TobaccoDays (TD) is committed to showing you; the pipe-maker, the pipe collector, the pipe hobbyist – the pipe world from a different perspective. Every topic covered on TD aims to make you think different. Aims to make you see different. Anything & everything that we can bundle up together and have the final outcome alter an existing attitude on the subject covered, is considered a wonderful day here at TD.

 

Today I launch a new series which has the aim to highlight the beautiful & varied texture on our beloved pipes. Yes, we hold our pipes, caress them, enjoy them & smoke them day in and day out. Do we ever miss some of the small details though? Can we look at them any deeper? Of course we can.

 

To assist that process, I went out and hired a professional photographer (high-speed camera, strobe lights, big set-up & all) and took macro pictures of pipes to focus on their surface, their texture. The next phase of the project required me to find a way to express the beauty of the pipe’s surface. Since I lack any skill in the photo shop arena, I went out and hired a professional graphic designer and together we art-directed the project and took it to it’s final stages. The question of – How do we show the beauty of the pipe’s surface & make sure that we ‘really see it’ was the one thing guiding this project. While the pipe’s surrounding’s are definitely photo-shopped, the actual surface of the pipe remains 100% untouched. You are looking at the actual pipe surface of a Dunhill Patent pipe made in 1917, as it looks in reality. This was part of the project’s point. To show the surface, unchanged, in order to highlight it’s ‘interest factor’ that much more.

What I love about this image is that you can see the so-called birth of the sandblasting process. This was right around the time when those pioneers at the Dunhill factory first began to use sandblasting as a technique to apply texture to the briar's surface.

This past month I came into contact with Elisa from Committed Jewelry.

It's been like finding a best friend.

The beauty of it?

I've never met her.. but social media and smart phones and all that other stuff that gets in the way of most of our everyday lives has brought us together, to texting, talking, sharing business ideas, inspiring one another, and sharing our everyday lives.

We are two apples, we just fell from different trees.

 

So, we decided we needed to do something fun with it.

With a friendship that continues to grow even though one of us is in Arizona and the other in Florida.

I suggested we start a bracelet.

Make one charm- send it off- wear it- add a charm- send it back, repeat.

(Elisa is calling it sisterhood of the traveling bracelet).

By the end, it will be a perfect, charm-filled collaboration, bracelet of our friendship, of the growth of our businesses- filled with inspiration.

And then we will fight to the death for who gets to keep it.

Good thing I've been working out.

I agreed to start the bracelet.

 

Marked with the start date, resin filled with our favorite colors, our initials on the front.

I think it's a perfect start.

Even though the design changed six times and it's not quite what I had in mind- it's filled with heart. This is going to be a project that I will remember forever.

 

I am so excited.

I committed a moving violation to take this photo (sorry Dad!). I just thought it looked so nice, I had to stop, and back up a little bit (I used my hazard lights and made sure nobody was coming).

 

312/365 11/8/11

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The Baymont Inn & Suites is committed to providing you with top notch lodging at amazing prices. Beautiful rooms. Beautiful prices. For beautiful people like you. Start your visit to Des Moines the right way by checking into the Baymont Inn and Suites of Des Moines! Your stay is welcomed by an immaculate lobby for you and your guests, followed by exceptional customer service by our hosts. Post check-in, you may be interested in relaxing at the wonderful indoor pool that also features a great hot tub and fitness facility. Towels are always made available for you and your guests located inside the pool area!

      

Within the vicinity, there are several restaurants for you to enjoy. Iowa Beef Steakhouse is only a half mile from the hotel. This restaurant was voted #1 for the Finest Steak House In Des Moines in 2005. The other restaurants near the hotel are: Bonanza Buffet, Plaza Mexico, Country Kitchen, and Village Inn.

 

Venues such as the Civic Center, Hoyt Sherman Auditorium, Wells Fargo Arena, and Des Moines playhouse are all within 7 miles of this hotel. You can view all upcoming events by going to www.eventful.com!!!

 

"Great King Sized Jacuzzi Suite"

 

Jackie W. - Past Guest

 

"Best Continental Breakfast"

 

Past Guest

   

Amenities

 

•Complimentary HOT deluxe breakfast

•Complimentary USA Today

•Complimentary Wireless Internet

•Free Local Calls

•Business Services - Fax, Print, Email

•ATM

•Vending Machine

•Indoor Pool

•Hot Tub

•Exercise Room

•In Room Microwave

•In Room Refrigerator

•In Room Hairdryer

•In Room Iron and Board

•In Room Coffee Pot

•Large Work Desks

•Cable Television With Premium Channels

Meeting Facilities

 

•Two Large Meeting Facilities

•Meeting Room Can Accommodate 130 People

•On Site Catering Service/Garden Courtyard/Hospitality Room Available/Audio & Visual Equipment Included

Check out the beautiful jacuzzi suites while you are here! These are for 21 and up. Anyone under 21 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

 

Baymont Inn presents eight different Jacuzzi Suites for guest enjoyment. During Valentine's weekend, the suites start to book from December. The guest may choose from 8 different styles. As of March 2009, the following styles are available:

 

•Luxury

•Japanese

•Canopy Bed

•Floral

Each suite features a 2-person hot tub with power jets. You will also find in-room amenities such as coffee pot, iron, microwave, refrigerator, and hairdryer! In the morning, please enjoy complimentary hot breakfast served from 6-9 am. We look forward to meeting you!

 

4685 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313

Phone (515) 265-4777

Fax (515) 262-7469

 

At the We Like'em Short Film Festival Churchill School in Baker City Oregon

The We Like ‘Em Short Film Festival is committed to celebrating the art of the short film, and providing a platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their talent. This festival seeks original and entertaining animated and comedy shorts from around the world.

The We Like ‘Em Short Film Festival was started in 2009 as a very small local festival featuring local filmmakers. In 2012 the festival decided to seek entries online, which has led them to becoming an international film festival with films now being submitted from around the world. In 2014 festival decided to pare the festival down a bit, seeking only the films that staff and audiences had consistently found to be the most entertaining, creative and engaging: animated and comedy shorts.

In 2014 the We Like'em Short Film Festival was named Oregon's Best Fine Arts Festival by the Oregon Festivals and Events Association.

This year’s COD version of the We Like”em Short Film Festival transitioned to a Drive in format this year to accommodate CDC and Statewide guidelines fro social distancing and event size.restrictions. For more information about the We Like'em Short Film Festival or other Baker County cultural and art events, visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com

  

World Rent a Car is a quality car rental brand committed to providing you outstanding customer service whilst maintaining competitive prices so you truly get the best of both worlds.

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Cheap Car Hire at London Heathrow Airport. Amazing Car Rental Fleet of Brand News Cars and Vans. Minibus and Multi Purpose Vehicles MPV available to Rent on low rates per day. World Rent A Car offers a whole new world of service. Rent A Car Now from our user friendly online Booking system.

  

World Rent a Car was established in 2013 and has been developed to concentrate on delivering "Service First" for its customers. Our first location is at London's Heathrow international airport, located at the Marriott Hotel, Bath Road.

  

Our Heathrow location is in easy reach of all 5 terminals and is connected by the National Express "Hotel Hoppa Bus" service. The World Car Rental reception is positioned conveniently within the atrium of the Marriott Hotel.

  

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World Rent a Car dedicated to providing the highest levels of customer service. We provide car hire at Heathrow airport and have established ourselves as a high quality/premium supplier to an expanding global customer base.

  

Collecting and Returning Your Car Rental Vehicle

  

World Rent a Car Heathrow is located on Bath Road (the parameter road for Heathrow airport) at the Marriott Hotel. As the busiest airport in the United Kingdom, it benefits from excellent motorway links such as the M25, M3 and M4. An obvious starting point for millions of visitors per year, Heathrow hirer's regularly take our cars all over the country.

  

On arriving at Heathrow, you have a choice of requesting a personal meet and greet service where World Rent a Car representatives will meet you in person at the Arrivals Hall and take you to your car. Alternatively, you can utilise the National Express Hotel Hoppa service which is available at all 5 of London Heathrow terminals and make your way directly to the Marriott Hotel on Bath Road. Approximate journey time between 10-15 minutes.

  

When returning your vehicle, take the M4 motorway towards London and take the exit for London Heathrow Airport Terminals 1, 2 & 3. At the roundabout, take the extreme right, continuing to follow signs for Heathrow Airport (Terminals 1, 2, &3). You will see the Holiday Inn Hotel on your right-hand side. Continue on Spur Road until you get to the next roundabout, at which point you can turn left onto Bath Road. Continue along Bath Road where you will find the Marriott Hotel positioned between the Radisson Edwardian and the Sheraton Hotels on your left. Marriott Hotel Heathrow

  

If you require hotel accommodation either on your in or outbound journey from London Heathrow, why not enjoy the great ambiance of the Marriott Hotel group and book a night at the Marriott Heathrow Airport.

 

FHE Lesson: "Easter"

by Shauna Gibby

 

"Jesus Christ took upon Himself the weight of our sins and the injustices that are committed in the world to the end that we can be free from the consequences." -Jorge F. Zeballos

  

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read "Attempting the Impossible," by Jorge F. Zeballos, Ensign, Nov 2009, 33-34.

  

Thought:

Jesus Christ took upon Himself the weight of our sins and the injustices that are committed in the world to the end that we can be free from the consequences.

  

Song:

"Did Jesus Really Live Again," Children's Songbook, p.64.

 

Scripture:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. (3 Nephi 11:10-14)

  

Note: The following story and lesson are excerpts from the book The Easter Walk by Deborah Pace Rowley and Dan Burr. You can find the entire story and scripture walk in the book.

  

Story:

Tyler couldn't wait for his Easter walk with Grandpa. This year would be even better because his little sister, six-year-old Amy, was coming with them for the first time. Tyler knew she wouldn't completely understand each scripture, but she would be excited about the treasure hunt.

 

Grandpa, Tyler, and Amy walked quietly through the park until Grandpa gave the first scripture clue: "And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head" (Mark 15:17).

 

Tyler took Amy's hand, and they ran ahead until they found a thorny branch. Amy carried it back to Grandpa.

 

"Excellent," Grandpa said. "What does this thorny branch remind you of?"

 

"It reminds me that Jesus knows what it feels like to be hurt and sad," Tyler answered. "When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweat drops of blood because of our sins. One of the apostles betrayed him, and the soldiers whipped and mocked him. Then they forced a crown of thorns onto his head."

 

Grandpa reached out for Tyler's hand and squeezed it tight. For the next clue, Grandpa explained that a friend of Jesus "wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre" (Mark 15:46).

 

Amy found a pretty rock that had sparkly crystals in it and handed it to Grandpa. "Good choice," said Grandpa.

 

"Tyler, can you tell us the meaning of this stone?"

 

"A stone was rolled in front of Jesus' tomb, and guards were put in front of it," Tyler answered. "But on the third day an angel came from heaven and rolled the stone away. When Jesus' disciples went to the garden, they saw that the stone had been moved and the tomb was empty."

 

Grandpa waited until they were almost back home before he gave the last clue. This scripture was Tyler's favorite. "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6).

 

The children saw many things that were alive. Amy brought Grandpa a ladybug, but Tyler wanted to find something special. He found it in front of their house. Tyler carefully picked a red tulip blossom and sat down beside Grandpa on the porch. Amy picked a red tulip, too. Their mom had planted these tulips, and they came up every spring.

 

"So," said Grandpa quietly, "tell me why we needed to find something alive."

 

Tyler loved it when Grandpa asked this question. He always had a warm and good feeling inside when he answered. Grandpa said that feeling was from the Holy Ghost. "We found something alive because Jesus is alive. He was resurrected on the third day."

 

Tyler put his arm around Amy and gave her a big hug.

 

Amy leaned up and whispered in Tyler's ear. "I know Jesus is alive, too."

 

Lesson and Activity:

You can go on your own Easter walk as a family. Walk around your neighborhood or go to a park or wooded area near your home.

 

If the weather is uncooperative, you can have a treasure hunt inside the house. You may want to carry a sack to hold your treasures. Read the following verses in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and have your children find items suggested by the scriptures. Discuss the significance of each item as you walk or after you arrive home. Bear testimony to your family of the truthfulness of the Atonement and the Resurrection.

 

Share your feelings about the Savior. As you do this, your children will feel the Spirit, and their testimonies will grow.

 

Scripture Clue: Mark 15:17

Something pointed and sharp to represent the crown of thorns.

 

Scripture Clue: John 19:17-18

Something made of wood to represent the cross.

 

Scripture Clue: Mark 15:46

Something hard and round to represent the stone placed in front of the tomb.

 

Scripture Clue: Matthew 28:5-6

Something alive to represent that Jesus Christ is alive again.

  

Refreshment

Butterscotch Bundt Rolls

 

Also known as sticky buns--fabulous!

 

Ingredients

18 frozen dinner rolls

 

1 (3-ounce) package butterscotch pudding (not instant)

 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

 

1/2 cup chopped pecans

 

1/2 cup melted butter

 

Directions

Arrange frozen rolls in a greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle pudding, brown sugar, and pecans over rolls. Drizzle butter over all. Cover Bundt pan with a dishtowel, plastic wrap, or waxed paper and let rise at room temperature overnight, or about 12 hours. Remove dishtowel. Bake at 350° F. for about 25 minutes. Cool 5 to 10 minutes before inverting to a serving plate. Serve warm. Makes 18 rolls.

  

(Julie Badger Jensen, Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003] p. 5.)

   

Click here to download the PDF version of this lesson.

 

We managed to get to the Lake District for the Easter weekend. We were open at work on Good Friday so I had to be in at work for a couple of hours and didn’t set off until 9.00am. We had a quick café stop and then jumped on the M62. It took us until 2.00pm to get to Langdale. We crawled up the M61 and M6, reminding me why we used to avoid Bank Holiday traffic. Although staying in Ambleside we drove to Langdale to get a couple of hours walking in. Langdale was packed but we found a place to park at the foot of the pass up to Blea Tarn. We headed up Pike of Blisco – against a steady stream of walkers descending at this time in the afternoon. I didn’t bother taking photos to any great extent, it wasn’t great light, windy and the appalling weekend forecast had depressed me – this was supposed to be the best day and it was nearly over. After a nice settled spell, possibly the first in the north of England this winter (now officially British Summertime) heavy rain and gales were coming our way apparently.

 

Each morning I studied the maps trying to second guess the light, wind and crowds. On Saturday it was initially dry, much to our surprise, we parked in Coniston and set off up Walna Scar Road. It’s a long steep drag to the top of the pass, the cloud was down and thick, the wind was getting extreme as we got higher – and we didn’t see a soul! We were heading over Brown Pike onto Dow Crag, we weren’t likely to get lost on a ridge. By now it was raining hard and the wind was making staying upright difficult. We slid off the rocky summit of Dow Crag on our backsides, the safest way. We dropped on to Goats Hause, the wind was screaming through and but I guessed there would be some shelter if we headed for the Old Man of Coniston. We met the first person of the day here, arriving at the summit just before him. There was still winter snow on north facing slopes but the wind wasn’t as bad as Dow Crag. It was grim, 30 metre visibility and there was very little point in staying on the tops as originally planned. Jayne was up for heading straight down the tourist track through the quarries. We have only ever ascended it before but we set off down at a trot, passing some fell runners along the way. There was a steady stream of Easter trippers heading up and judging by the questions we were asked on the way down they had little idea of what they were heading in to or how far they were from the summit, and all in appalling conditions. Lower down it was quite calm and many had little idea of the severity of the conditions on the tops. The countryside was rapidly waterlogging again after the belated dry spell.

 

Sunday brought more very heavy rain and gales on the tops. What looked like snow had accumulated on high ground overnight. It was actually several inches of hail and was horrible underfoot, like small wet marbles but trapping a lot of water on the lower slopes below the freezing line. We parked at Patterdale and walked across slopes that the recent floods had wreaked havoc on, with a lot of remedial work to be done this summer. The plan was to get to Boardale Hause and decide whether to go high – over Place Fell – or head in to Boardale and stay low by doing a circuit of Place Fell. It was raining hard and there was a howling gale but it was behind us, the cloud had lifted a bit so we went high. The summit plateau was a nightmare, covered in slippy, wet, slushy hail with the wind nearly blowing us over. We went north straight over the top and down the other side, the top was in thick cloud but the lower slopes were clear and we legged it off the fell, descending by Scalehow Force waterfall, which was in fine form with the heavy rain. We followed the path above the shores of Ullswater back to Patterdale. Another wet walk.

Monday saw us parked a mile or so south of yesterday’s parking place in Patterdale at Bridgend. With the weather being bad people weren’t out early, even on a bank holiday, so we didn’t have a problem parking. There wasn’t a plan, we were just making it up. Today looked promising, Storm Katie was battering the rest of the country but missed the north for a change. The tops were wintry, again it was hail accumulations not snow, on the high ground it was on very old lying snow and very difficult on steep descents. We decided to take the steady slopes of Hartsop above How to Hart Crag, on to Fairfield and then hopefully over Cofa Pike on to St Sunday Crag, Birks and finally Arnison Crag. This was just less than ten miles and it turned out to be a very tough five hours, exhausting, particularly after the three previous days. A large coastguard helicopter circled us repeatedly and finally landed on the path we were following to Hart Crag, we assumed it was on an exercise. The ground was frozen above 2500 feet and walking was easier as the snow/hail was load bearing and we could yomp on a bit. It was like midwinter with frequent squally whiteouts blasting in. The wind would pick up first lifting the frozen hail in a frozen spindrift that bounced along several feet high blasting our faces, this was followed by, what was more like frozen drizzle than snow, fine, but hard, we could feel it through our clothes it came at us that hard. I decided that we would head straight over Cofa Pike to St Sunday. A mistake with hindsight. The lake of footprints was the first bad sign but we were committed. We lived to tell the tale but Jayne had a bit of a near miss. The crag down to Cofa is steep and it was covered in hail on old snow, the layer of hail was shearing away from the underlying snow and we had to go down on out backsides, keeping a tight grip as we went. At one point Jayne failed to arrest a slide that was above a steep and deep drop. I had hold of her from a position in front of her and to her left and I was fairly well anchored so I felt in control and was sure of the outcome. From her point of view it was frightening and it subdued her for the rest of the walk. She had also ripped the outer lining of her Paramo waterproof trousers as well. Considering that we were going downhill it was hard going, every step a slip or a slide, with the underlying grass saturated and a thin layer of hail it was an unpleasant walk off the fell. At the end of Arnison Crag we took a pathless shortcut – that we swore we would never use again years ago – to save around twenty minutes of walking. This was the only day I had the camera out all day and had to cover it with a dryliner bag whenever a heavy shower came in. I also broke the lens hood. We drove to Keswick for afternoon coffee and toast at Brysons. The new Paramo store across the square was the next stop for new trousers. These Paramos had cost £85 14 years ago and they have just brought a new model out. We had two choices, The old model was reduced to…..£85 – after 14 years we could pay the same price or we could return the old trousers - cleaned – and get a £50 voucher towards the new model, which are £135, or £85 with the voucher. The old ones were ¾ of a mile away in the car – unwashed – so we bought the old model. Needless to say we had a couple of drinks in the Golden Rule in Ambleside every night before our tea.

 

TobaccoDays (TD) is committed to showing you; the pipe-maker, the pipe collector, the pipe hobbyist – the pipe world from a different perspective. Every topic covered on TD aims to make you think different. Aims to make you see different. Anything & everything that we can bundle up together and have the final outcome alter an existing attitude on the subject covered, is considered a wonderful day here at TD.

 

Today I launch a new series which has the aim to highlight the beautiful & varied texture on our beloved pipes. Yes, we hold our pipes, caress them, enjoy them & smoke them day in and day out. Do we ever miss some of the small details though? Can we look at them any deeper? Of course we can.

 

To assist that process, I went out and hired a professional photographer (high-speed camera, strobe lights, big set-up & all) and took macro pictures of pipes to focus on their surface, their texture. The next phase of the project required me to find a way to express the beauty of the pipe’s surface. Since I lack any skill in the photo shop arena, I went out and hired a professional graphic designer and together we art-directed the project and took it to it’s final stages. The question of – How do we show the beauty of the pipe’s surface & make sure that we ‘really see it’ was the one thing guiding this project. While the pipe’s surrounding’s are definitely photo-shopped, the actual surface of the pipe remains 100% untouched.

 

You are looking at a small macro section of a Bulldog pipe designed by Michail Revyagin. The shape has a visual quality that resembles a surf-board. Specifically on the under-side of this pipe.

 

In this image, the pipe has been placed in a beach-like environment which I find rather tranquil & pleasant.

Simon Andrews on his Kawasaki is fully committed through Club Corner

in Saturday’s free practice session.

 

Fact File.

 

Drivers Name: Simon Andrews

Nationality: (GBR)

Team Name: MSS Colchester Kawasaki

Chassis: Kawasaki ZX-10R

Race Number: 17

Event: British Superbikes

Class: British Superbikes

Circuit Name: Silverstone

Country: Great Britain

Date: Saturday 25th September 2010

Picture Type: Action

Photographer: Lee Edgson / Copyright / Amateur

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is believed to have lived and taught mostly in northeastern India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE.

 

The word Buddha means "awakened one" or "the enlightened one". "Buddha" is also used as a title for the first awakened being in a Yuga era. In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (Pali sammāsambuddha, Sanskrit samyaksaṃbuddha) of the present age. Gautama taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the śramaṇa movement common in his region. He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kosala.

 

Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition and first committed to writing about 400 years later.

 

CONTENTS

HISTORICAL SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA

Scholars are hesitant to make unqualified claims about the historical facts of the Buddha's life. Most accept that he lived, taught and founded a monastic order during the Mahajanapada era during the reign of Bimbisara, the ruler of the Magadha empire, and died during the early years of the reign of Ajasattu, who was the successor of Bimbisara, thus making him a younger contemporary of Mahavira, the Jain tirthankara. Apart from the Vedic Brahmins, the Buddha's lifetime coincided with the flourishing of other influential śramaṇa schools of thoughts like Ājīvika, Cārvāka, Jainism, and Ajñana. It was also the age of influential thinkers like Mahavira, Pūraṇa Kassapa , Makkhali Gosāla, Ajita Kesakambalī, Pakudha Kaccāyana, and Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta, whose viewpoints the Buddha most certainly must have been acquainted with and influenced by. Indeed, Sariputta and Moggallāna, two of the foremost disciples of the Buddha, were formerly the foremost disciples of Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta, the skeptic. There is also evidence to suggest that the two masters, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta, were indeed historical figures and they most probably taught Buddha two different forms of meditative techniques. While the general sequence of "birth, maturity, renunciation, search, awakening and liberation, teaching, death" is widely accepted, there is less consensus on the veracity of many details contained in traditional biographies.

 

The times of Gautama's birth and death are uncertain. Most historians in the early 20th century dated his lifetime as circa 563 BCE to 483 BCE. More recently his death is dated later, between 411 and 400 BCE, while at a symposium on this question held in 1988, the majority of those who presented definite opinions gave dates within 20 years either side of 400 BCE for the Buddha's death. These alternative chronologies, however, have not yet been accepted by all historians.

 

The evidence of the early texts suggests that Siddhārtha Gautama was born into the Shakya clan, a community that was on the periphery, both geographically and culturally, of the northeastern Indian subcontinent in the 5th century BCE. It was either a small republic, in which case his father was an elected chieftain, or an oligarchy, in which case his father was an oligarch. According to the Buddhist tradition, Gautama was born in Lumbini, nowadays in modern-day Nepal, and raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu, which may have been in either present day Tilaurakot, Nepal or Piprahwa, India. He obtained his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon in Sarnath, and died in Kushinagar.

 

No written records about Gautama have been found from his lifetime or some centuries thereafter. One Edict of Asoka, who reigned from circa 269 BCE to 232 BCE, commemorates the Emperor's pilgrimage to the Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini. Another one of his edicts mentions several Dhamma texts, establishing the existence of a written Buddhist tradition at least by the time of the Maurya era and which may be the precursors of the Pāli Canon. The oldest surviving Buddhist manuscripts are the Gandhāran Buddhist texts, reported to have been found in or around Haḍḍa near Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan and now preserved in the British Library. They are written in the Gāndhārī language using the Kharosthi script on twenty-seven birch bark manuscripts and date from the first century BCE to the third century CE.

 

TRADITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES

BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

The sources for the life of Siddhārtha Gautama are a variety of different, and sometimes conflicting, traditional biographies. These include the Buddhacarita, Lalitavistara Sūtra, Mahāvastu, and the Nidānakathā. Of these, the Buddhacarita is the earliest full biography, an epic poem written by the poet Aśvaghoṣa, and dating around the beginning of the 2nd century CE. The Lalitavistara Sūtra is the next oldest biography, a Mahāyāna/Sarvāstivāda biography dating to the 3rd century CE. The Mahāvastu from the Mahāsāṃghika Lokottaravāda tradition is another major biography, composed incrementally until perhaps the 4th century CE. The Dharmaguptaka biography of the Buddha is the most exhaustive, and is entitled the Abhiniṣkramaṇa Sūtra, and various Chinese translations of this date between the 3rd and 6th century CE. The Nidānakathā is from the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka and was composed in the 5th century by Buddhaghoṣa.

 

From canonical sources, the Jataka tales, the Mahapadana Sutta (DN 14), and the Achariyabhuta Sutta (MN 123) which include selective accounts that may be older, but are not full biographies. The Jātakas retell previous lives of Gautama as a bodhisattva, and the first collection of these can be dated among the earliest Buddhist texts. The Mahāpadāna Sutta and Achariyabhuta Sutta both recount miraculous events surrounding Gautama's birth, such as the bodhisattva's descent from the Tuṣita Heaven into his mother's womb.

 

NATURE OF TRADITIONAL DEPICTIONS

In the earliest Buddhists texts, the nikāyas and āgamas, the Buddha is not depicted as possessing omniscience (sabbaññu) nor is he depicted as being an eternal transcendent (lokottara) being. According to Bhikkhu Analayo, ideas of the Buddha's omniscience (along with an increasing tendency to deify him and his biography) are found only later, in the Mahayana sutras and later Pali commentaries or texts such as the Mahāvastu. In the Sandaka Sutta, the Buddha's disciple Ananda outlines an argument against the claims of teachers who say they are all knowing while in the Tevijjavacchagotta Sutta the Buddha himself states that he has never made a claim to being omniscient, instead he claimed to have the "higher knowledges" (abhijñā). The earliest biographical material from the Pali Nikayas focuses on the Buddha's life as a śramaṇa, his search for enlightenment under various teachers such as Alara Kalama and his forty five year career as a teacher.

 

Traditional biographies of Gautama generally include numerous miracles, omens, and supernatural events. The character of the Buddha in these traditional biographies is often that of a fully transcendent (Skt. lokottara) and perfected being who is unencumbered by the mundane world. In the Mahāvastu, over the course of many lives, Gautama is said to have developed supra-mundane abilities including: a painless birth conceived without intercourse; no need for sleep, food, medicine, or bathing, although engaging in such "in conformity with the world"; omniscience, and the ability to "suppress karma". Nevertheless, some of the more ordinary details of his life have been gathered from these traditional sources. In modern times there has been an attempt to form a secular understanding of Siddhārtha Gautama's life by omitting the traditional supernatural elements of his early biographies.

 

Andrew Skilton writes that the Buddha was never historically regarded by Buddhist traditions as being merely human:

It is important to stress that, despite modern Theravada teachings to the contrary (often a sop to skeptical Western pupils), he was never seen as being merely human. For instance, he is often described as having the thirty-two major and eighty minor marks or signs of a mahāpuruṣa, "superman"; the Buddha himself denied that he was either a man or a god; and in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta he states that he could live for an aeon were he asked to do so.The ancient Indians were generally unconcerned with chronologies, being more focused on philosophy. Buddhist texts reflect this tendency, providing a clearer picture of what Gautama may have taught than of the dates of the events in his life. These texts contain descriptions of the culture and daily life of ancient India which can be corroborated from the Jain scriptures, and make the Buddha's time the earliest period in Indian history for which significant accounts exist. British author Karen Armstrong writes that although there is very little information that can be considered historically sound, we can be reasonably confident that Siddhārtha Gautama did exist as a historical figure. Michael Carrithers goes a bit further by stating that the most general outline of "birth, maturity, renunciation, search, awakening and liberation, teaching, death" must be true.

 

BIOGRAPHY

CONCEPTION AND BIRTH

The Buddhist tradition regards Lumbini, in present-day Nepal to be the birthplace of the Buddha. He grew up in Kapilavastu. The exact site of ancient Kapilavastu is unknown. It may have been either Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, present-day India, or Tilaurakot, present-day Nepal. Both places belonged to the Sakya territory, and are located only 15 miles apart from each other.

 

Gautama was born as a Kshatriya, the son of Śuddhodana, "an elected chief of the Shakya clan", whose capital was Kapilavastu, and who were later annexed by the growing Kingdom of Kosala during the Buddha's lifetime. Gautama was the family name. His mother, Maya (Māyādevī), Suddhodana's wife, was a Koliyan princess. Legend has it that, on the night Siddhartha was conceived, Queen Maya dreamt that a white elephant with six white tusks entered her right side, and ten months later Siddhartha was born. As was the Shakya tradition, when his mother Queen Maya became pregnant, she left Kapilvastu for her father's kingdom to give birth. However, her son is said to have been born on the way, at Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree.

 

The day of the Buddha's birth is widely celebrated in Theravada countries as Vesak. Buddha's Birthday is called Buddha Purnima in Nepal and India as he is believed to have been born on a full moon day. Various sources hold that the Buddha's mother died at his birth, a few days or seven days later. The infant was given the name Siddhartha (Pāli: Siddhattha), meaning "he who achieves his aim". During the birth celebrations, the hermit seer Asita journeyed from his mountain abode and announced that the child would either become a great king (chakravartin) or a great sadhu. By traditional account, this occurred after Siddhartha placed his feet in Asita's hair and Asita examined the birthmarks. Suddhodana held a naming ceremony on the fifth day, and invited eight Brahmin scholars to read the future. All gave a dual prediction that the baby would either become a great king or a great holy man. Kondañña, the youngest, and later to be the first arhat other than the Buddha, was reputed to be the only one who unequivocally predicted that Siddhartha would become a Buddha.

 

While later tradition and legend characterized Śuddhodana as a hereditary monarch, the descendant of the Suryavansha (Solar dynasty) of Ikṣvāku (Pāli: Okkāka), many scholars think that Śuddhodana was the elected chief of a tribal confederacy.

 

Early texts suggest that Gautama was not familiar with the dominant religious teachings of his time until he left on his religious quest, which is said to have been motivated by existential concern for the human condition. The state of the Shakya clan was not a monarchy, and seems to have been structured either as an oligarchy, or as a form of republic. The more egalitarian gana-sangha form of government, as a political alternative to the strongly hierarchical kingdoms, may have influenced the development of the śramanic Jain and Buddhist sanghas, where monarchies tended toward Vedic Brahmanism.

 

EARLY LIFE AND MARRIAGE

Siddhartha was brought up by his mother's younger sister, Maha Pajapati. By tradition, he is said to have been destined by birth to the life of a prince, and had three palaces (for seasonal occupation) built for him. Although more recent scholarship doubts this status, his father, said to be King Śuddhodana, wishing for his son to be a great king, is said to have shielded him from religious teachings and from knowledge of human suffering.

 

When he reached the age of 16, his father reputedly arranged his marriage to a cousin of the same age named Yaśodharā (Pāli: Yasodharā). According to the traditional account, she gave birth to a son, named Rāhula. Siddhartha is said to have spent 29 years as a prince in Kapilavastu. Although his father ensured that Siddhartha was provided with everything he could want or need, Buddhist scriptures say that the future Buddha felt that material wealth was not life's ultimate goal.

 

RENUNCIATION AND ASCETIC LIFE

At the age of 29, the popular biography continues, Siddhartha left his palace to meet his subjects. Despite his father's efforts to hide from him the sick, aged and suffering, Siddhartha was said to have seen an old man. When his charioteer Channa explained to him that all people grew old, the prince went on further trips beyond the palace. On these he encountered a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These depressed him, and he initially strove to overcome aging, sickness, and death by living the life of an ascetic.

 

Accompanied by Channa and riding his horse Kanthaka, Gautama quit his palace for the life of a mendicant. It's said that, "the horse's hooves were muffled by the gods" to prevent guards from knowing of his departure.

 

Gautama initially went to Rajagaha and began his ascetic life by begging for alms in the street. After King Bimbisara's men recognised Siddhartha and the king learned of his quest, Bimbisara offered Siddhartha the throne. Siddhartha rejected the offer, but promised to visit his kingdom of Magadha first, upon attaining enlightenment.

 

He left Rajagaha and practised under two hermit teachers of yogic meditation. After mastering the teachings of Alara Kalama (Skr. Ārāḍa Kālāma), he was asked by Kalama to succeed him. However, Gautama felt unsatisfied by the practice, and moved on to become a student of yoga with Udaka Ramaputta (Skr. Udraka Rāmaputra). With him he achieved high levels of meditative consciousness, and was again asked to succeed his teacher. But, once more, he was not satisfied, and again moved on.

 

Siddhartha and a group of five companions led by Kaundinya are then said to have set out to take their austerities even further. They tried to find enlightenment through deprivation of worldly goods, including food, practising self-mortification. After nearly starving himself to death by restricting his food intake to around a leaf or nut per day, he collapsed in a river while bathing and almost drowned. Siddhartha was rescued by a village girl named Sujata and she gave him some payasam (a pudding made from milk and jaggery) after which Siddhartha got back some energy. Siddhartha began to reconsider his path. Then, he remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season's ploughing. He attained a concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing, the jhāna.

 

AWAKENING

According to the early Buddhist texts, after realizing that meditative dhyana was the right path to awakening, but that extreme asceticism didn't work, Gautama discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way - a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, or the Noble Eightfold Path, as was identified and described by the Buddha in his first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. In a famous incident, after becoming starved and weakened, he is said to have accepted milk and rice pudding from a village girl named Sujata. Such was his emaciated appearance that she wrongly believed him to be a spirit that had granted her a wish.

 

Following this incident, Gautama was famously seated under a pipal tree - now known as the Bodhi tree - in Bodh Gaya, India, when he vowed never to arise until he had found the truth. Kaundinya and four other companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become undisciplined, left. After a reputed 49 days of meditation, at the age of 35, he is said to have attained Enlightenment. According to some traditions, this occurred in approximately the fifth lunar month, while, according to others, it was in the twelfth month. From that time, Gautama was known to his followers as the Buddha or "Awakened One" ("Buddha" is also sometimes translated as "The Enlightened One").

 

According to Buddhism, at the time of his awakening he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it. These discoveries became known as the "Four Noble Truths", which are at the heart of Buddhist teaching. Through mastery of these truths, a state of supreme liberation, or Nirvana, is believed to be possible for any being. The Buddha described Nirvāna as the perfect peace of a mind that's free from ignorance, greed, hatred and other afflictive states, or "defilements" (kilesas). Nirvana is also regarded as the "end of the world", in that no personal identity or boundaries of the mind remain. In such a state, a being is said to possess the Ten Characteristics, belonging to every Buddha.

 

According to a story in the Āyācana Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya VI.1) - a scripture found in the Pāli and other canons - immediately after his awakening, the Buddha debated whether or not he should teach the Dharma to others. He was concerned that humans were so overpowered by ignorance, greed and hatred that they could never recognise the path, which is subtle, deep and hard to grasp. However, in the story, Brahmā Sahampati convinced him, arguing that at least some will understand it. The Buddha relented, and agreed to teach.

 

FORMATION OF THE SANGHA

After his awakening, the Buddha met Taphussa and Bhallika — two merchant brothers from the city of Balkh in what is currently Afghanistan - who became his first lay disciples. It is said that each was given hairs from his head, which are now claimed to be enshrined as relics in the Shwe Dagon Temple in Rangoon, Burma. The Buddha intended to visit Asita, and his former teachers, Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta, to explain his findings, but they had already died.

 

He then travelled to the Deer Park near Varanasi (Benares) in northern India, where he set in motion what Buddhists call the Wheel of Dharma by delivering his first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought enlightenment. Together with him, they formed the first saṅgha: the company of Buddhist monks.

 

All five become arahants, and within the first two months, with the conversion of Yasa and fifty four of his friends, the number of such arahants is said to have grown to 60. The conversion of three brothers named Kassapa followed, with their reputed 200, 300 and 500 disciples, respectively. This swelled the sangha to more than 1,000.

 

TRAVELS AND TEACHING

For the remaining 45 years of his life, the Buddha is said to have traveled in the Gangetic Plain, in what is now Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching a diverse range of people: from nobles to servants, murderers such as Angulimala, and cannibals such as Alavaka. Although the Buddha's language remains unknown, it's likely that he taught in one or more of a variety of closely related Middle Indo-Aryan dialects, of which Pali may be a standardization.

 

The sangha traveled through the subcontinent, expounding the dharma. This continued throughout the year, except during the four months of the Vāsanā rainy season when ascetics of all religions rarely traveled. One reason was that it was more difficult to do so without causing harm to animal life. At this time of year, the sangha would retreat to monasteries, public parks or forests, where people would come to them.

 

The first vassana was spent at Varanasi when the sangha was formed. After this, the Buddha kept a promise to travel to Rajagaha, capital of Magadha, to visit King Bimbisara. During this visit, Sariputta and Maudgalyayana were converted by Assaji, one of the first five disciples, after which they were to become the Buddha's two foremost followers. The Buddha spent the next three seasons at Veluvana Bamboo Grove monastery in Rajagaha, capital of Magadha.

 

Upon hearing of his son's awakening, Suddhodana sent, over a period, ten delegations to ask him to return to Kapilavastu. On the first nine occasions, the delegates failed to deliver the message, and instead joined the sangha to become arahants. The tenth delegation, led by Kaludayi, a childhood friend of Gautama's (who also became an arahant), however, delivered the message.

 

Now two years after his awakening, the Buddha agreed to return, and made a two-month journey by foot to Kapilavastu, teaching the dharma as he went. At his return, the royal palace prepared a midday meal, but the sangha was making an alms round in Kapilavastu. Hearing this, Suddhodana approached his son, the Buddha, saying:

 

"Ours is the warrior lineage of Mahamassata, and not a single warrior has gone seeking alms."

 

The Buddha is said to have replied:

 

"That is not the custom of your royal lineage. But it is the custom of my Buddha lineage. Several thousands of Buddhas have gone by seeking alms."

 

Buddhist texts say that Suddhodana invited the sangha into the palace for the meal, followed by a dharma talk. After this he is said to have become a sotapanna. During the visit, many members of the royal family joined the sangha. The Buddha's cousins Ananda and Anuruddha became two of his five chief disciples. At the age of seven, his son Rahula also joined, and became one of his ten chief disciples. His half-brother Nanda also joined and became an arahant.

 

Of the Buddha's disciples, Sariputta, Maudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Ananda and Anuruddha are believed to have been the five closest to him. His ten foremost disciples were reputedly completed by the quintet of Upali, Subhoti, Rahula, Mahakaccana and Punna.

 

In the fifth vassana, the Buddha was staying at Mahavana near Vesali when he heard news of the impending death of his father. He is said to have gone to Suddhodana and taught the dharma, after which his father became an arahant.The king's death and cremation was to inspire the creation of an order of nuns. Buddhist texts record that the Buddha was reluctant to ordain women. His foster mother Maha Pajapati, for example, approached him, asking to join the sangha, but he refused. Maha Pajapati, however, was so intent on the path of awakening that she led a group of royal Sakyan and Koliyan ladies, which followed the sangha on a long journey to Rajagaha. In time, after Ananda championed their cause, the Buddha is said to have reconsidered and, five years after the formation of the sangha, agreed to the ordination of women as nuns. He reasoned that males and females had an equal capacity for awakening. But he gave women additional rules (Vinaya) to follow.

 

MAHAPARINIRVANA

According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Pali canon, at the age of 80, the Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana, or the final deathless state, and abandon his earthly body. After this, the Buddha ate his last meal, which he had received as an offering from a blacksmith named Cunda. Falling violently ill, Buddha instructed his attendant Ānanda to convince Cunda that the meal eaten at his place had nothing to do with his passing and that his meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha. Mettanando and Von Hinüber argue that the Buddha died of mesenteric infarction, a symptom of old age, rather than food poisoning. The precise contents of the Buddha's final meal are not clear, due to variant scriptural traditions and ambiguity over the translation of certain significant terms; the Theravada tradition generally believes that the Buddha was offered some kind of pork, while the Mahayana tradition believes that the Buddha consumed some sort of truffle or other mushroom. These may reflect the different traditional views on Buddhist vegetarianism and the precepts for monks and nuns.

 

Waley suggests that Theravadin's would take suukaramaddava (the contents of the Buddha's last meal), which can translate as pig-soft, to mean soft flesh of a pig. However, he also states that pig-soft could mean "pig's soft-food", that is, after Neumann, a soft food favoured by pigs, assumed to be a truffle. He argues (also after Neumann) that as Pali Buddhism was developed in an area remote to the Buddha's death, the existence of other plants with suukara- (pig) as part of their names and that "(p)lant names tend to be local and dialectical" could easily indicate that suukaramaddava was a type of plant whose local name was unknown to those in the Pali regions. Specifically, local writers knew more about their flora than Theravadin commentator Buddhaghosa who lived hundreds of years and kilometres remote in time and space from the events described. Unaware of an alternate meaning and with no Theravadin prohibition against eating animal flesh, Theravadins would not have questioned the Buddha eating meat and interpreted the term accordingly.

 

Ananda protested the Buddha's decision to enter Parinirvana in the abandoned jungles of Kuśināra (present-day Kushinagar, India) of the Malla kingdom. The Buddha, however, is said to have reminded Ananda how Kushinara was a land once ruled by a righteous wheel-turning king that resounded with joy:

 

44. Kusavati, Ananda, resounded unceasingly day and night with ten sounds - the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses, the rattling of chariots, the beating of drums and tabours, music and song, cheers, the clapping of hands, and cries of "Eat, drink, and be merry!"

 

The Buddha then asked all the attendant Bhikkhus to clarify any doubts or questions they had. They had none. According to Buddhist scriptures, he then finally entered Parinirvana. The Buddha's final words are reported to have been: "All composite things (Saṅkhāra) are perishable. Strive for your own liberation with diligence" (Pali: 'vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādethā'). His body was cremated and the relics were placed in monuments or stupas, some of which are believed to have survived until the present. For example, The Temple of the Tooth or "Dalada Maligawa" in Sri Lanka is the place where what some believe to be the relic of the right tooth of Buddha is kept at present.

 

According to the Pāli historical chronicles of Sri Lanka, the Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa, the coronation of Emperor Aśoka (Pāli: Asoka) is 218 years after the death of the Buddha. According to two textual records in Chinese (十八部論 and 部執異論), the coronation of Emperor Aśoka is 116 years after the death of the Buddha. Therefore, the time of Buddha's passing is either 486 BCE according to Theravāda record or 383 BCE according to Mahayana record. However, the actual date traditionally accepted as the date of the Buddha's death in Theravāda countries is 544 or 545 BCE, because the reign of Emperor Aśoka was traditionally reckoned to be about 60 years earlier than current estimates. In Burmese Buddhist tradition, the date of the Buddha's death is 13 May 544 BCE. whereas in Thai tradition it is 11 March 545 BCE.

 

At his death, the Buddha is famously believed to have told his disciples to follow no leader. Mahakasyapa was chosen by the sangha to be the chairman of the First Buddhist Council, with the two chief disciples Maudgalyayana and Sariputta having died before the Buddha.

 

While in the Buddha's days he was addressed by the very respected titles Buddha, Shākyamuni, Shākyasimha, Bhante and Bho, he was known after his parinirvana as Arihant, Bhagavā/Bhagavat/Bhagwān, Mahāvira, Jina/Jinendra, Sāstr, Sugata, and most popularly in scriptures as Tathāgata.

 

BUDDHA AND VEDAS

Buddha's teachings deny the authority of the Vedas and consequently [at least atheistic] Buddhism is generally viewed as a nāstika school (heterodox, literally "It is not so") from the perspective of orthodox Hinduism.

 

RELICS

After his death, Buddha's cremation relics were divided amongst 8 royal families and his disciples; centuries later they would be enshrined by King Ashoka into 84,000 stupas. Many supernatural legends surround the history of alleged relics as they accompanied the spread of Buddhism and gave legitimacy to rulers.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

An extensive and colorful physical description of the Buddha has been laid down in scriptures. A kshatriya by birth, he had military training in his upbringing, and by Shakyan tradition was required to pass tests to demonstrate his worthiness as a warrior in order to marry. He had a strong enough body to be noticed by one of the kings and was asked to join his army as a general. He is also believed by Buddhists to have "the 32 Signs of the Great Man".

 

The Brahmin Sonadanda described him as "handsome, good-looking, and pleasing to the eye, with a most beautiful complexion. He has a godlike form and countenance, he is by no means unattractive." (D, I:115)

 

"It is wonderful, truly marvellous, how serene is the good Gotama's appearance, how clear and radiant his complexion, just as the golden jujube in autumn is clear and radiant, just as a palm-tree fruit just loosened from the stalk is clear and radiant, just as an adornment of red gold wrought in a crucible by a skilled goldsmith, deftly beaten and laid on a yellow-cloth shines, blazes and glitters, even so, the good Gotama's senses are calmed, his complexion is clear and radiant." (A, I:181)

 

A disciple named Vakkali, who later became an arahant, was so obsessed by the Buddha's physical presence that the Buddha is said to have felt impelled to tell him to desist, and to have reminded him that he should know the Buddha through the Dhamma and not through physical appearances.

 

Although there are no extant representations of the Buddha in human form until around the 1st century CE (see Buddhist art), descriptions of the physical characteristics of fully enlightened buddhas are attributed to the Buddha in the Digha Nikaya's Lakkhaṇa Sutta (D, I:142). In addition, the Buddha's physical appearance is described by Yasodhara to their son Rahula upon the Buddha's first post-Enlightenment return to his former princely palace in the non-canonical Pali devotional hymn, Narasīha Gāthā ("The Lion of Men").

 

Among the 32 main characteristics it is mentioned that Buddha has blue eyes.

 

NINE VIRTUES

Recollection of nine virtues attributed to the Buddha is a common Buddhist meditation and devotional practice called Buddhānusmṛti. The nine virtues are also among the 40 Buddhist meditation subjects. The nine virtues of the Buddha appear throughout the Tipitaka, and include:

 

- Buddho – Awakened

- Sammasambuddho – Perfectly self-awakened

- Vijja-carana-sampano – Endowed with higher knowledge and ideal conduct.

- Sugato – Well-gone or Well-spoken.

- Lokavidu – Wise in the knowledge of the many worlds.

- Anuttaro Purisa-damma-sarathi – Unexcelled trainer of untrained people.

- Satthadeva-Manussanam – Teacher of gods and humans.

- Bhagavathi – The Blessed one

- Araham – Worthy of homage. An Arahant is "one with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the true goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowledge."

 

TEACHINGS

TRACING THE OLDEST TEACHINGS

Information of the oldest teachings may be obtained by analysis of the oldest texts. One method to obtain information on the oldest core of Buddhism is to compare the oldest extant versions of the Theravadin Pali Canon and other texts. The reliability of these sources, and the possibility to draw out a core of oldest teachings, is a matter of dispute. According to Vetter, inconsistencies remain, and other methods must be applied to resolve those inconsistencies.

 

According to Schmithausen, three positions held by scholars of Buddhism can be distinguished:

 

"Stress on the fundamental homogeneity and substantial authenticity of at least a considerable part of the Nikayic materials;"

"Scepticism with regard to the possibility of retrieving the doctrine of earliest Buddhism;"

"Cautious optimism in this respect."

 

DHYANA AND INSIGHT

A core problem in the study of early Buddhism is the relation between dhyana and insight. Schmithausen, in his often-cited article On some Aspects of Descriptions or Theories of 'Liberating Insight' and 'Enlightenment' in Early Buddhism notes that the mention of the four noble truths as constituting "liberating insight", which is attained after mastering the Rupa Jhanas, is a later addition to texts such as Majjhima Nikaya 36

 

CORE TEACHINGS

According to Tilmann Vetter, the core of earliest Buddhism is the practice of dhyāna. Bronkhorst agrees that dhyana was a Buddhist invention, whereas Norman notes that "the Buddha's way to release [...] was by means of meditative practices." Discriminating insight into transiency as a separate path to liberation was a later development.

 

According to the Mahāsaccakasutta, from the fourth jhana the Buddha gained bodhi. Yet, it is not clear what he was awakened to. "Liberating insight" is a later addition to this text, and reflects a later development and understanding in early Buddhism. The mentioning of the four truths as constituting "liberating insight" introduces a logical problem, since the four truths depict a linear path of practice, the knowledge of which is in itself not depicted as being liberating:

 

[T]hey do not teach that one is released by knowing the four noble truths, but by practicing the fourth noble truth, the eightfold path, which culminates in right samadhi.

 

Although "Nibbāna" (Sanskrit: Nirvāna) is the common term for the desired goal of this practice, many other terms can be found throughout the Nikayas, which are not specified.

 

According to Vetter, the description of the Buddhist path may initially have been as simple as the term "the middle way". In time, this short description was elaborated, resulting in the description of the eightfold path.

 

According to both Bronkhorst and Anderson, the four truths became a substitution for prajna, or "liberating insight", in the suttas in those texts where "liberating insight" was preceded by the four jhanas. According to Bronkhorst, the four truths may not have been formulated in earliest Buddhism, and did not serve in earliest Buddhism as a description of "liberating insight". Gotama's teachings may have been personal, "adjusted to the need of each person."

 

The three marks of existence may reflect Upanishadic or other influences. K.R. Norman supposes that these terms were already in use at the Buddha's time, and were familiar to his listeners.

 

The Brahma-vihara was in origin probably a brahmanic term; but its usage may have been common to the Sramana traditions.

  

LATER DEVELOPMENTS

In time, "liberating insight" became an essential feature of the Buddhist tradition. The following teachings, which are commonly seen as essential to Buddhism, are later formulations which form part of the explanatory framework of this "liberating insight":

 

- The Four Noble Truths: that suffering is an ingrained part of existence; that the origin of suffering is craving for sensuality, acquisition of identity, and fear of annihilation; that suffering can be ended; and that following the Noble Eightfold Path is the means to accomplish this;

- The Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration;

- Dependent origination: the mind creates suffering as a natural product of a complex process.

 

OTHER RELIGIONS

Some Hindus regard Gautama as the 9th avatar of Vishnu. The Buddha is also regarded as a prophet by the Ahmadiyya Muslims and a Manifestation of God in the Bahá'í Faith. Some early Chinese Taoist-Buddhists thought the Buddha to be a reincarnation of Lao Tzu.

 

The Christian Saint Josaphat is based on the Buddha. The name comes from the Sanskrit Bodhisattva via Arabic Būdhasaf and Georgian Iodasaph. The only story in which St. Josaphat appears, Barlaam and Josaphat, is based on the life of the Buddha. Josaphat was included in earlier editions of the Roman Martyrology (feast day 27 November) — though not in the Roman Missal — and in the Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar (26 August).

 

Disciples of the Cao Đài religion worship the Buddha as a major religious teacher. His image can be found in both their Holy See and on the home altar. He is revealed during communication with Divine Beings as son of their Supreme Being (God the Father) together with other major religious teachers and founders like Jesus, Laozi, and Confucius.

 

In the ancient Gnostic sect of Manichaeism the Buddha is listed among the prophets who preached the word of God before Mani.

 

WIKIPEDIA

Today, 4 February 2021, the Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment.

I've committed to several private swaps. These are the blocks available to those people.

 

There are 4 damsels in windows, one door with a leaving school bus, 3 cat doors (Pinky is already promised) an outhouse (I can make more of these) and 4 cavemen with rolling stones. :) Sounds like a band, doesn't it? lol

 

If you and I have arranged to do a private swap (you are probably in group 3 this month and I'm not) please put a note or comment on this photo. Thanks! Anybody else that is swapping this month is welcome to FM me with a possible swap deal. :) Close-up photos are in my 'stream.

 

Sandy - Leaning caveman

Fun and Comfort - Tall red caveman.

Bouncypoodle - Bismark the cat

Annamichelle- not sure if we committed to a swap, but I'm open to it if you are!

Clifford’s Tower is one of the best-loved landmarks in York. It is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. The 11th-century timber tower on top of the earth mound was burned down in 1190, after York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide. The present 13th-century stone tower was probably used as a treasury and later as a prison.

 

Archaeological evidence shows that there was activity in this area in Roman times (with a Roman cemetery lying across the site) and perhaps even earlier, but it was William the Conqueror who first established a castle here. When he marched north in 1068 to suppress a rebellion against his rule, he built a series of castles as he went, including one here where Clifford’s Tower now stands.

The Norman motte-and-bailey castle saw several violent incidents during its earliest years, including further revolts and an attack by Danish invaders. As the political situation settled down in the 1070s, however, the damage of these early years was repaired, and the castle, built largely of earth and timber, probably survived relatively unaltered through most of the 12th century.

 

The Mass Suicide and Massacre of 1190

The castle of York was the setting for one of the most notorious events in English history: the mass suicide and massacre in March 1190 of York’s Jewish community.

Tensions between Christians and Jews had been increasing throughout England during the 12th century, partly because many people were in debt to Jewish moneylenders and partly because much crusading propaganda was directed not only against Muslims but also against Jews. Anti-Jewish riots in several cities followed the coronation of the crusader king Richard I in 1189, and a rumour (untrue) was put about that he had ordered a massacre of the Jews.

 

In York, as described by William of Newburgh and other contemporary chroniclers, about 150 people from the Jewish community were given protective custody in the royal castle, probably the site of Clifford’s Tower.

Somehow, though, trust between the royal officials and the Jews broke down. The officials, finding themselves shut out from the tower, summoned reinforcements to recapture it. These troops were joined by a large mob, which soon ran out of control, incited by both anti-Jewish preachers and local gentry eager to escape their debts.

On 16 March, the eve of the Sabbath before Passover, when the Jews realised that there would be no safe way out for them, a rabbi urged his fellow-inmates in the tower to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of their persecutors. Heads of households killed their own families before killing themselves, and the wooden tower itself was set on fire.

According to several accounts a number of Jews did survive and came out of the tower under an amnesty, only to be murdered by the attackers. A plaque at the base of the mound, commemorating these events, was installed in 1978.

Though Jewish life did in fact revive in York within a few years of the massacre, it came to an end a hundred years later, in 1290, when Edward I expelled all Jews from England. This time their exile lasted until the 17th century.

 

The Medieval Castle

The tower burnt down in 1190 was rebuilt very shortly afterwards. Further repairs and rebuilding, some in stone, took place in the castle during the early 13th century. Then in the middle years of that century, as war with Scotland loomed, King Henry III decided to build a completely new stone tower on the mound.

A writ of March 1245 may refer to the construction of the tower. It orders Master Henry the mason and Master Simon the carpenter to advise the sheriff on strengthening the castle’s defences. Master Henry is often identified as Henry of Reyns, master mason of the new abbey at Westminster. At the abbey, as at Clifford’s Tower, English architectural detailing was applied to a plan influenced by French prototypes.

Documentary sources show that construction was intermittent and the tower was probably not finished until the 1270s, possibly not until the 1290s.

 

Despite the regional and national importance of York, its royal castle did not generally act as a royal residence. Together with Clifford’s Tower it was instead used chiefly for administrative purposes, notably for imprisonment, for storage and for judicial sessions. Occasionally it acted as a home for the Exchequer and its various treasuries when wars against the Scots caused the government to relocate to the north of England. It also housed an important royal mint.

The castle’s buildings, particularly Clifford’s Tower, whose mound was scoured by floods of the river Fosse, fell more than once into disrepair. By 1360, several of the structural defects which are visible today had already appeared.

 

The Tower in Decay

The history of the castle and Clifford’s Tower during the 15th and 16th centuries is obscure. Accounts of Henry VI, Richard III and Henry VIII suggest that several buildings were ruinous, and efforts were concentrated on maintaining a small number of them as gaols.[14] In 1540, just three years after Robert Aske (one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace) had been hanged ‘on the height of the castle dungeon’, John Leland wrote that the ‘arx is all in ruin’.

In 1596–7 a public scandal arose when the aldermen of York accused the gaoler, Robert Redhead, of trying to demolish the derelict tower and sell the stone for lime-burning. Contemporary correspondence about these events contains the first recorded use of the name ‘Clifford’s Tower’.

The name is sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Clifford family claimed the post of constable to be hereditary. Alternatively, it may refer to the rebel Roger de Clifford, who was executed after the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322 and whose body was displayed on a gibbet at the castle.

 

War and Explosion

After a brief period when Clifford’s Tower passed out of royal ownership, in 1643 it was occupied again by a royal garrison during the Civil War. The building was re-roofed and re-floored, apparently at the behest of Queen Henrietta Maria, creating storage rooms for ammunition and a gun platform on the roof. The forebuilding was largely reconstructed.

The city fell to Parliamentarians the following year. The tower continued to be occupied by a garrison of between 40 and 80 men and it may also have served occasionally as a prison. The Quaker George Fox was imprisoned here for two nights in 1665, on his way to Scarborough Castle.

The garrison’s dissolute behaviour caused discontent among the citizens of York, who called for the demolition of the tower, scathingly nicknamed ‘the Minced Pie’. On 23 April 1684 the interior was partly gutted by fire, allegedly as a result of the firing of a ceremonial salute for St George’s Day. Destruction was not total, though, and parts of the building remained in use for storage, while cannon were still positioned on the roof.

By 1699, however, when Clifford’s Tower was released to freeholders, sketches of the interior by Francis Place show that it was completely roofless.

 

Gaol and Monument

The 18th century was a period of changing ownership for the tower and mound. Clifford’s Tower was treated as a garden folly and possibly as a stable or cattle shed.

In marked contrast, the former bailey of the castle was redeveloped as a prison. New courthouses and gaol buildings were built, until in the 1820s and 1830s the prison encompassed the entire castle area. The mound and tower were enclosed and effectively hidden from view. Clifford’s Tower was accessible only with permission from a magistrate.

In 1902 a radical campaign of repairs and investigations was undertaken by Mr Basil Mott, including the partial reconstruction of the mound in an effort to underpin the south-east lobe of the tower with buried concrete ‘flying buttresses’. During these works, the most detailed archaeological investigation to date of the internal structure of the mound was carried out.

On 30 March 1915, Clifford’s Tower was taken into state guardianship. The structure was repaired and public access improved in 1935 with the demolition of the surviving 19th-century prison buildings, notably the wall enclosing the mound on its north and west sides. The lower parts of the slope were restored to their presumed medieval profile, and a stairway leading up to the forebuilding in a straight line was created, replacing a spiral path.

I got a chance to shoot these people again. I used my 70-200 f4 lens to see what it was like. Makes for great portraits, under the right circumstances! Any comments welcome and appreciated!

 

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Thursday, May 12, 2011) – The Asp 3-Star Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior, Event nº3 of 7 on the Asp Europe Men’s Pro Junior Series ran through to complete Round Two with standout surfers Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 19, and Tom Cloarec (FRA) 17, leading the remaining Top Seeds through stormy on-shore conditions in peaky 3-4ft waves at La Cicer.

 

Surfers competing at the Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior are out to claim the valuable ranking points on offer at this 3-Star rated event and place themselves in the race for the overall European Pro Junior title and the chance to compete in the Asp World Junior Series starting in Bali, Indonesia on October 3, 2011.

 

Ouvre, who won last week’s Somo Pro Junior, continued his run of form opening his account with a solid ride to control the heat. With minutes remaining Ouvre tore apart a peeling left wall with three critical snaps in the pocket to lock in an 8.57 out of 10, the highest single-wave score of the event.

 

Ouvre’s surfing and his relaxed approach to competitive surfing has shown positive results so far this year and the current leader on the Asp European Men’s Pro Junior series looks set to put in a big performance on the Pro Junior rankings in 2011.

 

Tom Cloarec (FRA) 17, ignited in his early morning heat as he destroyed a long left with fully committed fins-free forehand snaps to claim an 8.43 out of 10. Cloarec showed loads of speed and flow to highlight his performance in the tough conditions on offer to advance through to Round Three ahead of Ethan Egiguren (EUK) who placed second.

 

Kieren Bulard (REU) 19, impressed in the tricky conditions with flowing rail turns despite the battering winds and face chop on the shifting peaks. Building on his initial scores, Bulard finished with the modest total of 9.17 out of 20 to take out a low scoring encounter.

 

Bulard, ranked nº17 on the Asp European rankings, is concentrating on the higher rated Pro Junior events for his 2011 campaign and made his first appearance after his 9th place finish on home soil in Reunion Island last month.

 

Pierre-Valentin Laborde (Hossegor, FRA) 19, one of Europe’s most experience campaigners, showed his talents on the moving peaks with a powerful display of forehand gouges and committed close-out turns to cruise through to the next Round.

 

Charly Termeau (Hossegor, FRA) 14, one of the youngest competitors in the Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior, advanced in second place behind Laborde in a tight battle over Pedro Berasaluce (EUK) and local Kai Garcia (CNY). Termeau clinched his place in the next Round with a series of flowing forehand snaps to secure a 5.17 out of 10.

 

Upcoming Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Round Three Matchups

Heat 1: Gaspard Larsonneur (FRA), Ander Mendiguren (EUK), Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Joao Kopke (PRT)

Heat 2: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Diodo Appleton (PRT), Jose Ferreira (PRT), Hugo Debosc (REU)

Heat 3: Medi Veminardi (REU), Alex Gironi (EUK), Tristan Guilbaud (FRA) , Pablo Pola (FRA)

Heat 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Miguel Blanco (PRT), Nelson Cloarec (FRA), Ian Fontaine (FRA)

Heat 5: Tom Cloarec (FRA), Kieren Bulard (REU), Remi Petersen (NLD), Borja Agote (EUK)

Heat 6: Ethan Egiguren (EUK), Francisco Alves (PRT), Dimitri Ouvre (BRB), Jules Thomet (FRA)

Heat 7: William Aliotti (FRA), Angelo Bonomelli (ITA), Charly Termeau (FRA), Luis Eyre (GBR)

Heat 8: Stuart Campbell (GBR), Hugo Palmarini (REU), Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA), Frederico Morais (PRT)

 

Remaining Islas Canarias Santa Pro Junior Round Two Results

Heat 9: Tom Cloarec (FRA) 13.03, Ethan Egiguren (EUK) 9.84, Imanol Yeregi (EUK) 6.16, Jose De Armas (CNY) 3.37

Heat 10: Kieren Bulard (REU) 9.17, Francisco Alves (PRT) 7.23, Pedro Correia (PRT) 6.73, Tim Latte (SWE) 6.63

Heat 11: Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 14.64, Remi Petersen (NLD) 8.20, Ugo Robin (FRA) 7.30, Manix Bikuna (EUK) 6.43

Heat 12: Jules Thomet (FRA) 11.17, Borja Agote (EUK) 10.16, Gil Keren (ISR) 8.43, Luca Dioguardi (CYN) 4.50

Heat 13: William Aliotti (FRA) 8.17, Stuart Campbell (GBR) 7.63, Roberto Letemendia (EUK) 7.30, Juan Fernandez (ESP) 6.10

Heat 14: Angelo Bonomelli (ITA) 9.67, Hugo Palmarini (REU) 9.56, Miguel Villalba (ESP) 4.27, Lewis Leadbetter (CNY) 3.83

Heat 15: Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) 11.00, Charly Termeau (FRA) 8.74, Pedro Berasaluce (EUK) 7.80, Kai Garcia (CNY) 3.47

Heat 16: Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.73, Luis Eyre (GBR) 10.00, Ivan Gonzalez (ESP) 6.00, Nico Aguirre (CNY) 4.56

 

Photo Aquashot / ASPEurope.com

St Baldricks Brevard at The Avenue Viera by commercial photographer Rich Johnson of Spectacle Photo. Dedicated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation Events on the Space Coast of FL and raising awareness for Childhood Cancer. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Weston Wineries is committed to cellaring and bottling fun and exciting wines showcasing Wyoming and its Western Heritage. Weston Wineries new tasting room opened on historic Main Street in downtown Sheridan in August, 2016. The tasing room is located in a beautifully restored historic building that was at one time a bank; features include the teller's cage, a patio, and more.

 

Link:

www.westonwineries.com

 

Main Contact:

 

John Harrison

Weston Wineries

Owner

 

P: 307.751.9463

E: john@westonventuresinc.com

122 N Main St.

Sheridan, WY 82801

  

#SheridanNaturally

#VisitSheridan

#ThatsWY

Photographs © 2016 Flash Parker.

Video by Salvatore Brown.

 

Sheridan Travel & Tourism:

Welcome to the official Sheridan Travel & Tourism Locations flickr page. For media inquiries, photo requests, or travel information, please email megan@sheridanwyoming.org or call 1(307)673-7120.

 

All photographs © 2016 Sheridan Travel & Tourism, and may not be used, copied, transmitted or altered in any way without express written consent. This image archive is maintained for promotional, non-commercial use only.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  

Listing Information:

 

Listing Date: 11/29/16

Location Name: Weston Wineries

Listing Text By: Shawn Parker, Executive Director, Sheridan Travel & Tourism

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.

 

While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.

 

The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.

 

Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.

  

Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

  

On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court"), by majority, Judge Herrera Carbuccia dissenting, acquitted Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé from all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d'Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. A fully reasoned decision will be issued in writing in due course. The Prosecutor may appeal the decision after the full decision is filed.

We are committed to educating & supporting you with your child's autism & making their world a better, more fulfilling experience.

 

Autism Untangled LLC

10017 NE 153rd St

Bothell, WA 98011

Phone: (425) 354-5884

Contact Person: Cheryl Driscoll

Contact Email: cdriscoll@autismuntangled.com

Website: www.autismuntangled.com

You Tube URL: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOq6VmlnnEo

 

Main Keywords:

autism, autistic children, autism research, autism in children, autism products, autism, autistic child, autism research, child with autism, autism is, about autism, autism in children, toys for autistic children

 

Locally committed to improving the quality of life for Coventry people

 

Breastfeeding has positive health benefits for mother and baby. In the Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group area, 44.9% of infants checked in April-December 2013 were totally or partially breastfed at 6-8 weeks.

 

Note: Data for 2011/12 and 2012/13 for the Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust area. Data for 2013/14 are for the Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group area. They are not directly comparable thus progress and target is N/A. Data included here for reference as a flash fact as it is the best available local data. Going forward, NHSEngland will be reporting only by CCGarea.

 

* Treat with caution; data for 2013-14 do not currently meet the NHSEngland departmental statistical requirements as the denominator (i.e. number of infants due for a check) exceeds the maximum ONSreported number of live births +20%.

 

Statistics from: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/mate...

 

Council Plan 2013/14 End of Year Performance Report

Coventry City Council

 

Taken from the Council Plan end of year performance report (Cabinet, 8 July 2014) goo.gl/xwjm04

 

Find out more:

Council Plan: www.coventry.gov.uk/councilplan/

Performance: www.coventry.gov.uk/performance/

Relentless Aaron, through hard, committed work ethics, has earned the "belt" as the number one urban lit author. Voted "Author of the year-2007", Relentless has also earned over 6 billion media significant impressions through his diligence. Relentless Aaron's books are also well positioned in better book stores throughout the country, proving that it is possible to LIVE YOUR DREAM. www.relentlessaaron.com www.myspace.com/relentlessaaron

A crime she committed in her youthful past sends Piper Chapman to a women’s prison, where she trades her comfortable New York life for one of unexpected camaraderie and conflict in an eccentric group of fellow inmates.

Watch Season 3 of the award-winning Orange Is the New Black,...

 

orsvp.com/netflix-releases-another-new-orange-is-the-new-...

A canvasser for Planned Parenthood stands on P Street, Logan Circle

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Colorado

Top Royal Weddings Specialists in Pakistan, Creative and Top Classic Weddings Planners

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Visit Our Pages: - www.a2zeventssolutions.com,, www.a2zeventssolutionz.com,,, www.a2zvents.weebly.com

Visit us Youtube:- www.youtube.com/user/a2zevents

 

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.

 

While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.

 

The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.

 

Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.

  

Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

  

Always committed to celebrating new talent, Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) announced the winners of its Logistic Design Competition at CeMAT 2014. The three sets of winners – pictured here – proved that they could create efficient, industrial design tow tractors and impressed our judges with the quality of their entries.

First place went to female design duo Nea Kosonen and Elisa Määttänen from Finland, second place to Thomas Jankauskas, and third to Mohammed Moradi, both from German universities. TMHE was delighted with the enthusiasm shown in all submissions.

For more information on TMHE’s Logistic Design Competition winners, visit: www.toyota-forklifts.eu/en/company/designcenter/Pages/des...

Model: G.S.

Photo&edit: Alii Vella

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.

 

While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.

 

The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.

 

Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.

  

Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

  

SUICIDE IN KYBER PASS ROAD.

A MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.

A man named Joseph Baxter committed suicide yesterday by shooting himself through the head, in Kyber Pass Road. In September last Baxter and his wife and family of three children arrived in Auckland from Brisbane by the steamer Rosamond, on their way to Dunedin, and since that time they have been staying at the residence of Baxter's brother, Mr. James Baxter, who is a warder in Mount Eden Gaol, and whose house adjoins the Queen's Hotel. Yesterday morning, at about a-quarter to six o'clock Mrs. Baxter heard a pistol shot, and immediately afterward a heavy fall, and running to the kitchen, where her husband slept, she found him lying on the floor, bleeding from a wound in his head. There was a revolver, five-chambered, on the floor. Mrs. Baxter alarmed Mr. James Hawkins (licensee of the Queen's Hotel), and Mr. Quinlan (of the Edinburgh Castle Hotel) also attended, and Dr. Girdler was at once summoned. He and Drs. Wine, Roberton, and Lawry were soon at the house, and Baxter, who is a tall man of powerful build, having been lifted on to a couch his injuries were examined. It was seen that the bullet had passed through his head. Entering below the forehead, between the right ear and eye, it had come out at the left side of the head, a little above the left eyebrow, and had destroyed Baxter's sight. The man was conscious, and admitted to Dr. Girdler that he had shot himself, but said he would not tell any man living why he had done it. Chloroform was administered, and every means taken to relieve the pain, but from the first recovery was hopeless. Baxter sank gradually, and died towards evening. Dr. Wine remained with him during the day, until death ensued.

Baxter appeared to be in good spirits on Monday night and yesterday morning at five o'clock, when he aroused his brother, who went out early. None of the family had seen the revolver in the possession of deceased. Deceased and his family lived for many years in Dunedin, where he kept the Pier Hotel, and was well-to-do. He was Master of a Masonic lodge there, and was a life member of Lodge Celtic, No. 477, S.C. Afterwards leaving for Australia, he started in business in Queensland, but he met with reverses there, and this is said to be the cause of his suicide. Baxter had spoken of beginning business again in Dunedin, where he has many friends, and he had proposed to leave for that city this week.

Constable Haslett, who was informed of the occurrence shortly after it was discovered, attended at once at Baxter's house.

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901022.2.17

 

A deliberate attempt to commit suicide, which eventuaily had a fatal termination, was made on the 21st October by a man named Joseph Baxter, who was residing in Kyber Pass adjoining the Queen's Hotel. Baxter arrived here with his wife and family about a month ago in the s.s. Rosamond from Brisbane. He has been staying at his brother's house in Kyber Pass prior to returning Dunedin, where he formerly kept the Pier Hotel. He was a native of Ireland, and was at one time a member of the police force in Dunedin, also a warder in the gaol. Afterwards he was proprietor of the Pier Hotel, and kept racing stock, being well liked by all who knew him. Later on Baxter went over to Melbourne, where he started as a contractor. Finding that this did not pay, he removed to Queensland, where he again started an hotel and also acted as a commercial traveller. From Brisbane he came over to Auckland with the intention of again returning to Dunedin.

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18901101.2.43

 

SUICIDE OF JOSEPH BAXTER.

CORONER INQUEST.

The coroner's inquest on the body of Joseph Baxter, who shot himself on Tuesday morning last, was held at the Queen's Hotel yesterday morning, before Dr. Philson and a jury of six, of whom Mr. David Robertson was chosen foreman.

Jane Baxter, widow of the deceased, deposed that her husband was a commercial traveller, being 45 years of age last birthday. His home was in Dunedin, and he had only been residing temporarily in Auckland for about a month. On Monday evening deceased was in his usual state of health, but for a few days before his death his behaviour seemed peculiar and depressed, owing, as far as witness could ascertain, to loss of money caused by bad speculations. These occurred in Brisbane. He went to bed on Monday night about eleven o'clock, sleeping in the kitchen, while witness slept in an adjoining room. At about a quarter to six on Tuesday morning witness was aroused by the report of a pistol, and on going to the kitchen found deceased lying on the floor. She was not aware that he had a revolver in his possession. She aroused her sister, who was sleeping in the game house, and told her what had happened, and medical assistance was sent for, Dr. Girdler being the first to arrive, and was followed at intervals by three other medical men. Deceased lingered on until twenty minutes to five, when he died. Witness made inquiries of deceased as to the reason for his action, but received no answer. He made his will about two years ago when at Dunedin. He was insured in the Government Insurance Office, and also in another office, which she believed to be the National. She could not account for his suicide on any other grounds than disappointments in business. He was not hard up at the time, and owed no one any money.

The revolver was here produced, four of its chambers being still loaded. It was a bulldog, and apparently quite new.

Dr. Girdler deposed that he saw the deceased about six on Tuesday morning, and found him lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He was quite sensible and asked witness for chloroform to send him to sleep. He was suffering from a revolver wound, the ball having entered midway between the eye and iite ear, coming out at the opposite side. Both eyes were lacerated, and his sight was destroyed. Deceased acknowledged having committed the deed himself, but said no man living should know the reason. He further remarked that his wife was too good for him. Death was caused by the injury received from the wound above described. Deceased expressed no remorse or regret of any kind, and witness was of opinion that his mind was not perfectly sound. There were no signs of liquor upon him. Baxter urged those present to kill him right out, and called them cowards when they refused.

Dr. H. C. Wine deposed that he had known deceased for about three weeks, having attended one of his children for that time. He noticed that deceased was in a desponding state, having lost a great deal of money in Brisbane. Witness corroborated the evidence given by Dr. Girdler, and was of opinion that deceased was temporarily insane at the time.

James Baxter, brother of the deceased, and a warder in Mount Eden Gaol, deposed that his brother was on a visit to him at the time of his death. He, himself, was not in the house when the shot was fired, having gone to attend to his business at five o'clock in the morning. Witness was not aware that deceased was in possession of a revolver. He thought that his intellect was to a certain extent deranged by recent losses, deceased had told him that ho had lost about £2000.

No further evidence was taken, and the jury after some deliberation, came to the following verdict: —"That Joseph Baxter came by his death through temporary insanity, caused by financial difficulties and illness in the family; and the jury strongly condemns the loose manner in which the law allows firearms to be sold."

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901023.2.21

 

Plot 12: Joseph Baxter (45) 21/10/1890 – Traveller – Gunshot wound

 

unmarked grave

 

DEATHS.

BAXTER.—On October 21, at his brother's residence, Kyber Pass, Joseph Baxter, late of Dunedin, aged 45 years.

The funeral will leave his late residence, this day, at 2.30 p.m , for Waikomiti. Masonic brethren and friends will please accept this intimation.

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901022.2.4

 

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

 

Or if you need to talk to someone else:

 

1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626

Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

Supporting Families in Mental Illness – 0800 732 825

 

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.

 

While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.

 

The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.

 

Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.

  

Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

  

Relentless Aaron, through hard, committed work ethics, has earned the "belt" as the number one urban lit author. Voted "Author of the year-2007", Relentless has also earned over 6 billion media significant impressions through his diligence. Relentless Aaron's books are also well positioned in better book stores throughout the country, proving that it is possible to LIVE YOUR DREAM. www.relentlessaaron.com www.myspace.com/relentlessaaron

Committed to quitting and showing off the goods

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.

 

While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.

 

The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.

 

Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.

  

Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

  

The winner of the Governor's Cup race, head back to the Harrington Raceway stables, in Harrington, DE, on July 25, 2019.

 

The Delaware State Fair, Inc. is a diverse, volunteer supported non-profit community-based organization that is committed to educating and promoting agricultural heritage and values.

The fair features educational exhibits, demonstrations and competition aimed at the advancement of livestock, horticulture and agriculture with special emphasis placed on educational activities such as 4-H, FFA and similar youth development programs. The Delaware State Fair, Inc. focuses on the preservation of the past, promotion of the present, and education in the future, of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and rural and domestic economy. The fair sponsored by Corteva and Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Illustartion image depicting acts of torture committed in Police custody.

 

Anyone arrested on suspicion of criminal activity in the

Philippines risks being tortured or ill-treated in police custody.

Many victims are children and almost all are from poor and

disadvantaged backgrounds.

 

Methods of torture include systematic beatings, electric

shocks, water-boarding, asphyxiation, hitting with truncheons

or similar objects and being threatened at gunpoint. Although

the Philippines is bound by international and domestic law to

prevent and investigate acts of torture and other ill-treatment,

such practices are rife during arrests and interrogations in

many police stations. The severely understaffed police force,

assisted by auxiliaries, is predisposed to taking “shortcuts”

during arrests and investigations. A lack of forensic and

investigative capacity and reliance on testimonial evidence,

underlies the use of torture and other ill-treatment to extract

“confessions”, regardless of evidence or the truth of the matter.

No perpetrator has ever been convicted of torture in court

Gordon has always been a committed member of the community and schools of Strathmore. Gordon began his teaching career in 1956 and was a teacher or administrator until 1994. Gordon would become a Vice-Principal at Samuel Crowther and then move on to become the Vice-Principal of Strathmore High School from 1986-1992 and finally return to Samuel Crowther Middle School in 1992 as Principal.

 

Gordon could be found coaching cross country in the fall to track and field in the spring. However, to find Gordon’s true passion and dedication one needed to look no farther than the gymnasium. Gordon loved the extra-curricular events that the school had to offer and his real passion was volleyball. In 1964, the ASAA (Alberta Schools' Athletic Association) hosted the first ever provincial volleyball tournament at the University of Calgary. The driving force behind this event was none other than Mr. Prusky. Gordon’s love of volleyball and his efforts with it were realized in 1968 when his team captured Strathmore High School’s first ever provincial championship.

 

To be there to start one provincial championship was amazing, but Gordon would be there for a second one as well when Strathmore hosted the first ever high school mixed curling provincial championship. Gordon’s commitment extended even farther as he became a huge advocate for high school rodeo as it began in Strathmore in 1971. Gordon would again be there as the provincial high school rodeo association developed in 1972. He served as secretary-treasurer for high school rodeo from 1972-1983 and has been the high school arena director from the beginning and still is today.

 

Gordon’s commitment to the organization of high school sports started in 1964 when he was part of the South West Zone executive. Gordon remained on the zone executive from 1964 to 1967. Gordon again served on the zone executive from 1970 to 1982. In addition to Gordon’s involvement at the zone level, he was also very active at the provincial level, acting as the editor/creator of the ASAA yearbook from 1966 to 1975. During this time, Gordon also served on the ASAA executive from 1966 to 1969.

 

Among Gordon’s many accolades he has been awarded the Kinsman’s Sportsman of the Year and in 1974, Gordon was awarded the Robert H. Routledge Award by the ASAA. This award symbolizes outstanding service to the students of Alberta schools in the promotion and operation of an athletic program and it is the highest award that a coach can receive in the province of Alberta. Comments made about Gordon while receiving this award were “Gordon has given hours of his time to the organization of the zone and he has been a constant supporter of the South Central’s teams and contestants at the majority of provincial competitions. He has continually offered his assistance to adjacent zones that have been privileged to host provincial competitions in badminton, gymnastics, track and field, and volleyball. Gordon’s background has resulted in him being controversial, committed and sometimes impatient at annual meetings. However, those in this association who know him are indebted to him for his adherence to his principles and his heartfelt desire to do his best for the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association.” The Routledge award certainly holds a special place with Gordon as he and Robert (the award’s namesake) had served on the executive committee together during Gordon’s three years with the ASAA.

 

Gordon’s administrative talents were not limited to the school setting. Gordon would also take these to a number of other areas serving as President of the Wheatland Coaches Association from 1963 to 1993, serving as the lone representative for the South Central Zone and eventually taking a position on that zone’s executive with the ASAA for 10 years; a position which also included yearbook editor for the ASAA. Gordon was also one of the founding members of the Canadian Federation of Provincial Schools Athletic Association in 1967, later to become the Canadian School Sport Federation.

 

---- young devotees committed to set up the lateral altar ----

 

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the slideshow

    

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

    

Qi Bo's photos on FlickeFlu

    

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This is a long-short report on the feast of the Three Brothers Martyrs Saints Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino, that the town of Saint Alfio (Sicily) is dedicating the first Sunday in May to its Three Patron Saints.

On Sunday the Feast is celebrated at 10.00 with a sung Mass in the Mother Church, at 15:00 preparations begin to go down the statues of the Saints on float. At 16.00 the float looks out from the main door of the Mother Church where starts a joyful sound of bells toghether a spectacular shoot of bombs and a spontaneous chorus of faithfuls who perform the anthem of the Three Saints, the famous "Sung".

Subsequently, the float travels the streets of the town of Saint Alfio, accompanied in procession from the large crowd of faithful, to return to the mother church.

        

Clifford’s Tower is one of the best-loved landmarks in York. It is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. The 11th-century timber tower on top of the earth mound was burned down in 1190, after York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide. The present 13th-century stone tower was probably used as a treasury and later as a prison.

 

Archaeological evidence shows that there was activity in this area in Roman times (with a Roman cemetery lying across the site) and perhaps even earlier, but it was William the Conqueror who first established a castle here. When he marched north in 1068 to suppress a rebellion against his rule, he built a series of castles as he went, including one here where Clifford’s Tower now stands.

The Norman motte-and-bailey castle saw several violent incidents during its earliest years, including further revolts and an attack by Danish invaders. As the political situation settled down in the 1070s, however, the damage of these early years was repaired, and the castle, built largely of earth and timber, probably survived relatively unaltered through most of the 12th century.

 

The Mass Suicide and Massacre of 1190

The castle of York was the setting for one of the most notorious events in English history: the mass suicide and massacre in March 1190 of York’s Jewish community.

Tensions between Christians and Jews had been increasing throughout England during the 12th century, partly because many people were in debt to Jewish moneylenders and partly because much crusading propaganda was directed not only against Muslims but also against Jews. Anti-Jewish riots in several cities followed the coronation of the crusader king Richard I in 1189, and a rumour (untrue) was put about that he had ordered a massacre of the Jews.

 

In York, as described by William of Newburgh and other contemporary chroniclers, about 150 people from the Jewish community were given protective custody in the royal castle, probably the site of Clifford’s Tower.

Somehow, though, trust between the royal officials and the Jews broke down. The officials, finding themselves shut out from the tower, summoned reinforcements to recapture it. These troops were joined by a large mob, which soon ran out of control, incited by both anti-Jewish preachers and local gentry eager to escape their debts.

On 16 March, the eve of the Sabbath before Passover, when the Jews realised that there would be no safe way out for them, a rabbi urged his fellow-inmates in the tower to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of their persecutors. Heads of households killed their own families before killing themselves, and the wooden tower itself was set on fire.

According to several accounts a number of Jews did survive and came out of the tower under an amnesty, only to be murdered by the attackers. A plaque at the base of the mound, commemorating these events, was installed in 1978.

Though Jewish life did in fact revive in York within a few years of the massacre, it came to an end a hundred years later, in 1290, when Edward I expelled all Jews from England. This time their exile lasted until the 17th century.

 

The Medieval Castle

The tower burnt down in 1190 was rebuilt very shortly afterwards. Further repairs and rebuilding, some in stone, took place in the castle during the early 13th century. Then in the middle years of that century, as war with Scotland loomed, King Henry III decided to build a completely new stone tower on the mound.

A writ of March 1245 may refer to the construction of the tower. It orders Master Henry the mason and Master Simon the carpenter to advise the sheriff on strengthening the castle’s defences. Master Henry is often identified as Henry of Reyns, master mason of the new abbey at Westminster. At the abbey, as at Clifford’s Tower, English architectural detailing was applied to a plan influenced by French prototypes.

Documentary sources show that construction was intermittent and the tower was probably not finished until the 1270s, possibly not until the 1290s.

 

Despite the regional and national importance of York, its royal castle did not generally act as a royal residence. Together with Clifford’s Tower it was instead used chiefly for administrative purposes, notably for imprisonment, for storage and for judicial sessions. Occasionally it acted as a home for the Exchequer and its various treasuries when wars against the Scots caused the government to relocate to the north of England. It also housed an important royal mint.

The castle’s buildings, particularly Clifford’s Tower, whose mound was scoured by floods of the river Fosse, fell more than once into disrepair. By 1360, several of the structural defects which are visible today had already appeared.

 

The Tower in Decay

The history of the castle and Clifford’s Tower during the 15th and 16th centuries is obscure. Accounts of Henry VI, Richard III and Henry VIII suggest that several buildings were ruinous, and efforts were concentrated on maintaining a small number of them as gaols.[14] In 1540, just three years after Robert Aske (one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace) had been hanged ‘on the height of the castle dungeon’, John Leland wrote that the ‘arx is all in ruin’.

In 1596–7 a public scandal arose when the aldermen of York accused the gaoler, Robert Redhead, of trying to demolish the derelict tower and sell the stone for lime-burning. Contemporary correspondence about these events contains the first recorded use of the name ‘Clifford’s Tower’.

The name is sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Clifford family claimed the post of constable to be hereditary. Alternatively, it may refer to the rebel Roger de Clifford, who was executed after the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322 and whose body was displayed on a gibbet at the castle.

 

War and Explosion

After a brief period when Clifford’s Tower passed out of royal ownership, in 1643 it was occupied again by a royal garrison during the Civil War. The building was re-roofed and re-floored, apparently at the behest of Queen Henrietta Maria, creating storage rooms for ammunition and a gun platform on the roof. The forebuilding was largely reconstructed.

The city fell to Parliamentarians the following year. The tower continued to be occupied by a garrison of between 40 and 80 men and it may also have served occasionally as a prison. The Quaker George Fox was imprisoned here for two nights in 1665, on his way to Scarborough Castle.

The garrison’s dissolute behaviour caused discontent among the citizens of York, who called for the demolition of the tower, scathingly nicknamed ‘the Minced Pie’. On 23 April 1684 the interior was partly gutted by fire, allegedly as a result of the firing of a ceremonial salute for St George’s Day. Destruction was not total, though, and parts of the building remained in use for storage, while cannon were still positioned on the roof.

By 1699, however, when Clifford’s Tower was released to freeholders, sketches of the interior by Francis Place show that it was completely roofless.

 

Gaol and Monument

The 18th century was a period of changing ownership for the tower and mound. Clifford’s Tower was treated as a garden folly and possibly as a stable or cattle shed.

In marked contrast, the former bailey of the castle was redeveloped as a prison. New courthouses and gaol buildings were built, until in the 1820s and 1830s the prison encompassed the entire castle area. The mound and tower were enclosed and effectively hidden from view. Clifford’s Tower was accessible only with permission from a magistrate.

In 1902 a radical campaign of repairs and investigations was undertaken by Mr Basil Mott, including the partial reconstruction of the mound in an effort to underpin the south-east lobe of the tower with buried concrete ‘flying buttresses’. During these works, the most detailed archaeological investigation to date of the internal structure of the mound was carried out.

On 30 March 1915, Clifford’s Tower was taken into state guardianship. The structure was repaired and public access improved in 1935 with the demolition of the surviving 19th-century prison buildings, notably the wall enclosing the mound on its north and west sides. The lower parts of the slope were restored to their presumed medieval profile, and a stairway leading up to the forebuilding in a straight line was created, replacing a spiral path.

Clifford’s Tower is one of the best-loved landmarks in York. It is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. The 11th-century timber tower on top of the earth mound was burned down in 1190, after York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide. The present 13th-century stone tower was probably used as a treasury and later as a prison.

 

Archaeological evidence shows that there was activity in this area in Roman times (with a Roman cemetery lying across the site) and perhaps even earlier, but it was William the Conqueror who first established a castle here. When he marched north in 1068 to suppress a rebellion against his rule, he built a series of castles as he went, including one here where Clifford’s Tower now stands.

The Norman motte-and-bailey castle saw several violent incidents during its earliest years, including further revolts and an attack by Danish invaders. As the political situation settled down in the 1070s, however, the damage of these early years was repaired, and the castle, built largely of earth and timber, probably survived relatively unaltered through most of the 12th century.

 

The Mass Suicide and Massacre of 1190

The castle of York was the setting for one of the most notorious events in English history: the mass suicide and massacre in March 1190 of York’s Jewish community.

Tensions between Christians and Jews had been increasing throughout England during the 12th century, partly because many people were in debt to Jewish moneylenders and partly because much crusading propaganda was directed not only against Muslims but also against Jews. Anti-Jewish riots in several cities followed the coronation of the crusader king Richard I in 1189, and a rumour (untrue) was put about that he had ordered a massacre of the Jews.

 

In York, as described by William of Newburgh and other contemporary chroniclers, about 150 people from the Jewish community were given protective custody in the royal castle, probably the site of Clifford’s Tower.

Somehow, though, trust between the royal officials and the Jews broke down. The officials, finding themselves shut out from the tower, summoned reinforcements to recapture it. These troops were joined by a large mob, which soon ran out of control, incited by both anti-Jewish preachers and local gentry eager to escape their debts.

On 16 March, the eve of the Sabbath before Passover, when the Jews realised that there would be no safe way out for them, a rabbi urged his fellow-inmates in the tower to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of their persecutors. Heads of households killed their own families before killing themselves, and the wooden tower itself was set on fire.

According to several accounts a number of Jews did survive and came out of the tower under an amnesty, only to be murdered by the attackers. A plaque at the base of the mound, commemorating these events, was installed in 1978.

Though Jewish life did in fact revive in York within a few years of the massacre, it came to an end a hundred years later, in 1290, when Edward I expelled all Jews from England. This time their exile lasted until the 17th century.

 

The Medieval Castle

The tower burnt down in 1190 was rebuilt very shortly afterwards. Further repairs and rebuilding, some in stone, took place in the castle during the early 13th century. Then in the middle years of that century, as war with Scotland loomed, King Henry III decided to build a completely new stone tower on the mound.

A writ of March 1245 may refer to the construction of the tower. It orders Master Henry the mason and Master Simon the carpenter to advise the sheriff on strengthening the castle’s defences. Master Henry is often identified as Henry of Reyns, master mason of the new abbey at Westminster. At the abbey, as at Clifford’s Tower, English architectural detailing was applied to a plan influenced by French prototypes.

Documentary sources show that construction was intermittent and the tower was probably not finished until the 1270s, possibly not until the 1290s.

 

Despite the regional and national importance of York, its royal castle did not generally act as a royal residence. Together with Clifford’s Tower it was instead used chiefly for administrative purposes, notably for imprisonment, for storage and for judicial sessions. Occasionally it acted as a home for the Exchequer and its various treasuries when wars against the Scots caused the government to relocate to the north of England. It also housed an important royal mint.

The castle’s buildings, particularly Clifford’s Tower, whose mound was scoured by floods of the river Fosse, fell more than once into disrepair. By 1360, several of the structural defects which are visible today had already appeared.

 

The Tower in Decay

The history of the castle and Clifford’s Tower during the 15th and 16th centuries is obscure. Accounts of Henry VI, Richard III and Henry VIII suggest that several buildings were ruinous, and efforts were concentrated on maintaining a small number of them as gaols.[14] In 1540, just three years after Robert Aske (one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace) had been hanged ‘on the height of the castle dungeon’, John Leland wrote that the ‘arx is all in ruin’.

In 1596–7 a public scandal arose when the aldermen of York accused the gaoler, Robert Redhead, of trying to demolish the derelict tower and sell the stone for lime-burning. Contemporary correspondence about these events contains the first recorded use of the name ‘Clifford’s Tower’.

The name is sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Clifford family claimed the post of constable to be hereditary. Alternatively, it may refer to the rebel Roger de Clifford, who was executed after the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322 and whose body was displayed on a gibbet at the castle.

 

War and Explosion

After a brief period when Clifford’s Tower passed out of royal ownership, in 1643 it was occupied again by a royal garrison during the Civil War. The building was re-roofed and re-floored, apparently at the behest of Queen Henrietta Maria, creating storage rooms for ammunition and a gun platform on the roof. The forebuilding was largely reconstructed.

The city fell to Parliamentarians the following year. The tower continued to be occupied by a garrison of between 40 and 80 men and it may also have served occasionally as a prison. The Quaker George Fox was imprisoned here for two nights in 1665, on his way to Scarborough Castle.

The garrison’s dissolute behaviour caused discontent among the citizens of York, who called for the demolition of the tower, scathingly nicknamed ‘the Minced Pie’. On 23 April 1684 the interior was partly gutted by fire, allegedly as a result of the firing of a ceremonial salute for St George’s Day. Destruction was not total, though, and parts of the building remained in use for storage, while cannon were still positioned on the roof.

By 1699, however, when Clifford’s Tower was released to freeholders, sketches of the interior by Francis Place show that it was completely roofless.

 

Gaol and Monument

The 18th century was a period of changing ownership for the tower and mound. Clifford’s Tower was treated as a garden folly and possibly as a stable or cattle shed.

In marked contrast, the former bailey of the castle was redeveloped as a prison. New courthouses and gaol buildings were built, until in the 1820s and 1830s the prison encompassed the entire castle area. The mound and tower were enclosed and effectively hidden from view. Clifford’s Tower was accessible only with permission from a magistrate.

In 1902 a radical campaign of repairs and investigations was undertaken by Mr Basil Mott, including the partial reconstruction of the mound in an effort to underpin the south-east lobe of the tower with buried concrete ‘flying buttresses’. During these works, the most detailed archaeological investigation to date of the internal structure of the mound was carried out.

On 30 March 1915, Clifford’s Tower was taken into state guardianship. The structure was repaired and public access improved in 1935 with the demolition of the surviving 19th-century prison buildings, notably the wall enclosing the mound on its north and west sides. The lower parts of the slope were restored to their presumed medieval profile, and a stairway leading up to the forebuilding in a straight line was created, replacing a spiral path.

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Our Most Popular services

•Top best, Unique and Creative Thematic Wedding Stage Decoration

•Top Best Thematic Wedding Ambiance Lighting as per Event’s Color Scheme and theme

•Selective and Creative Venue Decoration

•Creative Thematic Wedding Backdrops

•Top Best Thematic Sitting Arrangements

•Royal and Top Best Thematic Wedding Floral Decor

•Thematic Wedding’s Event’s Walkways and passages designing and decoration

•Unique & Creative Wedding Table Centerpieces

•Thematic and Unique Wedding’s Stages designing and floral decoration

•Creative and selective Buffet Designing, layout and decoration

•Thematic VIP Lounges display, structuring, and fresh floral décor

•Thematic Salad Bars, Sweet Bars, Juice Bars and Drink Bars for Thematic Weddings

•Professional and Unique Styled Catering Services and Round Table Setup Services

•And much more to let you believe that your really fall in right direction with right Events & Weddings Planners

We are Committed, Dedicated and Defined for Excellence in your Events

Being at a2z Events Solutions, don’t forget that your Event is being handled by the team of a2z Events Solutions which is being ranked in world’s top leading, unique and Top professional Events and weddings management. We always work closely with you and the other wedding professionals you have hired to make your wedding Events or Other family Events everything you have always dreamed about

Still Searching for Pakistan’s top best, unique and Thematic Floral weddings decorators, Call today for free consultation

A2Z Events Solutions Management

Direct Cell # +92-321-4268177 / 0331-4730273

PK Office PH # +92- 42 35817106

UK office Dir # +44- 203-371-0782 / 0208 -090 -4020

Uk Fax # +44- 207- 691- 7800

PK Office: -M-23 Siddiq Trade Center, Main Boulevard Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan

Visit Our Pages: - www.a2zeventssolutions.com,, www.a2zeventssolutionz.com,,, www.a2zvents.weebly.com

Visit us Youtube:- www.youtube.com/user/a2zevents

 

Impartiality-in-action: Katia meets with the commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, in Pinga. In the field, Katia and Médard have contacts with a lot of different people including the victims of armed conflict, sexual violence, looting and other abuses, as well as child soldiers, members of the military and armed opposition groups, peacekeepers, and international organisations active in the area. As elsewhere in the world, these meetings provide an essential opportunity to better understand the kinds of dangers people are exposed to, as well as minimize, prevent or put a stop to violations committed against civilians. The discussions also offer a chance to ensure that people's rights are upheld and that the voices of the victims of armed conflict are heard. What's more, these contacts ensure that the mandate of the ICRC – from the role of protection teams, like Katia and Médard, to the work of water and sanitation engineers, farming specialists and doctors – is widely understood and accepted.

 

© ICRC / YAZDI, Pedram / www.icrc.org

another amazing red arrows shot from yesterdays show

Self-portrait, Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

The Baymont Inn & Suites is committed to providing you with top notch lodging at amazing prices. Beautiful rooms. Beautiful prices. For beautiful people like you. Start your visit to Des Moines the right way by checking into the Baymont Inn and Suites of Des Moines! Your stay is welcomed by an immaculate lobby for you and your guests, followed by exceptional customer service by our hosts. Post check-in, you may be interested in relaxing at the wonderful indoor pool that also features a great hot tub and fitness facility. Towels are always made available for you and your guests located inside the pool area!

      

Within the vicinity, there are several restaurants for you to enjoy. Iowa Beef Steakhouse is only a half mile from the hotel. This restaurant was voted #1 for the Finest Steak House In Des Moines in 2005. The other restaurants near the hotel are: Bonanza Buffet, Plaza Mexico, Country Kitchen, and Village Inn.

 

Venues such as the Civic Center, Hoyt Sherman Auditorium, Wells Fargo Arena, and Des Moines playhouse are all within 7 miles of this hotel. You can view all upcoming events by going to www.eventful.com!!!

 

"Great King Sized Jacuzzi Suite"

 

Jackie W. - Past Guest

 

"Best Continental Breakfast"

 

Past Guest

   

Amenities

 

•Complimentary HOT deluxe breakfast

•Complimentary USA Today

•Complimentary Wireless Internet

•Free Local Calls

•Business Services - Fax, Print, Email

•ATM

•Vending Machine

•Indoor Pool

•Hot Tub

•Exercise Room

•In Room Microwave

•In Room Refrigerator

•In Room Hairdryer

•In Room Iron and Board

•In Room Coffee Pot

•Large Work Desks

•Cable Television With Premium Channels

Meeting Facilities

 

•Two Large Meeting Facilities

•Meeting Room Can Accommodate 130 People

•On Site Catering Service/Garden Courtyard/Hospitality Room Available/Audio & Visual Equipment Included

Check out the beautiful jacuzzi suites while you are here! These are for 21 and up. Anyone under 21 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

 

Baymont Inn presents eight different Jacuzzi Suites for guest enjoyment. During Valentine's weekend, the suites start to book from December. The guest may choose from 8 different styles. As of March 2009, the following styles are available:

 

•Luxury

•Japanese

•Canopy Bed

•Floral

Each suite features a 2-person hot tub with power jets. You will also find in-room amenities such as coffee pot, iron, microwave, refrigerator, and hairdryer! In the morning, please enjoy complimentary hot breakfast served from 6-9 am. We look forward to meeting you!

 

4685 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313

Phone (515) 265-4777

Fax (515) 262-7469