Vauxhall VX2300 FE (1976-78) Engine 2279cc S4 OC Production 25,185 (incl. VX 1800)

Registration Number UYO 796 S (London C)

VAUXHALL SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623863172810...

The FE Series launched as the last of the Victors in 1972 despite appearances the car reamained the same width as its predecessor and largely on account of its bumpers just two inches longer. Though the new design increased cabin space with exra front legroom and 4 inches more for rear passengers. The new Victor shared its floorpan with the Opel Rekord but retained a distinct bodyshell, its own suspension and rack-and-pinion steering rather than the Opel Reckords reciculating ball unit. The front end incorporated the then advanced detail of having the slim bumper bisect the grille, with a third of the grille and the side-lights (on quad headlamp models) below the bumper line. Perhaps the most noteable differance was in the rear doors Opel door incorporated rear quarter lights and windows that wound fully down into the door whereas Vauxhall's designers preferred the "cleaner uncluttered look" arising from their elimination of rear quarter lights. The Vauxhall rear windows only wound down around a third of their distance before being baulked on the rar wheelarch, but this was muted as a safety feature completmented by he fitting of child-proof locks

The VX Series came about in 1976 in an effort to move the FE upmarket, its previous competitive pricing was now causing an imbalance in pricing with the new and smaller Cavelier introduced at a higher price. To try to move the Victor upmarket, Vauxhall upgraded the trim level of the basic Victor 1800 cc to match that of the 2300 cc version, with improvements that included fabric seat trim, a new instrumentation, refreshed interiors. The 1800 engine was boosted to 88bhp. To draw attention to the changes Vauxhall also dropped the Victor and VX 4/90 model names and the range was renamed the Vauxhall VX in January 1976. The VX2300 was powered by a 108bhp 2279 cc four-cylinder engine. In 1977 an more sporty and upmarket version of the VX2300 known as the VX2300 GLS appeared with engine output boosted to 116bhp courtesy of twin carburretors the car also recieved a five speed close-ratio Getrag gearbox with dog-leg first gear and was distinguished by with twin halogen headlights and supplementary front fog-lights fitted beneath the front bumper, fashionably blackened side window frames and extra sound deadning

Diolch yn fawr am 67,005,824 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mwynhewch ac arhoswch yn ddiogel

Thank you 67,005,824 amazing views, enjoy and stay safe

Shot 22.07.2018 at the Steam Fair, Barton Gate, Barton under Needwood, Staffordshire Ref 135-341

New SØSTRENE GRENE store opens in MAIDSTONE Søstrene Grene[a] is a family-owned Danish multi-category retail chain. It was founded in Aarhus, Denmark in 1973 by married team Inger Grene and Knud Cresten Vaupell Olsen. 'Søstrene Grene' is Danish for 'the Grene sisters'. The Grene family still owns and runs the chain today, with the founders' children Mikkel Grene becoming the CEO and Cresten Grene becoming the creative director in 2012. Søstrene Grene stores have a maze layout with a course that carries customers through all their product categories, leading them to return to the checkouts at the front of the store. The stores use strategic spotlighting and dark walls to create a cosy atmosphere and play classical music to create a sense of calm.

Their product selections include homeware (such as furniture, kitchenware, lighting, bathroom accessories), crafts, gardening, gifting supplies, stationery, travel accessories, children's games and toys, and snacks. New products are released weekly and available for a short time creating an experience of discovery and uniqueness. Products have a focus on Scandinavian design, many with floral elements, and are priced very affordably. All products are exclusive to Søstrene Grene with the exception of some snacks and online-only exclusive items.

The concept could be compared to Danish variety store chains Flying Tiger and Normal as they also offer a large varied selection of products at affordable/competitive prices in stores with a maze layout. However, Søstrene Grene has a greater focus on design and lifestyle branding. In comparison, Flying Tiger has more gimmick products and private-label food/personal care products, and Normal is known more for bargain-priced food/personal care products by national brands. At 9:59am on Friday, 29th August, Danish homewares brand Søstrene Grene will open the doors to its newest store in Maidstone. Situated in the city, which is known for being steeped in history, the launch marks the second store to be opened in Kent.

Once again, bringing its signature Scandinavian-inspired designs to Kent, Søstrene Grene’s new store will offer a curated selection of affordable homewares, furniture, lifestyle products and craft essentials. Located at Fremlin Walk, the store will be at the heart of Maidstone’s shopping district, surrounded by fascinating artifacts.

To mark the occasion, the first 100 customers through the doors will receive a voucher for a rug, worth over £60. Guests will also receive a canvas tote bag filled with Søstrene Grene goodies and will be able to explore the brand’s latest collections whilst enjoying refreshments and live performances by a classical string duo and ballerinas.

Originating in Denmark, Søstrene Grene now has 350 stores globally, and over 50 locations across the UK. The new Maidstone store adds to Søstrene Grene’s growing presence in the UK and Kent, joining the established Royal Tunbridge Wells site.

Mikkel Grene, group CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, comments: “We are delighted to continue our UK expansion, with our new Maidstone store. Maidstone is a fascinating destination and we’re excited to bring a touch of Scandinavian charm to this city, offering an inviting experience to all guests.”

UK Partners, Norma Jacob and Richard Power, who operate Søstrene Grene stores across Northern Ireland, Southern England, Scotland and Wales, are excited to bring shoppers to the new Maidstone store.

Norma Jacob, comments: “We’re proud to unveil our new store in Maidstone. Fremlin Walk offers a fresh and inspiring way to experience Søstrene Grene in the heart of the city’s shopping district. Our aim is to create a calm, welcoming space where customers can explore and enjoy a moment of Scandinavian serenity.”

Richard Power adds: “We’re continuingly thrilled by the warmth and enthusiastic response to our store openings and the Maidstone store is no exception. We’re excited to introduce the world of Søstrene Grene to this new destination and bringing the brand’s timeless design to Maidstone.”

Søstrene Grene’s new store at Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, will officially open on Friday, 29th August at 9:59am.

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

Tyneside & Tyne Bridges 24 May 2022.

From Manchester History.net

The Newcastle Malmaison Hotel occupies a position on the Quayside adjacent to the new Millennium Bridge and looking across the Tyne towards the Baltic and Sage on the Gateshead side. The hotel, with its elegant art nouveau entrance canopy, inhabits a former Co-operative Society warehouse.

The Co-op Society annual report for 1915 makes reference to the building. It says, "The erection of this building was commenced in 1900 and completed in 1902. It originally consisted of eight floors, but in 1909 an extension became necessary and the roof, which had hitherto been flat, was covered in. The building is 90ft. wide by 120ft. long, and the height from floor to ceiling on each floor is a little over 11 ft. It is capable of warehousing between 7,000 and 8,000 tons. Being conveniently situated to the river and in close proximity to that part of the quay where the London, Continental, and other regular lines of steamers discharge their cargoes, it has proved to be a great boon to the departments it serves. One of the floors is used as a bonded store for the warehousing of dutiable goods, and it is, of course, only open during regulation hours. There are loading and discharging platforms fronting the quayside, and also at the back, which opens out into Sandgate. All goods on account of the Grocery, Butter, and No. 1 Grain Departments are dealt with by the staff there, and machinery has been installed for cleaning fruit and grain."

The building was constructed using a "Ferro-concrete" system developed by François Hennebique in France and employed in the UK under licence by Louis Gustave Mouchel. The technique involved the use of concrete reinforced with mild steel with the objective of providing fire resistance and robust construction at a competitive price.

In 1994 a £300,000 refurbishment of the Grade II listed warehouse was completed by Newcastle Quayside Developments Ltd and Amec Building.

:: LIFE AT AVAREA ESTATES ::

We are a land sale company, including estate owners, agents, agents manager and estate manager. All of us are united in our dedication to providing prime locations for your homes, shops, clubs or whatever you want! We do things that no one else does, and we aren't afraid to take on complex challenges to offer competitive prices. ㋡

:: JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM ::

We're hiring! There are many opportunities to join the innovative, collaborative, and enthusiastic team of people at AVAREA, Estates.

See vacancies below :

- Customer Support :

- There are currently no open positions in this department.

- Agent Manager :

- You do everything you can to sell our lands availables.

- You earn 20% on the first payment of your customer.

- You can recruit your agents and be their manager.

- You earn 5% on the sale of your agents.

- Prerequisites :

- You must at least speak English or French, be polite and pleasant.

- You must have been an agent and have sold at least 15 lands.

- Agent :

- You do everything you can to sell our lands availables.

- You earn 15% on the first payment of your customers.

- Prerequisites :

- You must at least speak English or French, be polite and pleasant.

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Contact Calysavenger Resident or Underfawkes Resident inworld

SLURL : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lyle%20Isle/111/…/1001

Yes, those are midges (see description of previous upload) there in the corner of the black buff… Grrrr… ;-)

This information is for those of you looking for any of the below items and that found this image by googling it, or Flickr searching or whatever. I struggled to find reviews from in-the-field users for some of the below mentioned items myself (well, not the Nikon stuff ;-) ) and therefore decided to post this image with this information. Hope it helps and feel free to ask me anything you want to know.

Nikon D810

What can I say? What do I need to say? Everything they write is true… What a monster! Coming from a D7000 I’m blown away by its massive dynamic range and the speed and possibilities of the AF system, which was borrowed from the D4s. Where I would try to stop at ISO 800 with my D7000 (my personal acceptance limit for noise), I now think I’ll increase this to at least ISO 3200. I love the electronic first curtain and the bright and clear LCD screen, that lets me preview the histogram and see the image I just took at 100% zoom with only one click of the multiselector middle button! The native ISO of 64 is really crispy clear. The sound of the shutter is low and subtle.

Nikkor 14-24 mm f/2.8 G ED lens

No need to say much about this classic lens either… Just wow! Sharp from corner to corner and with f/2.8 this is amongst other things a real Aurora Borealis capture monster…!

Haida filter holder for the Nikkor 14-24 mm

I wanted to have ND filter possibilities on my wide angle lens this time around! Not so easy with the bulky 14-24… Some ridiculously priced systems are available, but none are perfect. I went for the quite newly designed Haida 150 mm filter holder and am satisfied after a first try! It’s made of aluminium, so not weighing too much. Looks good. It has 2 slots for 2 mm filters. A third slot for a third filter might become available soon. I’m using glass Haida filters with it and I use a bit of paint masking tape on the sliding edges of the filters to increase friction a bit.

The filter holder comes with nice foam borders to prevent scratching your filters and avoid light leaks. Additional foam stickers with the correct shape are supplied to attach to your filters when inserting more than one. To improve prevention of leaking light that might destroy a LE, I added a black buff/elastic scarf around the filter. If you’re setting up for a long exposure, the extra time for adding the buff is negligible ;-) And I kind of like the old-fashioned look of the setup, haha. It might be unnecessary due to Haida’s foam stickers, I have to do some further testing. I didn’t want to destroy my 5 minute exposure, so I decided to use it here.

Product photos: here.

Haida 150 mm square filters

I had been using a 72 mm screw-on Haida 10 stopper filter for a couple of years and loved it. I now own 77 mm sized 3, 6 and 10 stopper screw-on filters from Haida as well as 3, 6 and 10 stopper 150x150 mm square filters made of optical glass for my wide angle. I’ve chosen Haida because of the color cast of their grey filters: it’s almost not there! They make the images a bit warmer, which I personally like much better than the colder and blueish colorcast that some other brands create. Anyway, colorcasts are easy to remove in post. I’ve never done much with the colors in post after using my Haida filters. Their pricing is pretty fair too.

Product photos: here.

NiSi filter storage box for up to six 170 x 150 mm or 150 x 150 mm filters [not visible on this Flickr image]

I accidentally found this NiSi item on aliexpress.com and decided to buy this to protect my filters, especially when they are inside my checked-in luggage in a plane (I’m guessing these 150 x 150 mm glass pieces are not allowed as carry on… at least I’m not going to try). It’s a nice slim case measuring 180 x 160 x 33 mm, weighing 200 grams and each filter is in its own plastic slot on the inside. I wrap some of my clothes or a towel around it inside my backpack-to-be-checked-in and the filters should be okay. The Haida filters each come in their own protective sleeve, but for flight transportation I thought I needed a bit more safety against bending/torsion. All filters survived their first flight!

Product photos of the filter holder can be seen here: here.

Sirui N-3204X carbon tripod, K-30X ballhead and TY-D800L L-bracket

I found this ‘underdog’ tripod manufacturer of carbon tripods when trying to find a new and bigger tripod (which I found the most unpleasing thing to investigate… ooffff! So many brands, things to consider etc etc). I kept reading only good things about them and they looked really well built with an excellent finish. Not like your typical ‘Chinese product’! Clever small solutions (e.g. retractable spikes in the feet, foam grips on 2 of the legs to prevent even colder fingers during winter, an easy screw-off monopod possibility for one of the legs) and a 6 year warranty for a competitive price… I decided to go for it. I went for the N-3204X (previously M-3204X) which is a version with 4 segments per leg due to the smaller folded size which is important when travelling. This one unfortunately also had a middle column, but I choose a pretty high version of the tripod, such that I hardly ever will be using the middle column in extended position. The middle column can also be shortened considerably, giving a possibility for lower-to-the-ground angles.

I chose a K-30X ballhead which is a nice, big and robust ballhead with bubble-levels for the 3 axes and a rotational degree scale for rotations around the vertical axis. The ballhead adjustments (rotation, tilt, (adjustable) friction and locking) work very smoothly. The payload is far above the load I expect to use on it. It comes with a Arca-Swiss compatible removable plate which I fixed on my tele lens. I use an L-bracket on my camera with other lenses:

Sirui have just started to make customized L-brackets / quick release plates for several camera models so I bought one of these too (TY-D800L for the D800, which also fits the D810 since Nikon did not change the camera’s bottom shape), especially to be able to place the camera in vertical position easily and more safely (the whole camera on the tripod stays much more stable now than before, where it would move the centre of gravity of the tripod/camera system more towards the leg support points… add some wind or an unlucky misstep and the whole package could fall). The L-bracket is made of aluminium and weighs 79 grams.

My first impressions of seeing and using the tripod, ballhead and L-bracket are only positive. Placement of the whole tripod and getting ready to take pictures doesn’t take a lot of time.

JYC wired shutter remote control

A cheap shutter remote control from ebay that doesn’t use a battery… for the low price it’s worth a try and it does an excellent job! I also own a Hähnel Giga T Pro II wireless remote control which uses two different types of batteries. That one has many more functions and an automatic timer.

Product photos: here.

I’ll try to update all this info in about a year (see first comments in that case...) to see whether something turned out to be a bad buy and fell apart ;-)

The 1961 Jaguar E-Type, or the Jaguar XK-E for the North American market, was a revolution in the auto industry.

The British sports car was the first production open two-seater. "Its combination of beauty, high performance and competitive pricing established the model as an icon of the motoring world." You know you did the right thing when Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made."

The car may have been competitively priced when it went into production but if you want one in good condition today you're looking at around $345,000.

Repainted black IKEA picture frames; all images by French fashion designer Rene Gruau (he is pictured in small horizontal white photo frame on shelf); white plastic "lacquer" look nesting side tables and bookshelf - IKEA dollhouse furniture; lamps made from metal beads; authentic Jonathan Adler-designed vases, lampshades, books from Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse accessory set; TV, record player - REMENT; radio vintage Barbie by Mattel; wooden ashray by Carolyn Allen; Miss Honey, Silkstone Barbie accessory set.

www.re-ment.us/

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

Haynes can trace its origins to 1790 when the business was founded as an ironmongery and general store in the Edgware Road, London (now the site of the Metropole Hotel). In 1832 William Haynes took the two or three-day journey to Maidstone and went into partnership with John Gurney who had acquired an ironmongery business in 1817 on the corner of Week Street and Kings Street in Maidstone, which had been known to be trading there since 1771.

The Gurney and Haynes partnership continued until 1856 when John Gurney retired from the business and William Haynes bought his shares and took control. In 1857 William Haynes took into the business his eldest son, William Haynes, and traded in the name of Haynes & Son until 1863 when George Haynes, the second son, joined as a partner and it became Haynes & Sons. From the records that remain, the business expanded under the management of the father and his two sons, serving a large area of Mid and West Kent and part of East Sussex.

The business had active workshops and specialised in amongst other things, agricultural ironmongery, heating installations, kitchen ranges and developing patents. It secured important trading connections with the rising industries in the Maidstone area – paper mills, breweries and cement works. In 1872, following the death of William Haynes, the Company changed its name to Haynes Brothers – the name of the Holding Company today. The business continued to expand and with the advent of electricity the Company set up its own electrical contracting department. Additionally, with the introduction of the 'Penny Farthing' cycle, the Company capitalised on the boom in the 1890s in the cycle market.

Motorcycles followed and in 1903 the firm sold its first motor car – a Humber, and so the motor business was born with agencies for Daracq, DeDion, Sunbeam and the American Hupmobile. To house the expanding motor business additional premises were bought in 1906 in King Street. In 1894 the sons of George Haynes, Bernard and another William Haynes joined the Company, the third generation and two years later became a Limited company.

In 1911 one of the most significant events in the Company’s long history took place. Bernard Haynes was taken for a demonstration ride in a Model T Ford and was so impressed with its performance up Boxley Hill together with its competitive price that he ordered one immediately at a cost of £180. From this small beginning started the firm’s long connection with Ford Motor Company as one of their main distributors, the first in Kent and the 12th in the UK. In 1922 Ronald Haynes (eldest son of Bernard) joined the Company after studying at Cambridge and training with Ford Motor Company and he played an important role in the expansion of the developing motor business. He was joined by his brother Philip in 1928 and both became Directors in 1936.

Together they expanded the business and also bought the first 1¼ acres of the Company’s current 5 acres Ashford Road site. As times changed, the Company took the decision to focus on its motor and agricultural business acquiring a site in Parkwood, Maidstone in 1966 for its agricultural operation and body and paint division. This initiative was lead by David Haynes, son of Ronald, and then the fifth generation of the Haynes family to run the business, who joined the Company in 1953 and became Managing Director in 1966.

Under the leadership of David Haynes, the business again expanded significantly and included the opening up of an agricultural depot in 1962 at Appledore and a further depot at Eastry in 1992. Additionally, the Company began its long association with motorsport as David Haynes, a former successful saloon car driver for the Ford Willment team, took the decision to sponsor John Taylor in his Ford Escort in the widely televised and popular rally sports series in the 1970s, and who became the first European Rally Cross Champion.

In 2000, David Haynes’ son, Andrew Haynes, took over as Managing Director. In 2009 he took on the additional role of Chairman making him the sixth generation of the Haynes family to run the business. In 2021, to help spearhead the Company’s future growth, he took the decision to appoint the Company’s former Finance and Commercial Director, James Broadley, as Group Managing Director, with him becoming Chairman and CEO.

Since 2000 the Company has expanded significantly again and now operates with branches at Winchester, Newbury, Horsham, Uckfield, Wrotham Heath, Great Chart, Birchington and Ashford with its Head Office, Ford Transit-Centre, Accident Repair Centre and a new upgraded FordStore showroom situated on an expanded 5-acre site at Ashford Road in Maidstone. Today its major franchises include Ford, Iveco, New Holland, Case IH, JCB & Fiat Professional Commercials and with a staff of just under 340 the Company has sales in excess of £100 million

(from left) My Scene Barbie china cabinet with RE-MENT china set (top shelf), beads (middle) and custom painted Barbie My Scene stereo and lamp; cruelty-free (and pet-friendly!) zebra "skin" rug from inkjet printed fabric glued on black felt base, vintage Allan head on VOLKS articulated body in vintage houndstooth sportcoat and fashion, repainted black flea market picture frames with added magnetic backing, custom inkjet printed pillows based on Jonathan Adler designs, Barbie My Scene repainted coffee table and RE-MENT tea set, vintage Barbie Go-Togethers end table with custom printed tabletop liner, white enamelled metal dollhouse birdcage (severed from original attached table bottom, lined with felt), Hobby Lobby photo frame chair, Silkstone Lingerie #3 Barbie doll in I Love Lucy Barbie fashion, Haute Traveler Susie doll in handmade reproduction Francie Japanese exclusive fashion by Joan Hudson; black and white wallpaper scanned in from fabric and printed on my Epson panoramic photo printer (about 3 pieces of 13x19 inch paper fitted together for each room width).

You will need

8.5 x 11 inch fabric sheets for inkjet printer

Colored cotton fabric for backs of pillows in black, red and blue

Needle and thread...sewing machine optional.

Download pillow templates and print your fabric sheets and PEEL from paper backing BEFORE you begin to cut!

Place printed side of pillow front against same-sized piece of backing fabric, then sew up three sides with outside-facing-in, leaving approximately a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn inside out (like bag) and fill with cotton, then sew shut.

VOILA! You can instantly add the flair of celebrated contemporary potter and interior design guru Jonathan Adler to any room in your dollhouse.

For High-Resolution Images to Download:

www.mawphoto.exposuremanager.com/g/welcome_to_the_haute_d...

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

Calle Agua del Albayzín, 14.

Tiene preciosas creaciones propias y precios más que competentes.

Albaicín o Albaycín es su nombre en castellano que procede del árabe rabad al-Bayyizin y significa arrabal de los Halconeros.

It has beautiful creations of its own and more than competitive prices.

Albaicín or Albaycín is its name in Spanish, which comes from the Arabic rabad al-Bayyizin and means suburb of the Falconers.

Barrio del Albaicín

Granada (Andalucía/ Spain).

Sometimes you see pictures online and you get that feeling: I gotta go there!

Mission to Mars was one of these locations. But when I was there I felt like visiting a awkward garden. Cause that's what it is. No wow factor but liked the cube shaped greenhouses anyway.

Please visit www.preciousdecay.com for more pictures and follow me on Facebook on www.facebook.com/Preciousdecay

If you are interesting in buying one of my pieces, please contact me by personal message. I can print on various materials and issue limited numbers per image against competitive prices.

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

Go North East's Deptford-based "Black Cats" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5213 (NK54 NVH) is pictured here on Pennywell Road, Sunderland, whilst working "Black Cats" service 39 to Doxford Park. 05/06/17

This vehicle has recently received "Black Cats" branding. "Black Cats" is the new brand identity being introduced to encompass a variety of different frequent services in and around the city of Sunderland, promoting the cheap and competitively priced day and weekly tickets available for travel in the city (£3.65 for a day ticket, and £12.15 for a weekly ticket).

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

The ELA-4 launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is currently undergoing reconstruction in preparation for Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle.

In this image you see both the launch pad and, in the background, the steel frame of the mobile gantry.

ESA and European industry are currently developing a new-generation launcher: Ariane 6. This follows the decision taken at the ESA Council meeting at Ministerial level in December 2014, to maintain Europe’s leadership in the fast-changing commercial launch service market while responding to the needs of European institutional missions.

The overarching aim of Ariane 6 is to provide guaranteed access to space for Europe at a competitive price without requiring public sector support for exploitation.

The targeted payload performance of Ariane 6 is over 4.5 t for polar/Sun-synchronous orbit missions at 800 km altitude and the injection of two first-generation Galileo satellites. Ariane 6 can loft a payload mass of 4.5–10.5 tonnes in equivalent geostationary transfer orbit.

The exploitation cost of the Ariane 6 launch system is its key driver. Launch service costs will be halved, while maintaining reliability by reusing the trusted engines of Ariane 5. The first flight is scheduled for 2020.

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja

(from left) My Scene Barbie china cabinet with RE-MENT china set (top shelf), beads (middle) and custom painted Barbie My Scene stereo and lamp; cruelty-free (and pet-friendly!) zebra "skin" rug from inkjet printed fabric glued on black felt base, vintage Allan head on VOLKS articulated body in vintage houndstooth sportcoat and fashion, repainted black flea market picture frames with added magnetic backing, custom inkjet printed pillows based on Jonathan Adler designs, Barbie My Scene repainted coffee table and RE-MENT tea set, vintage Barbie Go-Togethers end table with custom printed tabletop liner, white enamelled metal dollhouse birdcage (severed from original attached table bottom, lined with felt), Hobby Lobby photo frame chair, Silkstone Lingerie #3 Barbie doll in I Love Lucy Barbie fashion, Haute Traveler Susie doll in handmade reproduction Francie Japanese exclusive fashion by Joan Hudson; black and white wallpaper scanned in from fabric and printed on my Epson panoramic photo printer (about 3 pieces of 13x19 inch paper fitted together for each room width).

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

As part of the Pinta Malasaña 2020 Art Project numerous examples of Urban Art have been incorporated into the decoration of the Market.

Located in the Plaza de los Mostenses, it is one of the city’s oldest markets. Built in 1946, much has changed since then. Today, its hallmark is undoubtedly its formidable mixture of cultures, gastronomy and food from the four compass points. East and west, north and south are represented in this central market, behind the Gran Vía, where we can find everything from Iranian caviar to a full range of the most exotic tropical fruit from South America.

The history of the Los Mostenses Market (which takes its name from the square in which it is held referring to St. Norbert’s Convent of the Premonstratensian or Montenses monks, who lived there until its demolition in 1810), is parallel to that of the Gran Vía. Behind it, inside a rationalist-style building, there is a market that has grown naturally.

Los Mostenses Market is a living organism combining the essential – a wide range of fresh products at competitive prices – with the unexpected: plenty of Korean products, a Chinese darner or an Iranian caviar dispensary. The market boasts more than one hundred stalls, spread out over three floors or located at street level, which are home to a wide spectrum of the food business – with a large representation of Latin American and oriental gastronomy – and it offers various services: hairdresser’s, reprography, florist’s...

© All rights reserved (by me the photographer - Dr. David J. Otway)

will leave the clouds and lose the crop on advice from others !

Taken on 29-10-2007 (just after this shot and just before this one) from the very rear seat of a Boeing 737-800 - FR925 BLK-DUB - as we climbed up out of Blackpool Airport to return to Ireland after Cormac's stag weekend.

It was lovely and sunny but blustery afternoon there.

From the wikipedia:

Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. Lying along the coast of the Irish Sea, it has a population of 142,900. Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism during the 19th century, particularly for the inhabitants of northern mill towns

Blackpool is heavily dependent on tourism. In what is often regarded as its heyday (1900-1950), Blackpool thrived as the factory workers of northern England took their annual holidays there en masse. Any photograph from that era shows crowds of tourists on the beach and promenade. Blackpool was also a preferred destination of visitors from Glasgow and remains so to this day. Reputedly, the town still has more hotel and B&B beds than the whole of Portugal. The town went into decline when cheap air travel arrived in the 1960s and the same workers decamped to the Mediterranean coast resorts due to competitive prices and the more reliable weather. Today Blackpool remains the most popular seaside resort in the UK, however the town has suffered a serious drop in numbers of visitors which has fallen from 17 million in 1992 to 10 million today. Similarly Blackpool Pleasure Beach remains the country's most popular free attraction with 6 million visitors a year but has lost over a million visitors since 1998. Today, many visitors stay for the weekend rather than for a week at a time.

Blackpool boasts some important landmarks, most of which appeared originally as part of the flourishing tourist industry.

* Blackpool Tower, opened in 1894; it has been a dominant landmark of the Blackpool skyline since that time. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower of Paris, France, it is 158m (518ft 9in) tall. Beneath the tower is a complex of leisure facilities, entertainment venues and restaurants, including the world famous Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus.

* North Pier - The northernmost of Blackpool's three piers. It includes a small shopping arcade, a small tramway and the North Pier Theatre toward the end of the pier. The pier end also used to have a helicopter pad, but this was damaged at Christmas 1997 by a windstorm and collapsed into the Irish Sea.

* Central Pier - The middle pier, includes a large ferris wheel and shops.

* South Pier - The southernmost pier. Almost directly opposite the Pleasure Beach, it houses a theme park.

* Pleasure Beach Blackpool - a famous theme park. Rides include the Pepsi Max Big One, which is the largest roller coaster in the theme park and one of the largest in the UK.

* The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment and conference venue in the town centre. Includes the Opera House (one of the largest theatres in Europe), Pavilion Theatre, Empress Ballroom, Spanish Hall, Arena and Olympia.

A controversial aspect of Blackpool's night-life is its hen and stag parties. Brides- or bridegrooms-to-be and their friends, often dressed alike in absurd or risqué attire, roam the town's many bars and clubs getting increasingly drunk. Their rowdy behaviour is claimed to discourage family visitors and has led to complaints from hotel and guest house owners keen to attract a more upmarket clientele.

I obviously cannot possibly comment on that last statement :-)

The Fiat 500, commonly known as "Topolino", is an Italian city car produced and manufactured by Fiat from 1936 to 1955.

The name "Topolino" translates literally as "little mouse" in Italian, but is also the Italian name for Mickey Mouse.

The Topolino was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time of its production. Launched in 1937, three models were produced until 1955, all with only minor mechanical and cosmetic changes. It was equipped with a 569 cc four-cylinder, side-valve, water-cooled engine mounted in front of the front axle, (later an overhead valve motor) and so was a full-scale car rather than a cyclecar. The radiator was located behind the engine which made possible a lowered aerodynamic nose profile at a time when competitors had a flat, nearly vertical grille. The shape of the car's front allowed exceptional forward visibility.

Rear suspension initially used quarter-elliptic rear springs, but buyers frequently squeezed four or five people into the nominally two-seater car, and in later models the chassis was extended at the rear to allow for more robust semi-elliptic springs.

With horsepower of about 13 bhp, its top speed was about 53 mph (85 km/h), and it could achieve about 39.2 miles per US gallon (6.00 L/100 km; 47.1 mpg-imp). The target price given when the car was planned was 5,000 lire. In the event the price at launch was 9,750 lire, though the decade was one of falling prices in several part of Europe and later in the 1930s the Topolino was sold for about 8,900 lire. Despite being more expensive than first envisioned, the car was competitively priced. Nearly 520,000 were sold.

In 1955 the larger rear-wheel-drive Fiat 600 was launched by Fiat and that would become the design basis for the new Fiat 500, the Nuova 500.

McAllen/Miller International Airport for car Week in Monterey.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer convertibles and fastest production car of its day. Internally numbered W198, it was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors and later offered as an open roadster.

Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the fuel-injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted 1952 race car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W194).

The Jaguar E-Type (a.k.a. Jaguar XK-E) is a British sports car, which was manufactured by Jaguar Cars Ltd between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. More than 70,000 E-Types were sold.

In March 2008, the Jaguar E-Type ranked first in a The Daily Telegraph online list of the world's "100 most beautiful cars" of all time.

In 2004, Sports Car International magazine placed the E-Type at number one on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.

(from left) My Scene Barbie china cabinet with RE-MENT china set (top shelf), beads (middle) and custom painted Barbie My Scene stereo and lamp; cruelty-free (and pet-friendly!) zebra "skin" rug from inkjet printed fabric glued on black felt base, vintage Allan head on VOLKS articulated body in vintage houndstooth sportcoat and fashion, repainted black flea market picture frames with added magnetic backing, custom inkjet printed pillows based on Jonathan Adler designs, Barbie My Scene repainted coffee table and RE-MENT tea set, vintage Barbie Go-Togethers end table with custom printed tabletop liner, white enamelled metal dollhouse birdcage (severed from original attached table bottom, lined with felt), Hobby Lobby photo frame chair, Silkstone Lingerie #3 Barbie doll in I Love Lucy Barbie fashion, Haute Traveler Susie doll in handmade reproduction Francie Japanese exclusive fashion by Joan Hudson; black and white wallpaper scanned in from fabric and printed on my Epson panoramic photo printer (about 3 pieces of 13x19 inch paper fitted together for each room width).

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

Opened for business in 1862, the Bury St Edmunds Corn Exchange was a grand building where traders exchanged cereal crops. A decline in prices and trading eventually saw much of the building, in time, given over to other shop merchants. It still looks imposing today. I was pretty surprised to find that it's mainly a JD Wetherspoon pub. Competitive prices etc.

The pub chain actually put in a substantial amount of renovation works and restored some of the original features. So, after my initial surprise at this beautiful landmark becoming a pub, it seems that everyone is a winner in this case. Well done Wetherspoons.

Taken with my Fujifilm X-T30 II camera and a XF18-55mm lens.

Mit der Strecke Brasov - Bukarest ist als dritter privater Betreiber die Firma Regio Calatori vor wenigen Wochen mit ehemals französischen Triebwagen angetreten. Zum Bummelzugtarif der Staatsbahn befördert dieses Gefährt seine Reisende relativ fix und komfortabel un die Hauptstadt. Wer dagegen im Erste-Klasse-Wagen auf Gleis drei mit demselben Fahrtziel platz nehmen möchte, muss gut das Dreifache berappen.

*The private romanian operator Regio Calatori started operations between Brasov and Bucharest some weeks ago, using DMUs bought second-hand from France. Offering quite competitive prices, the company is the third peivate operator on the branch besides Softrans (using their seld-made EMU) and Astra TransCarpatic (using DMUs bought from Denmark). R 16034 leaves Brasov central for Bucharest.*

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

IKEA dollhouse chest of drawers, white enameled and silver beads and wall ornaments, Barbie lamp, starburst wall mirrors made of foam core circles with metal rings, mylar reflective adhesive paper, and metallic spray-painted toothpicks.

RESOURCE LIST:

Room With A View magnetic diorama

www.cleabella.com/SceneShop.html

Carolyn Allen

Mod-O-Rama Fashion Doll Furniture

cda311@myway.com

Matt Trujillo

Custom OOAK reflocked Ken dolls

rubbermatt2000@yahoo.com

Joan Hudson

Reproduction Francie fashion

jhudson1101@hotmail.com

B&J Fabric (for black and white pattern on wallpaper)

525 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl at 38th St

New York, NY

(212) 354-8150

TOHO Shoji Bead Store

990 Avenue Of The Americas/36-37th St

New York, NY

(212) 967-2088

RE-MENT Miniatures

www.re-ment.us/

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

This English beauty was seen at the Heartland All British Car and Cycle Show held in Merriam Kansas.

History of MGA 1600

The MGA began production in 1955. The styling and mechanics were different from previous MG models. The public had been given hints of its new design during the 1951 Le-Mans 24 Hour endurance race. The car was driven by George Phillips and was actually a TD Midget with body modifications.

The XPAG engine that had power many previous MG's was replaced by a new power plant. This 1489 cc four-cylinder, B-series engine provided between 68 and 72 horsepower. The BMC B-series unit had made its debut in the MG Magnette saloon and proved to be a reliable and powerful engine.

To create enthusiasm for the cars prior to release, three aluminum-bodied prototypes were created and dubbed EX182. They were entered into the Le Man's race where they finished fifth and sixth in their class. This epic achievement gave the MGA racing credibility and mechanical reliability.

The styling of the car was undeniably elegant. Its aerodynamic design and two-seat open-body were stylish and sporty. The vehicle sat very low to the ground providing an excellent center of gravity. This improved handling and cornering ability. The chassis was a modified TD Midget unit with widely spaced side rails allowing for a low-seating position.

In the rear of the vehicle was a spare wheel mounted on the upper portion of the outside of the vehicle. Underneath was adequate trunk space for luggage. At the front of the vehicle sat the engine.

Steel disc wheels were standard equipment but center-locking wire wheels could be substituted at an additional fee. Since the car had an open-top, it was subjected to the elements. A hard-top could be purchased making the vehicle more versatile.

A coupe version quickly followed and offered features such as wind-up windows, soft-top versions, and other amenities that helped appeal to a wider customer base. To stay competitive on the race track, the MGA twin-cam version was introduced in 1958. This high-performance version could be driven to the race track, race, and then be driven home. The engine had been modified with aluminum components, twin overhead camshafts, and dual SU carburetors. These enhancements increased the horsepower rating to 110 and the overall top speed to 115 miles per hour. Disc brakes replaced the drums which not only made the car more competitive, it made it safer. Unfortunately, the vehicle suffered from reliability issues and did not hold up well to the strain of racing. So in 1960, MG discontinued its production.

In 1959, MG introduced the MGA 1600's and offered them in a coupe and open form. These were the standard MGA cars but with 1588 cc B-series pushrod engines. Drum brakes were used in the rear of the vehicle, but disc brakes were placed in the front.

In 1961, the MGA 1600 MKII was introduced. It featured a 1622 cc. B-series engine that was capable of producing 93 horsepower. 100 miles per hour was easily achieved by the MKII. Minor aesthetic changes were made to the front and rear of the vehicle.

In 1962, MG ceased the production of the MGA. Nearly 100,000 examples had been produced during its life span making it the longest-running and best-selling MG. The success of the vehicle was in part to its styling, racing history, performance, and competitive pricing. Many of the MGA's produced were exported to the United States. In the end and after so many years, the MGA was having trouble staying competitive with models offered by other manufacturers.

Source: Coceptcarz

Go North East's Deptford-based "Black Cats" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4992 (YR02 ZYM) is pictured here on Admiral Way, Sunderland, whilst working "Black Cats" service 39 to Pennywell. 05/06/17

This vehicle has recently received "Black Cats" branding. "Black Cats" is the new brand identity being introduced to encompass a variety of different frequent services in and around the city of Sunderland, promoting the cheap and competitively priced day and weekly tickets available for travel in the city (£3.65 for a day ticket, and £12.15 for a weekly ticket).

The Fiat 500, commonly known as "Topolino", is an Italian city car produced and manufactured by Fiat from 1936 to 1955.

The name "Topolino" translates literally as "little mouse" in Italian, but is also the Italian name for Mickey Mouse.

The Topolino was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time of its production. Launched in 1937, three models were produced until 1955, all with only minor mechanical and cosmetic changes. It was equipped with a 569 cc four-cylinder, side-valve, water-cooled engine mounted in front of the front axle, (later an overhead valve motor) and so was a full-scale car rather than a cyclecar. The radiator was located behind the engine which made possible a lowered aerodynamic nose profile at a time when competitors had a flat, nearly vertical grille. The shape of the car's front allowed exceptional forward visibility.

Rear suspension initially used quarter-elliptic rear springs, but buyers frequently squeezed four or five people into the nominally two-seater car, and in later models the chassis was extended at the rear to allow for more robust semi-elliptic springs.

With horsepower of about 13 bhp, its top speed was about 53 mph (85 km/h), and it could achieve about 39.2 miles per US gallon (6.00 L/100 km; 47.1 mpg-imp). The target price given when the car was planned was 5,000 lire. In the event the price at launch was 9,750 lire, though the decade was one of falling prices in several part of Europe and later in the 1930s the Topolino was sold for about 8,900 lire. Despite being more expensive than first envisioned, the car was competitively priced. Nearly 520,000 were sold.

Three models were produced. Model A and B shared the same body, only the engine of model B had 16 hp, vs. 13 hp of Model A. Model A was produced from 1937 to 1948, while B was produced in 1948 and 1949. Model A was offered as a 2-door coupé, 2-door cabriolet and a 2-door van, while Model B also introduced a 3-door estate under the name 500 B Giardinetta ("estate car"). Model C was introduced in 1949 with a restyled body and the same engine as Model B, and was offered in 2-door coupé, 2-door cabriolet, 3-door estate and 2-door van versions. In 1952, Giardinetta was renamed Belvedere ("A turret or other raised structure offering a pleasant view of the surrounding area", referring to its sunroof). Model C was produced until 1955.

In 1955 the larger rear-wheel-drive Fiat 600 was launched by Fiat and that would become the design basis for the new Fiat 500, the Nuova 500.

The 500A is known to be hot rodded, once the car came to America. It was mostly hot rodded to a dragster, or a street rod.

This little FIAT 500 Topolino is certainly the smallest miniland-scale car I have ever built, 7-wide and 17.5 stud long. Nonetheless, the car has rear beam axle suspension and opening engine cover and doors.

[Text from Wikipedia]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_%22Topolino%22

This Lego miniland-scale 1947 FIAT 500 Topolino has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 103rd Build Challenge, titled - 'The Fabulous Forties!' - a challenge for any vehicle produced through the decade of the 1940s.

Barbie and fashion doll collector Cindy Whiteside creates beautiful 1:6 scale dioramas and dollhouse interiors in her spacious two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY, photographed April 8, 2006. MANDATORY CREDIT: Photo by Michael Williams/Haute Doll Magazine

BFMC SILKSTONE TOWNHOUSE Dining Room - Wallpaper: Wrapping paper; Floor: checkerboard Contact paper; Furniture: Mostly Sindy, including tableware, with Re-Ment accessories in china cabinet and desk, and unique corner table jewelry box from an antique mall with dollhouse bust and Re-Ment brandy bottles; Dolls: In The Pink

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

2013 I’ve vowed to reinvent myself a little bit. Try new things and experiment with different sorts of photography. My wedding business was down last year and whether that was from me raising my prices to accommodate new gear, more experience and higher quality images (which I have since reduced in 2013 to 2010 levels) or because my creativity has become stale, Flickr black-listing me from Explore, or there is more competition from the “I got a new DSLR kit from Costco for Christmas so I’m a professional photographer!” I find the competitive side of me searching more for how to continue to help those who need quality images and competitive prices.

People are generally attracted to photography because it offers a creative outlet and technical challenge of one sort or another. But if that drive to be creative, different and trying new things fade, so will the quality of your work.

So in 2013 I want to try new things. As a recovering metrosexual, I’ve always been fascinated with fashion. Fashion has change dramatically over the past 10 years. Years ago you would never shoot into the sun, that was a big portrait no-no. It was about high contrast, sharp images and not cutting off any limbs at the joints. Rules. Then the influx of digital cameras helped make photographers out of everyone, even those who didn’t follow the rules. And just like when slang becomes accepted as official lexicon, so does different ways of photography. Either you adapt or you fall behind.

So I’m experimenting with models, with my studio, with accepting different gigs (paid and not paid) to expand my horizons and not be so closed-minded when it comes to what I feel is an acceptable way of taking a picture. Like I preach in my classes, “If you like the picture, then it’s a great photograph”

Katie is on Flickr and we hung out a few weeks ago close to sunset in a dry riverbed where she was nice enough to put her camera down and work it for my lens. I was intentionally going for the blown-out, high key look and she was gracious enough to accommodate my silly requests of posing like, “you’re being thrown off a train”

The famous Overell department store was established in Brisbane in 1883 as a small drapery store in Fortitude Valley. Moving to Brisbane from Tasmania, William James Overell had opened the store with Thomas White in premises on the corner of Ann and Warner Streets which had been run as a drapery store since the mid-1860s. The partners bought a 15 perch (379.4m2) block of land fronting Brunswick Street in 1886, but did not occupy the site initially, instead leasing it to tenants. White left the business in 1889, transferring his share of the Brunswick Street site to Overell. Overell renamed the business ‘Overell’ and expanded to additional premises in Queen Street and other stores around southern Queensland. He adopted the motto ‘While we live we grow’ for the store, a statement that proved true over the following decades.

As Overell was branching out, other retailers were looking into the Valley for premises. Thomas Beirne and James McWhirter both started their drapery businesses in the centre of the Valley in the 1890s, with Foy and Gibson following, and the long-established drapers Stewart and Hemmant had a clothing factory constructed on McLachlan Street. The drapers’ stores and their competitive prices played a large role in making the Valley a vital commercial and industrial centre. By the turn of the twentieth century, helped by improvements to public transport and roads, the Valley had become a favourite shopping destination for Brisbane residents.

With the growing commercial importance of the Valley, Overell bought 28.83 perches of land (729.2m2) near the corner of Brunswick and Wickham Streets from the Bank of New South Wales in 1899. The site had a connection with the Brunswick Street property that Overell already owned, though they did not share a street front, giving the block an odd shape. An ‘exceedingly handsome building’ was designed by Addison and Corrie for the site and the firm relocated there in July 1900. The new premises caught fire and burned to the ground in February 1904, causing the death of one man, knocking out power to the trams and destroying the Bank of New South Wales premises next door.

After a dispute with Addison and Corrie, Overell engaged architects Eaton and Bates to design a replacement building. At that time the architectural firm was new to Brisbane, having shifted their Rockhampton practice to Brisbane in 1902, but had promptly designed impressive buildings, including Saint Bridgid’s Convent, Red Hill (1903), Bunburra, Clayfield (1902) and Cremorne, Hamilton (1905). Eaton and Bates also designed Swift’s Building, almost diagonally opposite Overell’s on the Valley corner, as well as the rebuilt Bank of New South Wales building on the corner (no longer extant).

The new three-storey brick building was featured in Brisbane’s newspapers on its opening on the 1st of December 1904. ‘It is a different building which has arisen from the ashes,’ wrote the Telegraph, ‘not perhaps in contour, but there is more light and ventilation, larger departments, finer windows, and generally more convenience from a public point of view.' The fire was credited with the development of the company’s trademark, the Phoenix, with the company’s new building almost literally rising from the ashes. The building had three entrances, with shopping on the ground level, furniture and delivery departments in the basement, and a workshop on the upper floor, where Overell’s ‘Phoenix’ shirts were made. Eight large display windows provided views of Overell’s wares, and a phoenix was displayed on one of three coloured glass windows at the back of the building. Pressed metal ceilings, wide staircases, suites and lunchrooms for the workers and electric lighting were all installed.

Further growth followed the opening of the new building. WJ Overell and Sons was registered as a limited liability company in August 1905, with £30,000 in capital. Factories were established in Spring Hill and South Brisbane. In May 1906 architect Claude Chambers called for tenders for additions and alterations to Overell’s Brunswick Street property. In July, William Overell purchased a further 11.53 perches of land (291.63m2) from the Bank of New South Wales, fronting Wickham Street and with a lane (now called Overells Lane) at the side. Overell’s extension plans were detailed in the Brisbane Courier in August, which noted that the new premises would be fitted with pneumatic cash carrying tubes and fire sprinklers. Plans were approved for brick and iron additions to the Overell premises, this time on Wickham Street, in September, and construction was underway by October. With the Bank of New South Wales still occupying the Wickham and Brunswick Street corner, Overell was unable to dominate the Valley Corner, but the back of the Wickham Street building was connected to the Brunswick Street shops, creating an uninterrupted shopping arcade for customers.

No architect was listed in the register of new buildings in September 1906, though Claude Chambers’ advertisements for tenders suggest that he was engaged to design the building. Chambers’ solo practice was one of the largest in Brisbane, resulting in commercial designs including Finney and Isles’ ‘Big Block’ Building (1908 - 1910) and Perry House on the corner of Elizabeth and Albert Streets (1910 - 1913). He also appears to have known William Overell personally, as both were active members of the Booroodabin Bowling Club in the early 1900s.

In March 1907 Overell held a sale to celebrate the opening of the new Wickham Street building. A kiosk provided free tea and biscuits to shoppers. The expansion enabled Overell to divide the store into departments, with the Wickham Street side devoted to male clothing while the Brunswick Street building sold women’s apparel and accessories. By 1910, Overell’s comprised twenty departments in the Valley store, and the company had branches in Charleville, Laidley and Pittsworth.

Further renovations were undertaken on Overell’s buildings in 1911. An extra storey was added to the Wickham Street frontage, bringing it to the height of the Brunswick Street shops, while the Brunswick Street store was extended at the back. Galleries were constructed inside the building, to be used as offices and for toy displays. The designer of these additions was Walter Carey Voller, a Sydney-born architect who had trained with F.D.G. Stanley and practised in Brisbane since 1891. Voller was a fellow in the Queensland Institute of Architects and had served as its president and vice-president by the time he was commissioned for Overell’s building. Voller’s design was approved in late November, although the extensions were partially completed and opened in December 1911, just in time for Christmas.

William Overell died in 1917 and his properties were transferred to the company, Overells Limited. William Overell, the first of the famous Valley drapers-turned-department store owners, had played a significant role in the development of the Valley as a commercial hub. Along with Beirne and McWhirter, the appeal of Overells’ impressive store drew customers to the Valley, providing a market for smaller businesses and entertainment venues that sprang up in the Valley in the first half of the twentieth century. Overell’s contribution to the business development of Brisbane was acknowledged with the observation that his death caused ‘a blank in Brisbane business circles’.

Management of the company passed to Overell’s eldest sons, Arthur and William, who continued the firm along the same expansionary lines. By 1923, Overells’ was a forty-year old business and had ‘the honour of being the oldest established firm in Fortitude Valley’. The company marked the occasion with the purchase of another block of land on Brunswick Street, a 15.1 perch (381.92m2) allotment adjoining the Overell store. The company extended their building along Brunswick Street and updated windows for the Wickham Street frontage, in accordance with designs by architectural firm Atkinson and Conrad.

Three storeys were added to the Wickham Street building in 1926 - 1927. The company obtained a mortgage from the National Mutual Association in February 1926 and plans were approved in June. The Council also granted permission for the architects to add a chiming clock on the front of the Wickham Street premises, though if installed, is no longer extant. Atkinson and Conrad were again engaged to design the new storeys, which were built by Blair Cunningham. The additions cost £30,000 and were finished and opened in September 1927. The building featured rest-rooms for staff and customers and sick-rooms, and the additional storeys made it one of the tallest buildings in the Valley.

The success of Overell’s continued well into the 1930s and 1940s. From the original drapery goods, the company branched into selling wireless radios, furniture, household goods, footwear, fancy goods including jewellery, toys, confectionary, and self-service groceries. There was also a mail-order service, a radio club, an employee benefit society, a war bonds group, fashion parades, child care centre for shoppers, employee sports clubs, charity balls, a social theatre, and tea rooms. Entries in Overell’s dressmaking competition were displayed in the Wickham Street island window. The company even applied to run a movie theatre in the basement but permission to do so was refused.

Several alterations were undertaken on the Brunswick Street building front in the 1950s, converting it to a masonry facade. In 1953 Overell’s was replaced by Sydney department store Walton-Sears, one of four branches opened in November 1953 as the company expanded into Queensland. Title passed to Waltons in 1956, and the company made significant internal alterations in 1960, 1962, 1967, 1973, and 1975. The Valley’s popularity as a shopping destination declined from the 1960s onwards, and the department store closed in the 1980s. In 1984 ownership passed to Mount Cathay Pty Ltd, which in 2016 continues to own all of the former Overell buildings.

Source: Brisbane City Council Heritage Register.

See more car pics on my facebook page!

- - -

The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, more than 70,000 E-Types were sold during its lifespan.

Open headlights without glass covers, a wrap-around rear bumper, re-positioned and larger front indicators and tail lights below the bumpers, better cooling aided by an enlarged "mouth" and twin electric fans, and uprated brakes are hallmarks of Series 2 cars. De-tuned in US with twin strombergs and larger valve clearances, but still with triple SUs in the UK and the much tighter valve clearances, the engine is easily identified visually by the change from smooth polished cam covers to a more industrial "ribbed" appearance. Late Series 1½ cars also had ribbed cam covers. The interior and dashboard were also redesigned, with rocker switches that met US health and safety regulations being substituted for toggle switches. The dashboard switches also lost their symmetrical layout. New seats were fitted, which purists claim lacked the style of the originals but were certainly more comfortable. Air conditioning and power steering were available as factory options.

Production according to Graham is 13,490 of all types.

(Wikipedia)

This is Fopps record store on Cambridge Circus, London.

The company began as a one-man stall in Glasgow, Scotland in 1981. The name "Fopp" comes from the title of a song by the Ohio Players on their 1975 album Honey.

The first Fopp store was a market stall in Decourcey's Arcade near Byres Road in Glasgow opened 1981 by Gordon Montgomery. Fopp operated a "keep-it-simple" approach to the pricing of its merchandise, with most prices rounded to whole-pound figures. It built a reputation for reasonable prices on new releases, and competitive prices (often £5) on non-mainstream catalogue CDs, DVDs and books. The company also had a policy called "suck it and see", whereby any purchase could be returned to the shop within 28 days for a full refund as long as it was as new.

By 2007, Fopp had expanded to become a chain of over 100 branches in the UK. With the demise of rival chain Music Zone, Fopp became the third largest specialist music retailer in the UK in terms of store numbers (after HMV and Virgin Megastores).

Having taken over rival chain Music Zone following its fall into administration, Fopp found itself with cash flow problems. The company cancelled book deliveries in June blaming a change in location of warehouse from Bristol to Stockport (the old Music Zone warehouse).

On 29 June 2007 Fopp called in receivers after a last-ditch deal that would have allowed Sir Richard Branson a way to devolve himself from the loss making Virgin Megastores without the negative PR of closing down multiple locations, but this deal failed to win support from Virgin's main supplier.

On 31 July 2007, it was announced that HMV would take control of the Fopp brand and its stores in Cambridge, Edinburgh Rose Street (but not Cockburn Street), Glasgow, London Covent Garden, Manchester and Nottingham. On 12 February 2008, Bristol Evening Post reported that a further store would open in Bristol (in a former HMV-owned Waterstone's store), a city in which three Fopp stores had traded prior to summer 2007.

It was also announced that the Leamington Spa store would be reopening as Head, a separate store from Fopp, but retaining Fopp's stock and assets.[5] The Head store opened on 1 November 2007 and employed some of its predecessor's former employees. The store intends to host regular performances from local bands, and hopes to allow musicians, artists and authors from Leamington and its surrounding areas to sell their work there. This was initially a single store, but has more recently expanded into a chain of four sites.

At their peak under HMV ownership, nine stores were trading as Fopp.

On 15 January 2013 Fopp, along with its parent company HMV went into administration.

HMV was bought out of administration by Hilco UK on 5 April 2013 saving Fopp's nine remaining stores.

In Christianity, the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, Three Kings, and Three Magi, are distinguished foreigners who visit Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in homage to him. They are commemorated on the feast day of Epiphany—sometimes called "Three Kings Day"—and commonly appear in the nativity celebrations of Christmas.

In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene (also known as a crib) is the special exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season, of art objects representing the birth of Jesus. While the term "nativity scene" may be used of any representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in art, it has a more specialised sense referring to seasonal displays, in particular sets of individual sculptural figures and props that are arranged for display.

Other characters from the nativity story, such as shepherds, sheep, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals, as described in the Gospel of Luke. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, and the Magi and their camels, described in the Gospel of Matthew, are also included. Many also include a representation of the Star of Bethlehem. Several cultures add other characters and objects that may or may not be Biblical.

Static nativity scenes depict Jesus, Mary, Joseph, farm animals, and sometimes other characters. While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter, nativity scenes in churches usually remain on display until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 6, or on the Sunday between January 2 and 8).

The nativity scene may not accurately reflect gospel events. With no basis in the gospels, for example, the shepherds, the Magi, and the ox and ass may be displayed together at the manger. The art form can be traced back to eighteenth-century Naples, Italy.

The setting for this scene is Avenue Nurseries, a family-run garden centre located in Lasham, Hampshire. They offer a wide range of products required for gardening at competitive prices.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scene

www.facebook.com/avenuenurseriesgardencentre.ltd/?locale=...

It is not surprising that the Glasgow engineering concern of F D Cowieson took an advert in the Transport Department's guide book of 1932 as at the time they were supplying many of the new motor bus bodies being purchased by the Corporation. Cowieson's had entered the coach and bodywork business at the end of WW1 and they were an established concern in the construction of building frames, using steel and timber. It would appear that they decided to utilise these skills on a smaller scale to tap into the growing market for commercial vehicles that was developing in the post-war period.

They courted GCT and found a fairly willing customer - there was at the time much clamour for operators to buy 'local' and so a Glasweigan company were in with the running to an extent - much as was the case in the pressure the Corporation came under to buy Albion bus chassis. However, during the mid-1930s Cowieson came under pressure regarding both price and delivery dates as other larger manufacturers could provide similar bodywork in shorter time scales and at more competitive prices. The crunch came in 1937/8 when Cowieson's could not meet Glasgow's requirements for the upcoming 1938 Empire Exhibition to be held in the city and Glasgow went elsewhere. The outcome was Cowieson's withdrew from the coachbuilding business.

Go North East's Deptford-based "Black Cats" branded Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Max Micro-Hybrid 5463 (NK17 GHO) is pictured here underneath the Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland, whilst out of service, on a promotional photoshoot, prior to entering service. 14/06/17

Manufactured by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland, this batch of 18 vehicles, which are to be launched at Deptford Depot, feature the latest Euro 6 Micro-Hybrid engines with the cleanest vehicle emissions standards. Unlike previous Euro 5 examples in the fleet, they therefore feature a Wrightbus grille on the rear bonnet, providing additional air circulation.

Similar to all recent orders, these vehicles feature Esteban Civic V3 seating complete with e-leather; two-colour Tarabus 'Wood Effect' flooring; and blue accent lighting, which is fitted underneath seats, to provide extra light on the gangway. They also feature free customer Wi-Fi, audio-visual Next Stop Announcement LED internal signs, and USB power sockets on the back of each seat to allow mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to be charged 'on the go'.

These vehicles have received "Black Cats" branding. Service 39 (Doxford Park - Pennywell), which was recently branded as "Black Cats", will be allocated some of these vehicles, while "SimpliCity" services 2/2A (Silksworth - Washington Galleries) will also be allocated some of these vehicles, with the current brand identity being phased out. The existing Scania L94UB/Wright Solar vehicles on service 39 will be re-allocated to services 38 and 61, while the Optare Versas are expected to transfer out of Deptford Depot, for fleet standardisation.

"Black Cats" is the new brand identity being introduced to encompass a variety of different frequent services in and around the city of Sunderland, promoting the cheap and competitively priced day and weekly tickets available for travel in the city (£3.65 for a day ticket, and £12.15 for a weekly ticket).

This iconic Ford Model T Touring car was on display at the Classics on the Grand Car Show held in Kansas City Missouri at Crown Center.

The knowledge and skills needed by a factory worker were reduced to 84 areas. When introduced, the T used the building methods typical at the time, assembly by hand, and production was small. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant could not keep up with demand for the Model T, and only 11 cars were built there during the first full month of production. More and more machines were used to reduce the complexity within the 84 defined areas. In 1910, after assembling nearly 12,000 Model Ts, Henry Ford moved the company to the new Highland Park complex. During this time the Model T production system (including the supply chain) transitioned into an iconic example of assembly line production. In subsequent decades it would also come to be viewed as the classic example of the rigid, first-generation version of assembly line production, as opposed to flexible mass production of higher quality products.

As a result, Ford's cars came off the line in three-minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, reducing production time from 12.5 hours before to 93 minutes by 1914, while using less manpower. In 1914, Ford produced more cars than all other automakers combined. The Model T was a great commercial success, and by the time Ford made its 10 millionth car, half of all cars in the world were Fords. It was so successful Ford did not purchase any advertising between 1917 and 1923; instead, the Model T became so famous, people considered it a norm. More than 15 million Model Ts were manufactured in all, reaching a rate of 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day in 1925, or 2 million annually, more than any other model of its day, at a price of just $260. Total Model T production was finally surpassed by the Volkswagen Beetle on February 17, 1972.

Henry Ford's ideological approach to Model T design was one of getting it right and then keeping it the same; he believed the Model T was all the car a person would, or could, ever need. As other companies offered comfort and styling advantages, at competitive prices, the Model T lost market share and became barely profitable. Design changes were not as few as the public perceived, but the idea of an unchanging model was kept intact. Eventually, on May 26, 1927, Ford Motor Company ceased US production and began the changeovers required to produce the Model A. Some of the other Model T factories in the world continued a short while.

Model T engines continued to be produced until August 4, 1941. Almost 170,000 were built after car production stopped, as replacement engines were required to service already produced vehicles. Racers and enthusiasts, forerunners of modern hot rodders, used the Model T's block to build popular and cheap racing engines, including Cragar, Navarro, and famously the Frontenacs ("Fronty Fords") of the Chevrolet brothers, among many others.

The Model T employed some advanced technology, for example, its use of vanadium steel alloy. Its durability was phenomenal, and some Model Ts and their parts are in running order over a century later. Although Henry Ford resisted some kinds of change, he always championed the advancement of materials engineering, and often mechanical engineering and industrial engineering.

In 2002, Ford built a final batch of six Model Ts as part of their 2003 centenary celebrations. These cars were assembled from remaining new components and other parts produced from the original drawings. The last of the six was used for publicity purposes in the UK.

Although Ford no longer manufactures parts for the Model T, many parts are still manufactured through private companies as replicas to service the thousands of Model Ts still in operation today.

On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford and his son Edsel drove the 15-millionth Model T out of the factory. This marked the famous automobile's official last day of production at the main factory.

I have processed this just for fun...... Pantip Plaza is a multi-story shopping centre on New Phetchaburi Road dedicated to IT and is a paradise for a geek like me. You can buy all the computer hardware, components and software you can imagine at competitive prices, along with cameras and accessories. I bought an ultra-slim ND4 filter for my 10-20 lens at a great price after a little haggling ;)

This is a single RAW file processed in Lightroom and CS6 using the tilt-shift blur filter.

Barbie and fashion doll collector Cindy Whiteside creates beautiful 1:6 scale dioramas and dollhouse interiors in her spacious two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY, photographed April 8, 2006. MANDATORY CREDIT: Photo by Michael Williams/Haute Doll Magazine

KITCHEN - Wallpaper: Contact paper; Backdrop: Sindy Scenesetter Kitchen; Furniture: vintage Sindy with Re-Ment accessories; Red table from novelty gift catalog; China cabinet is from Barbie kitchen set spray-painted aqua blue; Dolls: Midge wearing Cotton Casuals, whipping up a pie for her husband.

I have been getting all my new RE-MENT from Priscilla Wardlow at

www.nrfbqueen.com/rement/

as she has competitive prices, great selection, fast shipping and wonderful customer service.

As we enter a new election cycle, every voter should be asking themselves, what is the Republican platform, not just for the midterms, but for 2024? What exactly does the GOP stand for, and what programs would they like to enact should they carry Congress and even the Presidency?

So far, all we’ve learned is what they don’t want. They don’t want people of color voting. As demographics shift to a more racially and ethnically diverse population, the party’s base is dwindling. So, legislatures in conservative states are passing a record number of voter suppression laws. They don’t want to make it easy to vote for anyone but them.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine presents an interesting parallel to the political and social upheavals in the United States. Both represent existential threats to our countries’ futures. Yet, unlike the united opposition Ukrainians have displayed against Russian aggression, Americans stand more divided than ever before.

The Republicans’ platform lacks any coherent substance to better people’s lives, but they are in lockstep unison with their messaging. In contrast, Democrats are committed to reducing income inequality and ending racial and gender discrimination. But they lack a coherent and united message. We are at an untenable impasse.

President Biden’s State of the Union got several bipartisan standing ovations when speaking out against Putin. The enemy of my enemy is my friend (well, temporarily).

The applause continued when Biden declared the police would not be defunded. But as The Nation’s justice correspondent, Elie Mystral, remarked on The View, the President failed to give his words any context. “Defund the police” was a confusing phrase that didn’t mean what it stated. The backlash was huge and unnecessary. And it didn’t get to the heart of the issue.

It was a call to restructure police departments so that social workers and psychologists, not police patrolling neighborhoods, handled marital disputes, the homeless, and those in psychological distress. These people were being jailed and killed at alarming rates when we should have been treating them for their mental health problems. And, when put that way, the police welcomed that change. Biden’s comment garnered rapturous applause from both sides of the aisle. Yet his message lacked any substance. It was a missed opportunity.

Was this another of his attempts to find common ground with Republicans, something to build on? Or was this a temporary Kumbaya moment? Bipartisanship is far from reality given the Republican’s response to the President’s State of the Union by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Being an election year, using overly simplistic talking points makes it easier for the electorate to make choices. “On the economy, the contrast couldn’t be more stark,” Reynolds said. “While Democrats in DC are spending trillions, sending inflation soaring, Republican leaders around the country are balancing budgets and cutting taxes.”

In reality, both GOP and Democrat governors are cutting taxes. A booming economy and COVID relief have built huge tax surpluses across the country. However, there are fundamental differences between each party’s strategy for distributing those surpluses to its citizens. Republicans want to create tax cuts that benefit the rich, believing the already discredited “trickle-down economics” theory creates more jobs. Democrat-led states want to tailor amounts more to the middle class. In Iowa, Reynolds wants to do away with the state’s nine-tiered tax rate. She wants to replace it with a flat rate of 4%. That would put a more significant tax burden on the middle class and poor.

While politicians like Governor Reynolds would like voters to think Democrats are to blame, inflation is soaring for many reasons. The prolonged pandemic changed our lives virtually overnight. We stayed home. We didn’t eat out, go to the movies, or use our cars. Instead of spending, we saved. And the federal government helped millions in need with financial assistance. Oil prices plummeted, and OPEC reduced output to compensate. And, now that the pandemic might be easing up, we’re ready to spend that cash. We’re driving again, and with the greater demand for gas, oil production has yet to match our increased needs (and with higher profits, OPEC is taking its time). That’s one of the main reasons for the high cost of gas. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only added to this volatility. Chaos breeds unpredictability. Not surprisingly, the Governor failed to mention this.

COVID caused a lot of supply chain issues. Not only did sick and absent workers slow the production of many goods, but, like oil, the demand outstripped inventory. And let’s not forget the price-gouging shipping companies. The cost of shipping a cargo container from Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 547% compared to the seasonal high during the previous five years! So there are many reasons we’re encountering inflation right now. It’s a problem, but not a partisan one.

We are experiencing one of the most turbulent times since World War II. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have all the answers. Nor can either party fix it all. Unlike Ukrainians, we are far from united in our efforts to save our country. This stalemate will be the death of us.

Build Me a Wedge Issue

Without actual plans to help struggling Americans, Republicans create cultural wedge issues to ignite their base and bring out the vote. Not only did Donald Trump’s disdain for taking commonsense health precautions prolong the pandemic, but it also turned us against each other. That’s the Republicans’ plan right now.

We don’t teach critical race theory (CRT) in our children’s schools. So why are GOP-led states trying to ban it in K-12? Why are parents so whipped up about it, attacking school boards and threatening their members? Because anger brings out voters. Republicans accuse liberals of blaming Whites today for the sins of the past, and it’s incendiary. But that isn’t happening. Only current bigots are called to task. This is just one example of a bogus Republican ploy to divide us.

Teaching age-appropriate social-emotional skills in K-12, such as cooperation and empathy, can lead to more specific discussions about our history as children grow into adults. But if we continue to politicize everything, how will we learn to live together—how will we teach our children to live together? Parents have a right to know what their children are learning and why. But conservative attempts to embrace discord at school board meetings, install cameras in classrooms, and ban books are symbolic of Republicans’ desire to stir outrage, not embrace common goals. How can we acknowledge the past while making opportunities for all Americans in the present?

Politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (who chastised high school students for wearing masks) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (who recently issued a legal opinion defining gender-affirming health care for transgender kids as “child abuse”) are just two examples of Republican attempts to create theatrics for political gain.

Partisan grandstanding also has a dangerous side. Florida’s legislature just passed the “Parental Rights in Education” bill (termed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its detractors). It bans lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade. But these subjects aren’t even taught in these grades. So why even propose such legislation? But additional language in the bill (§8(c)3) also bans any discussions “not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” This could broaden the range of grades affected.

The law allows parents to sue teachers and schools who teach it. Teachers often provide safe havens for children in crises. And this would put both them and their students in jeopardy. It sends a message to already at-risk LGBTQ youth and children of same-sex parents that these subjects are taboo and their lives are marginalized.

Forging a More Unified Nation

If the GOP is unwilling to work with Democrats to address these economic and social issues, the Democrats must go it alone. (In a recent essay, I outlined The Washington Post’s Perry Bacon, Jr.’s three suggestions on how Biden can do this.) Georgetown University history professor Michael Kazin also has some ideas. In his recent New York Times essay, he says the Democrats’ problem is that they lack a social movement that can turn much of the working class into active supporters of sustainable social change. We need to create a powerful message that is class rather than racially based. Political elites, Kazin states, have never initiated essential policy changes on their own.

Looking at America’s past successes to create significant policy shifts, Kazin sees two lessons we can use now. First, a social movement must be large and powerful enough to force Democrat leaders to listen and grant some of our demands. Second, progressive programs that were successful and long-lasting, like social security, helped Americans no matter their race. And most importantly, they were perceived as helping everyone. During the New Deal, the Congress of Industrial Organizations welcomed African Americans as equals and pushed the Democrats to focus on civil rights. A movement based on the working class would be inclusive, with Whites and people of color united for common causes.

The pandemic has forced major social shifts in our society, something Democrats can take advantage of. There is a resurgent interest in unions—people cooperating to forge change at their workplaces. With “The Great Resignation,” people are quitting their jobs en masse to look for better pay, working conditions, and a more balanced life. Small businesses and large companies can’t find enough workers and offer signing bonuses, even for fast-food jobs. Suddenly, it’s a seller’s market we haven’t seen for decades. From Starbucks to Google and Apple, workers are looking for a more democratic workplace by unionizing for the greater good. The results could reduce economic inequality and racial animus.

Historically, it’s been workers’ rights and working conditions versus corporate interests. One crucial difference now is that some corporate and financial leaders realize the danger of income inequality. Billionaire and hedge fund manager Ray Dalio has said, “The most intolerable situation is how our system fails to take good care of so many of our children. Low incomes, poorly funded schools, and weak family support for children lead to poor academic achievement, which leads to low productivity and low incomes of people who become economic burdens on the society.” This cements the poor in their place for generations. Another billionaire, Mark Cuban, has just launched CostPlus Drug Company, a low-cost pharmacy to make medications more affordable to Americans (something the federal government has failed to do).

While corporations reward their CEOs and stockholders for profitable quarters, companies should also reward their workers for companies’ successes. A large class-based movement can accelerate this change. JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon has said, “Capitalism enables competition, innovation, and choice. This is not to say that capitalism does not have flaws, that it isn’t leaving people behind, and that it shouldn’t be improved.”

Dr. Kazin points out that progressive politicians in red states can win elections. He points to Ohio’s Senator Sherrod Brown and Montana’s Senator Jon Tester, who speak about class inequality. Brown talks about the “dignity of work,” and Tester has proposed a bill to bar corporations who lock out their employees during labor disputes from receiving tax breaks and deductions.

Like Bacon, Kazin suggests paths President Biden can take to build this coalition of working people. Talk often and forcibly about how legislation in his Build Back Better program, like child credit and lower health care costs, could improve most Americans' lives. Promote the Protect the Right to Organize Act, which the House passed a year ago, but the filibuster has stalled it in the Senate. In a poll, 80% of West Virginia’s working-class backs these programs, even Republicans. But the state’s Joe Manchin has continued to block their passage. Time to go around him. A large and vocal working-class movement could transcend party politics. The President’s messaging needs to emphasize this coalition strategy every single day.

Kazin states, “Last fall, a liberal polling firm conducted a survey in swing states and battleground districts to test how voters would react to a Democratic candidate who articulated such an aggressive pro-worker, anti-corporate message.” After hearing the pitch, support for Democrat candidates rose five points, enough to win elections in these contested districts.

It’s time to call out the GOP for its feckless We Got Nada strategy to win elections. When asked to reveal the Republican platform if they take back the Congress, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “That’s a very good question. And I’ll let you know when we take it back.” Their goal is to distract us with canards like Florida’s law outlawing mask mandates while they ignore our actual problems. Their politics are divisive and deaf to our critical needs. Democrats can effectively do an end-around this political standoff by honing their message: one that encourages massive support that transcends race and politics for programs that improve Americans’ lives.

We’re all mentally and physically exhausted by our hostile and suspicious neighbors. I’m sick of American politicians who revel in this discord. To sustain economic growth and political stability in the face of more turbulent times, we must create a fairer society. Let’s be more like Ukraine. They’re in a fight for their lives. So are we.

Feel free to pass this poster on. It's free to download here (click on the down arrow just to the lower right of the image).

See the rest of the posters from the Chamomile Tea Party! Digital high res downloads are free here (click the down arrow on the lower right side of the image). Other options are available. And join our Facebook group.

Follow the history of our country's political intransigence from 2010-2020 through a seven-part exhibit of these posters on Google Arts & Culture.

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LENS MANIA: ASAHI OPT. CO. SMC PENTAX-M 150mm f3.5

A couple of weeks ago I came across a copy of this rather peculiar lens at a very competitive price and I decided not to let it pass by. Very glad I did so.

I have found the 150/3.5 most undeservingly labelled as ‘oddbal’ in a number of reviews, blogs or lens commentaries - possibly together with the two 120/2.8 models - for its closeness to the 135mm focal length, while apparently not being expected to offer much more in terms of performance than the 135. Thing that could hold true in some contexts; yet, if you look at the history of SLR cameras, focal lengths included in the 135 -200 gap were never missing - sometimes also with illustrious representatives (Sonnar 180mm f2.8); and if you look into the medium format, you will notice that most of its basic standards happened to migrate into 35mm world as they were, temporarily or permanently (perhaps also as a result of an easier customizability in a field not yet blessed by computer calculations): so 50, 80, 105, 150, etc. were all typical in that environment.

The SMC PENTAX-M 150mm f3.5 was listed into Asahi Pentax catalog from from 1977 until 1986. A relatively long time for the comparatively modest number of copies you happen to stumble upon on the used market - some make of it even a ‘rarity’. Something that could, indeed, point to a lack of appeal or quality in the eyes of past photographers - whose reasons and tastes are beyond interest and possible scrutiny here. But it certainly wasn’t for the lack of quality, as can easily be demonstrated. The original catalogs described it as “21mm shorter and 50g lighter than its highly popular predecessor [probably the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 150mm f4]” and again “the 150mm lens offers a larger image than the 135mm f/2.5 lens, yet, due to its M-type compact design it is almost 40% lighter”. So, together with image quality, others were the concern s of makers & customers back at the time.

The lens is indeed mechanically solid and esthetically essential; completely consistent with the other ‘M’ models. Same reliable feel when you put it at work. It is made up of 5 lenses in 5 sparate groups, exactly like the 135/3.5 and the following ‘K’ generation 120/2.8 (not the earlier ‘M’ one, with inherited Takumar formula); and it has only 6 blades (probably in order to help the speed of the automatic movement). As a matter of fact it looks like a slightly larger version of the 135. The min. focus distance is aprox. 150cm - several blogs perpetuates a 180cm, relaying probably on the lens scale, but when you use it, you can actually go closer than that.

It is a very nice and inconspicuous tool when mounted on K1. I used it quite regularly since I acquired it and I like very much its compact size/reach, the easy focusing, its performance, last but not least the built-in retractable hood. The rendering is very pleasant to the eye, despite nothing groundbreaking, with a surprising - even if logic - ability to separate the subject from its background. It provides almost a 3D pop effect, if you like, without swirls. I wouldn’t call it is soft wide open, as some reviews do: it is pretty sharp for a lens of its time, even if modern glass pixel-peeper could find something to say. For portrait it is very good, right thanks to its relatively ‘dark’ f3.5 nature: head-shots, upper torso and even full figure. You can shot it even wide open, without being too concerned about leaving much out of focus. The subject hardly need any attention or pprocessing. The foreground and background blur get a lovely retrò touch: soft transitions, yet without loosing completely the bubbles and the light spots. Contrast is gentle, but not lacking, in most situations (also against lights); colors are well saturated.

If I have to find a defect, I do not hesitate in pointing at quite some CA wide open in strong contrast light situations. You do have to be aware of the position of the light in relation to subject and the amount of it in the frame - differently your image might acquire quite some ’golden hour’ levels of orange/purple casts, and not just in limited lines. I was quite surprised in a couple of instances when I unsuspectingly shot it as I often do modern lenses: none of the standard 135/2.5 135/2.8 135/3.5 is known for that, even if they do produce some CA too. Evidently there are some limitations in enlarging a specific design (particularly the 135/3.5) beyond the original purpose, making more evident previously irrelevant issues. You can live with the not perfectly round bokeh of the 6 blades, I figure.

Despite I've found myself enjoying more working with this lens, in general I miss a a bit the colors/depiction and particularly the bokeh of the earlier classic Takumar 150mm f4 (particularly the first version) - let aside its long thing shape, resembling a stick protruding from your camera.

The Jaguar E-Type is a British sports car that was manufactured by Jaguar Cars Ltd between 1961 and 1975.

Its combination of beauty, high performance, and competitive pricing established the model as an icon of the motoring world.

The E-Type's 241 km/h top speed, sub-7-second 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration, monocoque construction, disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, and independent front and rear suspension where innovative technical solution for the time.

On its release in March 1961 Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made"

The E-Type is featured in the Italian comic series Diabolik, Austin Powers films, the television series Mad Men and few 007 movies

The model shown here has a 4.2 liter 6 cylinder engine capable of 269hp and 250km/h

MAUTO - Museo dell'Automobile - Torino

I am very pleased to announce Cottage Country - new smaller land at Willowdale Estate! Parcel sizes ranging from 672sqm to 3600 sqm. There is a beautiful common pond in the middle - perfect for photos - so every parcel has access to water on this new region. The larger parcels have sandy beaches and waterfalls. Summer all year round. Competitively priced with beautiful landscaping yet still maintaining privacy, this is a new jewel at Willowdale that I think many will appreciate.

Stop by our Land Store today to get landmarks to view these amazing new parcels! Our 24/7 Sales Staff are ready and willing to help!

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Ford Escort (Mk.VI) Ghia X Saloon (1995-04) Engine 1753cc Endura D S4 TDDi

Registration Number V 275 KCX (Huddersfield)

FORD EUROPE

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665118181...

The sixth and final generation Escort appeared in January 1995 revised from the 5th generation on which it was still based. This version had new front lights, bonnet, front wings, front and rear bumpers, wing mirrors, door handles and 4 different front radiator grilles (slats, honeycomb, circles and chrome). At the rear, the Ford logo moved from the right to the centre of the boot, except for the van and convertible models. The interior of the car was hugely revised too following heavy criticism of the original 1990 car which featured low quality plastics for its interior mouldings - the car now featured an all new dashboard arrangement of competitive quality.

The two entry level engines were revised – the 1.3 L received the latest version of the Kent/Valencia family – the Endura-E from the recently launched Mk IV Fiesta and Ka, whilst the 1.4L CVH was replaced by the updated CVH-PTE unit. There were no changes to either the venerable 1.8 diesel or the 1.6/1.8 Zetec units at the top end of the range. Dynamically, the handling and ride were also much improved with revised suspension set up from that on the previous Mark V models. The Ghia X sat at the top of the luxury end of the range

In 1998 Escort range was cut down to just the Flight and Finesse editions, and sold for a further two years in parallel with the Focus. In the United Kingdom, all engines except the 1.6 L petrol and 1.8 L turbo diesel were dropped, as were the three-door hatchback, four-door saloon and cabriolet bodystyles. The Flight cost £10,380 and offered electric front windows, a three-speed fan and a cassette player. For an additional £1,000 the Finesse added alloy wheels, air conditioning, a CD player, fog lamps and metallic paint. The more competitive prices managed to keep European Escort sales going until the last one rolled off the Halewood assembly line in July 2000, although remaining stocks were sold into 2001, making it the last Ford car to be assembled there.

The Hailwood plant was transferred to Jaguar, then under the ownership of Ford, for the production of the entry level Jaguar X type .and following the later merger with Land Rover and the sale of the plant to Tata, Ford now only has a small presence at Halewood – retaining the transmission works at the site

Diolch am 75,699,898 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mae pob un yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr.

Thanks for 75,699,898 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.

Shot 21.07.2019 at , Ashover Classic Car Show, Ashover, Derbyshire 143-429

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