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Jake represents the Proletariat, desperately clutching at worldly possessions and societal expectations (the gift box) while simultaneously dangling over the abyss of environmental and economic catastrophe (the floor), suspended all along by the weight of history and bourgeois establishment (the cast iron staircase), ironically a situation of our own creation.
(yes I am joking here mostly)
The houses that have been preserved are in good condition with original furniture and all the mod cons of the time. A few images showing the interiors.
Today a ghost town/museum but because of its location in the restricted area permits for a visit have to be obtained. Many of the buildings are now in disrepair and filling up with the drifting sand whilst others have been maintained to show what life was like with all the mod cons of the time.
Kolmanskop (Afrikaans for Coleman’s Hill in German it is called Kolmannskuppe ) was named after Johnny Coleman who during a fierce sandstorm abandoned his ox wagon on an incline near the settlement. In 1908 Zacharias Lewala found the first diamond whilst working in the area and showed it to his supervisor. It was soon realised that this was a rich diamond field and as a result the town grew with the enormous wealth. The amenities included a hospital, ballroom, school, skittle alley, theatre, casino, ice factory and the first x-ray station in the southern hemisphere. After the first World War the diamond field started to be depleted and by the 30’s it was in a steady decline.
I'd be curious to know exactly how many abandoned farms in similar condition dot the landscape across this vast country today.
This photo was taken at the Melbourne museum. It was taken hand held with available light. It was a condition of entry that no flash was used. The lens l took it with is one of my favorites the canon EF28mm f/1.8 USM prime lens.
It is fascinating to hear what some people have been up to, before and during the lockdown.👂👂
An example of this were the actions of Mrs Trebogus, her sister Trixie Trebillcock and Betty Beswetherick, shall we say these three ladies are of mature years but nobodies fool.👵👵👵
At the beginning of March following their instincts the three ladies decided to move in together. They had several articulated lorry loads of beer delivered by Sharps Brewery, plus quite a consignment from Camel Valley Vineyard. 🚛🚛🚛🍺🍺🍺🍷🍷🍷
Mrs Trebogus always kept much food in her freezer, plus she had a large vegetable garden and of course the ladies culinary skills were legendary, they were well prepared. 🍖🍖🍖🍎🍏🍋🍊
The ladies felt they would be good company for each other, sure enough their hunch was proved correct as three weeks later the whole country went into lock down, which the ladies had no problem with as they were the type of people in common with so many others that did as they were told. The ladies were able to follow instruction, had respect and complied, plus these ladies all came from special forces backgrounds which required them working in some hostile environments, Trixie worked as a bouncer at Mothercare for many years, yes these ladies are tough.👹👹👹
As the lockdown progressed many on line fitness videos sprang up, the ladies were very keen to keep themselves in peak condition so they followed along with many of these workouts, however none of the videos were of such intensity in order to keep the ladies bodies in absolute peak condition, it just did not stretch the ladies enough, Mrs Trebogus had an idea.💃💃💃
She owns a Mercedes ML63 AMG, so the three ladies went into the garage, Mrs Trebogus got hold of the front bumper and lifted the Mercedes up and down in order to tone her arm muscles.
The other two ladies also carried out this manoeuvre, as mentioned they are tough.
Trixie suggested to Betty that she got underneath the Mercedes, put her feet under the bumper and lifted it up and down with her legs in order to strengthen the thighs.💪💪💪
Everything was going swimmingly then Mrs Trebogus had a go as she likes to keep her thighs in special peak condition, there was an enormous crack, Mrs Trebogus’s left leg fell off. Nothing to do with the vacuum cleaner incident I must add.
Like you do, Mrs Trebogus dusted herself off and said this is not a problem as my car is an automatic (You still have to be there) but when the time comes and we are allowed out I still have my right leg in order to be able to drive. So she picked up her leg, hopped over and placed it in the big chest freezer she had in the garage.🏡
Trixie said “you should seek medical help”, no responded Mrs Trebogus we know the rules, we have been instructed to stay home, not to go out, we will wait until the lockdown is eased, I can still walk on the one good leg, do cart wheels with a slight shimmy, so I have nothing to complain about. Anyway like so many people, if we were really desperate there is always someone locally that can help out, that is human instinct. 🏃♀️💪
The weeks went by, sure enough, some of the lockdown measures were eased and in May people were allowed to drive for over an hour, but return on the same day. Not wishing to trouble the medical profession, Mrs Trebogus went onto the internet to look for alternative medical assistance, one name caught her eye, Mystic Peg, who specialised in limb reattachment services.👩💻
As Mrs Trebogus herself had worked with some of our special forces, she respected the anonymity of Mystic Peg who would only provide her post code, and a time to meet.👩💼
Like most of us long car journeys need to be planned, first you need a full tank of petrol, how many people keep a full tank of fuel just in case they need to go off at a minutes notice. Mrs Trebogus went and filled her Mercedes with fuel so that they could go off to the secret location.⛽️🚘
The sat nav coordinates were plumbed in and after quite some journey the three ladies reached their destination. Sure enough as our ladies got out of the car a fairy was waiting dressed in a Knights of the round table uniform, yes this was Mystic Peg, she said “come with me”, so Mrs Trebogus, with her leg under her arm, Trixie and Betty followed, they all set off into a park, keeping two meters away from Mystic Peg
Mystic Peg instructed Mrs Trebogus to sit on a special little stool, with a bit of her left hip hanging over the edge of the stool. Mystic Peg asked Mrs Trebogus to align the detached leg against her hip. Mystic Peg closed her eyes, muttered a couple of words and within moments, hey presto Mrs Trebogus’s leg was reattached and working like a new one.
As you can imagine (I can) Mrs Trebogus was so grateful to Mystic Peg for her services and asked what she owed her. Mystic Peg said "it is my pleasure to help good people like you and really it was such a simple job".😇👛👜💷💷💷
Mystic Peg went on to say, “as I have not seen many people for a while could I share a confidence with you Mrs Trebogus. Well don’t tell anyone but during the lockdown we had been made aware of a bloke who drove to this very location who could not see his hand in front of his face.
As none of us were on duty during lockdown he allegedly sat over there on a park bench, he gazed up towards the Magic Castle, bingo his eyesight came back, a miracle and he was able to drive all the way home to London”.🏰🙈😱
Mrs Trebogus responded to the fairy “you just cannot make that up”.😉
Thank you so much for looking at my photographs, the comments and banter you leave are so appreciated.
Have a good weekend
🍺🍺🍺🍷🍷🍷🐎🐷💃😎😂😂😂
Model: Chen Chen from Mannequin
Make Up: Emily Leong
Hair: Ash Loi
Styling: Rachel Lim
Wardrobe: Riyan Haffys from CLIIM
"My work encompasses the cultural state of modern society from a personal context. Enslavement has always been prevalent as long as mankind existed. The shift in the state of enslavement however has drastically changed from an authoritarian state to a self-imposed one. The backdrop serves as the classic allegory of a prisoner staring at the light from the window. The irony of this situation acts as a satire on how we all have the choice to walk out of the cages that we entrap ourselves into as the door is always opened for us."
This shoot took a total of 3 weeks from pre-production to post-production. The first 2 weeks were spent on location scouting, gathering of the entire team and planning of logistics, props and wardrobe. The final week involved multiple visits to the site to plan and finally style the set. As this was purely a student project, I did the set styling together with props that were mainly uncovered trash. Objects like the broken typewriter was spraypainted silver to give it a nice sheen. Lighting tests were also conducted a day before the shoot to ensure the actual day will go on smoothly. A mixture of reflectors, color gels and flags were used to ensure I achieved the lighting I required. Unfortunately, I faced a slightly cloudy day which caused my lighting to be detracted a little differently from as I had planned it the day before. A final total of 4 different lights were used to fill in the direct sunlight which spilled through the doorway and the window to give it a slightly fantastical feel to it, together with the set design.
ARRIVA Buses Wales VDL Pulsar 2s 3142-6 - CX12 DSY/Z, DTF/K/N are lined up in Chester depot when brand new. First of the batch, 3141 - CX12 DSV, was helping out at the Olympics!
Pour terminer sur cette exposition. Merci pour vos retours.
Bon vendredi et belle fin de semaine à tous.
THE ART OF THE BRICK
Nathan SAWAYA, galeries Montparnasse
Network SouthEast liveried Southeastern 465908 "Kent Link Networker" "Chris Green" at Blackheath working 2U70 19:49 from Gravesend towards London Victoria.
For Railway 200 celebrations, Southeastern had painted Networker 465908 into the original NSE livery though meeting current accessibility regulations like the doors being kept white as with 507001, 455868 and other units. The train was named (Sir) Chris Green in a ceremony at London Charing Cross on February 25 2025. It is hoped that the unit will be used in events such as the Greatest Gathering and potential events next year regarding the 40 years of Network SouthEast.
Just to note this subclass didn't exist in the NSE days so this would've been 465208 though the /9 subclass is said to be in the best condition than the others.
Astra H & K SRi Comparison shot. The H was notable for being quite a late one and in rather better condition than most seem to be nowadays.
Available at the Main Store:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Salchicha%20County/203/35/23
and the Marketplace!
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/RC-Shampoo-Conditioner/8921100
Two bottles of shampoo and two bottles of conditioner!
Rez individually for decoration or you can rez the "Shampoo & Conditioner" to click to animate for 10 seconds!
Attach the bubbles to your hand to animate, or attach to your head for just having it look nice.
Books. They are the key to unlocking doors to a whole other world and time. They allow us to experience life in another man's shoes. This month, I cannot help but feel drawn to the classics in both literature and poetry. Today, I brought down a copy of Jane Eyre, this one being a third edition print from 1848. The pages are fragile and discolored, but still in excellent condition.
blogged
A Korean fortune teller in Seoul. One can find all types of fortune tellers in South Korea. And they run the gamut from the very profitable ones, as the one picutured here, to the more common ones working out of far smaller quarters in old buildings. I took this shot on the run, not wanting to get hit by any airborne demons--incoming or outbound!
I have queried my adult students here about whether they have ever visited a fortune teller. The majority of them have but only once or twice. Many said they had gone with friends after having a few drinks. Just my opinion, but I think that one would have to look far and wide to find any fortune teller who is going to give a person any bad news.
Olympus Trip 35 with Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 lens on Fuji 200.
Seoul, ROK
2010
My first Pleiades photo:)
It's only 9x10min exposure, due to weather condition in last weeks I couldn't get more but I thinkg it turns out pretty good:)
Equipment i used:
SW ED 120/900
HED 0,85 focal reducer
HEQ5-GoTo
Canon 1000Dmod
QHY5L-II with 9x50finderscope
Processed with Pixinsight and CS6
Follow me on my facebook page if u like this photo!:)
My second visit of the day was to this reserve - one of my favourite spots at the right time.
These are a secondary purpose of visiting this location and there were still quite a few around, thoughy they too mainly displayed signs of wear. This one was in fairly good condition and also allowed photos. Few stopped within reach.
Seeing RM1962 (ALD962B) at rest in Camden Gardens on the Camden Town Area classic bus running day made me think that it was 1968 all over again. Had it been so in reality, I would have reverted to being a scrawny teenager in school uniform - an unappealing prospect. “Ty-Phoo puts the T in Britain,” the side advertisement proclaims. I recall that ad being sported on the sides of many buses in Britain from early 1968 - it came hot on the heels of the ‘I’m Backing Britain’ campaign that featured a flurry of Union Jacks in an effort to boost the British economy: morale was low in the wake of the devaluation of the Pound Sterling in November 1967.
In this view, RM1962 is seen carrying a Muswell Hill (MH) garage code and is working the 134 route. That is 100% authentic. Ian’s Bus Stop records that the bus was new in 7/64 and was initially allocated to MH to work the 134. It received its first overhaul four years later but returned to MH for continued service. In its later career, RM1962 was transformed into a ‘Dartmaster’, lasting in that condition up to withdrawal in 11/04. Acquired for preservation, it was converted back to its original condition by EnsignBus in 2006.
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KILKENNY CASTLE, IRELAND.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezW4COeZAZc
A LINK TO MY GALLERIES WITH KILKENNY PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.
www.pbase.com/kilkenny_photo_society/edward_dullard
Do not use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my permission.
© All rights reserved.
A LINK TO MY PERSONAL GALLERY ON PBASE
Kilkenny Castle, the signature symbol of the Medieval city. Kilkenny Castle (Irish: Caisleán Chill Chainnigh) is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland built in 1195 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways. It was a symbol of Norman occupation and in its original thirteenth-century condition it would have formed an important element of the defences of the town with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, part of which can still be seen today on the Parade.
The property was given to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public. The Parade Tower is a conference venue. Awards and conferring ceremonies of the graduates of "Kilkenny Campus" of National University of Ireland, Maynooth have been held there since 2002.
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. The Anglo-Normans had established a castle in 1173, possibly on the site of an earlier residence of the Mac Gilla Pátraic kings of Ossory. Kilkenny formed part of the lordship of Leinster, which was granted to Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare, better known as Strongbow. Strongbow’s daughter and heiress, married William Marshall in 1189. The Earl Marshall owned large estates in Ireland, England, Wales and France and managed them effectively. He appointed Geoffrey fitz Robert as seneschal of Leinster and so began a major phase of development in Kilkenny, including the construction of Kilkenny Castle and the agreement of rents and privileges with burgesses or citizens of the borough. The first stone castle on the site, was completed in 1213. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day
James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries. They were Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde and lived in the castle for over five hundred years. The Castle became the seat to the very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde or Butler family, who lived there until 1935.
Butler family sold the castle to the local Castle Restoration Committee in the middle of the 20th century for £50. Shortly afterward it was handed over to the State, and has since been refurbished and is open to visitors. There are ornamental gardens on the city side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. Now a property in state care. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle.
Kilkenny castle was the venue for the meeting of the General Assembly, or parliament, of the Confederate Ireland government in the 1640s.
Interior courtyard
The castle seen from the nearby River Nore.Richard de Clare (also known as Strongbow) and other Norman knights came to Kilkenny in 1172, the high ground beside the River Nore was as an ideal site on which to build a wooden tower. He built a wooden castle of the type known as motte-and-bailey.
This strategic site was where the local kings, the O'Carrolls (840 AD), O’Dunphys and Fitzpatricks, had their castle(s) before the Norman invasion.
Twenty years later, de Clare's son-in-law, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, built the first stone castle on the site, of which three towers still remain.
The castle was owned by the seneschal of Kilkenny Sir Gilbert De Bohun who inherited the county of Kilkenny and castle from his mother in 1270, in 1300 he was outlawed by Edward I but was reinstated in 1303, he held the castle until his death in 1381. It was not granted to his heir Joan, but seized by the crown and sold to the Butler family.
[edit] Butlers of Ormonde
The Castle became the seat to a very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde or Butler family. They were a remarkable family, resilient, politically astute and faithful to the crown and to Ireland. These loyalties determined their fortunes and career. The Butler family arrived in Ireland with the Norman invasion, and originally settled in Gowran. They changed their name from FitzWalter in 1185 to Butler. The family had become wealthy, and James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries.
By the 18th century, the castle had become run down, reflecting the failing fortunes of the Butler family. However, some restoration was carried out by Anne Wandesford of Castlecomer, who brought wealth back into the family upon marrying John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde.
In the 19th century, the Butlers then attempted to restore it to its original medieval appearance, also rebuilding the north wing and extending the south curtain wall. More extensions were added in 1854.
View from the river, 1841The Butler family remained living in the castle until 1935, when they sold its contents for £6,000, moved to London, and abandoned it for thirty years. The impact of rising taxes, death duties, economic depression and living costs had taken their toll. While the Ormondes had received £22,000 in rental income in the 1880s, investment income in the 1930s was in the region of £9,000 and by 1950 these investments yielded only £850. They disposed of the bulk of their tenanted estates in Tipperary and Kilkenny, 21,000 acres (85 km²), by 1915 for £240,000. Death duties and expenses following the death of James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde in 1919 amounted to £166,000[1].
Auction Catalogue, 1935In 1967, Arthur Butler, 6th Marquess and 24th Earl of Ormonde, sold the abandoned and deteriorating castle to the Castle Restoration Committee for £50, with the statement: "The people of Kilkenny, as well as myself and my family, feel a great pride in the Castle, and we have not liked to see this deterioration. We determined that it should not be allowed to fall into ruins. There are already too many ruins in Ireland." He also bought the land in front of the castle from the trustees "in order that it should never be built on and the castle would be seen in all its dignity and splendour". Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull turned up at the castle hand over party, with Jagger telling the newspapers "We just came to loon about."[citation needed]
[edit] Confederate Ireland
In the 17th century, the castle came into the hands of Elizabeth Preston, wife of then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, another James Butler, also 12th Earl and 1st Duke of Ormonde. Butler, unlike most of his family, was a Protestant and throughout the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s was the representative of Charles I in Ireland. However, his castle became the capital of a Catholic rebel movement, Confederate Ireland, whose parliament or "Supreme Council" met in Kilkenny Castle from 1642-48. Ormonde himself was based in Dublin at this time. The east wall and the northeast tower of the Castle were damaged in 1650 during the siege of Kilkenny by Oliver Cromwell during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. They were later torn down. Then, in 1661, Butler remodelled the castle as a “modern” château after his return from exile. A new entrance gateway in the south wall was built around this time.
[edit] Irish Civil War
During the Irish Civil War in 1922, Republicans were besieged in the Castle by Irish Free State forces. The Ormondes, together with their pet Pekinese, chose to remain in situ in their bedroom over the great gate, which was the main focus of attack. There was a machine gun outside their door. One man was injured but a great deal of damage was inflicted on the castle, which took many years to repair[2].
[edit] Restoration
The rest of the 20th century saw a large amount of restoration and maintenance take place, as well as the castle being opened to visitors[3]. The Butler Gallery, in the castle basement, holds rotating exhibitions put on by the Kilkenny Art Gallery Society in a venue named for Peggy and Hubert Butler.
There are ornamental gardens on the city side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. Now a property in state care. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle.
Excavations and building surveys by Ben Murtagh in the 1990s revealed traces of an earlier earthwork castle, exposed a postern gate (side entrance) and section of the castle ditch facing on to the Parade (now visible), and also partly uncovered the lost south-east side of the castle.
The entrance was through the (now missing) east wall. Various other features of the original castle have also been excavated, including original stone buttressing and a garderobe. Parts of this castle survive to the present day but the castle has changed over centuries. The south curtain wall is long gone, the elaborate entrance gate is a 17th century addition, and in much of what can be seen from the castle park side is a 19th century reconstruction.
SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.
When I look at this image, it takes me back to one of my most memorable days in Alaska this year. It makes me want to say "Ahhh" and take a deep cleansing breath. It leaves my soul cleansed and my spirit renewed.
For 7 years, we had passed by the junction where the Parks Highway or the Richardson Highway led the adventurous traveler to what has to be one of the most spectacular drives in Alaska ... which is hard, for there is beauty all around. This primarily gravel road is known as the Denali Highway. It is a "shortcut" from Paxson to Cantwell - a 136 mile road which is very much the road less traveled. We're quite adventurous, but even we had never ventured across this road, but this year, on the spur of the moment, I told Tom that I wanted to try. I promised that we could always turn around, if the road got too rough. I'm sure the condition of the road varies greatly, depending on the recent weather conditions and your willingness to dodge potholes and accept the shake associated with traveling on the gravel road for many hours. LOL.
We decided to take it slow. That was very wise for us, as we began our drive across in our 28-ft rental RV. Please let there be no breakdowns, no flat tires, no cracked windshields. There weren't. :-)
It was one of the most beautiful drives we've ever taken and we were treated to the most magnificent weather for about 3/4 of the way ... which later turned to typical Alaskan drizzly rain for the remainder of the way. It was impossible to capture the beauty and enormity of the vistas along the way, but that didn't stop me from trying.
I love the spontaneity when we travel and prefer an adventure - good or bad. This was definitely one of the "good" decisions and I'm so glad that we followed our hearts - we were truly rewarded!
Thanks for stopping by to view and especially for sharing your thoughts and comments.
© 2014 Debbie Tubridy / TNWA Photography
De los doce molinos que coronan el Cerro Calderico, cuatro de ellos conservan la maquinaria en buenas condiciones: el Sancho, el Rucio, el Bolero y el Espartero.
Entre ellos, el más interesante, sin duda, es el Molino Sancho, que posee toda la maquinaria del siglo XVI en óptimo estado para su funcionamiento. De hecho, durantes la Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafrán -que se celebra el último fin de semana de octubre, el Sancho abre algunos de ventanillos, orienta sus aspas para poner en movimiento su enorme piedra, llamada Catalina, y realiza la Molienda de la Paz, un acto simbólico en el que participan diversas personalidades relevantes en el mundo de la cultura y la comunicación. Allí, una vez convertido el trigo en harina, se reparte en saquitos a los visitantes.
El resto de los molinos cuentan también con apodos de El Quijote, como Chispas, el Caballero del Verde Gabán, Mambrino, Clavileño, Alcancía, Cardeño, Mochilas y Vista Alegre.
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Twelve mills crown the hill Calderico (Consuegra), four of them kept the machinery in good condition: the Sancho, Rucio, Bolero and Espartero.
Among them, the most interesting is the Mill Sancho, who owns all the machinery of the sixteenth century in excellent condition for its operation. In fact, once a year, Sancho open some of scuttles, focuses its blades to set in motion the huge stone, called Catherine, and performs the grinding of the peace, a symbolic act involving various personalities in the world of culture and communication. There, once converted the wheat into flour, is distributed in bags to visitors.
The rest of the mills also have nicknames of Don Quixote, and Sparks, the Knight of the Green Coat, Mambrino, Clavileño, Alcancia, Mochilas (Backpacks) and Vista Alegre.
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An architectural abstract of a new Office building at Battersea.
It's actually an optical illusion as you're looking at five individual floors with their ceiling mounted air-conditioning units but here it looks like there are no floors inbetween.
I have just read that the designers of the building, Fosters & Partners, have now rented three floors of the building as they've run out of space in their nearby HQ.
By the way, if you live in London or are just passing through then you might be interested to know that the London Flickr Group regularly hold free photowalks. The next one will be in early February and we'll be announcing details shortly here : www.flickr.com/groups/londonflickrgroup/
Click here for more London Architecture : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157635041185106
© D.Godliman
Cassandra Cain is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, Cassandra Cain first appeared in Batman #567 (July 1999). The character is one of several who have assumed the role of Batgirl. Over the years, she has also assumed the names of Black Bat and Orphan.
Cassandra's origin story presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva. She was deprived of speech and human contact during her childhood as conditioning to become the world's greatest assassin.
Consequently, Cassandra grew up to become an expert martial artist and developed an incredible ability to interpret body language to the point of reading complex thoughts, while simultaneously developing limited social skills and remaining mute and illiterate.
Cassandra was the first Batgirl to star in her own ongoing Batgirl comic book series. She was replaced as Batgirl by Stephanie Brown in a 2009 storyline. She returned in late 2010, where she was shown working as an anonymous agent of Batman in Hong Kong before adopting the new moniker of Black Bat.
The character was brought back to mainstream continuity after the company-wide reboot in Batman & Robin Eternal, using the code name Orphan, previously used by her father, David Cain. The character's full history was restored in DC's 2021 Infinite Frontier relaunch.
Fictional character biography
Early history
Cassandra's birth and childhood are revealed in the Batgirl series. While seeking a perfect bodyguard for Ra's al Ghul, David Cain finds a potential mother when he sees Sandra Wu-San fighting her sister Carolyn in a martial arts tournament.
Believing that Sandra is holding back for Carolyn, Cain lures Sandra into a trap, sparing her life. David and Sandra have a child, and Sandra leaves the child for David to raise, setting out to become Lady Shiva.
Cain trains Cassandra from birth to be an assassin. She is not taught to read or write; instead, reading body language is her only language. She is able to read people's movements and predict what they are going to do.
When she is eight, Cain takes her to kill a businessman. As the man dies, Cassandra reads what he is feeling, realizes what she did, and runs away from her father.
After that, her activities are a mystery, until she first appears during the "No Man's Land" story arc.
No Man's Land
During the "No Man's Land" storyline, after Gotham is leveled by an earthquake and isolated, Cassandra Cain saves Commissioner Gordon's life and gains Bruce Wayne's approval, and, eventually, becomes the new Batgirl.
Her father, David Cain, sends a video of Cassandra's first murder to Bruce Wayne (Batman) attempting to disrupt her status. However, Wayne continues to accept Cassandra after she takes several bullets to save the life of a hired assassin, proving her devotion to protecting human life.
Batgirl
Bruce Wayne sends Cassandra to Barbara Gordon, currently functioning as Oracle. Barbara says she prefers to live alone but since Cassandra is never home and doesn't talk, it is just like living alone.
A telepath "rewires" Cassandra's brain so that she can think with words and use language, but these abilities come at some cost to her ability to read people's body language.
As she had relied completely on this ability to fight, she is unable to effectively fight crime. Worried, Bruce Wayne takes away her costume and begins training her in defensive skills.
Cassandra soon discovers that the assassin Lady Shiva can read people like she used to be able to and asks Shiva to reteach her.
Lady Shiva accepts on the condition that they would have a duel to the death a year later. As Cassandra would rather be "perfect for a year" instead of "mediocre for a lifetime", she accepts the offer.
When the women fight in a year's time, Cassandra dies within minutes. Realizing Cassandra had a death wish, Shiva then restarts her heart, so that they can have a real fight. In the subsequent fight, Cassandra beats Shiva but does not kill her.
Though not known for her private life, Cassandra does have a one-time romance with Conner Kent after meeting him on a cruise ship. He shares her first kiss, and she even visits him at his home in Smallville, though the relationship never becomes serious.
Cassandra then helps Batman control the violence of a gang war in Gotham City.
Later, Batgirl moves to Blüdhaven with Tim Drake (the third Robin) at Batman's suggestion and with his financial support.
There, Deathstroke takes on a contract from the Penguin to kill Batgirl and decides to let his daughter, Rose (the current Ravager), do the job instead. Cassandra beats Rose by playing on her emotions to leave her open for a critical strike, giving Deathstroke no choice but to get her medical attention.
During this time, Cassandra starts developing a friendship with Brenda, the woman who owns the local coffee shop, and even a very short-lived relationship with a boy named Zero. Unfortunately, her friends are all killed in the Blüdhaven disaster.
Cassandra also goes undercover for Batman, as Kasumi, in the Justice League Elite, working under Sister Superior to track and eliminate metahuman threats to the population.
She works with the Batman's old fellow Justice League members Green Arrow and the Flash, and forms a bond with Coldcast, who is the first Leaguer to whom she reveals her identity.
Although he is subsequently accused of murder, she and the rest of the team soon realize that he has been manipulated by renegade Elite member Menagerie, who was himself being manipulated by the spirit of Manchester Black as he tried to drive his sister to destroy London.
As the JLA falls, the Elite, united by the spirit of the deceased Manitou Raven, free Vera and vanquish Black, although the team disbands after this last mission.
Cassandra gathers evidence that indicates that Shiva could be her mother, and seeks her out to confirm this, rejoining the League of Assassins. After she is proclaimed by Nyssa al Ghul as the "One Who Is All", the students of the League are split, half following Shiva, and the others Cassandra.
In the following confrontation, Cassandra is mortally wounded by her "adoptive brother", the Mad Dog, while heroically saving one of the students under her leadership. Shiva revives Cassandra in a Lazarus Pit, then answers Cassandra's questions about her parentage.
When Cassandra asked Shiva whether she was still killing, whether she would ever stop, Shiva says she was, and responds, "It's why I had you", so Cassandra agrees to fight her to the death once more.
After a closely matched battle, Cassandra manages to break Shiva's neck, paralyzing her. She appears ready to place Shiva in the Lazarus Pit, but Shiva pleads with her not to do so. Instead, Cassandra impales Shiva on a hook hanging over the pit, apparently killing her. Cassandra then abandons the identity of Batgirl and returns to her life as a wanderer.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
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A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Cassandra Cain
Publisher: DC
First appearance: Batman #567 (July 1999)
Created by: Kelley Puckett (Writer)
Damion Scott (Artist)
Another one of Jane which is a little better than the last.
But this wonderful Bedford KM was seen this year at the Ackworth show in July and im so glad the owner has left it as it is..
I saw this many years ago when it was stored in shed with others at Joseph Hughes and im glad its escaped at last!