On Glanville Place, Volvo B9TL Wrightbus / Gemini 2 number 351 (SN11 EAW) is the first of a very fine batch of buses, new in 2011 (351 to 400 and 951 to 960)

Several of our buses are dressed in black right now, with a very eye catching wrap-around advert for Square: a point-of-sale system for sellers, which enables merchants to accept card payments and manage business operations. Square is cloud-based and offers both physical devices, which read payment card information, and software. It offers financial services and includes features designed to support business operations.

It’s seen to best effect like this, in profile.

190_GHP_EconomicOutlook2018.JPG - Greater Houston Partnership Houston Region Economic Outlook featuring Ellen Zentner, Managing Director and Chief U.S. Economist with Morgan Stanley Research, on the national economy. In addition, the following panel of local experts will share their perspectives on the region's economyDecember 5, 2018. (Photo by Donna Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

The returning Railway Touring Company's 'Cumbrian Mountain Express', 1Z87 1523 Carlisle - London Euston, is seen between Colwich and Rugeley with Class 86/2 No. 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' at the helm on 6th August 2016. The bright sunshine enjoyed earlier in the day has now given way to a gathering cloud base which thwarted any thoughts of the hoped for 'glint shot'. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved

162_GHP_Airports_5Oct22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports with Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports held at the Marriott Marquis October 5, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

Binondo, Manila and San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan

ivory, silver, velvet, baticuling wood

1890s

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14" (36 cm)

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14 (36 cm)

Opening bid: PHP 300,000

Property from the Don Maximo Viola Collection

Provenance: Maximo Viola, Descendants of Maximo Viola

About the Work

by Augusto Marcelino Reyes Gonzalez III

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): an exceptional tabletop “San Jose y Nino Jesus.”

The San Jose has a serious, fatherly expression and the Nino Jesus he is carrying on his left hand has a playful but respectful mien. The father carries a solid silver staff of lilies on his right hand. Both San Jose and the Nino Jesus have long hair of “jusi” fibers; the father wears a solid silver “paraguas” halo and the son wears solid silver “tres potencias” symbolizing the three powers of the Lord --- Authority (Exousia in Greek), Ability (Dunamis in Greek), and Strength (Kratas in Greek). The San Jose wears a traditional green robe and yellow cape and the Nino Jesus wears a traditional yellow robe, both are embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. The father stands on an exceptional “peana” pedestal base of the rare type: a lily emerging from four acanthus leaves which are supported by smaller leaves on a base of foliar forms. The finely–gilded peana is found only with the highest quality ivory statuary. In Roman Catholicism, Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus Christ and the Patron of the Universal Church. During the Spanish period and up to prewar (up to 1940), the center of devotion to El Glorioso Patriarca San Jose was at the San Nicolas de Tolentino church (“Recoletos”) in Intramuros; there were weekly devotions on Wednesdays and a big fiesta every 26 November. Unfortunately, the Recoletos church, the 26 November fiesta tradition, and the image of San Jose Patriarca were all destroyed by aerial bombs in February 1945. The other important, traditional centers of devotion to San Jose remain with “Tata Hosep” in Las Pinas, “Tata Bukot” in Navotas, and “Senor San Jose” in Mandaue, Cebu. There is a renewed, worldwide devotion to Saint Joseph as Pope Francis has acknowledged that he often leaves a petition to the saint overnight and receives a resolution in the morning.

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): a beatific tabletop “La Inmaculada Concepcion.” The Virgin Mary has a gentle downward gaze, reminiscent of the “La Purisima” festejada at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) in Intramuros (destroyed during World War II). It has long hair of “jusi” fibers, a silvergilt crown, and an aureole of twelve stars. The long, slender hands are held together in prayer. The image is dressed in the traditional white robe and blue cape, “palikpik” style, embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. An enameled, silvergilt sun and silver crescent moon are at its feet. The statuette stands on a (deliberately) oversized, silver–leafed, Ming–style “ensaimada” cloud base with the serpent interspersed between. The cloud is supported by a traditional gilded “peana” pedestal with foliar forms. The Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.” During the Spanish era (up to 1898), and up until prewar (to 1940), the 08 de Diciembre procession of “La Purisima” (“La Inmaculada Concepcion”) at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) was one of the much – awaited events in the Manila calendar. Although it was La Catedral de Manila that was under the patronage of “La Inmaculada Concepcion,” and although the Jesuits fervently venerated her under that title at the Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola on Calle Arzobispo, it was the Franciscanos who organized the annual fiesta in her honor. The late afternoon procession started at San Francisco on Calle San Francisco esquina a Calle Solana, through Calle Solana, entered the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman (Dominicanos) on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Solana for prayers and hymns, through Calle Beaterio, passed La Catedral on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Cabildo, then returned to San Francisco via Calle Real del Palacio (currently General Luna street). It was a joyous affair as “Navidades” (Christmas) was already in the air with the cool December breezes; five days later would be the 13 de Diciembre fiesta of Santa Lucia de Siracusa (Saint Lucy of Syracuse) at the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino (Recoletos) on Calle Cabildo Recoletos, a time when country folk from the surrounding provinces --- Bulacan, Pampanga, Morong, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite --- descended on the church patio with their fresh delicacies and charming wares, to the delight of the city folk who eagerly purchased them, for even then, Manilenos inevitably suffered from “mal de ville” (“city illness”).

Lot 140 of the Leon Gallery auction on June 17, 2023. Please see leon-gallery.com/auctions/The-Sp

355_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

011_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

© All rights reserved.

A low-res, flatbed scan of a 6x7 (2 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch) transparency.

This image was made long after the color of the sunset peaked one evening near Bodega Bay, California. Left, was the blue color of the sky pouring through openings, filtering through the clouds above, and bounicing around to paint this image blue. With this angle, I was able to photograph the interesting cloud base and the sea, not forgetting, of course, the wonderful sea stacks of the Sonoma County coast that always steal the show. Thank you for looking!

De Tallado Inmaculada Concepcion in a virina

Last Quarter, 19th century, Manila

Ivory, polychrome, gold gilding, silver dipped in gold

82 x 40 x 40 cm (32 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in)

In 1578, Pope Gregory XIII established the diocese of Manila and decreed that its cathedral should be under the invocation of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then Pope Pius XXII in 1942, declared Virgin Mary under the title Immaculate Concepcion as the patroness of the Philippines. Since then devotion to her has grown even more popular and widespread.

This is a beautiful depiction of the Inmaculada Concepcion, complete with all the attributes. The head, in ¾ ivory and wooden backing, has a serene and kind aura, her hands made of solid ivory are in prayers. The body is carved from a single piece of wood and her garbs are polychrome painted in traditional colors, gold gilt on some areas and painted estofado-style to recreate brocade decorations. She wears earrings adorned with real diamonds. Her crown, halo with 12 stars, sun and moon are all original and made of silver dipped in gold. The center of the sun on her right side is colored glass. The original cloud base is mounted on a gold-leafed sub-base. The virina is old while the kamagong base is a replacement. Found from the same wealthy family in Nueva Ecija where St. Joseph was found.

Estimate: PHP 200,000 - 220,000

Lot 393 of the Salcedo Auctions auction on 22 September 2018. Please see www.salcedoauctions.com for more information.

489_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

It was the Sunderland Airshow at the weekend and probably the biggest event in the city's calendar.

I'm led to believe that the thousands of visitors who descend upon the seafront come from far and wide and you could find accommodation hard to find if you don't book up early enough!

In the week leading up to thhis year's event, the UK was having a heatwave. Unfortunately, as Friday approached, the sttart of the weekend-long event, the weather changed. A low cloud base really puts a spanner in the works for an event like this and although the show went ahead as planned, some of the flying displays were either dropped or curtailed. The weather challenges aside didn't stop the fun and there was still plenty going on to keep the huge crowds happy.

Here, a view along the misty seafront as thousands of people look to the skies.

211_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

This image shows the Chamaeleon II molecular cloud based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Chamaeleon cloud complex consists of three molecular clouds of very different morphology and stages of evolution: Chamaeleon I, II and III, with Chamaleon III having no young stars.

Chamaeleon II, despite its name, would not be able to camouflage in with Chamaeleon I even though they have similar sizes and masses. The region is still actively forming stars and and has a smaller stellar population of around 60. It doesn’t have defined ridge like in Chamaeleon I, and is dominated by clumps.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

003_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

102_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21 — 2021 Houston Region Economic Outlook shares perspectives on the region’s economy and future outlook. Speakers include Northern Trust Chief Economist Carl R. Tannenbaum,

and Partnership Senior VP of Research, Patrick Jankowski, December 1, 2021 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.102_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21

008_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

213_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

081_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

Virtual Panorama of Reiter Berry Farms, in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015, are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve on the 30% water savings they already achieve with precision micro subsurface irrigation. The use of a Wireless Irrigation Monitoring Network (WIN) to collects data from wireless solar powered soil tensiometers, and weather field stations positioned throughout farms in three counties enable them to track soil, temperature, and humidity conditions with a cloud-based irrigation management system, to better manage watering and soil conservation efforts in more than 700 acres. They actively share their data, methods, and experiences with other producers. Better management by producers using a currently dwindling supply and quality of ground water (wells) in this county will help recharge the aquifer and prevent the migration of nearby Pacific Ocean salt water into the ground water they use. This is one of the ways growers are extending the water supply. Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) has been involved with family farming since 1868; is a leading fresh, multi-berry producer in the world; and a leading supplier of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in North America.

Wireless soil tensiometer are buried at multiple specific distances and depths from the subsurface water emitters and the root balls. The tensiometer measures how strongly the soil absorbs water. The tensiometer’s porous probe is buried into the soil and a pump pulls some air out, creating a vacuum. Water and moisture from the surrounding soil enters the probe. Low amounts of water entering the tensiometer indicate plants (and evaporation) are pulling water from the soil and may need to be watered. High levels of water entering the tensiometer indicate the plants have enough water. This information is then transmitted to a company’s cloud-based irrigation management system that makes the data available on customer’s mobile device in the field. If this data is combined with historical data and other information, it can help determine when, how long and how fast watering needs to be for best efficiency, soil health and electrical economy to improve a business’s yield and profitability. These measurements helps ensure ideal watering and for soil conservation. The farms have been using the tensiometers for 5 years. USDA Photo Illustration by Lance Cheung.

The Air Force team have different routines depending on weather conditions. “If it is cloudy we can fly under the cloud base and we open our parachutes straight away.”

When they jump from the aircraft at 9000feet, they hold onto each other in a star formation. “We then break and track away from each other at around 5,500 feet and at 4,000 feet we deploy our shutes,” said Kevin.

All members of the Display Unit are full-time instructors. Once they are ‘free fall’ qualified and have gained the appropriate experience they are gradually introduced into the display team.

49 xenon searchlights firing into the London sky. Ryoji Ikeda's work was commissioned as part of the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and was switched on at 10pm on 4th August 2014.

I have been passing this every day while it was being constructed over the last week or so. I expected it to be impressive but hadn't bargained on the thousands of moths, bats and birds that cause the beams of light to twinkle right up to the cloud base like spirits ascending into heaven.

008_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

We had some stunning optical effects visible on our way back from Limoges to Stanstead on 25th September 2017. This was the first time I'd ever seen optics reflected on the cloud base below; that was quite a special experience!

010_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

This image shows the Chamaeleon I molecular cloud based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Chamaeleon cloud complex consists of three molecular clouds of very different morphology and stages of evolution: Chamaeleon I, II and III, with Chamaleon III having no young stars. An image of Chamaeleon II is available here.

Chamaeleon I is a star-forming region with more than 200 young stars. A massive, newly-formed star powers the IC 2631 reflection nebula, visible at the top of the image. Two other reflection nebulae, called Cederblad 110 and Cederblad 111, are located in the centre of the image.

At the end its star formation phase, Chamaeleon I has a central ridge-like structure, and there are dense clumps embedded in the ridge. Faint striations can be seen in the cloud, aligned with the magnetic field.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

This thunderstorm reached severe intensity as it move over my area. Its developing supercell structure was quite evident with the distinct lowering and semi-rotating cloud base. Within a few minutes after this timelapse ends, 0.41 inch fell in just 9 minutes with 2 minutes of pea and marble sized hail.

Taken with YI 4K action cam in video mode

665_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

Virtual Panorama of Reiter Berry Farms, in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015, are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve on the 30% water savings they already achieve with precision micro subsurface irrigation. The use of a Wireless Irrigation Monitoring Network (WIN) to collects data from wireless solar powered soil tensiometers, and weather field stations positioned throughout farms in three counties enable them to track soil, temperature, and humidity conditions with a cloud-based irrigation management system, to better manage watering and soil conservation efforts in more than 700 acres. They actively share their data, methods, and experiences with other producers. Better management by producers using a currently dwindling supply and quality of ground water (wells) in this county will help recharge the aquifer and prevent the migration of nearby Pacific Ocean salt water into the ground water they use. This is one of the ways growers are extending the water supply. Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) has been involved with family farming since 1868; is a leading fresh, multi-berry producer in the world; and a leading supplier of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in North America.

Wireless soil tensiometer are buried at multiple specific distances and depths from the subsurface water emitters and the root balls. The tensiometer measures how strongly the soil absorbs water. The tensiometer’s porous probe is buried into the soil and a pump pulls some air out, creating a vacuum. Water and moisture from the surrounding soil enters the probe. Low amounts of water entering the tensiometer indicate plants (and evaporation) are pulling water from the soil and may need to be watered. High levels of water entering the tensiometer indicate the plants have enough water. This information is then transmitted to a company’s cloud-based irrigation management system that makes the data available on customer’s mobile device in the field. If this data is combined with historical data and other information, it can help determine when, how long and how fast watering needs to be for best efficiency, soil health and electrical economy to improve a business’s yield and profitability. These measurements helps ensure ideal watering and for soil conservation. The farms have been using the tensiometers for 5 years. USDA Photo Illustration by Lance Cheung.

The Reparto Sperimentale di Volo (RSV) test pilot's returned to RIAT 2024 with a fully aerobatic display from their Alenia C-27J Spartan. The high cloud base on a couple of show days allowed for the full display to be performed which includes numerios derry turns, barrel rolls, and even a full loop. Not too shabby for a cargo aircraft! -19/07/2024

This image shows the Musca molecular clouds based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Musca clouds are part of the Chamaeleon cloud complex, where the vast star-forming region overlaps with the constellation of Musca, the Fly. Resembling a streak of lightning, the well-defined, elongated molecular cloud spans three degrees across the sky. It is also sometimes called the Dark Doodad Nebula.

Magnetic field lines clearly appear to be perpendicular to the main filament in the cloud. Striations are present, although not necessarily connected to the main filament, and there are also denser hair-like strands – structures attached to the main filament. Strands are distributed all along the main filament.

Musca is similar to the B213 filament in the Taurus Molecular Cloud in terms of perpendicular striations, however Musca lacks the fine substructure of the Taurus filament.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

Royal Air Force Boeing Sentry E.3 ZH101 on finals to land after 'opening' the RAF Waddington 2014 Airshow along with the RC-135W and a Sentinel.

Unfortunately with the cloud-base virtually on the deck at that point we didn't get to see their flypast but managed a shot or two as she returned later as the cloud began to lift and the temperature increased.

(Virtual Panorama) Color-coded flags mark strategic locations where soil tensiometers are buried at Reiter Berry Farms, in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015, who are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve on the 30% water savings they already achieve with precision micro subsurface irrigation. The use of a Wireless Irrigation Monitoring Network (WIN) to collects data from wireless solar powered soil tensiometers, and weather field stations positioned throughout farms in three counties enable them to track soil, temperature, and humidity conditions with a cloud-based irrigation management system, to better manage watering and soil conservation efforts in more than 700 acres. They actively share their data, methods, and experiences with other producers. Better management by producers using a currently dwindling supply and quality of ground water (wells) in this county will help recharge the aquifer and prevent the migration of nearby Pacific Ocean salt water into the ground water they use. This is one of the ways growers are extending the water supply. Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) has been involved with family farming since 1868; is a leading fresh, multi-berry producer in the world; and a leading supplier of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in North America.

Wireless soil tensiometer are buried at multiple specific distances and depths from the subsurface water emitters and the root balls. The tensiometer measures how strongly the soil absorbs water. The tensiometer’s porous probe is buried into the soil and a pump pulls some air out, creating a vacuum. Water and moisture from the surrounding soil enters the probe. Low amounts of water entering the tensiometer indicate plants (and evaporation) are pulling water from the soil and may need to be watered. High levels of water entering the tensiometer indicate the plants have enough water. This information is then transmitted to a company’s cloud-based irrigation management system that makes the data available on customer’s mobile device in the field. If this data is combined with historical data and other information, it can help determine when, how long and how fast watering needs to be for best efficiency, soil health and electrical economy to improve a business’s yield and profitability. These measurements helps ensure ideal watering and for soil conservation. The farms have been using the tensiometers for 5 years. USDA Photo Illustration by Lance Cheung.

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

Binondo, Manila and San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan

ivory, silver, velvet, baticuling wood

1890s

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14" (36 cm)

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14 (36 cm)

Opening bid: PHP 300,000

Property from the Don Maximo Viola Collection

Provenance: Maximo Viola, Descendants of Maximo Viola

About the Work

by Augusto Marcelino Reyes Gonzalez III

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): an exceptional tabletop “San Jose y Nino Jesus.”

The San Jose has a serious, fatherly expression and the Nino Jesus he is carrying on his left hand has a playful but respectful mien. The father carries a solid silver staff of lilies on his right hand. Both San Jose and the Nino Jesus have long hair of “jusi” fibers; the father wears a solid silver “paraguas” halo and the son wears solid silver “tres potencias” symbolizing the three powers of the Lord --- Authority (Exousia in Greek), Ability (Dunamis in Greek), and Strength (Kratas in Greek). The San Jose wears a traditional green robe and yellow cape and the Nino Jesus wears a traditional yellow robe, both are embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. The father stands on an exceptional “peana” pedestal base of the rare type: a lily emerging from four acanthus leaves which are supported by smaller leaves on a base of foliar forms. The finely–gilded peana is found only with the highest quality ivory statuary. In Roman Catholicism, Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus Christ and the Patron of the Universal Church. During the Spanish period and up to prewar (up to 1940), the center of devotion to El Glorioso Patriarca San Jose was at the San Nicolas de Tolentino church (“Recoletos”) in Intramuros; there were weekly devotions on Wednesdays and a big fiesta every 26 November. Unfortunately, the Recoletos church, the 26 November fiesta tradition, and the image of San Jose Patriarca were all destroyed by aerial bombs in February 1945. The other important, traditional centers of devotion to San Jose remain with “Tata Hosep” in Las Pinas, “Tata Bukot” in Navotas, and “Senor San Jose” in Mandaue, Cebu. There is a renewed, worldwide devotion to Saint Joseph as Pope Francis has acknowledged that he often leaves a petition to the saint overnight and receives a resolution in the morning.

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): a beatific tabletop “La Inmaculada Concepcion.” The Virgin Mary has a gentle downward gaze, reminiscent of the “La Purisima” festejada at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) in Intramuros (destroyed during World War II). It has long hair of “jusi” fibers, a silvergilt crown, and an aureole of twelve stars. The long, slender hands are held together in prayer. The image is dressed in the traditional white robe and blue cape, “palikpik” style, embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. An enameled, silvergilt sun and silver crescent moon are at its feet. The statuette stands on a (deliberately) oversized, silver–leafed, Ming–style “ensaimada” cloud base with the serpent interspersed between. The cloud is supported by a traditional gilded “peana” pedestal with foliar forms. The Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.” During the Spanish era (up to 1898), and up until prewar (to 1940), the 08 de Diciembre procession of “La Purisima” (“La Inmaculada Concepcion”) at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) was one of the much – awaited events in the Manila calendar. Although it was La Catedral de Manila that was under the patronage of “La Inmaculada Concepcion,” and although the Jesuits fervently venerated her under that title at the Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola on Calle Arzobispo, it was the Franciscanos who organized the annual fiesta in her honor. The late afternoon procession started at San Francisco on Calle San Francisco esquina a Calle Solana, through Calle Solana, entered the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman (Dominicanos) on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Solana for prayers and hymns, through Calle Beaterio, passed La Catedral on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Cabildo, then returned to San Francisco via Calle Real del Palacio (currently General Luna street). It was a joyous affair as “Navidades” (Christmas) was already in the air with the cool December breezes; five days later would be the 13 de Diciembre fiesta of Santa Lucia de Siracusa (Saint Lucy of Syracuse) at the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino (Recoletos) on Calle Cabildo Recoletos, a time when country folk from the surrounding provinces --- Bulacan, Pampanga, Morong, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite --- descended on the church patio with their fresh delicacies and charming wares, to the delight of the city folk who eagerly purchased them, for even then, Manilenos inevitably suffered from “mal de ville” (“city illness”).

Lot 140 of the Leon Gallery auction on June 17, 2023. Please see leon-gallery.com/auctions/The-Spectacular-Mid-Year-Auctio... for more information.

There was a cold and unstable northwesterly flow when I arrived at Durness, and this was one of my first shots, looking north from the garden of our holiday cottage The freezing level must have been around 1000 feet or so, allowing the cumulonimbus anvil to form right down to the cloud base. The tops are probably only around 10 to 12 thousand feet.

0837 Glasgow Central-Carlisle.

In awful weather for photography, low cloud base, heavy rain and strong winds.

Set 450 makes the stop at SANQUHAR.

4 Oct 17

Martha Romero guides husband Salvador Prieto as he drives and dumps a load of mulch at their Hass avocado trees; she’ll then toss the mulch into place near the tree trunks and under the canopy, in Somis, CA, on Nov 15, 2018. All the while, they ensure the micro irrigation sprinklers are not damaged.

Salvador Prieto grew up watching and helping his father grow corn and beans on a small farm in Mexico. The journey from bean fields to 20-acre orchard owner with his wife Martha Romero was not a straight and narrow path to Somis, Calif. In fact, it was music that brought him to the United States. Today the passion is agriculture.

Similarly, Romero didn’t follow a career in agriculture to her beautiful and healthy avocado and lemon orchard. Romero grew up a city girl in the heart of Los Angeles. Now sharing this farm with her husband and two children, she quickly credits her success to the support and assistance from her family to navigate the learning curve.

Constantly seeking improvement on the family’s orchard, Romero discovered the local Farm Bureau and the Ventura County Agricultural Irrigated Land Group (VCAILG) coalition. VCAILG put Romero in touch with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Ventura Resource Conservation District, for technical and financial assistance to implement conservation and management practices.

NRCS California District Conservationist Dawn Afman, Soil Conservationist Elizabeth Keith, and Resource Conservationist Brooks Engelhardt, have all provided technical assistance and invested their time and expertise in helping Prieto and Romero incorporate conservation practices in their orchard. Prieto and Romero were immediately intrigued by NRCS’s efforts to improve soil health.

“At first it was overwhelming, but many other farmers I know are members, so it is comforting to know that I am not alone,” said Romero. “We need to make a profit, obviously, but, for me, I want to do it while protecting mother nature and precious resources like water. I am able to do this with NRCS’s help.”

Prieto and Romero learned a lot from trial and error. Romero admits that she even bought her trees before the land was ready. But learning opportunities, like an early community garden project, gave them critical knowledge and experience.

A big first conservation practice they learned was mulching to save water and reduce weeds. NRCS helped Prieto and Romero with this, through an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract, to apply mulch to their orchard floor to conserve soil moisture and improve soil health in the Fall of 2018.

“Every time we have a question or need assistance, NRCS has been nothing but helpful,” added Romero. “They let us know about other programs out in the community and invited us to their annual Latino Farmer Conference, where my husband and I learned about other helpful resources.”

Recently, Prieto and Romero entered into a new NRCS contract to implement Irrigation Water Management (IWM) to their orchard. The IWM plan includes installing moisture sensors into the ground, which transmit continuous data to cloud-based storage, and accessed through a smart device app on their phones. The information lets them know when, where and how long to irrigate. This knowledge will help them toward their goal of producing 6,000 pounds of produce per acre.

Looking toward the future, Romero expressed that knowledge is key. “Before we plant further, we need to get educated on how to do it best,” concluded Romero. “From the planting of a seed or planting of a tree, we need the entire process to be profitable. It's not just about planting it. It's about preparing the land and using the resources wisely.”

In the meantime, Romero enjoys the weekends because she does not need to be worried about picking up the kids from school or rushing around. She just wants to be out in the orchard, making it better From mulching to pruning or irrigating and weeding. The family’s goal is to make the farm “better tomorrow than it was today.”

Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department’s focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs, and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.

The agencies and services supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

NRCS has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners for more than 80 years. USDA helps people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat.

From weather to pests, and from a lack of time to markets, each American farmer faces a unique set of challenges. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps agricultural producers confront those challenges – all while conserving natural resources like soil, water, and air.

This voluntary conservation program helps producers make conservation work for them. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations.

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. Through EQIP, you can voluntarily implement conservation practices and NRCS co-invests in these practices with you.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

For more information, please see:

USDA

www.usda.gov

FPAC

www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/mission-areas

NRCS

www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/

EQIP

www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/program...

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-41R G-VXLG with flight VS128 from New York (JFK) appears out of the low cloud base on approach to Manchester Airport on the 13th August 2018

Old Winchester Hill 2

My first upload of this image didn’t look right, so I decided to rework it and add a little more drama. I’ve also gone for a cloud base with more punch!

Thank you for taking the time to look at my work, which I hope you have enjoyed

535_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

073_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

A spectacular day on the mountain with Marcus Conway. Due to the late spring, these birds had only arrived on the mountan tops a few days earlier and as the window between their arrival and the start of nesting is so narrow we were very fortunate indeed. With the cloud base also above the top of the mountains all day, we couldn't have timed it better and I finally had the chance to photograph these beautiful birds. Huge thanks to Marcus www.ebirder.net

039_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

115_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

Island of Arran . Scotland

074_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

161_GHP_Airports_5Oct22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports with Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports held at the Marriott Marquis October 5, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

IMAGE INFO

- The original magnificent "Guardian Lions" of Ehden were donated by an emigrant named Boutros Sheikha Douaihy (in 1939) & sculpted by artist Georges El Selou. A relative of Boutros, Youssef Sheikha Douaihy, helped Georges build the statue bases.

- Sadly, the original sharply detailed hand-sculpted lion statues seen in this photo are no longer there. The whole area has since been urbanized & new road system built, becoming a tourist mecca in later years. I have no idea where the original sculpted lions may have ended up. However, a replacement lion (appears to be a concrete cast replica) now exists on top of the original left stone plinth (now white-washed). The original right stone plinth (sans lion) was removed to allow for road widening & it appears a replacement plinth (not the same quality carved stones) with another poorer quality, replica concrete lion statue sitting atop it has been positioned much further to the right. See this Google Street View link for how the replica lions & replacement right plinth are now situated (note the original Shrine building in the background is still there!):

www.google.com.au/maps/@34.2920144,35.9541683,3a,51.1y,74...

- Saydet el Hosn basilica (aka the "Lady of the Fortress" shrine & monastery) is atop the peak of the mountain, which can be seen rising to the cloud base in the background of the photo.

- Ehden is located 30km east of Tripoli, on the Mar Sarkis (Saint Sarkis) Mountain, overlooking coastal towns and villages as far as Akkar to Shikka.

************************

SOURCE INFO

- This very rare, unique original image was captured by my late father-in-law, Driver Tom Beazley of the 2/4 Anti Malaria Control Unit, 9 Division, 2 Australian Imperial Force, using a KODAK folding 120 roll-film camera while on local leave to Ehden & surrounds.

************************

PROCESS INFO

- Very grainy, faded & blurry original print was digitized using a Canon Canoscan 8800F scanner.

- Colourized using MyHeritage app.

- Image quality enhanced using Topaz Gigapixel AI, Skylum Luminar Neo AI & Adobe Photoshop CS2.

213_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

231_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.