View allAll Photos Tagged base
Annapurna Base Camp Trek (Annapurna Sanctuary Trekking) is one of the most beautiful trekking in Annapurna Region. This trail lead in the lap of impressive peaks like Annapurna I, II,III,IV, Annapurna South. Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Himchuli and many more others peaks of Annapurna Range.Annapurna Base Camp trekking start from the beautiful valley of lakes, Pokhara, the trail stretches through the dense rhododendron forests and alongside the turnings and windings of the Modi Khola.You will get chane to observe the authentic culture and lifestyle of local people.http://nepalgatewaytrekking.com/
This is just one of many Blacktron bases scattered throughout the galaxy. This base serves as a hangar for repairs on the Invader 3000. The docking port features a fully operational elevator platform.
An air-to-air left side view of an F-4E Phantom II aircraft, foreground, and an F-5E Tiger II aircraft.
NAVAL BASE GUAM (April 18, 2020) U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Tavish Davis and Hospital Corpsman Jassan Rushing with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group rove door to door in order to provide daily medical checks for Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) who are in isolation onboard Naval Base Guam. Theodore Roosevelt is currently docked at Naval Base Guam where Sailors from the ship are practicing social distancing and following other guidelines from the CDC, U.S. Navy and the Governor of Guam as part of COVID-19 mitigation effort during a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan E. Gilbert)
Cullman County has one of the most unique yoga studios in the United States. The activities at the studio combines traditional aspects of physical Yoga with Christian and spiritual elements such as scripture readings, devotional thoughts, and biblical verbiage during sessions.
Started by Debbie Leopard, Cullman's Santosha Yoga came about as a dream fulfilled for this long-time yoga practitioner. Santosha means 'Contentment' in the ancient Sanskrit language.
Founded by Leopard and a partner in July 2014, the original yoga studio was just that: a common yoga studio. After the partnership dissolved and Debbie re-dedicated her life to Christ in August 2014, she transitioned the studio into a Faith-based facility offering a wide range of classes ranging from Kids Yoga to Beginner Yoga to BUTI (Yoga combined with Tribal dance).
Cullman's Santosha Yoga also offers FAITHFLO classes which allows students to Praise Christ through the movements of their bodies.
Debbie has been consistently practicing various forms of yoga for 19 years. She has been teaching the art for 6 years. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through the Yoga Alliance with 200 hours of accredited training.
Cullman Today recently visited Debbie at her studio and learned about her history and enthusiasm for yoga:
"I love the way my body feels after a good class. Relaxed and restored. I love the energy boost I get. But most of all the peacefulness of it. Non-competitive just letting your body stretch to its limits. And as a teacher to see a student achieve a goal. Well that's the icing on the cake."
That first image is of Bernice. She is a 90 years old student at the yoga center. If she can do this, so can you!
For the full story on Cullman's Santosha Yoga complete with videos, images and on-going daily class schedule, please see:
cullmantoday.com/2016/02/08/faith-based-yoga-praises-chri...
Like "labelscar", but, you know, with a home base from some old, removed memorial or statue display instead.
Astrodome
Houston, Texas
Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 is part of Sofitel Luxury Hotels, an up-market hotel brand which forms part of one of the world's leading hotel chains, Accor Hospitality, based in France.
Over the past few years since opening its doors in 2008, Sofitel Macau and the management have been credited a number of tourism awards.
Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 is a 5-star hotel as defined by Macau Government Tourist Office. The hotel offers 408 rooms, spread out over 20 floors, offering views of both the Macau
skyline and its bordering city of Zhuhai in China across the inner-harbour waters.
19 suites of 4 different design themes are located in “The Mansion at Sofitel” which is an addition to the main hotel building. The hotel includes four food and beverage outlets with an
all-day restaurant named Mistral offering the option of an al fresco dining environment; others include Privé (an upscale French boutique restaurant), Rendezvous (a lobby bar) and
Club Sofitel (a club lounge). Besides, both wellness facilities (So Spa, Fitness Centre and an freeform outdoor swimming pool) and “InspiredMeetings” are rendered to accommodate
different travellers’ needs. The feature MJ Gallery in the hotel exhibits some of the most renowned Michael Jackson's achievements and mementos (e.g. Jewel encrusted White glove).
Sofitel Macau is located at Ponte 16 (Pier 16 of the inner harbour) on Rua do Visconde Paço de Arcos, Macau S.A.R. This is also deemed the gateway to the bustling city centre
along the main street (Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro) which is only a short 10-minute stroll. The location is with easy access to the UNESCO world heritage sites in Macau.
Macau S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region) has been a colony of Portugal for over 500 years until the handover to the People's Republic of China in 1999. The city herself is thus
fused with both oriental and western colours, which differentiates it from the rest of China. Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 is located at the inner pier of the vintage part of Macau, where the
residents’ original living style has been retained. It is the only French hotel brand in town and symbolizes the alliance between French elegance and traditional Macanese people
culture. The hotel aims to show the particular meaning of "art of living" in French style.
Everything at the Sofitel is Luxurious and grand. It is built over the harbour.
Canon EOS 5d, 24-70L
2013
_mg_9563
Airmen and Soldiers compete in the 5th Annual Army vs. Air Force Hockey Game, Jan. 13, 2018, at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska. The game is played annually between teams made of service members assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, promotes military esprit de corps and enhances the relationship between JBER and the Anchorage community. The Air Force team won the game 11-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Justin Connaher)
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the pictures might be based on existing fictional characters or franchises.
This is for private use only. BEWARE!
An experiment with A.I.-based picture generation, using a still/portrait as a starting point.
Some Background:
The Space Defense Robot-04-Mk. XIV Destroid Nimrod was an anti-air/heavy artillery mecha, and intended as a replacement for the SDR-04-Mk. XII Phalanx, a Destroid specifically designed for space operations to defend the SDF-1 Macross, along with its sister unit, the cannon-armed ADR-04-Mk. X Destroid Defender.
The Phalanx had been developed in a hurry under the pressure of the raging war against the Zentraedi and suffered, as a consequence, from several disadvantages. For instance, its combat operation capability decreased substantially once the missile ordnance (a total of forty-four 430mm caliber missiles, half of them ready to fire and the rest held in reserve in internal magazines) had been exhausted. To counter this, a few models were modified in the field, e.g. with additional light Gatling guns mounted within the head unit, as well as other variations, but most Phalanx’ remained basically bipedal heavy missile launchers. A sub-variant with improved sensors and missile guidance systems, as well as the ability to deploy the new reflex missiles, the Phalanx Mk. XIII, was also built, but only in small numbers, and it could not overcome the flaws of the original design.
The Nimrod was the attempt to mend these shortcomings after initial combat experience with the type. The so-called SDR-04-Mk. XIV utilized the proven MBR-04 ambulatory system and shared a common hip and leg structure with a wide range of other Destroids. Like the Phalanx, the Nimrod’s newly designed upper body was a simple core structure that neglected any silliness for a weapon composition consisting of missiles, radar, and propulsion system, all mounted on the main rotating body which could be detached from the lower torso for maintenance of in case of emergency.
The Nimrod filled the same tactical niche as the Phalanx but was a more sophisticated design with improved capabilities and a – though limited – secondary close-range combat capability. The radar and sensor suites for target acquisition as well as missile guidance were improved, so that the Nimrod became even suited for air space surveillance and as a guidance/coordination unit for other Destroids. Due to this additional workload, the Nimrod’s crew was expanded by a WSO to two in a tandem cockpit.
The armament remained tailored to medium and long range, but there were some improvements. On the Nimrod, the Phalanx’ bulbous drum-shaped missile magazines gave way to more streamlined 540 mm caliber reflex missile containers, which were carried in staggered clusters of four twin-pods on each shoulder, holding a total of 48 missiles with sixteen of them ready to fire and the rest in reserve. This modification reduced weight and frontal area, and in a case of emergency the missile containers could be jettisoned.
In order to improve the Nimrod’s tactical value after its missiles had been deployed, it was furthermore provided with a secondary close-range combat capability in the form of a pair of particle beam guns. These were integrated into the arms, protected by the missile containers, and these reliable weapons could be effectively used against both air as well as ground targets. Thermal smoke dischargers completed the Nimrod’s defensive measures.
Like the Phalanx and other Destroids, the Nimrod was capable of limited space operations due to its vernier thrusters all over the hull. This allowed for units that were stationed on the deck of the SDF-1 to propel themselves back to the battle fortress if they were knocked off.
The Nimrod was, like the Phalanx, first deployed on the SDF-1 and was used to augment the ship's own weapon system to protect the vessel from Zentraedi attacks, even though the type came relatively late and was only used in the final phase of the war and only in limited numbers. After the conflict, production was throttled down (only a total of fifty SDR-04-Mk. XIVs were eventually built), and the surviving Nimrods from the SDF-1 were stationed at airbases in New Macross City and in nearby cities, such as Monument City.
Specifications:
Designation: SDR-04-Mk XIV
Mecha Class: Destroid
Crew: 2 (Pilot, WSO)
Weight: 21.8 tons (dry)
45.5 tons (loaded)
Height: 12.36 m (hull only, incl. radome)
13,50 m (with raised arms)
Breadth: 9,32 m
Depth: 5.0m
Max. walking speed: 72 kph loaded
Armament:
2x weapon clusters in shoulder locations, each with:
- Eight launch tubes for 540mm caliber mid-/long-range missiles (typically with anti-air capacity, artillery
rockets as alternative), with eight missiles ready and another sixteen as reserve (for a total of 48)
- One Mauler PBG-06 liquid-cooled electrically-charged twin particle beam gun
- Three thermal smoke dischargers
The kit and its assembly:
This is a fictional Macross Destroid, with a highly modified Imai Phalanx kit at its core. It depicts a potential successor for the missile-only-armed Phalanx, but it has been totally made up. Inspiration came when I recently procured a bunch of Kotobukiya’s MSG sets for mecha conversions – one of these sets included the quadruple missile launchers that now make up the Nimrod’s new “arms”. I was torn between using a Defender or a Phalanx as conversion basis, but due to the weapon pods’ bulkiness I went for the more massive Phalanx.
Beyond the MSG parts and the replacement of the Phalanx “missile drums”, there was initially no real plan for the conversion – things evolved gradually, depending on the donor parts at hand. However, several fundamental changes were made. The most important improvement measure that works for all Destroid kits with the “04” chassis is the integration of a completely now hip joint arrangement. OOB, the model's posture is pretty stiff, with the legs and feet facing straight forward. The model is just supposed to stand upright, and with the model’s OOB joint options it is really hard to create a vivid poise. Furthermore, the bolts that hold the legs are prone to break off, even more so because the Imai kit is from the 1st generation of mecha kits, without vinyl caps and just relying on a very tight joint fit for hold.
My proven solution: the implantation of a new hip “bone” made from plastic-coated steel wire, which is stiff in itself but can be bent in two dimensions. The thighs had to be modified accordingly, since the wire is much thinner than the original bolts. Inside of the pelvis, the W-shaped wire was attached with the help of sprue material and styrene profiles, a thorough fixation is necessary because a lot of load has to be held in place in a very small space.
In order to attach the legs to the wire, there’s a convenient trick: the receptor holes in the thighs were simply filled with small vinyl rings, standard material from other mecha kits (e.g. from Arii’s 1:100 VF-1 Battroids or the Gunze Sangyo/Aoshima Dorvack PAs), the rings’ outer AND inner diameter fit perfectly into the new arrangement. With this trick, a much more dynamic and "natural" leg position could be achieved, also thanks to the large feet and their joints of the “04” Destroid chassis. This tuning measure improves the model considerably. The legs were otherwise taken OOB, just some small styrene bits were added to the lower legs’ front sides (improving another small detail flaw of the model), and some openings on the lower legs’ rear side were filled with putty and styrene sheet. Furthermore, the open insides of the “heels” were filled with putty, too.
In order to integrate the new missile bins, suitable adapters for the shoulder had to be found. Being somewhat lazy and trying to use as many parts from the Phalanx kit as possible, I decided to integrate a styrene tube all through the upper body, so that I got better attachment points. This tube was extended so far that I could re-use the Phalanx’ blast exhausts from the original missile bins as shoulder joint covers. This looks very natural and these re-dedicated parts fit well over the implanted central styrene tube channel as well as into the channel that runs along the MSG missile containers’ inner side. In order to attach the new arms/containers, a smaller diameter styrene tube was glued into these channels, so that the new pods could be moved vertically.
As a weapon improvement over the Phalanx, a pair of particle beam guns was added to the new missile containers – they come originally from a Dorvack PA-36K “Berlon” kit, but they were tailored considerably in order to fit into their new position. They also help to hide the new shoulder joint, which was covered from above with parts from the Phalanx kit (the boxed that are normally attached to the upper legs) and the space between them with paper tissue, drenched with white glue. The result is a good visual transition.
The central hull was changed in order to move the look away from the Phalanx base. The rear side uses OOB parts, but these were modified and attached to the hull in a different way, so that the back is not as deep as on the Phalanx. The front received a vertical pair of searchlights (formerly return rollers from a 1:35 tank…), set into the breast plate. The cockpit bulge between the shoulders as well as the head unit are completely new. The cockpit cover is a leftover hull piece from a Kotobukiya helicopter drone, and it was moved forward, so that a crew of two is more plausible. The head unit on the elongated spine behind and above it consists primarily of a donor from a wrecked VT-61 “Tulcas” mecha (Dorvack), plus a small dish antenna for a tracking radar on the right (left over from a Dorvack PA-36K “Berlon” kit) and a round radome for target acquisition – scratched from main wheels of a Matchbox PB2Y and set upon a mount made from styrene profiles. Looks strange, esp. with that flat, square head unit underneath, but I wanted a unique and different look that sets the Nimrod apart from other canonical Destroid designs. And this certainly worked.
A final word concerning the Phalanx kit itself: like all other Destroids models, this is basically a simple affair and the model goes together well – but expect some PSR on every seam, and there are some improvements possible that IMHO raise the model’s quality. The lack of vinyl caps makes later movement a tricky affair, though, and it is interesting to see that while the “04” chassis Destroids (Phalanx, Tomahawk and Defender) share the same lower body, all three kits are different! As a positive trait concerning the finish, the Phalanx is also the only kit of this trio that comes with decals for the typical white trim on the lower legs of these Destroids.
Painting and markings:
Once more I wanted to stay true to the original look of a typical Macross Destroid from the “04” series. These tend to carry a uniform livery in murky/dull tones of green, brown and ochre: unpretentious "mud movers". Anything else is rare (I am aware of dark blue Phalanx’ on board of the SDF-1), and complex camouflage patterns are AFAIK not seen (probably a tribute to the TV series’ cel production). In consequence, I gave the Nimrod an overall livery in a rather unidentifiable brownish tone, namely RAL 7008 (Khakigrau), a tone that was carried by German WWII Afrikakorps tanks and very similar to the tone IDF vehicles like the Merkava typically carry nowadays. Since I only had this tone in a rattle can available, the model and its components were painted accordingly, with an additional hushed spray over the upper surfaces with a slightly lighter tone as a shading measure. After this basic painting, the parts received a washing with thinned black ink.
Decals mostly come from the OOB sheet, plus some extra stencils, including the "nose art" painted on the left leg (from a P-38); many Destroids and also Armored Valkyries seem to bear such markings. Gives the mecha a personal touch, though.
Finally, before everything was assembled, the kit received a dry-brushing treatment with light grey and an overall coat with matt acrylic varnish. As a final step, mineral pigments were dusted over the model, esp. around the feet and the lower areas of the mecha.
A rather straightforward conversion project that gradually evolved – but with a postive outcome, after some twists and turns. The fictional Destroid Nimrod turned out more believable than expected, thanks to the good donor parts that went into it, and the simple livery also adds to the design’s “realism” within the Macross universe. Even though the thing still looks odd – but not worse than the other canonical Destroids from the original TV series!
Children of Sarajevo _ Children of War _.
Djeca Sarajeva;.
OPUS: Look Homeward Angel;.
From Grand OPUS; Sarajevo City of Light,.
SARAJEVO WAR 1992-95;.
BOSNIA in Tragic WAR,.
POETIC Beauty and Strength of the Human Spirit,.
Picture is based on light and darkness counterpoints, with elements of Chiaroscuro. Strong, dramatic expression, while ... acutely observed realism brought a new level of emotional intensity, Observation of physical and psychological reality… Symbolism, Transcendental ART, Metaphysics ART, Perception beyond Appearance’s,.
City Life and Street Scenes, POETIC TransRealism;.
"I've brought you a mirror….
Look at yourself and remember me.".
-Rumi..
Mirza Ajanovic POETIC Photography,
Dog Section, more recently used by local farmer for rearing pheasants as its actually located outside the base perimiter.
Photo: POH
Portraits of Hope's massive public art and civic project – involving more than 20,000 kids, adults and volunteers – that visually transformed Manhattan. By recruiting and utilizing more than 5,400 fully operational NYC taxis to participate in the unprecedented 4-month exhibition, the cabs and city streets of New York were transformed into a giant mobile canvas. The unprecedented event integrated two key characteristics that define the City: the saturation of the iconic taxis; and the vertical physicality of Manhattan. www.portraitsofhope.org
Garden in Transit -- A Portraits of Hope Project
Portraits of Hope's NYC Public Art and Civic Project -- NYC Taxis
Conceived and Developed by Ed Massey and Bernie Massey, Founders of Portraits of Hope
5,400+ New York City Taxis
23,000 Children and Adults
200+ Participating Schools, Hospitals, and NYC institutions
700,000 Sq. ft. of paintings
Youth and Program Sessions in NY, CA, NJ, OH, GA, PA
Project-based learning: interdisciplinary contemporary issues and civic education and leadership sessions for schools, grades 2 -12
Creative therapy sessions for hospitalized children and persons with disabilities; including cancer, orthopedic ailments, burn trauma, brain and neck injuries, and other serious conditions
10-month program and collaborative phase
4-month New York City public art exhibition
Youth sessions and exhibition in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island
Portraits of Hope rings NASDAQ opening bell
Special thank you to Helen Bing and Peter Bing, Vornado Realty, Hotel Pennsylvania, MACtac, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Cordelia Corporation, Veriflora, Wooster Paint Company, Jenner & Block, Purdy-Bessemer Holdings, FedEx, Hudson River Park Trust, Susan Kohlmann, Debbie and Hal Jacobs, Nazdar, Abbot & Abbot Box Corp. AAA Flag & Banner, Bruce and Nancy Newberg Family Fund, Pillsbury Sutro Shaw Pittman, Davidow Charitable Fund, Joleen and Mitch Julis, Armstrong Nickoll Family Foundation, Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, Ore Hill Partners LLC, Time Warner, Building Maintenance Services LLC, PTG Event Services, FedEx, NASDAQ
This is the base of the big cupola furnace at Griffin Pipe where the air was blown into the base. The cupola furnace is loaded up with raw materials like a carbon source (coke, coal or charcoal), lime, iron ore (incorrect -- these furnaces couldn't reduce iron ore to elemental iron; they were designed to melt scrap metal and pig iron only) and other metals and then run with the updraft. The steel was taken out the bottom. The ring of pipes around the furnace are the tuyeres that blow air into the coke layer to support combustion.
Follow Up: Here's a wikipedia article that outlines the use of cupola furnaces fairly nicely:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupola_furnace
This one was a larger specimen about 10 feet in diameter (inside, outside is much larger) unit. They are apparently generally described in terms of their diameter. This one was equipped with a large adjacent stack for cooling and processing the off-gases, unlike the old, smaller development unit at U.S. Pipe.
Ken Schuler and I got a chance to visit a scrap supplier who has the job of demolishing some historic old steel mills: U.S. Pipe and Griffin Pipe. The steel company I work for will be buying the scrap generated by the demo.
Nikon D7000 wearing a Nikon 16-35mm VR lens.
Please visit the Entropic Remnants website or my Entropic Remnants blog -- THANKS!
Nike Missile Base KC-80 was built in 1959 became operational on April 1960. It was one of four bases constructed during the Cold War era to defend the Kansas City metropolitan area in the event of Soviet aircraft attacks. The command and control facility was located at Richard-Gebaur Air Force Base and provided target designation information to each of the four sites. The Integrated Fire Control Site for KC-80 was located about a mile from the Launch Site. The base was decommission in 1969. After decommission, some buildings at the site were adapted to serve other military uses.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were conducted at Fort Leavenworth on the future site of the Delta Battery Headquarters at Pope Avenue and Biddle Boulevard on 23 July 1958. Battery D, or Delta Battery, is one of the four firing units of the 5th Missile Battalion. (Nike Hercules), 55th Artillery. The battalion headquarters was located at the Naval Air Station, Olathe, Kansas.
NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (Sept. 29, 2016) - Seaman Douglas Parada (left), a native of Hayword, Calif., and Seaman Vincent Lopez, a native of Stockton, Calif., remove the base plate for a hangar door track. Nimitz is currently undergoing an extended planned incremental maintenance availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Bacon/Released)
Week 25 Assignment - Sports
There's the pitch, there's the swing at the plate. It's a hit! Batter heads for 1st!
America's pastime leaves a lonely echo on the diamond when the teams have gone home.
So many images in vibrant technicolour... Whatever's ailing me, I hope it's gone soon.
This spot is the closest thing to Euro-urbex that I'll ever come across in rural Manitoba. Definitely going back for more soon.
There is a major protest on Jeju over the construction of a new naval base on the island which will house a missile defense system.
More info about the protest @ savejejuisland.org
*********************************************************************************************************
Please view my stream LARGE on black:
DMac 5D Mark II's photos on Flickriver
Follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/#!/dmac5dmark2
*********************************************************************************************************