Al nord i al sud del antic aerodrom d'Alfés s'han restaurat un parell de bunquers anti-aeris construits durant la guerra civil.

 

L'aerodrom d'Alfés tancà portes aquest 2015, despres de decades sent el club aeri de Lleida. Ara aquests vols s'han traslladat al nou aeroport d'Alguaire. De fet el factor determinant per tancar Alfés fou que es troba en la pràcticament única timoneda d'ambient estepic de Catalunya. És un espai aparentment molt sec i pelat, però que té un ecosistema molt especial. Com a aficionat tant als avions com a l'ornitología entenc en part els arguments de cada banda, tot i que posats a fer em decanto per protegir la cada cop més amenaçada natura.

 

Alfés també tingué protagonisme com a base aerea republicana durant la guerra civil, i es poden veure diversos elements de fortificació a l'entorn de les antigues instal·lacions del aerodrom.

 

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aer%C3%B2drom_d'Alf%C3%A9s

 

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timoneda_d'Alf%C3%A9s

 

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Arround the now closed Alfés airfield lay several fortifications built during the spanish civil war, as Alfés was a military airport. This one is an anti-aircraft pit, designed to house a small AA gun, like the Oerlikon or Solothurn 20mm.

 

The now closed Alfés airfield, served the city of Lleida as sports airfield. Unforntunately it lays in a flat plateau, a unique natural ecosystem for steppic birds. This ultimately dictated the ending of the aircraft operations there.

 

Alfés airfield had a military role in the spanish civil war, as both sides used it for its fighter & bomber squadrons. Several bunkers lay arround it and had been restored.

 

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aer%C3%B2drom_d'Alf%C3%A9s

 

trenca.org/en/trenca-signs-a-new-land-stewardship-agreeme...

Carrocería/Bodywork: Noge Touring Gold HD

 

Chassis: MAN 26.420 HOCLN-SD

 

Lote/Batch info: 1/5 - 5 total (1717-1726)

 

Matricula/Plate: 7967-KPV

 

Longitud/Length: 15m

 

Servicio/Service: 2018 - En curso/Ongoing

 

Info (SP): Para las rutas aeroportuarias siempre se han realizado compras excepcionales para cubrir dichas rutas. Sin embargo el tener que equipar vehiculos discrecionales para el transporte interurbano, asi como la falta de accesibilidad y longitud fueron determinantes a la hora de renovar esta parte de la flota. Por ello la empresa aposto (por primera vez) en la carrocera Noge, a quienes encargaron diez unidades de quince metros de los cuales seis han sido permanentemente asignados a cubrir las rutas aeroportuarias (de ahi la distintiva pintura exterior).

 

Info (EN): For all airport routes exceptional purchases were made for their coverage. However the intense modifications vehicles had to undergo, the difficulty of access and length of the vehicle required a makeover. As a result, Global decided to take a chance with coach builder Noge, whom they placed a first order of ten 15m long buses from which six were permanently assigned for airport routes (as indicated by their distinctive livery)

« […] A person entering the space of non-place is relieved of his usual determinants. He becomes no more than what he does or experiences in the role of passenger, customer or driver. […] The passenger through non-places retrieves his identity only at customs, at the tollbooth, at the checkout counter. Meanwhile, he obeys the same code as others, receives the same messages, responds to the same entreaties. The space of non-place creates neither singular identity nor relations, only solitude, and similitude »

 

see the whole series here

The passing of the 10,000,000 views in the joy of accomplishment to capture the thrill of creative effort. 3333 images are shown in the gallery and 20 are over 50,000 views. Most viewed image exceeds 300,000 views Numerology is naturally an interest that occurs during awakening because many individuals will find themselves starting to see repeated numerological sequences over and over, sometimes even to the point where these numbers begin to haunt them. The most common being 11:11 however the more you notice the more you see, numbers such as 12:34, 111, 1:33, 333, 444, 555, etc. begin to follow you everywhere you go. Many people believe they are simply “Angelic Numbers” or “Messages from the Angels” but in truth Numerology is a very complex system. Each number corresponds to the system of the Kabbalah and the Tarot. The way to understand each of the numerological sequences you have to study the tree of life, archetypes, geometry and various symbolism throughout ancient history. Each number is a point on the dimensional plane of the system of the mind. Numerology works in a way that triggers a subconscious archetypal response within your long term memory all going right back to processing numbers like a futuristic computer. Carl Jung has studied this concept of subconscious triggers extensively within his work such as Man and His Symbols. They are essentially mind relapse triggers that influence our long term memory and change our DNA. You could say they’re “upgrades” but what they are doing is triggering your subconscious mind into the act of remembrance of who you are.What does seeing Numerology such as 11:11, 12:34, 1:11, 3:33… mean to me?

In reality while there is much symbolism behind each number, the true meaning all comes down to what resonates with you most. They could be said these are “Codes” that unlock our dna strands and awaken old memories of who we used to be but they are honestly a trigger like a talisman. 11:11 is by far the most common as well as 111,222,333,444,555, etc. Any of the master numbers can/will start showing up repeatedly denoting a particular sequential message. It’s always good to pay attention to your thoughts at the particular time you see the number or look at what you are doing. Being conscious of our surroundings, what we’re doing or what is around us at the time such as a symbol can sometimes help to figure out the meaning behind the message of the number.

 

There are various theories out there for why numbers are displaying a particular message. Some of these include:

 

Binary DNA Activation – Reality is composed from numbers, our mind is similar to a computer which relies on binary codes (1’s and 0’s). These Numbers such as 11:11 are working as a form of binary that activates your dormant (junk) DNA.

11:11 Gateway/Portal – Also known as Stargates, 10.10. 10. 11.11.11 12.12.12 These are astrological alignments that are created during a specific date in time. They are most known for being an Energetic Gateway for others to Awaken and also known to create energetic shifts. It could also signify that “11:11 is the doorway between two worlds – between the 3rd dimensional and the 5th dimensional worlds” [ref]In5d All About 11:11[/ref]

Making a Wish – Many Teenagers used to play the game “make a wish it’s 11:11”, perhaps their subconscious knew more than they did about this mysterious phenomena.

Life Path Numbers – Life Path numbers are a different form of numerology but are connected to Symbolic interpretation. They are found by adding your birth date and birth year together into a single digit.

Angel or Spirit Guide Messages – The more popular theory by Doreen Virtue that Numerology is basically messages from your angels or spirit guides trying to communicate with you. These messages include similar sayings such as “you are on the right direction of your spiritual path” or “stay positive, you have nothing to fear in regards to your soul purpose”

Fibonacci Sequence/Golden Ratio – Our reality is made around the Golden Ratio even our bodies are composed from the beautiful sequence of Phi, perhaps the numbers are simply reminding us of who we are?

Global Consciousness – Cosmic consciousness, sometimes people just simply think that these numbers are here to tell us we are connected to one another.

Wake Up Call – The most popular interpretation, Wake up call to GLOBAL AWAKENING. Numerology is mainly noticed by people who are going through the process of a Spiritual/ Kundalini Awakening. These numbers could simply mean you are on the right track and they signify your own Awakening Journey.

Since Numerology is linked to archetypal symbolism, the most direct interpretation will always be the symbolic representation of the Number itself. The numbers are there to guide us but the most powerful meaning is the one you put in front of the symbol. What resonates with you?

The Master Numbers:

1010 – reality is a biogenetic experiment created from numbers

911 – 9=Endings. 11=DNA. 911=ending code of our DNA program in this reality.

111 – The vision, illumination, channel to the subconscious, insight without rational thought, the gateway

222 – Duality – Polarity – Reality is created by an electromagnetic energy grid. 2+2=2=6=Flower of Life

333 – Represents a higher octave of 9 = closure in 3D

444 – Represents a higher octave of 3 = 4d mastery of thought and illusion

555 – All elements(air, earth, water, fire, ether) combined is a sphenic number. In base 10, it is a repdigit, and because it is divisible by the sum of its digits, it is a Harshad number. It is also a Harshad number in binary, base 11, base 13 and hexadecimal. Represents 5D

 

666 – Creating the merkabah, star of david, aligning the elements and the senses together in understanding. the number of man elements of earth combined with spirit

777 – Spiritual divine connection (connected to crown chakra)

888 – Rebirth, infinity, paradise regained

999 – Karma codes ending, life cycles complete. It is the Triple Triad – Completion; fulfillment; attainment; beginning and the end; the whole number; a celestial and angelic number – the Earthly Paradise.

10 – Completion and back to the source energy field or universal cosmic consciousness. Ten is the number of the cosmos—-the paradigm of creation. The decad contains all numbers and therefore all things and possibilities. It is the radix or turning point of all counting.

 

The representation of all master numbers connects to the universal sequence of 369.

0 – Tree of life, zero point

3 – Density line, creation for all. 3d. creation, the triangle, the student, the third solution, the creation of a double charge, the progression through life.

6 – Perfect balance, which ideally transmit the will of God on earth. Heaven uniting with earth. double-builder 33, the power of the material world, balance

9 – Completion, whole creation, all thought, divine, full circle, bio-energy, complete creation, power, brilliance, triple connection and balance.

[mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″]The 11 is the most intuitive of all numbers. It represents illumination; a channel to the subconscious; insight without rational thought; and sensitivity, nervous energy, shyness,andimpracticality. It is a dreamer. The 11 has all the aspects of the 2, enhanced and charged with charisma, leadership, and inspiration. It is a number with inborn duality, which creates dynamism, inner conflict, andothercatalyses with its mere presence. It is a number that, when not focused on some goal beyond itself, can beturnedinward to create fears and phobias. The 11 walks the edge between greatness and self-destruction. Its potential for growth, stability, and personal power lies in its acceptance of intuitive understanding, and of spiritual truths. For the 11, such peace is not found so much in logic, but in faith. It is the psychic’s number.The 22 is the most powerful of all numbers. It is often called the Master Builder. The 22 can turn the most ambitious of dreams into reality. It is potentially the most successful of all numbers. It has many of the inspirational insights of the 11, combined with the practicality and methodical nature of the 4. It is unlimited, yet disciplined. It sees the archetype, and brings itdown to earth in some material form. It has big ideas, great plans, idealism, leadership, and enormous self-confidence. If not practical, the 22s waste their potential. Like the 11, the 22 can easily shrink from its own ambition, causing difficult interior pressures. Both the 11 and the 22 experience the pressure-cooker effect very strongly, particularly at an early age. It must work toward the realization of goals that are larger than personal ambition. The 22 serves the world in a practical way.The 33 is the most influential of all numbers. It is the Master Teacher. The 33 combines the 11 and the 22 and brings their potential to another level. When expressed to the fullest, the 33 lacks all personal ambition, and instead focuses its considerable abilities toward the spiritual uplifting of mankind. What makes the 33 especially impressive, is the high level of sincere devotion. This is shown in its determination to seek understanding and wisdom before preaching to others. The 33 in full force is extremely rare. [ref]Numerology: Key to Your Inner Self By Hanz Decoz[/ref]

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Numbers Their Culture and Their Meanings:

The Numbers explained Further Curiosity of Crystalinks [ref]Crystalinks.com A major thank you to Ellie who let us use her pages for reference[/ref]:

Zero

Zero is a powerful number which brings great transformational change, sometimes occurring in a profound manner. It has much intensity, so caution is needed wherever it appears to ensure that extremes are not encountered.

Zero represents the Cosmic Egg, the primordial Androgyne – the Plenum. Zero as an empty circle depicts both the nothingness of death and yet the totality of life contained within the circle. As an ellipse the two sides represent ascent and descent, evolution and involution.

Before the One (meaning the Source—not the number) there is only Void, or non-being; thought; the ultimate mystery, the incomprehensible Absolute. Begins with meanings such as, Non-existence; nothingness; the unmanifest; the unlimited; the eternal. The absence of all quality or quantity.

Cultural References

Taoism: It symbolizes the Void; non-being.

Buddhism: It is the Void and no-thingness.

Kabbalism: Boundless; Limitless Light; the Ain.

Pathagoras saw zero as the perfect. Zero is the Monad, the originator and container of All.

Islamic: Zero is the Divine Essence.

Zero Number connected to Fibonacci Numbers

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One (1)

1 (one) is a number, numeral, and the name of the glyph representing that number. It is the natural number following 0 and preceding 2. It represents a single entity. One is sometimes referred to as unity or unit as an adjective. For example, a line segment of “unit length” is a line segment of length 1. Is considered to be a primordial unity. The beginning. The Creator. It the First Cause or as some cultures refer, the First Mover. One is the sum of all possibilities. It is essence, the Center. One is referred to isolation. One springs forth, upsurges. It is seen as the number that gives cause to duality as multiplicity and back to final unity. Chinese: refer to one as Yang, masculine; celestial. It is seen as an auspicios number. One is The Monad. Christian : God the Father; the Godhead.

Hebrew: Adonai, the Lord, the Most High, the I am, hidden intelligence. Islamic: One refers to one as God as unity; the Absolute; self sufficient. Pathagorean: One as meaning Spirit; God, from which all things come. It is the very essence, the Monad. Taoism “Tao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three and Three begets all things.” [mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″]

Two (2)

Duality. Alteration; diversity; conflict; dependence. Two is a static condition. It is rooted, seen as balance (two sides); stability; reflection. Two are the opposite poles. Represents the dual nature of the human being. It is desire, since all that is manifest in duality is in pairs of opposites. As One represents a point, two represents a length. The Binary is the first number to recede from Unity, it also symbolizes sin which deviates from the first good and denotes the transitory and the corruptible.Two represents two-fold strength—that is symbolized by two of anything, usually in history, by animals in pairs. Cultural References In Alchemy, two are the opposites, sun and moon. King and Queen. Sulpher and quicksilver, at first antagonistic but finally resolved and united in the androgyne. Buddhist: see two as the duality of samsara; male and female. Two is theory and practice; wisdom and method. It is blind and the lame united to see the way and to walk it.

Chinese, two is Yin , feminine; terrestrial; inauspicious. Christian: Christ with two natures as God and human.

Revelation: Two is the number of witness. The disciples were sent out by two’s (Mark 6:7). Two witnesses are required to establish truth (Deu 17:6, John 8:17, 2 Cor 13:1). Examples in Revelation are the beast out of the earth who has two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon (13:11). He is the false prophet. However the two witnesses are the true prophets of God (11:3). Hebrew: Two is The life-force. In Qabalism wisdom and self-consciousness. Hindu: Two is duality, the shakta-shakti. Islamic: Two Spirit. Platonic: Plato says two is a digit without meaning as it implies relationship, which introduces the third factor. Pythagorean: Two is The Duad, the divided terrestrial being. Taoist says two is representative of The K’ua, the Two. Determinants, the yin-yang. Two is a weak yin number as it as no center. Duality. Alteration; diversity; conflict; dependence. Two is a static condition. It is rooted, seen as balance (two sides); stability; reflection. Two are the opposite poles. Represents the dual nature of the human being. It is desire, since all that is manifest in duality is in pairs of opposites. As One represents a point, two represents a length. The Binary is the first number to recede from Unity, it also symbolizes sin which deviates from the first good and denotes the transitory and the corruptible.Two represents two-fold strength—that is symbolized by two of anything, usually in history, by animals in pairs. Cultural References

In Alchemy, two are the opposites, sun and moon. King and Queen. Sulpher and quicksilver, at first antagonistic but finally resolved and united in the androgyne. Buddhist: see two as the duality of samsara; male and female. Two is theory and practice; wisdom and method. It is blind and the lame united to see the way and to walk it. Chinese, two is Yin , feminine; terrestrial; inauspicious. Christian: Christ with two natures as God and human. Revelation: Two is the number of witness. The disciples were sent out by two’s (Mark 6:7). Two witnesses are required to establish truth (Deu 17:6, John 8:17, 2 Cor 13:1). Examples in Revelation are the beast out of the earth who has two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon (13:11). He is the false prophet. However the two witnesses are the true prophets of God (11:3). Hebrew: Two is The life-force. In Qabalism wisdom and self-consciousness. Hindu: Two is duality, the shakta-shakti. Islamic: Two Spirit. Platonic: Plato says two is a digit without meaning as it implies relationship, which introduces the third factor. Pythagorean: Two is The Duad, the divided terrestrial being. Taoist says two is representative of The K’ua, the Two. Determinants, the yin-yang. Two is a weak yin number as it as no center [mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″]

Three (3). The third dimension – we do things in threes so they will manifest in our physical realm. It’s roots stem from the meaning of multiplicity. Creative power; growth. Three is a moving forward of energy, overcoming duality, expression, manifestation and synthesis. Three is the first number to which the meaning “all” was given. It is The Triad, being the number of the whole as it contains the beginning, a middle and an end. The power of three is universal and is the tripartide nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. It is human as body, soul and spirit. Notice the distinction that soul and spirit are not the same. They are not. Three is birth, life, death. It is the beginning, middle and end. Three is a complete cycle unto itself. It is past, present, future. The symbol of three is the triangle. Three interwoven circles or triangles can represent the indissoluble unity of the three persons of the trinity. Others symbols using three are: trident, fleur-de-lis, trefoil, trisula, thunderbolt, and trigrams. The astral or emotional body stays connected to the physically body for three days after death. There is scientific evidence that the brain, even when all other systems are failing takes three days to register complete shutdown. There are 3 phases to the moon. Lunar animals are often depcited as 3 legged.

Three is the heavenly number, representing soul, as four represents body. Together the two equal seven (3+4=7 ) and form the sacred hebdomad. The 3×4=12 representing the signs of the Zodiac and months of the year. Pythagorean three means completion. There are three wishes, genies have three wishes, three leprecons, three prince or princesses, three witches, three weird sisters among others. Cultural References Africa Ashanti: the moon goddess is three people, two black, and one white. Arabian, Pre-Islamic: the Manant is a threefold goddess representing the 3 Holy Virgins, Al-Itab, Al-Uzza, and Al-Manat. They are depicted as aniconic stelae, stones or pillars, or as pillars surmounted by doves. Buddhist: tradition the theme of 3 is represented by, The Tri-ratna, The Three Precious Jewels, and the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.

Chinese: Sanctity; the auspicious number; the first odd, yang number….The moon toad, or bird, is three-legged. Celtic: Bridgit is threefold; there are the Three Blessed Ladies and innumerable Triads, often a threefold aspect of the same divinity. Christianity: Three represents the Trinity, the soul, the union of body and soul in human in the church. There were three gifts of the Magi to Christ as God-King-Sacrifice; three figures of transformation, temptations, denials by Peter (one of the 12 Apostles—- 12=3 (1+2=3). There were 3 crosses at Calvary, He died on The Hills, there were 3 days to the death process for Christ, and there were 3 appearances after his death. There were 3 Marys, and there are 3 qualities or theological virtutes being Faith, Hope, Love or more commonly known as Charity. The number 3 gives to the meaning the embracing Godhead – Father, Mother, Son/Daughter. Egyptian: Hermetic tradition, Thoth is the Thrice Great, ‘Trismegistus’. The Supreme Power. The opening line of the Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean. Tablet 11

Three is the mystery, come from the great one, Hear, and light on thee will dawn. In the primeval dwell three unities,Other than these none can exist. These are the equilibrium, source of creation,One God, One Truth, One Point of Freedom.Three come forth from the three of the balance, All Life, all Good, all Power.Three are the qualities of God in his light-home Infinite Power, Infinite Wisdom, Infinite Love. Three are the circles (or states) of Existence: The Circle of Light where dwells nothing but God, and only God can traverse it, The Circle of Chaos where all things by nature arise from Death, The Circle of Awareness where all things spring from Life. All things animate are of three states of existence, Chaos or death, liberty in humanity, and felicity of Heaven. There is an ancient wisdom that’s says; ‘Messages or events that come in three’s are worth noticing. ‘Whenever anything is mentioned three times it is a witness to us that these things are of utmost importance. Three symbolizes manifestation into the physical. It is the triangle – pyramid shape in the vesica pisces – see image below. The TV Show ‘Charmed’ deals the ‘Power of Three Sister Witches’, known as the Charmed Ones. Their job is to vanquish evil forces in their many forms and sometimes non-forms. knot The symbol to the side, called a Triquetra (tri-KET a Latin word meaning ‘three cornered’) appears on The Book Of Shadows.an ancient book of spells that assists these ‘Charmed Ones’ in dealing with the evil forces they are continually encountering. In some episodes so called evil and good must work together to bring balance to a situation. They cancel each other out in the end – poof – gone – disappeared! ‘Power of Three’ has to do with Alchemy. The Egyptian god Thoth or the Greek Hermes Trismegistus (Thrice Blessed or Thrice Great) are the progenitors of the Emerald Tablets describing the mysteries of Alchemy. The alchemy of three is demonstrated by its power of multiplicity. For example, in understanding the numbers – One gave rise to Two (1+1=2) and Two gave Rise to Three (2+1=3) and Three gave rise to all numbers (3+1=4, 3+2=5, 3+3=6, 3+4=7, 3+5=8 3+6=9). Thus in addition to being a number of good fortune, Three is also the number of multiplicity and alchemy among other things. Many believe the Triquetrais an ancient symbol of the female trinity, because it is composed of three interlaced yonic Vesica Pisces (a.k.a. PiscisSLatin for “Vessel of the Fish”) and is the most basic and important construction in Sacred Geometry, which is the architecture of the universe.

A Vesica is formed when the circumference of two identical circles each pass through the center of the other in effect creating a portal. ‘The Triquetra’ represents the ‘Power of Three’ or the threefold nature of existence i.e. body, mind and spirit; life, death and rebirth; past, present and future; beginning, middle and end; Sun, Moon and Earth; and the threefold co-creative process described as thought, word, and deed. Sphere=ovum Vesica Pisces – Oval opening of the penis The creation process as described in the Vedas is unfolding, maintaining, and concluding as in birth, life and death. There are innumerable trinities and triads throughout myth and religious traditions, such as the triple goddess; maiden, mother, crone. One example in Greek mythology is Kore, Demeter, Hecate. The Christian trinity is Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Vedic trinities include Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali to name just a few. [mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″]

Four (4)

Four is the 4th dimension = time which is illusion. Four is seen as the first solid number. Spatial in scheme or order in manifestation.Static as opposed to the circular and the dynamic Wholeness; totality; completion; solid Earth; order

Rational – relativity and justice Symbol of measurement

Foundation The are four cardinal points; four seasons; four winds; four directions (as in North, South, East, West); four elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) in the western culture. There are four sides to a square; four arms to a cross. There are four rivers to Paradise, that formed a cross (the Garden of Eden was said to be within the four rivers). Within Paradise were four infernal regions, seas, and sacred mountains. There are four watches of the night and day, quarters of the moon. There are four quarters to the earth. There are four tetramorphs. The Divine Quaternity is in direct contrast to the Trinity. Four is a symbolic number used throughout in the Old Testament. The quaternary can be depicted as the quatrefoil as well as the square and the cross.Cultural References

Native American: As in other cultures, ceremonies and ritual acts are repeated in fours. The Native Amercican cultures have used the number 4 most frequently as in the four cardinal directions. The four winds are depicted by the symbol of the cross and by the symbol of the swastika. The swastika as some misbelieve was not created by Hitler. It was instead borrowed from the Native American and occult beliefs of which Hitler had great interests. Hitler derived his “insanity” of power from his misdirected interpretation and use of metaphysical principles. He used knowledge that his human consciousness couldn’t possibly understand and the use of this knowledge for personal gain is part of the imbalance that creates the chaos and karma. Buddhism: The Damba Tree of Life has four limbs and from its roots four sacred streams of Paradise that represent the the four boundless wishes of compassion, affection, love impartiality. It also represents the four directions of the heart as well. Chinese Buddism: there are four celestial guardians of cardinal points are Mo-li Ch’ing, the East, with the jade ring and spear; Virupaksha, the West, the Far-gazer, with the four-stringed quitar; Virudhaka, the South, with the umbrella of choas and darkness and earthquakes; Vaisravenna, the North, with the whips, leopard-skin bag, snake and pearl. Chinese: Four is the number of the Earth, symbolized by square. There are four streams of immortality. Four is even an number. It is Yin in polarity.

Christian: Four is the number representing the body, with three representing the soul. Again we see the theme of the four rivers in Paradise. There are four Gospels, Evangelists, chef arch-angels, chef-devils, four Fathers of the Church, Great Prophets. There are four cardinal virtues—prudence, fortitude, justice, temperance. The are four winds from which the One Spirit is said to come. There are four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Revelation: There four angels standing at the four corners of the Earth, holding back the four winds of the earth (Rev 7:1). The great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language (four-fold description) – Rev 5:9 11:9 13:7 14:6 the four-fold description indicates that these people come from all over the earth. Egyptian: Four is the sacred number of Time, measurement of the sun. Four pillars support the vault of heaven. There are four canopic jars placed around the dead at the four corners guarded by the four sons of Horus who are associated with the cardinal points. In the Hermetic it is the divine quaternity. It represents God. Gnostic: belief in Barbelo, the Four-ness of God. Greek: Four is the sacred number of Hermes Hebrew: Four represents measuring; beneficence; intelligence. In the Kabbalah four is memory; four represents the four worlds of the Kabbalah.It also represents the four directions of space and the four levels of the hierarchical organism of the Torah. Hindu: Four is Totality; plenitude; perfection. Brahma, the Creator is four faced. The temple is based on the four sides of the square, symbolizing order and finality. There are four tattvas the four bodies bodies of human and kingdoms of nature which are animal, vegetable, mineral, mind. There are four yugas. Four is the winning throw of the dice. There are four castes and pairs of opposites. Islamic: tradition the four terms of the quaternary are the Principle which is Creator; Universal Spirit; Universal Soul; and the primordial matter. These correspond to the four worlds of Kabbalism. There are four angelic beings and four houses of death. There are four levels to the Bardo. Mayan culture four giants support the celestial roof. Four is seen as the number of support .Pythagorean: Four is Perfection; harmonious proportion; justice; the earth. Four is the number of the Pythagorean oath. Four and ten are divinities. The Tetraktys 1+2+3+4=10. Scandinavian: there are four rivers of milk flowing in Asgard.Sumero-Semitic: Four astral gods are indentified with the four cardinal points. Teutonic: four dwarfs support the world. Taoist: There are four celestial guardians, Li, with the pagoda; Ma, with the sword; Cho with two swords; Wen with a spiked club. [mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″] Five (5)

Five is the symbol of human microcosm. The number of the human being. Human forms—-the pentagon when arms and legs are out stretched. The pentagon is endless —-sharing the symbolism of perfection and power of the circle. Five is a circular number as it produces itself in its last digit when raised to its own power. The pentacle, like the circle symbolizes whole, the quincunx being the number of its center and the meeting point of heaven, earth, and the four cardinal points plus the center point. Five is also representative of the Godhead – Central Creator of the four fours plus itself equalling five. Five is the marriage of the hieros gamos as combination of feminine and the masculine. Feminine being even, as 2, in frequency and masculine being odd as 3 in frequency = 5. The number five symbolizes meditation; religion; versatility. It represents the five senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing) everywhere except in the East. In the East there are six—-the extra being Mind. We find meanings to five in the five petaled flower, five pointed leaves—especially the ROSE. The Rose has much symbolism, but also the lily, vine, all of which represent the microcosm.

The five pointed star depicts individuality and spiritual aspiration, and education when it points upward. The five pointed star pointing downward represents witchcraft, and it is used in black magic. Noted: There is a very broad difference between witchcraft and black magic. The number five formed the first counting process from which all else came. Cultural References Alchemy: The five petaled flower and five pointed star symbolizing the quintessence.

Buddhist: belief the heart has four directions— the heart center makes five, symbolizing, universality. This idea is also symbolized by the Sacred Mountains surrounded by the four islands. There are five Dhyani Buddhas: Vairocana, the Brillant, who is represented by the wheel, the witness; Akshobhya, the Imperturbable, with vajra, the East and blue; Ratnasambhava, the Jewel-born, jewel, south, yellow; Amitabha, Boundless Light, lotus, West, red; Amoghasiddhi, Infallible Success, sword, North, green. Chinese: There are five elements. Five atmospheres; conditions; planets; sacred mountains; grains, colors, tastes, poisons; powerful charms; cardinal virtues; blessings; eternal ideas; relations to human kind. Christian: Five depicts human beings after the Fall in the Garden of Eden. There are five senses; five points to the cross; wounds of Christ; fishes feeding five thousand; and books of Moses. Egyptian: There are five crocodiles of the Nile. Graeco-Roman: Five is the nuptial number of love and union.. It is the number of Venus. Venus years are completed in groups of five. Apollo as god of light has five qualities: omniscience, omnipresence; omnipotence, eternity, and unity.

Hebrew: Five represents strength and severity; radical intelligence. In kabbala five represence fear. Hindu: Five is the quinary groups of the world; the five elements of the subtle and coarse states; their primary colors; of senses; five faces of Siva and the twice-five incarnations of Vishnu. Islamic: There are five pillars of religion; five Devine Presences; five fundamental dogmas; five actions; and five daily times of prayer. Parsee: Five is a significant number in Parsee and Mandaean rites – possibly connected with the five sacred intercalary days of light. Pythagorean: Hieros, gamos, the marriage of heaven, earth. It represents Apollo as God of light and his five qualities. Crystalinks: The Pentagram Pentagrams often show up on palms – hands [mks_separator style=”dotted” height=”2″]

Six (6) Six represents equilibrium; harmony – balance. It is the perfect number within the decad: 1+2+3=6. It is the most productive of all numbers. It symbolizes union of polarity, the hermaphrodite being represented by the two interlaced triangles, the upward- pointing as male, fire and the heavens, and the downward-pointing as female, the waters and the earth. Six is the symbol of luck; love; health; beauty; chance. It is a winning number at the throw of the dice in the West. There are six rays of the solar wheel and there are six interlaced triangles. There are six pointed stars or Seal of Solomon – and Star of David – Merkabah Cultural References;Chinese: Six represents Universe, with its four cardinal points and the Above and Below – making it a total of six directions. Chinese culture there are six senses: tastse, touch, smell, sight, hearing, the sixth being mind. The day and night each have six periods. Christian: Six is perfection; completion because man was created on the sixth day. Six is man’s number The most obvious use of this number is in the notorious passage containing 666. (Rev 13:18 NIV) This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666. Hebrew: There are six days of creation. It symbolizes meditation and intelligence. Kabbalism: Six is creation, and beauty. Pythagorean: Luck Sumerian: Six days of creation

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Seven (7)

If 6 represents humanity then 7 – the center of the spiral is humanity’s connection to its source, god, Christ consciousness – or whatever name you prefer.

Seven is the number of the Universe. It is the three of the heavens (soul) combined with the four (body) of the earth; being the first number containing both the spiritual and the temporal. In looking over the list of meanings it doesn’t take long to figure out why the seven has become significant in metaphysical, religious and other spiritual doctrines – as seven represents the virginity of the Great Mother – feminine archetype – She who creates.

There are 7 ages of man ancient wonders of the world circles of Universe cosmic stages days of the week heavens hells

pillars of wisdom rays of the sun musical notes – sound as frequency plays a key roll in matters of Universe. There are over 80 octaves of frequency – each governing a specific manifestation in Universe. Cultural References In all cultures, myths and legends seven represents…completeness and totality macrocosm perfection plenty reintegration rest

security safety synthesis The writings about the seven-headed dragon appear throughout India, Persia, the Far East, especially Cambodia, but also Celtic and other Mediterranean myths. The seventh ray of the sun is the path by which the human beings pass from this world to the next. Seven days is the period for fasting and penitence. The seventh power of any number, both square and a cube and thus was given great importance. Alchemy – There are seven metals involved with the Work. Astrology: There are seven stars of the Great Bear which are indestructible. There are seven Pleiades— sometimes referred to as the, Seven Sisters. Buddhist: Seven is the number of ascent and of ascending to the higest; attaining the center. The seven steps of Buddha symbolize the ascent of the seven cosmic stages transcending time and space. The seven-storied prasada at Borobadur is a sacred mountain and axis mundi, culminating in the transcendent North, reaching the realm of Buddha. Chinese culture the meaning and symboligies are intertwined throughout in their myths and legends of fairies and animal spirits. Christian: Seven is idealogogy. God is represented by the seventh ray in the center of the six rays of creation. There are seven sacraments; gifts of spirit; the seven of 3+4 theological and cardinal virtues; deadly sins, tiers of Purgatory (in metaphysical belief this would be one of the lower astral planes – or in Buddhism, one of the Bardo planes). There are 7 councils of the early church – crystal spheres containing the planets – devils cast out by Christ – joys and sorrows of Mary the Blessed Virgin, mother of Jesus – liberal arts – major prophets – periods of fasting and penitence – seventh day after the six of creation In the Old Testament there are the seven altars of Baalam; oxen and rams for sacrifice; trumpets; circuits of Jericho; seven times Naaman bathed in the Jordan. Seven is the number of Samon’s bonds; the child raised by Elisha sneezed seven times. The Ark rested on the seventh month and the dove was sent out after seven days. The number seven is used 55 times in Revelation. It usually means fullness or completeness as in seven days of the week. God rested on the seventh day. Examples abound: seven churches, seven trumpets, seven seals, seven bowls, seven eyes etc etc. Egyptian mythology: There are seven Hathors as Fates and the priestesses of Hathor have seven jars in their seven tunics. Ra has seven hawks representing the seven Wise Ones. Six cows and a bull represent fertility. There are seven houses of the underworld, as depicted in Egyptian myths, with three times seven gates. Seven is the sacred number of Osiris. Graeco-Roman: Sacred to Apollo, whose lyre has seven strings, and to Athene/Minerva and Ares/Mars; Pan had seven pipes (again a reference to seven musical notes and frequency); there seven Wise Men of Greece. Hebrew tradition: Seven is the number of occult intelligence. There are seven Great Holy Days in the Jewish year; the Menorah has seven branches; the Temple took seven years to build; and there are seven pillars of wisdom. Hinduism there are Seven Jewels of the Brahmanas and seven gods before the floods and seven Wise Men saved from it. Islamic: The perfect number is seven. In Islamic tradition there are references to seven: heavens climates earths and seas

colors prophets (active powers) states or stations of the heart The Ka’aba is circumambulated seven times representing the seven attributes of God. Magic: There are seven knots in a cord for “spellbinding” and incantations are sevenfold. Certain orders of Brotherhood use theme of tying seven knots in their rope sash worn around their waist. Mithraic: The cave of Mithras has seven doors, seven altars, and a ladder with seven rungs depicting the seven grades of initiation into the mystery schools. Pythagorean: Seven is a cosmic number with three of heaven and four of the world. Sumero-Semitic: There are seven lunar divisions and days of the week. “Thou shalt shine with horns to determine six days and on the seventh with half a crown.”, the seventh thus becomes opposition to the sun and symbolizes darkness and balefulness and therefore is dangerous to undertake anything on the seventh day because that is the day of rest. We can see here the influence of this belief in other religious contexts. There are seven zones of earth; heavens, symbolized by the planes of ziggurat. There are seven branches to the Tree of Life each having seven leaves. Leaves are symbols of fertility, renewal and growth. There are seven gates of hell, seven demons of Tiamat and seven winds to destroy her—-interesting to note that in many belief systems it is said that the astral plane has seven levels to it—one sound on one of those levels is “wind”.

Seven is a mystic number traditionally associated with Venus and more recently with Neptune. It is the number of feelings and of instincts – of the Group Mind, of Love, whether that strange, indescribable but pervasive feeling of love is towards another person, a pet, oneself or one’s God. ‘Love’ embodies tremendous sexual energy, the emotions of which may be directed in various ways.

 

theawakenedstate.net/numerology/

Les récits du tombeau vide relatent, dans les quatre évangiles canoniques, l'épisode au cours duquel les Saintes Femmes trouvent la tombe de Jésus de Nazareth vide, sans le cadavre de celui-ci, au cours du dimanche suivant son crucifiement.

Cet épisode, qui se déroule avant les apparitions aux disciples, est lié à la résurrection de Jésus sans pour autant être déterminant.

Son historicité demeure impossible à démontrer.

 

Гроб Господень, или Святой Гроб — главная святыня христианского мира, гробница в скале; эта гробница признана Историческими церквями местом, где, согласно Евангелию, Иисус Христос был погребён после распятия и на третий день воскрес. Гробница является главным алтарём Храма Воскресения Христова в Иерусалиме.

FAIR

Cabañas Cultural Institute has a wide range of art genres.

 

The Cabañas Cultural Institute’s role is as a contemporary museum, with both temporary and permanent exhibitions, as well as the show rooms for the works of Maestro. José Clemente Orozco.

 

Like any other public building the Cabañas was affected throughout the history (it was a troops headquarter, a jail) but it always went back to the original calling. In 1980 the children in the precinct were moved to new facilities and three years later, the Cabañas Cultural Institute was turned into a center to promote culture and arts.

 

The Cabañas fundamental vocation is the research, preserve and diffusion of its 3 collections, two of which are within the most important of the country: the one of Jose Clemente Orozco and of the German artist Mathias Goeritz. The Orozco collection, considered the biggest public collection of the artist, is comprised by more than 300 works in paper support and 10 pyroxylis. The third collection is of Roberto Montenegro (Folk Art).

 

In the interior, the building has 23 courts, its major chapel and to end of the building the second chapel stands out, of major sobriety that the first one, and that used to be the Hospice refectory, named Tolsá in honor to the Spanish architect. All this was determinant that in December, 1997 the UNESCO declared Hospicio Cabañas part of the World Heritage. Since March, 2003 the museum is registered to the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Fifth generation

International (GE; 1991–1997)

 

Overview:

 

Also calledMazda 626

Mazda Cronos (Japan)

ɛ̃fini MS-6

Ford Telstar

Autozam Clef

 

ProductionNovember 1991 – 1997

AssemblyJapan: Hofu

Colombia: Bogotá

United States: Flat Rock, Michigan (AAI)

DesignerYasuo Aoyagi (1989)

Body and chassis

Body style4-door sedan

5-door hatchback

LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive

Transverse front-engine, four-wheel drive

PlatformMazda GE platform

RelatedMazda MX-6

Ford Probe

Powertrain

Engine

1.8 L FP I4

2.0 L FS-DE I4

2.0 L KF-ZE V6

2.5 L KL-DE V6

2.5 L KL-ZE V6

2.0 L RFT Comprex diesel I4

Transmission5-speed manual

4-speed automatic

Dimensions

Wheelbase2,610 mm (102.8 in)

Length4,670–4,695 mm (183.9–184.8 in) (sedan/hatchback)

Width1,750 mm (68.9 in)

Height1,400 mm (55.1 in)

Curb weight1,180–1,340 kg (2,601–2,954 lb) (sedan/hatchback)

 

For the fifth generation, GE series sedan and hatchback, the Capella name was dropped—although export markets retained the 626 title. Its nameplate replacements, the Mazda Cronos (sedan) and ɛ̃fini MS-6 (hatchback) that launched in November 1991 were pitched to Japanese customers instead. Built on the GE platform, the hatchback-only MS-6 was launched under the ɛ̃fini brand, as a separate car from the sedan-only Cronos, as Mazda was at the beginning of an ambitious five-brand expansion plan of doubling sales. Including the badge-engineered Ford Telstar (sold at Japanese Ford dealerships called Autorama), the Mazda MX-6 coupe, and the Autozam Clef, a total of five cars were spawned off the same platform, launched under four different brands in Japan over a two-year period.

 

All of these models ended their production run prematurely, most likely due to the difficulties involved in promoting so many new nameplates as the Japanese economy began to feel the effects of the recession as a result of the Japanese asset price bubble from 1985-1991. While the MS-6 shared the Cronos GE platform, it was marketed as the more sporty of the two. The Capella badge lived on with the wagon/van versions on the previous GV series until 1999. Until 1989, Japanese car taxation used a car's width as a key determinant. The Cronos and its siblings all exceed the critical 1,700 mm (66.9 in) level in width. The series GE platform shared the same width dimension as the luxury brand ɛ̃fini MS-8 and ɛ̃fini MS-6, sharing the 2.5 V6. Moving in accord with early-1990s zeitgeist, Mazda considered width a key factor in the Cronos' sales failure, and proceeded to create a narrower stopgap model from the CG platform. This car was introduced in 1994 as the new CG series Capella sedan.

 

Export

 

Nonetheless, the GE Cronos and MS-6 continued to be sold as the Mazda 626 in nearly all export markets. The 626 was again Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for a second time in 1992.

 

The European (E-spec) and Asian (JDM) models had many differences versus the North American (A-spec) models. These include: raised turn signal side markers vs the A-Spec flush mounted side markers, small fog lights with silver bezels vs the A-Spec full fitting fog lights, different interior cloth patterns, projector headlamps (glass lenses), a 1.8 L FP engine, and a hatchback model. Europe also received a diesel-engined version, using the "Comprex" pressure-wave supercharged RF engine seen in the previous generation JDM Capella. Power in Europe is 75 PS (55 kW) ECE at 4000 rpm, while the Japanese model claims 82 PS (60 kW) JIS at the same engine speed.[15]

 

For the first time for a Mazda, the 626 began overseas manufacture manufacture in the US at Flat Rock, Michigan on 1 September 1992 for the 1993 model year. The car was originally known as the "626 Cronos" in Canada, but dropped the Cronos for the 1996 model year. Mazda's 2.5 L V6 engine debuted to rave reviews. Though the 626's manual transmission was highly regarded, Four-cylinder 626s from 1994 onwards used the Ford CD4E automatic transmission (designated by Mazda as LA4A-EL), which was an attempt to solve some of the 1993 model's transmission related issues. The CD4E was manufactured by Ford at their Batavia, Ohio facility. The CD4E was manufactured in Batavia, Ohio under the partnership name of ZF Batavia; a joint venture between Ford and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. It wasn't until a few years after the fourth generation of the Mazda 626 was produced that it became known for its extremely high failure rate, thus making the change in 1994 to the CD4E an irrelevant one. It is widely known to transmission specialists that the CD4E overheats due to a poorly designed valve body and torque converter. Mazda issued a couple of Technical Service Bulletins (0400502, 01598, 003/97K, 006/95) regarding the transmission and torque converter. Dealerships were briefly instructed to install an external transmission cooler, but at cost to the owner and only if requested. The CD4E was produced until 2008 at Batavia. No recall was ever issued for a single year of the CD4E, causing a loss of confidence from the general public in years to come. In 1994, a passenger side airbag was added, whilst some models of the 1994 and 1995 Mazda 626 2.0L automatics were outfitted with Ford's EEC-IV diagnostic system. In North America, the V6 spread to the LX trim in addition to the leather ES trim. New for 1996 and 1997 models were a redesigned hood (raised center portion), chrome grille fairing (attached to the hood), and the introduction of the On Board Diagnostics II revision (OBD-II).

 

In Colombia the car was named 626 Matsuri to differentiate from the past version that was sold at the same time.

 

Mazda New Zealand assembled this generation for four years with few changes. Ford's variants (since 1987 all built in the same Ford-Mazda joint venture Vehicle Assemblers of New Zealand (VANZ) factory in Wiri, South Auckland) had minor styling and equipment differences (the top Telstar hatchback had an electric sunroof) and anti-lock brakes were now standard on some models, for which factory engineers had to build a special test rig at the end of the assembly line. These were also the first 626/Telstar models to have factory fitted air conditioning, though only on the top Limited (626) and TX-5 Ghia (Telstar) five-door hatchbacks.

 

[Text from Wikipedia]

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Capella

 

The version shown here is a US-Specification 626 Sedan. This can be identified by the side marker reflectors (front and rear). US models were commonly painted this sand-gold hue, popular at the time, and light tan leather interiors.

 

This miniland-scale Lego Mazda 626 Capella Sedan (GE - 1991) has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 92nd Build Challenge, - "Stuck in the 90's", - all about vehicles from the decade of the 1990s.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Le peuple se pressa près du géant, devenu immobile ; il l’entoura, admirant sa métamorphose

The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism

The Fetishism of the Commodity and Its Secret Marx's inquiry in this section focuses on the nature of the commodity, apart from its basic use-value. In other words, why does the commodity appear to have an exchange-value as if it was an intrinsecal characteristic of the commodity instead of a measurement of the homogenous human labor spent to do the commodity? Marx explains that this sort of fetishism, which attributes to a thing a characteristic when it is actually a social product, originates in the fact that under a commodity based society the social labour, the social relations between producers and their mutual interdependence, solely manifest in the market, in the process of exchange. Therefore, the value of the commodity is determined independently from private producers so it seems that it is the market which determines the value apparently based on a characteristic of the commodity; it seems as if there are relations between commodities instead of relations between producers.

 

Marx also explains that due to the historical circumstances of capitalist society, the values of commodities are usually studied by political economists in their most advanced form: money. These economists see the value of the commodity as something metaphysically autonomous from the social labor that is the actual determinant of value. Marx calls this fetishism—the process whereby the society that originally generated an idea eventually, through the distance of time, forgets that the idea is actually a social and therefore all-too-human product. This society will no longer look beneath the veneer of the idea (in this case the value of commodities) as it currently exists. The society will simply take the idea as a natural and/or God-given inevitability that they are powerless to alter it.

 

Marx compares this fetishism to the manufacturing of religious belief: people initially create a deity to fulfill whatever desire or need they have in present circumstances, but then these products of the human brain appear as autonomous figures endowed with a life of their own and enter into a relations both with each other and with the human race.[14] Similarly, commodities only enter into relation with each other through exchange, which is a purely social phenomenon. Before that, they are simply useful items, but not commodities. Value itself cannot come from use-value because there is no way to compare the usefulness of an item; there are simply too many potential functions.

 

Once in exchange, commodities' values are determined by the amount of socially useful labor-time put into them, because labor can be generalized. For example, it takes longer to mine diamonds than it does to dig quartz, so diamonds are worth more. Fetishism within capitalism occurs once labor has been socially divided and centrally coordinated, and the worker no longer owns the means of production. They no longer have access to the knowledge of how much labor went into a product, because they no longer control its distribution. The only obvious determinant of value remaining to the mass of people is the value that was assigned in the past. Thus, the value of a commodity seems to arise from a mystical property inherent to it, rather than from labor-time, the actual determinant of value.

 

In the introduction to her collection of essays on ethical philosophy, The Virtue of Selfishness (VOS), Rand writes that the "exact meaning" of selfishness is "concern with one's own interests" (VOS, p. vii). In that work, Rand argue

a virtue is an action by which one secures and protects one's rational values—ultimately, one's life and happiness. Since a concern with one's own interests is a character trait that, when translated into action, enables one to achieve and guard one's own well-being, it follows that selfishness is a virtue. One must manifest a serious concern for one's own interests if one is to lead a healthy, purposeful, fulfilling life.

On 21 January 1968 all hell broke loose, on a northern outpost, on the outskirts of the airbase, that controls the route around it the Vietcong guerrilla blew a hole on the outer wall debris came flying by and the Marines rushed out to fire at the enemy. The fight went on that would be determinant in the Tet Offensive. The Marines resisted during many days. But the end of this offensive marked a change in this terrible war.

    

Ok, this is slightly based on the scene from Stanley Kubrik's "Full Metal Jacket" in which the the airbase is attacked and they rush out to defend it.

    

I used some of the new pieces I got in this build and without these I wouldn't have been able to make this this big.

    

Please favorite and comment as much as you'd like :)

    

It's been a long time since a I last uploaded so it would mean a lot :)

    

Thanks,

    

Pedro.

Carrocería/Bodywork: Noge Touring Gold HD

 

Chassis: MAN 26.420 HOCLN-SD

 

Lote/Batch info: 1/5 - 5 total (1717-1726)

 

Matricula/Plate: 0365-KPX

 

Longitud/Length: 15m

 

Servicio/Service: 2018 - En curso/Ongoing

 

Info (SP): Para las rutas aeroportuarias siempre se han realizado compras excepcionales para cubrir dichas rutas. Sin embargo el tener que equipar vehiculos discrecionales para el transporte interurbano, asi como la falta de accesibilidad y longitud fueron determinantes a la hora de renovar esta parte de la flota. Por ello la empresa aposto (por primera vez) en la carrocera Noge, a quienes encargaron diez unidades de quince metros de los cuales seis han sido permanentemente asignados a cubrir las rutas aeroportuarias (de ahi la distintiva pintura exterior).

 

Info (EN): For all airport routes exceptional purchases were made for their coverage. However the intense modifications vehicles had to undergo, the difficulty of access and length of the vehicle required a makeover. As a result, Global decided to take a chance with coach builder Noge, whom they placed a first order of ten 15m long buses from which six were permanently assigned for airport routes (as indicated by their distinctive livery)

The still room at Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William, where Ben Nevis whisky is produced. Whisky distilling is one of the most important industries in the Highlands of Scotland, although there is also production in the Lowlands. The quality of the water supply is one of the determinants of the quality of the whisky.

See a close-up of one section here. Found in a document titled "Seattle Urban Design Report: Determinants of City Form." The report has a ton of cool maps representing things like view orientation, shadow patterns, landslide hazards, traffic volume, and socioeconomic need. Document 1295, Published Document Collection, Seattle Municipal Archives.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (also known simply as (the) Baltic, stylised as BALTIC) is a centre for contemporary art located on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It hosts a frequently changing variety of exhibitions, events, and educational programmes with no permanent exhibition. The idea to open a centre for contemporary arts in Gateshead was developed in the 1990s, which was a time of regeneration for the local area—the Sage and Gateshead Millennium Bridge was also being conceived of in this period.

 

Baltic opened in July 2002 in a converted flour mill, which had operated in various capacities from 1950-1984. The architectural design of Baltic was devised by Dominic Williams of Ellis Williams Architects, who won a competition to design the new contemporary arts centre in 1994. The building features exhibition spaces, a visitor centre, a rooftop restaurant and external viewing platforms which offer views of the River Tyne. Baltic's current director, the centre's fifth, is Sarah Munro, who joined in November 2015. As of January 2022, Baltic had welcomed over 8 million visitors.

 

Baltic Flour Mills was built by Joseph Rank of Rank Hovis to a late-1930s design by Hull-based architects Gelder and Kitchen. The first foundations were laid in the late 1930s, and although construction ceased during the Second World War, the mill was completed and started operating in 1950. Known locally as "the pride of Tyneside", 300 people were employed by the mill at its height. The building was composed of two parallel brick façades running east to west, sandwiched between a foundation of concrete silos. The structure could store 22,000 tons of grain. The design of the building also featured a larger silo in which to store and clean wheat. The site was extended in 1957 by the addition of Blue Cross Mill which processed animal feed. In 1976, a fire forced both mills to close, but the silos remained in operation until 1984 to store a portion of the grain owned by the European Economic Community. Baltic Flour Mills was one of a number of mills located along the banks of the Tyne, all of which, due to their size, were prominent local landmarks. The Spillers mill just downstream from Baltic on the north bank of the river was demolished in 2011. Another large mill was owned by the CWS and was located just upstream of Dunston Staiths.

 

The opening of Baltic as a designated centre for contemporary art was part of the revitalisation and post-industrial regeneration of Gateshead's riverside. The regeneration began in the early 1990s and transformed the Quayside into a centre of modern architecture, including the Sage and Millennium Bridge. In 1991, Northern Arts (now part of Arts Council England) released a five-year plan in which it stated its intention to create "major new capital facilities for the Contemporary Visual Arts and Music in Central Tyneside". Northern Arts were keen to convert an old building into a centre for art, rather than build a new one, and the Labour-run Gateshead Council expressed interest in converting the old Flour Mills. This was in contrast to the Conservative-run Newcastle City Council's approach to development, which saw private firms develop mainly flats, hotels, and offices. Gateshead Council purchased the Baltic Flour Mills silo building, and in 1994 they invited the Royal Institute of British Architects to open a competition which would find an architect to design the new arts centre.

 

In 1994, Gateshead Council invited the Royal Institute of British Architects to hold a competition to select a design for the conversion of the Baltic Flour Mills. The objective of the competition was to "provide a national and international Centre for Contemporary visual arts". The brief cited a number of similar examples of old buildings which had been converted into arts centres around the world, including a converted flour mill in Porto, Portugal and the Bankside Power Station in London (now the site of the Tate Modern). After evaluating a total of 140 entries, Dominic Williams – a relatively unknown architect who had only been working for three years – won the competition. He entered the competition with Ellis Williams Architects, his father's firm. Andrew Guest remarks that this "simple, honest, industrial" design was an example of architecture which recognised the designs and context of the past. Williams and Ellis Williams Architects stated their intention to "retain as much of the existing character and fabric of the building as possible" while also clearly presenting the structure's new purpose as an art gallery.

 

The conversion of the flour mills was a complex and technically challenging task. The grain silos were removed, leaving the brick façades unsupported, and a 1,000 tonne steel frame was required to support the remaining building. Four new main floors were inserted into the building supported by a row of pillars. Intermediary floors made out of steel frames and thin concrete were also inserted. These were designed to be removable as to adapt the building and create variable spaces for art. With 13 separate levels in total, Williams claimed he purposefully wanted to create a sense of disorientation for visitors within the building and allow an element of discovery. A spiral staircase winds up the building towards an open-plan office for staff. An efficient ductwork system was installed within the beams which carries heated or chilled air throughout the building. Such a design, conceived of by environmental engineers Atelier Ten, was uncommon for the time. The north and south elevations of the original building were retained along with the original BALTIC FLOUR MILLS lettering and red and yellow bricks. The east and west sides were fully glazed, capturing natural light and allowing views of the River Tyne. Additionally, service towers in the corners of the building, a rooftop viewing box, and a low-rise visitor centre were completed—these now comprise part of the building's major elements. The building stands at 138 feet (42 m) tall. Glass elevators situated close to the exterior offer views of Newcastle, Gateshead and the River Tyne. A restaurant sits at the top of the building, built in a manner which still allows natural light to reach the top gallery floor. The building's interior largely features glass, concrete, aluminium, Welsh Slate, 'Cor-Ten' steel, and Swedish pine. The furniture, purposely built to be flexible and adaptable, was designed by Swedish designer Åke Axelsson.

 

Awards

Baltic won a RIBA award in 2003, a Civic Trust Award in 2004, and in 2006 was selected as one of the top 10 most outstanding arts and culture schemes in the UK as part of the Gulbenkian Prize. In 2012, it won the National Lottery Awards prize for Best Arts Project.

 

The founding director, Sune Nordgren, was appointed in 1997. He oversaw the period prior to Baltic's opening, including the construction of the gallery. After almost six years, Nordgren left to take up a new post as founding director of the National Museum for Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway. At this time, Baltic was facing financial problems. After Nordgren's departure, a former Baltic chairman accused the centre of overspending on commissions during Nordgren's tenure. Baltic's situation was described by Arts Council England as having "serious inadequacies in financial procedures". Nordgren was briefly succeeded by Stephen Snoddy, who had previously run a new gallery in Milton Keynes. Snoddy only remained with the organisation for 11 months, citing difficulties in leaving his family behind in Manchester while working at Baltic. He was succeeded as director by Peter Doroshenko in 2005. Doroshenko's previous institutions included the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst and the Institute of Visual Arts in Milwaukee. He was brought to Baltic to increase visitor numbers and resolve the centre's financial situation, which was criticised by Arts Council England and an insider as being chaotic. Doroshenko organized several exhibitions during his time at Baltic, including Spank the Monkey.

 

In November 2007, Doroshenko left the gallery to head up the PinchukArtCentre in Kiev, Ukraine. He stated that he believed he had made Baltic a more "approachable and visitor friendly place."[30] However, Design Week reported that there were claims that Doroshenko did not deliver the expected "international programme of artistic excellence." Additionally, staff at the centre had complained about his "intolerable" and "bullying" management style. Godfrey Worsdale, founding director of the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, was appointed as director of Baltic in 2008. Worsdale oversaw the 10 year anniversary of Baltic and the hosting of the Turner Prize in 2011. He was awarded an honorary degree from Northumbria University in 2012 in recognition for his work on contemporary art after being on the judging panel for the Turner Prize. He departed in 2015 to take up a new post as director of the Henry Moore Foundation. Sarah Munro MBE became director in November 2015. She was previously artistic director of Tramway in Glasgow and head of arts for Glasgow Life.

 

History as arts centre

During the four-year construction of Baltic, the new organisation arranged a series of events, publications, and artists in residence in anticipation of the centre's opening. In 1999, after the silos had been removed and before the new floors were inserted, the shell of the building was used to house an art installation by Anish Kapoor. Taratantara was a trumpet-shaped installation of PVC 50 metres (160 ft) long and was situated within the centre of the mill. This installation drew 16,000 visitors and marked a turning point between the building's old purpose and its new life as a centre for art. In October 2000, Jenny Holzer's Truisms – a series of aphorisms and slogans – were projected onto the side of the building. Kapoor and Holtzer's works were intended to engage casual passers-by in an artistic dialogue. The identity of Baltic was also solidified by the publication of 16 newsletters between October 1998 and July 2002 when the centre opened to the public. A significant part of this branding was the use of the now registered typeface BALTIC Affisch, designed by Swedish designers Ulf Greger Nilsson and Henrik Nygren and based on the BALTIC FLOUR MILLS lettering on the building's brick façade.

 

Opening

After ten years in the planning and a capital investment of £50m, including £33.4m from the Arts Council Lottery Fund, Baltic opened to the public at midnight on Saturday 13 July 2002. The novelty of opening the new building at midnight was intentional: founding director Sune Nordgren sought a dramatic gesture to herald the beginning of the new centre for arts. The inaugural exhibition, B.OPEN, had work by Chris Burden, Carsten Höller, Julian Opie, Jaume Plensa and Jane and Louise Wilson. Opie, who had previously assisted Dominic Williams with aspects of the building's conversion design, contributed an installation consisting of nude outlines on the walls of floor of the gallery. Plensa's installation featured a room filled with gongs which were available for the audience to play. Plensa also contributed Blake in Gateshead – a beam of light which stretched around 2 kilometres (6,600 ft) into the sky. The installation was placed through the glass doorway of the ground floor. Burden constructed a 1/20th scale replica of the Tyne Bridge out of Meccano. Jane and Louise Wilson created Dreamtime, a video of a rocket launch. An early exhibit by the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara was also included. The B.OPEN event attracted over 35,000 visitors in the first week. A live art performance, including Tatsumi Orimito's Bread Man and Anne Bjerge Hansen's Moving Bakery, took place during the opening weekend, in which bread was handed out to passers-by in memory of the Baltic Flour Mill's history. When BALTIC opened, there was a target set for 250,000 visitors a year. It achieved one million visitors in its first year, and by its 10-year anniversary in 2012, 4 million people had visited.

 

Notable events

On 20 September 2007, Baltic management contacted Northumbria Police for advice regarding whether or not a photograph should be displayed as part of the Thanksgiving installation, a forthcoming exhibition by American photographer Nan Goldin. The photograph, along with the rest of the installation, is part of the Sir Elton John Photography Collection. Entitled Klara and Edda belly-dancing features two naked young girls and had previously been exhibited around the world without objections. The installation, which had been scheduled for a four-month exhibition, opened with the remaining photographs whilst Klara and Edda belly-dancing was in possession of the police. However, it closed after just nine days at the request of Elton John. Although this had a determinantal effect on Baltic's reputation in the short-term, Graham Whitham argues in Understand Contemporary Art that it may have given it a higher profile and greater publicity in the long-run.

 

Beryl Cook

In 2007, the largest survey of artist Beryl Cook's work to date was featured in an exhibition at Baltic.[9] Cook enjoyed widespread recognition of her art towards the end of her life; the exhibition at Baltic took place one year before her death. Her paintings depict everyday and familiar social situations in a playful, colourful, and "portly" style. Peter Doreshenko, the director of Baltic at the time of the exhibition, was keen for the gallery to reject the seriousness audiences may associate with it. The exhibition of Cook's work was part of this populist effort to attract new audiences to the then financially-struggling gallery, whose visitor numbers had dropped to less than 500,000 and whose reputation was decreasing. Adrian Searle of The Guardian reviewed the exhibition and, whilst acknowledging that fans would enjoy it, commented "look too long and you may feel a bit queasy".

 

Turner Prize

In 2011, Baltic was the venue for the Turner Prize. This was the first time the event had been held outside of London or Liverpool Tate. The Turner Prize exhibition at Baltic attracted 149,770 visitors to the gallery – almost double the average attendance in London. The event at Baltic was also free, whilst Turner exhibitions at Tate Britain had always previously charged for entry. The winning exhibit was by Martin Boyce with the runners-up being Karla Black, Hilary Lloyd and George Shaw.

 

Judy Chicago

The first major retrospective of American artist Judy Chicago's work was exhibited in Baltic from November 2019 to April 2020. The exhibition included her abstract paintings, records of performance pieces, and began and ended with a four-metre tapestry which portrayed the creation the world from a woman's perspective. At the time of the exhibition, Chicago was in her 80s. Hannah Clugston of The Guardian noted that the more recent featured works embraced the theme of death, particularly End: A Meditation on Death and Extinction, which is based on the stages of grief.

 

Baltic Open Submission

In March 2020, Baltic announced it would be closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice. In May 2021, it reopened to visitors with four exhibitions. Baltic Open Submission featured works created during lockdown by 158 artists from the North East. The 158 artists were chosen from over 540 original submissions and selected by a panel of three North East-based artists. The final pieces included paintings, drawings, and sound and video installations.

 

Community and cultural impact

At the opening of Baltic, director Sune Nordgren outlined the role of the arts centre within the public sphere. He stated that Baltic should be "a meeting place, a site for connections and confrontation between artists and the public." In an October 2002 lecture at the Power Plant Gallery in Toronto, Nordgren reaffirmed the importance of local outreach and explained his intention for Baltic to regard the local history and culture, comparing his intention to examples of modern art museums where this was not considered, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (designed in Los Angeles and placed in Spain). From its inception, Baltic emphasised the importance of artist-public relationships and its role as a community hub. "Participate" initiatives encouraged people in the local community to interact with resident artists. A media learning centre in a local library was set up as an extension of Baltic's community resources.

 

In a 2016 talk on Baltic's 10-year strategic plan (officially named Untitled), the current director of Baltic – Sarah Munro – emphasised that the North East of England "has always led, not followed" the agenda for contemporary arts, and that Baltic had been a big part of this trend. She argued that the visual arts can be used to further the economic and social growth of the area, even amidst the backdrop of political issues and austerity. Baltic also launched an international award for emerging artists in 2016, which offered a £30,000 commission and an accompanying exhibition to four recipients. It was the first such competition in the UK to be judged entirely by artists: in 2017, they were Monica Bonvicini, Lorna Simpson, Pedro Cabrita Reis and Mike Nelson. Munro commented that the award was to foster "a dialogue with our audiences at a local, national and international level."

 

Local university partnerships and graduate internships are also important to Baltic's community and cultural influence. In 2011, Baltic and Northumbria University established an artistic partnership through the BxNU Institute of Contemporary Art, a centre for artistic and curatorial research. Christine Borland was appointed as Baltic Professor. A designated gallery space, known as Baltic 39, was established on the top floor of refurbished Edwardian warehouses at 31-39 High Bridge in Newcastle. It was designed by Viennese architects Jabornegg & Palffy and housed artwork from students at the university. Baltic 39 was based at High Bridge from 2012 to 2021.

 

Their annual Self-Publishing Artists’ Market (aka S.P.A.M.) takes the form of a lively programme exploring print culture and practice through talks and workshops with over 50 stalls selling zines and artists’ books. S.P.A.M. Spreads reimagines the market in printed form and has included contributions by artists, activists, illustrators, zine-makers, writers and curators including Vanessa Murrell, Melody Sproates, Okocha Obasi, Stephanie Francis-Shanahan.

Tolka River Valley Park (TRVP)

Finglas/Cabra/Ashtown 01-12-2021

 

[order] Passeriformes | [family] Fringillidae | [latin] Carduelis spinus | [UK] Siskin | [FR] Tarin des aulnes | [DE] Erlenzeisig | [ES] Lúgano | [IT] Luchernino europeo | [NL] Sijs

 

Measurements

spanwidth min.: 20 cm

spanwidth max.: 23 cm

size min.: 11 cm

size max.: 12 cm

Breeding

incubation min.: 12 days

incubation max.: 13 days

fledging min.: 13 days

fledging max.: 15 days

broods 2

eggs min.: 3

eggs max.: 6

 

Physical characteristics

 

Small, quite tubby but elegant finch with short but noticeably forked tail, sharing with Redpoll arboreal, tit-like behaviour and with serins yellow-green and streaked plumages. At all ages, shows fine bill (like Goldfinch and unlike all serins except Citril Finch) and striking combination of yellow band on wing and yellow basal patches on tail (unlike any confusion species). Male strikingly yellow and green, with diagnostic black crown, much black in wings and tail, emphasizing yellow marks, and greenish-yellow rump. Female more greenish, distinctly streaked above and below, especially from sides of breast to rear flanks. Juvenile buff-brown above, even more heavily streaked above and below; lacks pale rump but shows characteristic wing and tail pattern.

 

Habitat

 

In west Palearctic, breeds in both lowland and mountain forest, coniferous or mixed, mainly in boreal and temperate zones, north to July isotherm of 13°C. Mainly occupies spruce but also fir and pine, especially where these are well-grown and well-spaced, and sometimes mixed with broad-leaved trees. Streamside locations are often preferred, especially outside breeding season where much foraging is in alders and birches along watercourses, often well away from conifers. Recently has begun to visit garden feeders in some areas. Has in recent years begun nesting more widely and frequently in fresh areas in England, apparently due to afforestation with conifers and to use of planted introduced conifers in parks and gardens, but in Switzerland in formerly neglected native stands, largely in montane regions at c. 1200-1800 m, but not infrequently in lowlands, with marked annual fluctuations.

 

Other details

 

Carduelis spinus is a widespread breeder across most of Europe, which constitutes >75% of its global range. Its European breeding population is extremely large (>10,000,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. The stronghold population in Russia fluctuated during 1990-2000, and most other European populations- including sizeable ones in Finland and Sweden-either increased or were stable. The species probably remained broadly stable overall.

 

Feeding

 

Seeds, especially of conifers, alder, birch, and herbs; some invertebrates in breeding season. Very dependent on spruce (or pine) on breeding grounds. Feeds principally in trees, moving to tall herbs or ground when cones empty and seed has dropped; many invertebrates apparently taken from ground and at water‘s edge; also has habit, mainly in winter, of feeding on seeds washed up on shoreline, where favourite alder trees are common. Invertebrates picked from leaves and needles of trees, herbs, bracken, etc., and insects can be caught in flight. Moves restlessly through trees examining cones, acrobatically clinging to cones and twigs, often starting at crown and moving towards base; hangs and perches on stems and seed-heads of herbs with equal agility. Tweezer-like bill used to extract or pry out (bill inserted then opened) seeds (etc.) from tight spaces (e.g. cones, closed seed-heads, buds, catkins), very like Goldfinch, though unable to probe as deeply. In recent years (in southern England since early 1960s and Ireland since 1980s) frequents bird-tables and garden feeders in winter much more regularly than in past, particularly after alder seed crop exhausted; perhaps first entered gardens to feed on seeds of ornamental cypress, soon regularly taking peanuts. Another habit apparently acquired recently is eating of beechmast, first recorded in central England in 1950s.

 

Breeding

 

Laying starts mostly late April to early June, the more south the later. Commonly 2 broods, at least in some areas. Nest is generally inaccessible, at considerable height and in outer hanging twigs of conifer, usually spruce; also recorded against trunk. Nest: small hemispherical construction of (mostly) conifer twigs, heather, grass, moss, bark fibres, and spider‘s web lined with hair, fur, rootlets, plant down, and sometimes feathers, often with external camouflaging of moss and lichen; occasionally woven into hanging twigs. Clutch size: 3-5(-6), 12-13 days and fledging period 13-15(-17) days.

 

Migration

 

Mostly migratory in northern breeding areas, but some southern populations may be resident. Many birds winter in different areas in different years but some are faithful to same areas even exactly the same site. Most are nomadic during winter, but minority becomes resident at same site for several months. Numbers migrating vary greatly from year to year, and more distant movements are recorded when large numbers of birds involved (eruption years). Availability of seed crops on favoured trees (alder, birch) seems to be major determinant of strength of movement away from breeding area. Recent habit of regular feeding in gardens noted particularly in March and early April when birds fattening for spring migration.

Autumn migration in northern areas may start as early as August, but generally peaks late September or October. Timing and strength vary from year to year, and significant numbers may move as late as December or even January. Spring departure from regular southern wintering areas is weak and may start in early February, but in most areas continues to mid-April. Passage in Switzerland from end of February to mid- or late April; peaks in April in northern Denmark. On south side of Gulf of Finland (where passage very conspicuous) and in Leningrad region, waves of migrants pass east or north-east until early or mid-May.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

La catedral de Santiago de Compostel·la (en gallec, catedral de Santiago de Compostela) està acull el que, segons la tradició, és el sepulcre de l'apòstol Sant Jaume, i això va convertir el temple en un dels principals destins de pelegrinatge d'Europa durant l'edat mitjana mitjançant l'anomenat Camí de Sant Jaume, una ruta iniciàtica en què se seguia les petjades de la Via Làctia comunicant la península Ibèrica amb la resta del continent. Això va ser determinant perquè els regnes hispànics medievals participessin en els moviments culturals de l'època. Actualment continua sent un important destí de pelegrinatge. Un privilegi concedit el 1122 pel papa Calixt II va declarar que serien «Any Sant Jubilar» a Compostel·la, tots els anys en què el dia 25 de juliol, dia de sant Jaume, coincidís amb diumenge. Va ser confirmat pel papa Alexandre III a la seva butlla "Regis aeterni" datada el 1179.

 

El nucli antic de Santiago de Compostel·la és Patrimoni de la Humanitat per la UNESCO des de 1985.

 

La capella major era romànica en el seu origen, però fou reformada durant el barroc per ordre del nou mestre d'obres José Vega y Verdugo nomenat per Innocenci X. Conté a l'entrada púlpits renaixentistes a tots dos costats, amb escenes de la vida de l'apòstol realitzats per Juan Bautista Celma el 1578, un baldaquí del segle XVII, sostingut per àngels, i un cambril barroc. L'altar va ser construït per Domingo Antonio de Andrade sobre el sepulcre de l'apòstol i en ell s'hi van posar tres representacions de Santiago. Dintre del cambril hi ha una imatge de Sant Jaume sedent, de pedra policromada, del segle XIII vestit com a pelegrí amb una esclavina d'argent adornada amb gran pedreria, es pot pujar per la part posterior de l'altar per fer la tradicional abraçada al Sant. Sobre el tabernacle està representat Sant Jaume en una estàtua eqüestre i quatre reis li fan honors: Alfons II, Ramir I, Ferran el Catòlic i Felip IV. Finalment les representacions de les virtuts cardinals es troben una a cada angle, la Prudència, la Justícia, la Fortalesa i la Temprança. L'arquebisbe, d'origen mexicà, Antonio Monroy va ser el mecenes que va donar l'argent per a la construcció del frontal de l'altar, el sagrari, l'expositor i la imatge de la Immaculada.

 

Pàgina a la UNESCO World Heritage List.

 

A Google Maps.

Health and wellbeing are both determinants and consequences of economic progress. What are the challenges international companies are facing to keep their workforces healthy and engaged? What can companies do to nurture and support their science talent to develop solutions in this area?

Moderator : Eleanor Tabi Haller-Jorden

  

Speakers : Ana Margarida Setas-ferreira & Christine Schmatz

 

Ja estàvem a punt de marxar dels Aiguamolls, teníem gana,feia estona que caminàvem i ho havíem quasi corregut tot. Però, sempre queda l'última.

La veritat és que tot estava tranquil... molt tranquil... nosaltres contents, diria que fins i tot satisfets...

Alguns ànecs coll verds semblaven que es treien la mandra del cim... fent petits espectacles.... estaven lluny.

Com us deia, en una de les últimes, en un moment determinant, vaig poder captar aquesta... em va agradar el detall de les plomes i com s'aguanta al cim de l'aigua per uns instants....

Per cert ... heu fet bondat?. jejejejejejeje

Coles Bay.

Location: Tasmania, Australia.

Map: www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia/tasmania/

Population: 473.

Famous for: the main entrance point for visitors to the Freycinet National Park and its scenery and outdoor activities.

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Facts about Tasmania:

Named after: Abel Tasman (1603-1659), a Dutch explorer.

Names of the island:

- Anthoonij van Diemenslandt/Anthony van Diemen's Land in 1642-1803.

- Van Diemen's Land in 1803-1856.

- Tasmania in 1856-today.

Nickname: Tas, pronounced Taz, and known colloquially as Tassie.

Area: 26,410 sq mi - almost as large as Ireland (27,133 sq mi).

Ranked: as the 26th biggest island in the world.

Population: 512,000.

Capital: Hobart, 217 000 inhabitants.

Highest Mountain: Mount Ossa, 5,305 feet (1617 metres).

Most famous animal: The Tasmanian devil.

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History

 

33 000 BC-1642 AD

Tasmania was inhabited by an indigenous population, the Tasmanian Aborigines, for at least 35 000 ago. They arrived to Tasmania via a land bridge between the island and the mainland Australia during the last glacial period. The island is believed to have been joined to the mainland of Australia until the end of the last glacial period approximately 10,000 years ago. In 1990 AD, archaeologists excavated materials in the Warreen Cave in the Maxwell River valley of the southwest proving aboriginal occupation from as early as 34,000 BC making indigenous Tasmanians the southernmost population in the world during the Pleistocene era. The Pleistocene is the geological epoch which lasted from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the world's recent period of repeated glaciations.

 

Once the sea levels rose flooding the Bassian Plain, the people were left isolated from approximately 6,300 BC until the 17th century AD. The Aboriginal people who had migrated from mainland Australia became cut off from their cousins on the mainland. Because neither side had ocean sailing technology, the two groups were unable to maintain contact.

 

Some have claimed that because of the ocean divide, and unlike other populations around the world, the small population of Tasmania was not able to share any of the new technological advances being made by mainland groups such as barbed spears, bone tools of any kind, boomerangs, hooks, sewing, and the ability to start a fire thus making Aboriginal Tasmanians the simplest people on earth. It is claimed that they only possessed lit fires with the men entrusted in carrying embers from camp to camp for cooking and which could also be used to clear land and herd animals to aid in hunting practices. However, other scholars dispute that the Aboriginal Tasmanians did not have fire. A document from 1887 AD clearly describes fire lighting techniques used among Tasmanians. Another school of thought holds that because food was so abundant compared to mainland Australia, the Aboriginal people had no need for a better technology, pointing out that they did in fact originally possess bone tools which dropped out of use as the effort to make them began to exceed the benefit they provided.

 

It has been suggested that approximately 4,000 years ago, the Aboriginal Tasmanians largely dropped scaled fish from their diet and began eating more land mammals such as possums, kangaroos, and wallabies. They also switched from worked bone tools to sharpened stone tools. The significance of the disappearance of bone tools (believed to have been primarily used for fishing related activities) and fish in the diet is heavily debated. Some argue that it is evidence of a maladaptive society while others argue that the change was economic as large areas of scrub at that time were changing to grassland providing substantially increased food resources. Fish were never a large part of the diet, ranking behind shellfish and seals. Archaeological evidence indicates that around the time these changes took place the Tasmanian tribes began expanding their territories, a process that was still continuing when Europeans arrived.

 

Estimates made of the combined population of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania, before European arrival in Tasmania, are in the range of 3,000 to 15,000 people. Genetic studies have suggested much higher figures which is supported by oral traditions. A population as high as 100,000 can't be rejected out of hand. This is supported by carrying capacity data indicating greater resource productivity in Tasmania than the mainland. The Aboriginal Tasmanians were primarily nomadic people who lived in adjoining territories, moving based on seasonal changes in food supplies such as seafood, land mammals and native vegetables and berries. They socialised, intermarried and fought wars against other tribes.

 

The Paredarerme tribe (Oyster Bay) was estimated to be the largest Tasmanian tribe with ten bands totalling 700 to 800 people. The Paredarerme Tribe had good relations with the Big River tribe, with large congregations at favoured hunting sites inland and at the coast. Relations with the North Midlands tribe were mostly hostile. Generally, Paredarerme tribe bands migrated inland to the High Country for Spring and Summer and returned to the coast for Autumn and Winter, but not all people left their territory each year with some deciding to stay by the coast. Migrations provided a varied diet with plentiful seafood, seals and birds on the coast, and good hunting for kangaroos, wallabies and possums inland. The High Country also provided opportunities to trade for ochre with the North-west and North people, and to harvest intoxicating gum from Eucalyptus gunnii, found only on the plateau. The key determinant of camp sites was topography. The majority of camps were along river valleys, adjacent north facing hill slopes and on gentle slopes bordering a forest or marsh.

 

In 1642-1847

The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on 24 November 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (1603-1659), who named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt/Anthony van Diemen's Land after his sponsor, the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. The name was later shortened to Van Diemen's Land by the British. Tasman did not encounter any of the Tasmanian Aborigines when he landed in 1642. Abel Tasman was also the first known European expedition to reach New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands. His navigator François Visscher and his merchant Isaack Gilsemans mapped substantial portions of Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific Islands.

 

In 1772, a French exploratory expedition under Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne visited Tasmania. At first, contact with the Aborigines was friendly; however the Aborigines became alarmed when another boat was dispatched towards the shore. It was reported that spears and stones were thrown and the French responded with musket fire killing at least one Aborigine and wounding several others. The Resolution under the English Captain Tobias Furneaux, part of an expedition led by Captain James Cook, had visited in 1773 but made no contact with the Tasmanian Aborigines although he left gifts in unoccupied shelters found on Bruny Island. Tobias Furneaux was the first Englishman to land in Tasmania at Adventure Bay.

 

The first known British contact with the Tasmanian Aborigines was on Bruny Island by Captain Cook in 1777. The contact was peaceful. More extensive contact between Tasmanian Aborigines and Europeans resulted when British and American seal hunters began visiting the islands in Bass Strait as well as the northern and eastern coasts of Tasmania from the late 1790s on. Shortly thereafter, by about 1800, sealers were regularly left on uninhabited islands in Bass Strait during the sealing season from November to May. The sealers established semi-permanent camps or settlements on the islands, which were close enough for the sealers to reach the main island of Tasmania in small boats and so make contact with the Aboriginal Tasmanians. Trading relationships developed between sealers and Tasmanian Aboriginal tribes. Hunting dogs became highly prized by the Aboriginal people, as were other exotic items such as flour, tea and tobacco. The Aboriginal people traded kangaroo skins for such goods. However, a trade in Aboriginal women soon developed. Many Tasmanian Aboriginal women were highly skilled in hunting seals, as well as in obtaining other foods such as sea-birds, and some Tasmanian tribes would trade their services and, more rarely, those of Aboriginal men to the sealers for the seal-hunting season. Others were sold on a permanent basis. Sealers engaged in raids along the coasts to abduct Aboriginal women and were reported to have killed Aboriginal men in the process.

 

By 1810, seal numbers had been greatly reduced by hunting so most seal hunters abandoned the area. However a small number of sealers, approximately fifty mostly renegade sailors, escaped convicts or ex-convicts, remained as permanent residents of the Bass Strait islands and some established families with Tasmanian Aboriginal women. A shortage of women available in trade resulted in abduction becoming common and in 1830, it was reported that at least fifty Aboriginal women were kept in slavery on the Bass Strait islands. The raids for and trade in Aboriginal women contributed to the rapid depletion of the numbers of Aboriginal women in the northern areas of Tasmania. By 1830, only three women survived in northeast Tasmania among 72 men.

 

In 1803, the island was colonised by the British as a penal colony with the name Van Diemen's Land and became part of the British colony of New South Wales. By the time of European contact, the Aboriginal people in Tasmania had nine major ethnic groups. At the time of British settlement in 1803, the indigenous population was estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 people, but through persecution and disease much of the population was eradicated. Through the introduction of infectious diseases to which they had no immunity, war, persecution, and intermarriage, the population dwindled to 300 by 1833. In 1820, Tasmanian roads were first macadamised and carthorses began to replace bullocks. Van Diemen's Land was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales, with its own judicial establishment and Legislative Council, on 3 December 1825. The island was established as Van Diemen's Land in 1825. The demonym for Van Diemen's Land was Van Diemonian, though contemporaries used Vandemonian.

 

The Black War of 1828-1832 and the Black Line of 1830 were turning points in the relationship between the Tasmanian Aboriginals and European settlers. The Black War refers to the period of conflict between British colonists and Tasmanian Aborigines in the early nineteenth century. Many Tasmanian Aborigines were killed by the British in 1828-1832. In combination with epidemic impacts of introduced Eurasian infectious diseases, to which the Tasmanian Aborigines had no immunity, the conflict had such impact on the Tasmanian Aboriginal population that they were reported to have been exterminated. By 1876, the Tasmanian Aborigines with only Tasmanian Aborigine ancestors were commonly regarded as extinct and most of their culture and language lost to the world.

 

The Black Line was an event that occurred in 1830. After many years of conflict between British colonists and the Aborigines known as the Black War, Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur decided to remove all Aborigines from the settled areas in order to end the escalating raids upon settlers huts. He was also concerned to prevent the settlers from taking the law into their own hands and launching revenge attacks. To accomplish this, he called upon every able-bodied male colonist, convict or free, to form a human chain that then swept across the settled districts, moving south and east for several weeks in an attempt to corral the Aborigines on the Tasman Peninsula by closing off Eaglehawk Neck (the isthmus connecting the Tasman peninsula to the rest of the island) where Arthur hoped that they could live and maintain their culture and language. This action was only directed against Aborigines of the Big River and Oyster Bay tribes, since the conflict was only with these two tribes. The incident was seen as a costly fiasco since only two Aborigines were captured and three were killed. Even though many of the Aboriginal people managed to avoid capture during these events such as the Black War of 1828-1832 and the Black Line in 1830, they were shaken by the size of the campaigns against them. This brought them to a position whereby they were willing to surrender to Robinson and move to Flinders Island.

 

From 1830, small remnant groups surviving the Black War were relocated to Flinders Island and the Bass Strait Islands. Almost all of the indigenous population was relocated to Flinders Island by George Augustus Robinson. These 160 survivors were deemed to be safe from European settlers here, but conditions were poor and the relocation scheme was short lived. In 1847, after a campaign by the Aboriginal population against their Commandant, Henry Jeanneret, which involved a petition to Queen Victoria, the remaining 47 Aboriginals were again relocated, this time to Oyster Cove Station, an ex-convict settlement 35 miles south of Tasmania's capital, Hobart, where Truganini died in 1876. Truganini (1812–1876) is generally recognised as the last Tasmanian Aborigine with only Tasmanian Aborigine ancestors. Strong evidence suggests that the last survivor was another woman, Fanny Cochrane Smith (1834–1905), who was born at Wybalena and died in 1905. Today, Tasmanian Aboriginals have ancestors from Tasmanian Aboriginals and Europe, America or other parts of the world. A mixed European-Tasmanian descendants live on Flinders Island today. Much of their languages, local ecological knowledge and original cultures are now lost to Tasmania, perhaps with the exception of archaeological records plus historical records made at the time.

 

In 1800-1856

From the 1800s to the 1853 abolition of penal transportation, known simply as transportation, Van Diemen's Land was the primary penal colony for British convicts in Australia. Following the suspension of transportation to New South Wales, all transported British convicts were sent to Van Diemen's Land. In total, some 75,000 convicts were transported to Van Diemen's Land, or about 40% of all convicts sent to Australia. Male convicts served their sentences as assigned labour to free settlers or in gangs assigned to public works. Only the most difficult convicts, mostly re-offenders, were sent to the Tasman Peninsula prison known as Port Arthur. In 1856, the colony was granted responsible self-government with its own representative parliament, and the name of the island and colony was changed to Tasmania. The last penal settlement in Tasmania at Port Arthur finally closed in 1877.

 

In 1856-1901

The Colony of Tasmania, more commonly referred to simply as Tasmania, was a British colony that existed on the island of Tasmania from 1856 until 1901, when it federated together with the five other Australian colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia. The possibility of the colony was established when the Westminster Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Government Act 1850, granting the right of legislative power to each of the six Australian colonies. The Colony suffered from economic fluctuations, but for the most part was prosperous, experiencing steady growth. With few external threats and strong trade links with the Empire, the Colony of Tasmania enjoyed many fruitful periods in the late 19th century, becoming a world-centre of shipbuilding. It raised a local defence force which eventually played a significant role in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and Tasmanian soldiers in that conflict won the first two Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians. Tasmanians voted in favour of federation with the largest majority of all the Australian colonies, and on 1 January 1901 the Colony of Tasmania became the Australian state of Tasmania.

  

In 1890-today

In 1890: the University of Tasmania opened at the Domain.

In 1891: Apsley Railway opened.

In 1898: electric street lighting began in Hobart.

In 1901: became the Australian state of Tasmania.

In 1912: Norwegian Roald Amundsen, first man to reach South Pole, arrived in Hobart on return from Antarctic expedition.

In 1920: visited by Prince of Wales, future King Edward VIII.

In 1954: Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to visit the state, accompanied by Prince Phillip. As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations, she unveiled a monument to pioneer British settlers.

In 1980: Australian Maritime College opened at Beauty Point.

In 1986: archaeologists discovered Aboriginal rock paintings in South-West believed to be 20,000 years old.

In 2002: House and land boom began with East Coast blocks selling for almost three times the town's previous record.

In 2003: Tasmania's Mary Donaldson and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik were engaged. They married later.

In 2011: The Museum of Old and New Art, known as MONA, opened to the public. Within 12 months, MONA became Tasmania's top tourism attraction.

In 2012: a writer for the Lonely Planet series of travel guides ranked Hobart as number seven of top ten cities to visit in 2013, citing MONA as a major tourist attraction in a small city, similar to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

 

Maps

Map 1: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tasmania_in_Australia.svg

Map 2: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glamorgan_land_district_T...

Map 3: www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia/tasmania/

Map 4: www.colesbayretreat.com/tasmaniamap.pdf

 

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Sources:

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania

2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_by_area#Islands_25....

3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coles_Bay,_Tasmania

4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tasmania

5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Aborigines

6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bassian_plain_14000_BP.jpg

7. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_War

8. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Line

9. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Diemens_Land

10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Cochrane_Smith

The owner of the image above is Lc95.

Link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freycinet_Coles_Bay_Richt...

The image above is free for anyone to use for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

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The Postcard

 

A postally unused Post Office Picture Card Series. On the divided back of the card is printed:

 

'Children (United Nations Year

of the Child).

(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).

Reproduced from a stamp designed

by Edward Hughes ARCA FSIAD

and issued by the Post Office on the

18th. July 1979.

Postcard Price 8p.'

 

Charles Dodgson

 

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English writer of children's fiction, notably 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and its sequel 'Through the Looking-Glass'.

 

He was noted for his facility with word play, logic, and fantasy. The poems 'Jabberwocky' and 'The Hunting of the Snark' are classified in the genre of literary nonsense.

 

Charles was also a mathematician, photographer, inventor, and Anglican deacon.

 

Carroll came from a family of high-church Anglicans, and developed a long relationship with Christ Church, Oxford, where he lived for most of his life as a scholar and teacher.

 

Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, Henry Liddell, is widely identified as the original for Alice in Wonderland, though Carroll always denied this.

 

Scholars are divided about whether his relationship with children included an erotic component.

 

In 1982, a memorial stone to Carroll was unveiled in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey. There are Lewis Carroll societies in many parts of the world dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of his works.

 

-- Charles Dodgson - The Early Years

 

Dodgson's family was predominantly northern English, conservative and high-church Anglican. Most of Dodgson's male ancestors were army officers or Church of England clergy.

 

His paternal grandfather Charles Dodgson had been an army captain, killed in action in Ireland in 1803 when his two sons were hardly more than babies. The older of these sons – yet another Charles Dodgson – was Carroll's father. He went to Westminster School and then to Christ Church, Oxford.

 

Lewis Carroll's father reverted to the other family tradition and took holy orders. He was mathematically gifted, and won a double first degree, which could have been the prelude to a brilliant academic career. Instead, he married his first cousin Frances Jane Lutwidge in 1830 and became a country parson.

 

Dodgson was born on the 27th. January 1832 in All Saints' Vicarage at Daresbury, Cheshire, the eldest boy and the third child. Eight more children followed. When Charles was 11, his father was given the living of Croft-on-Tees in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and the whole family moved to the spacious rectory. This remained their home for the next 25 years.

 

Charles's father was an active and highly conservative cleric of the Church of England who later became the Archdeacon of Richmond and involved himself in the intense religious disputes that were dividing the church. He was high church, inclining toward Anglo-Catholicism. Young Charles was to develop an ambivalent relationship with his father's values, and with the Church of England as a whole.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Education

 

During his early youth, Dodgson was educated at home. His "reading lists" preserved in the family archives testify to a precocious intellect: at the age of seven, he was reading books such as The Pilgrim's Progress.

 

He also spoke with a stammer - a condition shared by most of his siblings - that often inhibited his social life throughout his years. At the age of twelve he was sent to Richmond Grammar School in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

 

-- Charles Dodgson at Rugby

 

In 1846, Dodgson entered Rugby School where he was evidently unhappy, as he wrote some years after leaving:

 

"I cannot say that any earthly considerations would

induce me to go through my three years again. I can

honestly say that if I could have been secure from

annoyance at night, the hardships of the daily life

would have been comparative trifles to bear."

 

Dodgson did not claim he suffered from bullying, but cited little boys as the main targets of older bullies at Rugby. Stuart Dodgson Collingwood, who was Dodgson's nephew, wrote that:

 

"Even though it is hard for those who have only

known him as the gentle and retiring don to

believe it, it is nevertheless true that long after

he left school, his name was remembered as that

of a boy who knew well how to use his fists in

defence of a righteous cause, which was the

protection of the smaller boys."

 

Scholastically, though, he excelled with apparent ease. Mathematics master R. B. Mayor observed:

 

"I have not had a more promising boy

at his age since I came to Rugby."

 

The mathematics textbook that the young Dodgson used was

Francis Walkingame's 'The Tutor's Assistant; Being a Compendium of Arithmetic.' It still survives and contains an inscription in Latin, which translates as:

 

"This book belongs to Charles

Lutwidge Dodgson: hands off!"

 

Some pages also included annotations such as the one found on page 129, where he wrote "Not a fair question in decimals" next to a question.

 

-- Charles Dodgson at Oxford

 

Charles left Rugby at the end of 1849 and matriculated at the University of Oxford in May 1850 as a member of his father's old college, Christ Church.

 

He went into residence in January 1851. He had been at Oxford only two days when he received a summons home. His mother had died of "inflammation of the brain" - perhaps meningitis or a stroke - at the age of 47.

 

Charles' early academic career veered between high promise and irresistible distraction. He did not always work hard, but was exceptionally gifted, and achievement came easily to him.

 

In 1852, he obtained first-class honours in Mathematics Moderations, and was shortly thereafter nominated to a Studentship by his father's old friend Canon Edward Pusey.

 

In 1854, he obtained first-class honours in the Final Honours School of Mathematics, standing first on the list, graduating Bachelor of Arts. He remained at Christ Church studying and teaching, but the next year he failed an important scholarship through his self-confessed inability to apply himself to study.

 

Even so, his talent as a mathematician won him the Christ Church Mathematical Lectureship in 1855, which he continued to hold for the next 26 years. Despite early unhappiness,

 

Dodgson was to remain at Christ Church, in various capacities, until his death, including that of Sub-Librarian of the Christ Church library, where his office was close to the Deanery, where Alice Liddell lived.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Health Issues

 

As a very young child, Charles suffered a fever that left him deaf in one ear. At the age of 17, he suffered a severe attack of whooping cough, which was probably responsible for his chronically weak chest in later life. In early childhood, he acquired a stammer, which he referred to as his "hesitation"; it remained throughout his life.

 

The young adult Charles Dodgson was about 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and slender, with curly brown hair and blue or grey eyes (depending on the account). He was described in later life as somewhat asymmetrical, and as carrying himself rather stiffly and awkwardly, although this might be on account of a knee injury sustained in middle age.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Stammer

 

The stammer has always been a significant part of the image of Dodgson. While one apocryphal story says that he stammered only in adult company and was free and fluent with children, there is no evidence to support this idea. Many children of his acquaintance remembered the stammer, while many adults failed to notice it.

 

Dodgson himself seems to have been far more acutely aware of it than most people whom he met; it is said that he caricatured himself as the Dodo in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, referring to his difficulty in pronouncing his last name, but this is one of the many supposed facts often repeated for which no first-hand evidence remains.

 

He did indeed refer to himself as the dodo, but whether or not this reference was to his stammer is simply speculation.

 

Dodgson's stammer did trouble him, but it was never so debilitating that it prevented him from applying his other personal qualities to do well in society. He lived in a time when people commonly devised their own amusements, and when singing and recitation were required social skills, the young Dodgson was well equipped to be an engaging entertainer.

 

He reportedly could sing tolerably well, and was not afraid to do so before an audience. He was adept at mimicry and storytelling, and was reputedly quite good at charades.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Social Connections

 

In the interim between his early published writings and the success of the Alice books, Dodgson began to move in the pre-Raphaelite social circle. He first met John Ruskin in 1857 and became friendly with him.

 

Around 1863, he developed a close relationship with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his family. He would often take pictures of the family in the garden of the Rossetti's house in Chelsea. He also knew William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, among other artists.

 

Charles knew fairy-tale author George MacDonald well - in fact it was the enthusiastic reception of Alice by the young MacDonald children that persuaded him to submit the work for publication.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Politics, Religion, and Philosophy

 

In broad terms, Dodgson has traditionally been regarded as politically, religiously, and personally conservative. Martin Gardner labelled Dodgson as:

 

"A Tory who was awed by lords and

inclined to be snobbish towards

inferiors".

 

The Reverend W. Tuckwell, in his Reminiscences of Oxford (1900), regarded him as:

 

"Austere, shy, precise, absorbed in mathematical

reverie, watchfully tenacious of his dignity, stiffly

conservative in political, theological, social theory,

his life mapped out in squares like Alice's landscape".

 

Dodgson was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England on the 22nd. December 1861. In 'The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll', the editor states that:

 

"His Diary is full of such modest depreciations of

himself and his work, interspersed with earnest

prayers (too sacred and private to be reproduced

here) that God would forgive him the past, and

help him to perform His holy will in the future."

 

When a friend asked him in 1897 about his religious views, Dodgson wrote in response that he was a member of the Church of England, but doubted if he was fully a 'High Churchman'. He added:

 

"I believe that when you and I come to lie down

for the last time, if only we can keep firm hold of

the great truths Christ taught us - our own utter

worthlessness and His infinite worth; and that He

has brought us back to our one Father, and made

us His brethren, and so brethren to one another -

we shall have all we need to guide us through the

shadows.

Most assuredly I accept to the full the doctrines

you refer to - that Christ died to save us, that we

have no other way of salvation open to us but

through His death, and that it is by faith in Him,

and through no merit of ours, that we are

reconciled to God; and most assuredly I can

cordially say I owe all to Him who loved me, and

died on the Cross of Calvary."

 

Dodgson also expressed interest in other fields. He was an early member of the Society for Psychical Research, and one of his letters suggests that he accepted as real what was then called 'thought reading.'

 

In 1895, Charles developed an argument on deductive reasoning in his article 'What the Tortoise Said to Achilles', which appeared in one of the early volumes of Mind. The article was reprinted in the same journal a hundred years later in 1995, with a subsequent article by Simon Blackburn entitled 'Practical Tortoise Raising.'

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Literary and Artistic Activities

 

From a young age, Dodgson wrote poetry and short stories, contributing heavily to the family magazine Mischmasch and later sending them to various magazines, enjoying moderate success.

 

Some time after 1850, he wrote puppet plays for his siblings' entertainment, of which one has survived: 'La Guida di Bragia'.

 

Between 1854 and 1856, his work appeared in the national publications The Comic Times and The Train, as well as smaller magazines such as the Whitby Gazette and the Oxford Critic. Most of this output was humorous, sometimes satirical, but his standards and ambitions were exacting. In July 1855 he wrote:

 

"I do not think I have yet written anything

worthy of real publication (in which I do not

include the Whitby Gazette or the Oxonian

Advertiser), but I do not despair of doing

so someday."

 

In March 1856, he published his first piece of work under the name that would make him famous. A romantic poem called 'Solitude' appeared in The Train under the authorship of 'Lewis Carroll.'

 

This pseudonym was a play on his real name: Lewis was the anglicised form of Ludovicus, which was the Latin for Lutwidge, and Carroll an Irish surname similar to the Latin name Carolus, from which comes the name Charles. The pseudonym was chosen by editor Edmund Yates from a list of four submitted by Dodgson, the others being Edgar Cuthwellis, Edgar U. C. Westhill, and Louis Carroll.

 

-- The Alice Books

 

In 1856, Dean Henry Liddell arrived at Christ Church, bringing with him his young family, all of whom would figure largely in Dodgson's life over the following years, and would greatly influence his writing career.

 

Dodgson became close friends with Liddell's wife Lorina and their children, particularly the three sisters Lorina, Edith, and Alice Liddell.

 

Charles was widely assumed for many years to have derived his own 'Alice' from Alice Liddell; the acrostic poem at the end of Through the Looking-Glass spells out her name in full, and there are also many superficial references to her hidden in the text of both books.

 

Dodgson himself repeatedly denied in later life that his 'little heroine' was based on any real child, and he frequently dedicated his works to girls of his acquaintance, adding their names in acrostic poems at the beginning of the text.

 

Gertrude Chataway's name appears in this form at the beginning of The Hunting of the Snark, and it is not suggested that this means that any of the characters in the narrative are based on her.

 

Information is scarce (Dodgson's diaries for the years 1858–1862 are missing), but it seems clear that his friendship with the Liddell family was an important part of his life in the late 1850's, and he grew into the habit of taking the children on rowing trips (first the boy Harry, and later the three girls) accompanied by an adult friend to nearby Nuneham Courtenay or Godstow.

 

It was on one such expedition on the 4th. July 1862 that Dodgson invented the outline of the story that eventually became his first and greatest commercial success. He told the story to Alice Liddell, and she begged him to write it down, and Dodgson eventually (after much delay) presented her with a handwritten, illustrated manuscript entitled 'Alice's Adventures Under Ground' in November 1864.

 

Before this, the family of friend and mentor George MacDonald read Dodgson's incomplete manuscript, and the enthusiasm of the MacDonald children encouraged Dodgson to seek publication. In 1863, he took the unfinished manuscript to Macmillan the publisher, who liked it immediately.

 

After possible alternative titles were rejected - 'Alice Among the Fairies' and 'Alice's Golden Hour' - the work was finally published as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1865 under the Lewis Carroll pen-name, which Dodgson had first used some nine years earlier.

 

The illustrations were by Sir John Tenniel; Dodgson evidently thought that a published book would need the skills of a professional artist. Annotated versions provide insights into many of the ideas and hidden meanings that are prevalent in these books.[ Critical literature has often proposed Freudian interpretations of the book as "a descent into the dark world of the subconscious", as well as seeing it as a satire upon contemporary mathematical advances.

 

The overwhelming commercial success of the first Alice book changed Dodgson's life in many ways. The fame of his alter ego Lewis Carroll soon spread around the world. He was inundated with fan mail, and with sometimes unwanted attention.

 

Indeed, according to one popular story, Queen Victoria herself enjoyed Alice in Wonderland so much that she commanded that he dedicate his next book to her, and was accordingly presented with his next work, a scholarly mathematical volume entitled 'An Elementary Treatise on Determinants.'

 

Dodgson himself vehemently denied this story, commenting:

 

"It is utterly false in every particular:

nothing even resembling it has

occurred."

 

It is also unlikely for other reasons. As T. B. Strong commented in a Times article:

 

"It would have been clean contrary to all

his practice to identify the author of Alice

with the author of his mathematical works".

 

Although Charles began earning quite substantial sums of money, he continued with his seemingly disliked post at Christ Church.

 

Late in 1871, he published the sequel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Its somewhat darker mood possibly reflects changes in Dodgson's life. His father's death in 1868 plunged him into a depression that lasted some years.

 

-- The Hunting of the Snark

 

In 1876, Dodgson produced his next great work, The Hunting of the Snark, a fantastical 'nonsense' poem, with illustrations by Henry Holiday, exploring the adventures of a bizarre crew of nine tradesmen and one beaver, who set off to find the snark.

 

It received largely mixed reviews from Carroll's contemporary reviewers, but was enormously popular with the public, having been reprinted seventeen times between 1876 and 1908. It has seen various adaptations into musicals, opera, theatre, plays and music. Painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti reputedly became convinced that the poem was about him.

 

-- Sylvie and Bruno

 

In 1895, 30 years after the publication of his masterpieces, Carroll attempted a comeback, producing a two-volume tale of the fairy siblings Sylvie and Bruno. Carroll entwines two plots set in two alternative worlds, one set in rural England and the other in the fairytale kingdoms of Elfland, Outland, and others.

 

The fairytale world satirises English society, and more specifically the world of academia. Sylvie and Bruno came out in two volumes and is considered a lesser work, although it has remained in print for over a century.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Photography (1856–1880)

 

In 1856, Dodgson took up the new art form of photography under the influence first of his uncle Skeffington Lutwidge, and later of his Oxford friend Reginald Southey. He soon excelled at the art, and became a well-known gentleman-photographer. Charles even toyed with the idea of making a living out of it in his early years.

 

A study by Roger Taylor and Edward Wakeling exhaustively lists every surviving print, and Taylor calculates that just over half of his surviving work depicts young girls, though about 60% of his original photographic portfolio is now missing.

 

Dodgson also made many studies of men, women, boys, and landscapes; his subjects also include skeletons, dolls, dogs, statues, paintings, and trees. His pictures of children were taken with a parent in attendance, and many of the pictures were taken in the Liddell garden because natural sunlight was required for good exposures.

 

Charles also found photography to be a useful entrée into higher social circles. During the most productive part of his career, he made portraits of notable sitters such as John Everett Millais, Ellen Terry, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Michael Faraday, Lord Salisbury, and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

 

By the time that Dodgson abruptly ceased photography in 1880, over 24 years), he had established his own studio on the roof of Tom Quad. Over the course of 24 years he created around 3,000 images, and was an amateur master of the medium, although fewer than 1,000 images have survived time and deliberate destruction.

 

Charles stopped taking photographs because keeping his studio working was too time-consuming. He used the wet collodion process; commercial photographers who started using the dry-plate process in the 1870's took pictures more quickly.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Inventions

 

In order to promote letter writing, Dodgson invented "The Wonderland Postage-Stamp Case" in 1889. This was a cloth-backed folder with twelve slots, two marked for inserting the most commonly used penny stamp, and one each for the other current denominations up to one shilling.

 

The folder was then put into a slipcase decorated with a picture of Alice on the front, and the Cheshire Cat on the back. It was intended to organize stamps wherever writing utensils were stored. Carroll expressly noted in 'Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing' that it was not intended to be carried in a pocket or purse, as individual stamps could easily be carried on their own. The pack included a copy of a pamphlet version of this lecture.

 

Another invention was a writing tablet called the nyctograph that allowed note-taking in the dark, thus eliminating the need to get out of bed and strike a light when one woke with an idea. The device consisted of a gridded card with sixteen squares and a system of symbols representing an alphabet of Dodgson's design, using letter shapes similar to the Graffiti writing system on a Palm device.

 

Charles also devised a number of games, including an early version of what today is known as Scrabble. He appears to have invented - or at least certainly popularised - the 'doublet', a form of brain-teaser that is still popular today, changing one word into another by altering one letter at a time, each successive change always resulting in a genuine word.

 

The games and puzzles of Lewis Carroll were the subject of Martin Gardner's March 1960 Mathematical Games column in Scientific American.

 

Charles' other inventions include:

 

-- A rule for finding the day of the week for any date

-- A a means for justifying right margins on a typewriter

-- A steering device for a velociam (a type of tricycle)

-- Fairer elimination rules for tennis tournaments

-- A new type of postal money order

-- Rules for reckoning postage

-- Rules for a win in betting

-- Rules for dividing a number by various divisors

-- A cardboard scale for the Senior Common Room at Christ Church which, held next to a glass, ensured the right amount of liqueur for the price paid

-- A double-sided adhesive strip to fasten envelopes or mount things in books

-- A device for helping a bedridden invalid to read from a book placed sideways

-- At least two ciphers for cryptography.

 

Charles also proposed alternative systems of parliamentary representation. He proposed the so-called Dodgson's method. In 1884, he proposed a proportional representation system based on multi-member districts, each voter casting only a single vote, quotas as minimum requirements to take seats, and votes transferable by candidates through what is now called Liquid democracy.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Mathematical Work

 

Within the academic discipline of mathematics, Dodgson worked primarily in the fields of geometry, linear and matrix algebra, mathematical logic, and recreational mathematics, producing nearly a dozen books under his real name.

 

Dodgson also developed new ideas in probability and linear algebra (e.g., the first printed proof of the Kronecker–Capelli theorem). He also researched the process of elections and committees; some of this work was not published until well after his death.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Mathematical Logic

 

Charles' work in the field of mathematical logic attracted renewed interest in the late 20th. century. Martin Gardner's book on logic machines and diagrams, and William Warren Bartley's posthumous publication of the second part of Dodgson's symbolic logic book have sparked a re-evaluation of Dodgson's contributions to symbolic logic.

 

In his Symbolic Logic Part II, Dodgson introduced the Method of Trees, the earliest modern use of a truth tree.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Algebra

 

Robbins' and Rumsey's investigation of Dodgson condensation, a method of evaluating determinants, led them to the alternating sign matrix conjecture, which is now a theorem.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Recreational Mathematics

 

The discovery in the 1990's of additional ciphers that Dodgson had constructed, in addition to his 'Memoria Technica', showed that he had employed sophisticated mathematical ideas in their creation.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Correspondence

 

Dodgson wrote and received as many as 98,721 letters, according to a special letter register which he devised. He documented his advice about how to write more satisfying letters in a missive entitled 'Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing'.

 

-- Charles Dodgson - The Later Years

 

Dodgson's existence remained little changed over the final twenty years of his life, despite his growing wealth and fame. He continued to teach at Christ Church until 1881, and remained in residence there until his death.

 

Public appearances included attending the West End musical Alice in Wonderland (the first major live production of his Alice books) at the Prince of Wales Theatre on the 30th. December 1886.

 

The two volumes of his last novel, Sylvie and Bruno, were published in 1889 and 1893, but the intricacy of this work was apparently not appreciated by contemporary readers; it achieved nothing like the success of the Alice books, with disappointing reviews and sales of only 13,000 copies.

 

The only known occasion on which Charles travelled abroad was a trip to Russia in 1867 as an ecclesiastic, together with the Reverend Henry Liddon. He recounts the travel in his 'Russian Journal', which was first commercially published in 1935.

 

-- The Death of Charles Dodgson

 

Dodgson died of pneumonia following influenza on the 14th. January 1898 at his sisters' home, 'The Chestnuts', in Guildford, Surrey, just four days before the death of Henry Liddell. Charles was two weeks away from turning 66 years old.

 

His funeral service was held at the nearby St. Mary's Church, and he was laid to rest at the Mount Cemetery in Guildford.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Sexuality

 

Some late twentieth-century biographers have suggested that Dodgson's interest in children had an erotic element, including Morton N. Cohen in his 1995 book 'Lewis Carroll: A Biography.'

 

Cohen, speculates that:

 

"Dodgson's sexual energies sought unconventional

outlets.

We cannot know to what extent sexual urges lay

behind Charles's preference for drawing and

photographing children in the nude. He contended

the preference was entirely aesthetic. But given his

emotional attachment to children as well as his

aesthetic appreciation of their forms, his assertion

that his interest was strictly artistic is naïve.

He probably felt more than he dared acknowledge,

even to himself."

 

Cohen goes on to note that:

 

"Dodgson apparently convinced many of his friends

that his attachment to the nude female child form

was free of any eroticism, however later generations

look beneath the surface."

 

He argues that Dodgson may have wanted to marry the 11-year-old Alice Liddell, and that this was the cause of the unexplained "break" with the family in June 1863, an event for which other explanations are offered.

 

Biographers Derek Hudson and Roger Lancelyn Green stop short of identifying Dodgson as a paedophile (Green also edited Dodgson's diaries and papers), but they concur that he had a passion for small female children and next to no interest in the adult world. Catherine Robson refers to Carroll as:

 

"The Victorian era's most

famous (or infamous) girl

lover".

 

Several other writers and scholars have challenged the evidential basis for Cohen's and others' views about Dodgson's sexual interests. Hugues Lebailly has endeavoured to set Dodgson's child photography within the "Victorian Child Cult", which perceived child nudity as essentially an expression of innocence.

 

Lebailly claims that studies of child nudes were mainstream and fashionable in Dodgson's time, and that most photographers made them as a matter of course. Lebailly states that child nudes even appeared on Victorian Christmas cards, implying a very different social and aesthetic assessment of such material.

 

Lebailly concludes that it has been an error of Dodgson's biographers to view his child-photography with 20th.- or 21st.-century eyes, and to have presented it as some form of personal idiosyncrasy, when it was consistent with the norms of the time.

 

Karoline Leach's re-appraisal of Dodgson focused on his controversial sexuality. She argues that the allegations of paedophilia rose initially from a misunderstanding of Victorian morals, as well as the mistaken idea - fostered by Dodgson's various biographers - that he had no interest in adult women.

 

Leach termed the traditional image of Dodgson "the Carroll Myth". She drew attention to the large amounts of evidence in his diaries and letters that he was also keenly interested in adult women, married and single, and enjoyed several relationships with them that would have been considered scandalous by the social standards of his time.

 

She also pointed to the fact that many of those whom he described as "child-friends" were girls in their late teens and even twenties. She argues that suggestions of paedophilia emerged only many years after his death, when his well-meaning family had suppressed all evidence of his relationships with women in an effort to preserve his reputation, thus giving a false impression of a man interested only in little girls.

 

Similarly, Leach points to a 1932 biography by Langford Reed as the source of the dubious claim that many of Carroll's female friendships ended when the girls reached the age of 14.

 

In addition to the biographical works that have discussed Dodgson's sexuality, there are modern artistic interpretations of his life and work that do so as well – in particular, Dennis Potter in his play 'Alice' and his screenplay for the motion picture 'Dreamchild', and Robert Wilson in his musical 'Alice'.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Ordination

 

Dodgson had been groomed for the ordained ministry in the Church of England from a very early age, and was expected to be ordained within four years of obtaining his master's degree, as a condition of his residency at Christ Church.

 

Charles delayed the process for some time, but was eventually ordained as a deacon on the 22nd. December 1861. But when the time came a year later to be ordained as a priest, Dodgson appealed to the dean for permission not to proceed.

 

This was against college rules and, initially, Dean Liddell told him that he would have to consult the college ruling body, which would almost certainly have resulted in his being expelled.

 

However for unknown reasons, Liddell changed his mind overnight, and permitted him to remain at the college in defiance of the rules. Dodgson never became a priest, unique amongst senior students of his time.

 

There is no conclusive evidence about why Dodgson rejected the priesthood. Some have suggested that his stammer made him reluctant because he was afraid of having to preach. Wilson quotes letters by Dodgson describing difficulty in reading lessons and prayers rather than preaching in his own words.

 

However Dodgson did indeed preach in later life, even though not in priest's orders, so it seems unlikely that his impediment was a major factor affecting his choice.

 

Wilson also points out that the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, who ordained Dodgson, had strong views against clergy going to the theatre, one of Dodgson's great interests. Charles was interested in minority forms of Christianity (he was an admirer of F. D. Maurice) and "alternative" religions such as theosophy.

 

Dodgson became deeply troubled by an unexplained sense of sin and guilt at this time (the early 1860's), and frequently expressed the view in his diaries that he was a "vile and worthless" sinner, unworthy of the priesthood. This feeling of sin and unworthiness may well have affected his decision to abandon being ordained into the priesthood.

 

-- The Missing Diaries

 

At least four complete volumes and around seven pages of text are missing from Dodgson's 13 diaries. The loss of the volumes remains unexplained; the pages have been removed by an unknown hand.

 

Most scholars assume that the diary material was removed by family members in the interests of preserving the family name, but this has not been proven. Except for one page, material is missing from his diaries for the period between 1853 and 1863 (when Dodgson was 21–31 years old).

 

This was a period when Dodgson began suffering great mental and spiritual anguish, and confessing to an overwhelming sense of his own sin. This was also the period of time when he composed his extensive love poetry, leading to speculation that the poems may have been autobiographical.

 

Many theories have been put forward to explain the missing material. A popular explanation for one missing page (27th. June 1863) is that it might have been torn out to conceal a proposal of marriage on that day to the 11-year-old Alice Liddell.

 

However, there has never been any evidence to suggest that this was so, and a paper offers some evidence to the contrary which was discovered by Karoline Leach in the Dodgson family archive in 1996.

 

This paper is known as the "Cut Pages in Diary" document, and was compiled by various members of Carroll's family after his death. Part of it may have been written at the time when the pages were destroyed, though this is unclear.

 

The document offers a brief summary of two diary pages that are missing, including the one for the 27th. June 1863. The summary for this page states that Mrs. Liddell told Dodgson that there was gossip circulating about him and the Liddell family's governess, as well as about his relationship with "Ina", presumably Alice's older sister Lorina Liddell.

 

The "break" with the Liddell family that occurred soon after was presumably in response to this gossip. An alternative interpretation has been made regarding Carroll's rumoured involvement with "Ina": Lorina was also the name of Alice Liddell's mother.

 

What is deemed most crucial and surprising is that the document seems to imply that Dodgson's break with the family was not connected with Alice at all; until a primary source is discovered, the events of the 27th. June 1863 will remain in doubt.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Migraine and Epilepsy

 

In his diary for 1880, Dodgson recorded experiencing his first episode of migraine with aura, describing very accurately the process of "moving fortifications" that are a manifestation of the aura stage of the syndrome.

 

Unfortunately, there is no clear evidence to show whether this was his first experience of migraine per se, or whether he may have previously suffered the far more common form of migraine without aura. The latter seems most likely, given that migraine most commonly develops in the teens or early adulthood.

 

Another form of migraine aura called Alice in Wonderland syndrome has been named after Dodgson's little heroine because its manifestation can resemble the sudden size-changes in the book. It is also known as micropsia and macropsia, a brain condition affecting the way that objects are perceived.

 

For example, an afflicted person may look at a larger object such as a basketball and perceive it as if it were the size of a golf ball. Some authors have suggested that Dodgson may have suffered from this type of aura, and used it as an inspiration in his work, although there is no evidence that he did.

 

Dodgson also suffered two attacks in which he lost consciousness.They were diagnosed as "epileptiform" seizures. Some have concluded from this that he was a lifetime sufferer of this condition, but there is no evidence of this in his diaries beyond these two attacks.

 

Sadi Ranson has suggested that Carroll may have suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy, in which consciousness is not always completely lost but altered, and in which the symptoms mimic many of the same experiences as Alice in Wonderland.

 

Carroll had at least one incident in which he suffered full loss of consciousness and awoke with a bloody nose, which he recorded in his diary and noted that the episode left him not feeling himself for "quite sometime afterward". This attack was diagnosed as possibly "epileptiform" and Carroll himself later wrote of his "seizures" in the same diary.

 

Most of the standard diagnostic tests of today were not available in the nineteenth century. Yvonne Hart, consultant neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, has concluded that Dodgson very likely had migraine, and may have had epilepsy, but she emphasises that she would have considerable doubt about making a diagnosis of epilepsy without further information.

 

-- Charles Dodgson's Legacy

 

There are societies in many parts of the world dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of Charles' works and the investigation of his life.

 

Copenhagen Street in Islington, north London is the location of the Lewis Carroll Children's Library.

 

In 1982, Charles' great-nephew unveiled a memorial stone to him in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.

 

In January 1994, an asteroid, 6984 Lewiscarroll, was discovered and named after Carroll.

 

The Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood near his birthplace in Daresbury opened in 2000.

 

Born in All Saints' Vicarage, Daresbury, Cheshire, in 1832, Lewis Carroll is commemorated at All Saints' Church, Daresbury in its stained glass windows depicting characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In March 2012, the Lewis Carroll Centre, attached to the church, was opened.

 

La catedral de Santiago de Compostel·la (en gallec, catedral de Santiago de Compostela) està acull el que, segons la tradició, és el sepulcre de l'apòstol Sant Jaume, i això va convertir el temple en un dels principals destins de pelegrinatge d'Europa durant l'edat mitjana mitjançant l'anomenat Camí de Sant Jaume, una ruta iniciàtica en què se seguia les petjades de la Via Làctia comunicant la península Ibèrica amb la resta del continent. Això va ser determinant perquè els regnes hispànics medievals participessin en els moviments culturals de l'època. Actualment continua sent un important destí de pelegrinatge. Un privilegi concedit el 1122 pel papa Calixt II va declarar que serien «Any Sant Jubilar» a Compostel·la, tots els anys en què el dia 25 de juliol, dia de sant Jaume, coincidís amb diumenge. Va ser confirmat pel papa Alexandre III a la seva butlla "Regis aeterni" datada el 1179.

 

El nucli antic de Santiago de Compostel·la és Patrimoni de la Humanitat per la UNESCO des de 1985.

 

La façana de Praterías és la façana meridional del creuer de la catedral de Santiago de Compostel·la i és l'única façana romànica que es conserva a la catedral. Es va edificar entre 1103 i 1117 i durant els segles següents se li han anat afegint elements procedents d'altres llocs de la catedral.

 

Consta de dues portes d'entrada en degradació amb arquivoltes i timpans. Les arquivoltes són sobre onze columnes adossades, tres són de marbre blanc (la central i les extremes) i la resta de granit. A la central apareixen les figures de dotze profetes i a les laterals els apòstols. Sobre els timpans s'hi troba un gran fris que se separa del cos superior per una franja sostinguda per permòdols grotescs, en aquest pis s'hi troben dues finestres que estan adornades per arquivoltes romàniques.

 

Al fris central, s'hi troba Crist, amb personatges i escenes vàries, a la seva dreta les sis figures que es veuen pertanyen al cor del "Maestro Mateo" que van ser col·locades allà a la fi del segle XIX. La disposició original dels elements iconogràfics va quedar desvirtuada des que en el segle XVIII van ser allotjades aquí nombroses imatges recuperades de la desmantellada façana d'"Azabacherías". En un medalló central apareix el Pare Etern (o la Transfiguració), amb les mans obertes i sobre els arcs a l'extradós quatre àngels amb trompetes que anuncien el Judici Final.

 

Al timpà de la porta esquerra apareix Crist temptat per un grup de dimonis. A la dreta apareix una dona a mig vestir amb una calavera a les mans, que pot ser Eva o la dona adúltera. Als brancals apareixen Sant Andreu i Moisès. Al contrafort esquerre, el bíblic rei David assegut en el seu tron amb una cama damunt l'altra, traslluïdes a través de la fina tela de la seva roba i tocant una viola, personifica el triomf sobre el mal sent una obra destacada del romànic esculpida pel "Maestro de las Platerías o Maestro Esteban"; la creació d'Adam i Crist beneint. Moltes d'aquestes figures procedeixen de la façana romànica nord o del Paradís (actual façana de l'"Azabachería") i van ser col·locades en aquesta façana al segle XVIII.

 

Al timpà de la porta dreta apareixen diverses escenes de la passió de Crist i de l'Adoració dels Mags. En un dels brancals apareix la inscripció que commemora la col·locació de la primera pedra:

 

ERA / IC / XVI / V IDUS / JULLII

 

(Inscripció que segueix el Calendari romà i, segons el còmput de l'anomenada Era Hispànica, correspon a l'11 de juliol de 1078.)

 

Una imatge, no identificada, sobre un guillot que engoleix una llebre i, enfront d'aquesta, una dona mal vestida amb un animal a la falda, procedeixen d'un altre lloc. Recolzades al mur de la "torre de la Berenguela" apareixen d'altres imatges que representen la creació d'Eva, Crist en un tron i el sacrifici d'Isaac.

 

Pàgina a la UNESCO World Heritage List.

 

Aquesta imatge ha jugat a En un lugar de Flickr.

 

A Google Maps.

Health and wellbeing are both determinants and consequences of economic progress. What are the challenges international companies are facing to keep their workforces healthy and engaged? What can companies do to nurture and support their science talent to develop solutions in this area?

Moderator : Eleanor Tabi Haller-Jorden

  

Speakers : Ana Margarida Setas-ferreira & Christine Schmatz

 

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

On 21 January 1968 all hell broke loose, on a northern outpost, on the outskirts of the airbase, that controls the route around it the Vietcong guerrilla blew a hole on the outer wall debris came flying by and the Marines rushed out to fire at the enemy. The fight went on that would be determinant in the Tet Offensive. The Marines resisted during many days. But the end of this offensive marked a change in this terrible war.

 

Ok, this is slightly based on the scene from Stanley Kubrik's "Full Metal Jacket" in which the the airbase is attacked and they rush out to defend it.

 

I used some of the new pieces I got in this build and without these I wouldn't have been able to make this this big.

 

Please favorite and comment as much as you'd like :)

 

It's been a long time since a I last uploaded so it would mean a lot :)

 

Thanks,

 

Pedro.

I showered got dressed and left barefeet to shoot the Bakra Eid Namaz at Bandra Station at 7 am .Last time I shot the Eid Ul Zuha namaz from down below as over the years I had been shooting from the Bandra skywalk..

This time I thought of using my 55 -250 lens from above the skywalk.

 

When I reached the skywalk there was just one photographer , he said Hello to me and he was from Girish Mistrys Shari Academy .. His name was Amit , I told him that I had made Girish Mistrys wedding wardrobe and we shared a great relationship.. I told Amit if the cops hassled him to tell them he was with me as all the Bandra cops know me and I always carry my Press Card.It was Amit who took this shot of the iconoclastic Beggar Poet Of Bandra .

 

As soon as the Namaz was to end we both came down below , my good friend Satish Malavade was there too..After shooting the namaz the beggars I cut through the Bandra Slaughter House slums and took shots of the Eid Namaz in the slum lane.

 

Normally I shoot the slaughter of goats bulls etc but this time I have decided to cut own on my blood shots ..I shall make up for it shooting Moharam Ashura in Hyderabad .

 

This is my new set at Flickr.

 

About Eid Ul Adha

From Wikipedia

Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ʿīd al-aḍḥā [ʕiːd ælˈʔɑdˤħæ] meaning "Festival of the sacrifice"), also called the Feast of the Sacrifice (Turkish: Kurban Bayramı; Bosnian: Kurban Bajram; Persian: عید قربان‎, Eid-e qorban), the "Major Festival",[1] the "Greater Eid", Baqr'Eid (Urdu: بقر عید‎), or Tabaski (West Africa), is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his promised son. Ishmael (Ismail)a as an act of submission to God's command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead.[2] The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.

 

In the lunar-based Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for three days.[3] In the international Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

 

Eid al-Adha is the latter of the two Eid holidays, the former being Eid al-Fitr. The basis for the observance comes from the 196th ayah (verse) of Al-Baqara, the second sura of the Quran.[4] The word "Eid" appears once in Al-Ma'ida, the fifth sura of the Quran, with the meaning "solemn festival".[5]

 

Like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a Sunnah prayer of two rakats followed by a sermon (khutbah). Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the descent of the Hujjaj from Mount Arafat, a hill east of Mecca. Eid sacrifice may take place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.[6] The days of Eid have been singled out in the Hadith as "days of remembrance". The takbir (days) of Tashriq are from the Fajr prayer of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah up to the Asr prayer of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah (5 days and 4 nights). This equals 23 prayers: 5 on the 9th–12th, which equals 20, and 3 on the 13th.[7]

 

The Arabic term "festival of the sacrifice]", ʿīd al-aḍḥā/ʿīd ul-aḍḥā is borrowed into Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Bengali, and Gujarati, Urdu and Austronesian languages, such as Malay and Indonesian (the last often spelling it as Aidiladha or Iduladha).[citation needed] Another Arabic word for "sacrifice" is Qurbani (Arabic: قربان‎), which is borrowed into Dari Persian and Standard Persian as عید قربان (Eyd-e Ghorbân), or in Urdu as قربانی کی عید (Qorbani ki Eid) Tajik Persian as Иди Қурбон (Idi Qurbon), Kazakh as Құрбан айт (Qurban ayt), Uyghur as Qurban Heyit, and also into various Indo-Aryan languages such as Bengali as কোরবানির ঈদ (Korbanir Eid). Other languages combined the Arabic word qurbān with local terms for "festival", as in Kurdish (Cejna Qurbanê),[8] Pashto (د قربانۍ اختر da Qurbānəi Axtar), Turkish (Kurban Bayramı), Turkmen (Gurban Baýramy), Azeri (Qurban Bayramı), Tatar (Qorban Bäyräme), Albanian (Kurban Bajrami), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian and Macedonian (Kurban bajram, Курбан бајрам), Russian (Курбан-байрам), Bulgarian (Курбан Байрам), Mandarin Chinese (古尔邦节 Gúěrbāng Jié), and Malaysian and Indonesian (Hari Raya Korban, Qurbani).[citation needed]

 

Eid al-Kabir, an Arabic term meaning "the Greater Eid" (the "Lesser Eid" being Eid al-Fitr),[9] is used in Yemen, Syria, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt). The term was borrowed directly into French as Aïd el-Kebir. Translations of "Big Eid" or "Greater Eid" are used in Pashto (لوی اختر Loy Axtar), Kashmiri (Baed Eid),Pakistani(Baṛī Īd), Hindustani (Baṛī Īd), Tamil (Peru Nāl, "Great Day") and Malayalam (Bali Perunnal, "Great Day of Sacrifice"). Albanian, on the other hand, uses Bajram(i) i vogël or "the Lesser Eid" (as opposed to Bajram i Madh, the "Greater Eid", for Eid al-Fitr) as an alternative reference to Eid al-Adha.[citation needed] Some names refer to the fact that the holiday occurs after the culmination of the annual Hajj. Such names are used in Malaysian and Indonesian (Hari Raya Haji "Hajj celebration day", Lebaran Haji, Lebaran Kaji), and Tamil (Hajji Peru Nāl).[citation needed] In Urdu- and Hindi-speaking areas, the festival is also called Bakr Īd,[10] stemming from the Hindustani word bakrī, "goat", because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat in South Asia. This term is also borrowed into other languages, such as Tamil Bakr Īd Peru Nāl.[citation needed]

 

Other local names include Mandarin Chinese 宰牲节 Zǎishēng Jié ("Slaughter-livestock Festival") as well as Tfaska Tamoqqart in the Berber language of Djerba, Tabaski or Tobaski in Wolof,[11][12] Babbar Sallah in Nigerian languages, Pagdiriwang ng Sakripisyo in Filipino and ciida gawraca in Somali.[citation needed] Eid al-Adha has had other names outside the Muslim world. The name is often simply translated into the local language, such as English Feast of the Sacrifice, German Opferfest, Dutch Offerfeest, Romanian Sărbătoarea Sacrificiului, and Hungarian Áldozati ünnep. In Spanish it is known as Fiesta del Cordero ("festival of the lamb").[citation

 

According to Islamic tradition, approximately four thousand years ago, the valley of Mecca (in present-day Saudi Arabia) was a dry, rocky and uninhabited place. God instructed Abraham to bring Hagar (Hājar), his Arabian (Adnan) wife, and Ishmael, his only child at the time, to Arabia from the land of Canaan.[citation needed]

 

As Abraham was preparing for his return journey back to Canaan, Hagar asked him, "Did God order you to leave us here? Or are you leaving us here to die." Abraham didn't even look back. He just nodded, afraid that he would be too sad and that he would disobey God. Hagar said, "Then God will not waste us; you can go". Though Abraham had left a large quantity of food and water with Hagar and Ishmael, the supplies quickly ran out, and within a few days the two began to feel the pangs of hunger and dehydration.

 

Hagar ran up and down between two hills called Al-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times, in her desperate quest for water. Exhausted, she finally collapsed beside her baby Ishmael and prayed to God for deliverance. Miraculously, a spring of water gushed forth from the earth at the feet of baby Ishmael. Other accounts have the angel Gabriel (Jibrail) striking the earth and causing the spring to flow in abundance. With this secure water supply, known as the Zamzam Well, they were not only able to provide for their own needs, but were also able to trade water with passing nomads for food and supplies.

 

Years later, Abraham was instructed by God to return from Canaan to build a place of worship adjacent to Hagar's well (the Zamzam Well). Abraham and Ishmael constructed a stone and mortar structure – known as the Kaaba – which was to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their faith in God. As the years passed, Ishmael was blessed with prophethood (Nubuwwah) and gave the nomads of the desert his message of submission to God. After many centuries, Mecca became a thriving desert city and a major center for trade, thanks to its reliable water source, the well of Zamzam.

 

One of the main trials of Abraham's life was to face the command of God to sacrifice his dearest possession, his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God's will. During this preparation, Satan (Shaitan) tempted Abraham and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out God's commandment, and Ibrahim drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars signifying Satan during the Hajj rites.

 

When Ishmael was about 13 (Abraham being 99), God decided to test their faith in public. Abraham had a recurring dream, in which God was commanding him to offer up for sacrifice – an unimaginable act – his son, whom God had granted him after many years of deep prayer. Abraham knew that the dreams of the prophets were divinely inspired, and one of the ways in which God communicated with his prophets. When the intent of the dreams became clear to him, Abraham decided to fulfill God's command and offer Ishmael for sacrifice.

 

Although Abraham was ready to sacrifice his dearest for God's sake, he could not just bring his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Ishmael had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to give up his life in fulfillment of God's command. This consultation would be a major test of Ishmael's maturity in faith; love and commitment for God; willingness to obey his father; and readiness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of God.

 

Abraham presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Ishmael did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, "Father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, Insha'Allah (God willing), to be very patient." His mature response, his deep insight into the nature of his father’s dreams, his commitment to God, and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of God were all unprecedented.

 

When Abraham attempted to cut Ishmael's throat, he was astonished to see that Ishmael was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered. Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out God's command.[1][13]

 

This is mentioned in the Quran as follows:

 

100 "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"

101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

102 Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"

103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),

104 We called out to him "O Abraham!

105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" – thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

106 For this was obviously a trial–

107 And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:

108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

109 "Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

110 Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

111 For he was one of our believing Servants.

112 And We gave him the good news of Isaac – a prophet – one of the Righteous.

 

—Quran, sura 37 (As-Saaffat), ayat 100–112[14]

Abraham had shown that his love for God superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dearest to him in submission to God's command. Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid al-Adha.

 

While Eid al-Adha is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar. The lunar calendar is approximately eleven days shorter than the solar calendar. Each year, Eid al-Adha (like other Islamic holidays) falls on one of about 2–4 different Gregorian dates in different parts of the world, because the boundary of crescent visibility is different from the International Date Line.

 

The following list shows the official dates of Eid al-Adha for Saudi Arabia as announced by the Supreme Judicial Council. Future dates are estimated according to the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia.[22] However, it should be noted that the Umm al-Qura is just a guide for planning purposes and not the absolute determinant or fixer of dates. Confirmations of actual dates by moon sighting are applied to announce the specific dates for both Hajj rituals and the subsequent Eid festival. The three days after the listed date are also part of the festival. The time before the listed date the pilgrims visit the Mount Arafat and descend from it after sunrise of the listed day.

 

Future dates of Eid al-Adha might face correction 10 days before the festivity, in case of deviant lunar sighting in Saudi Arabia for the start of the month Dhul Hijja. In many countries, the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha

 

Happy Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim Friends ..Let there be Peace in the World and Tolerance too.

   

A nice camp a few hours 4WDing out of Newman..

 

one of two copies! With the #VelcroPalace on a #roundAustraliawithSpelio

 

IMG_8334. With #Smoky60Series ... And the #VelcroPalace AKA Scruby, the camper trailer, Australian made!

 

The campsite Andrew missed... youtu.be/nlY3tuXlEsU

 

Namatjira Ghost Gums near Alice Springs, destruction… www.smh.com.au/national/suspicious-blaze-destroys-namatji...

 

nalysis of BHP's Profitability in Newman and the Absence of a Dialysis Hostel for Local Indigenous Peoples

1. Executive Summary:

 

BHP, a major global mining company, generates substantial profits from its iron ore operations near Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. These operations have consistently delivered high returns, contributing significantly to both the company's overall financial performance and the revenue of the Western Australian government. Simultaneously, the Indigenous population in the Newman area and the broader Pilbara region experiences a disproportionately high prevalence of chronic kidney disease, often leading to a critical need for dialysis treatment. While BHP has engaged in various community development initiatives in the region, including some contributions to healthcare infrastructure, a dedicated dialysis hostel to accommodate Indigenous patients from remote communities requiring regular treatment in Newman has not been established despite a clear and persistent need. This report examines the interplay between BHP's profitability, the healthcare needs of the local Indigenous population, the company's existing community contributions, the complexities of establishing a dialysis hostel in a remote area, the roles and responsibilities of mining companies and government in healthcare provision, differing perspectives on corporate social responsibility, existing partnerships, and the history of proposals related to a dialysis hostel in Newman. The analysis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to this apparent disparity and to offer informed recommendations for addressing the identified gap in healthcare infrastructure.

 

2. BHP's Iron Ore Operations and Profitability in the Pilbara:

 

BHP's presence in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, particularly its Newman Operations, forms a cornerstone of its global iron ore business. Operating since 1968, Newman Operations, encompassing Newman East and Newman West, contribute a significant volume of approximately 78 million tonnes to BHP's total annual iron ore production. The Pilbara itself is a critical global source of iron ore, with Western Australia being the largest supplier worldwide, accounting for over a third of the global supply. BHP's contribution to this sector is substantial, representing a significant portion of the state's exports and employing a considerable number of people in the region.

 

The financial performance of BHP's iron ore operations in the Pilbara is consistently strong. In the fiscal year 2024, the company achieved record production volumes at Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO), solidifying its position as the lowest-cost major iron ore producer globally. This efficiency translates directly into high profitability, with WAIO consistently achieving Underlying EBITDA margins exceeding 50% for the past eight years, reaching 54% in FY24. The company's overall revenue in FY24 saw a 3% increase to US$55.7 billion, primarily driven by higher realized prices for key commodities, including iron ore, and increased sales volumes. The underlying attributable profit for the same period was US$13.7 billion, a 2% increase year-on-year. These figures underscore the immense profitability of BHP's operations in the Pilbara region. Furthermore, BHP is a major contributor to government revenues in Australia. In FY24, total payments to governments amounted to US$11.2 billion. While the specific contribution from WA is not isolated in this figure, data from FY23 indicates that Australia accounted for the largest share of BHP's global economic contribution (US$40.4 billion) and government payments (US$12.1 billion). BHP also invests significantly in community development in Western Australia, allocating US$518 million in FY23 towards such initiatives.

 

The consistent status of BHP's WAIO as a low-cost producer with remarkably high profit margins year after year indicates a robust and financially powerful operation in the Pilbara. This sustained financial strength over an extended period suggests that the company possesses a significant capacity to allocate resources towards initiatives that benefit the communities in which it operates, beyond its core mining activities. The substantial contribution of BHP's operations to the revenue of the Western Australian government also highlights the significant economic influence of the company in the region. This interdependence raises important considerations about how these government revenues are utilized and the shared responsibility between the government and BHP in addressing the needs of the communities impacted by mining.

 

Table 1: BHP's Key Financial Indicators for Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO)

 

Financial YearIron Ore Production Volume (Million Tonnes)Revenue (US$ Billion)Underlying Attributable Profit (US$ Billion)Underlying EBITDA Margin (WAIO)Total Payments to Governments (Australia) (US$ Billion)Community Development Investment (WA) (US$ Million)

FY23257 53.8 13.4 54% 12.1 518

FY24266 55.7 13.7 54% 11.2 Data not yet released

 

Note: Revenue and Underlying Attributable Profit are for the entire BHP Group, but iron ore from WAIO is a major contributor. Community Development Investment data for FY24 will be released later.

 

3. The Prevalence of Kidney Disease and the Need for Dialysis Among Indigenous People in Newman:

 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant health challenge for Indigenous Australians, with prevalence rates considerably higher than those of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Data from 2012-13 revealed that nearly one in five Indigenous Australian adults exhibited biomedical signs of CKD, a rate twice as high as that for non-Indigenous adults. The likelihood of developing CKD increases with age and is particularly elevated among individuals residing in remote areas. Alarmingly, Aboriginal people living in remote regions experience incidence rates of end-stage kidney disease that can be up to 20 times the national average.

 

This higher prevalence of CKD directly translates to a disproportionate need for kidney replacement therapy, including dialysis. Hospitalization rates for dialysis care are eleven times higher for Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Similarly, the incidence of kidney failure requiring replacement therapy is six times as high for Indigenous Australians. As of December 2021, 85% of Indigenous Australians receiving kidney replacement therapy were undergoing dialysis.

 

While specific data on the prevalence of kidney disease among Indigenous people in Newman is limited within the provided research material, the established pattern of higher rates in remote areas strongly suggests that the Indigenous community in Newman and the broader Pilbara region faces a similar, if not more severe, burden of CKD. The very existence of a specialist partnership with the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) in Newman, focused on improving the detection and treatment of kidney disease, underscores the significance of this health issue within the local Indigenous population. Data from the Shire of East Pilbara in 2021 indicates that 1.5% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons reported having kidney disease. However, this figure likely represents only those who are aware of their condition, as a substantial number of individuals with early-stage CKD remain undiagnosed.

 

The consistently reported and significantly elevated rates of CKD and the subsequent need for dialysis among Indigenous Australians, particularly in remote regions such as the Pilbara, highlight a critical and long-standing health inequity. This disparity is not a marginal difference but a substantial order of magnitude, indicating systemic factors and an urgent need for accessible and culturally appropriate treatment options. Furthermore, the considerable number of Indigenous individuals with CKD who are unaware of their condition until later stages emphasizes the critical importance of not only providing treatment facilities like dialysis but also implementing robust early detection and preventative health programs within these communities. A dialysis hostel, while essential for those with end-stage kidney disease, represents just one component of a comprehensive strategy needed to address this health crisis.

 

Table 2: Comparison of Kidney Disease Prevalence and Treatment Rates: Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous Australians

 

MetricIndigenous AustraliansNon-Indigenous AustraliansRatio (Indigenous : Non-Indigenous)Snippet(s)

Adults with Biomedical Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease (2012-13)~18%~10%~1.8 : 1

Rate of Hospitalization for Dialysis453 per 1,00042 per 1,000~10.8 : 1

Incidence of Kidney Failure Requiring Replacement Therapy41 per 100,000~7 per 100,000~5.9 : 1

Treatment Rate for End-Stage Kidney Disease (2017)8.8% of all patients91.2% of all patients~1 : 10.4 (as proportion of total)

 

Note: Ratios are approximate based on the provided data.

 

4. BHP's Current Community Development and Health Initiatives in Newman:

 

BHP actively engages in community development initiatives in Western Australia, demonstrating a commitment to the regions where it operates. In FY23, the company invested a significant sum of $518 million in community development projects across the state. This investment encompasses a range of programs, including direct contributions to social initiatives and support for numerous local organizations through their community grants program. The BHP WA Community Grants program specifically provides ongoing support to not-for-profit entities in areas like Newman, focusing on initiatives that promote positive community, environmental, and economic development, aligning with their objective of fostering thriving and empowered communities.

 

Within Newman, BHP has made notable contributions to healthcare infrastructure and services. A significant example is their $15 million contribution towards the development of the new $61.4 million Newman Health Service. This modern facility offers a range of essential services, including an emergency department, inpatient beds, and a dental clinic, representing a substantial enhancement to the local healthcare system. Recognizing the specific and pressing need for dialysis services within the community, BHP committed $1.9 million in 2021 to the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) for the establishment of a dedicated dialysis clinic located within the PAMS healthcare center in Newman. This purpose-built clinic is the first of its kind in the town and has the capacity to treat up to ten patients daily, providing crucial access to specialized dialysis treatment. Further supporting PAMS, BHP has also funded additional General Practitioners to address the high demand for primary healthcare services in Newman. During the COVID-19 pandemic, BHP also provided essential medical supplies, such as rapid antigen tests and surgical masks, to PAMS for distribution within Newman and surrounding communities. BHP's partnership with Telethon has also channeled funds to the Upstream Health Project, managed by PAMS, which delivers culturally appropriate maternal and child health services in the East Pilbara region.

 

Beyond direct healthcare investments, BHP supports other initiatives in Newman that have indirect positive impacts on health and well-being. They partner with the Newman Neighbourhood Centre, providing financial support for various community programs and subsidizing childcare fees, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of families and children. This center serves as a vital hub for community connection and provides access to a range of essential services, including a community nurse. BHP is also a key partner in the Pilbara Education Partnership, investing in educational services within public schools in Newman and the surrounding areas. Improved educational outcomes are recognized as having long-term positive effects on health literacy and overall quality of life. Furthermore, through a collaborative effort with Fortescue and the WA Government, BHP is investing in the Pilbara Safe Spaces program in Newman. This initiative aims to provide safe environments for vulnerable youth and connect them with crucial support services, including an Indigenous Healing Service, addressing social determinants of health that can significantly impact mental and physical well-being. BHP also partners with Wanslea to enhance the availability of affordable childcare services in regional Western Australia, including the Pilbara, which can positively impact the health and well-being of families.

 

While BHP has made considerable financial contributions to the healthcare infrastructure in Newman, particularly through the funding of the dialysis clinic at PAMS, the persistent need for a dedicated hostel for dialysis patients suggests a potential gap in fully addressing the needs of individuals traveling from remote communities for treatment. The existing clinic, while essential, may not adequately support patients requiring frequent and potentially extended treatment periods who lack suitable accommodation in Newman. BHP's broader community investments, while valuable and contributing to the overall well-being of the community, may not directly address the immediate and specific need for accommodation for dialysis patients from remote areas.

 

Table 3: BHP's Key Community Development and Health-Related Investments in Newman

 

Project NameAmount of Funding (if specified)Year of Investment/Partnership (if specified)Brief Description of Project's FocusSnippet(s)

Newman Health Service$15 million2023 (opening)Contribution to a new state-of-the-art hospital facility

PAMS Dialysis Clinic$1.9 million2021Establishment of the first dialysis clinic in Newman

Additional GPs for PAMSFunding provided2022Funding for additional medical professionals to support primary healthcare services

Pilbara Education Partnership$12 million (over 4 years)2025 (extension)Partnership to enhance education services and outcomes in public schools in the Pilbara, including Newman

Pilbara Safe Spaces ProgramUp to $22 million (joint with FMG)2025 (commencing)Initiative to provide safe spaces for vulnerable youth in Hedland and Newman, including healing service

Newman Neighbourhood CentreFunding providedOngoingPartnership supporting various community programs and subsidizing crèche fees

Upstream Health Project (PAMS)Boost from $5.5 million donation2024 (donation year)Culturally appropriate maternal and child health service in the East Pilbara

Newman Day Care Centre Upgrade$20,000 (community grant)2023Upgrade to outdoor play areas at the daycare center

 

5. The Costs and Logistical Considerations of Establishing a Dialysis Hostel in Remote WA:

 

Providing dialysis treatment, especially in remote regions like Newman, entails significant financial investment and logistical planning. In 2009, the estimated annual cost for one person receiving in-center dialysis was approximately $80,000, with expenses potentially higher in rural and remote areas. More recent data from 2015-2016 indicated that the annual per-patient cost for hemodialysis in remote satellite units ranged considerably, with a median cost of around $99,888 per year. Notably, remote services often face higher operational costs, primarily driven by increased staffing expenses.

 

Establishing the necessary infrastructure for both dialysis treatment and accommodation also requires substantial capital expenditure. In 2016-2017, the construction of a 20-bed renal hostel in Derby cost $6.3 million, while a four-chair renal dialysis unit in Fitzroy Crossing was built for $3.6 million. A more recent example is the $7.4 million investment in a new renal hostel in Kalgoorlie, with capital funding provided by the Commonwealth Government and ongoing operational costs covered by the WA Government.

 

Operating a dialysis hostel in a remote setting like Newman presents a unique set of logistical challenges. These include ensuring consistent staffing with qualified medical professionals trained in dialysis treatment, maintaining reliable utilities (water, electricity), providing regular cleaning and maintenance of the facility, and securing adequate insurance coverage. Transportation of patients from their often-remote communities to the hostel and then to their dialysis appointments is another significant logistical and financial factor that needs to be carefully considered. Furthermore, it is crucial to provide culturally appropriate and comfortable accommodation for patients who may be away from their families, communities, and familiar support networks for extended periods while undergoing treatment. The accommodation itself needs to be conducive to the health and well-being of patients with compromised immune systems.

 

The considerable capital costs associated with building renal hostels and the substantial annual per-patient cost of dialysis treatment highlight the significant long-term financial commitment required to establish and operate a dialysis hostel in Newman. This suggests that a sustainable solution would likely necessitate a collaborative funding approach involving contributions from various stakeholders, including potential capital funding from mining companies like BHP and a commitment from the government to cover ongoing operational expenses. The higher operational costs typically encountered in remote areas underscore the challenges of attracting and retaining qualified medical staff and managing the complex logistics involved in delivering healthcare services in such settings. Any plan for a dialysis hostel in Newman must carefully consider these staffing and logistical complexities to ensure its long-term viability and effectiveness. The successful establishment of renal hostels in other remote communities within Western Australia, such as Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, and Kalgoorlie , offers valuable insights and potential models for developing a similar facility in Newman, particularly regarding funding frameworks and operational considerations.

 

Table 4: Capital Costs of Renal Hostels and Dialysis Units in Remote Western Australia

 

LocationType of FacilityNumber of Beds/ChairsCapital Cost (Million AUD)Year of CompletionFunding SourcesSnippet(s)

DerbyRenal Hostel206.32017WA State Government

Fitzroy CrossingDialysis Unit43.62017WA State Government

KalgoorlieRenal HostelNot specified7.42020 (completion)Commonwealth Government (capital), WA Government (ops)

 

6. The Roles and Responsibilities of Mining Companies and Government in Healthcare Provision:

 

In Australia, the provision of healthcare services is primarily the responsibility of the government, at both the federal and state levels. This includes ensuring access to essential medical services for all citizens, irrespective of their location, including those residing in remote mining regions. The Western Australian government's commitment to funding the ongoing operational costs of renal hostels in regional centers like Kalgoorlie exemplifies this fundamental responsibility.

 

However, mining companies also have certain responsibilities related to the health and well-being of the communities in which they operate. Legally, mining companies are obligated to ensure the safety and health of their employees and contractors within the workplace. This includes implementing comprehensive occupational health and safety standards, conducting regular health assessments for workers exposed to specific occupational hazards, and actively monitoring for the development of work-related diseases. These legal obligations are typically mandated through state-based legislation, such as the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 in Western Australia.

 

Beyond these legal requirements, the concept of a "social license to operate" has gained increasing prominence in the mining industry. This concept recognizes the need for mining companies to earn and maintain the acceptance and support of local communities and stakeholders, particularly Indigenous communities, who are often directly impacted by mining activities. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) extends beyond legal compliance and encompasses a broader range of voluntary actions and commitments undertaken by companies to address the social and environmental consequences of their operations and to contribute positively to the well-being of their stakeholders. This can include investments in community health initiatives, educational programs, and infrastructure development. The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) acknowledges the importance of mining companies fostering opportunities that lead to improved health and economic outcomes for Indigenous communities.

 

The World Bank emphasizes that ensuring the health of local communities in mining regions is a shared responsibility between mining companies and government health authorities, advocating for joint prioritization and aligned interventions. In Australia, a growing trend involves collaborative partnerships where mining companies work in conjunction with government agencies, Indigenous organizations, and healthcare providers to address specific community needs.

 

While the government bears the primary responsibility for ensuring healthcare access for all citizens, the significant economic influence and substantial presence of mining companies in regions like the Pilbara create an environment where these companies are often expected to contribute to the well-being of the communities in which they operate, extending beyond their direct workforce. This expectation is particularly pronounced when addressing the health needs of Indigenous communities who may be disproportionately affected by health issues, such as the high prevalence of kidney disease. The legal health responsibilities of mining companies are primarily focused on their employees and the management of occupational health hazards. The health needs of the broader community, while increasingly falling under the purview of social responsibility, occupy a less clearly defined area of obligation. This ambiguity can lead to ongoing discussions regarding the appropriate level of involvement for mining companies in addressing community health issues like the significant dialysis needs of Indigenous people in Newman.

 

7. Perspectives on the Social Responsibility of Mining Corporations Towards Indigenous Health:

 

There are varying perspectives on the extent to which mining corporations like BHP bear social responsibility for the health and well-being of Indigenous communities in the regions where they operate. One perspective argues strongly that due to the significant impact of mining operations on the environment and social fabric of Indigenous lands, companies have a profound ethical obligation to contribute to the health and well-being of these communities. This viewpoint emphasizes that addressing the substantial health disparities faced by Indigenous Australians, including the alarmingly high rates of kidney disease, aligns with broader national goals of reconciliation and closing the gap in health outcomes. Furthermore, proponents of this view argue that highly profitable companies like BHP possess a greater capacity, and therefore a greater responsibility, to invest in the communities that contribute to their success. Such investments can also foster stronger relationships and secure a more sustainable social license to operate.

 

Conversely, another perspective posits that the primary responsibility for providing healthcare rests with the government, which is funded by taxes and royalties paid by corporations like BHP. From this viewpoint, mining companies fulfill their primary social responsibility by generating economic activity, providing employment opportunities, and contributing to government revenue through taxes and royalties, which can then be allocated to public services, including healthcare. Defining the precise boundaries of a corporation's social responsibility can be challenging, and some argue that overreach could potentially blur the lines between corporate and governmental roles in service provision.

 

Critical perspectives on CSR in the mining sector raise concerns about the genuine impact of these initiatives. Some research suggests that CSR efforts can sometimes be strategically employed to enhance a company's public image or to manage regulatory requirements, rather than stemming from a deep-seated commitment to community well-being. There are also instances where legally mandated obligations or standard operational expenses are presented as acts of corporate philanthropy. The actual effectiveness of CSR programs in addressing the specific needs and concerns of Indigenous stakeholders, particularly those most directly affected by mining operations, has also been questioned.

 

The debate surrounding the social responsibility of mining corporations in relation to Indigenous health is intricate, encompassing ethical considerations, legal frameworks, and economic realities. There is no universally agreed-upon definition of the appropriate level of responsibility for a mining company in this context. The potential for CSR initiatives to be used for public relations purposes or to manage legal obligations underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and genuine partnerships with Indigenous communities to ensure that social responsibility efforts yield meaningful and sustainable benefits.

 

8. Existing Partnerships and the History of Dialysis Hostel Proposals in Newman:

 

BHP has established several partnerships in Newman that aim to support healthcare and community well-being. Their collaboration with the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) is a significant example, involving a substantial $1.9 million contribution towards the establishment of the first dialysis clinic in Newman. This partnership also extends to ongoing support, including funding for additional General Practitioners to serve the community. Furthermore, BHP has partnered with the Western Australian government on various community initiatives, including their $15 million contribution to the new Newman Health Service. They are also collaborating with Fortescue and the Cook Government, along with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), on the Pilbara Safe Spaces program in Newman. BHP also supports the Newman Neighbourhood Centre through funding for their diverse programs and has a long-term partnership with Wanslea to improve childcare services in regional Western Australia, including the Pilbara.

 

Despite these partnerships and contributions to healthcare in Newman, there has been a recognized and long-standing need for a dedicated dialysis hostel to accommodate patients traveling from remote Indigenous communities for treatment. A news report highlighted the dire circumstances faced by these patients, who often endure overcrowded living conditions or even sleep outdoors while undergoing life-saving dialysis. The report noted that other regional centers in Western Australia with dialysis facilities, such as Kalgoorlie and Port Hedland, have established hostels, and similar facilities were planned for Broome and Karratha, but not for Newman.

 

The news report also revealed that BHP had donated five abandoned houses in Newman with the intention of them being converted into a short-term hostel for dialysis patients. However, advocates involved in the proposal indicated that a significant funding shortfall of $9 million was still required to renovate these derelict buildings to a suitable standard for accommodating vulnerable patients. The report suggests that progress on this hostel development had been slow, leaving a critical need unmet.

 

BHP's donation of houses for a dialysis hostel indicates an initial acknowledgment of the accommodation needs of dialysis patients from remote communities. However, the considerable funding gap that remains for the necessary renovations and the apparent lack of further progress suggest a potential disconnect between this initial gesture and a comprehensive solution to the problem. The fact that other regional centers with similar mining operations and Indigenous populations requiring dialysis have successfully established hostels underscores that the lack of such a facility in Newman is not a unique situation in remote WA. It raises questions about the specific challenges or lack of coordinated effort in Newman that have impeded the development of this crucial infrastructure, despite BHP's significant presence and profitability in the region.

 

9. Conclusion and Recommendations:

 

The analysis reveals a stark contrast between BHP's substantial and consistent profitability from its iron ore operations near Newman and the persistent lack of a dedicated dialysis hostel for the local Indigenous population, who experience a disproportionately high burden of chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis. While BHP has made significant contributions to the Newman community's healthcare infrastructure, including funding a dialysis clinic and supporting other health-related initiatives, the absence of suitable accommodation for patients traveling from remote communities for treatment remains a critical unmet need. The costs and logistical complexities of establishing a dialysis hostel in a remote area are significant, requiring a collaborative approach involving both corporate and government support. The responsibility for healthcare provision primarily lies with the government, but the concept of a social license to operate and corporate social responsibility suggests that highly profitable companies like BHP have an ethical obligation to contribute to the well-being of the communities impacted by their operations. The history of a proposal involving BHP's donation of houses for a hostel, which has stalled due to a lack of funding for renovations, highlights a missed opportunity to address this pressing issue.

 

To bridge this gap and ensure that Indigenous people in the Newman region have equitable access to life-saving dialysis treatment, the following recommendations are put forth:

 

BHP should make a substantial financial commitment to fully fund the capital costs required to convert the donated houses or build a new, fit-for-purpose dialysis hostel in Newman. Given their consistent high profitability in the region , BHP has the financial capacity to address this critical need. This would build upon their initial donation and demonstrate a genuine commitment to the health and well-being of the local Indigenous community.

The Western Australian Government should commit to funding the ongoing operational costs of a dialysis hostel in Newman. This would align with their responsibility for providing essential healthcare services and mirror their support for similar facilities in other regional centers.

A collaborative partnership should be formalized between BHP, the WA Government, the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), and representatives from the local Indigenous community to co-design and oversee the development and management of the dialysis hostel. This partnership would ensure that the facility is culturally appropriate, meets the specific healthcare needs of the intended users, and benefits from the expertise and resources of all stakeholders.

Beyond the immediate need for a hostel, all stakeholders should invest in and support long-term strategies focused on the early detection, prevention, and management of chronic kidney disease within Indigenous communities in the Pilbara. This includes culturally appropriate health education, regular screening programs, and improved access to primary healthcare services to address the root causes of the high prevalence of kidney disease.

By embracing these recommendations, BHP, in collaboration with the government and the local community, has the opportunity to make a tangible and lasting positive impact on the lives and well-being of Indigenous people in the Newman region, addressing a critical healthcare need and demonstrating a meaningful commitment to social responsibility.

  

indigenoushpf.gov.au

1.10 Kidney disease - AIHW Indigenous HPF - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework

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bhp.com

Financial results for the year ended 30 June 2024 - BHP

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aihw.gov.au

Profiles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney disease, Summary

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wa.gov.au

Multi-million-dollar boost to extend BHP education partnership in the Pilbara | Western Australian Government

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bhp.com

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - BHP

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wacountry.health.wa.gov.au

WA Country Health Service Kidney Disease Strategy

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bhp.com

BHPs WA projects a key contributor to the economy

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wa.gov.au

Cook Government launches Safe Spaces program in the Pilbara

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racp.edu.au

Closing the Gap in the Detection and Treatment of Kidney Disease - RACP

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bhp.com

Newman Operations - BHP

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profile.id.com.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Shire of East Pilbara | Community profile

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bhp.com

Accessible healthcare key to thriving communities - BHP

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bhp.com

BHP Economic Contribution Report 2023

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bhp.com

Western Australia Community Grants - BHP

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wa.gov.au

New renal services for Kimberley communities | Western Australian Government

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parliament.wa.gov.au

,,^.^I, 41^-* - Parliament of Western Australia

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Economic Assessment Model of Rural and Remote Satellite Hemodialysis Units - PMC

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pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost of dialysis therapies in rural and remote Australia - a micro-costing analysis - PubMed

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getregional.com.au

New Kalgoorlie Renal Hostel reaches final stage - Get Regional

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dailymotion.com

Pilbara dialysis patients and health workers pleading for Newman hostel - video Dailymotion

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dmp.wa.gov.au

What is a safety and health representative for a mining operation?

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blogs.worldbank.org

Better Health in Mines and Mining Communities: A Shared Responsibility

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informa.com.au

Managing health risks in the mining industry | News & Insights | Informa Australia

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dmp.wa.gov.au

What are the health assessment and monitoring requirements for mining operations?

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pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The 'Mine Medical': an opportunity for preventative and primary care - PubMed

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theibr.com.au

Miners pledge $22 million for Hedland and Newman Safe Spaces programs

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bhp.com

Community Connect - BHP

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bhp.com

Newman Neighbourhood Centre - BHP

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bhp.com

BHP commits $1.9 million for new dialysis clinic in Newman

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bhp.com

Supporting healthcare in our regional communities - BHP

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minerals.org.au

Indigenous partnerships - Minerals Council of Australia

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sustainabilitymag.com

How ESG is Changing Mining's Treatment of Indigenous Peoples | Sustainability Magazine

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evolutionmining.com.au

Social Responsibility - Evolution Mining

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researchgate.net

Giving with One Hand: On the Mining Sector's Treatment of Indigenous Stakeholders in the Name of CSR | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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industry.gov.au

WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES - Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry

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Understanding the Context

I'm starting to look into why a profitable mining company like BHP might not have developed a dialysis hostel for Indigenous people near their Newman operations. My initial focus is on understanding two key aspects: BHP's financial success in the region and the extent of kidney disease among the local Indigenous population. This will help me establish the context for the user's question.

Next Steps in Research

To gain a comprehensive understanding, I plan to investigate BHP's existing community contributions in the Newman area, the typical costs involved in setting up and running a dialysis hostel in a remote location, and the general responsibilities of mining companies versus government bodies in providing healthcare services. I will also explore different perspectives on corporate social responsibility in this context.

 

Researching websites

 

indigenoushpf.gov.au

1.10 Kidney disease - AIHW Indigenous HPF - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework

 

bhp.com

Financial results for the year ended 30 June 2024 - BHP

 

aihw.gov.au

Profiles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney disease, Summary

 

wa.gov.au

Multi-million-dollar boost to extend BHP education partnership in the Pilbara | Western Australian Government

 

bhp.com

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - BHP

 

wacountry.health.wa.gov.au

 

bhp.com

BHPs WA projects a key contributor to the economy

 

wa.gov.au

Cook Government launches Safe Spaces program in the Pilbara

 

racp.edu.au

Closing the Gap in the Detection and Treatment of Kidney Disease - RACP

 

bhp.com

Newman Operations - BHP

 

profile.id.com.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Shire of East Pilbara | Community profile

 

bhp.com

Accessible healthcare key to thriving communities - BHP

 

bhp.com

BHP Economic Contribution Report 2023

 

bhp.com

Western Australia Community Grants - BHP

 

bhp.com

Australian community programs | BHP

BHP's Financial Performance

I've found that BHP's iron ore operations near Newman are indeed very profitable. Their recent financial reports show billions of dollars in profit, and the Newman operations are highlighted as being particularly efficient and cost-effective.

High Rates of Kidney Disease

My research confirms that Indigenous Australians in the Pilbara region, including near Newman, experience significantly higher rates of chronic kidney disease compared to the non-Indigenous population. This unfortunately leads to a greater need for dialysis treatment in these communities.

Existing Community Support

It appears BHP does contribute to the local community through various programs in education and health. These initiatives include partnerships for education, support for youth programs, and funding for health services, some of which are specifically targeted towards Indigenous communities.

Further Investigation Needed

To get a clearer picture, I now need to look into the typical costs of establishing and running a dialysis hostel in a remote area, understand the roles and responsibilities of mining companies versus government in providing healthcare infrastructure, and explore different viewpoints on corporate social responsibility concerning Indigenous health. I also want to see if there have been any past discussions about a dialysis hostel in Newman and BHP's involvement.

 

Researching websites

 

wa.gov.au

New renal services for Kimberley communities | Western Australian Government

 

parliament.wa.gov.au

,,^.^I, 41^-* - Parliament of Western Australia

 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Economic Assessment Model of Rural and Remote Satellite Hemodialysis Units - PMC

 

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost of dialysis therapies in rural and remote Australia - a micro-costing analysis - PubMed

 

getregional.com.au

New Kalgoorlie Renal Hostel reaches final stage - Get Regional

 

dailymotion.com

Pilbara dialysis patients and health workers pleading for Newman hostel - video Dailymotion

 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness: an evolutionary concept analysis

 

dmp.wa.gov.au

What is a safety and health representative for a mining operation?

 

researchgate.net

The effect of home care based on the Neuman systems model on symptomatic relief and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis - ResearchGate

 

blogs.worldbank.org

Better Health in Mines and Mining Communities: A Shared Responsibility

 

informa.com.au

Managing health risks in the mining industry | News & Insights | Informa Australia

 

healio.com

Innovative curriculums, new home dialysis training attract more fellows to nephrology

 

dmp.wa.gov.au

What are the health assessment and monitoring requirements for mining operations?

 

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The 'Mine Medical': an opportunity for preventative and primary care - PubMed

 

theibr.com.au

Miners pledge $22 million for Hedland and Newman Safe Spaces programs

 

bhp.com

Community Connect - BHP

 

bhp.com

Newman Neighbourhood Centre - BHP

 

bhp.com

BHP commits $1.9 million for new dialysis clinic in Newman

 

bhp.com

Supporting healthcare in our regional communities - BHP

 

minerals.org.au

Indigenous partnerships - Minerals Council of Australia

 

sustainabilitymag.com

How ESG is Changing Mining's Treatment of Indigenous Peoples | Sustainability Magazine

 

evolutionmining.com.au

Social Responsibility - Evolution Mining

 

researchgate.net

Giving with One Hand: On the Mining Sector's Treatment of Indigenous Stakeholders in the Name of CSR | Request PDF - ResearchGate

 

industry.gov.au

WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES - Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry

Financial Success Confirmed

I've confirmed that BHP's iron ore operations in the Newman area are highly profitable, contributing significantly to their overall financial results. These operations are recognized for their efficiency in the global market.

Disproportionate Health Issue

The information I found reinforces that Indigenous Australians in the Pilbara region, where Newman is located, face a much higher incidence of chronic kidney disease, leading to a greater need for dialysis services compared to other populations.

Ongoing Community Contributions

My investigation shows that BHP actively engages in community development in the Newman area through various initiatives. These include significant investments in education partnerships and support for programs aimed at improving the well-being of young people and families, including some health-focused projects.

Considering Broader Context

Having gathered substantial information on BHP's profitability, the prevalence of kidney disease, and their community contributions, I'm now considering the broader context. It seems the absence of a dedicated dialysis..

 

From my question to Google Gemini Deap Research about why cant BHP fund a dyalysis unit from the Billions they make on Iron Ore...

« […] A person entering the space of non-place is relieved of his usual determinants. He becomes no more than what he does or experiences in the role of passenger, customer or driver. […] The passenger through non-places retrieves his identity only at customs, at the tollbooth, at the checkout counter. Meanwhile, he obeys the same code as others, receives the same messages, responds to the same entreaties. The space of non-place creates neither singular identity nor relations, only solitude, and similitude »

 

see the whole series here

...three little indians........

 

Children of the Guarani indian village, Krukutu.

Today their social needs are many as their living conditions differ little from those faced by many of our children from the favelas in the urban outskirts of the big cities.

 

Malnutrition and pulmonary and bronchial illnesses are responsible for a high mortality rate among the Guarani children.

 

The Guarani population structure is indicative of high birth and death rates, low median age and low life expectancy at birth. The crude mortality rate (MR = 5.0/1,000) was similar to the Brazilian national rate, but the under-five (MR = 44.5/1,000) and the infant mortality rate (MR = 29.6/1,000) were twice the corresponding mortality rate in the South and Southeast of Brazil. The proportion of post-neonatal infant deaths was 83.3%, 2.4 times higher than general population. The proportions of ill-defined (15.8%) and preventable causes (51.6%) were high. The principal causes of death were respiratory (40.6%) and infectious and parasitic diseases (18.8%), suggesting precarious living conditions and deficient health services. There is a need for greater investment in primary care and interventions in social determinants of health in order to reduce the health inequalities.

 

Read the entire report here or download the PDF file

 

In Portuguese:

A estrutura populacional Guarani expressa elevada natalidade, mortalidade precoce e baixa idade mediana e esperança de vida ao nascer. A taxa de mortalidade bruta (TM bruta = 5,0/1.000) se assemelha à nacional, mas a TM < 5 anos (44,5/1.000) e a taxa de mortalidade infantil (29,6/1.000) são duas vezes maiores que as TM correspondentes nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. A proporção de óbitos infantis pós-neonatais foi de 83,3%, 2,4 vezes maior que a população geral. As proporções de causas mal definidas (15,8%) e de evitáveis pelos serviços de saúde (51,6%) foram elevadas. As principais causas de morte foram as respiratórias (40,6%) e as infecciosas e parasitárias (18,8%), sugerindo precárias condições de vida e de organização dos serviços de saúde. Há necessidade de maiores investimentos na atenção primária e em intervenções sobre os determinantes sociais da saúde, a fim de reduzir as iniquidades reveladas.

 

Leia o relatório completo aqui

 

.

A LA PLANA - MANEL CAMP & KITFLUS

 

TOTES LES MEUES FOTOS / TODAS MIS FOTOS

 

El gat domèstic (Felis silvestris catus) és una subespècie de mamífer carnívor de la família Felidae. Està en convivència propera a l'ésser humà des de fa uns 9.500 anys. Depredador per naturalesa pot assimilar alguns conceptes, i alguns exemplars poden ser entrenats per manipular mecanismes simples. Es comuniquen amb gemecs, grunyits i de diferents vocalitzacions, a més del llenguatge corporal. Per entrar o sortir d'un immoble sense que sigui necessària la presència humana, obrint i tancant portes, existeixen les gateres. Una gatera és una trapa amb frontisses fixada en una porta, paret o finestra per permetre que els gats entrin i surtin. Antigament, les gateres eren tan simples com un forat realitzat a la porta o la paret de cases o pallers per permetre l'entrada lliure als gats. El meu mestre Arcadi García i Sanz (la Vall d'Uixó, 1926-1998), prestigiós historiador del dret i una autoritat indiscutible en dret foral valencià i dret marítim, m'explicava fa molt temps, que la presència dels gats en els vaixells era determinant en els pleits i ja venia recollit en el Llibre del Consolat del Mar (compendi de lleis de dret marítim medieval). Si un vaixell arribava a port, i la seva càrrega estava deteriorada o consumida per rosegadors, s'investigava la presència de un gat a bordo. Si no n'hi havia, els costos del dany serien a càrrec de l'armador.

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El gato doméstico (Felis silvestris catus) es una subespecie de mamífero carnívoro de la familia Felidae. Está en convivencia cercana al ser humano desde hace unos 9.500 años. Depredador por naturaleza puede asimilar algunos conceptos, y ciertos ejemplares pueden ser entrenados para manipular mecanismos simples. Se comunican con gemidos, gruñidos y vocalizaciones, además del lenguaje corporal. Para entrar o salir de un inmueble sin que sea necesaria la presencia humana, abriendo y cerrando puertas, existen las gateras. Una gatera es una trampilla con bisagras fijada en una puerta, pared o ventana para permitir que los gatos entren y salgan. Antiguamente, las gateras eran tan simples como un agujero realizado en la puerta o la pared de casas o pajares para permitir la entrada libre a los gatos. Mi maestro Arcadi García i Sanz (La Vall d'Uixó, 1926-1998), prestigioso historiador del derecho y una autoridad indiscutible en derecho foral valenciano y derecho marítimo, me explicaba hace mucho tiempo, que la presencia o no de los gatos en los buques era determinante en los pleitos y ya venía recogido en el Llibre del Consolat del Mar (compendio de leyes de derecho marítimo medieval). Si un buque llegaba a puerto, y su carga estaba deteriorada o consumida por roedores, se investigaba la presencia de un gato a bordo. Si no la había, los costes del daño serian a cargo del armador.

 

The horse (Equus caballus) is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature, close to Eohippus, into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began domesticating horses around 4000 BCE, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BCE. Horses in the subspecies caballus are domesticated, although some domesticated populations live in the wild as feral horses. These feral populations are not true wild horses, which are horses that never have been domesticated. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior.

 

Horses are adapted to run, allowing them to quickly escape predators, and possess an excellent sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight response. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down, with younger horses tending to sleep significantly more than adults. Female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under a saddle or in a harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years.

 

Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses.

 

Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water, and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.

 

Lifespan and life stages

Depending on breed, management and environment, the modern domestic horse has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. Uncommonly, a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was "Old Billy", a 19th-century horse that lived to the age of 62. In modern times, Sugar Puff, who had been listed in Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living pony, died in 2007 at age 56.

 

Regardless of a horse or pony's actual birth date, for most competition purposes a year is added to its age each January 1 of each year in the Northern Hemisphere and each August 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. The exception is in endurance riding, where the minimum age to compete is based on the animal's actual calendar age.

 

The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages:

 

Foal

A horse of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling, and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling. Most domesticated foals are weaned at five to seven months of age, although foals can be weaned at four months with no adverse physical effects.

Yearling

A horse of either sex that is between one and two years old.

Colt

A male horse under the age of four. A common terminology error is to call any young horse a "colt", when the term actually only refers to young male horses.

Filly

A female horse under the age of four.

Mare

A female horse four years old and older.

Stallion

A non-castrated male horse four years old and older.The term "horse" is sometimes used colloquially to refer specifically to a stallion.

Gelding

A castrated male horse of any age.

In horse racing, these definitions may differ: For example, in the British Isles, Thoroughbred horse racing defines colts and fillies as less than five years old. However, Australian Thoroughbred racing defines colts and fillies as less than four years old.

 

Size and measurement

The height of horses is measured at the highest point of the withers, where the neck meets the back. This point is used because it is a stable point of the anatomy, unlike the head or neck, which move up and down in relation to the body of the horse.

 

Size varies greatly among horse breeds, as with this full-sized horse and small pony.

In English-speaking countries, the height of horses is often stated in units of hands and inches: one hand is equal to 4 inches (101.6 mm). The height is expressed as the number of full hands, followed by a point, then the number of additional inches, and ending with the abbreviation "h" or "hh" (for "hands high"). Thus, a horse described as "15.2 h" is 15 hands plus 2 inches, for a total of 62 inches (157.5 cm) in height.

 

The size of horses varies by breed, but also is influenced by nutrition. Light-riding horses usually range in height from 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, 142 to 163 cm) and can weigh from 380 to 550 kilograms (840 to 1,210 lb). Larger-riding horses usually start at about 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) and often are as tall as 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm), weighing from 500 to 600 kilograms (1,100 to 1,320 lb). Heavy or draft horses are usually at least 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and can be as tall as 18 hands (72 inches, 183 cm) high. They can weigh from about 700 to 1,000 kilograms (1,540 to 2,200 lb).

 

The largest horse in recorded history was probably a Shire horse named Mammoth, who was born in 1848. He stood 21.2 1⁄4 hands (86.25 inches, 219 cm) high and his peak weight was estimated at 1,524 kilograms (3,360 lb). The record holder for the smallest horse ever is Thumbelina, a fully mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She was 43 centimetres; 4.1 hands (17 in) tall and weighed 26 kg (57 lb).

 

Ponies

Main article: Pony

Ponies are taxonomically the same animals as horses. The distinction between a horse and pony is commonly drawn on the basis of height, especially for competition purposes. However, height alone is not dispositive; the difference between horses and ponies may also include aspects of phenotype, including conformation and temperament.

 

The traditional standard for height of a horse or a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm). An animal 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) or over is usually considered to be a horse and one less than 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) a pony, but there are many exceptions to the traditional standard. In Australia, ponies are considered to be those under 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm). For competition in the Western division of the United States Equestrian Federation, the cutoff is 14.1 hands (57 inches, 145 cm). The International Federation for Equestrian Sports, the world governing body for horse sport, uses metric measurements and defines a pony as being any horse measuring less than 148 centimetres (58.27 in) at the withers without shoes, which is just over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm), and 149 centimetres (58.66 in; 14.2+1⁄2 hands), with shoes.

 

Height is not the sole criterion for distinguishing horses from ponies. Breed registries for horses that typically produce individuals both under and over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) consider all animals of that breed to be horses regardless of their height. Conversely, some pony breeds may have features in common with horses, and individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm), but are still considered to be ponies.

 

Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails, and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They may have calmer temperaments than horses and also a high level of intelligence that may or may not be used to cooperate with human handlers. Small size, by itself, is not an exclusive determinant. For example, the Shetland pony which averages 10 hands (40 inches, 102 cm), is considered a pony. Conversely, breeds such as the Falabella and other miniature horses, which can be no taller than 76 centimetres; 7.2 hands (30 in), are classified by their registries as very small horses, not ponies.

 

Genetics

Horses have 64 chromosomes. The horse genome was sequenced in 2007. It contains 2.7 billion DNA base pairs, which is larger than the dog genome, but smaller than the human genome or the bovine genome.

 

Colors and markings

Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings, described by a specialized vocabulary. Often, a horse is classified first by its coat color, before breed or sex. Horses of the same color may be distinguished from one another by white markings, which, along with various spotting patterns, are inherited separately from coat color.

 

Many genes that create horse coat colors and patterns have been identified. Current genetic tests can identify at least 13 different alleles influencing coat color, and research continues to discover new genes linked to specific traits. The basic coat colors of chestnut and black are determined by the gene controlled by the Melanocortin 1 receptor, also known as the "extension gene" or "red factor", as its recessive form is "red" (chestnut) and its dominant form is black. Additional genes control suppression of black color to point coloration that results in a bay, spotting patterns such as pinto or leopard, dilution genes such as palomino or dun, as well as greying, and all the other factors that create the many possible coat colors found in horses.

 

Horses that have a white coat color are often mislabeled; a horse that looks "white" is usually a middle-aged or older gray. Grays are born a darker shade, get lighter as they age, but usually keep black skin underneath their white hair coat (with the exception of pink skin under white markings). The only horses properly called white are born with a predominantly white hair coat and pink skin, a fairly rare occurrence. Different and unrelated genetic factors can produce white coat colors in horses, including several different alleles of dominant white and the sabino-1 gene. However, there are no "albino" horses, defined as having both pink skin and red eyes.

 

Reproduction and development

Gestation lasts approximately 340 days, with an average range 320–370 days, and usually results in one foal; twins are rare. Horses are a precocial species, and foals are capable of standing and running within a short time following birth. Foals are usually born in the spring. The estrous cycle of a mare occurs roughly every 19–22 days and occurs from early spring into autumn. Most mares enter an anestrus period during the winter and thus do not cycle in this period. Foals are generally weaned from their mothers between four and six months of age.

 

Horses, particularly colts, are sometimes physically capable of reproduction at about 18 months, but domesticated horses are rarely allowed to breed before the age of three, especially females. Horses four years old are considered mature, although the skeleton normally continues to develop until the age of six; maturation also depends on the horse's size, breed, sex, and quality of care. Larger horses have larger bones; therefore, not only do the bones take longer to form bone tissue, but the epiphyseal plates are larger and take longer to convert from cartilage to bone. These plates convert after the other parts of the bones, and are crucial to development.

 

Depending on maturity, breed, and work expected, horses are usually put under saddle and trained to be ridden between the ages of two and four. Although Thoroughbred race horses are put on the track as young as the age of two in some countries, horses specifically bred for sports such as dressage are generally not put under saddle until they are three or four years old, because their bones and muscles are not solidly developed. For endurance riding competition, horses are not deemed mature enough to compete until they are a full 60 calendar months (five years) old.

 

Anatomy

The horse skeleton averages 205 bones. A significant difference between the horse skeleton and that of a human is the lack of a collarbone—the horse's forelimbs are attached to the spinal column by a powerful set of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that attach the shoulder blade to the torso. The horse's four legs and hooves are also unique structures. Their leg bones are proportioned differently from those of a human. For example, the body part that is called a horse's "knee" is actually made up of the carpal bones that correspond to the human wrist. Similarly, the hock contains bones equivalent to those in the human ankle and heel. The lower leg bones of a horse correspond to the bones of the human hand or foot, and the fetlock (incorrectly called the "ankle") is actually the proximal sesamoid bones between the cannon bones (a single equivalent to the human metacarpal or metatarsal bones) and the proximal phalanges, located where one finds the "knuckles" of a human. A horse also has no muscles in its legs below the knees and hocks, only skin, hair, bone, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the assorted specialized tissues that make up the hoof.

 

Hooves

Main articles: Horse hoof, Horseshoe, and Farrier

The critical importance of the feet and legs is summed up by the traditional adage, "no foot, no horse". The horse hoof begins with the distal phalanges, the equivalent of the human fingertip or tip of the toe, surrounded by cartilage and other specialized, blood-rich soft tissues such as the laminae. The exterior hoof wall and horn of the sole is made of keratin, the same material as a human fingernail. The result is that a horse, weighing on average 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), travels on the same bones as would a human on tiptoe. For the protection of the hoof under certain conditions, some horses have horseshoes placed on their feet by a professional farrier. The hoof continually grows, and in most domesticated horses needs to be trimmed (and horseshoes reset, if used) every five to eight weeks, though the hooves of horses in the wild wear down and regrow at a rate suitable for their terrain.

 

Teeth

Main article: Horse teeth

Horses are adapted to grazing. In an adult horse, there are 12 incisors at the front of the mouth, adapted to biting off the grass or other vegetation. There are 24 teeth adapted for chewing, the premolars and molars, at the back of the mouth. Stallions and geldings have four additional teeth just behind the incisors, a type of canine teeth called "tushes". Some horses, both male and female, will also develop one to four very small vestigial teeth in front of the molars, known as "wolf" teeth, which are generally removed because they can interfere with the bit. There is an empty interdental space between the incisors and the molars where the bit rests directly on the gums, or "bars" of the horse's mouth when the horse is bridled.

 

An estimate of a horse's age can be made from looking at its teeth. The teeth continue to erupt throughout life and are worn down by grazing. Therefore, the incisors show changes as the horse ages; they develop a distinct wear pattern, changes in tooth shape, and changes in the angle at which the chewing surfaces meet. This allows a very rough estimate of a horse's age, although diet and veterinary care can also affect the rate of tooth wear.

 

Digestion

Main articles: Equine digestive system and Equine nutrition

Horses are herbivores with a digestive system adapted to a forage diet of grasses and other plant material, consumed steadily throughout the day. Therefore, compared to humans, they have a relatively small stomach but very long intestines to facilitate a steady flow of nutrients. A 450-kilogram (990 lb) horse will eat 7 to 11 kilograms (15 to 24 lb) of food per day and, under normal use, drink 38 to 45 litres (8.4 to 9.9 imp gal; 10 to 12 US gal) of water. Horses are not ruminants, they have only one stomach, like humans, but unlike humans, they can digest cellulose, a major component of grass. Horses are hindgut fermenters. Cellulose fermentation by symbiotic bacteria occurs in the cecum, or "water gut", which food goes through before reaching the large intestine. Horses cannot vomit, so digestion problems can quickly cause colic, a leading cause of death. Horses do not have a gallbladder; however, they seem to tolerate high amounts of fat in their diet despite lack of a gallbladder.

 

Senses

The horses' senses are based on their status as prey animals, where they must be aware of their surroundings at all times. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal, and are lateral-eyed, meaning that their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads. This means that horses have a range of vision of more than 350°, with approximately 65° of this being binocular vision and the remaining 285° monocular vision. Horses have excellent day and night vision, but they have two-color, or dichromatic vision; their color vision is somewhat like red-green color blindness in humans, where certain colors, especially red and related colors, appear as a shade of green.

 

Their sense of smell, while much better than that of humans, is not quite as good as that of a dog. It is believed to play a key role in the social interactions of horses as well as detecting other key scents in the environment. Horses have two olfactory centers. The first system is in the nostrils and nasal cavity, which analyze a wide range of odors. The second, located under the nasal cavity, are the vomeronasal organs, also called Jacobson's organs. These have a separate nerve pathway to the brain and appear to primarily analyze pheromones.

 

A horse's hearing is good, and the pinna of each ear can rotate up to 180°, giving the potential for 360° hearing without having to move the head. Noise impacts the behavior of horses and certain kinds of noise may contribute to stress: a 2013 study in the UK indicated that stabled horses were calmest in a quiet setting, or if listening to country or classical music, but displayed signs of nervousness when listening to jazz or rock music. This study also recommended keeping music under a volume of 21 decibels. An Australian study found that stabled racehorses listening to talk radio had a higher rate of gastric ulcers than horses listening to music, and racehorses stabled where a radio was played had a higher overall rate of ulceration than horses stabled where there was no radio playing.

 

Horses have a great sense of balance, due partly to their ability to feel their footing and partly to highly developed proprioception—the unconscious sense of where the body and limbs are at all times. A horse's sense of touch is well-developed. The most sensitive areas are around the eyes, ears, and nose. Horses are able to sense contact as subtle as an insect landing anywhere on the body.

 

Horses have an advanced sense of taste, which allows them to sort through fodder and choose what they would most like to eat, and their prehensile lips can easily sort even small grains. Horses generally will not eat poisonous plants, however, there are exceptions; horses will occasionally eat toxic amounts of poisonous plants even when there is adequate healthy food.

 

Movement

All horses move naturally with four basic gaits:

the four-beat walk, which averages 6.4 kilometres per hour (4.0 mph);

the two-beat trot or jog at 13 to 19 kilometres per hour (8.1 to 11.8 mph) (faster for harness racing horses);

the canter or lope, a three-beat gait that is 19 to 24 kilometres per hour (12 to 15 mph);

the gallop, which averages 40 to 48 kilometres per hour (25 to 30 mph), but the world record for a horse galloping over a short, sprint distance is 70.76 kilometres per hour (43.97 mph).

Besides these basic gaits, some horses perform a two-beat pace, instead of the trot. There also are several four-beat 'ambling' gaits that are approximately the speed of a trot or pace, though smoother to ride. These include the lateral rack, running walk, and tölt as well as the diagonal fox trot. Ambling gaits are often genetic in some breeds, known collectively as gaited horses. These horses replace the trot with one of the ambling gaits.

 

Behavior

Horses are prey animals with a strong fight-or-flight response. Their first reaction to a threat is to startle and usually flee, although they will stand their ground and defend themselves when flight is impossible or if their young are threatened. They also tend to be curious; when startled, they will often hesitate an instant to ascertain the cause of their fright, and may not always flee from something that they perceive as non-threatening. Most light horse riding breeds were developed for speed, agility, alertness and endurance; natural qualities that extend from their wild ancestors. However, through selective breeding, some breeds of horses are quite docile, particularly certain draft horses.

  

Horses fighting as part of herd dominance behaviour

Horses are herd animals, with a clear hierarchy of rank, led by a dominant individual, usually a mare. They are also social creatures that are able to form companionship attachments to their own species and to other animals, including humans. They communicate in various ways, including vocalizations such as nickering or whinnying, mutual grooming, and body language. Many horses will become difficult to manage if they are isolated, but with training, horses can learn to accept a human as a companion, and thus be comfortable away from other horses. However, when confined with insufficient companionship, exercise, or stimulation, individuals may develop stable vices, an assortment of bad habits, mostly stereotypies of psychological origin, that include wood chewing, wall kicking, "weaving" (rocking back and forth), and other problems.

 

Intelligence and learning

Studies have indicated that horses perform a number of cognitive tasks on a daily basis, meeting mental challenges that include food procurement and identification of individuals within a social system. They also have good spatial discrimination abilities. They are naturally curious and apt to investigate things they have not seen before. Studies have assessed equine intelligence in areas such as problem solving, speed of learning, and memory. Horses excel at simple learning, but also are able to use more advanced cognitive abilities that involve categorization and concept learning. They can learn using habituation, desensitization, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning, and positive and negative reinforcement. One study has indicated that horses can differentiate between "more or less" if the quantity involved is less than four.

 

Domesticated horses may face greater mental challenges than wild horses, because they live in artificial environments that prevent instinctive behavior whilst also learning tasks that are not natural. Horses are animals of habit that respond well to regimentation, and respond best when the same routines and techniques are used consistently. One trainer believes that "intelligent" horses are reflections of intelligent trainers who effectively use response conditioning techniques and positive reinforcement to train in the style that best fits with an individual animal's natural inclinations.

 

Temperament

Horses are mammals, and as such are warm-blooded, or endothermic creatures, as opposed to cold-blooded, or poikilothermic animals. However, these words have developed a separate meaning in the context of equine terminology, used to describe temperament, not body temperature. For example, the "hot-bloods", such as many race horses, exhibit more sensitivity and energy, while the "cold-bloods", such as most draft breeds, are quieter and calmer. Sometimes "hot-bloods" are classified as "light horses" or "riding horses", with the "cold-bloods" classified as "draft horses" or "work horses".

 

a sepia-toned engraving from an old book, showing 11 horses of different breeds and sizes in nine different illustrations

Illustration of assorted breeds; slim, light hotbloods, medium-sized warmbloods and draft and pony-type coldblood breeds

"Hot blooded" breeds include "oriental horses" such as the Akhal-Teke, Arabian horse, Barb, and now-extinct Turkoman horse, as well as the Thoroughbred, a breed developed in England from the older oriental breeds. Hot bloods tend to be spirited, bold, and learn quickly. They are bred for agility and speed. They tend to be physically refined—thin-skinned, slim, and long-legged. The original oriental breeds were brought to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa when European breeders wished to infuse these traits into racing and light cavalry horses.

 

Muscular, heavy draft horses are known as "cold bloods", as they are bred not only for strength, but also to have the calm, patient temperament needed to pull a plow or a heavy carriage full of people. They are sometimes nicknamed "gentle giants". Well-known draft breeds include the Belgian and the Clydesdale. Some, like the Percheron, are lighter and livelier, developed to pull carriages or to plow large fields in drier climates. Others, such as the Shire, are slower and more powerful, bred to plow fields with heavy, clay-based soils. The cold-blooded group also includes some pony breeds.

 

"Warmblood" breeds, such as the Trakehner or Hanoverian, developed when European carriage and war horses were crossed with Arabians or Thoroughbreds, producing a riding horse with more refinement than a draft horse, but greater size and milder temperament than a lighter breed. Certain pony breeds with warmblood characteristics have been developed for smaller riders. Warmbloods are considered a "light horse" or "riding horse".

 

Today, the term "Warmblood" refers to a specific subset of sport horse breeds that are used for competition in dressage and show jumping. Strictly speaking, the term "warm blood" refers to any cross between cold-blooded and hot-blooded breeds. Examples include breeds such as the Irish Draught or the Cleveland Bay. The term was once used to refer to breeds of light riding horse other than Thoroughbreds or Arabians, such as the Morgan horse.

 

Sleep patterns

When horses lie down to sleep, others in the herd remain standing, awake, or in a light doze, keeping watch.

Horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. In an adaptation from life in the wild, horses are able to enter light sleep by using a "stay apparatus" in their legs, allowing them to doze without collapsing. Horses sleep better when in groups because some animals will sleep while others stand guard to watch for predators. A horse kept alone will not sleep well because its instincts are to keep a constant eye out for danger.

 

Unlike humans, horses do not sleep in a solid, unbroken period of time, but take many short periods of rest. Horses spend four to fifteen hours a day in standing rest, and from a few minutes to several hours lying down. Total sleep time in a 24-hour period may range from several minutes to a couple of hours, mostly in short intervals of about 15 minutes each. The average sleep time of a domestic horse is said to be 2.9 hours per day.

 

Horses must lie down to reach REM sleep. They only have to lie down for an hour or two every few days to meet their minimum REM sleep requirements. However, if a horse is never allowed to lie down, after several days it will become sleep-deprived, and in rare cases may suddenly collapse as it involuntarily slips into REM sleep while still standing. This condition differs from narcolepsy, although horses may also suffer from that disorder.

 

Taxonomy and evolution

The horse adapted to survive in areas of wide-open terrain with sparse vegetation, surviving in an ecosystem where other large grazing animals, especially ruminants, could not. Horses and other equids are odd-toed ungulates of the order Perissodactyla, a group of mammals dominant during the Tertiary period. In the past, this order contained 14 families, but only three—Equidae (the horse and related species), Tapiridae (the tapir), and Rhinocerotidae (the rhinoceroses)—have survived to the present day.

 

The earliest known member of the family Equidae was the Hyracotherium, which lived between 45 and 55 million years ago, during the Eocene period. It had 4 toes on each front foot, and 3 toes on each back foot. The extra toe on the front feet soon disappeared with the Mesohippus, which lived 32 to 37 million years ago. Over time, the extra side toes shrank in size until they vanished. All that remains of them in modern horses is a set of small vestigial bones on the leg below the knee, known informally as splint bones. Their legs also lengthened as their toes disappeared until they were a hooved animal capable of running at great speed. By about 5 million years ago, the modern Equus had evolved. Equid teeth also evolved from browsing on soft, tropical plants to adapt to browsing of drier plant material, then to grazing of tougher plains grasses. Thus proto-horses changed from leaf-eating forest-dwellers to grass-eating inhabitants of semi-arid regions worldwide, including the steppes of Eurasia and the Great Plains of North America.

 

By about 15,000 years ago, Equus ferus was a widespread holarctic species. Horse bones from this time period, the late Pleistocene, are found in Europe, Eurasia, Beringia, and North America. Yet between 10,000 and 7,600 years ago, the horse became extinct in North America. The reasons for this extinction are not fully known, but one theory notes that extinction in North America paralleled human arrival. Another theory points to climate change, noting that approximately 12,500 years ago, the grasses characteristic of a steppe ecosystem gave way to shrub tundra, which was covered with unpalatable plants.

 

Wild species surviving into modern times

Three tan-colored horses with upright manes. Two horses nip and paw at each other, while the third moves towards the camera. They stand in an open, rocky grassland, with forests in the distance.

 

Main article: Wild horse

A truly wild horse is a species or subspecies with no ancestors that were ever successfully domesticated. Therefore, most "wild" horses today are actually feral horses, animals that escaped or were turned loose from domestic herds and the descendants of those animals. Only two wild subspecies, the tarpan and the Przewalski's horse, survived into recorded history and only the latter survives today.

 

The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), named after the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, is a rare Asian animal. It is also known as the Mongolian wild horse; Mongolian people know it as the taki, and the Kyrgyz people call it a kirtag. The subspecies was presumed extinct in the wild between 1969 and 1992, while a small breeding population survived in zoos around the world. In 1992, it was reestablished in the wild by the conservation efforts of numerous zoos. Today, a small wild breeding population exists in Mongolia. There are additional animals still maintained at zoos throughout the world.

 

The question of whether the Przewalski's horse was ever domesticated was challenged in 2018 when DNA studies of horses found at Botai culture sites revealed captured animals with DNA markers of an ancestor to the Przewalski's horse. The study concluded that the Botai animals appear to have been an independent domestication attempt and apparently unsuccessful, as these genetic markers do not appear in modern domesticated horses. However, the question of whether all Przewalski's horses descend from this population is also unresolved, as only one of seven modern Przewalski's horses in the study shared this ancestry.

 

The tarpan or European wild horse (Equus ferus ferus) was found in Europe and much of Asia. It survived into the historical era, but became extinct in 1909, when the last captive died in a Russian zoo. Thus, the genetic line was lost. Attempts have been made to recreate the tarpan, which resulted in horses with outward physical similarities, but nonetheless descended from domesticated ancestors and not true wild horses.

 

Periodically, populations of horses in isolated areas are speculated to be relict populations of wild horses, but generally have been proven to be feral or domestic. For example, the Riwoche horse of Tibet was proposed as such, but testing did not reveal genetic differences from domesticated horses. Similarly, the Sorraia of Portugal was proposed as a direct descendant of the Tarpan on the basis of shared characteristics, but genetic studies have shown that the Sorraia is more closely related to other horse breeds, and that the outward similarity is an unreliable measure of relatedness.

 

Other modern equids

Main article: Equus (genus)

Besides the horse, there are six other species of genus Equus in the Equidae family. These are the ass or donkey, Equus asinus; the mountain zebra, Equus zebra; plains zebra, Equus quagga; Grévy's Zebra, Equus grevyi; the kiang, Equus kiang; and the onager, Equus hemionus.

 

Horses can crossbreed with other members of their genus. The most common hybrid is the mule, a cross between a "jack" (male donkey) and a mare. A related hybrid, a hinny, is a cross between a stallion and a "jenny" (female donkey). Other hybrids include the zorse, a cross between a zebra and a horse. With rare exceptions, most hybrids are sterile and cannot reproduce.

 

Main articles: History of horse domestication theories and Domestication of the horse

Domestication of the horse most likely took place in central Asia prior to 3500 BCE. Two major sources of information are used to determine where and when the horse was first domesticated and how the domesticated horse spread around the world. The first source is based on palaeological and archaeological discoveries; the second source is a comparison of DNA obtained from modern horses to that from bones and teeth of ancient horse remains.

 

The earliest archaeological evidence for the domestication of the horse comes from sites in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, dating to approximately 4000–3500 BCE. By 3000 BCE, the horse was completely domesticated and by 2000 BCE there was a sharp increase in the number of horse bones found in human settlements in northwestern Europe, indicating the spread of domesticated horses throughout the continent. The most recent, but most irrefutable evidence of domestication comes from sites where horse remains were interred with chariots in graves of the Sintashta and Petrovka cultures c. 2100 BCE.

 

A 2021 genetic study suggested that most modern domestic horses descend from the lower Volga-Don region. Ancient horse genomes indicate that these populations influenced almost all local populations as they expanded rapidly throughout Eurasia, beginning about 4,200 years ago. It also shows that certain adaptations were strongly selected due to riding, and that equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots spread with the horse itself.

 

Domestication is also studied by using the genetic material of present-day horses and comparing it with the genetic material present in the bones and teeth of horse remains found in archaeological and palaeological excavations. The variation in the genetic material shows that very few wild stallions contributed to the domestic horse, while many mares were part of early domesticated herds. This is reflected in the difference in genetic variation between the DNA that is passed on along the paternal, or sire line (Y-chromosome) versus that passed on along the maternal, or dam line (mitochondrial DNA). There are very low levels of Y-chromosome variability, but a great deal of genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA. There is also regional variation in mitochondrial DNA due to the inclusion of wild mares in domestic herds. Another characteristic of domestication is an increase in coat color variation. In horses, this increased dramatically between 5000 and 3000 BCE.

 

Before the availability of DNA techniques to resolve the questions related to the domestication of the horse, various hypotheses were proposed. One classification was based on body types and conformation, suggesting the presence of four basic prototypes that had adapted to their environment prior to domestication. Another hypothesis held that the four prototypes originated from a single wild species and that all different body types were entirely a result of selective breeding after domestication. However, the lack of a detectable substructure in the horse has resulted in a rejection of both hypotheses.

 

Main article: Feral horse

Feral horses are born and live in the wild, but are descended from domesticated animals. Many populations of feral horses exist throughout the world. Studies of feral herds have provided useful insights into the behavior of prehistoric horses, as well as greater understanding of the instincts and behaviors that drive horses that live in domesticated conditions.

 

There are also semi-feral horses in many parts of the world, such as Dartmoor and the New Forest in the UK, where the animals are all privately owned but live for significant amounts of time in "wild" conditions on undeveloped, often public, lands. Owners of such animals often pay a fee for grazing rights.

 

Main articles: Horse breed, List of horse breeds, and Horse breeding

The concept of purebred bloodstock and a controlled, written breed registry has come to be particularly significant and important in modern times. Sometimes purebred horses are incorrectly or inaccurately called "thoroughbreds". Thoroughbred is a specific breed of horse, while a "purebred" is a horse (or any other animal) with a defined pedigree recognized by a breed registry. Horse breeds are groups of horses with distinctive characteristics that are transmitted consistently to their offspring, such as conformation, color, performance ability, or disposition. These inherited traits result from a combination of natural crosses and artificial selection methods. Horses have been selectively bred since their domestication. An early example of people who practiced selective horse breeding were the Bedouin, who had a reputation for careful practices, keeping extensive pedigrees of their Arabian horses and placing great value upon pure bloodlines. These pedigrees were originally transmitted via an oral tradition. In the 14th century, Carthusian monks of southern Spain kept meticulous pedigrees of bloodstock lineages still found today in the Andalusian horse.

 

Breeds developed due to a need for "form to function", the necessity to develop certain characteristics in order to perform a particular type of work. Thus, a powerful but refined breed such as the Andalusian developed as riding horses with an aptitude for dressage. Heavy draft horses were developed out of a need to perform demanding farm work and pull heavy wagons. Other horse breeds had been developed specifically for light agricultural work, carriage and road work, various sport disciplines, or simply as pets. Some breeds developed through centuries of crossing other breeds, while others descended from a single foundation sire, or other limited or restricted foundation bloodstock. One of the earliest formal registries was General Stud Book for Thoroughbreds, which began in 1791 and traced back to the foundation bloodstock for the breed. There are more than 300 horse breeds in the world today.

 

Interaction with humans

Worldwide, horses play a role within human cultures and have done so for millennia. Horses are used for leisure activities, sports, and working purposes. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that in 2008, there were almost 59,000,000 horses in the world, with around 33,500,000 in the Americas, 13,800,000 in Asia and 6,300,000 in Europe and smaller portions in Africa and Oceania. There are estimated to be 9,500,000 horses in the United States alone. The American Horse Council estimates that horse-related activities have a direct impact on the economy of the United States of over $39 billion, and when indirect spending is considered, the impact is over $102 billion. In a 2004 "poll" conducted by Animal Planet, more than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted for the horse as the world's 4th favorite animal.

 

Communication between human and horse is paramount in any equestrian activity; to aid this process horses are usually ridden with a saddle on their backs to assist the rider with balance and positioning, and a bridle or related headgear to assist the rider in maintaining control. Sometimes horses are ridden without a saddle, and occasionally, horses are trained to perform without a bridle or other headgear. Many horses are also driven, which requires a harness, bridle, and some type of vehicle.

 

Main articles: Equestrianism, Horse racing, Horse training, and Horse tack

Historically, equestrians honed their skills through games and races. Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and honed the excellent horsemanship that was needed in battle. Many sports, such as dressage, eventing, and show jumping, have origins in military training, which were focused on control and balance of both horse and rider. Other sports, such as rodeo, developed from practical skills such as those needed on working ranches and stations. Sport hunting from horseback evolved from earlier practical hunting techniques. Horse racing of all types evolved from impromptu competitions between riders or drivers. All forms of competition, requiring demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider, resulted in the systematic development of specialized breeds and equipment for each sport. The popularity of equestrian sports through the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have disappeared after horses stopped being used in combat.

 

Horses are trained to be ridden or driven in a variety of sporting competitions. Examples include show jumping, dressage, three-day eventing, competitive driving, endurance riding, gymkhana, rodeos, and fox hunting. Horse shows, which have their origins in medieval European fairs, are held around the world. They host a huge range of classes, covering all of the mounted and harness disciplines, as well as "In-hand" classes where the horses are led, rather than ridden, to be evaluated on their conformation. The method of judging varies with the discipline, but winning usually depends on style and ability of both horse and rider. Sports such as polo do not judge the horse itself, but rather use the horse as a partner for human competitors as a necessary part of the game. Although the horse requires specialized training to participate, the details of its performance are not judged, only the result of the rider's actions—be it getting a ball through a goal or some other task. Examples of these sports of partnership between human and horse include jousting, in which the main goal is for one rider to unseat the other, and buzkashi, a team game played throughout Central Asia, the aim being to capture a goat carcass while on horseback.

 

Horse racing is an equestrian sport and major international industry, watched in almost every nation of the world. There are three types: "flat" racing; steeplechasing, i.e. racing over jumps; and harness racing, where horses trot or pace while pulling a driver in a small, light cart known as a sulky. A major part of horse racing's economic importance lies in the gambling associated with it.

 

Work

There are certain jobs that horses do very well, and no technology has yet developed to fully replace them. For example, mounted police horses are still effective for certain types of patrol duties and crowd control. Cattle ranches still require riders on horseback to round up cattle that are scattered across remote, rugged terrain. Search and rescue organizations in some countries depend upon mounted teams to locate people, particularly hikers and children, and to provide disaster relief assistance. Horses can also be used in areas where it is necessary to avoid vehicular disruption to delicate soil, such as nature reserves. They may also be the only form of transport allowed in wilderness areas. Horses are quieter than motorized vehicles. Law enforcement officers such as park rangers or game wardens may use horses for patrols, and horses or mules may also be used for clearing trails or other work in areas of rough terrain where vehicles are less effective.

 

Although machinery has replaced horses in many parts of the world, an estimated 100 million horses, donkeys and mules are still used for agriculture and transportation in less developed areas. This number includes around 27 million working animals in Africa alone. Some land management practices such as cultivating and logging can be efficiently performed with horses. In agriculture, less fossil fuel is used and increased environmental conservation occurs over time with the use of draft animals such as horses. Logging with horses can result in reduced damage to soil structure and less damage to trees due to more selective logging.

 

Main article: Horses in warfare

Horses have been used in warfare for most of recorded history. The first archaeological evidence of horses used in warfare dates to between 4000 and 3000 BCE, and the use of horses in warfare was widespread by the end of the Bronze Age. Although mechanization has largely replaced the horse as a weapon of war, horses are still seen today in limited military uses, mostly for ceremonial purposes, or for reconnaissance and transport activities in areas of rough terrain where motorized vehicles are ineffective. Horses have been used in the 21st century by the Janjaweed militias in the War in Darfur.

 

Entertainment and culture

Modern horses are often used to reenact many of their historical work purposes. Horses are used, complete with equipment that is authentic or a meticulously recreated replica, in various live action historical reenactments of specific periods of history, especially recreations of famous battles. Horses are also used to preserve cultural traditions and for ceremonial purposes. Countries such as the United Kingdom still use horse-drawn carriages to convey royalty and other VIPs to and from certain culturally significant events. Public exhibitions are another example, such as the Budweiser Clydesdales, seen in parades and other public settings, a team of draft horses that pull a beer wagon similar to that used before the invention of the modern motorized truck.

 

Horses are frequently used in television, films and literature. They are sometimes featured as a major character in films about particular animals, but also used as visual elements that assure the accuracy of historical stories. Both live horses and iconic images of horses are used in advertising to promote a variety of products. The horse frequently appears in coats of arms in heraldry, in a variety of poses and equipment. The mythologies of many cultures, including Greco-Roman, Hindu, Islamic, and Germanic, include references to both normal horses and those with wings or additional limbs, and multiple myths also call upon the horse to draw the chariots of the Moon and Sun. The horse also appears in the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

 

Horses serve as the inspiration for many modern automobile names and logos, including the Ford Pinto, Ford Bronco, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Pony, Mitsubishi Starion, Subaru Brumby, Mitsubishi Colt/Dodge Colt, Pinzgauer, Steyr-Puch Haflinger, Pegaso, Porsche, Rolls-Royce Camargue, Ferrari, Carlsson, Kamaz, Corre La Licorne, Iran Khodro, Eicher, and Baojun. Indian TVS Motor Company also uses a horse on their motorcycles & scooters.

 

Therapeutic use

People of all ages with physical and mental disabilities obtain beneficial results from an association with horses. Therapeutic riding is used to mentally and physically stimulate disabled persons and help them improve their lives through improved balance and coordination, increased self-confidence, and a greater feeling of freedom and independence. The benefits of equestrian activity for people with disabilities has also been recognized with the addition of equestrian events to the Paralympic Games and recognition of para-equestrian events by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding are names for different physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatment strategies that use equine movement. In hippotherapy, a therapist uses the horse's movement to improve their patient's cognitive, coordination, balance, and fine motor skills, whereas therapeutic horseback riding uses specific riding skills.

 

Horses also provide psychological benefits to people whether they actually ride or not. "Equine-assisted" or "equine-facilitated" therapy is a form of experiential psychotherapy that uses horses as companion animals to assist people with mental illness, including anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, behavioral difficulties, and those who are going through major life changes. There are also experimental programs using horses in prison settings. Exposure to horses appears to improve the behavior of inmates and help reduce recidivism when they leave.

 

Products

Horses are raw material for many products made by humans throughout history, including byproducts from the slaughter of horses as well as materials collected from living horses.

 

Products collected from living horses include mare's milk, used by people with large horse herds, such as the Mongols, who let it ferment to produce kumis. Horse blood was once used as food by the Mongols and other nomadic tribes, who found it a convenient source of nutrition when traveling. Drinking their own horses' blood allowed the Mongols to ride for extended periods of time without stopping to eat. The drug Premarin is a mixture of estrogens extracted from the urine of pregnant mares (pregnant mares' urine), and was previously a widely used drug for hormone replacement therapy. The tail hair of horses can be used for making bows for string instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

 

Horse meat has been used as food for humans and carnivorous animals throughout the ages. Approximately 5 million horses are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide. It is eaten in many parts of the world, though consumption is taboo in some cultures, and a subject of political controversy in others. Horsehide leather has been used for boots, gloves, jackets, baseballs, and baseball gloves. Horse hooves can also be used to produce animal glue. Horse bones can be used to make implements. Specifically, in Italian cuisine, the horse tibia is sharpened into a probe called a spinto, which is used to test the readiness of a (pig) ham as it cures. In Asia, the saba is a horsehide vessel used in the production of kumis.

 

Main article: Horse care

Checking teeth and other physical examinations are an important part of horse care.

Horses are grazing animals, and their major source of nutrients is good-quality forage from hay or pasture. They can consume approximately 2% to 2.5% of their body weight in dry feed each day. Therefore, a 450-kilogram (990 lb) adult horse could eat up to 11 kilograms (24 lb) of food. Sometimes, concentrated feed such as grain is fed in addition to pasture or hay, especially when the animal is very active. When grain is fed, equine nutritionists recommend that 50% or more of the animal's diet by weight should still be forage.

 

Horses require a plentiful supply of clean water, a minimum of 38 to 45 litres (10 to 12 US gal) per day. Although horses are adapted to live outside, they require shelter from the wind and precipitation, which can range from a simple shed or shelter to an elaborate stable.

 

Horses require routine hoof care from a farrier, as well as vaccinations to protect against various diseases, and dental examinations from a veterinarian or a specialized equine dentist. If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. When turned outside, they require well-maintained, sturdy fences to be safely contained. Regular grooming is also helpful to help the horse maintain good health of the hair coat and underlying skin.

 

Climate change

As of 2019, there are around 17 million horses in the world. Healthy body temperature for adult horses is in the range between 37.5 and 38.5 °C (99.5 and 101.3 °F), which they can maintain while ambient temperatures are between 5 and 25 °C (41 and 77 °F). However, strenuous exercise increases core body temperature by 1 °C (1.8 °F)/minute, as 80% of the energy used by equine muscles is released as heat. Along with bovines and primates, equines are the only animal group which use sweating as their primary method of thermoregulation: in fact, it can account for up to 70% of their heat loss, and horses sweat three times more than humans while undergoing comparably strenuous physical activity. Unlike humans, this sweat is created not by eccrine glands but by apocrine glands. In hot conditions, horses during three hours of moderate-intersity exercise can loss 30 to 35 L of water and 100g of sodium, 198 g of choloride and 45 g of potassium. In another difference from humans, their sweat is hypertonic, and contains a protein called latherin, which enables it to spread across their body easier, and to foam, rather than to drip off. These adaptations are partly to compensate for their lower body surface-to-mass ratio, which makes it more difficult for horses to passively radiate heat. Yet, prolonged exposure to very hot and/or humid conditions will lead to consequences such as anhidrosis, heat stroke, or brain damage, potentially culminating in death if not addressed with measures like cold water applications. Additionally, around 10% of incidents associated with horse transport have been attributed to heat stress. These issues are expected to worsen in the future.

 

African horse sickness (AHS) is a viral illness with a mortality close to 90% in horses, and 50% in mules. A midge, Culicoides imicola, is the primary vector of AHS, and its spread is expected to benefit from climate change. The spillover of Hendra virus from its flying fox hosts to horses is also likely to increase, as future warming would expand the hosts' geographic range. It has been estimated that under the "moderate" and high climate change scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the number of threatened horses would increase by 110,000 and 165,000, respectively, or by 175 and 260%

Carrocería/Bodywork: Noge Touring Gold HD

 

Chassis: MAN 26.420 HOCLN-SD

 

Lote/Batch info: 1/5 - 5 total (1717-1726)

 

Matricula/Plate: 0316-KPX

 

Longitud/Length: 15m

 

Servicio/Service: 2018 - En curso/Ongoing

 

Info (SP): Para las rutas aeroportuarias siempre se han realizado compras excepcionales para cubrir dichas rutas. Sin embargo el tener que equipar vehiculos discrecionales para el transporte interurbano, asi como la falta de accesibilidad y longitud fueron determinantes a la hora de renovar esta parte de la flota. Por ello la empresa aposto (por primera vez) en la carrocera Noge, a quienes encargaron diez unidades de quince metros de los cuales seis han sido permanentemente asignados a cubrir las rutas aeroportuarias (de ahi la distintiva pintura exterior).

 

Info (EN): For all airport routes exceptional purchases were made for their coverage. However the intense modifications vehicles had to undergo, the difficulty of access and length of the vehicle required a makeover. As a result, Global decided to take a chance with coach builder Noge, whom they placed a first order of ten 15m long buses from which six were permanently assigned for airport routes (as indicated by their distinctive livery)

Definition

absolutism doctrine of government by a single absolute ruler; autocracy

absurdism doctrine that we live in an irrational universe

academicism doctrine that nothing can be known

accidentalism theory that events do not have causes

acosmism disbelief in existence of eternal universe distinct from God

adamitism nakedness for religious reasons

adevism denial of gods of mythology and legend

adiaphorism doctrine of theological indifference or latitudinarianism

adoptionism belief that Christ was the adopted and not natural son of God

aestheticism doctrine that beauty is central to other moral principles

agapism ethics of love

agathism belief in ultimate triumph of good despite evil means

agnosticism doctrine that we can know nothing beyond material phenomena

anarchism doctrine that all governments should be abolished

animism attribution of soul to inanimate objects

annihilationism doctrine that the wicked are utterly destroyed after death

anthropomorphism attribution of human qualities to non-human things

anthropotheism belief that gods are only deified men

antidisestablishmentarianism doctrine opposed to removing Church of England's official religion status

antilapsarianism denial of doctrine of the fall of humanity

antinomianism doctrine of the rejection of moral law

antipedobaptism denial of validity of infant baptism

apocalypticism doctrine of the imminent end of the world

asceticism doctrine that self-denial of the body permits spiritual enlightenment

aspheterism denial of the right to private property

atheism belief that there is no God

atomism belief that the universe consists of small indivisible particles

autosoterism belief that one can obtain salvation through oneself

autotheism belief that one is God incarnate or that one is Christ

bitheism belief in two gods

bonism the doctrine that the world is good but not perfect

bullionism belief in the importance of metallic currency in economics

capitalism doctrine that private ownership and free markets should govern economies

casualism the belief that chance governs all things

catabaptism belief in the wrongness of infant baptism

catastrophism belief in rapid geological and biological change

collectivism doctrine of communal control of means of production

collegialism theory that church is independent from the state

conceptualism theory that universal truths exist as mental concepts

conservatism belief in maintaining political and social traditions

constructivism belief that knowledge and reality do not have an objective value

cosmism belief that the cosmos is a self-existing whole

cosmotheism the belief that identifies God with the cosmos

deism belief in God but rejection of religion

determinism doctrine that events are predetermined by preceding events or laws

diphysitism belief in the dual nature of Christ

ditheism belief in two equal gods, one good and one evil

ditheletism doctrine that Christ had two wills

dualism doctrine that the universe is controlled by one good and one evil force

egalitarianism belief that humans ought to be equal in rights and privileges

egoism doctrine that the pursuit of self-interest is the highest good

egotheism identification of oneself with God

eidolism belief in ghosts

emotivism theory that moral statements are inherently biased

empiricism doctrine that the experience of the senses is the only source of knowledge

entryism doctrine of joining a group to change its policies

epiphenomenalism doctrine that mental processes are epiphenomena of brain activity

eternalism the belief that matter has existed eternally

eudaemonism ethical belief that happiness equals morality

euhemerism explanation of mythology as growing out of history

existentialism doctrine of individual human responsibility in an unfathomable universe

experientialism doctrine that knowledge comes from experience

fallibilism the doctrine that empirical knowledge is uncertain

fatalism doctrine that events are fixed and humans are powerless

fideism doctrine that knowledge depends on faith over reason

finalism belief that an end has or can be reached

fortuitism belief in evolution by chance variation

functionalism doctrine emphasising utility and function

geocentrism belief that Earth is the centre of the universe

gnosticism belief that freedom derives solely from knowledge

gradualism belief that things proceed by degrees

gymnobiblism belief that the Bible can be presented to unlearned without commentary

hedonism belief that pleasure is the highest good

henism doctrine that there is only one kind of existence

henotheism belief in one tribal god, but not as the only god

historicism belief that all phenomena are historically determined

holism doctrine that parts of any thing must be understood in relation to the whole

holobaptism belief in baptism with total immersion in water

humanism belief that human interests and mind are paramount

humanitarianism doctrine that the highest moral obligation is to improve human welfare

hylicism materialism

hylomorphism belief that matter is cause of the universe

hylopathism belief in ability of matter to affect the spiritual world

hylotheism belief that the universe is purely material

hylozoism doctrine that all matter is endowed with life

idealism belief that our experiences of the world consist of ideas

identism doctrine that objective and subjective, or matter and mind, are identical

ignorantism doctrine that ignorance is a favourable thing

illuminism belief in an inward spiritual light

illusionism belief that the external world is philosophy

imagism doctrine of use of precise images with unrestricted subject

immanentism belief in an immanent or permanent god

immaterialism the doctrine that there is no material substance

immoralism rejection of morality

indifferentism the belief that all religions are equally valid

individualism belief that individual interests and rights are paramount

instrumentalism doctrine that ideas are instruments of action

intellectualism belief that all knowledge is derived from reason

interactionism belief that mind and body act on each other

introspectionism doctrine that knowledge of mind must derive from introspection

intuitionism belief that the perception of truth is by intuition

irreligionism system of belief that is hostile to religions

kathenotheism polytheism in which each god is considered single and supreme

kenotism doctrine that Christ rid himself of divinity in becoming human

laicism doctrine of opposition to clergy and priests

latitudinarianism doctrine of broad liberality in religious belief and conduct

laxism belief that an unlikely opinion may be safely followed

legalism belief that salvation depends on strict adherence to the law

liberalism doctrine of social change and tolerance

libertarianism doctrine that personal liberty is the highest value

malism the belief that the world is evil

materialism belief that matter is the only extant substance

mechanism belief that life is explainable by mechanical forces

meliorism the belief the world tends to become better

mentalism belief that the world can be explained as aspect of the mind

messianism belief in a single messiah or saviour

millenarianism belief that an ideal society will be produced in the near future

modalism belief in unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

monadism theory that there exist ultimate units of being

monergism theory that the Holy Spirit alone can act

monism belief that all things can be placed in one category

monophysitism belief that Christ was primarily divine but in human form

monopsychism belief that individuals have a single eternal soul

monotheism belief in only one God

monotheletism belief that Christ had only one will

mortalism belief that the soul is mortal

mutualism belief in mutual dependence of society and the individual

nativism belief that the mind possesses inborn thoughts

naturalism belief that the world can be explained in terms of natural forces

necessarianism theory that actions are determined by prior history; fatalism

neonomianism theory that the gospel abrogates earlier moral codes

neovitalism theory that total material explanation is impossible

nihilism denial of all reality; extreme scepticism

nominalism doctrine that naming of things defines reality

nomism view that moral conduct consists in observance of laws

noumenalism belief in existence of noumena

nullibilism denial that the soul exists in space

numenism belief in local deities or spirits

objectivism doctrine that all reality is objective

omnism belief in all religions

optimism doctrine that we live in the best of all possible worlds

organicism conception of life or society as an organism

paedobaptism doctrine of infant baptism

panaesthetism theory that consciousness may inhere generally in matter

pancosmism theory that the material universe is all that exists

panegoism solipsism

panentheism belief that world is part but not all of God’s being

panpsychism theory that all nature has a psychic side

pansexualism theory that all thought derived from sexual instinct

panspermatism belief in origin of life from extraterrestrial germs

pantheism belief that the universe is God; belief in many gods

panzoism belief that humans and animals share vital life energy

parallelism belief that matter and mind don’t interact but relate

pejorism severe pessimism

perfectibilism doctrine that humans capable of becoming perfect

perfectionism doctrine that moral perfection constitutes the highest value

personalism doctrine that humans possess spiritual freedom

pessimism doctrine that the universe is essentially evil

phenomenalism belief that phenomena are the only realities

physicalism belief that all phenomena reducible to verifiable assertions

physitheism attribution of physical form and attributes to deities

pluralism belief that reality consists of several kinds or entities

polytheism belief in multiple deities

positivism doctrine that that which is not observable is not knowable

pragmatism doctrine emphasizing practical value of philosophy

predestinarianism belief that what ever is to happen is already fixed

prescriptivism belief that moral edicts are merely orders with no truth value

primitivism doctrine that a simple and natural life is morally best

privatism attitude of avoiding involvement in outside interests

probabiliorism belief that when in doubt one must choose most likely answer

probabilism belief that knowledge is always probable but never absolute

psilanthropism denial of Christ's divinity

psychism belief in universal soul

psychomorphism doctrine that inanimate objects have human mentality

psychopannychism belief souls sleep from death to resurrection

psychotheism doctrine that God is a purely spiritual entity

pyrrhonism total or radical skepticism

quietism doctrine of enlightenment through mental tranquility

racism belief that race is the primary determinant of human capacities

rationalism belief that reason is the fundamental source of knowledge

realism doctrine that objects of cognition are real

reductionism belief that complex phenomena are reducible to simple ones

regalism doctrine of the monarch's supremacy in church affairs

representationalism doctrine that ideas rather than external objects are basis of knowledge

republicanism belief that a republic is the best form of government

resistentialism humorous theory that inanimate objects display malice towards humans

romanticism belief in sentimental feeling in artistic expression

sacerdotalism belief that priests are necessary mediators between God and mankind

sacramentarianism belief that sacraments have unusual properties

scientism belief that the methods of science are universally applicable

self-determinism doctrine that the actions of a self are determined by itself

sensationalism belief that ideas originate solely in sensation

siderism belief that the stars influence human affairs

skepticism doctrine that true knowledge is always uncertain

socialism doctrine of centralized state control of wealth and property

solarism excessive use of solar myths in explaining mythology

solifidianism doctrine that faith alone will ensure salvation

solipsism theory that self-existence is the only certainty

somatism materialism

spatialism doctrine that matter has only spatial, temporal and causal properties

spiritualism belief that nothing is real except the soul or spirit

stercoranism belief that the consecrated Eucharist is digested and evacuated

stoicism belief in indifference to pleasure or pain

subjectivism doctrine that all knowledge is subjective

substantialism belief that there is a real existence underlying phenomena

syndicalism doctrine of direct worker control of capital

synergism belief that human will and divine spirit cooperate in salvation

terminism doctrine that there is a time limit for repentance

thanatism belief that the soul dies with the body

theism belief in the existence of God without special revelation

theocentrism belief that God is central fact of existence

theopantism belief that God is the only reality

theopsychism belief that the soul is of a divine nature

thnetopsychism belief that the soul dies with the body, to be reborn on day of judgement

titanism spirit of revolt or defiance against social conventions

tolerationism doctrine of toleration of religious differences

totemism belief that a group has a special kinship with an object or animal

transcendentalism theory that emphasizes that which transcends perception

transmigrationism belief that soul passes into other body at death

trialism doctrine that humans have three separate essences (body, soul, spirit)

tritheism belief that the members of the Trinity are separate gods

triumphalism belief in the superiority of one particular religious creed

tuism theory that individuals have a second or other self

tutiorism doctrine that one should take the safer moral course

tychism theory that accepts role of pure chance

ubiquitarianism belief that Christ is everywhere

undulationism theory that light consists of waves

universalism belief in universal salvation

utilitarianism belief that utility of actions determines moral value

vitalism the doctrine that there is a vital force behind life

voluntarism belief that the will dominates the intellect

zoism doctrine that life originates from a single vital principle

zoomorphism conception of a god or man in animal form

 

Las hormigas son parientes de las avispas, lo que se puede reconocer al ver su delgada cintura, característica que comparten con estas. Ambas pertenecen al grupo de los himenópteros, y ambas, aunque no todas, tienen comportamientos sociales.

Mientras que en las avispas el vuelo es un factor determinante de locomoción, en las hormigas solo tiene significado en el momento del vuelo nupcial, que solo pueden hacerlo reinas y zánganos.

 

ENGLISH

The ants are relatives of the wasps, which can be recognized on having seen its thin waist, characteristic that they share with these. Both belong to the group of the himenópteros, and both, though not all, they have social behaviors.

Whereas in the wasps the flight is a determinant factor of locomotion, in the ants only it has meaning in the moment of the wedding flight, which alone it queens and drones can do.

 

Looking down from the waterfall that fills Lake Ngakoro, an acidic green lake, with the color of this 25 degree Celsius water caused by microbes. The primary determinant of the color, different from the adjacent lakes is life, not minerals or metals.

 

View On Black

We know that raising children is the central experience of life, the greatest source of self-awareness, the true fountain of pride and joy, the most eternal bond with a partner. We know that being a father is life's fullest expression of masculinity. So why did so many men forgo this for so long, and will the current crop of post-patriarchal fathers fare any better?

 

FOR A COUPLE OF hundred years now, each generation of fathers has passed on less and less to his sons--not just less power but less wisdom. And less love. We finally reached a point where many fathers were largely irrelevant in the lives of their sons. The baby was thrown out with the bathwater, and the pater dismissed with the patriarchy. Everyone seemed to be floundering around not knowing what to do with men or with their problematic and disoriented masculinity.

 

In addition, over the same 200 years, each generation of fathers has had less authority than the last. The concept of fatherhood changed drastically after the Industrial Revolution. Economics suddenly dictated that somebody had to go out from the home to work. Men were usually chosen, since they couldn't produce milk. Maybe they would come home at night or just on weekends.

 

As a result, masculinity ceased to be defined in terms of domestic involvement-that is, skills at fathering and husbanding -and began to be defined in terms of making money. Men stopped doing all the things they used to do. Instead, they became primarily Father the Provider, bringing things home to the family rather than living and working at home within the family.

 

This gradually led fathers to find other roles to fulfill when they visited home after working somewhere else: Father the Disciplinarian: "Wait till your father comes home!" and Father the Audience: "Tell Daddy what you did today."

 

FATHER THE PROVIDER

 

If all father's functions were economic, if all his status was measured by how well he provided, the rich and economically powerful father became a potential tyrant; but the father who wasn't rich and famous was an inescapable failure, a disappointment, a buffoon. The father's position in the family was no longer determined by how well he functioned as a father, but was scored by his status in the eyes of the world, in a set of economic contests in which there were few men winning by being the richest of them all, and most men losing.

 

Once a father had moved out of family life and became part of the work crew, family values ceased to be his primary definers of himself. He adopted instead the values and job descriptions of the other workers. His work ceased to be something he did for the sake of his family and became work for the sake of work.

 

He didn't slow down when he'd achieved a level of sufficient comfort; instead, he strove even harder to get the approval of his fellow workers and to earn glory in their eyes. He worked because he worked; that was what he did because that was what he was. He was no longer paterfamilias, he was homolaboriosus. In the endeavors and identity dearest to his heart and heaviest on his schedule, he was a working man, and his family should understand that their claims on his time came second best.

 

In his mind, he had moved out. He had gone to conquer the world.

 

FATHER THE SUCCESS

 

When society decided that raising children was women's work and that making money was the single-minded point of men's lives, fathers became too busy for their children and boys began to grow up without fathers. That would not have been critical if there were uncles and cousins and grandfathers and older brothers around to model masculinity for boys. But our ideas of mental health and the goals of the housing industry required that families trim themselves down to the size of a married couple and their children.

 

Reducing the family to such a tiny, isolated, nuclear unit made it mobile enough for the purposes of industrial society. Workers were no longer rooted in the land or community. Now nothing came between a man and his job. Companies could extract the utmost loyalty from employees by making them a part of the family of work and cut them further away from the family of home. Men on the Daddy Track were severely penalized, much as women on the Mommy Track are now.

 

The children of this generation may grow up with the idea that a father's life is his work, and his family should not expect anything more from him.

 

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I recall one man, talking about the problems of his son, saying, "I don't know what Betty could have done wrong raising that boy. I know it wasn't anything I did, since I was busy working and left it to her. I barely saw the kid so I couldn't have done anything wrong."

 

FATHER HUNGER

 

Life for most boys and for many grown men then is a frustrating search for the lost father who has not yet offered protection, provision, nurturing, modeling, or, especially, anointment. All those tough guys who want to scare the world into seeing them as men and who fill up the jails; all whose men who don't know how to be a man with a woman and who fill up the divorce courts; all those corporate raiders who want more in hopes that more will make them feel better; and all those masculopathic philanderers, contenders, and controllers--all of them are suffering from Father Hunger.

 

They go through their adolescent rituals day after day for a lifetime, waiting for a father to anoint them and treat them as good enough to be considered a man.

 

They call attention to their pain, getting into trouble, getting hurt, doing things that are bad for them, as if they are calling for a father to come take them in hand and straighten them out or at least tell them how a grown man would handle the pain.

 

They competer with other boys who don't get close enough to let them see their shame over not feeling like men, over not having been anointed, and so they don't know that the other boys feel the same way.

 

In a scant 200 years--in some families in a scant two generations--we've gone from a toxic overdose of fathering to a fatal deficiency. It's not that we have too much mother but too little father.

 

THE MYTHS OF MASCULINITY

 

Our modern mythmakers are busy tackling the relationships between fathers and sons to find connections between pre-patriarchal and post-patriarchal consciousness, between the old fear of the too-powerful father and the new longing for a father to love and teach and anoint us.

 

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The pain and grief and shame from the failed father-son relationship seem universal, as evidenced in the popular movies of the past few decades which had father-and-son themes that overshadowed anything going on between men and women.

 

Father-son myths attracted huge audiences in the 1970s and '80s. Men feared being like their fathers, but they wanted desperately to bond with them even if they could never really please them enough to feel anointed.

 

In 1989, the film that set the tone for the Men's Movement was Field of Dreams. Baseball, with its clear and polite rules and all its statistics and players who are normal men and boys rather than oversize freaks, is a man's metaphor for life.

 

In this magical fantasy, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) tells us his life story: how his mother died when he was two so his father gave up his efforts to play pro baseball in order to raise his son.

 

Costner hears a voice from his cornfield telling him "If you build it, he will come." He understands the message to mean that if he mows his cornfield and builds a baseball diamond, his father's hero, Joe Jackson, will appear. He does. Then Costner's dad appears in his baseball uniform, and father and son solemnly play a belated game of catch. Father and son don't talk much, they just play catch with total solemnity. And it is quite enough.

 

What goes on between the father and son-and what does not go on between them--is surely the most important determinant of whether the boy will become a man capable of giving life to others or whether he will go through life ashamed and pulling back from exposure to intimacy with men, women, and children.

 

A NEW GENERATION OF NURTURERS

 

It takes the fulfillment of all these relationships for a boy to become a man who is able to live in peace and cooperation with his community and to give something back to his family. Fathering makes a man--whatever his standing in the eyes of the world-feel strong and good and important, just as he makes his child feel loved and valued.

 

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Mercifully, parenting is not an efficient process--the old concept of "quality time" is a cruel cop-out. A father who gets to hang out with his children is reliving the joys of his own childhood. The play is the thing.

 

Becoming Father the Nurturer rather than just Father the Provider enables a man to fully feet and express his humanity and masculinity. Fathering is the most masculine thing a man can do.

 

Will this new generation discover the healing power of fatherhood? As I look at the young men coming into manhood now, I see many who are willing to risk being hands-on fathers in a way that was rare in my generation. My son and son-in-law and nephews, for instance, are yearning for children, not just children to have but children to raise.

 

They are not alone. I feel optimistic about the sort of fathering these guys will do. The trend is dear: the boys who got fathered want to be fathers, and the boys who didn't fear it.

 

www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199309/fathers-and-sons

 

The power of Dad How parent-child relationships are key to well-being.-child relationships

Do you know how to keep your cool when you’re stuck in traffic? If so, you might have Dad to thank for your equanimity, according to research presented during an APA Annual Convention symposium on the effects of social relationships on well-being.

A study in press in Developmental Psychology suggests that a strong father-son bond forged during childhood may help men deal with everyday stress later in life.

In the study, led by Melanie Mallers, PhD, a psychology professor at California State University–Fullerton, 912 men and women answered questions about the quality of their childhood relationships with each parent, as well as stressful events they experienced and their emotional responses over eight consecutive evenings. The team found that men who reported a good relationship with their fathers during childhood were less affected by stressful events than those who had poor father-son relationships.

One explanation for this effect is that fathers tend to interact with their children — particularly their sons — through rough-and-tumble play, which stimulates and challenges children and can even improve problem-solving skills, Mallers said. These findings “provide evidence that early parent-child-relationship quality can have implications for daily health later in life,” she added.

The parent-child emotional link isn’t a one-way street, however. In other research presented at the symposium, psychologists explored how children can affect their parents’ mental health, even after they have entered adulthood. In a study led by Karen Fingerman, PhD, a psychology professor at Purdue University, 633 Philadelphia-area parents rated their grown children’s achievements in education, career and family life compared with other adults of the same age. The parents also answered questions about their own well-being and whether their children had experienced any of 10 lifestyle and behavioral problems, including trouble with the law, drinking or drug problems, and serious health concerns.

The researchers found that parents who had more than one highly successful adult child reported better well-being, but having even one problematic offspring hurt parents’ mental health. Having only one successful child, however, was not associated with better well-being.

Fingerman is now studying parental support of college students in a cross-national collaboration. She and her collaborators in Korea, China and Germany will be surveying college students this fall to learn more about cultural factors that shape relationships between young adults and their middle-aged parents.

By Amy Novotney

The horse (Equus caballus) is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature, close to Eohippus, into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began domesticating horses around 4000 BCE, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BCE. Horses in the subspecies caballus are domesticated, although some domesticated populations live in the wild as feral horses. These feral populations are not true wild horses, which are horses that never have been domesticated. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior.

 

Horses are adapted to run, allowing them to quickly escape predators, and possess an excellent sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight response. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down, with younger horses tending to sleep significantly more than adults. Female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under a saddle or in a harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years.

 

Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses.

 

Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water, and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.

 

Lifespan and life stages

Depending on breed, management and environment, the modern domestic horse has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. Uncommonly, a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was "Old Billy", a 19th-century horse that lived to the age of 62. In modern times, Sugar Puff, who had been listed in Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living pony, died in 2007 at age 56.

 

Regardless of a horse or pony's actual birth date, for most competition purposes a year is added to its age each January 1 of each year in the Northern Hemisphere and each August 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. The exception is in endurance riding, where the minimum age to compete is based on the animal's actual calendar age.

 

The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages:

 

Foal

A horse of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling, and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling. Most domesticated foals are weaned at five to seven months of age, although foals can be weaned at four months with no adverse physical effects.

Yearling

A horse of either sex that is between one and two years old.

Colt

A male horse under the age of four. A common terminology error is to call any young horse a "colt", when the term actually only refers to young male horses.

Filly

A female horse under the age of four.

Mare

A female horse four years old and older.

Stallion

A non-castrated male horse four years old and older.The term "horse" is sometimes used colloquially to refer specifically to a stallion.

Gelding

A castrated male horse of any age.

In horse racing, these definitions may differ: For example, in the British Isles, Thoroughbred horse racing defines colts and fillies as less than five years old. However, Australian Thoroughbred racing defines colts and fillies as less than four years old.

 

Size and measurement

The height of horses is measured at the highest point of the withers, where the neck meets the back. This point is used because it is a stable point of the anatomy, unlike the head or neck, which move up and down in relation to the body of the horse.

 

Size varies greatly among horse breeds, as with this full-sized horse and small pony.

In English-speaking countries, the height of horses is often stated in units of hands and inches: one hand is equal to 4 inches (101.6 mm). The height is expressed as the number of full hands, followed by a point, then the number of additional inches, and ending with the abbreviation "h" or "hh" (for "hands high"). Thus, a horse described as "15.2 h" is 15 hands plus 2 inches, for a total of 62 inches (157.5 cm) in height.

 

The size of horses varies by breed, but also is influenced by nutrition. Light-riding horses usually range in height from 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, 142 to 163 cm) and can weigh from 380 to 550 kilograms (840 to 1,210 lb). Larger-riding horses usually start at about 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) and often are as tall as 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm), weighing from 500 to 600 kilograms (1,100 to 1,320 lb). Heavy or draft horses are usually at least 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and can be as tall as 18 hands (72 inches, 183 cm) high. They can weigh from about 700 to 1,000 kilograms (1,540 to 2,200 lb).

 

The largest horse in recorded history was probably a Shire horse named Mammoth, who was born in 1848. He stood 21.2 1⁄4 hands (86.25 inches, 219 cm) high and his peak weight was estimated at 1,524 kilograms (3,360 lb). The record holder for the smallest horse ever is Thumbelina, a fully mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She was 43 centimetres; 4.1 hands (17 in) tall and weighed 26 kg (57 lb).

 

Ponies

Main article: Pony

Ponies are taxonomically the same animals as horses. The distinction between a horse and pony is commonly drawn on the basis of height, especially for competition purposes. However, height alone is not dispositive; the difference between horses and ponies may also include aspects of phenotype, including conformation and temperament.

 

The traditional standard for height of a horse or a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm). An animal 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) or over is usually considered to be a horse and one less than 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) a pony, but there are many exceptions to the traditional standard. In Australia, ponies are considered to be those under 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm). For competition in the Western division of the United States Equestrian Federation, the cutoff is 14.1 hands (57 inches, 145 cm). The International Federation for Equestrian Sports, the world governing body for horse sport, uses metric measurements and defines a pony as being any horse measuring less than 148 centimetres (58.27 in) at the withers without shoes, which is just over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm), and 149 centimetres (58.66 in; 14.2+1⁄2 hands), with shoes.

 

Height is not the sole criterion for distinguishing horses from ponies. Breed registries for horses that typically produce individuals both under and over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) consider all animals of that breed to be horses regardless of their height. Conversely, some pony breeds may have features in common with horses, and individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm), but are still considered to be ponies.

 

Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails, and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They may have calmer temperaments than horses and also a high level of intelligence that may or may not be used to cooperate with human handlers. Small size, by itself, is not an exclusive determinant. For example, the Shetland pony which averages 10 hands (40 inches, 102 cm), is considered a pony. Conversely, breeds such as the Falabella and other miniature horses, which can be no taller than 76 centimetres; 7.2 hands (30 in), are classified by their registries as very small horses, not ponies.

 

Genetics

Horses have 64 chromosomes. The horse genome was sequenced in 2007. It contains 2.7 billion DNA base pairs, which is larger than the dog genome, but smaller than the human genome or the bovine genome.

 

Colors and markings

Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings, described by a specialized vocabulary. Often, a horse is classified first by its coat color, before breed or sex. Horses of the same color may be distinguished from one another by white markings, which, along with various spotting patterns, are inherited separately from coat color.

 

Many genes that create horse coat colors and patterns have been identified. Current genetic tests can identify at least 13 different alleles influencing coat color, and research continues to discover new genes linked to specific traits. The basic coat colors of chestnut and black are determined by the gene controlled by the Melanocortin 1 receptor, also known as the "extension gene" or "red factor", as its recessive form is "red" (chestnut) and its dominant form is black. Additional genes control suppression of black color to point coloration that results in a bay, spotting patterns such as pinto or leopard, dilution genes such as palomino or dun, as well as greying, and all the other factors that create the many possible coat colors found in horses.

 

Horses that have a white coat color are often mislabeled; a horse that looks "white" is usually a middle-aged or older gray. Grays are born a darker shade, get lighter as they age, but usually keep black skin underneath their white hair coat (with the exception of pink skin under white markings). The only horses properly called white are born with a predominantly white hair coat and pink skin, a fairly rare occurrence. Different and unrelated genetic factors can produce white coat colors in horses, including several different alleles of dominant white and the sabino-1 gene. However, there are no "albino" horses, defined as having both pink skin and red eyes.

 

Reproduction and development

Gestation lasts approximately 340 days, with an average range 320–370 days, and usually results in one foal; twins are rare. Horses are a precocial species, and foals are capable of standing and running within a short time following birth. Foals are usually born in the spring. The estrous cycle of a mare occurs roughly every 19–22 days and occurs from early spring into autumn. Most mares enter an anestrus period during the winter and thus do not cycle in this period. Foals are generally weaned from their mothers between four and six months of age.

 

Horses, particularly colts, are sometimes physically capable of reproduction at about 18 months, but domesticated horses are rarely allowed to breed before the age of three, especially females. Horses four years old are considered mature, although the skeleton normally continues to develop until the age of six; maturation also depends on the horse's size, breed, sex, and quality of care. Larger horses have larger bones; therefore, not only do the bones take longer to form bone tissue, but the epiphyseal plates are larger and take longer to convert from cartilage to bone. These plates convert after the other parts of the bones, and are crucial to development.

 

Depending on maturity, breed, and work expected, horses are usually put under saddle and trained to be ridden between the ages of two and four. Although Thoroughbred race horses are put on the track as young as the age of two in some countries, horses specifically bred for sports such as dressage are generally not put under saddle until they are three or four years old, because their bones and muscles are not solidly developed. For endurance riding competition, horses are not deemed mature enough to compete until they are a full 60 calendar months (five years) old.

 

Anatomy

The horse skeleton averages 205 bones. A significant difference between the horse skeleton and that of a human is the lack of a collarbone—the horse's forelimbs are attached to the spinal column by a powerful set of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that attach the shoulder blade to the torso. The horse's four legs and hooves are also unique structures. Their leg bones are proportioned differently from those of a human. For example, the body part that is called a horse's "knee" is actually made up of the carpal bones that correspond to the human wrist. Similarly, the hock contains bones equivalent to those in the human ankle and heel. The lower leg bones of a horse correspond to the bones of the human hand or foot, and the fetlock (incorrectly called the "ankle") is actually the proximal sesamoid bones between the cannon bones (a single equivalent to the human metacarpal or metatarsal bones) and the proximal phalanges, located where one finds the "knuckles" of a human. A horse also has no muscles in its legs below the knees and hocks, only skin, hair, bone, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the assorted specialized tissues that make up the hoof.

 

Hooves

Main articles: Horse hoof, Horseshoe, and Farrier

The critical importance of the feet and legs is summed up by the traditional adage, "no foot, no horse". The horse hoof begins with the distal phalanges, the equivalent of the human fingertip or tip of the toe, surrounded by cartilage and other specialized, blood-rich soft tissues such as the laminae. The exterior hoof wall and horn of the sole is made of keratin, the same material as a human fingernail. The result is that a horse, weighing on average 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), travels on the same bones as would a human on tiptoe. For the protection of the hoof under certain conditions, some horses have horseshoes placed on their feet by a professional farrier. The hoof continually grows, and in most domesticated horses needs to be trimmed (and horseshoes reset, if used) every five to eight weeks, though the hooves of horses in the wild wear down and regrow at a rate suitable for their terrain.

 

Teeth

Main article: Horse teeth

Horses are adapted to grazing. In an adult horse, there are 12 incisors at the front of the mouth, adapted to biting off the grass or other vegetation. There are 24 teeth adapted for chewing, the premolars and molars, at the back of the mouth. Stallions and geldings have four additional teeth just behind the incisors, a type of canine teeth called "tushes". Some horses, both male and female, will also develop one to four very small vestigial teeth in front of the molars, known as "wolf" teeth, which are generally removed because they can interfere with the bit. There is an empty interdental space between the incisors and the molars where the bit rests directly on the gums, or "bars" of the horse's mouth when the horse is bridled.

 

An estimate of a horse's age can be made from looking at its teeth. The teeth continue to erupt throughout life and are worn down by grazing. Therefore, the incisors show changes as the horse ages; they develop a distinct wear pattern, changes in tooth shape, and changes in the angle at which the chewing surfaces meet. This allows a very rough estimate of a horse's age, although diet and veterinary care can also affect the rate of tooth wear.

 

Digestion

Main articles: Equine digestive system and Equine nutrition

Horses are herbivores with a digestive system adapted to a forage diet of grasses and other plant material, consumed steadily throughout the day. Therefore, compared to humans, they have a relatively small stomach but very long intestines to facilitate a steady flow of nutrients. A 450-kilogram (990 lb) horse will eat 7 to 11 kilograms (15 to 24 lb) of food per day and, under normal use, drink 38 to 45 litres (8.4 to 9.9 imp gal; 10 to 12 US gal) of water. Horses are not ruminants, they have only one stomach, like humans, but unlike humans, they can digest cellulose, a major component of grass. Horses are hindgut fermenters. Cellulose fermentation by symbiotic bacteria occurs in the cecum, or "water gut", which food goes through before reaching the large intestine. Horses cannot vomit, so digestion problems can quickly cause colic, a leading cause of death. Horses do not have a gallbladder; however, they seem to tolerate high amounts of fat in their diet despite lack of a gallbladder.

 

Senses

The horses' senses are based on their status as prey animals, where they must be aware of their surroundings at all times. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal, and are lateral-eyed, meaning that their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads. This means that horses have a range of vision of more than 350°, with approximately 65° of this being binocular vision and the remaining 285° monocular vision. Horses have excellent day and night vision, but they have two-color, or dichromatic vision; their color vision is somewhat like red-green color blindness in humans, where certain colors, especially red and related colors, appear as a shade of green.

 

Their sense of smell, while much better than that of humans, is not quite as good as that of a dog. It is believed to play a key role in the social interactions of horses as well as detecting other key scents in the environment. Horses have two olfactory centers. The first system is in the nostrils and nasal cavity, which analyze a wide range of odors. The second, located under the nasal cavity, are the vomeronasal organs, also called Jacobson's organs. These have a separate nerve pathway to the brain and appear to primarily analyze pheromones.

 

A horse's hearing is good, and the pinna of each ear can rotate up to 180°, giving the potential for 360° hearing without having to move the head. Noise impacts the behavior of horses and certain kinds of noise may contribute to stress: a 2013 study in the UK indicated that stabled horses were calmest in a quiet setting, or if listening to country or classical music, but displayed signs of nervousness when listening to jazz or rock music. This study also recommended keeping music under a volume of 21 decibels. An Australian study found that stabled racehorses listening to talk radio had a higher rate of gastric ulcers than horses listening to music, and racehorses stabled where a radio was played had a higher overall rate of ulceration than horses stabled where there was no radio playing.

 

Horses have a great sense of balance, due partly to their ability to feel their footing and partly to highly developed proprioception—the unconscious sense of where the body and limbs are at all times. A horse's sense of touch is well-developed. The most sensitive areas are around the eyes, ears, and nose. Horses are able to sense contact as subtle as an insect landing anywhere on the body.

 

Horses have an advanced sense of taste, which allows them to sort through fodder and choose what they would most like to eat, and their prehensile lips can easily sort even small grains. Horses generally will not eat poisonous plants, however, there are exceptions; horses will occasionally eat toxic amounts of poisonous plants even when there is adequate healthy food.

 

Movement

All horses move naturally with four basic gaits:

the four-beat walk, which averages 6.4 kilometres per hour (4.0 mph);

the two-beat trot or jog at 13 to 19 kilometres per hour (8.1 to 11.8 mph) (faster for harness racing horses);

the canter or lope, a three-beat gait that is 19 to 24 kilometres per hour (12 to 15 mph);

the gallop, which averages 40 to 48 kilometres per hour (25 to 30 mph), but the world record for a horse galloping over a short, sprint distance is 70.76 kilometres per hour (43.97 mph).

Besides these basic gaits, some horses perform a two-beat pace, instead of the trot. There also are several four-beat 'ambling' gaits that are approximately the speed of a trot or pace, though smoother to ride. These include the lateral rack, running walk, and tölt as well as the diagonal fox trot. Ambling gaits are often genetic in some breeds, known collectively as gaited horses. These horses replace the trot with one of the ambling gaits.

 

Behavior

Horses are prey animals with a strong fight-or-flight response. Their first reaction to a threat is to startle and usually flee, although they will stand their ground and defend themselves when flight is impossible or if their young are threatened. They also tend to be curious; when startled, they will often hesitate an instant to ascertain the cause of their fright, and may not always flee from something that they perceive as non-threatening. Most light horse riding breeds were developed for speed, agility, alertness and endurance; natural qualities that extend from their wild ancestors. However, through selective breeding, some breeds of horses are quite docile, particularly certain draft horses.

  

Horses fighting as part of herd dominance behaviour

Horses are herd animals, with a clear hierarchy of rank, led by a dominant individual, usually a mare. They are also social creatures that are able to form companionship attachments to their own species and to other animals, including humans. They communicate in various ways, including vocalizations such as nickering or whinnying, mutual grooming, and body language. Many horses will become difficult to manage if they are isolated, but with training, horses can learn to accept a human as a companion, and thus be comfortable away from other horses. However, when confined with insufficient companionship, exercise, or stimulation, individuals may develop stable vices, an assortment of bad habits, mostly stereotypies of psychological origin, that include wood chewing, wall kicking, "weaving" (rocking back and forth), and other problems.

 

Intelligence and learning

Studies have indicated that horses perform a number of cognitive tasks on a daily basis, meeting mental challenges that include food procurement and identification of individuals within a social system. They also have good spatial discrimination abilities. They are naturally curious and apt to investigate things they have not seen before. Studies have assessed equine intelligence in areas such as problem solving, speed of learning, and memory. Horses excel at simple learning, but also are able to use more advanced cognitive abilities that involve categorization and concept learning. They can learn using habituation, desensitization, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning, and positive and negative reinforcement. One study has indicated that horses can differentiate between "more or less" if the quantity involved is less than four.

 

Domesticated horses may face greater mental challenges than wild horses, because they live in artificial environments that prevent instinctive behavior whilst also learning tasks that are not natural. Horses are animals of habit that respond well to regimentation, and respond best when the same routines and techniques are used consistently. One trainer believes that "intelligent" horses are reflections of intelligent trainers who effectively use response conditioning techniques and positive reinforcement to train in the style that best fits with an individual animal's natural inclinations.

 

Temperament

Horses are mammals, and as such are warm-blooded, or endothermic creatures, as opposed to cold-blooded, or poikilothermic animals. However, these words have developed a separate meaning in the context of equine terminology, used to describe temperament, not body temperature. For example, the "hot-bloods", such as many race horses, exhibit more sensitivity and energy, while the "cold-bloods", such as most draft breeds, are quieter and calmer. Sometimes "hot-bloods" are classified as "light horses" or "riding horses", with the "cold-bloods" classified as "draft horses" or "work horses".

 

a sepia-toned engraving from an old book, showing 11 horses of different breeds and sizes in nine different illustrations

Illustration of assorted breeds; slim, light hotbloods, medium-sized warmbloods and draft and pony-type coldblood breeds

"Hot blooded" breeds include "oriental horses" such as the Akhal-Teke, Arabian horse, Barb, and now-extinct Turkoman horse, as well as the Thoroughbred, a breed developed in England from the older oriental breeds. Hot bloods tend to be spirited, bold, and learn quickly. They are bred for agility and speed. They tend to be physically refined—thin-skinned, slim, and long-legged. The original oriental breeds were brought to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa when European breeders wished to infuse these traits into racing and light cavalry horses.

 

Muscular, heavy draft horses are known as "cold bloods", as they are bred not only for strength, but also to have the calm, patient temperament needed to pull a plow or a heavy carriage full of people. They are sometimes nicknamed "gentle giants". Well-known draft breeds include the Belgian and the Clydesdale. Some, like the Percheron, are lighter and livelier, developed to pull carriages or to plow large fields in drier climates. Others, such as the Shire, are slower and more powerful, bred to plow fields with heavy, clay-based soils. The cold-blooded group also includes some pony breeds.

 

"Warmblood" breeds, such as the Trakehner or Hanoverian, developed when European carriage and war horses were crossed with Arabians or Thoroughbreds, producing a riding horse with more refinement than a draft horse, but greater size and milder temperament than a lighter breed. Certain pony breeds with warmblood characteristics have been developed for smaller riders. Warmbloods are considered a "light horse" or "riding horse".

 

Today, the term "Warmblood" refers to a specific subset of sport horse breeds that are used for competition in dressage and show jumping. Strictly speaking, the term "warm blood" refers to any cross between cold-blooded and hot-blooded breeds. Examples include breeds such as the Irish Draught or the Cleveland Bay. The term was once used to refer to breeds of light riding horse other than Thoroughbreds or Arabians, such as the Morgan horse.

 

Sleep patterns

When horses lie down to sleep, others in the herd remain standing, awake, or in a light doze, keeping watch.

Horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. In an adaptation from life in the wild, horses are able to enter light sleep by using a "stay apparatus" in their legs, allowing them to doze without collapsing. Horses sleep better when in groups because some animals will sleep while others stand guard to watch for predators. A horse kept alone will not sleep well because its instincts are to keep a constant eye out for danger.

 

Unlike humans, horses do not sleep in a solid, unbroken period of time, but take many short periods of rest. Horses spend four to fifteen hours a day in standing rest, and from a few minutes to several hours lying down. Total sleep time in a 24-hour period may range from several minutes to a couple of hours, mostly in short intervals of about 15 minutes each. The average sleep time of a domestic horse is said to be 2.9 hours per day.

 

Horses must lie down to reach REM sleep. They only have to lie down for an hour or two every few days to meet their minimum REM sleep requirements. However, if a horse is never allowed to lie down, after several days it will become sleep-deprived, and in rare cases may suddenly collapse as it involuntarily slips into REM sleep while still standing. This condition differs from narcolepsy, although horses may also suffer from that disorder.

 

Taxonomy and evolution

The horse adapted to survive in areas of wide-open terrain with sparse vegetation, surviving in an ecosystem where other large grazing animals, especially ruminants, could not. Horses and other equids are odd-toed ungulates of the order Perissodactyla, a group of mammals dominant during the Tertiary period. In the past, this order contained 14 families, but only three—Equidae (the horse and related species), Tapiridae (the tapir), and Rhinocerotidae (the rhinoceroses)—have survived to the present day.

 

The earliest known member of the family Equidae was the Hyracotherium, which lived between 45 and 55 million years ago, during the Eocene period. It had 4 toes on each front foot, and 3 toes on each back foot. The extra toe on the front feet soon disappeared with the Mesohippus, which lived 32 to 37 million years ago. Over time, the extra side toes shrank in size until they vanished. All that remains of them in modern horses is a set of small vestigial bones on the leg below the knee, known informally as splint bones. Their legs also lengthened as their toes disappeared until they were a hooved animal capable of running at great speed. By about 5 million years ago, the modern Equus had evolved. Equid teeth also evolved from browsing on soft, tropical plants to adapt to browsing of drier plant material, then to grazing of tougher plains grasses. Thus proto-horses changed from leaf-eating forest-dwellers to grass-eating inhabitants of semi-arid regions worldwide, including the steppes of Eurasia and the Great Plains of North America.

 

By about 15,000 years ago, Equus ferus was a widespread holarctic species. Horse bones from this time period, the late Pleistocene, are found in Europe, Eurasia, Beringia, and North America. Yet between 10,000 and 7,600 years ago, the horse became extinct in North America. The reasons for this extinction are not fully known, but one theory notes that extinction in North America paralleled human arrival. Another theory points to climate change, noting that approximately 12,500 years ago, the grasses characteristic of a steppe ecosystem gave way to shrub tundra, which was covered with unpalatable plants.

 

Wild species surviving into modern times

Three tan-colored horses with upright manes. Two horses nip and paw at each other, while the third moves towards the camera. They stand in an open, rocky grassland, with forests in the distance.

 

Main article: Wild horse

A truly wild horse is a species or subspecies with no ancestors that were ever successfully domesticated. Therefore, most "wild" horses today are actually feral horses, animals that escaped or were turned loose from domestic herds and the descendants of those animals. Only two wild subspecies, the tarpan and the Przewalski's horse, survived into recorded history and only the latter survives today.

 

The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), named after the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, is a rare Asian animal. It is also known as the Mongolian wild horse; Mongolian people know it as the taki, and the Kyrgyz people call it a kirtag. The subspecies was presumed extinct in the wild between 1969 and 1992, while a small breeding population survived in zoos around the world. In 1992, it was reestablished in the wild by the conservation efforts of numerous zoos. Today, a small wild breeding population exists in Mongolia. There are additional animals still maintained at zoos throughout the world.

 

The question of whether the Przewalski's horse was ever domesticated was challenged in 2018 when DNA studies of horses found at Botai culture sites revealed captured animals with DNA markers of an ancestor to the Przewalski's horse. The study concluded that the Botai animals appear to have been an independent domestication attempt and apparently unsuccessful, as these genetic markers do not appear in modern domesticated horses. However, the question of whether all Przewalski's horses descend from this population is also unresolved, as only one of seven modern Przewalski's horses in the study shared this ancestry.

 

The tarpan or European wild horse (Equus ferus ferus) was found in Europe and much of Asia. It survived into the historical era, but became extinct in 1909, when the last captive died in a Russian zoo. Thus, the genetic line was lost. Attempts have been made to recreate the tarpan, which resulted in horses with outward physical similarities, but nonetheless descended from domesticated ancestors and not true wild horses.

 

Periodically, populations of horses in isolated areas are speculated to be relict populations of wild horses, but generally have been proven to be feral or domestic. For example, the Riwoche horse of Tibet was proposed as such, but testing did not reveal genetic differences from domesticated horses. Similarly, the Sorraia of Portugal was proposed as a direct descendant of the Tarpan on the basis of shared characteristics, but genetic studies have shown that the Sorraia is more closely related to other horse breeds, and that the outward similarity is an unreliable measure of relatedness.

 

Other modern equids

Main article: Equus (genus)

Besides the horse, there are six other species of genus Equus in the Equidae family. These are the ass or donkey, Equus asinus; the mountain zebra, Equus zebra; plains zebra, Equus quagga; Grévy's Zebra, Equus grevyi; the kiang, Equus kiang; and the onager, Equus hemionus.

 

Horses can crossbreed with other members of their genus. The most common hybrid is the mule, a cross between a "jack" (male donkey) and a mare. A related hybrid, a hinny, is a cross between a stallion and a "jenny" (female donkey). Other hybrids include the zorse, a cross between a zebra and a horse. With rare exceptions, most hybrids are sterile and cannot reproduce.

 

Main articles: History of horse domestication theories and Domestication of the horse

Domestication of the horse most likely took place in central Asia prior to 3500 BCE. Two major sources of information are used to determine where and when the horse was first domesticated and how the domesticated horse spread around the world. The first source is based on palaeological and archaeological discoveries; the second source is a comparison of DNA obtained from modern horses to that from bones and teeth of ancient horse remains.

 

The earliest archaeological evidence for the domestication of the horse comes from sites in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, dating to approximately 4000–3500 BCE. By 3000 BCE, the horse was completely domesticated and by 2000 BCE there was a sharp increase in the number of horse bones found in human settlements in northwestern Europe, indicating the spread of domesticated horses throughout the continent. The most recent, but most irrefutable evidence of domestication comes from sites where horse remains were interred with chariots in graves of the Sintashta and Petrovka cultures c. 2100 BCE.

 

A 2021 genetic study suggested that most modern domestic horses descend from the lower Volga-Don region. Ancient horse genomes indicate that these populations influenced almost all local populations as they expanded rapidly throughout Eurasia, beginning about 4,200 years ago. It also shows that certain adaptations were strongly selected due to riding, and that equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots spread with the horse itself.

 

Domestication is also studied by using the genetic material of present-day horses and comparing it with the genetic material present in the bones and teeth of horse remains found in archaeological and palaeological excavations. The variation in the genetic material shows that very few wild stallions contributed to the domestic horse, while many mares were part of early domesticated herds. This is reflected in the difference in genetic variation between the DNA that is passed on along the paternal, or sire line (Y-chromosome) versus that passed on along the maternal, or dam line (mitochondrial DNA). There are very low levels of Y-chromosome variability, but a great deal of genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA. There is also regional variation in mitochondrial DNA due to the inclusion of wild mares in domestic herds. Another characteristic of domestication is an increase in coat color variation. In horses, this increased dramatically between 5000 and 3000 BCE.

 

Before the availability of DNA techniques to resolve the questions related to the domestication of the horse, various hypotheses were proposed. One classification was based on body types and conformation, suggesting the presence of four basic prototypes that had adapted to their environment prior to domestication. Another hypothesis held that the four prototypes originated from a single wild species and that all different body types were entirely a result of selective breeding after domestication. However, the lack of a detectable substructure in the horse has resulted in a rejection of both hypotheses.

 

Main article: Feral horse

Feral horses are born and live in the wild, but are descended from domesticated animals. Many populations of feral horses exist throughout the world. Studies of feral herds have provided useful insights into the behavior of prehistoric horses, as well as greater understanding of the instincts and behaviors that drive horses that live in domesticated conditions.

 

There are also semi-feral horses in many parts of the world, such as Dartmoor and the New Forest in the UK, where the animals are all privately owned but live for significant amounts of time in "wild" conditions on undeveloped, often public, lands. Owners of such animals often pay a fee for grazing rights.

 

Main articles: Horse breed, List of horse breeds, and Horse breeding

The concept of purebred bloodstock and a controlled, written breed registry has come to be particularly significant and important in modern times. Sometimes purebred horses are incorrectly or inaccurately called "thoroughbreds". Thoroughbred is a specific breed of horse, while a "purebred" is a horse (or any other animal) with a defined pedigree recognized by a breed registry. Horse breeds are groups of horses with distinctive characteristics that are transmitted consistently to their offspring, such as conformation, color, performance ability, or disposition. These inherited traits result from a combination of natural crosses and artificial selection methods. Horses have been selectively bred since their domestication. An early example of people who practiced selective horse breeding were the Bedouin, who had a reputation for careful practices, keeping extensive pedigrees of their Arabian horses and placing great value upon pure bloodlines. These pedigrees were originally transmitted via an oral tradition. In the 14th century, Carthusian monks of southern Spain kept meticulous pedigrees of bloodstock lineages still found today in the Andalusian horse.

 

Breeds developed due to a need for "form to function", the necessity to develop certain characteristics in order to perform a particular type of work. Thus, a powerful but refined breed such as the Andalusian developed as riding horses with an aptitude for dressage. Heavy draft horses were developed out of a need to perform demanding farm work and pull heavy wagons. Other horse breeds had been developed specifically for light agricultural work, carriage and road work, various sport disciplines, or simply as pets. Some breeds developed through centuries of crossing other breeds, while others descended from a single foundation sire, or other limited or restricted foundation bloodstock. One of the earliest formal registries was General Stud Book for Thoroughbreds, which began in 1791 and traced back to the foundation bloodstock for the breed. There are more than 300 horse breeds in the world today.

 

Interaction with humans

Worldwide, horses play a role within human cultures and have done so for millennia. Horses are used for leisure activities, sports, and working purposes. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that in 2008, there were almost 59,000,000 horses in the world, with around 33,500,000 in the Americas, 13,800,000 in Asia and 6,300,000 in Europe and smaller portions in Africa and Oceania. There are estimated to be 9,500,000 horses in the United States alone. The American Horse Council estimates that horse-related activities have a direct impact on the economy of the United States of over $39 billion, and when indirect spending is considered, the impact is over $102 billion. In a 2004 "poll" conducted by Animal Planet, more than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted for the horse as the world's 4th favorite animal.

 

Communication between human and horse is paramount in any equestrian activity; to aid this process horses are usually ridden with a saddle on their backs to assist the rider with balance and positioning, and a bridle or related headgear to assist the rider in maintaining control. Sometimes horses are ridden without a saddle, and occasionally, horses are trained to perform without a bridle or other headgear. Many horses are also driven, which requires a harness, bridle, and some type of vehicle.

 

Main articles: Equestrianism, Horse racing, Horse training, and Horse tack

Historically, equestrians honed their skills through games and races. Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and honed the excellent horsemanship that was needed in battle. Many sports, such as dressage, eventing, and show jumping, have origins in military training, which were focused on control and balance of both horse and rider. Other sports, such as rodeo, developed from practical skills such as those needed on working ranches and stations. Sport hunting from horseback evolved from earlier practical hunting techniques. Horse racing of all types evolved from impromptu competitions between riders or drivers. All forms of competition, requiring demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider, resulted in the systematic development of specialized breeds and equipment for each sport. The popularity of equestrian sports through the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have disappeared after horses stopped being used in combat.

 

Horses are trained to be ridden or driven in a variety of sporting competitions. Examples include show jumping, dressage, three-day eventing, competitive driving, endurance riding, gymkhana, rodeos, and fox hunting. Horse shows, which have their origins in medieval European fairs, are held around the world. They host a huge range of classes, covering all of the mounted and harness disciplines, as well as "In-hand" classes where the horses are led, rather than ridden, to be evaluated on their conformation. The method of judging varies with the discipline, but winning usually depends on style and ability of both horse and rider. Sports such as polo do not judge the horse itself, but rather use the horse as a partner for human competitors as a necessary part of the game. Although the horse requires specialized training to participate, the details of its performance are not judged, only the result of the rider's actions—be it getting a ball through a goal or some other task. Examples of these sports of partnership between human and horse include jousting, in which the main goal is for one rider to unseat the other, and buzkashi, a team game played throughout Central Asia, the aim being to capture a goat carcass while on horseback.

 

Horse racing is an equestrian sport and major international industry, watched in almost every nation of the world. There are three types: "flat" racing; steeplechasing, i.e. racing over jumps; and harness racing, where horses trot or pace while pulling a driver in a small, light cart known as a sulky. A major part of horse racing's economic importance lies in the gambling associated with it.

 

Work

There are certain jobs that horses do very well, and no technology has yet developed to fully replace them. For example, mounted police horses are still effective for certain types of patrol duties and crowd control. Cattle ranches still require riders on horseback to round up cattle that are scattered across remote, rugged terrain. Search and rescue organizations in some countries depend upon mounted teams to locate people, particularly hikers and children, and to provide disaster relief assistance. Horses can also be used in areas where it is necessary to avoid vehicular disruption to delicate soil, such as nature reserves. They may also be the only form of transport allowed in wilderness areas. Horses are quieter than motorized vehicles. Law enforcement officers such as park rangers or game wardens may use horses for patrols, and horses or mules may also be used for clearing trails or other work in areas of rough terrain where vehicles are less effective.

 

Although machinery has replaced horses in many parts of the world, an estimated 100 million horses, donkeys and mules are still used for agriculture and transportation in less developed areas. This number includes around 27 million working animals in Africa alone. Some land management practices such as cultivating and logging can be efficiently performed with horses. In agriculture, less fossil fuel is used and increased environmental conservation occurs over time with the use of draft animals such as horses. Logging with horses can result in reduced damage to soil structure and less damage to trees due to more selective logging.

 

Main article: Horses in warfare

Horses have been used in warfare for most of recorded history. The first archaeological evidence of horses used in warfare dates to between 4000 and 3000 BCE, and the use of horses in warfare was widespread by the end of the Bronze Age. Although mechanization has largely replaced the horse as a weapon of war, horses are still seen today in limited military uses, mostly for ceremonial purposes, or for reconnaissance and transport activities in areas of rough terrain where motorized vehicles are ineffective. Horses have been used in the 21st century by the Janjaweed militias in the War in Darfur.

 

Entertainment and culture

Modern horses are often used to reenact many of their historical work purposes. Horses are used, complete with equipment that is authentic or a meticulously recreated replica, in various live action historical reenactments of specific periods of history, especially recreations of famous battles. Horses are also used to preserve cultural traditions and for ceremonial purposes. Countries such as the United Kingdom still use horse-drawn carriages to convey royalty and other VIPs to and from certain culturally significant events. Public exhibitions are another example, such as the Budweiser Clydesdales, seen in parades and other public settings, a team of draft horses that pull a beer wagon similar to that used before the invention of the modern motorized truck.

 

Horses are frequently used in television, films and literature. They are sometimes featured as a major character in films about particular animals, but also used as visual elements that assure the accuracy of historical stories. Both live horses and iconic images of horses are used in advertising to promote a variety of products. The horse frequently appears in coats of arms in heraldry, in a variety of poses and equipment. The mythologies of many cultures, including Greco-Roman, Hindu, Islamic, and Germanic, include references to both normal horses and those with wings or additional limbs, and multiple myths also call upon the horse to draw the chariots of the Moon and Sun. The horse also appears in the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

 

Horses serve as the inspiration for many modern automobile names and logos, including the Ford Pinto, Ford Bronco, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Pony, Mitsubishi Starion, Subaru Brumby, Mitsubishi Colt/Dodge Colt, Pinzgauer, Steyr-Puch Haflinger, Pegaso, Porsche, Rolls-Royce Camargue, Ferrari, Carlsson, Kamaz, Corre La Licorne, Iran Khodro, Eicher, and Baojun. Indian TVS Motor Company also uses a horse on their motorcycles & scooters.

 

Therapeutic use

People of all ages with physical and mental disabilities obtain beneficial results from an association with horses. Therapeutic riding is used to mentally and physically stimulate disabled persons and help them improve their lives through improved balance and coordination, increased self-confidence, and a greater feeling of freedom and independence. The benefits of equestrian activity for people with disabilities has also been recognized with the addition of equestrian events to the Paralympic Games and recognition of para-equestrian events by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding are names for different physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatment strategies that use equine movement. In hippotherapy, a therapist uses the horse's movement to improve their patient's cognitive, coordination, balance, and fine motor skills, whereas therapeutic horseback riding uses specific riding skills.

 

Horses also provide psychological benefits to people whether they actually ride or not. "Equine-assisted" or "equine-facilitated" therapy is a form of experiential psychotherapy that uses horses as companion animals to assist people with mental illness, including anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, behavioral difficulties, and those who are going through major life changes. There are also experimental programs using horses in prison settings. Exposure to horses appears to improve the behavior of inmates and help reduce recidivism when they leave.

 

Products

Horses are raw material for many products made by humans throughout history, including byproducts from the slaughter of horses as well as materials collected from living horses.

 

Products collected from living horses include mare's milk, used by people with large horse herds, such as the Mongols, who let it ferment to produce kumis. Horse blood was once used as food by the Mongols and other nomadic tribes, who found it a convenient source of nutrition when traveling. Drinking their own horses' blood allowed the Mongols to ride for extended periods of time without stopping to eat. The drug Premarin is a mixture of estrogens extracted from the urine of pregnant mares (pregnant mares' urine), and was previously a widely used drug for hormone replacement therapy. The tail hair of horses can be used for making bows for string instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

 

Horse meat has been used as food for humans and carnivorous animals throughout the ages. Approximately 5 million horses are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide. It is eaten in many parts of the world, though consumption is taboo in some cultures, and a subject of political controversy in others. Horsehide leather has been used for boots, gloves, jackets, baseballs, and baseball gloves. Horse hooves can also be used to produce animal glue. Horse bones can be used to make implements. Specifically, in Italian cuisine, the horse tibia is sharpened into a probe called a spinto, which is used to test the readiness of a (pig) ham as it cures. In Asia, the saba is a horsehide vessel used in the production of kumis.

 

Main article: Horse care

Checking teeth and other physical examinations are an important part of horse care.

Horses are grazing animals, and their major source of nutrients is good-quality forage from hay or pasture. They can consume approximately 2% to 2.5% of their body weight in dry feed each day. Therefore, a 450-kilogram (990 lb) adult horse could eat up to 11 kilograms (24 lb) of food. Sometimes, concentrated feed such as grain is fed in addition to pasture or hay, especially when the animal is very active. When grain is fed, equine nutritionists recommend that 50% or more of the animal's diet by weight should still be forage.

 

Horses require a plentiful supply of clean water, a minimum of 38 to 45 litres (10 to 12 US gal) per day. Although horses are adapted to live outside, they require shelter from the wind and precipitation, which can range from a simple shed or shelter to an elaborate stable.

 

Horses require routine hoof care from a farrier, as well as vaccinations to protect against various diseases, and dental examinations from a veterinarian or a specialized equine dentist. If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. When turned outside, they require well-maintained, sturdy fences to be safely contained. Regular grooming is also helpful to help the horse maintain good health of the hair coat and underlying skin.

 

Climate change

As of 2019, there are around 17 million horses in the world. Healthy body temperature for adult horses is in the range between 37.5 and 38.5 °C (99.5 and 101.3 °F), which they can maintain while ambient temperatures are between 5 and 25 °C (41 and 77 °F). However, strenuous exercise increases core body temperature by 1 °C (1.8 °F)/minute, as 80% of the energy used by equine muscles is released as heat. Along with bovines and primates, equines are the only animal group which use sweating as their primary method of thermoregulation: in fact, it can account for up to 70% of their heat loss, and horses sweat three times more than humans while undergoing comparably strenuous physical activity. Unlike humans, this sweat is created not by eccrine glands but by apocrine glands. In hot conditions, horses during three hours of moderate-intersity exercise can loss 30 to 35 L of water and 100g of sodium, 198 g of choloride and 45 g of potassium. In another difference from humans, their sweat is hypertonic, and contains a protein called latherin, which enables it to spread across their body easier, and to foam, rather than to drip off. These adaptations are partly to compensate for their lower body surface-to-mass ratio, which makes it more difficult for horses to passively radiate heat. Yet, prolonged exposure to very hot and/or humid conditions will lead to consequences such as anhidrosis, heat stroke, or brain damage, potentially culminating in death if not addressed with measures like cold water applications. Additionally, around 10% of incidents associated with horse transport have been attributed to heat stress. These issues are expected to worsen in the future.

 

African horse sickness (AHS) is a viral illness with a mortality close to 90% in horses, and 50% in mules. A midge, Culicoides imicola, is the primary vector of AHS, and its spread is expected to benefit from climate change. The spillover of Hendra virus from its flying fox hosts to horses is also likely to increase, as future warming would expand the hosts' geographic range. It has been estimated that under the "moderate" and high climate change scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the number of threatened horses would increase by 110,000 and 165,000, respectively, or by 175 and 260%

The lightest gray represents shadows cast mid-morning on December 22; the medium shade shows shadows cast late afternoon the same day, and the darkest gray represents the overlap.

 

Found in a document titled "Seattle Urban Design Report: Determinants of City Form." The report has a ton of cool maps representing things like view orientation, landslide hazards, traffic volume, and socioeconomic need. Document 1295, Published Document Collection, Seattle Municipal Archives.

Portrait of a community health activist ASHA shot at Betul, Madhya Pradesh.

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One of the key components of the National Rural Health Mission is to provide every village in the country with a trained female community health activist ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist. Selected from the village itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system. Following are the key components of ASHA :

• ASHA must primarily be a woman resident of the village married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years.

• She should be a literate woman with due preference in selection to those who are qualified up to 10 standard wherever they are interested and available in good numbers. This may be relaxed only if no suitable person with this qualification is available.

• ASHA will be chosen through a rigorous process of selection involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, the Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha.

• Capacity building of ASHA is being seen as a continuous process. ASHA will have to undergo series of training episodes to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence for performing her spelled out roles.

• The ASHAs will receive performance-based incentives for promoting universal immunization, referral and escort services for Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) and other healthcare programmes, and construction of household toilets.

• Empowered with knowledge and a drug-kit to deliver first-contact healthcare, every ASHA is expected to be a fountainhead of community participation in public health programmes in her village.

• ASHA will be the first port of call for any health related demands of deprived sections of the population, especially women and children, who find it difficult to access health services.

• ASHA will be a health activist in the community who will create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilise the community towards local health planning and increased utilisation and accountability of the existing health services.

• She would be a promoter of good health practices and will also provide a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and make timely referrals.

• ASHA will provide information to the community on determinants of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilisation of health & family welfare services.

• She will counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breast-feeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.

• ASHA will mobilise the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the Anganwadi/sub-centre/primary health centers, such as immunisation, Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up supplementary nutrition, sanitation and other services being provided by the government.

• She will act as a depot older for essential provisions being made available to all habitations like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), Iron Folic Acid Tablet(IFA), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms, etc.

• At the village level it is recognised that ASHA cannot function without adequate institutional support. Women's committees (like self-help groups or women's health committees), village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat, peripheral health workers especially ANMs and Anganwadi workers, and the trainers of ASHA and in-service periodic training would be a major source of support to ASHA.

 

Photograph by Firoz Ahmad

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Les récits du tombeau vide relatent, dans les quatre évangiles canoniques, l'épisode au cours duquel les Saintes Femmes trouvent la tombe de Jésus de Nazareth vide, sans le cadavre de celui-ci, au cours du dimanche suivant son crucifiement.

Cet épisode, qui se déroule avant les apparitions aux disciples, est lié à la résurrection de Jésus sans pour autant être déterminant.

Son historicité demeure impossible à démontrer.

 

Гроб Господень, или Святой Гроб — главная святыня христианского мира, гробница в скале; эта гробница признана Историческими церквями местом, где, согласно Евангелию, Иисус Христос был погребён после распятия и на третий день воскрес. Гробница является главным алтарём Храма Воскресения Христова в Иерусалиме.

En èpoques passada es veu que també hi havia bellesa. no us sembla?

És la fira mediaval, com n'hi ha moltes, que es fa a Banyoles. Sí, sí també fan fira... I vaig anar-hi, tot i no estar fi, per sort meva, no perdo mai les ganes de fer fotos, en faré menys, però en faig. Aquesta n'és una.

Avui repasant que havia fet i el molt que em quedava per fer l'he trobada.

Sóc, tant lent, tinc tants dubtes... en fi si fos d'altre manera segurament no seria jo mateix.

La mirada a l'infinit que té és que ja n'estava farta que quasi tots els que portàvem càmara la busquéssim per fer-li fotos, però suposo que és el preu de la "fama".

Representava "la cort" de l'abat que en uns moments determinants va manar en el momestir que hi havia a Banyoles i que un grup d'actors aficionats en feien una "representació" per la fira. La cúria també se sabien envoltar, evidentment, de bellesa jove.

En fi, ja som dijous i diuen que demà plourà, demà tindré, doncs, temps per a fer més coses i possar una mica d'ordre... o potser ni cal, Cal només anar fent i cercant imatges per a compartir.

Visiting Dunnottar Castle this scene caught my eye.

 

Located behind the main walkway heading down towards the castle there is field after field of farm land crops growing, with the sun high in the sky and enjoying a magnificent summers day 2/7/17 this scene had to be captured .

 

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9 billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.

 

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture.

 

The agri-food sector is now the UKs largest manufacturing sector.

 

Around 85% of Scotland is classified as Less Favoured Area. This is an EU classification which recognises natural and geographic disadvantage.

 

There are large numbers of farms in north west Scotland, but these are significantly smaller in terms of the numbers of livestock/area of crops grown than farms elsewhere. Sheep farming is the predominant type of farming in the north west and there are also many sheep farms in the south of the country. Larger cereal farms are concentrated in the east. Beef farming takes place throughout Scotland, but is particularly common in the south west. This area also has the bulk of the dairy industry.

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (also known simply as (the) Baltic, stylised as BALTIC) is a centre for contemporary art located on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It hosts a frequently changing variety of exhibitions, events, and educational programmes with no permanent exhibition. The idea to open a centre for contemporary arts in Gateshead was developed in the 1990s, which was a time of regeneration for the local area—the Sage and Gateshead Millennium Bridge was also being conceived of in this period.

 

Baltic opened in July 2002 in a converted flour mill, which had operated in various capacities from 1950-1984. The architectural design of Baltic was devised by Dominic Williams of Ellis Williams Architects, who won a competition to design the new contemporary arts centre in 1994. The building features exhibition spaces, a visitor centre, a rooftop restaurant and external viewing platforms which offer views of the River Tyne. Baltic's current director, the centre's fifth, is Sarah Munro, who joined in November 2015. As of January 2022, Baltic had welcomed over 8 million visitors.

 

Baltic Flour Mills was built by Joseph Rank of Rank Hovis to a late-1930s design by Hull-based architects Gelder and Kitchen. The first foundations were laid in the late 1930s, and although construction ceased during the Second World War, the mill was completed and started operating in 1950. Known locally as "the pride of Tyneside", 300 people were employed by the mill at its height. The building was composed of two parallel brick façades running east to west, sandwiched between a foundation of concrete silos. The structure could store 22,000 tons of grain. The design of the building also featured a larger silo in which to store and clean wheat. The site was extended in 1957 by the addition of Blue Cross Mill which processed animal feed. In 1976, a fire forced both mills to close, but the silos remained in operation until 1984 to store a portion of the grain owned by the European Economic Community. Baltic Flour Mills was one of a number of mills located along the banks of the Tyne, all of which, due to their size, were prominent local landmarks. The Spillers mill just downstream from Baltic on the north bank of the river was demolished in 2011. Another large mill was owned by the CWS and was located just upstream of Dunston Staiths.

 

The opening of Baltic as a designated centre for contemporary art was part of the revitalisation and post-industrial regeneration of Gateshead's riverside. The regeneration began in the early 1990s and transformed the Quayside into a centre of modern architecture, including the Sage and Millennium Bridge. In 1991, Northern Arts (now part of Arts Council England) released a five-year plan in which it stated its intention to create "major new capital facilities for the Contemporary Visual Arts and Music in Central Tyneside". Northern Arts were keen to convert an old building into a centre for art, rather than build a new one, and the Labour-run Gateshead Council expressed interest in converting the old Flour Mills. This was in contrast to the Conservative-run Newcastle City Council's approach to development, which saw private firms develop mainly flats, hotels, and offices. Gateshead Council purchased the Baltic Flour Mills silo building, and in 1994 they invited the Royal Institute of British Architects to open a competition which would find an architect to design the new arts centre.

 

In 1994, Gateshead Council invited the Royal Institute of British Architects to hold a competition to select a design for the conversion of the Baltic Flour Mills. The objective of the competition was to "provide a national and international Centre for Contemporary visual arts". The brief cited a number of similar examples of old buildings which had been converted into arts centres around the world, including a converted flour mill in Porto, Portugal and the Bankside Power Station in London (now the site of the Tate Modern). After evaluating a total of 140 entries, Dominic Williams – a relatively unknown architect who had only been working for three years – won the competition. He entered the competition with Ellis Williams Architects, his father's firm. Andrew Guest remarks that this "simple, honest, industrial" design was an example of architecture which recognised the designs and context of the past. Williams and Ellis Williams Architects stated their intention to "retain as much of the existing character and fabric of the building as possible" while also clearly presenting the structure's new purpose as an art gallery.

 

The conversion of the flour mills was a complex and technically challenging task. The grain silos were removed, leaving the brick façades unsupported, and a 1,000 tonne steel frame was required to support the remaining building. Four new main floors were inserted into the building supported by a row of pillars. Intermediary floors made out of steel frames and thin concrete were also inserted. These were designed to be removable as to adapt the building and create variable spaces for art. With 13 separate levels in total, Williams claimed he purposefully wanted to create a sense of disorientation for visitors within the building and allow an element of discovery. A spiral staircase winds up the building towards an open-plan office for staff. An efficient ductwork system was installed within the beams which carries heated or chilled air throughout the building. Such a design, conceived of by environmental engineers Atelier Ten, was uncommon for the time. The north and south elevations of the original building were retained along with the original BALTIC FLOUR MILLS lettering and red and yellow bricks. The east and west sides were fully glazed, capturing natural light and allowing views of the River Tyne. Additionally, service towers in the corners of the building, a rooftop viewing box, and a low-rise visitor centre were completed—these now comprise part of the building's major elements. The building stands at 138 feet (42 m) tall. Glass elevators situated close to the exterior offer views of Newcastle, Gateshead and the River Tyne. A restaurant sits at the top of the building, built in a manner which still allows natural light to reach the top gallery floor. The building's interior largely features glass, concrete, aluminium, Welsh Slate, 'Cor-Ten' steel, and Swedish pine. The furniture, purposely built to be flexible and adaptable, was designed by Swedish designer Åke Axelsson.

 

Awards

Baltic won a RIBA award in 2003, a Civic Trust Award in 2004, and in 2006 was selected as one of the top 10 most outstanding arts and culture schemes in the UK as part of the Gulbenkian Prize. In 2012, it won the National Lottery Awards prize for Best Arts Project.

 

The founding director, Sune Nordgren, was appointed in 1997. He oversaw the period prior to Baltic's opening, including the construction of the gallery. After almost six years, Nordgren left to take up a new post as founding director of the National Museum for Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway. At this time, Baltic was facing financial problems. After Nordgren's departure, a former Baltic chairman accused the centre of overspending on commissions during Nordgren's tenure. Baltic's situation was described by Arts Council England as having "serious inadequacies in financial procedures". Nordgren was briefly succeeded by Stephen Snoddy, who had previously run a new gallery in Milton Keynes. Snoddy only remained with the organisation for 11 months, citing difficulties in leaving his family behind in Manchester while working at Baltic. He was succeeded as director by Peter Doroshenko in 2005. Doroshenko's previous institutions included the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst and the Institute of Visual Arts in Milwaukee. He was brought to Baltic to increase visitor numbers and resolve the centre's financial situation, which was criticised by Arts Council England and an insider as being chaotic. Doroshenko organized several exhibitions during his time at Baltic, including Spank the Monkey.

 

In November 2007, Doroshenko left the gallery to head up the PinchukArtCentre in Kiev, Ukraine. He stated that he believed he had made Baltic a more "approachable and visitor friendly place."[30] However, Design Week reported that there were claims that Doroshenko did not deliver the expected "international programme of artistic excellence." Additionally, staff at the centre had complained about his "intolerable" and "bullying" management style. Godfrey Worsdale, founding director of the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, was appointed as director of Baltic in 2008. Worsdale oversaw the 10 year anniversary of Baltic and the hosting of the Turner Prize in 2011. He was awarded an honorary degree from Northumbria University in 2012 in recognition for his work on contemporary art after being on the judging panel for the Turner Prize. He departed in 2015 to take up a new post as director of the Henry Moore Foundation. Sarah Munro MBE became director in November 2015. She was previously artistic director of Tramway in Glasgow and head of arts for Glasgow Life.

 

History as arts centre

During the four-year construction of Baltic, the new organisation arranged a series of events, publications, and artists in residence in anticipation of the centre's opening. In 1999, after the silos had been removed and before the new floors were inserted, the shell of the building was used to house an art installation by Anish Kapoor. Taratantara was a trumpet-shaped installation of PVC 50 metres (160 ft) long and was situated within the centre of the mill. This installation drew 16,000 visitors and marked a turning point between the building's old purpose and its new life as a centre for art. In October 2000, Jenny Holzer's Truisms – a series of aphorisms and slogans – were projected onto the side of the building. Kapoor and Holtzer's works were intended to engage casual passers-by in an artistic dialogue. The identity of Baltic was also solidified by the publication of 16 newsletters between October 1998 and July 2002 when the centre opened to the public. A significant part of this branding was the use of the now registered typeface BALTIC Affisch, designed by Swedish designers Ulf Greger Nilsson and Henrik Nygren and based on the BALTIC FLOUR MILLS lettering on the building's brick façade.

 

Opening

After ten years in the planning and a capital investment of £50m, including £33.4m from the Arts Council Lottery Fund, Baltic opened to the public at midnight on Saturday 13 July 2002. The novelty of opening the new building at midnight was intentional: founding director Sune Nordgren sought a dramatic gesture to herald the beginning of the new centre for arts. The inaugural exhibition, B.OPEN, had work by Chris Burden, Carsten Höller, Julian Opie, Jaume Plensa and Jane and Louise Wilson. Opie, who had previously assisted Dominic Williams with aspects of the building's conversion design, contributed an installation consisting of nude outlines on the walls of floor of the gallery. Plensa's installation featured a room filled with gongs which were available for the audience to play. Plensa also contributed Blake in Gateshead – a beam of light which stretched around 2 kilometres (6,600 ft) into the sky. The installation was placed through the glass doorway of the ground floor. Burden constructed a 1/20th scale replica of the Tyne Bridge out of Meccano. Jane and Louise Wilson created Dreamtime, a video of a rocket launch. An early exhibit by the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara was also included. The B.OPEN event attracted over 35,000 visitors in the first week. A live art performance, including Tatsumi Orimito's Bread Man and Anne Bjerge Hansen's Moving Bakery, took place during the opening weekend, in which bread was handed out to passers-by in memory of the Baltic Flour Mill's history. When BALTIC opened, there was a target set for 250,000 visitors a year. It achieved one million visitors in its first year, and by its 10-year anniversary in 2012, 4 million people had visited.

 

Notable events

On 20 September 2007, Baltic management contacted Northumbria Police for advice regarding whether or not a photograph should be displayed as part of the Thanksgiving installation, a forthcoming exhibition by American photographer Nan Goldin. The photograph, along with the rest of the installation, is part of the Sir Elton John Photography Collection. Entitled Klara and Edda belly-dancing features two naked young girls and had previously been exhibited around the world without objections. The installation, which had been scheduled for a four-month exhibition, opened with the remaining photographs whilst Klara and Edda belly-dancing was in possession of the police. However, it closed after just nine days at the request of Elton John. Although this had a determinantal effect on Baltic's reputation in the short-term, Graham Whitham argues in Understand Contemporary Art that it may have given it a higher profile and greater publicity in the long-run.

 

Beryl Cook

In 2007, the largest survey of artist Beryl Cook's work to date was featured in an exhibition at Baltic.[9] Cook enjoyed widespread recognition of her art towards the end of her life; the exhibition at Baltic took place one year before her death. Her paintings depict everyday and familiar social situations in a playful, colourful, and "portly" style. Peter Doreshenko, the director of Baltic at the time of the exhibition, was keen for the gallery to reject the seriousness audiences may associate with it. The exhibition of Cook's work was part of this populist effort to attract new audiences to the then financially-struggling gallery, whose visitor numbers had dropped to less than 500,000 and whose reputation was decreasing. Adrian Searle of The Guardian reviewed the exhibition and, whilst acknowledging that fans would enjoy it, commented "look too long and you may feel a bit queasy".

 

Turner Prize

In 2011, Baltic was the venue for the Turner Prize. This was the first time the event had been held outside of London or Liverpool Tate. The Turner Prize exhibition at Baltic attracted 149,770 visitors to the gallery – almost double the average attendance in London. The event at Baltic was also free, whilst Turner exhibitions at Tate Britain had always previously charged for entry. The winning exhibit was by Martin Boyce with the runners-up being Karla Black, Hilary Lloyd and George Shaw.

 

Judy Chicago

The first major retrospective of American artist Judy Chicago's work was exhibited in Baltic from November 2019 to April 2020. The exhibition included her abstract paintings, records of performance pieces, and began and ended with a four-metre tapestry which portrayed the creation the world from a woman's perspective. At the time of the exhibition, Chicago was in her 80s. Hannah Clugston of The Guardian noted that the more recent featured works embraced the theme of death, particularly End: A Meditation on Death and Extinction, which is based on the stages of grief.

 

Baltic Open Submission

In March 2020, Baltic announced it would be closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice. In May 2021, it reopened to visitors with four exhibitions. Baltic Open Submission featured works created during lockdown by 158 artists from the North East. The 158 artists were chosen from over 540 original submissions and selected by a panel of three North East-based artists. The final pieces included paintings, drawings, and sound and video installations.

 

Community and cultural impact

At the opening of Baltic, director Sune Nordgren outlined the role of the arts centre within the public sphere. He stated that Baltic should be "a meeting place, a site for connections and confrontation between artists and the public." In an October 2002 lecture at the Power Plant Gallery in Toronto, Nordgren reaffirmed the importance of local outreach and explained his intention for Baltic to regard the local history and culture, comparing his intention to examples of modern art museums where this was not considered, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (designed in Los Angeles and placed in Spain). From its inception, Baltic emphasised the importance of artist-public relationships and its role as a community hub. "Participate" initiatives encouraged people in the local community to interact with resident artists. A media learning centre in a local library was set up as an extension of Baltic's community resources.

 

In a 2016 talk on Baltic's 10-year strategic plan (officially named Untitled), the current director of Baltic – Sarah Munro – emphasised that the North East of England "has always led, not followed" the agenda for contemporary arts, and that Baltic had been a big part of this trend. She argued that the visual arts can be used to further the economic and social growth of the area, even amidst the backdrop of political issues and austerity. Baltic also launched an international award for emerging artists in 2016, which offered a £30,000 commission and an accompanying exhibition to four recipients. It was the first such competition in the UK to be judged entirely by artists: in 2017, they were Monica Bonvicini, Lorna Simpson, Pedro Cabrita Reis and Mike Nelson. Munro commented that the award was to foster "a dialogue with our audiences at a local, national and international level."

 

Local university partnerships and graduate internships are also important to Baltic's community and cultural influence. In 2011, Baltic and Northumbria University established an artistic partnership through the BxNU Institute of Contemporary Art, a centre for artistic and curatorial research. Christine Borland was appointed as Baltic Professor. A designated gallery space, known as Baltic 39, was established on the top floor of refurbished Edwardian warehouses at 31-39 High Bridge in Newcastle. It was designed by Viennese architects Jabornegg & Palffy and housed artwork from students at the university. Baltic 39 was based at High Bridge from 2012 to 2021.

 

Their annual Self-Publishing Artists’ Market (aka S.P.A.M.) takes the form of a lively programme exploring print culture and practice through talks and workshops with over 50 stalls selling zines and artists’ books. S.P.A.M. Spreads reimagines the market in printed form and has included contributions by artists, activists, illustrators, zine-makers, writers and curators including Vanessa Murrell, Melody Sproates, Okocha Obasi, Stephanie Francis-Shanahan.