake - the most abundant kind is called nga hpein locally (Inle carp, Cyprinus intha) - are a staple of the local diet. A popular local dish is htamin gyin - 'fermented' rice kneaded with fish and/or potato - served with hnapyan gyaw (literally twice fried - Shan tofu). In addition to fishing, locals grow vegetables and fruit in large gardens that float on the surface of the lake. The floating garden beds are formed by extensive manual labor. The farmers gather up lake-bottom weeds from the deeper parts of the lake, bring them back in boats and make them into floating beds in their garden areas, anchored by bamboo poles. These gardens rise and fall with changes in the water level, and so are resistant to flooding. The constant availability of nutrient-laden water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile. Rice cultivation is also significant.

 

Hand-made goods for local use and trading are another source of commerce. Typical products include tools, carvings and other ornamental objects, textiles, and cheroots. A local market serves most common shopping needs and is held daily but the location of the event rotates through five different sites around the lake area, thus each of them hosting an itinerant market every fifth day. When held on the lake itself, trading is conducted from small boats. This 'floating-market' event tends to emphasize tourist trade much more than the other four.

 

The Inle lake area is renowned for its weaving industry. The Shan-bags, used daily by many Burmese as a tote-bag, are produced in large quantities here. Silk-weaving is another very important industry, producing high-quality hand-woven silk fabrics of distinctive design called Inle longyi. A unique fabric from the lotus plant fibers is produced only at Inle lake and is used for weaving special robes for Buddha images called kya thingahn (lotus robe).

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Inle Lake is suffering from the environmental effects of increased population and rapid growth in both agriculture and tourism. During the 65-year period from 1935 to 2000, the net open water area of Inle Lake decreased from 69.10 km² to 46.69 km², a loss of 32.4%, with development of floating garden agriculture, which occurs largely on the west side of the lake (a practice introduced in the 1960s).

 

Lumber removal and unsustainable cultivation practices (slash and burn farming techniques) on the hills surrounding the lake are causing ever-increasing amounts of silt and nutrients to run off into the rivers that feed the lake, especially along its western and northern watershed areas. This silt fills up the lake; the nutrients encourage the growth of weeds and algae. More important however is the development of floating garden agriculture, largely along the western side of the lake. This practice encroaches into the diminishing area of the lake, since over time, the floating beds become solid ground. About 93% (nearly 21 km²) of the recent loss in open water area of the lake, largely along its western side, is thought to be due to this agricultural practice. Direct environmental impacts associated with these combined agricultural activities within the wetlands and surrounding hills of the lake include sedimentation, eutrophication, and pollution.

 

The water hyacinth, a plant not native to the lake, also poses a major problem. It grows rapidly, filling up the smaller streams and large expanses of the lake, robbing native plants and animals of nutrients and sunlight. At one time, all boats coming into Nyaung Shwe were required to bring in a specified amount of water hyacinth. Over the past twenty years, large-scale use of dredges and pumps has been employed with some success in controlling the growth of this plant. On a smaller scale, public awareness education and small-scale control have also been successful.

 

Another cause for concern is the planned introduction of non-native fish species, such as the Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)] intended to improve fishery.

 

Sanitation in the villages around the lake is an ongoing concern for public health authorities, due to untreated sewage (with 72% of households using open pits, not latrines) and waste water flowing into the lake. To ensure fresh and clean water, some villages now have enclosed wells and public access to the well water. Some studies of the lake's surface

 

water quality indicates that the water is not safe for consumption. Water from Inle Lake has dissolved oxygen ranges lower than those necessary for fisheries and aquatic life, while nitrite, nitrate and phosphate ranges are unusually high.

 

Noise pollution is also a noticeable issue. The noise from the cheaper poorly muffled diesel engines driving the stern drive propellers is significant, and can be a distraction to the otherwise tranquil lake.

 

The summer of 2010 registered very high temperatures causing the water level of the lake to drop so low, the lowest in nearly 50 years, that drinking water had to be fetched from elsewhere and the floating market was in danger of disappearing. One other serious consequence was that the hydroelectric plant at Lawpita, where the former capital Yangon received its power supply from, could not operate at its full capacity.

 

TOURISM

The best time of the year to visit is during September and October. The ceremonial Hpaung Daw U Festival, which lasts for almost three weeks, is closely followed by the Thadingyut festival of lights. Inthas and Shan turn out in their best clothes in great numbers to celebrate the Buddhist Lent. Traditional boat racing, with dozens of leg-rowers in Shan dress in a team on each boat, is a famous event during the Hpaung Daw U Festival.

 

Inle Lake is a major tourist attraction, and this has led to some development of tourist infrastructure. Many small and large privately owned hotels and tour operations have arisen during the past few years. Local shops are flooded with consumer items, both local and foreign. The nearest airport is Heho Airport which is 35 km away. There are flights from both Yangon and Mandalay. Yangon is 660 km away by road, Mandalay 330 km.

 

CUISINE

Inle cuisine is different from Shan cuisine, as it incorporates local natural produce. The most well-known Inle dish would be the Htamin jin - a rice, tomato and potato or fish salad kneaded into round balls dressed and garnished with crisp fried onion in oil, tamarind sauce, coriander and spring onions often with garlic, Chinese chives roots (ju myit), fried whole dried chili, grilled dried fermented beancakes (pè bouk) and fried dried tofu (topu jauk kyaw) on the side.

 

WIKIPEDIA

"Figure 3: Average Hourly Traffic Volume and Average Hourly Percentage of Lanes Open Per Month at Selected Southwest Border Crossings, Fiscal Years 2008-2012"

This image is excerpted from a U.S. GAO report: www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-603

"U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: CBP Action Needed to Improve Wait Time Data and Measure

Outcomes of Trade Facilitation Efforts"

 

The Northwest River Forecast Center (a unit of the Department of Commerce) released on January 8, 2014 its first water supply projection of 2014 for the Pacific Northwest. The forecast indicated a below-normal runoff, as compared to the 30-year average (1981-2010), for a majority of the observation stations in the region.

www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=14931

 

Publication date: February 7, 2014

 

23 pictures (a pretty small number, I'll do more later) of flowers averaged.

Image by CafeCredit under CC 2.0

 

This imageis available for FREE under Creative Commons license. To use it on your site just add an attribution link to the original source, www.cafecredit.com.

 

Thank you for respecting Creative Commons license.

 

P.S. Need more photos like this? Check out my flickr profile page.

SM City Cebu is a large shopping mall located in Cebu City, Philippines. It is the 4th shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the country's largest shopping mall owner and developer. It is the company's first shopping mall outside Metro Manila and the 4th largest shopping mall in the Philippines. It has a land area of 11.8 hectares and a gross floor area of 268,611 m2 ( 2,891,300 sq ft ), becoming part of the world's 15 largest shopping malls and making it the 11th largest shopping mall in the world in 2009.

On an average day, more than 100,000 people visit SM City Cebu, with the figure increasing to 140,000 to 150,000 on weekends. Due to Cebu City's position as a transshipment point for the Visayas and Mindanao, and SM City Cebu's location close to the city's port area, the mall attracts a significant number of transient shoppers.

SM City Cebu proves that variety is the spice of life. You can find an array of exciting food choices, from fast food chains to elegant fine dining restaurants. You can also experience retail heaven with its many shops such as Oxygen, Penshoppe, Mango, Topshop, Promod, People Are People, The Body Shop, National Bookstore, Ace Hardware, Toy Kingdom, Toby’s Sport and much more.

The mall first opened in November 1993, and was seen as catering to the low and middle class of shoppers, in contrast to its upmarket competitor, Ayala Centre Cebu which opened a few months later. An expansion wing that particularly targeted upper class customers was added in 2007. As of 2009, the mall has undergone major renovations. Expansion plans with a hotel and convention centre are being developed. More shops are being proposed in 2012.

SM City Cebu is a four-level complex featuring eight cinemas with a total seating capacity of 8,848, a food court, a fully computerized bowling centre, 8,000-square meter amusement centre, and a 2,000-square meter trade hall. Before the addition of the North wing, it had a car park capacity of 1,629.

The North wing expansion, opened in 2007, features two floors of retail stores, restaurants, and cafes. It houses more than 200 tenants and caters to a more upscale clientele. The expansion also added three levels of covered parking, and a one level of roof deck parking.

SM City Cebu, opened on November 27, 1993 with an area of 161,562 m2 (1,739,040 sq ft ). Initially To attract shoppers, Manila-based movie and television stars and entertainers performed free concerts at the mall. Free jeepney rides to the mall were offered to fulfil the lack of available public transportation.

Construction on SM City Cebu's expansion building, dubbed the North wing, began in March 2006. The expansion, which was developed at a cost of Peso’s 1.3 billion ( US$30.5 million ), was built on the parking lot to the north of the existing building, temporarily decreasing the number of parking spaces by more than 30%. The North wing was started in April 2007, and opened in November 2007, featuring spacious hallways catering to the leisure market and upper class customers, while the existing mall, re dubbed as the South wing, is targeted for those who love the hustle and bustle. It increased the total gross floor area of SM City Cebu by 107,049 m2 ( 1,152,270 sq ft ), for a total of 268,611 m2

( 2,891,300 sq ft ).

IMAX ~ In early 2008, SM Prime Holdings signed a deal with IMAX Corporation for the opening of additional IMAX theatres, following the success of the country's first IMAX theatre at SM Mall of Asia. The IMAX theatre planned for SM City Cebu will replace cinema four screens. It will feature clearer picture quality due to its use of a digital projector rather than a film projector. A budget of Peso’s100-million ( $2.4 million ) was allotted for the renovation and was opened to the public last July 9, 2010 with James Cameron's Avatar in 3D

This image is excerpted from a U.S. GAO report: www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-311

 

RETIREMENT SECURITY: Challenges for Those Claiming Social Security Benefits Early and New Health Coverage Options

 

Note: Figure shows averages of households with total income within 20 percent of the median household income for the overall sample ($51,939 in 2010 dollars).

 

a)Measures income and wealth in the first HRS wave in which the respondent reports receiving Social Security income.

 

b)Measures income and wealth in the first HRS wave in which the respondent’s age is at least 72.

 

c)Indicates that the difference by claiming group in this variable is statistically significant at p-value < 0.05

 

averaging on board. You are allowed to use this image on your website. If you do, please link back to my site as the source: creditscoregeek.com/

 

Example: Photo by creditscoregeek.com

 

Thank you!

Mike Cohen

Brass Balls Bobbers ( www.brassballsbobbers.com) went to the Smoke Out 10 East event and brought back these photographs form the Big 10 Year event.

 

Everything comes together at “The Rock” . The 10th Anniversary Smoke Out will be the most entertaining chopper event ever. The event includes bands, a chop off, XS Speed’s mini-bike races (super-hero costume required), roller derby, vendors, & drag racing.

 

The bands this year include The Kings of Hell, Uncle Scratch’s Gospel Revival, Jasmine Cain and Blackberry Smoke. Blackberry Smoke is an awesome Southern Rock style band that does covers and originals. It is Southern Rock the way it is supposed to sound.

 

The Smoke Out is about choppers. It is about builders, from professional builders to those bloody-knuckled guys (and ladies) burning the midnight oil in an unheated shed to build a chopper they can call their own. Chops of all makes are featured, American, British, Japanese, everything. The event is about riders, cross-town to cross-country in a rainstorm.

 

There are two distinct groups of people at the Smoke Out. The first group is the readers, builders and riders known as THE HORSE world network of operatives. The core of the chopper world. This is the place to be for the Chopper World State of the Union Address.

 

The second group of invited guest is those that want to observe the core of the chopper world.

 

Brass Balls Bobbers builds Bobbers and Choppers for the Average Joe. We design it so that it works first time and every time. Check us out at www.brassballsbobbers.com. 405-270-0995 - World Headquarters, 401 S. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73108

 

It's now become part of our travelling calendar - we go on a city break for Jayne’s birthday in January - no presents for birthday's and Christmas, we travel instead. This year it was Seville. We had to drive 180 miles south to Stansted to fly there though, Friday afternoon on the A1, such fun... It was a really good drive down in actual fact, the best day for months, glorious blue sky and a fantastic sunset- and I was in a car. We got stung for tea and drinks in the Radison Blu but we were overnighting and leaving the car so we didn't have much choice. Ryanair aagh! Again no choice. To be fair to the abrasive Irish man O Leary things are better than they used to be and it was an acceptable flight.

 

We were hoping for better weather than we got- don't you always? It was. cold, windy and after some initial beautiful sun on our first afternoon, it was mostly grey. The wind died but so did the sun. The other little problem was that it was my turn for the awful cold that Jayne had been trying to get over. I was under the weather in more ways than one all week, it was only a cold but it was the worst I've had for ages and it didn't help my mood, particularly when the sun was absent. We had a few hours of really nice light here and there and I made the most of it - I think!

 

Seville has miles and miles of narrow cobbled streets, they seem to go on for ever. They are almost random in layout and it is extremely difficult to find your way around, it's easier to just keep walking and see what you find. So we did! The architecture is stunning and the history is fascinating. Aside from the ancient history the two events that seem to have had a massive recent influence are the Expo's of 1929 and 1992. The incredible buildings or 'Pavilions' that were built for a one off event are now part of the reason that people visit the city. The 1929 pavilions are fantastic, each one is a story in itself and a destination in its own right but there are a lot of them in Parque Maria Luisa. Plaza Espana, built by the hosts of course, is the biggest and I would imagine that you could make a project out of photographing the individual ceramic tile displays around it on their own. These incredible buildings really need the light to be right to get images that people want to see, flat bright light from bright grey skies is good for certain things but dramatic architecture deserves better - or maybe I'm looking for the easy way option. The other discovery that we made, we found just down the road from the hotel, about an hour into the trip – The Metropol Parasol. A giant lattice work parasol, apparently called ‘The Mushrooms’ locally and apparently the world’s largest wooden structure. You have to look twice, having discovered that it is wood. Only later did we discover that we could get to the top and there is an extensive walkway around the top of it. It is built on top of ancient ruins, ( still intact and viewable) a food market and bars etc. and has a plaza around it and on it, that is buzzing on weekend evenings. Walking around the top, the first people up it one day and being back to watch the sunset later was one of the highlights of the trip for me.

 

The 1992 Expo also covered a massive area but left behind lots of modern - and some very strange - buildings and arenas. Some are of a temporary nature and get dismantled others find a new use. The land used was on an island between two branches of the River Guadalquivir – Isla de la Cartuja. The branch that goes through the city is now a canal, blocked at its northern end by a barrier with a motorway on it, and is used extensively for water sports, mainly rowing. Many of the buildings are now used by private companies as headquarters , others have a very derelict look. The whole area- even though it is home to the theme park- which was shut for the winter, has a neglected air about it. There are weeds growing everywhere but fountains are switched on, which seemed odd. Unlike the city a short distance away, there are no cafes or bars or other people around for that matter, just us meandering through. The car park that was created for the event is massive, it stretches for miles, and I really mean miles. Totally derelict, just the odd person or dog walker around. There is even a railway line terminating here, in the middle of nowhere a modern and apparently unmanned station, like a ghost station. At this point, across the river proper is open countryside, much flatter than I expected and very easy for local walkers and cyclists to get to - also very calm and quiet, a place to linger and enjoy the peace.

 

As usual I researched and discovered as we walked, we averaged around 13 miles a day and tried to get off the beaten track. We were out around 8.15, before sunrise, and had orange juice, coffee and Tostada with the locals for breakfast. The trouble is that there are many miles of walking in a relatively small area, some streets are only a few feet wide so there are a lot of them to explore. Incredible ancient churches and squares are around every corner- it's a very religious place - Catholicism rules in Spain. Unfortunately many are only a few feet away from the building next to it and it is difficult to get a decent shot of them. Seville is also famous, historically, as a producer of ceramic tiles. A building isn’t complete without a tile display of some sort and it would be very easy to make a project out of tiles alone. It may be a little boring for any companions though!

 

We walked the length of the embankment a couple of times, it has graffiti from end to end, several miles of massive concrete walls covered in everything imaginable, from marker pen scribbling to works of art. It was suggested to me that allowing people to paint here might prevent them from daubing property and monuments in the city- it hasn't! Most alleyways and shutters have been attacked to a greater or lesser degree. Spain has very high youth unemployment and maybe this plays a role. To be truthful though we haven't seen a city that's free of graffiti. The other problem is dogs- or what they produce, it's everywhere, absolutely everywhere, in a week we saw only one person remove his dogs mess. Fortunately the city streets are cleaned exceptionally well, some of the cleanest we have come across, men (and a lot of women) and machines are washing and sweeping endlessly.

 

Having had the wettest winter on record at home - almost three months of rain - we didn't want more rain but we got it. The upside was the water and the reflections that it created made photography on the cobbled streets more interesting, particularly at night. I usually find that it takes me a while to get into the groove on a trip and this one was no different, I didn't start shooting with total disregard - street shots- for a couple of days. Whilst the locals wore quilted jackets and scarves we got down to tee shirts at times, the warmer afternoons would be welcome in summer, never mind January, in Huddersfield. I envied the cyclists, being able to train in temperatures like this in winter - I wish! You need a lot less willpower to get out there and train hard in pleasant weather.

 

From a photography point of view I had a frustrating time, I never felt to get to grips with the place- other than on the streets at night. Writing this on my phone on the flight home, I haven't a clue what I've got to work with when I get back. I usually edit first and write later. Generally I have a first look, I'm disillusioned, I then revisit and see things differently- thankfully! Architectural shots with a grey sky could be destined for the monochrome treatment, we'll soon see. I'm still editing stuff from our London trip before Christmas, it's getting decent views in black and white and I quite enjoy looking at them myself.

We visited most of the notable tourist destinations, and went up anything that we could. Seville doesn't have a high point-it's flat! Nothing really stands head and shoulders above the city. The Cathedral tower is over 300 feet but the Cathedral itself fills a lot of the view on some aspects. Being square and having to look through bars in recesses you don't really get a completely open aspect. A new 600 foot tower is close to being finished, it's an office block and I couldn't find any mention of it being a viewing point in the future.

 

Oranges were the last thing on my mind when I suggested going to Seville. There are 25000 orange trees in Seville and now is the time that they are laden with big-and sour- Seville oranges, they are everywhere, apparently they are the property of the city authorities and will be harvested and sent to the UK to be made in to marmalade at some point in the near future. These trees will soon be covered in fragrant blossom, the city will smell beautiful for a couple of months. Studying the surrounding area it would be good to tour in March or April I would think, the scents, longer days and better weather would make for a fantastic trip. One for the future. The sunrise on our final morning was the best of the week, this was what we had looked forward to, we had to leave for the airport at 9.00...... Needless to say it was raining hard as we drove the last twenty miles home. Nothing new there then.

 

As usual I have aimed to present a pretty extensive collection of photographs of our chosen destination, some, at first glance will be pretty mundane shots of everyday life on the streets, often though, close inspection will reveal something humorous, something that needs a bit of thought. Others are definitely just people going about their holiday or work. Travelling with someone else it wouldn’t be fair to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to nail the perfect long exposure or HDR image of a cathedral or similar in perfect light – the one stunning shot to add to the portfolio- it’s not really my thing, I go for an overview of the place in the time available. Looking at the postcards locally it becomes obvious that stunning shots of some of these buildings are hard to come by. Heavily corrected converging verticals were quite obvious – and most likely will be in my own shots. As the owner of tilt and shift lenses I never travel with one – ever! My knees are already creaking from the weight of the bag.

 

I don't think this one's bear-proof, but it's definitely larger than your average garbage bin.

Sugarmill Stoke 23rd December 2019

Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

 

The Perito Moreno Glacier, a declared UNESCO World Heritage site is located 78km west of El Calafate in the Santa Cruz region of Patagonian Argentina and is is one of 48 glaciers in Patagonian Argentina and Chile.

The Perito Moreno Glacier covers an area of 255 square km, is 30km long and 5km wide, 50 to 70m above lake level and about 100m below. At its deepest point, the ice is 700 m thick, although the average is much less at approximately 170m.

Without doubt this massive glacier was one of the most accessible and visually stunning natural phenomenons I have seen anywhere in the world.

 

My first sight of the glacier at Curva de Los Suspiros lookout belied its massive size but when I finally got up close to the southern ice face in Brazo Rico in a cruise boat I was absolutely stunned by its sheer enormity. That was just the start of the experience and after the cruise we traveled a short distance around the Magallanes Peninsula to the lengthy boardwalk viewing platform where panoramic viewing of the eastern and northern terminus faces was possible. From the boardwalk one could see and hear massive chunks of ice calving off the glacier as it moved inexorably forward at a rate reported to be around 1.5 to 2m per day.

 

At the time of my visit in March 2003 the Perito Moreno Glacier was one of the few glaciers in the world that was considered stable, ie. not retreating. Both the Upsala and San Rafael Glaciers which I also visited in South America were clearly, by comparison dramatically receding.

 

The interesting thing about the Perito Moreno Glacier is that at times, after of a lot of ice buildup, the glacier terminus actually reaches land at the tip of the Magallanes Peninsula. When this happens the ice buildup completely blocks Brazo Rico damming it off from the northern Canal de Temanos, causing Lago Argentino to be divided into two distinct water bodies with the southern water body, Brazo Rico's water volume rising as much as 25-30m higher than the water level in the northern Canal de Tempanos.

Eventually the water finds a weak point, a rupture occurs, and water under great pressure crashes through from Brazo Rico into Canal de Tempanos in one massive and no doubt spectacular flooding event which of course is eagerly awaited by Glaciologists, TV news crews and tourists alike. This rupture event has tended to occur about once every 4-5 years. The last such rupture event occurred on January 19, 2013, and previously, March 4, 2012, 2008, 2006, 2004, 1988, 1986, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1972, 1970, 1966, 1963, 1960, 1956, 1953, 1952, 1947, 1940, 1934 and 1917. Wikipedia

 

So mesmerized was this monster glacier was I that I almost failed to allocate enough time to actually photograph it. I spent considerable time just walking up and down the long boardwalk, completely captivated by the awesomeness of the ice landscape in my view, listening to its constant rumbling sounds and becoming completely immersed in the sheer wonder of it all.

 

Libreta Ration Booklet

  

For the average Cuban however, it’s a constant part of daily life in 2017. The libreta ration booklet was introduced in 1962 by Che Guevara and entitles citizens to a basic ration of groceries such as rice, eggs and beans, which they can buy at their local bodega at 12% of the market value, amounting to less than $2 a month for their monthly rations. Doesn’t sound so bad right? Well sure, if you’re okay with an allowance of say– 5 eggs a month.Here’s how it works. Each household ration book has a number, a list of family members and their dates of birth. What you’re allowed to buy depends on your age and your gender. For example, milk, can only be bought for children below the age of seven or for pregnant women and the elderly. (So your morning bowl of cornflakes is definitely out). The bodega clerk also keeps a book containing the information on each local household and the list of products he is allowed to sell them. A bodega clerk will know if there is or isn’t a child under seven or an elderly member of the household who needs milk. There are penalties for families not reporting any changes in the composition of the household, but you do get extra rations if it’s your birthday or your weddind day. Cakes, rum and beer.Any Westerner walking into a state-controlled bodega would find the shelves strangely empty compared to what we’re used to. Distribution and product delivery is often unreliable in a country that still needs to import about 80% of its food. Some months there can be a shortage of an entire food group and when products finally arrive at random, the bodega queues can be long and disorderly. When (and if) a weekly chicken ration arrives at the market, you can smell chicken cooking in every kitchen in the neighbourhood.The island’s ration allowance has been shrinking over the decades ever since it was introduced when American sanctions placed a sudden burden on the population. It was at its worst when the Soviet Union fell in 1991, known as “the skinny period”, el tiempo de los flacos, when Cuba’s food importation dropped by 75%. Rations were cut in half and the average citizen lost 20 lbs.Things have improved since then, but still, this socialist experiment that costs the government over $1 billion annually, is barely enough to keep its people from starving and it certainly wouldn’t satisfy the average appetite.But for the tourists of course, it’s very different. While finding beef in a state-run bodega is a laughable idea, for the foreigner paying in dollars at government-owned hotels, you can order as many hamburgers as you want. Beef is a pretty taboo subject for many Cubans, who haven’t tasted it since they were children.

Only state-owned luxury butchers can sell beef and serve it in their hotels and private restaurants. Did you hear the one about the cows in Cuba? Under Cuban law, a person can get more jail time for killing a cow than killing a human. Needless to say, there isn’t exactly an entrepreneurial spirit for farmers on this island.If a local ever did feel like having a feast for dinner one night, there are options– if they have the money to burn. Products not freely available at the bodegas can be purchased at the mercado libre (free market), mercado paralelo (parallel market), or any supermarket that sells goods in convertible pesos (formerly known as dollar stores). And of course there’s always the black market. But at these establishments, market prices are so high, a kilo of milk powder for example, costs about $21. The average wage for Cubans is about $16 a month. Most food items that aren’t part of government rationing are simply off-limits to those who can only afford to pay in pesos.Cubans who find jobs in the tourist sector have it easier with access to hard currency and those living abroad often bring back suitcases filled with milk powder to give to their families. But for now, la libreta and the bare-shelved bodega is still a lifesaver for the poor. When the reform-minded President Raul Castro proposed to eliminate the ration, he was met with overwhelming opposition, particularly from low-wage state workers struggling to get by on $15 a month.

Most Cubans have known the ration book all their life and see it as one of the main achievements of the revolution. As more tourists with a big appetite descend on the island however, it remains to be seen how this austere and archaic system will co-exist with the outside influence of an “all-you-can-eat” consumerism heading its way.

 

Random sample of images from the Google Image Search "pikachu" ~ amalgamated.

At an average height of around 5 m (16-18 ft.), the giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world.

 

Characterized by its long legs, long neck, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people first believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel, which is reflected in its scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis.

 

Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Their extreme height allows them to eat leaves and shoots located much higher than other animals can reach. In particular, they seek out acacia trees. Their long tongues are helpful in eating because they help pull leaves from the trees. Spending most of the day eating, a full-grown giraffe consumes over 45 kg (100 lb.) of leaves and twigs a day.

 

The male giraffe is both taller and heavier than the female. Both sexes have skin-covered knobs, called ossicones, on the top of their heads. Female ossicones are smaller and have a small tuft of fur on top, while male ossicones are bald on the top. These knobs are used to protect the head when males fight, which involves swinging their necks at each other in a show of strength called “necking"

HDR from a set of time-averaged images used to simulate the effect of a long exposure in bright light.

A blended image made from approximately 20 separate still images taken in rapid succession with a hand held camera.

This flag was flying on Sheffield Town Hall onSunday 14th April 2010, but I've not been able to estabish the reason...

Murree (Punjabi, Urdu: مری) is a hill station and summer resort and the administrative centre of Murree Tehsil, Pakistan, which is a subdivision of Rawalpindi District and includes the Murree Hills.

Murree was the summer capital of the British Raj in the Punjab Province (British India). A popular tourist destination Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 2,291 metres (7,516 ft), the city of Murree, draped in forests of pine, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

Murree is located along the Islamabad-Murree Highway, some 58.3 km (36.2 mi) northeast of Islamabad.

Murree was developed in 1851 by the (then) President of the Punjab Administrative Board, Sir Henry Lawrence, and was originally established for the British troops garrisoned on the Afghan frontier as a sanatorium.Officially, the municipality was created in 1850.

The permanent town of Murree was constructed at Sunnybank in 1853. The church was sanctified in May 1857, and the main road, Jinnah Road, formerly known as The Mall (and still commonly referred to as), was built. The most significant commercial establishments, the Post Office, general merchants with European goods, tailors and a millinery, were established opposite the church. Until 1947, access to Jinnah Road was restricted for "natives" (non-Europeans).

Until 1876, Murree was the summer headquarters of the Punjab local government; after 1876 the headquarters were moved to Shimla.[

The railway connection with Lahore, the capital of the Punjab Province, via Rawalpindi, made Murree a popular resort for Punjab officials, and the villas and other houses erected for the accommodation of English families gave it a European aspect. The houses crowned the summit and sides of an irregular ridge, the neighbouring hills were covered during the summer with encampments of British troops, while the station itself was filled with European visitors from the plains and travellers to Kashmir.

Murree is one of the largest resort towns in the Galyat area of Pakistan, and is the municipal or regional capital of Murree Tehsil* (*general administrative subdivision), it is an administrative division of the Rawalpindi District. The town of Muree is situated on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend northeastward, towards the bifurcated states of Kashmir. During British colonial rule in the nineteenth century, its altitude was established at 7,500 feet (2,300 m).

Murree is accessible by road from the centre of the Islamabad and Rawalpindi areas. It is still associated with Britain; many British fruits (including cherries, raspberries and strawberries) thrive locally. There is an Anglican church, built in 1857, located at the centre of the town, which is still used as a place of worship. Many houses around the church are still standing, functioning mostly as hotels. Old traditional restaurants have been replaced by fast-food shops and newer restaurants. Some famous old places of accommodation, such as the Rich Villa Inn and Gulberg Hotel, have completely disappeared. A typical hotel provides a motel-type accommodation with breakfast and communication access. Newly built hotels are also accessible

Murree houses headquarters of 12th infantry division of Pakistan Army and large number of educational and training institutions. Combined Military Hospital established to cater the needs of civilian population of Murree and adjoining areas. Pakistan Air Force also maintains base at Lower Topa. For administrative purposes the military areas of Murree are divided in two separate cantonments, Murree Cantonment and Murree Hills Cantonment.

Murree Houses residence for Punjab Governor at the Kashmir point. The imposing building was built in nineteenth century by the British. There are Punjab and Sindh Houses to cater needs of the provincial government. Similarly, there are Rest Houses for the Judges of Supreme Court and Lahore High Court. A large number of government, semi government and private departments and institutions maintain guest houses in Murree. A number of diplomatic missions based in Islamabad established their camp offices in Murree in the 1960s. The same however are seldom used now. Adjacent to Murree is the Galliat region of North West Frontier Province which includes Nathiagalli, Ayubia, Khanspur, Dunga Galli, Khairagalli and Changla Galli. Before the British rule whether part of Rawalpindi District of Muzaffarabad, Murree and Galiat have been part of same administrative unit, however in 1850 the British decided to divide them between Rawalpindi and Hazara. Howevere despite divided by provincial boundaries, Murree and Galliat are inseparable both geographically, culturally, linguistically as well as from the point of view of the tourists. Murree serves as a gateway to Galliat.

[Bhurban]] and New Murree (Patriata) have also developed as tourist centres. The whole Murree Galliat region is known for its scenic beauty. Mountains overhung with pines and oaks, bubbling with gurgling springs, crisscrossed by rivulets, dotted with sprawling lawns and orchards overloaded with fruits present a nice spectacle. A fine view of the snowy peaks of Kashmir is to be had on a clear day, and the crest of Nanga Parbat can sometimes be seen.

Bhurban, boosting with a five star Pearl Continental Hotel and a nine hole Golf course has cropped recently as another tourist attraction in the area. Lying at an altitude of 6000 ft, Bhurban is situated at a distance of 13 kilometres from Murree on one of main roads leading to Azad Kashmir. The Punjab government is said to have plans to develop New Murree city at Patriata fifteen kilometres southeast of Murree. The Punjab Tourism department constructed resorts amidst the forests on the Patriata ridge in 1987 as well as a 3 kilometre sky slope from the top of Patriata ridge to Gulara Gali (not functioning currently). Patriata is connected with Islamabad and Murree through a number of all weather roads.

 

Average Sex headlining a show at The Hare and Hounds Birmingham.

The Finale to the BARC Club Car Championships Weekender at Brands Hatch and after a Very Thrilling set of both Qualifying Sessions and Races which took place on the Saturday it was Time once again for each Driver to strap in and get ready for some high speed Racing Action thought the Sunday.

 

In Tribute to the Marshall who was Tragically Killed on the Saturday Some Car and Driver Pairings were Racing with Orange Hearts on their Cars as a Tribute to all of Motorsports Family of Marshalls for who without Racing would not be possible. Thank You!

 

So Lets get started and see what the days events Haver to Offer and who can Push their Machinery to the Limits and beyond for a Victory.

 

Britcar Endurance Championship - Trophy Category (Race 1 Results FINAL)

 

The Britcar Endurance Trophy was the First up and it was time to see who could claim that elusive Pole Position and to see if anyone else could challenge the Top Three Drivers Lets see how things turned out.

 

In First Place was the Pairing Of (Datum Motorsport's Axel Van Nederveen and Adriano Medeiros) in their Ginetta G55A with a Best Lap Time of 52:193 and an Average Speed of 64.75mph. Congratulations Axel and Adriano a Really Fantastic Drive and A Super Victory.

 

In Second Place was (SVG's Mark Lee) in his Ginetta G56A with a Best Lap Time of 52.086 and an Average Speed of 64.70mph. Amazing Drive Mark Keeping that Ginetta on the Track and Taking Second Place while Nearly Matching the Speed of Axel and Adriano. Well Done.

 

In Third Place was (Terry Stephens) in his Peugeot 308 with a Best Lap Time of 53.421 and an Average Speed of 64.50mph. Well Fought Terry a Fantastic Finish in Third Place and Staying Ahead by just over 11 seconds to the Pair of Jasver and Bryan in 4th. Amazing Job.

 

A Really Enjoyable and Exciting First Race of the Sunday with High Speed Action and Incredible Victories on Track. Congratulations Axel Adriano Mark and Terry. Lets see what Race 2 Brings in terms of the Action.

  

Britcar Endurance Championship - Trophy Category (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

Race 2 For Britcar Next and after a Very Fast and Action Packed First Race Will we see a New Face on the Top Step of the Podium? Lets find out.

 

In First Place was the Pairing of (Woodrow Motorsport's Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke) in their BMW 1 Series with a Best Lap Time of 51.837 and an Average Speed of 78.22mph. Amazing work Simon and Kevin who have Beaten the Pairing Of (Datum Motorsport's Axel Van Nederveen and Adriano Medeiros) to Victory. An Incredible Drive by Both of them Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (SVG Mark Lee) in his Ginetta G56A with a Best Lap Time of 52.281 and an Average Speed of 76.89mph. Again a Huge Congratulations to Mark Lee for hanging onto that Second Place Despite Fierce Competition during The Race. Amazing Drive.

 

In Third Place was (Simon Green Motorsport's Pairing of Jasver Sapra and Brian Branson) in their BMW M3 E46 with a Best Lap Time of 52.718 and an Average Speed of 76.88mph. Congratulations Jasver and Brain Brilliant Drive and well Defended to keep that Third Place in Tact.

 

Two Incredible Races with Two Very Different Outcomes of Race Winners and Runners Up The Britcar Endurance Trophy is Proving to be Very Competitive this Year.

 

A Huge Congratulations to Simon Kevin Mark Jasver and Brain for some Amazing Racing and Victories and Good Luck to All Other Drivers. Keep working Hard and Pushing for that All Important Victory.

 

CTCRC Edmundson Electrical Classic / Historic Thunder Saloons (Race 1 Result FINAL)

 

Next Up was the CTCRC Electrical and Historic Thunder Saloons and After a Thrilling Qualifying Session Yesterday Lets see what Each Driver has got and who can Push to the Limits for that All Important Victory.

 

In First Place was (Jason West) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.907 and an Average Speed of 59.84mph. Congratulations Jason for Another Incredible Drive for First Place and a well Deserved Victory Amongst some Stiff Competition.

 

In Second Place was (Andrew Wilson) in his Holden Monaro 7000 with a Best Lap Time of 52.418 and an Average Speed of 59.96mph. Well Done Andrew Fantastic Driving and a Super Defensive Drive for Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Samuel Wilson) in his Aston Martin V8 Vantage with a Best Lap Time of 52.699 and an Average Speed of 59.50mph. Amazing Work Samuel and a Beautiful Example of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage on Display Showing its Raw Power and Racing Pedigree to Finish in Third Place.

 

A Fantastic Finish to The Historic and Electrical Thunder Saloons Racing at The Weekend. A Huge Congratulations to Our Top Three Finishers Jason Andrew and Samuel. Fantastic Racing from all Three of you and Good Luck to all other Drivers Keep Tuning and Working Hard and I'm sure Victory Will not be too Far Away from you.

 

CTCRC JEC Saloon & GT Championship & Burton Power BOSS (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

Next Up CTCRC Saloon and GT Championships and with some Fierce Competition on Display during not only Qualifying but also Their First Race on the Saturday Which saw Malcom Harding Storm to an Insane Victory who Will be able to Take him on and Potentially Steal his Crown during the Next Race Today? Lets See.

 

In First Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK2 Zakspeed 2500 with a Best Lap Time of 53.888 and an Average Speed of 78.49mph. Another Incredible Victory for Malcom that Highly Modified Zakspeed Escort Really Shows off the Power and Performance of a True Champion and a Fantastic Driver. Congratulations Malcom.

 

In Second Place was (Steven Goldsmith) in his Ford Anglia 105e 260 with a Best Lap Time of 54.335 and an Average Speed of 78.21mph. Another Storming Drive to Achieve Second Place for Steven. Fantastic Driving and Amazing Car Control through Every Corner. Congratulations Steven.

 

In Third Place was (Tom Robinson) in his Jaguar XJ6 4000 with a Best Lap Time of 55.481 and an Average Speed of 55.481mph. Congratulations Tom Superb Display of Driving Ability behind the Jag and a Well Deserved Third Place for Him.

 

Another Incredible Weekend of Racing for the CTCRC Saloon and GT Championships with Some New and Some Old Drivers Stepping onto the Podium. Massive Congratulations to Malcolm Steven and Tom for their First Second And Third Place Finishes. Keep Up the Good Work and Never Stop Trying.

 

CTCRC Laser Tools Pre 93 & Simply Serviced Pre 03 Touring Cars (Race 1 Results FINAL)

 

Now Its Time for The Laser Tools Pre 93 and Simply Serviced Pre 03 Touring Cars to make their way back onto The Track for what Looked to be a Spectacular Race. A Whole Range of Different Cars to Race Against and Stiff Competition after Qualifying Proves that This Race will be One not to be Missed. Lets See what Unfolded.

 

In First Place was (Gary Prebble) in his Honda Civic EG 2000 with a Best Lap Time of 54.100mph and an Average Speed of 78.60mph. Well Done Gary a Really Well Deserved First Place Victory and an Amazing Drive to the Flag.

 

In Second Place was (David Griffith) in his BMW E36 M3 3058 with a Best Lap Time of 54.558 and an Average of 78.42mph. Incredible Drive their David Pushing that BMW For Everything that it Has got to Achieve Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Kam Tunio) in his Honda Civic EK9 1595 with a Best Lap Time of 55.347 and an Average Speed of 77.05mph. Well Driven Kam Super Driving on Display and a Well Deserved Third Place Finish.

 

Another Amazing Race for The Pre 93 and Pre 03 Touring Cars and a Huge Congratulations to Gary David and Kam for their First Second and Third Place Victories. Keep up the Hard Work and Good Luck to everyone Else wherever your Next Races take you.

 

CTCRC Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre 66 Touring Cars (Race 1 Results)

 

Now it was Time for the Fan Favourite to Enter onto the Brands Hatch Circuit with the Pre 66 Touring Cars Championship. With Mini's Lotus Cortina's and Ford Falcons. This was One Race that No One Wanted to Miss. After a Very Fast Paced Qualifying Session on the Saturday Which saw (Alan Greenhalgh) take Pole Position who Will be able to Challenge Him During the Race and Snatch Victory Away from Him.

 

In First Place was (Alan Greenhalgh) in his Ford Falcon with A Best Lap Time of 58.707 and an Average Speed of 72.63mph. Congratulations Alan A Beautiful Example of the Ford Falcon and Certainly a Very Fast One too. Congratulations on Your Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Robyn Slater) in his Ford Anglia 1550 with a Best Lap Time of 58.992 and an Average Speed of 72.06mph. Very Good Drive their From Robyn to Secure Second Place in The First Race of the Day for the Pre 66 Touring Cars.

 

In Third Place was (Barry Sime) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 59.116 and an Average Speed of 71.95mph. Fantastic Work their Barry Keeping that Little Rocket on The Track looked to be Very Challenging but A Very Well Deserved Third Place.

 

What A First Race for The Historic Pre 66 Touring Cars showing The Power and Pride Each Driver takes in Both Racing and Preservation on Their Beloved Racing Machines. Congratulations to Alan Robyn and Barry on their First Second and Third Place Finishes. Lets See what New Challenges Await Them in Race 2 The Final Race of The Day for Them.

 

CTCRC Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre 66 Touring Cars (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

The Epic FINALE To The Pre 66 Touring Cars Race was A Race in Wet Conditions Making it even more Challenging for The Top Three Drivers. Who would Win and be able to Retain if not Take on thease Three Giants of Touring Car Racing in thease Conditions. Lets See How Things Concluded.

 

In First Place was (Barry Sime) in his Morris Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.482 and an Average Speed of 58.62mph. Amazing Work Barry to take Home a Superb Victory and a Brilliant Bit of Wet Weather Driving in The Mini Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (John Davies) in his Austin Mini Cooper S 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.416 and an Average Speed of 58.38mph. Amazing Work John Racing A Mini in thease Conditions is Very Tricky and Yet both You and Barry made it look Easy.

 

In Third Place was (James Ibbotson) in his Hillman Imp Super 998 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.518 and an Average Speed of 58.12mph. Well Done James Sliding that Imp around in the Wet for a Magnificent Third Place was Well Deserved.

 

What A Race to End the Day for the Pre 66 Touring Cars and with So many Old and New Winners Lets Hope we Get to see More Races like This One Thought the Rest of the 2021 Season. A Big Congratulations to Barry John and James on their Respective Victories and Keep Trying Everyone Else The Hard Work will Pay off.

 

CTCRC Shell Oils Pre 83 Touring Cars (Race 1 FINAL)

 

Up Next The Pre 83 Touring Cars took to the Track for Their Only Race of The Day and from what We Have Seen Already This Race also looks like its going to be a Very Strong Battle for First Second and Third Place. Lets See who Came First and Took that All Important Victory.

 

In First Place was (Mark Lucock) in his Ford Escort MK1 RS2000 2040 with a Best Lap Time of 57.687 and an Average Speed of 74.53mph. Amazing work there Mark Pushing All the Power the RS2000 Engine Has and Keeping it on Track to Score an Amazing Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Stephen Primett) in his Ford Escort MK1 2037 with a Best Lap Time of 57.503 and an Average Speed of 74.52mph. Another Brilliant Drive from the Likes of Stephen Keep the Pace with Mark and Making for some Fierce Competition Thought the Race.

 

In Third Place was (Mike Luck in his BMW E21 320 1998 with a Best Lap Time of 57.236 and an Average Speed of 74.46mph. Super Driving there Mike to take Third Place and a Very Classic Looking BMW Indeed.

 

What A Race from the Pre 83 Touring Cars showcasing Speed Power and What a Touring Car was Made to do around a Race Track. A Big Congratulations to Mark Stephen and Mike on their First Second and Third Place Finishes. Keep Racing and Keep Having Fun Out There.

 

Junior Saloon Car Championship (Race 1 Result FINAL)

 

The Junior Saloon Car Championship was Up Next and Even Though the Age Range of thease Next Drivers Taking to the Circuit Might Shock you at The Fact that Many of them are as Young as 15 Years of age don't be Fooled Because thease Guys Know how to Race Having been brought up from Carting since the age of 4. They are always a Fan Favourite and After Qualifying on the Saturday its Anyone's Game as to Who Wins and Who Losses in Thease Races.

 

In First Place was (Ruben Hage) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Best Lap Time of 59.967 and an Average Speed of 65.65mph. Congratulations Ruben What A Drive and an Incredible Run for First Place Fending off the Other On Coming Drivers. Truly a Championship Winning Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Harvey Caton) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Best Lap Time of 59.629 and an Average Speed of 65.64mph. Very Well Driven there Harvey Staying very Close to Ruben in First Place and Keeping Him on His Toes Thought the Entire Race.

 

In Third Place was (Charlie Hand) in his Citroen Saxo VTR 1600 with a Lap Time of 1:00.006 and an Average Speed of 65.57mph. Solid Third Place there Charlie Keep Up the Momentum and Never Give Up Chasing Your Dreams.

 

What a Fantastic Race from the Junior Saloon Car Championship with New Winners on the Podium and Some Close Wheel to Wheel Action Thought the Race Thease Guys will be Fantastic To see in Future Racing Series All Over The World. Congratulations to Ruben Harvey and Charlie for First Second and Third Place and Good Luck to All Other Aspiring Young Drivers Following in the Footsteps of Your Greatest Racing Heroes.

 

Kumho BMW Championship (Race 1 Results)

 

Finally it was Time for the Last Two Races of the Day the Kumo BMW Championship. Featuring The Makes and Models of Many BMW'S taking to the Circuit for Race 1. After a Busy Day Qualifying on Saturday Lets See what Each Driver Cando in The Frist of Two Races for their Championship.

 

In First Place was (Niall Bradley) in his BMW E46 M3 with a Best Lap Time of 50.920 and an Average Speed of 83.60mph. Brilliant Driving There Niall Pushing the Power of the BMW Engine to Max and Putting the Pedal to the Metal the Whole Race. A Superb Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Michael Vitulli) in his BMW E36 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.158 and an Average Speed of 83.45mph. Another Incredible Driver Pushing Hard and Taking Second Place. Well Done Michael.

 

In Third Place was (James Card) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.154 and an Average Speed of 83.42mph. Very Well Done their James Keep Pushing.

 

Three Fantastic Drivers in Niall Michael and James all Fighting for that Victory and Showing The Racer Inside each and Everyone of them. Lets see what Their Final Race of the Day Brings Them.

  

Kumho BMW Championship (Race 2 Results FINAL)

 

In First Place was (Niall Bradley) in his BMW E46 M3 with a Best Lap Time of 53.581 and an Average Speed of 77.79mph. Another Well Deserved First Place Finish to Round of The Days Racing. Congratulations Niall Go and Celebrate with The Team In Style.

 

In Second Place was (Darren Morgan Owen) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 53.200 and an Average Speed of 77.43mph. Super Drive There Darren for Second Place and a New Winner onto The Podium.

 

In Third Place was (Brad Sheean) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Best Lap Time of 53.227 and an Average Speed of 77.13mph. Fantastic Drive there Brad and Some Incredible Car Control thought the Entire Race to Finish Third.

 

And That Concludes Racing for the Kumho BMW Championship with 4 Different Winners Across two Races and A lot of Really Fast Action you could not Have Asked for a better Finish to The End of The Days Racing. Massive Congratulations to Niall Darren and Brad and Good Luck to all Other Competing Drivers who are still Looking for that almighty Victory.

 

That Concludes Racing for The BARC Club Car Championships Weekend A Big Congratulations to All of the Drivers of Every Team and a Huge Thank You to Marshalls Far and Wide as Without Your Support Events like This and Champion Drivers May Never Get to Achieve Their Dreams.

 

See You All At The Next One!

             

Café Landtmann

Objekt ID: 30701 Universitätsring 4

Katastralgemeinde: Innere Stadt

→ Hauptartikel: Café Landtmann

 

Café Landtmann

(further pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)

Café Landtmann at the Palais Lieben-Auspitz, left the University Ring

The Café Landtmann, photographed from the roof of the Burgtheater

Winter garden and summer beer garden, behind the Town Hall

Great Hall at Café Landtmann

Schanigarten

(Wikipedia: Schanigarten is the Austro-Bavarian term for tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk in front of eating and drinking places. Unlike normal beer gardens (Gastgärten), the customers actually sit on public property. Originally, Schanigärten (pl.) referred only to Viennese coffee houses, but now the expression is used in other parts of Austria and for other types of establishments like restaurants and taverns)

Projection on the façade

Winter Garden, looking towards Universitätsring

The Zuckerkandl room in Landtmann's Bel-Etage

The Café Landtmann in Vienna is a typical Viennese coffee house in the Ringstrasse style. It is located in the first District at the University Ring 4, corner Löwelstraße 22, and is known throughout the city.

Location

The cafe is located on the ground floor of the Palais Lieben-Auspitz called Mietwohnhauses (apartment building), in the immediate vicinity of the Burgtheater, the University of Vienna and the party headquarters of the Social Democrats and close to the Vienna City Hall with the City Hall Park, the Federal Chancellery and three ministries. The café is therefore frequented by, among other actors, politicians, civil servants and journalists and is the venue for press conferences.

History

The coffee was on 1 October 1873 of the Cafétier (café owner) Landtmann as "Vienna 's most elegant and largest café-localities" in a prominent, 1872 built corner house at the at the time also new Franzensring (so to 1919 the address of this part of Vienna's Ringstrasse) opened. The ring road was indeed opened by emperor Franz Joseph I in 1865, but still long not completed in the area of the coffee house: The city hall was under construction since 1872, but was only opened in 1883. The university main building was built 1877-1884, the Burgtheater from 1874 to 1888. The coffee was thus in his early years surrounded mainly by large construction sites.

1881 sold Landtmann his coffeehouse to the brothers Wilhelm and Rudolf Kerrl who continued it under the name Landtmann and extended it in the direction of Oppolzergasse. Rudolf soon retired from active business life, Wilhelm Kerrl led on the café alone until 1916 and then sold it, worn down by the economy of scarcity of the First World War, to Karl Anton Kraus, previously a butcher and innkeeper. He led the coffee for only five years, because in 1921 it was operated by a Hokare Ges.mbH (unlimited company) (the name stands for hotel, coffee and restoration companies). This company had to be liquidated 1925/1926.

The Café Landtmann was now bought in the fall of 1926 by Mr. and Mrs. Conrad and Angela Zauner. The new owners had it in 1929 after a design by Ernst Meller, experienced in the establishment of coffee houses, fully restored: with the preserved to this day interior which is under preservation order. Particularly striking are four wooden pillars at the entrance, which were created by Hans Scheibner and their decoration representing premiere scenes of the Burgtheater. With this elaborate interior design Landtmann consolidated its position as the most elegant café in town. In 1949, Konrad Zauner's son Erwin took the management of the café and led it on with great success.

In 1974 the company received the National Award and since then it is allowed to use the Federal coat of arms in commercial transactions. In 1976, the present owner family took the local and renovated it in 1980 again.

In the café was Robert Böck, on duty only called Mr. Robert, working for 28 years, many years as head waiter in a tuxedo, and he knew all the important guests personally. On his last working day, on 23 December 2003, many celebrities came to his departure from the cafe. Mayor Michael Häupl served Mr. Robert, who had so often served him a "little brown". To this end, he handed him the "Golden Rathausmann" "for the most famous, most discreet and most accommodating waiter of Vienna".

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldener_Rathausmann_(Wien)

Details

Small stage

In the basement below the coffee was after Czeike already 1936-1938 the Cabaret 'Merry Landtmann" for the dancer Cilli Wang set up by her husband. 1953 in the basement the small stage "The Tribune" was established (since 2002: "The new stand", directed by Karl Heinz Wukow). It is one of the numerous small Viennese theaters that operate with modest public support and which offer authors, actors and directors fields of application.

Winter Garden

2007 was built a conservatory on the facade towards the castle theater, designed by Manfred Wehdorn by 1.5 million euros (Bernd Querfeld). With 87 square meters and 29 tables, the conservatory is almost as spacious as the great hall of the café; thus the capacity of the premises has been extended by a quarter.

Landtmann's Bel-Etage

2012 were opened above the café three function rooms, which are referred to as "Landtmann's Bel-Etage". One of the rooms is named after Berta Zuckerkandl, which in the house (entrance Oppolzergasse 6) from 1917 to 1938 run her famous salon, meeting place of artists, scientists and politicians.

Price of water

2013 got the coffee into media because guests who instead of ordering other beverages only want drink tap water this service no longer receive free. The scheme has been criticized partly violently. The glass of water for ordered coffee, as it corresponds to the Viennese coffee house tradition, still is served free.

Miscellaneous

In the Café Landtmann are according to indications of the owner family on average held 2.8 press conferences per day.

Since 2003, the café is every summer venue of the coffee house theater ink & coffee.

In March 2009, was opened in Tokyo in the central district of Minato-ku, in fact, in the district Kitaaoyama in the Aoyama Street, a "Café Landtmann" called local opened.

Guests

The coffee house was according to Czeike visited, among others, by the artists Attila Hörbiger, Paul Hörbiger, Oskar Kokoschka, Hans Moser, Max Reinhardt, Oskar Werner and Paula Wessely. Among the politicians he names Julius German, Robert Dannenberg and Karl Seitz, who were part of the "Red Vienna", and in the postwar period the then very popular Chancellor Julius Raab. Gustav Mahler was encountering here with Karl Goldmark, Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich were among the "by-trotting" guests, the authors Jura Soyfer, Felix Salten, Thomas Mann and John Boynton Priestley also frequented the Landtmann. The owners themselves mention over and above Peter Altenberg, Sigmund Freud, Emmerich Kálmán, Curd Jürgens, Otto Preminger and Romy Schneider as regulars.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Landtmann

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_denkmalgesch%C3%BCtzten_O...

Top speed

German inspection officials recorded an average top speed of the original version of 408.47 km/h (253.81 mph) during test sessions on the Ehra-Lessien test track on 19 April 2005.

This top speed was verified by James May on Top Gear in November 2006, again at Volkswagen Group's private Ehra-Lessien test track. Jeremy Clarkson, driving a Veyron from Italy to London, noted that at top speed the engine consumes 45,000 litres (9,900 imp gal) of air per minute (as much as a human breathes in four days). The Veyron has the highest top speed of any street legal production car. Once back in the Top Gear studio, James was asked by co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson what the Veyron felt like to drive at 407 km/h (253 mph), May replied that it was "totally undramatic", and very stable at speed. It only wobbled slightly as the air brake moved in the vertical position to slow the car down at lower speeds.

On 4 July 2010, Bugatti's official test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel piloted the Super Sport edition and was clocked at an average of 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) on the same track, taking back the title from the SSC Ultimate Aero TT as the fastest production vehicle of all time. The 431.072 km/h mark was reached by averaging the Super Sport's two test runs, the first topping out at 427.93 km/h (265.90 mph) and the second at 434.20 km/h (269.80 mph). The record run was certified by the German government and the Guinness Book of World Records.

The car's everyday top speed is listed at 350 km/h (220 mph). When the car reaches 220 km/h (140 mph), hydraulics lower the car until it has a ground clearance of about 9 cm (3.5 in). At the same time, the wing and spoiler deploy. In this handling mode the wing provides 3,425 newtons (770 lbf) of downforce, holding the car to the road.

For top speed mode the driver must, while at rest, toggle a special top speed key to the left of the driver's seat. A checklist then establishes whether the car and its driver are ready to attempt to reach 407 km/h (253 mph). If so, the rear spoiler retracts, the front air diffusers shut, and normal 12.5 cm (4.9 in) ground clearance drops to 6.5 cm (2.6 in).

This is the parliment building where the elected representatives of the Lycian League met. Larger than the average bouleuterion, it is still partially buried in sand, but we can see the seating arrangement which looks like a standard theatre and seated about 1,000 people. Statues were once erected here (there are traces of the statue's feet left on the bases), donated from the cities of Lycia and Pamphylia when the two were a joined Roman province.

The date of the building's construction goes back to the Hellenistic Age, however, the form we see today is from the Roman period. A famous Lycian architect, Dionysus, built a roof for the building during the 2nd century AD and is praised for it on his tomb inscription.

Like those found at the bouleuterion of Arycanda, voting pieces made of fired clay may have been used, the number of holes piercing them indicated "yes", "no" and "abstain".

  

LYCİAN ANCIENT CITIES; Patara, Letoon, Xanthos.

 

Patara Photo Album;

www.flickr.com/photos/feridun_f_alkaya/sets/7215765646331...

Letoon Photo Album;

www.flickr.com/photos/feridun_f_alkaya/sets/7215765674949...

Xanthos Photo Album;

www.flickr.com/photos/feridun_f_alkaya/sets/7215765400736...

 

Patara (Lycian: Pttara), later renamed Arsinoe (Greek: Ἀρσινόη), was a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey near the modern small town of Gelemiş, in Antalya Province. It is the birthplace of St. Nicholas, who lived most of his life in the nearby town of Myra (Demre).

Possessing a natural harbour, Patara was said to have been founded by Patarus, a son of Apollo.[1] It was situated at a distance of 60 stadia to the southeast of the mouth of the river Xanthos.[2] Patara was noted in antiquity for its temple and oracle of Apollo, second only to that of Delphi.[citation needed] The god is often mentioned with the surname Patareus.[3] Herodotus[4] says that the oracle of Apollo was delivered by a priestess only during a certain period of the year; and from Servius[5] we learn that this period was the six winter months. It seems certain that Patara received Dorian settlers from Crete; and the worship of Apollo was certainly Dorian. Ancient writers mentioned Patara as one of the principal cities of Lycia.[6] It was Lycia's primary seaport, and a leading city of the Lycian League, having 3 votes, the maximum.

 

The city, with the rest of Lycia, surrendered to Alexander the Great in 333 BC. During the Wars of the Diadochi, it was occupied in turn by Antigonus and Demetrius, before finally falling to the Ptolemies. Strabo informs us that Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt, who enlarged the city, gave it the name of Arsinoe (Arsinoë) after Arsinoe II of Egypt, his wife and sister, but it continued to be called by its ancient name, Patara. Antiochus III captured Patara in 196 BC. The Rhodians occupied the city, and as a Roman ally, the city with the rest of Lycia was granted its freedom in 167 BC. In 88 BC, the city suffered siege by Mithridates IV, king of Pontus and was captured by Brutus and Cassius, during their campaign against Mark Antony and Augustus. It was spared the massacres that were inflicted on nearby Xanthos. Patara was formally annexed by the Roman Empire in 43 AD and attached to Pamphylia.

 

tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patara

  

Lycia;

 

www.ancient.eu/lycia/

  

www.britannica.com/place/Lycia

 

Some macro-shots all around our home ... Sigma 70-300 mm DG Macro.

A magnum opus addition to the Dinky Supertoys range in July 1958 was this car-carrying ensemble. It was the most expensive Dinky Toy produced to date, at a grand total cost of £1.18.6 (£1.92). Bear in mind that the average father’s pay then was £5 per week, while my own pocket money was 6d/week (£0.03), so I knew I stood an icicle-in-hell’s chance of ever getting this toy. While this was an impressive piece of kit, I actually preferred the rival Corgi offering, which appeared much more realistic.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston

 

Boston, officially the City of Boston, is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the Northeastern United States. The city boundaries encompass an area of about 48.4 sq mi (125 km2) and a population of 675,647 as of 2020. The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to 4,941,632 people as of 2020, ranking as the eleventh-largest MSA in the country. A broader combined statistical area (CSA), generally corresponding to the commuting area and including Worcester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island, is home to approximately 8.2 million people, making it the seventh-most populous in the United States.

 

Boston is one of the nation's oldest municipalities, founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from the English town of the same name. During the American Revolution and the nation's founding, Boston was the location of several key events, including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the hanging of Paul Revere's lantern signal in Old North Church, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the siege of Boston. Following American independence from Great Britain, the city continued to play an important role as a port, manufacturing hub, and center for American education and culture. The city has expanded beyond the original peninsula through land reclamation and municipal annexation. Its rich history attracts many tourists, with Faneuil Hall alone drawing more than 20 million visitors per year. Boston's many firsts include the United States' first public park (Boston Common, 1634), the first public school (Boston Latin School, 1635), the first subway system (Tremont Street subway, 1897), and the first large public library (Boston Public Library, 1848).

 

In the 21st century, Boston has emerged as a global leader in higher education and academic research. Greater Boston's many colleges and universities include Harvard University and MIT, both located in suburban Cambridge and both routinely included among the world's most highly ranked universities. The city is also a national leader in scientific research, law, medicine, engineering, and business. With nearly 5,000 startup companies, the city is considered a global pioneer in innovation and entrepreneurship. Boston's economic base also includes finance, professional and business services, biotechnology, information technology, and government activities. Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States. Boston businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and new investment.

 

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Common

 

The Boston Common is a public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest city park in the United States. Boston Common consists of 50 acres (20 ha) of land bounded by five major Boston streets: Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street, Charles Street, and Boylston Street.

 

The Common is part of the Emerald Necklace of parks and parkways that extend from the Common south to Franklin Park in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester. The visitors' center for the city of Boston is located on the Tremont Street side of the park.

 

The Central Burying Ground is on the Boylston Street side of Boston Common and contains the graves of artist Gilbert Stuart and composer William Billings. Also buried there are Samuel Sprague and his son Charles Sprague, one of America's earliest poets. Samuel Sprague was a participant in the Boston Tea Party and fought in the Revolutionary War. The Common was designated as a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1977.

 

The Common is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons".

 

Source: www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common

 

Founded in 1634

 

Here the Colonial militia mustered for the Revolution. In 1768, the hated British Redcoats began an eight-year encampment. George Washington, John Adams and General Lafayette came here to celebrate our nation's independence. The 1860s saw Civil War recruitment and anti-slavery meetings. During World War I, victory gardens sprouted. For World War II, the Common gave most of its iron fencing away for scrape metal.

 

Boston Common continues to be a stage for free speech and public assembly. Here, during the 20th century, Charles Lindbergh promoted commercial aviation. Anti-Vietnam War and civil right rallies were held, including one led by Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1979, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass.

 

Frederick Law Olmsted never touched Boston Common, but his sons did. About 1913, their firm supervised the paving of walkways, the replenishment of the soil, and the moving of 15-ton trees.

 

From a utilitarian common ground for activities like grazing, militia formations and public hangings, the Common evolved. Its peaks were leveled cows were banned and 19th Century Bostonians added trees, fountains and statuary. The Common became the park-like greenspace we know today. The park includes ballfields, a tot lot and the Frog Pond, which provides skating in winter and a spray pool for children in the summer.

 

The Friends of the Public Garden is a non-profit citizen's advocacy group formed in 1970 to preserve and enhance the Boston Public Garden, Common, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall in collaboration with the Mayor and the Parks & Recreation Department. The Friends number over 2,500 members and many volunteers. The Friends have also produced a brochure detailing the park's history.

 

Additional Foreign Language Tags:

 

(United States) "الولايات المتحدة" "Vereinigte Staaten" "アメリカ" "美国" "미국" "Estados Unidos" "États-Unis"

 

(Massachusetts) "ماساتشوستس" "麻萨诸塞州" "मैसाचुसेट्स" "マサチューセッツ" "매사추세츠 주" "Массачусетс"

 

(Boston) "بوسطن" "波士顿" "बोस्टन" "ボストン" "보스턴" "Бостон"

The Iconic Ford Power Live Event took Place at Brands Hatch to Celebrate The Blue Badged Ford Motor Company and their Iconic Cars From both the Past and The Present. From Escort Mexico's to Modern Ford Mustang GT'S there was Everything for the Ford Enthusiast to enjoy.

 

The Support Races Featured During the Day were also Full of Different Makes and Models of Ford Racing Cars From The Focus RS to the Ford Escort and the Iconic Sierra Cosworth and even the Iconic Enduro KA series was Present and with Drivers and Spectators Ready the Racing was about to begin.

 

Lets Turn to the Race Track and See what is the First Support Race to make it onto the Race track.

 

Champion Of Brands (Qualifying)

 

First up Champion of Brands and with Fast and High Speed Action from Thease Machines Lets See who took that all important People Position to Start the Race in P1.

 

In First Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 50.154 and a Top Speed of 86.70mph. Amazing work there Tom a truly Heroic and Brave Drive for Pole Position.

 

In Second Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Best Lap Time of 50.397 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Fantastic Work Niall Very Fast and Quick Driving.

 

In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 50.399 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Another Incredible Driver in Colin Pushing Hard and Almost Taking Second Place from Niall. I think we are in for some Really Intense Racing but who will be Fast Enough to on Track to Take Victory?

 

Champion Of Brands (Race 1 Results)

 

After a Thrilling Battle that saw Tom Mills take Pole Position its time to find out who Won the Race and out of The Top Three Could Anyone else on the Grid Challenge them for a Spot on the Podium. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place and taking the Win was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.518 and an Average Speed of 77.40mph. Incredible work there Niall Beating back Tom to take Victory in the First Race and a Well Determined Drive to Secure it.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.706 and an Average Speed of 77.38mph. Amazing Drive there Tom Keeping up with Niall and a Fantastic Battle thought the entire Race too.

 

In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his RAY GR18 with a Lap Time of 50.820 and an Average Speed of 77.32mph. A Great Victory for Third Place on the Podium Colin showing a Determined Drive and a lot of Bravery thought the Race.

 

What an Incredible First Race to Start out the Days Events and with Another Coming up Soon after is it possible for Another Competitor to take Victory and the Spotlight? Lets Take A Look.

 

Champion Of Brands (Race 2 Results)

 

Race 2 Up Next and The Final Time for Anyone Racing in Champion of Brands to Score Points and Take Victory in either First Second or Third Place. After a Thrilling End to Race 1 which Saw Tom Mills getting Beaten by Niall Murray it was time to see who could Once Again bring the Roar and Thunder Home for a Final Time.

 

In First Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.584 and an Average Speed of 84.84mph. Another Incredible Drive from Niall to once again take The Final Pole Position for Champion of Brands. Brilliant Drive there Niall.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.606 and an Average Speed of 84.47mph. Another Well Deserved Second Place for Tom Showing Incredible Car Control and Bravery Pushing the Limits on Every Corner to Keep up with Niall. Fantastic Drive Tom.

 

In Third Place was (Lucan Romenek) in his Van Diemen JL13 with a Lap Time of 50.927 and an Average Speed of 83.92mph. Very Well Done there Lucan Fantastic to see a New Driver take a Step onto the Podium and Celebrate the Victory.

 

What an Exciting Opening Day here at Brands Hatch for Ford Power Live with Champion of Brands Providing some Well Deserved Winners in Niall Tom Lucan and Colin. Well Done to all other Drivers taking Part and Continuing to Improve and do what it is that you Love. Keep Up the Momentum and Never Give Up Hope of One Day Making it to the Top Step of the Podium.

 

Lets See what Track Action is Next Up onto the Circuit as the Action Continues to Hot Up.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Qualifying)

 

Clubman Sports Prototypes were up next and thease Mad Looking Machines are known for their Supreme Aerodynamics as well as Insane Straight Line Speed. each Driver will have to be on the ball and Keeping their Machine under Constant Control as they will be Powering round this 1,2 mile Indy Circuit at Speeds of at Least 90mph.

 

Lets Look to the Track to see who Qualified where and see who will be starting the Race on Pole.

 

In First Place and taking Pole Position was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Best Lap Time of 47.146 and a Top Speed of 92.23mph. Amazing Drive there Steve Very Fast and Committed for Pole Position.

 

In Second Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Best Lap Time of 47.784 and a Top Speed of 91.00mph. Well Deserved there Clive Pushing that Mallock for all its worth and taking Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Alex Champkin) Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Best Lap Time of 48.129 and a Top Speed of 90.35mph. Very Well Done there Alex Taking Third Place and a Spirited Drive with it.

 

A Very Fast and Fierce set of Drivers Ready to take on the Indy Circuit. Lets Get Right Down to the Action for Race 1.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 1 Results)

 

After A Thrilling Battle in Qualifying Between Steve Clive and Alex which of them will be Poised and Ready to Attack on the Race Track to either Defend maintain or even potentially Loose their Positions to the other Drivers. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.076 and an Average Speed of 76.87mph. Incredible Driving there Steve Taking the Victory and the Spoils that come with it Amazing Work from you and The Entire Team.

 

In Second Place was (Alex Champkin) in his Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Lap Time of 47.515 and an Average Speed of 76.84mph. Another Super Drive by Alex to move him up into Second Place on the Podium. Fantastic Work and Driving Ability.

 

In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.802 and an Average Speed of 76.81mph. Very Well Done there Clive Super Driving and an All Round Great Victory for Third Place.

 

An Exciting Opening Race for Clubman's with Steve Dickens taking Both Qualifying and the First Race Win. Can he Do it again For Race 2 or will the likes of Alex and Clive Hunt Him down and take that Victory away Stay Tuned to find out as We Go Racing Once Again.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 2 Results)

 

In First Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.475 and an Average Speed of 87.35mph.

 

In Second Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30 PR with a Lap Time of 48.784 and an Average Speed of 86.84mph.

 

In Third Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.448 and an Average Speed of 86.63mph.

 

What an Exciting End to Race 2 with a New Winner in P2 being Pete Richings Well Done Pete Amazing work and a well deserved Podium Spot. Will Pete be able to Retain that Second Place or even Improve though as we head into the Final Round in Race 3.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 3 Results)

 

In First Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30PR with a Lap Time of 48.218 and a Top Speed of 88.27mph. Incredible Driving Pete taking the Top Step of the Podium and the Race Win. A Truly Excellent Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 47.986 and an Average Speed of 88.17mph. Very Well Done again Steve Putting in a lot of Hard work to Reach Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 With a Lap Time of 47.883 and an Average Speed of 88.08mph. Another Amazing P3 for Clive with a lot of Strong Determination Behind the Wheel.

 

What a Race Weekend for the Clubman's with Many Different Victories and Winners in Clive Steve Pete and Alex all Looking to Fight it it on Track and take Home those Valuable Championship Winning Points. Well Done to all other Competitors as well Keep Pushing Hard and Making Memories that will Last Forever.

 

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Qualifying)

 

Now it was time for the Creative Solutions Sports 2000's to hit the Track and After a Thunderous Performance by the Classic Clubman's Lets see what thease Mean Machines Have to Offer. With Speeds once again Reaching Nearly 92mph thease cars are Monsters and Driving and Controlling One is going to be Very Challenging with all that Break Horse Power.

 

Lets take a Look at Qualifying and see which Drivers made it to the Front end of the Grid for Race 1.

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was ( Neil Burroughs) in his Gunn TS12 with a Best Lap Time of 47.202 and a Top Speed of 92.12mph. Fantastic work there Neil Once Again showing the Skill and Commitment Needed for a Championship Winning Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Best Lap Time of 47.400 and A Top Speed of 91.74mph. Great Work there Tom a Well Controlled and Well Balanced Car on the Race Track to Take P2 on the Grid.

 

In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Best Lap Time of 47.474 and a Top Speed of 91.59mph. Well Done Josh Really Amazing work to take P3 on the Grid for The Race.

 

What a Fantastic Qualifying Session with Battles Happening all over the Field but Neil Tom and Josh have made it into the Top Three and so Lets Find out in Race 1 which of them will be Taking Home Victory.

 

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 1)

 

In First Place and Taking Victory was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.471 and an Average Speed of 62.75mph. Amazing Work Tom taking yourself from P2 in Qualifying to P1 and The First Race Win, Incredible Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.457 and an average Speed of 62.69mph. Fantastic Work Michel and a Really Strong Drive to take P2 in the Race. A Fantastic Drive.

 

In Third Place was (Giles Billingsley) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 49.321 and an Average Speed of 62.31mph. Awesome Work there Giles a Brilliant Drive to Get P3 and the Last Spot on the Podium.

 

What an Exciting First Race with Tom Stoden being the First Race Winner in Sports 2000. A Big Congratulations to Michel and Giles too for some Heroic Driving and their Further P2 and P3 Finishes. Lets Find out what Race 2 Brings us Next.

  

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 2)

 

After a Really Hectic First Race which saw Tom Stoden Take P1 followed by Michel Gibbins and Giles Billingsley it was Time for Race 2. Lets see if Anyone Else can Challenge these Almighty Three Drivers at the Front of the Field.

 

In First Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.878 and an Average Speed of 70.46mph. Incredible Drive for Joshua Taking P1 from Tom Stoden and Claiming his First Race Win of the Weekend. Amazing work Josh.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.409 and an Average Speed of 70.35mph. Another Very Confident and Fast Drive by Tom to Achieve Second Place showing Just How Talented and Brave of a Driver Tom is Fantastic Performance Tom.

 

In Third Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.395 and an Average Speed of 70.32mph. Really Good Drive there Michel Fantastic Car Control and a lot of Fast Race Pace. Well Done.

 

What Another Epic Race to Witness with a New Winner on the Top Step of the Podium being Joshua Law a Well Deserved Win from a Very Talented Driver. Amazing work to both Tom and Michel for their Respective P2 and P3 Finishes. With Race 3 Up Next who will be Taking Home that Final Pole Position of the Weekend for Sports 2000.

  

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 3)

 

The Final Round of the Day for the Sports 2000's and with Joshua Law Defending his People Position at the Front Will anyone be able to dethrone our New Race Winner. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place and Taking the Victory was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.479 and an Average Speed of 89.11mph. What a Drive Michel Taking P1 and the Final Race Win. Incredible Work.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 47.680 and an Average Speed of 88.95mph. Amazing work Once Again Tom Proving Just How Competitive This Racing Series for Drivers is.

 

In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.938 and an Average Speed of 88.92mph. Great Work there Josh Really Good Drive in Taking P3.

 

What an Amazing Set of Races for the Sports 2000's with Many Different Victories for the likes of Joshua Tom Michel and Giles Drivers who Really Put the Pedal to the Metal when it really matters. Fantastic Work to all other Drivers on Track as well and Good Luck as the Season Continues.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Qualifying)

 

Next Up we take a Look to the Focus Cup Championship a Racing Series which Features the use of Ford Focus Road Cars Built to Racing Specifications. Thease Cars all Use The ZTEC 2.0 TDCI Engines and Have Proven to be Very Quick and also Very Twitchy when out Racing.

 

Lets Take a Look at Qualifying to see what Drivers Have made it to the Front of the Gird to start out the Days Racing.

 

In First Place taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.625 and a Top Speed of 74.17mph. Great Work there Simon Very Fast Driving while Keeping the Car on the Race Track to clock in a Perfect Lap of the Indy Circuit for P1.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.880 and a Top Speed of 73.85mph. Very Well Done there Scott with a Blisteringly Quick Lap To take P2 on the Grid for the First Race.

 

In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 59.025 and a Top Speed of 73.67mph. Very Well Done Gary Pushing Hard and Making every Millie Second Count to take P3 on the grid.

 

Three Very Quick Drivers in Simon Scott and Gary all Looking to take that First Race Win. Which One of them Can Do it. Lets Find Out as Race 1 Begins.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Race 1)

 

In First Place and Taking Victory was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.725 and an Average Speed of 72.88mph. Congratulations Simon what an Epic Drive to Victory and a First Win of the Day for you. Very Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.776 and an Average Speed of 72.49mph. Amazing Work there Scott Well Driven and Controlled Thought the entire Race.

 

In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.909 and an Average Speed of 72.39mph. Great Drive there Gary and A Brilliant Finish on the Podium in P3.

 

What an Exciting First Race for the Focus Cup showing Just How Fast thease Cars are and How Brave each Driver has to be to take Moves and Dive Bombs to work there way to the Front of the Grid. Lets See what Race 2 Brings and Can Simon Keep His Defence of P1.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Race 2)

 

In First Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.914 and an Average Speed of 68.78mph. Incredible Work there Gary taking P1 and The Race Win what a Fantastic start to the Weekend for Him.

 

In Second Place was (Richard Avis) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.506 and an Average Speed of 68.70mph. what a Drive there From Richard Fantastic to see a New Face in P2 on the Podium and a Well Deserved Victory in Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.283 and an Average Speed of 68.61mph. Very Well Done there Scott Pushing Hard and Making sure to Stay in the Top Three. Fantastic Drive.

 

Another Incredible Race with a Different Driver in Richard Avis taking Second Place with an Incredible Drive and Sheer Speed and Talent. Congratulations to both Gary and Scott as well for their Fantastic Finishes Too.

 

Now for Race 3 and its the Final Time to see who will be taking Home that Last P1 Victory for the Focus Cup Championship.

  

Focus Cup Championship (Race 3)

 

In First Place was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.228 and an Average Speed of 71.60mph. Amazing Work as Usual Scott putting in One Final Flying Run to Gain Another Race Victory. Great Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.972 and an Average Speed of 70.23mph. Another Really Impressive Drive by Scott to take P2 in the Final Race for The Focus Cup.

 

In Third Place was (Rob Gaffney) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.238 and an Average Speed of 70.19mph. Very Well Done Indeed Rob Finishing P3 and taking his First Podium of the Weekend. Phenomenal Drive.

 

What an Amazing End to the Focus Cup Championship at Brands Hatch with Many Different Victories for Simon Scott Rob and Gary who all Drove out of their Skin and showed Phenomenal Car Control and Ability to Drive. Fantastic Work to all the other Drivers too Keep Working Hard and Most Important of All Enjoy what you Love Doing.

 

MSVR Elise Trophy (Qualifying)

 

Next Up is the MSR Elise Trophy

with the Focus of this Race being on the Lotus Elise S1 S2 and S3 with Just One Qualifying Session and Just 1 Race This will be A Test of Will Power and Determination on the Track to see who can Take Victory.

 

First Lets look to Qualifying and See who will be Starting on the Front Row.

 

In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Maurizio Sciglio) in his Lotus Elise S2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.544 and a Top Speed of 81.21mph. Fantastic work there Maurizio to take P1 and start o the Front Row of the Grid.

 

In Second Place was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Best Lap Time of 53.914 and a Top Speed of 80.65mph. Very Well Done there Jason Putting in one Hell of a Quick Time to Gain P2 on the Grid.

 

In Third Place was (Simon Walsh) in his Lotus Elise S2 111R with a Best Lap Time of 54.076 and a Top Speed of 80.41mph. Incredible Drive from Simon to put Himself in P3.

 

With Three Very Quick Drivers in Maurizio Jason and Simon it was Time to see if Anyone Could challenge them and Win the Only Race of the Day for the Lotus Elise Trophy.

 

MSVR Elise Trophy (Race 1)

 

In First Place taking The Victory was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Lap Time of 54.638 and an Average Speed of 66.83mph. Fantastic Victory for Jason taking P1 and The Race Win for the Elise Trophy. Phenomenal Driving too.

 

In Second Place was (John Lamaster) in his Lotus Elise S2 135R with a Lap Time of 54.781 and an Average Speed of 66.75mph. Fantastic work John and So Great to see a New Face on the Podium Taking P2 what an Incredible Driver.

 

In Third Place was (David Alexander) in his Lotus Elise S1 with a Lap Time of 55.589 and an Average Speed of 66.62mph. Very Well Driven Dave Keeping an Eye out all over the Place and Bringing Home a Superb P3 Finish.

 

A Brilliant Race for the Elise Trophy and Victories for Jason John and David as well as Maurizio and Simon for their Heroic Efforts in Qualifying. Congratulations to Jason on the Race Win and Good Luck to all other Drivers in this Series.

 

Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)

 

Now it was Time to head Back to the Blue Badged Ford Machines Once again as the Modified Ford Series Rolled out onto the Race Track with each car being Heavily Modified from their Road Counterparts. With Escort Cosworth's and RS200's Roaring and Ready to go it was Time to see what the First Group A set of Drivers could do in Qualifying.

 

Due to how large the Grids were and the Fact that both Group A and Group B Have Different Races I will only be putting up results from both Qualifying Sessions from Group A and Group B. I will Leave a Link Below each Qualifying Session so you can Get All the Race Result's and Action from the 4 Different Races.

  

Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was (David Cockell) in his Ford Escort Cosworth with a Best Lap Time of 49.872 and a Top Speed of 87.19mph. Very Well Done David Keeping that Escort on the Track Must Have Taken some Practice no Doubt Amazing work on Getting Pole.

 

In Second Place was (Wayne Crabtree) in his Ford RS200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.121 and a Top Speed of 85.06mph. Very Fast Drive from Wayne to take P2 and a Very Solid Drive Thought.

 

In Third Place was (Michael Saunders) in his Ford Escort MK1 Mexico with a Best Lap Time of 51.129 and an Average Speed of 85.05mph. Very Well Driven by Michael Being Able to Keep up with Both Wayne and David Must Have Ben a Real Pain but what a Fantastic Achievement.

 

What a Fantastic Set of Legendary Drivers all Battle Hardened and Ready to take on the Might of the Indy Circuit. But there can Only be One Winner who do you Think will Win the First Race? Click the Link Below to get all of the Race Results from this Racing Series.

 

(Link to Group A Race Results)

 

www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751

 

Modified Ford Series Group B (Qualifying)

 

Now it was Time for Group B to make a stance and see what their Modified Ford Racing Machines could do. with How Fast and Action Packed Group A Had Been During both The Races and Qualifying Group B was looking to be much the Same.

 

Lets Waste No Time in Finding out who Has Taken Pole Position for the First of 4 Races.

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Neil Jessop) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 52.030 and a Top Speed of 83.57mph. Fantastic Work there Neil and a Really Quick Escort to match too. Very Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (James Harris) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.928 and a Top Speed of 80.63mph. Amazing work there James Pushing Hard and Giving the Old Girl everything she has to offer.

 

In Third Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 54.892 and a Top Speed of 79.22mph. Awesome Drive there from Malcom Overcoming a lot of Pressure to put in an Incredible Lap for P3.

 

What an Amazing Line up for Group B with Plenty of Experienced Drivers who know their cars inside out. But who will be Brave Enough to challenge the Top Three Drivers for Victory. Find out for Yourself at the Link Below.

 

(Link to Group B Race Results)

 

www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751

 

Enduro KA (Qualifying)

 

The Final Qualifying Session of the Day Had Come and its the Enduro KA'S. with all of the Cars on the Grid being Models of the Popular Ford KA made Between 1998-2009 thease Cars were Fun City cars that could get you from A to B with Ease. They were Also Build on a tight budget meaning that Handling Performance and Comfort were a Big Selling point of thease Brilliant little cars.

 

The Racing Versions seen here in the pictures however are built for Racing. they use different tyres but still the same Legendary 1.3 Dura Tec Engine found in their Road Going Counterparts.

 

Lets Take a look at Qualifying and see which KA and Driver made it to the top step of the podium.

 

Enduro KA (Qualifying)

 

In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.495 and a Top Speed of 68.48mph. Fantastic Work Adam and Martyn Really Pushing the Car for all its worth.

 

In Second Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.713 and a Top Speed of 68.25mph. Fantastic Drive there from Both Alex and Chris Claiming P2.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.921 and a Top Speed of 68.03mph. Very Well Done there Matt Great Drive and Awesome Car Control.

 

Three Very Quick and Determined Teams and with 4 Races to Race in this will be a Very Close and Tight Battles Between all Teams and Drivers. Skill and Talent will be crucial to survival and Who will be able to take the First Victory of Race 1. Lets Find Out.

 

Enduro KA (Race 1 Results)

 

In First Place Taking the Victory was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.688 and an Average Speed of 67.95mph. Congratulations Both Alex and Luke on a Superb Race Victory and Well Done to hold off the Pressure from the other Competitors.

 

In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.416 and an Average Speed of 67.92mph. Very Well Done to both Adam and Martyn for that Amazing P2 Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.664 and an Average Speed of 67.79mph. Incredible Work there Matt Amazing Drive and a Really Super Looking Car.

 

An Exciting Opening Race for the Enduro KA Series with Three Different Teams on the Podium in Alex Reade Motorsport Octane Junkies and Fat Boys Racing. Amazing work to all of you Now Lets see what Action Race 2 Brings and whether or not Alex Reade Motorsport can Hold onto that 1st Place.

 

Enduro KA (Race 2 Results)

 

In First Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.557 and an Average Speed of 67.94mph. Another Incredible Drive from both the likes of Alex and Luke to Keep their P1 Finish From the First Race. Amazing Work.

 

In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.621 and an Average Speed of 67.90mph. Fantastic Work Once Again to the likes of Adam and Martyn Another Set of Drivers Keeping their Second Place Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:04.005 and an Average Speed of 67.39mph. Well Done once again Matt Perfect Driving and a Well Balanced Car out there.

 

Looks like the Top Three Remain the Same even After Two Races but will Race 3 Bring a New Twist to the Current Driver and Team Standings. Lets Find Out.

 

Enduro KA (Race 3 Results)

 

In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.849 and an Average Speed of 67.57mph. Amazing Work there Adam and Martyn managing to topple the likes of Alex and Luke to Earn P1.

 

In Second Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.584 and an Average Speed of 67.51mph. Well Done there Matt Improving up to P2 and Taking Home a Well Deserved Finish in the Standings for Race 3.

 

In Third Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.606 and an Average Speed of 67.44mph. Very Good Come Back Drive for Both Luke and Ale to Finish Third Great Driving.

 

Many Twists and Turns Have Benn brought into Race 3 with the Top Three Drivers now being Shuffled Around the Gird into different Positions. With One More Race to Go who will be The Last Driver of the Day on the Top Step of the Podium.

 

Enduro KA (Race 4 Results)

 

In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.442 and an Average Speed of 67.82mph. An Amazing Final Win for the Day to Octane Junkies Adam and Martyn Smith Congratulations and Very Well Driven.

 

In Second Place was (Piston Heads Peter Dignan) with a Lap Time of 1:03.781 and an Average Speed of 67.54mph. Incredible work there Peter Getting P2 and Standing on the Podium and Incredible Achievement.

 

In Third Place was (IP Racing Oliver Wilmot and Scott Parkin) with a Lap Time of 1:03.710 and an Average Speed of 67.47mph. Very Well Done to both Scott and Oliver on that Fantastic P3 Achievement. Something Very Special to Remember for both of you.

 

And With that The Days Racing at Brands Hatches Ford Power Live comes to an End and what an Incredible Array of Both Cars Teams and Drivers on Display Today. A Big Congratulations to the likes of Adam Martyn Luke Chris Peter Matt Oliver and Scott for their Incredible Achievements and All Other Drivers Keeping the World Of Motorsport Alive and Well.

 

Keep Working Hard everyone Else. Your Time Will Come.

 

See You All Again Next Year!!!!

A&M mechanical dog reflects the mood of the Radio 1 listeners and speaks 'the average current SMS'

St. Helens was established as a river port on the Columbia River in the 1840s. In 1853, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company tried to make the city their only stop on the Columbia River.[7] Portland's merchants boycotted this effort, and the San Francisco steamship Peytona helped break the impasse.[7]

 

St. Helens was incorporated as a city in 1889.[8]

 

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through and camped in the area that is now St. Helens on the night of November 5, 1805 while on their way to the Pacific Ocean. While here the party encountered Native Americans and Clark observed "low rockey clifts".[9]

Geography

 

U.S. Route 30 passes through the city.[10]

 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.51 square miles (14.27 km2), of which, 4.53 square miles (11.73 km2) is land and 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is water.[1]

Neighborhoods

 

Columbia Heights is a formerly separate populated place that is within the city limits of St. Helens.[11][12]

Demographics

Columbia County Court House (1906)

Historical population

Census Pop. %±

1890 220 —

1900 258 17.3%

1910 743 188.0%

1920 2,220 198.8%

1930 3,994 79.9%

1940 4,304 7.8%

1950 4,711 9.5%

1960 5,022 6.6%

1970 6,212 23.7%

1980 7,064 13.7%

1990 7,535 6.7%

2000 10,019 33.0%

2010 12,883 28.6%

Est. 2012 12,910 0.2%

Sources:[4][13][14][15][16][17]

2010 census

 

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 12,883 people, 4,847 households, and 3,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,843.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,098.0/km2). There were 5,154 housing units at an average density of 1,137.7 per square mile (439.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.3% White, 0.6% African American, 1.6% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.1% of the population.

 

There were 4,847 households of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.

 

The median age in the city was 34 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

 

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 10,019 people, 3,722 households, and 2,579 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,305.6 people per square mile (889.3/km²). There were 4,032 housing units at an average density of 927.8 per square mile (357.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.74% White, 0.34% African American, 1.68% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population. 21.5% were of German, 10.9% English, 9.5% Irish and 9.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

 

There were 3,722 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.

City Hall

 

In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

 

The median income for a household in the city was $40,648, and the median income for a family was $45,548. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $26,725 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,237. About 8.7% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

 

The town is home to sets of many films. These include the Disney Channel television film Halloweentown, and the film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's novel Twilight.[18]

The average American will have nine operations before the age of 85. Surgery accounts for half of all hospital admissions and over 40 million inpatient operations per year in the United States. These procedures carry an inherent risk—globally, major surgical complication risks range from 3 to 16 percent, and death rates from 0.2 to 10 percent—yet there is remarkably little effort to discover how to reduce surgery’s high rate of complications, ensure access to surgery, reduce unnecessary surgery, or understand how to make its provision more cost-effective.

 

This is emblematic of a distortion in thinking about where the risks in healthcare are—or how policy can help ensure medicine saves more lives. Pharmaceuticals get the headlines, but are only a fraction of life-saving care. And while federal funding has supported an enormous output of new discoveries, there has been little recognition of the need to ensure these discoveries are effectively put into practice and reach ordinary Americans wherever they seek care. At least half of the major complications that occur in hospital care such as surgery are avoidable with existing knowledge. Recent findings indicate that simple tools like checklists can transform that care to make it safer, more effective, and less expensive.

 

Through the Center for Surgery and Public Health, Michael Zinner and Atul Gawande are developing strategies for improving the quality and safety of technological care like surgery, enhancing our understanding of how such care is distributed across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines, and charting a path toward expanding nationwide access to higher quality care. The Center for American Progress held an engaging presentation and a lively discussion of the policy dimensions of their important work.

My previous average comic was only the first 512 comics, but this one is the first 1220, which makes it much more statistically-significant.

The 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion received Maryland’s “Outstanding Unit” award by Military Officers Association of America during a ceremony on Feb. 24, in Havre de Grace, Md. The unit successfully accomplished its wartime mission with supreme professionalism and skill which significantly contributed to the combat operations in Afghanistan.

 

“This is our way of recognizing units in the community whether they are active, guard or reserve,” said Maj. John Whitman USAF (Ret), president of the Maryland counsel of chapters of MOAA. “This unit had an outstanding service record in a combat environment.”

 

In May of 2011, the 1297th CSSB deployed to Afghanistan to provide sustainment support on an area basis to U.S. and specified Coalition Forces in Regional Command-South (RC-S) for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 2011-2012, by enabling further operational reach to disrupt insurgent forces, secure population areas, build national security capability, and support the growth of governance and development in order

to build a stable Afghanistan.

 

“I accept this award on behalf to the Soldiers and NCOs of the 1297th, you made it happen,” said Lt. Col. Charles M. Blomquist, commander of the 1297th. “I am new to command. I have just taken over from Lt. Col. Weedon Gallagher and I wish he could have been here today, I know he is proud of all you accomplished during your deployment.”

 

The 1297th CSSB sustained the synchronization of all commodities flowing into and out of Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in support of all combat arms units throughout the RC-S, RC- RS-W regions. The 1297th CSSB provided superior sustainment support to over 70 units. The 1297th CSSB managed seven subordinate units from the active and reserve components.

 

The 1297th CSSB executed over 500 successful Combat Logistics Patrols (CLP), traveling over 500,000 tactical miles which translates to 3,500 drive hours. These movements required the 1297th CSSB to schedule and supervise the upload, haul, and delivery of over 40,000 customer supplies worth $70 million to various points within RC-S. The 1297th CSSB's management skills enabled the successful transportation of these supplies with minimal damage and without a single loss of life.

 

Within 10 short months the battalion improved jurisdiction wide CLP operations by incorporating sustainment operations as well as demand-based CLP missions. In the process, they reduced the average size of each convoy from 5O to 25 vehicles and increased the frequency of deliveries to their customer units from 10 days to 7 days. This concept was defined by National Afghan Trucking-centric planning which contributed to the counterinsurgency by employing more Afghan drivers and helping build the

local economy.

 

The 1297th CSSB maintained constant operational responsibility for the largest multi-class Supply Support Activity (SSA) in Afghanistan in support of OEF. Responsibility and oversight included the receipt, storage and issue of 12,000 lines on the Authorized Stockage List (ASL), valued at nearly $55 million. The SSA ensured over $175 million worth of equipment retrograded out of theater. In addition, the 1297th CSSB's Central Issue Facility (CIF) managed 2,300 lines of uniforms and other Class II valued

at over $26.1 million. The CIF provided superb customer service to 15 BCTs

consisting of over 400 supply accounts and 27,000 customers. The CIF

processed 215,000 transactions valued at over $70 million. The 1297th CSSB's CIF also developed a training program for the ANA partnership that will be used as a model for future partnership training programs contributing to stabilizing Afghanistan.

 

Another critical and important element of the 1297th CSSB's mission and contribution to the war effort was the planning, development, execution and oversight of contracted initiatives to include massive infrastructure projects on KAF. Some of these contracts provided the local Afghan population with jobs, helping to empower them and rebuild their nation after decades of war. Soldiers from the 1297th CSSB performed duties for

31 contracts totaling in excess of $39 million.

 

In addition to providing heavy lift support throughout RC-S, the battalion partnered with the ANA 205th Kandak and trained them on logistical operations. The battalion's efforts were instrumental in developing ANA logistical independence. The battalion partnered with the 205th on seven convoys traveling to remote ANA bases located all over RC-S. These convoys successfully delivered over 450 supply trucks containing all different classes of supply and 200 pieces of rolling stock without taking any casualties. The training focused on training the trainer, leaving the ANA NCOs with a valuable internal training capability and causing them to take leadership roles within their formations. The

training model used by the 1297th CSSB was distributed to other units within RC-S and then further to other RCs within Afghanistan.

 

MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.

 

The Iconic Ford Power Live Event took Place at Brands Hatch to Celebrate The Blue Badged Ford Motor Company and their Iconic Cars From both the Past and The Present. From Escort Mexico's to Modern Ford Mustang GT'S there was Everything for the Ford Enthusiast to enjoy.

 

The Support Races Featured During the Day were also Full of Different Makes and Models of Ford Racing Cars From The Focus RS to the Ford Escort and the Iconic Sierra Cosworth and even the Iconic Enduro KA series was Present and with Drivers and Spectators Ready the Racing was about to begin.

 

Lets Turn to the Race Track and See what is the First Support Race to make it onto the Race track.

 

Champion Of Brands (Qualifying)

 

First up Champion of Brands and with Fast and High Speed Action from Thease Machines Lets See who took that all important People Position to Start the Race in P1.

 

In First Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 50.154 and a Top Speed of 86.70mph. Amazing work there Tom a truly Heroic and Brave Drive for Pole Position.

 

In Second Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Best Lap Time of 50.397 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Fantastic Work Niall Very Fast and Quick Driving.

 

In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 50.399 and a Top Speed of 86.28mph. Another Incredible Driver in Colin Pushing Hard and Almost Taking Second Place from Niall. I think we are in for some Really Intense Racing but who will be Fast Enough to on Track to Take Victory?

 

Champion Of Brands (Race 1 Results)

 

After a Thrilling Battle that saw Tom Mills take Pole Position its time to find out who Won the Race and out of The Top Three Could Anyone else on the Grid Challenge them for a Spot on the Podium. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place and taking the Win was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.518 and an Average Speed of 77.40mph. Incredible work there Niall Beating back Tom to take Victory in the First Race and a Well Determined Drive to Secure it.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.706 and an Average Speed of 77.38mph. Amazing Drive there Tom Keeping up with Niall and a Fantastic Battle thought the entire Race too.

 

In Third Place was (Colin Queen) in his RAY GR18 with a Lap Time of 50.820 and an Average Speed of 77.32mph. A Great Victory for Third Place on the Podium Colin showing a Determined Drive and a lot of Bravery thought the Race.

 

What an Incredible First Race to Start out the Days Events and with Another Coming up Soon after is it possible for Another Competitor to take Victory and the Spotlight? Lets Take A Look.

 

Champion Of Brands (Race 2 Results)

 

Race 2 Up Next and The Final Time for Anyone Racing in Champion of Brands to Score Points and Take Victory in either First Second or Third Place. After a Thrilling End to Race 1 which Saw Tom Mills getting Beaten by Niall Murray it was time to see who could Once Again bring the Roar and Thunder Home for a Final Time.

 

In First Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Lap Time of 50.584 and an Average Speed of 84.84mph. Another Incredible Drive from Niall to once again take The Final Pole Position for Champion of Brands. Brilliant Drive there Niall.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Lap Time of 50.606 and an Average Speed of 84.47mph. Another Well Deserved Second Place for Tom Showing Incredible Car Control and Bravery Pushing the Limits on Every Corner to Keep up with Niall. Fantastic Drive Tom.

 

In Third Place was (Lucan Romenek) in his Van Diemen JL13 with a Lap Time of 50.927 and an Average Speed of 83.92mph. Very Well Done there Lucan Fantastic to see a New Driver take a Step onto the Podium and Celebrate the Victory.

 

What an Exciting Opening Day here at Brands Hatch for Ford Power Live with Champion of Brands Providing some Well Deserved Winners in Niall Tom Lucan and Colin. Well Done to all other Drivers taking Part and Continuing to Improve and do what it is that you Love. Keep Up the Momentum and Never Give Up Hope of One Day Making it to the Top Step of the Podium.

 

Lets See what Track Action is Next Up onto the Circuit as the Action Continues to Hot Up.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Qualifying)

 

Clubman Sports Prototypes were up next and thease Mad Looking Machines are known for their Supreme Aerodynamics as well as Insane Straight Line Speed. each Driver will have to be on the ball and Keeping their Machine under Constant Control as they will be Powering round this 1,2 mile Indy Circuit at Speeds of at Least 90mph.

 

Lets Look to the Track to see who Qualified where and see who will be starting the Race on Pole.

 

In First Place and taking Pole Position was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Best Lap Time of 47.146 and a Top Speed of 92.23mph. Amazing Drive there Steve Very Fast and Committed for Pole Position.

 

In Second Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Best Lap Time of 47.784 and a Top Speed of 91.00mph. Well Deserved there Clive Pushing that Mallock for all its worth and taking Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Alex Champkin) Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Best Lap Time of 48.129 and a Top Speed of 90.35mph. Very Well Done there Alex Taking Third Place and a Spirited Drive with it.

 

A Very Fast and Fierce set of Drivers Ready to take on the Indy Circuit. Lets Get Right Down to the Action for Race 1.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 1 Results)

 

After A Thrilling Battle in Qualifying Between Steve Clive and Alex which of them will be Poised and Ready to Attack on the Race Track to either Defend maintain or even potentially Loose their Positions to the other Drivers. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.076 and an Average Speed of 76.87mph. Incredible Driving there Steve Taking the Victory and the Spoils that come with it Amazing Work from you and The Entire Team.

 

In Second Place was (Alex Champkin) in his Mallock MK27 Synergy with a Lap Time of 47.515 and an Average Speed of 76.84mph. Another Super Drive by Alex to move him up into Second Place on the Podium. Fantastic Work and Driving Ability.

 

In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.802 and an Average Speed of 76.81mph. Very Well Done there Clive Super Driving and an All Round Great Victory for Third Place.

 

An Exciting Opening Race for Clubman's with Steve Dickens taking Both Qualifying and the First Race Win. Can he Do it again For Race 2 or will the likes of Alex and Clive Hunt Him down and take that Victory away Stay Tuned to find out as We Go Racing Once Again.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 2 Results)

 

In First Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 with a Lap Time of 47.475 and an Average Speed of 87.35mph.

 

In Second Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30 PR with a Lap Time of 48.784 and an Average Speed of 86.84mph.

 

In Third Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 48.448 and an Average Speed of 86.63mph.

 

What an Exciting End to Race 2 with a New Winner in P2 being Pete Richings Well Done Pete Amazing work and a well deserved Podium Spot. Will Pete be able to Retain that Second Place or even Improve though as we head into the Final Round in Race 3.

 

Clubman Sports Prototype Championship (Race 3 Results)

 

In First Place was (Pete Richings) in his Mallock MK30PR with a Lap Time of 48.218 and a Top Speed of 88.27mph. Incredible Driving Pete taking the Top Step of the Podium and the Race Win. A Truly Excellent Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Steve Dickens) in his Mallock MK29 with a Lap Time of 47.986 and an Average Speed of 88.17mph. Very Well Done again Steve Putting in a lot of Hard work to Reach Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Clive Wood) in his Mallock MK23 With a Lap Time of 47.883 and an Average Speed of 88.08mph. Another Amazing P3 for Clive with a lot of Strong Determination Behind the Wheel.

 

What a Race Weekend for the Clubman's with Many Different Victories and Winners in Clive Steve Pete and Alex all Looking to Fight it it on Track and take Home those Valuable Championship Winning Points. Well Done to all other Competitors as well Keep Pushing Hard and Making Memories that will Last Forever.

 

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Qualifying)

 

Now it was time for the Creative Solutions Sports 2000's to hit the Track and After a Thunderous Performance by the Classic Clubman's Lets see what thease Mean Machines Have to Offer. With Speeds once again Reaching Nearly 92mph thease cars are Monsters and Driving and Controlling One is going to be Very Challenging with all that Break Horse Power.

 

Lets take a Look at Qualifying and see which Drivers made it to the Front end of the Grid for Race 1.

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was ( Neil Burroughs) in his Gunn TS12 with a Best Lap Time of 47.202 and a Top Speed of 92.12mph. Fantastic work there Neil Once Again showing the Skill and Commitment Needed for a Championship Winning Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Best Lap Time of 47.400 and A Top Speed of 91.74mph. Great Work there Tom a Well Controlled and Well Balanced Car on the Race Track to Take P2 on the Grid.

 

In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Best Lap Time of 47.474 and a Top Speed of 91.59mph. Well Done Josh Really Amazing work to take P3 on the Grid for The Race.

 

What a Fantastic Qualifying Session with Battles Happening all over the Field but Neil Tom and Josh have made it into the Top Three and so Lets Find out in Race 1 which of them will be Taking Home Victory.

 

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 1)

 

In First Place and Taking Victory was (Tom Stoten) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.471 and an Average Speed of 62.75mph. Amazing Work Tom taking yourself from P2 in Qualifying to P1 and The First Race Win, Incredible Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.457 and an average Speed of 62.69mph. Fantastic Work Michel and a Really Strong Drive to take P2 in the Race. A Fantastic Drive.

 

In Third Place was (Giles Billingsley) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 49.321 and an Average Speed of 62.31mph. Awesome Work there Giles a Brilliant Drive to Get P3 and the Last Spot on the Podium.

 

What an Exciting First Race with Tom Stoden being the First Race Winner in Sports 2000. A Big Congratulations to Michel and Giles too for some Heroic Driving and their Further P2 and P3 Finishes. Lets Find out what Race 2 Brings us Next.

  

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 2)

 

After a Really Hectic First Race which saw Tom Stoden Take P1 followed by Michel Gibbins and Giles Billingsley it was Time for Race 2. Lets see if Anyone Else can Challenge these Almighty Three Drivers at the Front of the Field.

 

In First Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.878 and an Average Speed of 70.46mph. Incredible Drive for Joshua Taking P1 from Tom Stoden and Claiming his First Race Win of the Weekend. Amazing work Josh.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 48.409 and an Average Speed of 70.35mph. Another Very Confident and Fast Drive by Tom to Achieve Second Place showing Just How Talented and Brave of a Driver Tom is Fantastic Performance Tom.

 

In Third Place was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 48.395 and an Average Speed of 70.32mph. Really Good Drive there Michel Fantastic Car Control and a lot of Fast Race Pace. Well Done.

 

What Another Epic Race to Witness with a New Winner on the Top Step of the Podium being Joshua Law a Well Deserved Win from a Very Talented Driver. Amazing work to both Tom and Michel for their Respective P2 and P3 Finishes. With Race 3 Up Next who will be Taking Home that Final Pole Position of the Weekend for Sports 2000.

  

Creative Funding Solutions Sports 2000 Championship (Race 3)

 

The Final Round of the Day for the Sports 2000's and with Joshua Law Defending his People Position at the Front Will anyone be able to dethrone our New Race Winner. Lets Find Out.

 

In First Place and Taking the Victory was (Michel Gibbins) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.479 and an Average Speed of 89.11mph. What a Drive Michel Taking P1 and the Final Race Win. Incredible Work.

 

In Second Place was (Tom Stoden) in his Gunn TS11 with a Lap Time of 47.680 and an Average Speed of 88.95mph. Amazing work Once Again Tom Proving Just How Competitive This Racing Series for Drivers is.

 

In Third Place was (Joshua Law) in his MCR S2 with a Lap Time of 47.938 and an Average Speed of 88.92mph. Great Work there Josh Really Good Drive in Taking P3.

 

What an Amazing Set of Races for the Sports 2000's with Many Different Victories for the likes of Joshua Tom Michel and Giles Drivers who Really Put the Pedal to the Metal when it really matters. Fantastic Work to all other Drivers on Track as well and Good Luck as the Season Continues.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Qualifying)

 

Next Up we take a Look to the Focus Cup Championship a Racing Series which Features the use of Ford Focus Road Cars Built to Racing Specifications. Thease Cars all Use The ZTEC 2.0 TDCI Engines and Have Proven to be Very Quick and also Very Twitchy when out Racing.

 

Lets Take a Look at Qualifying to see what Drivers Have made it to the Front of the Gird to start out the Days Racing.

 

In First Place taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.625 and a Top Speed of 74.17mph. Great Work there Simon Very Fast Driving while Keeping the Car on the Race Track to clock in a Perfect Lap of the Indy Circuit for P1.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 58.880 and a Top Speed of 73.85mph. Very Well Done there Scott with a Blisteringly Quick Lap To take P2 on the Grid for the First Race.

 

In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Best Lap Time of 59.025 and a Top Speed of 73.67mph. Very Well Done Gary Pushing Hard and Making every Millie Second Count to take P3 on the grid.

 

Three Very Quick Drivers in Simon Scott and Gary all Looking to take that First Race Win. Which One of them Can Do it. Lets Find Out as Race 1 Begins.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Race 1)

 

In First Place and Taking Victory was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.725 and an Average Speed of 72.88mph. Congratulations Simon what an Epic Drive to Victory and a First Win of the Day for you. Very Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.776 and an Average Speed of 72.49mph. Amazing Work there Scott Well Driven and Controlled Thought the entire Race.

 

In Third Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.909 and an Average Speed of 72.39mph. Great Drive there Gary and A Brilliant Finish on the Podium in P3.

 

What an Exciting First Race for the Focus Cup showing Just How Fast thease Cars are and How Brave each Driver has to be to take Moves and Dive Bombs to work there way to the Front of the Grid. Lets See what Race 2 Brings and Can Simon Keep His Defence of P1.

 

Focus Cup Championship (Race 2)

 

In First Place was (Gary Mitchell) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 58.914 and an Average Speed of 68.78mph. Incredible Work there Gary taking P1 and The Race Win what a Fantastic start to the Weekend for Him.

 

In Second Place was (Richard Avis) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.506 and an Average Speed of 68.70mph. what a Drive there From Richard Fantastic to see a New Face in P2 on the Podium and a Well Deserved Victory in Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.283 and an Average Speed of 68.61mph. Very Well Done there Scott Pushing Hard and Making sure to Stay in the Top Three. Fantastic Drive.

 

Another Incredible Race with a Different Driver in Richard Avis taking Second Place with an Incredible Drive and Sheer Speed and Talent. Congratulations to both Gary and Scott as well for their Fantastic Finishes Too.

 

Now for Race 3 and its the Final Time to see who will be taking Home that Last P1 Victory for the Focus Cup Championship.

  

Focus Cup Championship (Race 3)

 

In First Place was (Simon Rudd) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.228 and an Average Speed of 71.60mph. Amazing Work as Usual Scott putting in One Final Flying Run to Gain Another Race Victory. Great Drive.

 

In Second Place was (Scott Parkin) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.972 and an Average Speed of 70.23mph. Another Really Impressive Drive by Scott to take P2 in the Final Race for The Focus Cup.

 

In Third Place was (Rob Gaffney) in his Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec S with a Lap Time of 59.238 and an Average Speed of 70.19mph. Very Well Done Indeed Rob Finishing P3 and taking his First Podium of the Weekend. Phenomenal Drive.

 

What an Amazing End to the Focus Cup Championship at Brands Hatch with Many Different Victories for Simon Scott Rob and Gary who all Drove out of their Skin and showed Phenomenal Car Control and Ability to Drive. Fantastic Work to all the other Drivers too Keep Working Hard and Most Important of All Enjoy what you Love Doing.

 

MSVR Elise Trophy (Qualifying)

 

Next Up is the MSR Elise Trophy

with the Focus of this Race being on the Lotus Elise S1 S2 and S3 with Just One Qualifying Session and Just 1 Race This will be A Test of Will Power and Determination on the Track to see who can Take Victory.

 

First Lets look to Qualifying and See who will be Starting on the Front Row.

 

In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Maurizio Sciglio) in his Lotus Elise S2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.544 and a Top Speed of 81.21mph. Fantastic work there Maurizio to take P1 and start o the Front Row of the Grid.

 

In Second Place was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Best Lap Time of 53.914 and a Top Speed of 80.65mph. Very Well Done there Jason Putting in one Hell of a Quick Time to Gain P2 on the Grid.

 

In Third Place was (Simon Walsh) in his Lotus Elise S2 111R with a Best Lap Time of 54.076 and a Top Speed of 80.41mph. Incredible Drive from Simon to put Himself in P3.

 

With Three Very Quick Drivers in Maurizio Jason and Simon it was Time to see if Anyone Could challenge them and Win the Only Race of the Day for the Lotus Elise Trophy.

 

MSVR Elise Trophy (Race 1)

 

In First Place taking The Victory was (Jason Mcinulty) in his Lotus Elise S3 with a Lap Time of 54.638 and an Average Speed of 66.83mph. Fantastic Victory for Jason taking P1 and The Race Win for the Elise Trophy. Phenomenal Driving too.

 

In Second Place was (John Lamaster) in his Lotus Elise S2 135R with a Lap Time of 54.781 and an Average Speed of 66.75mph. Fantastic work John and So Great to see a New Face on the Podium Taking P2 what an Incredible Driver.

 

In Third Place was (David Alexander) in his Lotus Elise S1 with a Lap Time of 55.589 and an Average Speed of 66.62mph. Very Well Driven Dave Keeping an Eye out all over the Place and Bringing Home a Superb P3 Finish.

 

A Brilliant Race for the Elise Trophy and Victories for Jason John and David as well as Maurizio and Simon for their Heroic Efforts in Qualifying. Congratulations to Jason on the Race Win and Good Luck to all other Drivers in this Series.

 

Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)

 

Now it was Time to head Back to the Blue Badged Ford Machines Once again as the Modified Ford Series Rolled out onto the Race Track with each car being Heavily Modified from their Road Counterparts. With Escort Cosworth's and RS200's Roaring and Ready to go it was Time to see what the First Group A set of Drivers could do in Qualifying.

 

Due to how large the Grids were and the Fact that both Group A and Group B Have Different Races I will only be putting up results from both Qualifying Sessions from Group A and Group B. I will Leave a Link Below each Qualifying Session so you can Get All the Race Result's and Action from the 4 Different Races.

  

Modified Ford Series (Qualifying Group A)

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was (David Cockell) in his Ford Escort Cosworth with a Best Lap Time of 49.872 and a Top Speed of 87.19mph. Very Well Done David Keeping that Escort on the Track Must Have Taken some Practice no Doubt Amazing work on Getting Pole.

 

In Second Place was (Wayne Crabtree) in his Ford RS200 with a Best Lap Time of 51.121 and a Top Speed of 85.06mph. Very Fast Drive from Wayne to take P2 and a Very Solid Drive Thought.

 

In Third Place was (Michael Saunders) in his Ford Escort MK1 Mexico with a Best Lap Time of 51.129 and an Average Speed of 85.05mph. Very Well Driven by Michael Being Able to Keep up with Both Wayne and David Must Have Ben a Real Pain but what a Fantastic Achievement.

 

What a Fantastic Set of Legendary Drivers all Battle Hardened and Ready to take on the Might of the Indy Circuit. But there can Only be One Winner who do you Think will Win the First Race? Click the Link Below to get all of the Race Results from this Racing Series.

 

(Link to Group A Race Results)

 

www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751

 

Modified Ford Series Group B (Qualifying)

 

Now it was Time for Group B to make a stance and see what their Modified Ford Racing Machines could do. with How Fast and Action Packed Group A Had Been During both The Races and Qualifying Group B was looking to be much the Same.

 

Lets Waste No Time in Finding out who Has Taken Pole Position for the First of 4 Races.

 

In First Place Taking Pole Position and The Fastest Lap was (Neil Jessop) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 52.030 and a Top Speed of 83.57mph. Fantastic Work there Neil and a Really Quick Escort to match too. Very Well Done.

 

In Second Place was (James Harris) in his Ford Escort MK2 with a Best Lap Time of 53.928 and a Top Speed of 80.63mph. Amazing work there James Pushing Hard and Giving the Old Girl everything she has to offer.

 

In Third Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 54.892 and a Top Speed of 79.22mph. Awesome Drive there from Malcom Overcoming a lot of Pressure to put in an Incredible Lap for P3.

 

What an Amazing Line up for Group B with Plenty of Experienced Drivers who know their cars inside out. But who will be Brave Enough to challenge the Top Three Drivers for Victory. Find out for Yourself at the Link Below.

 

(Link to Group B Race Results)

 

www.tsl-timing.com/Event/213751

 

Enduro KA (Qualifying)

 

The Final Qualifying Session of the Day Had Come and its the Enduro KA'S. with all of the Cars on the Grid being Models of the Popular Ford KA made Between 1998-2009 thease Cars were Fun City cars that could get you from A to B with Ease. They were Also Build on a tight budget meaning that Handling Performance and Comfort were a Big Selling point of thease Brilliant little cars.

 

The Racing Versions seen here in the pictures however are built for Racing. they use different tyres but still the same Legendary 1.3 Dura Tec Engine found in their Road Going Counterparts.

 

Lets Take a look at Qualifying and see which KA and Driver made it to the top step of the podium.

 

Enduro KA (Qualifying)

 

In First Place taking the Pole and Fastest Lap was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.495 and a Top Speed of 68.48mph. Fantastic Work Adam and Martyn Really Pushing the Car for all its worth.

 

In Second Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.713 and a Top Speed of 68.25mph. Fantastic Drive there from Both Alex and Chris Claiming P2.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Best Lap Time of 1:03.921 and a Top Speed of 68.03mph. Very Well Done there Matt Great Drive and Awesome Car Control.

 

Three Very Quick and Determined Teams and with 4 Races to Race in this will be a Very Close and Tight Battles Between all Teams and Drivers. Skill and Talent will be crucial to survival and Who will be able to take the First Victory of Race 1. Lets Find Out.

 

Enduro KA (Race 1 Results)

 

In First Place Taking the Victory was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.688 and an Average Speed of 67.95mph. Congratulations Both Alex and Luke on a Superb Race Victory and Well Done to hold off the Pressure from the other Competitors.

 

In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.416 and an Average Speed of 67.92mph. Very Well Done to both Adam and Martyn for that Amazing P2 Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.664 and an Average Speed of 67.79mph. Incredible Work there Matt Amazing Drive and a Really Super Looking Car.

 

An Exciting Opening Race for the Enduro KA Series with Three Different Teams on the Podium in Alex Reade Motorsport Octane Junkies and Fat Boys Racing. Amazing work to all of you Now Lets see what Action Race 2 Brings and whether or not Alex Reade Motorsport can Hold onto that 1st Place.

 

Enduro KA (Race 2 Results)

 

In First Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.557 and an Average Speed of 67.94mph. Another Incredible Drive from both the likes of Alex and Luke to Keep their P1 Finish From the First Race. Amazing Work.

 

In Second Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.621 and an Average Speed of 67.90mph. Fantastic Work Once Again to the likes of Adam and Martyn Another Set of Drivers Keeping their Second Place Finish.

 

In Third Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:04.005 and an Average Speed of 67.39mph. Well Done once again Matt Perfect Driving and a Well Balanced Car out there.

 

Looks like the Top Three Remain the Same even After Two Races but will Race 3 Bring a New Twist to the Current Driver and Team Standings. Lets Find Out.

 

Enduro KA (Race 3 Results)

 

In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.849 and an Average Speed of 67.57mph. Amazing Work there Adam and Martyn managing to topple the likes of Alex and Luke to Earn P1.

 

In Second Place was (Fat Boys Racing Matt Pinny) with a Lap Time of 1:03.584 and an Average Speed of 67.51mph. Well Done there Matt Improving up to P2 and Taking Home a Well Deserved Finish in the Standings for Race 3.

 

In Third Place was (Alex Reade Motorsport's Luke Reade and Chris Reade) with a Lap Time of 1:03.606 and an Average Speed of 67.44mph. Very Good Come Back Drive for Both Luke and Ale to Finish Third Great Driving.

 

Many Twists and Turns Have Benn brought into Race 3 with the Top Three Drivers now being Shuffled Around the Gird into different Positions. With One More Race to Go who will be The Last Driver of the Day on the Top Step of the Podium.

 

Enduro KA (Race 4 Results)

 

In First Place was (Octane Junkies Adam Smith and Martyn Smith) with a Lap Time of 1:03.442 and an Average Speed of 67.82mph. An Amazing Final Win for the Day to Octane Junkies Adam and Martyn Smith Congratulations and Very Well Driven.

 

In Second Place was (Piston Heads Peter Dignan) with a Lap Time of 1:03.781 and an Average Speed of 67.54mph. Incredible work there Peter Getting P2 and Standing on the Podium and Incredible Achievement.

 

In Third Place was (IP Racing Oliver Wilmot and Scott Parkin) with a Lap Time of 1:03.710 and an Average Speed of 67.47mph. Very Well Done to both Scott and Oliver on that Fantastic P3 Achievement. Something Very Special to Remember for both of you.

 

And With that The Days Racing at Brands Hatches Ford Power Live comes to an End and what an Incredible Array of Both Cars Teams and Drivers on Display Today. A Big Congratulations to the likes of Adam Martyn Luke Chris Peter Matt Oliver and Scott for their Incredible Achievements and All Other Drivers Keeping the World Of Motorsport Alive and Well.

 

Keep Working Hard everyone Else. Your Time Will Come.

 

See You All Again Next Year!!!!

The average American will have nine operations before the age of 85. Surgery accounts for half of all hospital admissions and over 40 million inpatient operations per year in the United States. These procedures carry an inherent risk—globally, major surgical complication risks range from 3 to 16 percent, and death rates from 0.2 to 10 percent—yet there is remarkably little effort to discover how to reduce surgery’s high rate of complications, ensure access to surgery, reduce unnecessary surgery, or understand how to make its provision more cost-effective.

 

This is emblematic of a distortion in thinking about where the risks in healthcare are—or how policy can help ensure medicine saves more lives. Pharmaceuticals get the headlines, but are only a fraction of life-saving care. And while federal funding has supported an enormous output of new discoveries, there has been little recognition of the need to ensure these discoveries are effectively put into practice and reach ordinary Americans wherever they seek care. At least half of the major complications that occur in hospital care such as surgery are avoidable with existing knowledge. Recent findings indicate that simple tools like checklists can transform that care to make it safer, more effective, and less expensive.

 

Through the Center for Surgery and Public Health, Michael Zinner and Atul Gawande are developing strategies for improving the quality and safety of technological care like surgery, enhancing our understanding of how such care is distributed across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines, and charting a path toward expanding nationwide access to higher quality care. The Center for American Progress held an engaging presentation and a lively discussion of the policy dimensions of their important work.

Protein

 

•The human body cannot store protein.

 

•Average human of 70 kg weight only needs 50gm protein per day.

 

•Animal protein is dangerous because some of its amino acids are aromatic (ring structures are in themselves carcinogenic) and these phenol or cresol rings have to be broken down into ammonia, urea and uric acid (ammonia is a potent promotor of cell proliferation and consequently cancer especially in the colon)

 

•We only have a certain amount of enzymes and consequently a fair percentage of a high protein meal ends up in the colon, where it is digested by bacteria and the ammonia, urea, etc. promote cell growth, are toxic, causes DNA changes and eventually cancer.

 

•Excess protein is digested and stored as glycogen in the liver or as fat droplets in fat cells, excess protein also inhibits calcium absorption.

•Two times increase in protein intake causes 50% increase in calcium excretion.

 

•If you eat 3 types of grain at different times of the day or a grain and a legume per meal, eg chick peas and rice, this is all the protein you need. The meal must be fully integrated. Fiber is both soluble and non-soluble. These help to prevent various colonic diseases. Whole grain is not as good as ground grain as it goes right through undigested, so it only plays a partial role in digestion. Integrated, by this I mean that all components of the ground grain must be added simultaneously in the preparation of the meal (eg. Stone ground flour). It is useless to add fiber later, etc. Please note that although plants do not produce cholesterol, the surface of all grain have cholesterol binding sites.

 

Fat

 

“Man today is a victim of worry. What is the cause of this worry? Lack of contentment is the cause. The rich man is not contented in spite of the accumulation of wealth. Worry causes hurry and both together bring about ill health. So, worry, hurry and curry (fatty foods) are the root causes of cardiac ailments. The consumption of large quantities of fat is the cause of cardio-vascular diseases. Doctors advise against the consumption of fatty foodstuffs, which cause increase in weight resulting in susceptibility to cardiac diseases.” SS Speaks, Vol 22, page 29

 

Most enzymes in the human gut are water soluble except in the duodenum where emulsifiers and lipases are added from bile. Note that our food that is usually covered with a fine layer of oil impairs enzyme activity, so the food is not metabolized properly, most of this oil is absorbed via lymphatics which drain into major vessels via subclavian artery. This oil covers the red cells, these then stick to each other, a phenomenon called clumping takes place. Oxygen cannot pass through this layer, depending on the fatty meal you can get from 40% up to 60% decrease of oxygen absorption. This is probably one of the major causes of drowsiness after a heavy fatty meal. If however you eat natural water soluble fats like avocado, etc, all the enzymes will operate optimally on it and all fats are digested. It is not advisable to coat food with non water soluble fats.

 

approx. 200 photos 2 second 50mm f1.4 stacked with averaging enabled 1 sec between photos very feint starlink? trails visible

Are you looking to make improvements on your home but you feel clueless? Don't feel bad. It is common for an average person to not know where to start. That is where the following article will come into play-- you are going to be given tips that will help you begin the process.

 

When looking to improve the value of your home, remodeling a bathroom can be a great step to take. Simple bathroom remodeling steps can include painting, changing out fixtures and installing new tiles. More elaborate efforts can include replacing bathtubs, toilets and sinks. Whatever route you choose, you're sure to see an increased home value when you update your bathroom.

 

When removing cabinets as part of a kitchen remodel, make sure you don't just unscrew and yank them off the wall. You will more than likely end up taking some or all of the drywall off with you. Take time and care to remove each and every screw, and use a utility knife around the edges to break the caulking that was most likely used to seal between the cabinet and the wall.

 

Construction adhesive can help eliminate a squeaking floor. And it takes quite a bit of sweaty work in the crawl space or the basement; however, the end result justifies the means. Utilize a caulking gun to apply glue to the sides of each floor joist. The joists are secured to the subfloor planks by doing this.

 

When it comes to home improvement, leave the big jobs to the professionals. You may end up getting way over your head with expenses, fines, and patchwork if you try to do more than you are actually capable of. Professionals will know the ins and outs regarding permits and regulations. They also will be bound to a contract so it will be them that lose out if the project takes longer than expected or ends up costing more.

 

Use paint made for touching up appliances to cover up flaws on ceramic tile. Did you chip one of your tiles moving furniture? This type of paint will make it look almost as good as new. It dries hard with a glossy color that is hardly distinguishable from the surface of the tile itself.

 

A well known rule for doing any kind of construction, repair, or renovation work is to measure twice and cut once. This age old saying still holds up today in every circumstance. Following this rule will allow you to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes associated with projects by using less materials and saving time and effort on labor.

 

Ugly driveways and concrete can be repaired without having to spend the time and money to replace them. Concrete refinishing has become a new alternative for that cracked driveway or walkway. They can apply a new topcoat, stains, imprint patterns or other design elements that will give your home a whole new look for less.

 

Replace doorknobs and drawer knobs. These small changes can perk up furniture that you already have and are less expensive than buying a new door or a new set of drawers. Doorknobs and drawer knobs can be bought in a variety of styles and colors, so it's easy to add a little pizazz with just a little bit of money.

 

If your house is low on usable space and you need an extra space, consider looking to your attic or basement for help. You can easily choose to turn your basement into a livable environment such as an office, man cave or recreation room. If your basement already has a staircase, a roof and separate walls, it can be a very cost effective way to improve your home.

 

Choose wallpaper patterns carefully. Avoid using overpowering patterns in small spaces; conversely, using a bold design in a very large room will make it appear cozier. Never use a patterned wallpaper if you have patterned carpet or window coverings. For a room full of awkward corners and recesses, pick a wallpaper with a random design that the eye doesn't tend to follow. This will help to disguise any imperfections in the walls.

 

The days of calling a plumber or electrician for minor household repairs are long gone, not to mention the outrageous costs. Today, hundreds of websites are dedicated to sharing how-to tips and tricks, in a way that is easily understood by even the most reluctant handyman. You will find step-by-step directions and many also, include video demonstrations.

 

To make a dreary or dated looking home feel vibrant and new, repaint the walls. Fresh paint or a different color can completely change how the room looks. While painting a room is very inexpensive, it can increase the value of your home significantly. You'll find that light, airy shades complement the widest variety of different furnishings and decorating styles.

 

Live with your new home's flaws for a few days, or even weeks, in order to avoid making changes you may come to regret later. Give yourself time to see what works and what doesn't in the home's spaces. In fact, what you initially perceived as a flaw, may end up being the very thing that gives character to your new home.

 

As was mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is normal and common to feel clueless about home improvements. The goal of this article was to educate you about the important factors of home improvements. Apply the advice that was given to you to begin making your repairs and improvements. housepackerssydney.com.au/why-you-need-unpacking-help/

TAXONOMY

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves (birds)

Order: Sphenisciformes (Penguins )

Family: Spheniscidae

 

Genus/species: Spheniscus demersus

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Like most birds with shared parental duties, sexes are similar in appearance. Adults: upper parts blackish-grey, underparts mostly white with inverted black horseshoe extending down flank to thigh. Feet and legs black. Chicks arrive with secondary down feathers. Juveniles are grey blue and immatures gradually come to resemble adults in aprox. 3 years..

Length up to To 70 cm (28 inches) tall.

Weight up to 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found off the Coasts of South Africa and

Namibia.Nests in colonies mainly on offshore islands. Rarely encountered more than 8 km from islands or mainland.

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Piscivorous. They feed primarily on shoaling fishes such as anchovies, mackerel and herring. They can reach a top speed of close to 20 km/h (12 mph). On the west coast a typical foraging trip could range from 30 to 70 km (18-44 miles) for a single trip. On the south coast, foraging birds cover an average of 110 km (68 miles) per trip.

 

Academy diet: Vitamin fortified herring, and capelin.

 

REPRODUCTION: Monogamous colonial nesters. They dig nesting burrows.and lays 2 eggs which are then incubated by both parents for about 40 days. The pair feeds their young for about one month by regurgitating food into the hatchling's mouth.The average time to independence is 80 days.

 

LONGEVITY: May live to at least 25 years.

 

PREDATORS: Seals in the water and mongooses, large-spotted genets and leopards on land. Eggs and chicks are eaten by feral cats, Kelp gulls and Sacred Ibises.

 

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (VU) 2010

 

Threats: Depleted fish stocks, collection of guano fertilizer, oil pollution and collection of eggs in the past have resulted in a 90 percent drop in the population since 1900.

 

REMARKS: The alternate common name “jackass” is a reference to its donkey-like vocalization.

 

California Academy of Sciences penguins

Wing bands identify males females and couples. Males right, females left and couples are the same color.

African penguins are finding a strong ally in the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program sponsored by the California Academy of Sciences and 53 other zoos and scientific institutions in the U.S. and Canada. The captive population acts as a reservoir for genetic diversity, and could eventually be used to bolster wild penguin populations.

See the Academy web site below for more information and a 24 hour web cam.

 

Penguins constantly work to keep their feathers clean, well-oiled, and waterproofed. They preen their feathers by nipping at an oil glad at the base of their tail to express oil which transferred to their beaks and then to their body feathers.

 

References

 

Ron's Wordpress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1xH

 

California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org/explore-science/common-penguin-behaviors

 

California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org/explore-science/live-penguin-cams

 

BirdLife International www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3861

 

ARKive

www.arkive.org/african-penguin/spheniscus-demersus/

 

Animal Diversity Web

animaldiversity.org/accounts/Spheniscus_demersus/

 

IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697810/0

 

009, 2015

1973 Apr - Texas World Speedway-Race 4 Mike Mosley #98 leads at 43 laps average speed 173 mph.

1964 Mercedes O319D

The gaboon viper is a venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. This is not only the largest member of the genus Bitis, but also the world's heaviest viperid and it has the longest fangs and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake. Adults average 122–152 cm (4 to 5 feet) in length with a maximum of 205 cm (81 in).

In-House Counsel Profile: Lisa Brown t.co/bjmzvUUp91 “There’s no average day.”………… t.co/Z0jruJ8BJR (via Twitter twitter.com/LawsuitInfoCent/status/747295617072848897)

Braunschweig

With the overview of the Figuarts Wonder Woman figure completed, we now take a look at how she compares. For the purposes of brevity, the Mezco edition has been left out. While that figure has impressive paint work (and an impressively average face sculpt), the Mezco fails miserably as an action figure. Thus, it's down to the Mafex Justice League Wonder Woman versus the Figarts release.

 

Both figures are roughly the same height overall, but have very different proportions, with the Figuarts having more muscular thighs. The Figuarts has a more slender torso with a much larger skirt, and the more slender collarbone area goes better with the arms, and the upper and lower leg lengths are different on each. The boots also ride higher on the Figuarts release, as does the head itself. Each of the figures has a slightly different colour scheme, with detailing on the figure clearly going to the Figuarts release. The leather harness is also different on each, but for reasons there is no sword holster on the Figuarts version.

 

Overall, I feel the slight edge goes to the Figuarts due to its more slender and natural looking collarbone area, as well as more accurate colouring.

 

Paint work on the Figuarts is by far superior to that the Mafex, but strangely the finish on the parts is better on the Mafex as compared to the Figuarts, with the most obvious example being on the arms - that moulding seam is hideous. The flesh tone on the Mafex is definitely nicer however,

 

With regards to face this will be short - the Mafex wins, both in terms of looking better, and looking more like Gal Gadot. The hair is also better on the Mafex - neither look particularly accurate, but the Mafex features soft rubbery material, which does allow for more articulation. The design of the head overall also allows the Mafex to have more head articulation.

 

Useful articulation was a strange one. Technically, the Figuarts has more points of articulation, but due to the design of the Figuarts head, much of the real world use of this design is eliminated. What I found was that given what was left, the only real place that the Figuarts has an advantage over the Mafex is that the arms can bend more. Otherwise, the Mafex actually has greater range of motion than the Figuarts, which was very much unexpected.

 

Overall, just like before, both the Figuarts and Mafex releases make better action figures than the Mezco one. Between the two of them, however, the Mafex still edges out the Figuarts, even if we ignore the weighting of the head sculpt itself. The Figuarts does generally look better than the Mafex, with the exception of the flesh tone, but the Mafex has fewer rough finishes. The Figuarts as more joints, but the Mafex is designed such that you can actually maximize the posing potential of the figure, and the range of motion is generally superior on the Mafex.

 

The implementation of the head on the Figuarts is a head scratcher and really limits what the Figuarts can do. This is the primary source of my anger/disappointment, with the horrifying face sculpt is being the cherry on the turd sundae.

 

And that, friends, was the comparison of the Figuarts and Mafex releases. Thanks for reading, and as always, keep your eyes peeled for that next overview.