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Can face masks help slow the spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19? Yes. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends fabric masks for the general public. People who haven’t been fully vaccinated should continue to wear face masks in indoor public places and outdoors where there is a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as crowded events or large gatherings. The CDC says that N95 masks should be reserved for health care providers. How do the different types of masks work? Medical masks Also called surgical masks, these are loosefitting disposable masks. They're meant to protect the wearer from contact with droplets and sprays that may contain germs. A medical mask also filters out large particles in the air when the wearer breathes in. To make medical masks more form-fitting, knot the ear loops where they attach to the mask. Then fold and tuck the unneeded material under the edges.
An N95 mask is a type of respirator. It offers more protection than a medical mask does because it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales. Because N95 masks have been in short supply, the CDC has said they should be reserved for health care providers. Health care providers must be trained and pass a fit test before using an N95 mask. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are intended to be disposable. However, researchers are testing ways to disinfect and reuse them. Some N95 masks, and even some cloth masks, have valves that make them easier to breathe through. Unfortunately, these masks don't filter the air the wearer breathes out. For this reason, they've been banned in some places. A cloth mask is intended to trap respiratory droplets that are released when the wearer talks, coughs or sneezes. It also acts as a barrier to protect the wearer from inhaling droplets released by others.
The most effective cloths masks are made of multiple layers of tightly woven fabric like cotton. A mask with layers will stop more droplets from getting through your mask or escaping from it. How to get the most from your mask; The effectiveness of cloth and medical masks can be improved by ensuring that the masks are well fitted to the contours of your face to prevent leakage of air around the masks' edges. Masks should be snug over the nose, mouth and chin, with no gaps. You should feel warm air coming through the front of the mask when you breathe out. You shouldn't feel air coming out under the edges of the mask. Masks that have a bendable nose strip help prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask. Some people choose to wear a disposable mask under their cloth mask. In that case, the cloth mask should press the edges of the disposable mask against the face. Don't add layers if they make it hard to breathe or obstruct your vision. Proper use, storage and cleaning of masks also affects how well they protect you. Follow these steps for putting on and taking off your mask: Wash or sanitize your hands before and after putting on your mask. Place your mask over your mouth and nose and chin. Tie it behind your head or use ear loops. Make sure it's snug.,Don't touch your mask while wearing it. If you accidentally touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands. If your mask becomes wet or dirty, switch to a clean one. Put the used mask in a sealable bag until you can get rid of it or wash it. Remove the mask by untying it or lifting off the ear loops without touching the front of the mask or your face.
Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.
Regularly wash cloth masks in the washing machine or by hand. (They can be washed along with other laundry.)
And don't forget these precautions: Don't put masks on anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove the mask without help. Don't put masks on children under 2 years of age. Don't use face masks as a substitute for physical distancing. What about face shields? The CDC doesn't recommend using face shields instead of masks because it's unclear how much protection shields provide. However, wearing a face mask may not be possible in every situation. If you must use a face shield instead of a mask, choose one that wraps around the sides of your face and extends below your chin.
Do you still need to wear a facemask after you’re fully vaccinated? After you're fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends that it's ok not to wear a mask except where required by a rule or law. However, if you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases in the last week, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and outdoors in crowded areas or when you are in close contact with unvaccinated people. If you are fully vaccinated and have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may need to keep wearing a mask. You're considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after you get a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or 2 weeks after you get a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. In the U.S., everyone also needs to wear a mask while on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends medical masks for health care workers as well as for anyone who has or may have COVID-19 or who is caring for someone who has or may have COVID-19.``
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-dep...
The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have sorted us into three types based on our attitudes toward masking: Call them nervous maskers, never-maskers and uncertain maskers. The first feel guilty or nervous about unmasking, so they tend to default to wearing masks; the second feel angry and resentful about being told to mask, so they often refuse entirely. And the third group is just trying to do the right thing without a lot of certainty one way or another. Winter is coming, with its continued battles against delta or mu or another variant. We have better protections now (vaccinations, natural antibodies) but also are returning to higher-risk environments (nightclubs, offices, schools). To complicate matters, there are additional factors to consider such as waning immunity from vaccines and the potential of a bad flu season.
Fortunately, there have been a number of important studies on the efficacy of masking over the past 18 months. The good news is that the research suggests most of us can actually de-mask without guilt or worry in many instances — and not just outdoors. It tells us, for example, that plexiglass dividers are in most cases useless or worse. But relaxed refuseniks need a rethink, too — we shouldn’t be ditching masks entirely. On the contrary, the more people adopt a policy of tactical masking, taking situational factors into account, the lower the infection risk and the more freedoms we can enjoy again. As the probability of infection increases, mask wearers lower the risk of catching the virus compared with no masking. For N95 or FFP2 masks, the protection is far greater. Note: Relative reduction in risk-of-infection figures are for an infection probability of 4%.
It’s no wonder we’re either nervous, angry or confused about masks when you consider how masking guidance and conventions have been all over the map. It seems amazing now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and various governments had warned against using masks in the early days of the pandemic. When Thomas Nitzsche, mayor of Jena, Germany, made the decision to require masks in public in early April 2020, his city became one of the first to do so. Infections dropped by up to 75% over the next few weeks. In May, the CDC said fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks in most public settings. Two months later, as delta variant cases rose, the CDC revised that guidance. Now seven U.S. states — Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington — require most people to wear masks indoors in public places. Some states, including Texas and Florida, bar local authorities from imposing Covid-19 restrictions, including mask-wearing. In places that view masking as an affront to liberty, university professors can’t even ask students to wear masks during office hours without putting their jobs at risk. In England, there was a general lifting of restrictions in July, though U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said last week that masking may become mandatory again in some indoor settings this winter, depending mainly on whether hospitalizations from Covid spike. While masks are required on public transport, I’d say about half or fewer comply during my journeys. Many offices require workers to mask while walking around, but few Tory lawmakers are wearing them in the House of Commons. Scotland still requires masks to be worn in shops and restaurants while not seated, as well as on public transport. Berlin requires the medical-grade FFP2 masks on public transport. Certain regions of France also have masking requirements in place. But if you care about what the evidence says (and some people don’t), the jury is in: Masks help a lot. Take, for example, the study that shows most U.S. states that had high mask usage in one month avoided high Covid rates in the subsequent month, even after adjusting for masking policy, social-distancing policy and demographic factors. The majority of states with low mask usage ended up with high Covid case rates. Note: Low mask adherence means states that fall below the 25th percentile; high adherence are those states above the 75th percentile. Study analyzed data from April to October 2020.
The largest study yet on the effectiveness of masking, posted online in pre-print earlier this month, was a randomize trial conducted in 600 villages across Bangladesh covering a population of more than 340,000 adults. It offered strong evidence that masks, and surgical masks in particular, reduce virus transmission. Researchers found that a 29 percentage-point increase in mask adoption led to an 11% reduction in symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, where surgical masks were distributed; and a 35% reduction in people over 60. Symptom reductions using surgical masks were not statistically significant in younger age groups. While vaccines have largely broken the link between infections and hospitalizations (and death), they haven’t eliminated the need for mask-wearing. Data released last week showed that two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine were 67% effective against delta-variant infections (compared with 80% for two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech’s). Infections can still be nasty; long Covid remains another reason for vigilance. Not only can fully vaccinated people catch and transmit the virus, but it is unvaccinated adults who are more mask-resistant. Since it’s estimated that around half of all transmissions come from asymptomatic persons, masks are still key to preventing infections. But masking shouldn’t be performative, as it often is with those uncertain maskers who just want to show they are being thoughtful. Which masks we wear, and especially how they fit, is important. Mind the Gap . While N95s offer a higher level of protection, a well-fitted surgical mask blocks most particles.
More particles get through mask; Of course, not all masks are created equal, as a recent study published in the journal Nature highlighted. The authors measured the thermal behavior of face masks in real time during inhalation and exhalation to determine the relationship between the fabric structure of the masks and their performance. Their experiment helped shed light on how aerosol-containing bacteria and coronaviruses penetrate three different kinds of masks — reusable face masks, disposable surgical masks and the N95 — and how we can evaluate air filtration performance.Reusable masks have longer, thicker fibers with a larger average pore diameter. Unsurprisingly, they have
higher levels of permeability, with the surgical mask coming second, followed by the F95 (similar to the FFP2 in Europe). Those findings should even help manufacturers create a new generation of masks that offer more breathability while also improving filtration. The CDC doesn’t recommend scarves and other headwear because they tend to be made from loosely woven fabrics. Loosely Denser fabrics such as cotton with a 600 thread count compared with cotton that is woven with 80 threads per inch, are much more effective. Mixed fabrics also tend to have better results. A study on masks with and without gaps shows that leaks can significantly reduce their effectiveness. In addition to materials, layering them can also improve efficacy. New lab evidence on different kinds of masks showed that a three-ply surgical mask blocked 42% of particles from a simulated cough; a three-ply cloth mask was pretty similar. But the protection jumped to 92% when a cloth mask was worn over a surgical mask. Comfort is important to being able to wear a mask for long periods of time. In addition to metal nose-bridge strips that can help a mask stay on better, straps that tie behind the head and mask extenders can help reduce soreness around the ears. Insertable filters can be replaced when masks get wet.
Masks will also help prevent more vaccine-resistant variants from emerging as well as higher rates of flu infections, which can also cause serious illness and even death. Even so, the research strips away some of the mask myths and can help all categories of maskers — nervous, nevers and uncertains — be more tactical and aware. To know whether a mask is a must-have, a good idea or entirely superfluous, check the risk factors the way you might a weather report in the mountains: How densely packed and how well-ventilated is the space you are entering? Will you be moving around or stationary? It’s certainly good to mask up in an elevator or on public transport where people are pretty close together. It’s probably not necessary in an open-planned, well-ventilated office, provided people observe a measure of social distancing. Then be mindful of the infection and vaccination rates where you are. If you are in Broward County, Florida, where 70% of over-18s are vaccinated, you’d be justified in having a more relaxed approach; drive next door to Glades County, where only 31% are vaccinated and infection rates are high, and you’ll want to be more vigilant. Similarly only 16% of over-65s in King County, Texas, are vaccinated compared with 70% next door in Knox County, where the CDC recommends even vaccinated people mask. By moving beyond the “hygiene theater” of practices that don’t offer much benefit while also accepting that there are many different levels of risk tolerance and factors that increase or lower situational risk, we can treat masking a little like checking the weather forecast. Some days require a little more covering up than others.
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2021-opinion-how-to-wear-face-...
1. A quick survey of the crowd shows there's at least one Paloux preoccupied with work rather than his current date.
2. Henri Paloux also grew bored quickly once he discovered no Poppys had signed up for his age range.
3. Elizabeth meets with the third Paloux, cousin Rupert, who is also in the anxiety group.
Elizabeth, always up for conspiracy theories, later told sister Emily: "He was....twitchy. I don't think he's socially anxious...He's hiding something."
4. Jesse Romero finally found someone interested in the same kind of music--problematically, Lilith quickly became so engrossed reading the magazines that Jesse brought that she forgot about him being there!
NS 17N 26 showed having a BNSF SD9 6127 built in 1954...I was not convinced until I saw that the inbound power off another train was actually confirmed as the SD9. Trail does not equal fail in many cases as this was one of the first times I had ever seen a SD9 venture far from Cicero, etc. Coming into Toledo to change out with a pile of power....17N 26 from Pittsburgh Conway Yard has NS C40-8W 8423, NS SD60 6710, NS SD40-2 6114, NS C40-9W 9903 (Primer), NS GP38-2 5201, NS GP50 7085, BNSF SD9 6127, and GP GP60 2062 leading 110 mixed freight. The Elkhart Yard, IN bound train was seen in the mix with an amazing amount og "Good Stuff" was running this day. Now 10 years later, I get excited about the NS C40-8W leading.
Bangladesh is going through a difficult period of time- the country has seen more hartals than regular days in the past few weeks.
This series of strikes are affecting the general mass, hampering business like never before, creating hysteria in the minds of the people.
GEC Circle.Chittagong.
With the Fourth of July festivities continuing through the weekend, the fireworks show du jour for Saturday, July 6th was in Amboy, IL. Amboy was chosen specifically for the proximity of the Amboy Depot Museum, and specifically the steam locomotive, to the fireworks. The Depot Museum used to be the division headquarters of Illinois Central Railroad's original mainline from Galena to Cairo. The Charter Line has direct ties to Abraham Lincoln, but got subsequently downgraded after the IC built a branch line to a sleepy little town named Chicago. Renamed the "Gruber Line" in it's later years, the line was abandoned in the early 1980s.
Meanwhile, the steam locomotive that now resides here is one of the last operating steam locomotives in everyday revenue service. Now on static display, ole' 8376 is an 0-8-0 built in 1929 as a switcher for the Grand Trunk Western RR.
When it and her sisters were sent to scrap at Northwestern Steel and Wire in Sterling, IL, they liked them so much they decided to keep them. The steamers remained operational until late 1980, when the fires were dropped for good shortly after the passing of NWS&W's owner. This particular locomotive was brought out of storage, restored, and officially re-commissioned in 1976, as NWS&W #76, making it the last steam engine to be commissioned for regular freight service (industrial switching) in America.
I am continuing with a photo of Mount Rainier National Park. This photo was taken in the Tipsoo Lake area which is located near the Chinook Pass at an elevation of 5,430ft/1,656m.
About this photo: On one of our days in Mount Rainier National Park we visited the Tipsoo Lake area which is really beautiful. The lake offered beautiful views of Mount Rainier, great wild flowers and some good hiking trails. I really enjoyed my day at this lake as it is so serene and so beautiful. While walking along the trails of Tipsoo Lake we had nice views of the wildflower meadows with Mount Rainier as a backdrop, which I thought was so beautiful.
~Camera Settings:
*Camera Model: Sony Alpha DSLR A200
*Focal Length: 55mm
*F-Number: F/16
*Exposure Time: 1/40 sec.
*ISO Speed: ISO-100
*Exposure Program: Aperture Priority (A)
*Exposure Compensation (E/V): -0.7 step
I used a circular polarizer and I added some contrast and saturation in Photoshop to this photo to bring out the colours a little more.
Thank you for dropping by and I hope you like this photo!
Ann :)
Some information about Mount Rainier National Park: Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1899 and has a size of about 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness) and this includes Mount Rainier (14,410ft/4392m). Mount Rainier is an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows. Whether hiking on its flanks, climbing its summit, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on its slopes, camping along its glacier-fed rivers, photographing wildflower displays in subalpine meadows, or just admiring the view, nearly two million people go here to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Mount Rainier each year.
The park is devided into five areas, which are accessible from different areas:
1. Longmire: The Longmire Historic District is located at about 6.5mi/10.5km from the eastern park entrance at an elevation of 2640ft/800m. John Longmire was one of the first men to ever climb Mount Rainier in 1883. After his descend he bumped into an area of hot springs and he was so impressed that he returned a year later with his wife. He built a hotel in this area which was called The Mineral Springs Resort. After 1899 when Mount Rainier and it's surrounding area got the "National Park" status, Longmire was used as the park's headquarters. At the moment this building is a museum, The Longmire Museum which is one of the oldest museums of the National Park Servisce. Other visitor facilities in this area are the Wilderness Information Centre and a hotel.
2. Paradise: Paradise is located further down from Longmire and is one of the most visited areas in the park. Paradise is located at an elevation of 5280ft/1600m and is popular for the beautiful wildflowers in the summer, the enormous amounts of snow in the winter and an amazing view of Mount Rainier. It might be hard to find a parking spot during peak times in this area. There is a visitor centre here (the Jackson Memorial Visitor Centre) and the beautiful Paradise Inn Hotel.
3. Ohanapecosh: The eastside of the park is much dryer and sunnier than the westisde, so this is a good area to visit if it's too wet and foggy at Longmire or Paradise. This Ohanapecosh area is located in a quiet and densly forested area, about 1.9mi/3km north of the park entrance of this side of the park. Near the Ohanapecosh River you can find a visitor centre, a ranger station, the Ohanapecosh campground and picnic area. This area is only open from May until October. State Route 123 is closed during the winter months.
4. Sunrise/White River: This area is found in the north eastern corner of the park and accessibility is only from May until November. In the east a road enters from Chinook Pass (5,430ft/ 1,656m) and a little ways further you can find beautiful Tipsoo Lake which is surrounded by wildflowers in the summer. Via the turn off of the Mather Memorial Parkway you can go to the Sunrise/White River area. There is a turn of to the White River area which offers a Wilderness Information centre where you can get climbing or wilderness permits and information on hiking. If you continue it will take about 11mi/17km to get to the Sunrise area and parking lot which is located at an elevation of 6,400ft/1,950m. This road is only open from the end of June/beginning of July until the end of September/beginning of October. Sunrise is a busy area due to the beautiful views of Mount Rianier, many different hiking trails and of course the beautiful wildflowers that bloom here. In this area there is also the Sunrise Visitor Centre, The Sunrisde Day Lodge where you can have a bit to eat or visit the giftshop.
5. Carbon paper River/Mowich Lake: This area is located in the northwestern part of the park and can be reach from a small place called Wilkeson on Highway 165. Here you can also find a Visitor Centre where you can get permits and information. The highway here turns into a gravel road, so you might need a car with high clearance. The road floods frequently, so make sure you check before you go to visit this area. This area has several hiking trails and beautiful lakes, it is also the area with the heaviest rainfall in the park.
Whilst Talia continues to fight Ubu, she orders me to focus on shutting down the tower. Part of me fundamentally disagrees with her. Everything Bruce taught me in the first year focused on the importance of team work and how no matter what, we never abandon an ally. Almost four years on though, I can’t help but wonder how heavily that was caused by Jason’s loss. It had been well over a year after he’d lost Jason at the time and it would be another year before he’d finally open up about what really happened to Jason.
But now I can see where Bruce was coming from. After both Steph and I were attacked at the fairground, it feels wrong to leave Talia on her own to face Ubu. Especially with how little I know about his own skills with a blade. However, if what Bruce says about her is true, and she’s the one who trained him, then I’m worrying over nothing.
I really hope that’s the case.
Red Robin: Red Bird to bunker.
Alfred: Bunker here. Go ahead Red Bird.
Red Robin: How are we looking Al?
Alfred: I’m not sure yet. You’re the first team to report in.
Red Robin: Nothing from Bruce?
Alfred: Not since he found his father’s body.
Red Robin: Wait, what? There was a body at his tower too?
Alfred: Yes, its dental records match those belonging to Thomas Wayne. Lucius has told me that Master Grayson and Miss Gordon came across Mrs Wayne’s body at the Eastern tower. Did you identify who the body that you encounter belonged to?
Red Robin: We didn’t stop to confirm it, but Talia identified our body as that of Bruce’s uncle.
Alfred: First his parents, now his uncle.
Red Robin: Have you heard from the Outlaws about their body?
Alfred: We’ve not heard anything from them so far. I suspect they must have faced substantial resistance almost immediately to have not reported a body to us. Or perhaps maybe there isn’t one to report.
Red Robin: There’ll be one, Al. You don’t do something like that without covering your bases. They’ll have wanted Bruce to see them so they’ll have planted one at each tower to make sure that he does.
Alfred: I fear so.
Red Robin: How did he react to it?
Alfred: Not well. He cut off comms once he realised it was actually Thomas’ body. I fear the worst.
Red Robin: He’ll be alright, Alfred. He always is.
Alfred: But at what cost? You know how he protective he is of his parent’s memory, Master Timothy. I dread to think what having their peace disturbed will do to him.
Red Robin: He’ll do what’s right.
Alfred: I hope so.
The concern in Alfred’s voice is difficult to ignore. Clearly Bruce reacted worse than I thought he would upon learning who the bodies belong to. Please Bruce, don’t do anything stupid, for Alfred’s sake if not your own. In order to distract himself from those thoughts prying at the back of his head, Alfred tries to move the conversation along.
Alfred: Have you and Miss Al-Ghul secured the tower?
Red Robin: Not exactly. Talia had us split up. I’m on my way to try and shut down the tower, she’s dealing with one of the guards.
Alfred: I’ll transfer the tower schematics to your HUD now.
Red Robin: Thanks, Al………………………Do you know this person Talia’s fighting?
Alfred: Do they have a name?
Red Robin: Ubu.
Alfred: I’ll see if the Batcomputer has anything on anyone with that name and get back to you. The tower schematics should be with you now.
I activate the Batcomputer connection built into my mask and it begins downloading the tower schematics. Much to my surprise, the dispersal system controls are only two floors above. Not what you’d expect from a tower that’s at least 15 floors tall.
Red Robin: Al, are you sure these schematics are good? They say the controls are only two floors above me.
Alfred: You’re having the same problem that both Lucius and I did. A lack of logic behind the building of these towers
Red Robin: Are we sure Joker didn’t build these towers?
Alfred: Whilst it does sound like something he would do, thankfully he did not.
Red Robin: Alright Al, I’m making my way to the tower controls now. I’ll contact you if I need anything.
Alfred: Very good Master Timothy. Keep safe.
It takes little more than two minutes for me to locate the control room and much to my surprise it’s not booby trapped. With the way Bruce and Talia talk about the League, I’m rather surprised they have something waiting for me. That confusion quickly fades away as I realize why there was no trap set up to protect the room.
Damn it.
They’ve damaged the controls. Looks like the schematics Alfred gave me for the mechanism are worthless. How am I supposed to shut the dispersal system off now? Unless……I don’t need to shut the tower down? What if I just render what it’s pumping out into Gotham harmless?
Red Robin: Red Bird to bunker.
Alfred: Bunker here, go ahead Red Bird.
Red Robin: Alfred I’ve got a problem. The controls for my tower have been sabotaged and I’m not sure if they’re salvageable.
Alfred: This day just keeps getting better and better.
Red Robin: I’m looking at the system now. From what I can make out it looks like it’ll take some time to rewire the controls so they’re useable again, but the dispersal chamber appears accessible.
Alfred: I’ll patch you through to Lucius.
Red Robin: Thanks, Al.
Hopefully, Lucius has managed to reverse engineer the neutralising agent for this toxin. Otherwise I’m going to be stuck at rewiring this terminal for a good 15 minutes at least, and that’s time I can’t afford to waste especially with Talia fighting that Ubu guy alone.
Lucius: Good evening Mr. Drake.
Red Robin: Lucius.
Lucius: I hear the League of Assassins have decided to play dirty and vandalised your tower’s controls.
Red Robin: From what I can make out, the controls could be made to work again with enough rewiring but that will take time.
Lucius: A commodity that’s in short supply currently.
Red Robin: When isn’t it?
Lucius: Waiting for Luke to finish his driving exam comes to mind. So, what do you propose we do about shutting the tower down?
Red Robin: From what I can see, the actual dispersal chamber seems accessible. I’m wondering how far are you from synthesizing a neutralising agent for this gas?
Lucius: Though I can’t be 100% certain, I think I’ve cracked it. But I don’t have enough available right now to neutralise much gas at all. However, I think I have a solution.
Red Robin: Which is?
Lucius: I’m deploying the Batwing to your position now. Standby.
Red Robin: Lucius……Bruce told you about how you shouldn’t keep us in the dark when you have a new idea…..
Lucius: Don’t worry Mr. Drake. My idea will prevent the tower from dispersing anymore of that toxin into Gotham whilst I wait for the rest of the antidote to finish.
Red Robin: You’re not planning on blowing up the tower are you?
Lucius: ……
Red Robin: ………..Lucius?
Lucius: Not all of it.
Well that’s terrifying. I really don’t think I want to know just what he has cooked up in that crazy head of his. Hopefully Talia is having better luck with Ubu than I am with these controls.
A very attractive dale, even though it has a road right through it, this in fact gives a good perspective. I left this dale at this point and climbed up the slopes on the left to gain access to the flatter limestone plateaux.
====Arkham Asylum====
GA- Bet it takes you back, eh Walker?
*Drury's back is turned. He hadn't been to Arkham in a long time, not since... He nods*
Emi- Nothing to say? Now that's surprising.
*Drury feels a tear run down his nose and sniffs heavily*
Drury- Been working with him long kid?
Emi- Long enough.
*Drury waves a beckoning finger*
Drury- I'd review your life insurance.
GA- We're done here.
Drury- Shame about Sanctuary! But all things considered, he probably welcom-
*That was the last straw. Green Arrow was on him in seconds. Punching harder and harder, Walker's nose exploded with a pop. Red Arrow stands by shocked, the guards continue their duties undisturbed*
Drury- *Cough* Arsenal-? More like arse hole-!
*He kept hitting. Again. Again. Again. The more he did, the more Walker taunted him until finally-*
Guard- Sir.
*Ollie stops, shaking, bloods all over his hands*
Guard- Let's take this one to the boss.
*The guard picks Drury off the floor and carries him off*
=======
*This wasn't his world. Simon knew that. Emi had told him before, about all the time travel hijinks and alternate realities the League found themselves in. He wondered if the League even existed, or like so many of those realities, they were evil. It was clear now, he was just another bystander in a changed world. And yet... why could he still remember? He remembered everything and he was pretty sure most bystanders didn't remember whether or not the timeline changed... Something else was going on here. He kept scrolling through his contacts, hoping somehow her name would show up, but it didn't. There were other names of course- mainly supervillains and indeed... his mother's. He hesitated. What was *she* like? He hadn't been on speaking terms with his mother in a long time, to get another chance to... No. This wasn't his world, not really, and he needed answers she wouldn't provide. So instead, he stood outside his house, or rather his dad's. It was strange, to put his key in the lock, only for it not to turn, but it the least of his worries. Maybe Grandpa Gaige had told the family he was working with the Shark? No, no, snap out of it, this wasn't his world. Behind those doors he was certain of one thing- it wouldn't be *his* family, even if they looked like him. He sighed a heavy sigh and pressed the doorbell. He was ready for anything. Anyone. Except*
???- Yeah-?
*It was him. Simon didn't recognise him at first, and then it clicked- it was the man he talked to in Hell, looking much less pained and hollow, though he certainly had a good few more burns on his arms. He didn't discover that man's name until much, much later and once he did, that one conversation he had, back in hell oh so long ago took on a completely different meaning. That man, was Ted Carson.*
Carson- Lightning Bug-? What the hell do you want?
*Simon was frozen. And then as though he himself weren't speaking, the words left his mouth with a cocky sounding drawl*
Simon- White wants his cut Ted. You know how it works.
Carson- Yeah. I do. And you can tell White I already paid his stupid tax.
*Again, Simon's hand moved to his gun, as though he weren't controlling it*
Simon- See now, if you want to make a formal complaint...
*Carson's eyes narrow suspiciously*
Carson- Of course not. Come in.
*The first thing Simon felt when he entered was the heat. It was as though he had stepped into a furnace. The family photos were gone too, and the wallpaper a faint orange*
Simon- Lovely house.
Carson- You say it like this is your first time.
*Idiot, thought Simon*
Simon- Well, no harm saying it again.
Carson- No. I suppose not.
*He'd lost track of Carson. He must be looking for the cash. Simon didn't mind, it gave him more time to gather his thoughts and look around. He heard the sound of banging, but he tried his best to ignore it*
Carson (O.S)- I'm surprised you came here.
*the banging continues*
Simon- Eh, why's that?
Carson- After what happened at that warehouse...
Simon- That? Oh, that was *completely* blown out of-
*The canister hits the back of Simon's head. Fast. He falls to the ground with an uncomfortable thud. Carson, in his Firefly suit looks down at his body*
Carson- Sure it was.
=====Arkham Asylum=====
*Rubbing his untreated wounds, and sporting a few more broken bones Drury is escorted by a guard through the asylum, until they stop at a pair of looming metal doors*
Drury- Hey, this isn't my cell, what's the idea?
*The guard smirks to himself, ignoring Walker's confused yells.*
???- You were warned.
*Walker spins around. The voice, deep, Spanish, came from the other end of the room, which he now recognised as the old foyer. Quite unsure of himself, he answers back*
Drury- Yeah, but I couldn't stay away.
???- Then, you made a grave mistake.
*Skulls littered the floor, bodies too- of inmates long dead. Perched above them, sat on a rusted throne was perhaps the biggest man Drury had ever seen. He looked brutish perhaps, but Drury knew he had a tactical mind. On either side of him stood men of all sizes- The pale, grinning face of the Joker looked most amused, beside him, the Riddler, fiddling with some kind of device, one of his own making perhaps, then, the Ventriloquist, puppet in hand, looking rather unnerved by his current company; on the right, Hugo Strange, that was peculiar thought Drury, hadn't he been a doctor here? Not as peculiar as the man beside him- he looked like Batman yet most decidedly he couldn't be, from the holster on his waist to the red lenses something was off about him and lastly, the Psycho Pirate, he'd built up a reputation as a deranged individual, even by this company's standards, when he wasn't murmuring about upcoming crisis, he was using his mask to mess with people's emotions. At the centre of them all? Bane.*
Bane- Why have you come back here? To die?
Drury- I-I... I-er, well...
*Bane's grip tightens on the skull in his hand*
Drury- That is to say, y'know... shit happens. You get chased by a green grocer, you kill said green grocer, it's a slippery slope.
*At last the skull shatters. Dust flies everywhere*
Drury- Look. I know what all this is, you've got some sick plan, break the bat, the usual stuff. Firefly mentioned it, I just didn't believe that-
Bane- *Firefly* should learn to hold his tongue, unless he'd rather I rip it out.
Drury- Ha! That's... you're serious... that's fine.
Bane- Tell me bug, you know now, so? What will you do? Tell the authorities? Tell the Bat? I wonder, who would believe you "Killer Moth"?
Drury- Oh no, no! You've got it all wrong! I want to join you.
Nigma- Really now... Bane, you can't seriously consider *him* of all people can you? If you-
*Bane raises a hand to silence him*
Bane- You? Join us?
Drury- Yeah. Yeah! I'm sick of the stray arrows and batarangs, sick of the kicks to the face, so yeah, give me that chance to turn the tables, throw crap at *them*... then I'd do it.
...
Bane- You're drunk, aren't you?
Joker- Welcome aboard! Haha!
The South Maitland Railway (SMR) near Newcastle in New South Wales continued using steam until 1983 with a roster of Beyer Peacock built 2-8-2Ts that originally numbered fourteen.
A feature in later years was the double-heading of rakes of State Rail Authority hoppers from Pelton colliery mile to the interface at East Greta.
In January 1980 a pair of SMR tanks are seen building up speed to attack the challenge of Caledonia bank - lead loco no.22 was built by Beyer Peaock in 1921.
Continuing with double exposures on cross processed 35mm Kodak Ektachrome e100 film. Nikon N75.
This time it's my baby sister of 6 years, who traveled on a plane for only the second time in her life, across the U.S. so that I could see her pregnant self. I have been itching to document her pregnancies and this bambino numero tres may very well be the final, so I had to experiment with my favorite time capsule concept.
Spring flowers from 2021 and this procreating beauty at Trillium Lake on Mt. Hood, Oregon. July 2023.
Continuing my tour of the lovely village of Smarden in Kent, England, this is another example of a half timbered cottage. Taken back in the spring, when the wisteria was just coming out.
I have a load of many, many more edits to make from my two eDDie treks but I want to edit and post more of my Switzerland Trail trek during this autumn's aspen color.
I snapped more shots after rounding the curve above Lefthand Canyon but all these curves are above the highway. I captured this shot across another gully beyond the spot where I left off last year where the view opened again after my recent posts. The grade across the gully shown, is on the way to Brainerd's Curve and road down to Brainerd's Mill on LeftHand Road to Ward. This is a colorful spot along the continuing Switzerland Trail narrow gauge railroad grade. Along the grade here, the grade scenery is typical until the view opens up to views beyond.
It's easy to see how much rock was pushed aside from the grade where I am standing at the bottom of the scene. At least the rock shores up the old grade turned back country road. The rock looks like that shown in my recent (four back) Rock ledge shot. Boy, this 1/20/th of a second exposure should be far shakier.
I have to learn to heavily study Weather Underground for current and upcoming weather conditions later in the day. I looked out the window and I saw a possibility of clearing to mixed clouds and blue. The fact is there are a few days open for shooting the best color up here and the Zinky-Dink crowd are promoting dig-and-burn to mix up the atmosphere. In any case, this is my shot. I made another foray up LeftHand Road a day or two later for more color. Unedited shots sit in another work directory.
This autumn snap along the Switzerland Trail to Ward, shows the railroad grade ahead. I trekked above Gold Hill, Colorado and veered along the railroad grade cut with aspirations of reaching the mountain-bound mining camp of Ward as its first true mountain mining town. This day started as a foray into the hills to search for aspen cloaked in showy fall coats. I thought Google maps showed more aspen on this side of the ridge. The color was generally at peak on that day but it may not look like it while along this old grade turned rough road. This is the narrow gauge railroad grade on the northern, Ward branch, west and north from Gold Hill Station atop the ridge. Sunset, Colorado was at the bottom of the ridge in the canyon left of me and was the division point on the Denver, Boulder & Western RR. You'll need your rock tires on if you plan on driving this track; it's been better and mostly smooth as a railroad. Well except when the snow avalanche slid the entire train down the mountainside above here. I chose the reliability of walking; I wanted a quiet stroll. It must have been a highly sought trip when the viewpoint would have been 10 feet higher while in a rocking passenger car. The original grading on the railroad named The Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific RR around the 1885 date made it west to Sunset. The Pacific was impossible. After reorganization, it was routed northwest to Ward and southwest to Eldora, Colorado from the Sunset division point. In the distance, the grade ducks to eventually swing left around the wooded hill.
Lots of rapidly-changing fog this morning on Mt. Seymour. This gnarly fella caught my eye in-between fog banks.
Continuing my project of photographing the fifteen East Coast Volvo B8RLE / Wrightbus Urban Eclipses here is number 10061 (SF17 VMK) on Regent Road on its way back from Dunbar in East Lothian.
East Coast Buses is a subsidiary of Lothian Buses and the new vehicles, purchased in 2017 (10051-10065) are mostly assigned to Services X5, X7 and 106 between Edinburgh City and East Lothian. These are Volvo B8RLE / Wrightbus Urban Euro 6 vehicles and are Wright's longest ever single deckers, measuring 13.2 metres, just short of the new dual doored B8L deckers coming into service in the new year. There are similarities with the previous B7RLE but note the new style body front.
A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended, but chose not to. That author is you and the sentence is your life.
I've been following the semi colon project since it started when I was 15, and I have been obsessed with drawing semi colons on my wrists since. I knew then that I wanted to get a tattoo, so the message of the project would be with me permanently. On Friday, I made it official and got a semi colon tattoo.
Do me a favor and search the hashtag #projectsemicolon on facebook, instagram, or twitter to find out more of what this is all about.
Continuing my "ball-making obsession," I made a matching jingle ball . I modified the Grand Revival pattern a bit by piecing together two pieces of fabric to add more interest. I am in love with Verna Mosquera's FreeSpirit fabric line called "Sweet Escape". This rag quilt and ball is a gift for a little girl who will be born in April to our very good friends.
Continuing the testing. This time the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L lens on the a7II with many more example shots HERE on the blog.
... continuing on with the stamp theme and wishing my photo strip die cuts showed up on this card... not enough contrast... with that i give you "The French Connection"
Continuing my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a stop in Patagonia Arizona. This is stage 5 of 9. I met up with my best friend from high school who has retired here because of the birding. I stayed at the Stage Stop Inn and we ate at Velvet Elvis.
This is the Patagonia Railroad Depot which now functions as the Town Hall. Arizona Highways describes it better than I can.
www.arizonahighways.com/classroom/patagonia-railroad-depot
Patagonia Railroad Depot
Today, the restored depot houses Patagonia’s town offices and looks much the same as it did at the turn of the 20th century. | Jeff Kida
The centerpiece of one of Southern Arizona’s most charming small towns is a depot built for the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad. The rail line, built in the 1880s, connected Nogales to the main Southern Pacific line in Benson. The depot came along at the turn of the century, when Patagonia had a population of 133. But within two decades, the town’s mining industry was so prosperous that the railroad made three stops a day there. By the end of World War II, about 5,000 tons of lead, copper, zinc and molybdenum ore were being shipped from Patagonia’s mines every month. After the mines went bust and the rail line was abandoned, a Patagonia resident bought the depot to save it from being demolished. He then sold it to the local Rotary Club. Today, the restored depot is owned by Patagonia and houses the town’s offices.
LOCATION: 310 McKeown Avenue, Patagonia
CONSTRUCTED: 1900
BUILDER: New Mexico and Arizona Railroad
INFORMATION: Town of Patagonia, 520-394-2229 or www.patagonia-az.gov
ChatGPT
Patagonia, Arizona, is a charming small town located in Santa Cruz County in the southeastern part of the state. Nestled in the Patagonia Mountains at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, it is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant community, and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Key Features of Patagonia, Arizona:
1. Scenic Surroundings:
The town is surrounded by rolling hills, lush canyons, and oak woodlands, offering picturesque landscapes. The area is particularly popular among birdwatchers due to its diverse bird species.
2. Birding and Wildlife:
Patagonia is a hub for birdwatchers, thanks to its proximity to the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve and other wildlife corridors. It is part of the "Sky Islands" region, which supports rich biodiversity.
3. Outdoor Recreation:
The town is a gateway to numerous hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. Popular destinations include the Arizona Trail and nearby nature reserves.
4. Small-Town Charm:
Patagonia has a quaint downtown area with art galleries, cafes, boutique shops, and restaurants. The community embraces a laid-back and welcoming vibe.
5. Cultural and Environmental Focus:
Patagonia has a strong commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability. Local organizations work to protect its natural surroundings and water resources.
6. Events and Festivals:
The town hosts events like the Patagonia Fall Festival, which showcases local art, crafts, and music, attracting visitors from across the region.
7. Wine Country Proximity:
It is near the Sonoita and Elgin wine regions, making it a great base for wine tasting tours.
8. Climate:
Patagonia experiences mild winters and warm summers, making it an attractive year-round destination. The higher elevation provides cooler temperatures than much of southern Arizona.
With its blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and eco-conscious community, Patagonia is a favorite spot for nature lovers, artists, and adventurers alike.
Southern Arizona Adventure 2024,
Haiku thoughts
Tracks hum long silent
Golden depot stands proud
Mines whisper their past
continuing modding my NR E Wing. inspiration by not pixel dan. looks so much better with a different canpoy
I have tried a few times to photograph Dragonflys flying in the air, and after 1-2 hours I had to give up, with out getting the picture. But this time I made 1 upload picture from the session with these fast flying curious monsters.
The Canadian Pacific's CP 2816 made a short stop in Hampshire, IL to perform some maintenance and let the mayor of the town off, who had taken the ride from Franklin Park, IL. Shot on a Pentax 6x7 using Kodak film.
2016, The House Oversite Committee chairman believed the environment in Yosemite," is indeed toxic, hostile, repressive and harassing".
9-17-2018, here we are and the environment has gotten worse:
Seriously, we have adults in their 20s-60s, waiting around for their chance to harass someone. My neighbors will wait for me to come home, leave my room, use the laundry and kitchen; just to get in my face and crowd. It blows my mind to watch adults caring out these skits; acting like children. It doesn’t matter if it’s in my building, at work or helping a guest; these employees will harass, interrupt, over talk and do anything to harass their target. Last week alone I was belittled while trying to help a guest (by a coworker), had the same coworker cut between guest and I; as I was helping them, I had smokers waiting for me when I got home (didn’t live or work here, but smoking in the walkway to my building), neighbors stomping pass my room every day and night, and as I write this (same people day after day), neighbors coughing loudly as they walk pass my door (this may seem petty, but this is done day after day, year after year, by the same people). I’ve had doors flung open into my face, managers blocking in walkways and doorways. I could go on and on.
These unethical and many times illegal actions also have an impact on our guest and the preservation of this beautiful park. Yosemite’s Superintendents Office is fully aware of this! This has been going on for far longer than 2 years and it blows my mind that it still continues.
Yosemite’s current Superintendent is: Michael T Reynolds
What is happening in Yosemite is WRONG!
• The truth about Yosemite: www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Yosemite-Chief-Retiring-Ami...
I'm trying to make this a better place. What are my neighbors and coworkers doing?
Thank you for visiting my photostream
Continuing my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a visit to Bisbee Arizona. This is stage 6 of 9.
Bisbee celebrates arts and culture. You never know what you will run into around any given corner. This unique truck was parked outside the historic YWCA.
www.chamberofcommerce.com/united-states/arizona/bisbee/so...
This is the historic 1916 Grace Dodge building named named after the wife of Phelps Dodge mining Tycoon. She was a philanthropist and she opened up this building as the first-ever YWCA in existence anywhere ever
This building is still open today and is used as a affordable income residence. And it also houses The Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild. And it is also available to rent for Meetings & Conferences. And there is great historic value in this building it is 4 stories above ground and one story Underground. One of the true historic landmarks in the United States of America
www.facebook.com/groups/533075007316922/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisbee,_Arizona
Bisbee is a city[5] in and the county seat of Cochise County[6] in southeastern Arizona, United States. It is 92 miles (148 km) southeast of Tucson and 11 miles (18 km) north of the Mexican border.
Bisbee was founded as a copper, gold, and silver mining town in 1880, and named in honor of Judge DeWitt Bisbee, one of the financial backers of the adjacent Copper Queen Mine.
Today, the historic city of Bisbee is known as "Old Bisbee" and is home to a thriving downtown cultural scene. This area is noted for its architecture, including Victorian-style houses and an elegant Art Deco county courthouse. Because its plan was laid out to a pedestrian scale before the automobile, Old Bisbee is compact and walkable. The town's hilly terrain is exemplified by the old four-story high school; each floor has a ground-level entrance.
Natural vegetation around Bisbee has a semi-desert appearance with shrubby acacia, oak and the like, along with cacti, grass, ocotillo and yucca. The town itself is much more luxuriant with large trees such as native cypress, sycamore and cottonwood plus the introduced ailanthus and Old World cypresses, cedars and pines. Palms are capable of growing tall, but are not reliably hardy. At least one mature blue spruce may be seen.
Haiku thoughts:
Dusty streets wind tight,
Colors spill from old brick walls,
Echoes of the past.
Southern Arizona Adventure 2024
Continuing with the theme of cars with evident body damage...
I was saving this one for later but now that the reg has been cancelled (as of 2015-12-28), I thought it might be a good time to put this one up.
I also put it up because Hubcaps Oz seems to really love 505s as well! XD ;)
Was on a 2008-issue plate.