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Professor Noreena Hertz of the Duisenberg School of Finance, Rotterdam - think differently: In an inspiring speech on decision-making by one of the most influential economists in the world, Professor Hertz asks people to ''think differently'' and kick-start independent decision-making. She also gave advice on how to adapt and develop new skills during these difficult economic times. Noreena Hertz is a Professor at the Duisenberg School of Finance, the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University and fellow at Judge Business School, Cambridge University. Her speech is brought to you in full length by Euranet's Anastasia-Areti Gavrili. (In English)
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Photo by Euranet / Anastasia-Areti Gavrili
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. . . look at the faces: every soldier has a different face! Not two are similar!
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The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remained buried in the pits near Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were found in other pits, including officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.
HISTORY
The construction of the tomb was described by historian Sima Qian (145–90 BCE) in his most noted work Shiji, written a century after the mausoleum's completion. Work on the mausoleum began in 246 BCE soon after Emperor Qin (then aged 13) ascended the throne, and the project eventually involved 700,000 workers. Geographer Li Daoyuan, writing six centuries after the First Emperor's death, recorded in Shui Jing Zhu that Mount Li was a favoured location due to its auspicious geology, "famed for its jade mines, its northern side was rich in gold, and its southern side rich in beautiful jade; the First Emperor, covetous of its fine reputation, therefore chose to be buried there". Sima Qian wrote that the First Emperor was buried with palaces, towers, officials, valuable artifacts and wondrous objects. According to this account, 100 flowing rivers were simulated using mercury, and above them the ceiling was decorated with heavenly bodies below which were the features of the land. Some translations of this passage refer to "models" or "imitations"; however, those words were not used in the original text, which makes no mention of the terracotta army. High levels of mercury were found in the soil of the tomb mound, giving credence to Sima Qian's account. Later historical accounts suggested that the tomb had been looted by Xiang Yu, a contender for the throne after the death of the first emperor. However, there are indications that the tomb may not have been plundered.
DISCOVERY
The Terracotta Army was discovered on 29 March 1974 by farmers digging a water well approximately 1.5 kilometres east of the Qin Emperor's tomb mound at Mount Li (Lishan), a region riddled with underground springs and watercourses. For centuries, occasional reports mentioned pieces of terracotta figures and fragments of the Qin necropolis – roofing tiles, bricks and chunks of masonry. This discovery prompted Chinese archaeologists, including Zhao Kangmin, to investigate, revealing the largest pottery figurine group ever found. A museum complex has since been constructed over the area, the largest pit being enclosed by a roofed structure.
NECROPOLIS
The Terracotta Army is part of a much larger necropolis. Ground-penetrating radar and core sampling have measured the area to be approximately 98 square kilometers.
The necropolis was constructed as a microcosm of the emperor's imperial palace or compound, and covers a large area around the tomb mound of the first emperor. The earthen tomb mound is located at the foot of Mount Li and built in a pyramidal shape, and is surrounded by two solidly built rammed earth walls with gateway entrances. The necropolis consists of several offices, halls, stables, other structures as well as an imperial park placed around the tomb mound.
The warriors stand guard to the east of the tomb. Up to 5 metres of reddish, sandy soil had accumulated over the site in the two millennia following its construction, but archaeologists found evidence of earlier disturbances at the site. During the excavations near the Mount Li burial mound, archaeologists found several graves dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where diggers had apparently struck terracotta fragments. These were discarded as worthless and used along with soil to back fill the excavations.
TOMB
The tomb appears to be a hermetically sealed space roughly the size of a football pitch (c. 100 × 75 m). The tomb remains unopened, possibly due to concerns over preservation of its artifacts. For example, after the excavation of the Terracotta Army, the painted surface present on some terracotta figures began to flake and fade. The lacquer covering the paint can curl in fifteen seconds once exposed to Xi'an's dry air and can flake off in just four minutes.
EXCAVATION S'ITE
PITS
Four main pits approximately 7 metres deep have been excavated. These are located approximately 1.5 kilometres east of the burial mound. The soldiers within were laid out as if to protect the tomb from the east, where the Qin Emperor's conquered states lay.
PIT 1
Pit 1, which is 230 metres long and 62 metres wide, contains the main army of more than 6,000 figures. Pit 1 has eleven corridors, most more than 3 metres wide and paved with small bricks with a wooden ceiling supported by large beams and posts. This design was also used for the tombs of nobles and would have resembled palace hallways when built. The wooden ceilings were covered with reed mats and layers of clay for waterproofing, and then mounded with more soil raising them about 2 to 3 metres above the surrounding ground level when completed.
OTHERS
Pit 2 has cavalry and infantry units as well as war chariots and is thought to represent a military guard. Pit 3 is the command post, with high-ranking officers and a war chariot. Pit 4 is empty, perhaps left unfinished by its builders.
Some of the figures in Pits 1 and 2 show fire damage, while remains of burnt ceiling rafters have also been found. These, together with the missing weapons, have been taken as evidence of the reported looting by Xiang Yu and the subsequent burning of the site, which is thought to have caused the roof to collapse and crush the army figures below. The terracotta figures currently on display have been restored from the fragments.
Other pits that formed the necropolis have also been excavated. These pits lie within and outside the walls surrounding the tomb mound. They variously contain bronze carriages, terracotta figures of entertainers such as acrobats and strongmen, officials, stone armour suits, burial sites of horses, rare animals and labourers, as well as bronze cranes and ducks set in an underground park.
WARRIOR FIGURES
TYPES AND APPEARANCE
The terracotta figures are life-sized. They vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with rank. Their faces appear to be different for each individual figure; scholars, however, have identified 10 basic face shapes. The figures are of these general types: armored warriors; unarmored infantrymen; cavalrymen who wear a pillbox hat; helmeted drivers of chariots with more armor protection; spear-carrying charioteers; kneeling archers who are armored; standing archers who are not; as well as generals and other lower-ranking officers. There are, however, many variations in the uniforms within the ranks: for example, some may wear shin pads while others not; they may wear either long or short trousers, some of which may be padded; and their body armors vary depending on rank, function, and position in formation. There are also terracotta horses placed among the warrior figures.
Originally, the figures were painted with bright pigments, variously coloured pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac. The coloured lacquer finish and individual facial features would have given the figures a realistic feel. However, much of the colour coating had flaked off or become greatly faded.
Some scholars have speculated a possible Hellenistic link to these sculptures, because of the lack of life-sized and realistic sculptures before the Qin dynasty. They argued that potential Greek influence is particularly evident in some terracotta figures such as those of acrobats, combined with findings of European DNA and rare bronze artifacts made with a lost wax technique known in Greece and Egypt.. However, this idea is disputed by scholars who claim that there is "no substantial evidence at all" for contact between ancient Greeks and Chinese builders of the tomb. They argue that such speculations rest on flawed and old "Eurocentric" ideas that assumed other civilizations were incapable of sophisticated artistry and thus foreign artistry must be seen through western traditions.
CONSTRUCTION
The terracotta army figures were manufactured in workshops by government laborers and local craftsmen using local materials. Heads, arms, legs, and torsos were created separately and then assembled by luting the pieces together. When completed, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits in precise military formation according to rank and duty.
The faces were created using molds, and at least ten face molds may have been used. Clay was then added after assembly to provide individual facial features to make each figure appear different. It is believed that the warriors' legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would classify the process as assembly line production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired, as opposed to crafting one solid piece and subsequently firing it. In those times of tight imperial control, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced to ensure quality control. This has aided modern historians in verifying which workshops were commandeered to make tiles and other mundane items for the terracotta army.
WEAPONRY
Most of the figures originally held real weapons, which would have increased their realism. The majority of these weapons were looted shortly after the creation of the army or have rotted away. Despite this, over 40,000 bronze items of weaponry have been recovered, including swords, daggers, spears, lances, battle-axes, scimitars, shields, crossbows, and crossbow triggers. Most of the recovered items are arrowheads, which are usually found in bundles of 100 units. Studies of these arrowheads suggests that they were produced by self-sufficient, autonomous workshops using a process referred to as cellular production or Toyotism. Some weapons were coated with a 10–15 micrometer layer of chromium dioxide before burial that has protected them from any form of decay for the last 2200 years. The swords contain an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt. Some carry inscriptions that date their manufacture to between 245 and 228 BCE, indicating that they were used before burial.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
In 2007, scientists at Stanford University and the Advanced Light Source facility in Berkeley, California reported that powder diffraction experiments combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis showed that the process of producing terracotta figures colored with Chinese purple dye consisting of barium copper silicate was derived from the knowledge gained by Taoist alchemists in their attempts to synthesize jade ornaments.
Since 2006, an international team of researchers at the UCL Institute of Archaeology have been using analytical chemistry techniques to uncover more details about the production techniques employed in the creation of the Terracotta Army. Using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of 40,000 bronze arrowheads bundled in groups of 100, the researchers reported that the arrowheads within a single bundle formed a relatively tight cluster that was different from other bundles. In addition, the presence or absence of metal impurities was consistent within bundles. Based on the arrows’ chemical compositions, the researchers concluded that a cellular manufacturing system similar to the one used in a modern Toyota factory, as opposed to a continuous assembly line in the early days of the automobile industry, was employed.
Grinding and polishing marks visible under a scanning electron microscope provide evidence for the earliest industrial use of lathes for polishing.
EXHIBITIONS
The first exhibition of the figures outside of China was held at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne in 1982.
A collection of 120 objects from the mausoleum and 12 terracotta warriors were displayed at the British Museum in London as its special exhibition "The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army" from 13 September 2007 to April 2008. This exhibition made 2008 the British Museum's most successful year and made the British Museum the United Kingdom's top cultural attraction between 2007 and 2008. The exhibition brought the most visitors to the museum since the King Tutankhamun exhibition in 1972. It was reported that the 400,000 advance tickets sold out so fast that the museum extended its opening hours until midnight. According to The Times, many people had to be turned away, despite the extended hours. During the day of events to mark the Chinese New Year, the crush was so intense that the gates to the museum had to be shut. The Terracotta Army has been described as the only other set of historic artifacts (along with the remnants of wreck of the RMS Titanic) that can draw a crowd by the name alone.
Warriors and other artifacts were exhibited to the public at the Forum de Barcelona in Barcelona between 9 May and 26 September 2004. It was their most successful exhibition ever. The same exhibition was presented at the Fundación Canal de Isabel II in Madrid between October 2004 and January 2005, their most successful ever. From December 2009 to May 2010, the exhibition was shown in the Centro Cultural La Moneda in Santiago de Chile.
The exhibition traveled to North America and visited museums such as the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, Houston Museum of Natural Science, High Museum of Art in Atlanta, National Geographic Society Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Subsequently, the exhibition traveled to Sweden and was hosted in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities between 28 August 2010 and 20 January 2011. An exhibition entitled 'The First Emperor – China's Entombed Warriors', presenting 120 artifacts was hosted at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, between 2 December 2010 and 13 March 2011. An exhibition entitled "L'Empereur guerrier de Chine et son armée de terre cuite" ("The Warrior-Emperor of China and his terracotta army"), featuring artifacts including statues from the mausoleum, was hosted by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from 11 February 2011 to 26 June 2011. In Italy, from July 2008 to 16 November 2008, five of the warriors of the terracotta army were displayed in Turin at the Museum of Antiquities, and from 16 April 2010 to 5 September 2010 were exposed nine warriors in Milan, at the Royal Palace, at the exhibition entitled "The Two Empires". The group consisted of a horse, a counselor, an archer and six lancers. The "Treasures of Ancient China" exhibition, showcasing two terracotta soldiers and other artifacts, including the Longmen Grottoes Buddhist statues, was held between 19 February 2011 and 7 November 2011 in four locations in India: National Museum of New Delhi, Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai, Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad and National Library of India in Kolkata.
Soldiers and related items were on display from 15 March 2013 to 17 November 2013, at the Historical Museum of Bern.
Several Terracotta Army figures were on display, along with many other objects, in an exhibit entitled "Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin and Han Dynasties" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City from 3 April 2017, to 16 July 2017 An exhibition featuring ten Terracotta Army figures and other artifacts, "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor," was on display at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington, from 8 April 2017 to 4 September 2017 before traveling to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to be exhibited from 30 September 2017 to 4 March 2018 with the addition of augmented reality.
An exhibition entitled "China's First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors" is at the World Museum in Liverpool from 9 February 2018 to 28 October 2018. This is the first time in more than 10 years that the warriors have travelled to the UK.
WIKIPEDIA
Much of the world has similar, but distinctively different, signs for road crossings. So, I want to build a collection of them.
I currently have the following taken by myself:
France + France (2),
Hungary + Hungary (2) + Hungary (3),
Kosovo + Kosovo (2),
Plus some unofficial variations:
I also know of the following others on Flickr:
Help me find a complete set. Please comment or message me if you know of others!
To view more of my images, of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, please click "here"!
The Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens exhibits over 260 different species of animals and is the largest privately owned zoological collection in the UK (by species). The Park is set in 160 acres of landscaped parkland and gardens 2 miles south of Burford on the A361, Oxfordshire, England. Around 350,000 people visited the park in 2012.
he Bradwell Grove area which surrounds the Cotswold Wildlife Park has known human habitation for more than 4,000 years. A visit to the nearby village of Broadwell will reveal a small cluster of houses and a farm around a disproportionately large parish church. It is here that the estate's history is centred, for Filkins, Kencot and Holwell, together with their adjacent villages and surrounding farmland, were all part of the parish of Broadwell. This ancient parish existed from pre-Norman times until the Victorian era.
In 1804 the estate's owner William Hervey had the current Manor House designed by William Atkinson and built by Richard Pace of Lechlade, in the then fashionable Georgian Gothic style. This followed the example of Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's masterpiece at Twickenham. The house replaced an original 17th century Jacobean residence, part of which was incorporated into the North service wing. Hervey also planted a great number of trees in the Park, many of which can still be seen including a huge Wellingtonia tree on the west lawn. This tree is over 40 metres high and can be seen on the skyline from many miles away.
In 1923 the house and estate were purchased by Colonel Heyworth-Savage, and on his death in 1948 the estate was passed to his grandson John Heyworth. The house was rented out for twenty years to Oxford Regional Hospital Board, until in 1969 Mr. Heyworth decided to open the gardens to the public, and since 1970 the house has been the heart of the Wildlife Park.
John Heyworth was born in the Manor House in 1925 and mainly brought up at Bradwell Grove. When he left school he served from 1943–1947 in the Royal Dragoons. This regiment had been commanded by his father, who was killed in action in North Africa in 1941.
John Heyworth has many memories of his early years in the 1930s living in the Manor House. What we now know as the Walled Garden, in those days the kitchen garden, was brimming with fruit and vegetables; the area which now houses the marmosets and tamarins contained cold fruit frames full of parma violets and other delicate plants, and on the site of the gardeners' greenhouse stood two structures reputed to be the oldest greenhouses in Oxfordshire. The Tropical House has taken the place of three adjoining greenhouses, the first for carnations, the second for rare hot-house plants and a fig tree, and the third for nectarines and peaches. The water supply for the Walled Garden came from a central well now covered over but still marked. There was a cricket pitch on what is now the grass car park, and two grass tennis courts outside the drawing room and brass-rubbing room. Many years ago there was even a private nine hole golf course covering what is now the ostrich enclosure and surrounding area.
The Manor House now has various roles, with its many rooms being used as visitor areas. The old dining room, still with its original curtains, panelling and fireplace, has become the brass-rubbing centre; the drawing room is used for meetings, exhibitions and conferences; the library is now a bar area; the original kitchen has been turned into a storeroom and a self-contained flat; and other rooms are used as administration and maintenance offices, storerooms and staff accommodation. Even the maze of cellars is used for hibernating certain species from their reptile collection! The old stables and other out-buildings now the reptile and bat houses, classrooms, offices and the quarantine area, and the billiard room (which is now the restaurant kitchen), housed a billiard table which was used to form the lower tier of the waterfall in the penguin enclosure.
Morelet's Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii), also known as the Mexican crocodile, is a modest sized crocodilian found only in fresh waters of the Atlantic regions of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. It usually grows to about 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length. It is a Least Concern species. It was discovered in Mexico in 1850[3] and named after the French naturalist who made the discovery, P.M.A. Morelet (1809–1892). It was long confused with the American and Cuban crocodiles because of similar characteristics. It was not realized that they were a separate species until the 1920s. It has a very broad snout with 66 to 68 teeth when they are fully mature. They are dark grayish-brown in color with dark bands and spots on the body and the tail. This is similar to other crocodiles, like the American crocodile, but the Morelet is somewhat darker. Juvenile crocodiles are bright yellow with some dark bands. The crocodile’s iris is silvery brown. They have four short legs, giving them a rather sprawling gait, and a long tail, which is used for swimming. The hind feet of the crocodiles are webbed. They have very explosive capabilities because of their strong muscles and are fast runners. It is small compared to several other crocodiles. The males can become larger than the females. The adult crocodile averages 2.2–3 m (7.2–9.8 ft) in length with a maximum reported length of 4.3 m
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Different vantage points around the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill in the Cuyahoga Valley due south of Cleveland, Ohio. (early spring, 2024)
IMPORTANT
All my 2015 pictures of Nepal are taken shortly before the heavy earthquake in April 2015! Most of these buildings are now damaged!
To me this is the real tragedy of this year!
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Bhaktapur (Nepali: भक्तपुर), literally translates to Place of devotees. Also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopa (Newar: ख्वप Khwopa), it is an ancient Newar city in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, about 13 km from the capital city, Kathmandu. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone.
Bhaktapur was the largest of the three Newar kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, and was the capital of Nepal during the great 'Malla Kingdom' until the second half of the 15th century. Today it is the third largest city in the Kathmandu Valley, with a population of more than 80,000, of which the vast majority are still Newars. Historically more isolated than the other two kingdoms, Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur has a distinctly different form of Nepal Bhasa language.
Bhaktapur has the best preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal, and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artworks. This is supported by the restoration and preservation efforts of German-funded Bhaktapur Development Project (BDP).
The city is famous for special type of curd called "Ju Ju(king) dhau(curd). It is experienced by the curd makers that the taste of curd prepared in this location cannot be found elsewhere all over Nepal.
ETYMOLOGY
KHWOPA is the ancient name of Bhaktapur. The term "Bhaktapur" (Sanskrit/Nepali: भक्तपुर) refers to "The City Of Devotees". This Bhaktapur City is also known as "Khwopa" (Nepal Bhasa: ख्वप) or "Bhadgaon" (Nepali:भादगाँउ) or "Ancient Newari Town" throughout the Kathmandu Valley. "Kh0apa" actually refers to the masks which are believed to have been worn by gods and goddesses. Bhaktapur is popular for different forms of mask dances based on lives of different deities and therefore, it was named "Khwapa" which later came to become just "Khwopa," which is also near to meaning masks.
HISTORY
It is the home of traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craft works, magnificent windows, pottery and weaving industries, excellent temples, beautiful ponds, rich local customs, culture, religion, festivals, musical mystic and so on. Bhaktapur is still an untouched as well as preserved ancient city that is itself a world to explore for tourists.
From time immemorial it lay on the trade route between Tibet and India. This position on the main caravan route made the town rich and prosperous.
DEMOGRAPHICS
At the time of the 2001 Nepal census it had a population of 72,543. The male inhabitants of this city wear a special type of cap called the Bhadgaunle Topi Nyatapola.
LANDMARKS
LAYAKU (DURBAR SQUARE)
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples, mostly dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses grouped around a 55-window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of the kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place — struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows — all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony.
The royal palace was originally situated at Dattaraya square and was only later moved to the Durbar square location. The square in Bhaktapur was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1934 and hence appears more spacious than the ones at Kathmandu and Patan.
NYATAPOLA TEMPLE
Nyatapola Temple is a 5-story pagoda located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple was erected by Nepali King Bhupatindra Malla during a 5-month period from late 1701 into 1702. It is the temple of Siddha Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity.
BHAIRAB NATH TEMPLE
This is another pagoda temple of lord Bhairab, the dreadful aspect of Lord Shiva. It stands a short distance away from the temple of Nyatapola and was originally constructed by King Jagat Jyoti Malla on a modest scale. It was later remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla, a zealous lover of the arts, into what it is now a three-storeyed temple.
DATTATRAYA TEMPLE
The temple of Dattatraya is as old as the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. Consecrated by King Yakshya Malla in 1427 AD, this temple, according to popular belief, was built out of the trunk of a single tree. It was subsequently repaired and renovated by King Vishwa Malla in 1458 AD.
Just beside temple is a monastery (Math) with exquisitely carved peacock windows. These famous windows were carved during the reign of King Vishwa Malla. The monastery is full of artistic facades of latticed windows and engraved columns.
CHANGU NARAYAN TEMPLE
Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple located near the village of Changunarayan in the Kathmandu Valley on top of a hill at the eastern end of the valley. It is 6 kilometres to the north of Bhakathapur and 22 kilometres from Kathmandu. The temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples of the valley, and is believed to have been constructed first in the 4th century. Changu Narayan is the name of Vishnu, and the temple is dedicated to him. A stone slab discovered in the vicinity of the temple dates to the 5th century, and is the oldest such stone inscription discovered in Nepal. It was rebuilt after the old temple was devastated. Many stone sculptures here date to the Licchavi period. Changu Narayan Temple is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The temple is a double-roofed structure where the idol of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayana is deified. The exquisitely built temple has intricate roof struts showing multi-armed Tantric deities. A kneeling image of Garuda (dated to the 5th century), the vahana or vehicle of Vishnu with a snake around its neck, faces the temple. The gilded door depicts stone lions guarding the temple. Gilded windows also flank the door. A conch and a disc, symbols of Vishnu, are carved on the two pillars at the entrance. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple.
TA PUKHA (SIDDHA POKHARI)
Ta Pukhu (Siddha Pokhari) is a big rectangular water pond near the main city gate. It was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in the early 15th century and is associated with a number of myths. From this spot a wide range of snowy peaks are visible on clear days.
KAILASHNATH MAHADEV STATUE
Kailashnath Mahadev is the World's Tallest Lord Shiva statue. The height of this statue is 143 feet high and is situated 20 km from Kathmandu, epal. The statues construction work was started in 2004 and was completed in 2012. The statue's inauguration took place on the 21st of June '12. This statue stands on the 32nd position in the list of all statues by height in the whole world. It has been made of copper, cement, zinc, and steel. To make this gigantic structure possible there were many professional workers and statue makers from India.
FESTIVAL
Bhaktapur is also known as city of festivals and celebrations. The city celebrates festivals each month starting from new year festival to the Holi puni at the end of the year.
- Bisket Jatra (New year festival)
This ancient annual festival of bhaktapur takes place at the New Year of the Bikram Sambat calendar. A few days before the New Year, usually at Chaitra 27 or Chaitra 28, if 31 days in month, the goddess 'bhadrakali' and the god 'bhairab' are enshrined in their raths, or immense chariots & pulled through the narrow streets of Bhaktapur by crowds of young men.
The chariots rest at certain time-honored places in the city and people come out to throw offerings of flower, rice, coins and red sindur powder. On the last day of the old year a towering wooden pole known as ' lyesing dha: or lingo' is erected at the edge of town. Long banners hang from the pole, symbolizing snakes - Nag and nagini. On new year's day, the erected pole is brought down symbolizing victory over evil! People enjoy New year day along with victory over evils. On baisakh 5, the chariot is again pulled to narrow street of bhaktapur and brought to its origin place, Taumadhi square marking end of Bisket Jatra.
- Kumar Khasti (Sithi Nakha)
Before modern piping system, wells and kuwas were the basis for water supply in bhaktapur. In this auspicious day, people clean wells and worship Naag favoring good fall in monsoon. They celebrate by eating delicious delicacy like bara and chatamari.
- Gathamaga charya
Gathamaga is made up of straw that symbols a devil. Locals make gathamaga in their locality and burn fire to remove devils of their locality. It is also said that mosquitos loses its one leg in this day.
- Sa: Paaru (Gai Jatra)
The celebration of Gai Jatra Bhaktapur is interesting among Kathmandu and Lalitpur. In this day, Tall bamboo poles wrapped in cloth and topped horn of straw and an umbrella is carried around the town in memory of dead. The photo of dead is hung in this pole called Ta macha.
Also a colorful procession known as Ghing tang gishi is main attraction of this festival. People enjoy and dance in beats of music and play with stick in accordance to the beat. People decorate themselves in mask, paints and even in female outfits.
GUNLA
Gunla is the name of 10th month of Nepal Era calendar. It is sacred month dedicated to Lord Buddha celebrated in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
But In Bhaktapur, last day of Gunla Panchadan is celebrated differently. The Five Buddhas are brought to Taumadhi square accompanied with Gunla Baja, a special musical instrument played only in Gunla and Buddhas are rounded around bhaktapur town.
- Pulu Kisi (Indra Jatra)
The son of Lord of heaven, is believed to have been kidnapped by a devil named Maisasur who then tied Indra's son in a pole and killed. Indra was shocked to hear his son's death and sent an elephant, pulukisi to find and kill Maisasur. But legend says Pulukisi couldn't find maisur till date. This jatra is a play to that legendary story where pulu kisi is rounded the town to search for Maisasur.
- Sithi Nakha
In Bhaktapur a palanquin with an image of the hindu goddess Bhagawati is carried in colorful procession through Nyatapol square this day.
- Dhanya purnima (Yomari purnima)
In this day Farmers of Kathmandu valley worship to Annapurna, the Goddess of grains, for good rice harvest and enjoy feast after all the hard work of the season. Yomari is the chief item on the menu in this day. So is called Yomari puni.
- Maghe sankranti (Ghya-chaku sankranti) (Makar Sankranti)
This festival marks the winter solstice and Newars partake of a feast. The days special menu include butter (ghyu), molasses (chaku) and yam.
In Bhaktapur, on this auspicious day samyak Dan is performed by Buddhist. The shakyas and Bajracharya gather in a samyak ground near Napukhu pond accompanied with panchabuddhas and samyak buddhas. They are offered chaku balls and rice. Bhaktapur is the only one in valley that conducts samyak Dan once in a year.
SHREE PANCHAMI
People regard this day as propitious day for starting new enterprise. Devotee throng Devi shrine to seek blessing. In Bhaktapur, People visit Sashwo:dega in this auspicious day where the idol of Buddhist deity Mahamanjushree is kept. Hindus regard it as saraswoti and worship whereas Buddhist worship it as Manjushree.
IN POPULARE CULTURE
Portions of the movie Little Buddha starring Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda were filmed in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
2015 EARTHQUAKE
The Magnitude 7.8 2015 Nepal earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015 damaged 116 heritages in the historic town of Bhaktapur. Of them, 67 were completely damaged while 49 suffered from partial damages. The quake has badly damaged the Durbar square, a significant heritage site included in the UNESCO world heritage list. The main premises of Taleju Temple here also witnessed damages in the disaster.
The building of the municipality office, temples of Rameshwor, Batsala, Narayan, Siddilaxmi, Biswaroopa, Siddiganesh, Sweetbhairav, Siva Mahadev, Degaina, sattal, pati and pujari mathas were damaged by the quake.
The reconstruction and new construction of the damaged heritages will cost over Rs 293 million, underlining the need of starting the renovation soon.
The Magnitude 8.4 (1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake) demolished several buildings that were never rebuilt, however they can be seen in the earlier drawings. Chyasilin Mandap has been rebuilt.
WIKIPEDIA
After many different ideas and feedback I edited this a different way. I am still practicing turning my color photos to black and white.
Of some of all the new apartment buildings at the waterfront. Seen from/through the watch tower at The Harbor Bath.
This photo shows three different Transdev vehicles on their respective stands at Skipton Bus Station on 13/10/2019. On the far left heading for Grassington on the BalesBus Network is Transdev - The Keighley Bus Company 155, YJ17FUW, an Optare Solo M9250SR. It was new to Transdev Keighley & District(155), in 08/2017. In the centre is Transdev - The Keighley Bus company 241, YJ16DWK, an Optare Versa V1170. It was one of three Versas new in 07/2016 for Dalesway branded Service 66 Keighley - Airedale Hospital - Skipton. It is awaiting departure back to Keighley while nearest the camera, on the right of the photo, is Transdev - The Burnley Bus Company 2775, BF63HCV, a Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL. It was new to Transdev Burnley & Pendle(2775) in 10/2013 and is awaiting departure on an X43. "When will we three meet again"?, claims the Volvo. Well it depends on the vehicle roster I suppose! This photo was taken from preserved London & Country 359, UHG736R, a Leyland National Greenway 11351A/1R East Lancs rebuild. New to Ribble(736) as a standard National in 10/1976, it passed to London & Country in 1994 being rebuilt by East Lancs in the June of that year being fitted with a Gardner engine in the process. It was re-registered JIL2199. It subsequently passed to Arriva Fox County(2146) before passing to Northern Blue(9), Burnley. It then passed to Wootten's, Chesham, prior to passing into preservation as London & Country 359 and reverting to its original registration. This was about to depart for Kildwick while at the Aire Valley Transport Group Yorkshire Dales Rally & Running Day. © Peter Steel 2019.
I got my doc martens for my birthday in april.. and i havnt taken them off since.
Had to have red. Every time i walk out my front door, everyones eyes go zoom, straight to my feet.
LOVE IT. :D
Many photographers take the same typical wide angle shot of Emirates towers, including me :p But this time I wanted to capture a different angle, and ... Click :)
Nikon D100
Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6D
Focal length: 220mm
ISO 200
1/320 seconds at F/5.3
Hope you like it :)
One of the ways to tell which pygmy Drosera you have found is to look at the number of stamens, shape of the ovary and the number of styles.
This has 5 stamens and 4 styles.
Possibly Drosera hyperostigma Problem with it is that it is only supposed to have 3 style and this one has 4 and I didn't know that in the field and didn't look at other flowers.
Bhaktapur (Nepali: भक्तपुर), literally translates to Place of devotees. Also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopa (Newar: ख्वप Khwopa), it is an ancient Newar city in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, about 13 km from the capital city, Kathmandu. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone.
Bhaktapur was the largest of the three Newar kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, and was the capital of Nepal during the great 'Malla Kingdom' until the second half of the 15th century. Today it is the third largest city in the Kathmandu Valley, with a population of more than 80,000, of which the vast majority are still Newars. Historically more isolated than the other two kingdoms, Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur has a distinctly different form of Nepal Bhasa language.
Bhaktapur has the best preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal, and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artworks. This is supported by the restoration and preservation efforts of German-funded Bhaktapur Development Project (BDP).
The city is famous for special type of curd called "Ju Ju(king) dhau(curd). It is experienced by the curd makers that the taste of curd prepared in this location cannot be found elsewhere all over Nepal.
ETYMOLOGY
KHWOPA is the ancient name of Bhaktapur. The term "Bhaktapur" (Sanskrit/Nepali: भक्तपुर) refers to "The City Of Devotees". This Bhaktapur City is also known as "Khwopa" (Nepal Bhasa: ख्वप) or "Bhadgaon" (Nepali:भादगाँउ) or "Ancient Newari Town" throughout the Kathmandu Valley. "Kh0apa" actually refers to the masks which are believed to have been worn by gods and goddesses. Bhaktapur is popular for different forms of mask dances based on lives of different deities and therefore, it was named "Khwapa" which later came to become just "Khwopa," which is also near to meaning masks.
HISTORY
It is the home of traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craft works, magnificent windows, pottery and weaving industries, excellent temples, beautiful ponds, rich local customs, culture, religion, festivals, musical mystic and so on. Bhaktapur is still an untouched as well as preserved ancient city that is itself a world to explore for tourists.
From time immemorial it lay on the trade route between Tibet and India. This position on the main caravan route made the town rich and prosperous.
DEMOGRAPHICS
At the time of the 2001 Nepal census it had a population of 72,543. The male inhabitants of this city wear a special type of cap called the Bhadgaunle Topi Nyatapola.
LANDMARKS
LAYAKU (DURBAR SQUARE)
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples, mostly dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses grouped around a 55-window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of the kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place — struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows — all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony.
The royal palace was originally situated at Dattaraya square and was only later moved to the Durbar square location. The square in Bhaktapur was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1934 and hence appears more spacious than the ones at Kathmandu and Patan.
NYATAPOLA TEMPLE
Nyatapola Temple is a 5-story pagoda located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple was erected by Nepali King Bhupatindra Malla during a 5-month period from late 1701 into 1702. It is the temple of Siddha Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity.
BHAIRAB NATH TEMPLE
This is another pagoda temple of lord Bhairab, the dreadful aspect of Lord Shiva. It stands a short distance away from the temple of Nyatapola and was originally constructed by King Jagat Jyoti Malla on a modest scale. It was later remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla, a zealous lover of the arts, into what it is now a three-storeyed temple.
DATTATRAYA TEMPLE
The temple of Dattatraya is as old as the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. Consecrated by King Yakshya Malla in 1427 AD, this temple, according to popular belief, was built out of the trunk of a single tree. It was subsequently repaired and renovated by King Vishwa Malla in 1458 AD.
Just beside temple is a monastery (Math) with exquisitely carved peacock windows. These famous windows were carved during the reign of King Vishwa Malla. The monastery is full of artistic facades of latticed windows and engraved columns.
CHANGU NARAYAN TEMPLE
Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple located near the village of Changunarayan in the Kathmandu Valley on top of a hill at the eastern end of the valley. It is 6 kilometres to the north of Bhakathapur and 22 kilometres from Kathmandu. The temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples of the valley, and is believed to have been constructed first in the 4th century. Changu Narayan is the name of Vishnu, and the temple is dedicated to him. A stone slab discovered in the vicinity of the temple dates to the 5th century, and is the oldest such stone inscription discovered in Nepal. It was rebuilt after the old temple was devastated. Many stone sculptures here date to the Licchavi period. Changu Narayan Temple is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The temple is a double-roofed structure where the idol of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayana is deified. The exquisitely built temple has intricate roof struts showing multi-armed Tantric deities. A kneeling image of Garuda (dated to the 5th century), the vahana or vehicle of Vishnu with a snake around its neck, faces the temple. The gilded door depicts stone lions guarding the temple. Gilded windows also flank the door. A conch and a disc, symbols of Vishnu, are carved on the two pillars at the entrance. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple.
TA PUKHA (SIDDHA POKHARI)
Ta Pukhu (Siddha Pokhari) is a big rectangular water pond near the main city gate. It was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in the early 15th century and is associated with a number of myths. From this spot a wide range of snowy peaks are visible on clear days.
KAILASHNATH MAHADEV STATUE
Kailashnath Mahadev is the World's Tallest Lord Shiva statue. The height of this statue is 143 feet high and is situated 20 km from Kathmandu, epal. The statues construction work was started in 2004 and was completed in 2012. The statue's inauguration took place on the 21st of June '12. This statue stands on the 32nd position in the list of all statues by height in the whole world. It has been made of copper, cement, zinc, and steel. To make this gigantic structure possible there were many professional workers and statue makers from India.
FESTIVAL
Bhaktapur is also known as city of festivals and celebrations. The city celebrates festivals each month starting from new year festival to the Holi puni at the end of the year.
- Bisket Jatra (New year festival)
This ancient annual festival of bhaktapur takes place at the New Year of the Bikram Sambat calendar. A few days before the New Year, usually at Chaitra 27 or Chaitra 28, if 31 days in month, the goddess 'bhadrakali' and the god 'bhairab' are enshrined in their raths, or immense chariots & pulled through the narrow streets of Bhaktapur by crowds of young men.
The chariots rest at certain time-honored places in the city and people come out to throw offerings of flower, rice, coins and red sindur powder. On the last day of the old year a towering wooden pole known as ' lyesing dha: or lingo' is erected at the edge of town. Long banners hang from the pole, symbolizing snakes - Nag and nagini. On new year's day, the erected pole is brought down symbolizing victory over evil! People enjoy New year day along with victory over evils. On baisakh 5, the chariot is again pulled to narrow street of bhaktapur and brought to its origin place, Taumadhi square marking end of Bisket Jatra.
- Kumar Khasti (Sithi Nakha)
Before modern piping system, wells and kuwas were the basis for water supply in bhaktapur. In this auspicious day, people clean wells and worship Naag favoring good fall in monsoon. They celebrate by eating delicious delicacy like bara and chatamari.
- Gathamaga charya
Gathamaga is made up of straw that symbols a devil. Locals make gathamaga in their locality and burn fire to remove devils of their locality. It is also said that mosquitos loses its one leg in this day.
- Sa: Paaru (Gai Jatra)
The celebration of Gai Jatra Bhaktapur is interesting among Kathmandu and Lalitpur. In this day, Tall bamboo poles wrapped in cloth and topped horn of straw and an umbrella is carried around the town in memory of dead. The photo of dead is hung in this pole called Ta macha.
Also a colorful procession known as Ghing tang gishi is main attraction of this festival. People enjoy and dance in beats of music and play with stick in accordance to the beat. People decorate themselves in mask, paints and even in female outfits.
GUNLA
Gunla is the name of 10th month of Nepal Era calendar. It is sacred month dedicated to Lord Buddha celebrated in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
But In Bhaktapur, last day of Gunla Panchadan is celebrated differently. The Five Buddhas are brought to Taumadhi square accompanied with Gunla Baja, a special musical instrument played only in Gunla and Buddhas are rounded around bhaktapur town.
- Pulu Kisi (Indra Jatra)
The son of Lord of heaven, is believed to have been kidnapped by a devil named Maisasur who then tied Indra's son in a pole and killed. Indra was shocked to hear his son's death and sent an elephant, pulukisi to find and kill Maisasur. But legend says Pulukisi couldn't find maisur till date. This jatra is a play to that legendary story where pulu kisi is rounded the town to search for Maisasur.
- Sithi Nakha
In Bhaktapur a palanquin with an image of the hindu goddess Bhagawati is carried in colorful procession through Nyatapol square this day.
- Dhanya purnima (Yomari purnima)
In this day Farmers of Kathmandu valley worship to Annapurna, the Goddess of grains, for good rice harvest and enjoy feast after all the hard work of the season. Yomari is the chief item on the menu in this day. So is called Yomari puni.
- Maghe sankranti (Ghya-chaku sankranti) (Makar Sankranti)
This festival marks the winter solstice and Newars partake of a feast. The days special menu include butter (ghyu), molasses (chaku) and yam.
In Bhaktapur, on this auspicious day samyak Dan is performed by Buddhist. The shakyas and Bajracharya gather in a samyak ground near Napukhu pond accompanied with panchabuddhas and samyak buddhas. They are offered chaku balls and rice. Bhaktapur is the only one in valley that conducts samyak Dan once in a year.
SHREE PANCHAMI
People regard this day as propitious day for starting new enterprise. Devotee throng Devi shrine to seek blessing. In Bhaktapur, People visit Sashwo:dega in this auspicious day where the idol of Buddhist deity Mahamanjushree is kept. Hindus regard it as saraswoti and worship whereas Buddhist worship it as Manjushree.
IN POPULARE CULTURE
Portions of the movie Little Buddha starring Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda were filmed in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
2015 EARTHQUAKE
The Magnitude 7.8 2015 Nepal earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015 damaged 116 heritages in the historic town of Bhaktapur. Of them, 67 were completely damaged while 49 suffered from partial damages. The quake has badly damaged the Durbar square, a significant heritage site included in the UNESCO world heritage list. The main premises of Taleju Temple here also witnessed damages in the disaster.
The building of the municipality office, temples of Rameshwor, Batsala, Narayan, Siddilaxmi, Biswaroopa, Siddiganesh, Sweetbhairav, Siva Mahadev, Degaina, sattal, pati and pujari mathas were damaged by the quake.
The reconstruction and new construction of the damaged heritages will cost over Rs 293 million, underlining the need of starting the renovation soon.
The Magnitude 8.4 (1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake) demolished several buildings that were never rebuilt, however they can be seen in the earlier drawings. Chyasilin Mandap has been rebuilt.
WIKIPEDIA
The EMTRON valve amplifier has been replaced by a SPE Expert 1.3K solid state amplifier. Fully automated.
A collection of short stories by various authors, exploring different aspects of Count Dracula’s personalities, and chronicling some of his activities in London.
Most of the stories relate the details of a minor character or a passing remark in Bram Stoker’s novel, many mention the original characters, and some indulge in rather shameless namedropping of fictional and/or non-fictional characters of the time. Most of the stories stay to true to the character, the location and the times mentioned by Bram Stoker.
[SPOILER ALERT]
To Each His Own Kind by Tanya Huff
This story is in the first person narrative, and relates Count Dracula’s initial impressions of the city of London as a newcomer. He now has a chance to witness at first hand the crowds, the culture and the customs of the city, which he had previously extensively researched. The Count at times finds himself at a disadvantage on being treated as an ordinary mortal by his fellow men. One of his first acquaintances was an affable American, who introduces the Count to the Prince of Wales at the house party. Dracula favorably impresses His Majesty with his aristocratic manner, speech and intellect, and thus makes his grand entrance to the Polite Society of London.
Box Number Fifty by Fred Saberhagen
The second story disappoints the reader, with its rather far fetched notion of Count Dracula’s paternal instincts towards two street waifs who seek shelter in his house. Apart from that, Saberhagen draws a very vivid picture of life on the street of the time. For this, the story is worth reading. Purists like the reader may still dislike this sudden view of Dracula as the suddenly benevolent protector of helpless children.
Wolf and Hound by Nigel Bennet and P. N. Elrod
A chilling tale of a witch lady witnessing the arrival of Count Dracula on the shores of England, and her attempt to defend Whitby from his evil. Van Helsing makes his first appearance in the book in a small cameo role.
The Dark Downstairs by Roxanne Longstreet Conrad
A first hand witness account from the servants’ quarter, this story tells about Count Dracula’s attack on Lucy Westenra. The reader gets reacquainted with Van Helsing and Mina Murray, and sees the events from a new point of view.
Dear Mr. Bernard Shaw by Judith Proctor
A nicely atmospheric letter that tells of the London stage life. However, Count Dracula acts completely out of character, politely asking the lady of his choice whether she would like to be turned into a vampire or not, and then tamely disappearing on being rejected by Ellen Terry.
The Three Boxes by Elaine Bergstrom
A proper chilling piece of Dracula-ish horror. An almost love affair, and an ending that more than meets the reader’s expectations from the Count. In the reader’s opinion, this is the best story in the book.
Good Help by K. B. Bogen
A strangely clumsy Dracula, who stumbles over rubbish heaps and falls down from the trees, this tale disappoints in spite of relying heavily on the Wistenra events. Two would-be assistants fight over the honor of serving the Count, and end with the Count dining on the loser of the fight.
Everything to Order by Jody Lynn Nye
The story rambles on for 16 pages, without the Count appearing even once. Rather, his three Countesses buy dresses and dine on the best looking mannequin. The story is disappointing to say the least, with a foregone conclusion that is drawn out endlessly by Nye for no apparent purpose.
Long-Term Investment by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Here the reader finds Count Dracula engaged in shifting boxes of his native soil to different parts of the city under the guise of a coffin merchant. Once again the Count makes a needless scapegoat of his assistant, Edward Hitchin. Yarbo depicts a believable picture of the London docks of the time, but fails to chill the reader in spite of descriptions of late nights at a coffin shop.
“Places for Act Two!” by Bradley H. Sinor
Ridiculous is the only word that comes to mind after reading this story. Sinor seems to have written a typical whodunit, perhaps under the illusion that he is adding a chaptor to the life of Sherlock Holmes and not the powerful Count Dracula. The reader finds the Count taking to the London stage and singing away to minor fame in front of royalty.
Beast by Amy L. Gruss and Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein
Another disappointment, as the authors dwell more on the character and activities of a book thief and would be dark wizard Aleister Crowley, and spares hardly a few paragraphs on the doings of Drakul. The story ends with another cameo from Dr Van Helsing.
A Most Electrifying Evening by Julei Barrett
A meandering tale of the Count being almost duped by a con artist, and his exacting revenge on behalf of a middle aged widow. The first person narrative gives the story some element of interest. However, the reader again finds it most tiresome to watch Dracula in the role of a benevolent protector.
An Essay on Containment by Gene DeWeese
A story that shows Dr. Van Helsing to be a vampire in disguise, who has been given the work of assassinating Count Dracula to protect the identity of other vampires hiding in London. Radoslav Coulson, the narrator-vampire, ridicules the Count as a vain and foolish show-off, which of course does not go down very well with the reader who is a fan of the Count.
Berserker by Nancy Kilpatrick
A rather pointless tale where it takes the Count fifteen pages to set free a wolf from the London Zoo. Dracula’s contempt of London’s city life is rather strange to read, considering he had spent years researching the city before deciding to come here.
Curtain Call by Gary A. Braunbeck
A chiller indeed, this story brings back Abraham Stoker as a semi-victim of Count Dracula, and tells the “real” story behind the writing of Stoker’s masterpiece. The story ends with a very satisfying twist. Charles Fort, the narrator, seems rather superfluous to the plot though.
Renfield or, Dining at the Bughouse by Bill Zaget
A gruesome, detailed and rather disgusting account of the rantings of Renfield, exporing the reasons behind Renfield’s insanity. This is a very bad choice for the last story to end book on Count Dracula’s activities in London, with the Count making no appearance at all, except in the madman’s ravings.
Different colored 2x4 bricks from LEGO.
If you see one I don't have, contact me and I'm sure we can work it out;)
Different Position – Sir you are now a women 41
transgenre.silicone-breast.com/2017/01/03/different-posit...
Notice : Releasing this comic on every Monday to Thursday
The doll on the left is a regular Malibu Superstar Barbie doll..the one on the right is a European Barbie Jeans. As you can see, she has a chubbier face... and her neck looks considerably shorter!
via
Choosing a Hair Care and Styling Routine
We all have different hair, which obviously means that everyone will need to take care of their hair and style it differently. Taking good care of your hair will not just keep your hair looking fabulous, but also keep your scalp healthy. And, having a healthy scalp means your hair will be healthy, too.
With healthy hair, you can create all the hairstyles you want to try. But where to start? Well, before you even think about styling your hair, you’ll need to be in a good hair care routine.
If you’re not sure where to start with taking care of your hair, the first step is most likely washing it regularly. Get your hair completely wet, then use a small amount of shampoo (a squirt about the size of a quarter is good) and massage it into your scalp. Once your hair feels nice and clean, rinse out the shampoo.
If your hair is prone to looking dry, you can also use a conditioner. Be sure to only use it on your hair. Unlike shampoo, you should not use conditioner on your scalp, since it can dry out your scalp and even make it easier for your hair to quickly get oily. An easy way to condition your hair is to get a conditioning spray that you can use when you get out of the shower.
After you’ve rinsed off your hair, gently dry it with a towel. We’d recommend using a microfiber towel or a T-shirt. Towels are usually heavy and made of rough material that can damage hair—and wet hair is especially prone to damage. T-shirts and microfiber towels are usually more lightweight and do a great job of soaking up water. When the excess water is out of your hair, carefully comb out tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Don’t use a brush until your hair has had time to dry (remember, wet hair is very easily damaged). Once you’ve combed your hair, let it air dry if there’s time.
Obviously, washing your hair is pretty important. But how often should you do it? A recent trend has been the encouragement to only wash hair every other day or even only once a week. This is a good idea to keep in mind, as over-washing your hair can dry it out. However, the frequency with which you need to wash your hair depends more on what it’s like and what you do throughout your day. Usually, straight or thin hair gets oily very easily and needs washed more often, while curly or thick hair can go a few days between being washed. If you exercise a lot or use a lot of products in your hair, you’ll probably need to wash it more. It might take some time to figure out a good schedule for washing your hair, so have fun with it! Try new shampoos and conditioners, or test out a dry shampoo.
In addition to washing your hair, it’s also important to protect it. You might think the sun can only damage your skin, but it actually can impact your hair, too! We recommend wearing a hat when you go outside to prevent sun damage. Hair can also be damaged by chemicals like chlorine or even hair products. Be sure to wash your hair after swimming and thoroughly wash out any products you put in. And, if you can avoid it, don’t use gobs of product in your hair.
Some other ways to protect your hair are to use a protector spray on your hair if you use a hair dryer, curling wand, or flat iron often. And, while brushing your hair is important, it’s also possible to brush too much, causing split ends and frizziness. So, only brush until your hair has a nice shine.
One last great way to take care of your hair is to get it trimmed regularly—every six to eight weeks. This will help keep split ends to a minimum and gives you a chance to switch up how you style your hair.
So you’ve got some hair care strategies—now what about style?
Like hair care, hair style depends on your type of hair and what you’re doing throughout your day. You probably don’t want an elaborate hairstyle if you’re on your way to the gym, and if you have completely straight hair, a style with tight curls just might not work. But the key is experimenting! Try a few different styles to see what fits with your “get-ready routine” or works with your style.
Here are a few ideas:
If you want to add volume to straight, thin hair:
Try beach waves! There are a few simple ways you can do this. The first is to throw your hair in a ponytail. Then, divide your hair into sections and gently wrap each section around a curling wand. Once you’ve gotten to every section, carefully remove the ponytail.
Another way to quickly get beach waves is to first, use a sea salt spray on your hair. Next, divide half of your hair into two sections. Twist both of these sections, then, twist them together. Grab a hair straightener and, starting at the top of the twist, clamp down for about two seconds as you move down to the bottom of your hair. Do the same thing with the other half of your hair. Let your hair cool down completely before un-twisting it.
If you want to straighten thick, curly hair:
First, grab your favorite hair protecting product and apply it to your hair. Take the top half of your hair (maybe the top two thirds if you have very thick hair) and put it up in a clip or scrunchie so it’s out of the way. Then, use a flat iron to straighten out each curl on the underside of your hair. Once you’ve finished straightening the bottom half of your hair, take out the clip or scrunchie and work through the top half.
If you want to add length and volume:
Unfortunately, there’s no way to magically make your hair grow longer or thicker, but you can try a hair extension. You’ll be able to choose from a great range of colors and lengths.
You can also get a few different kinds of hair extensions—some you can put in yourself, and some require a visit to a hairstylist who can install them for you.
Clip-in extensions are easy to put in on your own. Just clip up the top half of your hair and slide the clips into the bottom part of your hair. Most clip-in extensions come in sets, so after putting in the first extension, you’ll let a bit of your hair down and put the remaining ones in wherever you feel your hair could use the volume.
Some important things to remember about clip-in hair extensions:
Once they are in, you can style them just like you would with your own hair!
You should take care of them the same way you’d take care of your own hair
Remember to brush them before and after each use with a soft bristle brush. This will ensure the hair is smooth and tangle free
You should wash the extensions every 15-20 wears, or when the hair feels like product has started to build up. Use a gentle shampoo and lots of conditioner, being sure to rinse thoroughly and lay flat to dry
Deep condition the extensions every week or every other week
Store extensions flat in a safe, dry area
Tape-in extensions and weave-in extensions are considered semi-permanent, and you’ll need to go to a stylist to get them installed. Tape-in extensions take 45 minutes to an hour to install and are pretty easy to maintain, though you may need to be careful with using conditioners as they can loosen the tape. Usually, people with very thick hair use weave-in extensions. They can take a few hours to install because they are literally woven into your hair. If you aren’t used to thick hair, the weight of weave-in extensions can feel heavy and uncomfortable. However, this type of extension is the most long-lasting and you won’t have to worry about it sliding out.
Some important things to remember about semi-permanent extensions:
Take care of them the same way you’d take care of your own hair
Like clip-in extensions, you can also style semi-permanent extensions just like you would your own hair!
Regardless of how you decide to style your hair, you’ll probably need a tool (or two, or three) to get the hairdo you want.
One of the most important things is a good hair brush. They usually are curved with rounded plastic bristles and are great for flipping hair under or out. For example, if you have bangs, you would wrap damp hair around the brush and use a hair dryer to blow it dry. If you get extensions, you might want to get a hair brush specifically designed to reduce frizz and gently tug out tangles.
You’ll also need a good heat protecting spray. This is another very important thing to have because it’s kind of like sunscreen for your hair—it will keep your hair from getting damaged by hot air from a hair dryer or by straighteners or curling tools.
The first tool everyone should have is a great hair dryer. If you are in a rush and don’t have time to break out a straightener or curler, a hair dryer is great for adding some extra volume. A good dryer will have different heat and speed options, and should also come with a concentrator (to streamline the airflow) and a diffuser (to spread out the airflow—the diffuser is great if you have curly hair).
If you are primarily looking for a way to straighten your hair, you might need a flat iron. We recommend hair straighteners made with titanium plates as they are lightweight, durable, and glide smoothly over your hair. The great thing about flat irons is that they can be used to curl hair, too, so you get a very versatile hairstyling tool.
If you have very straight hair and no need for a straightener, you’re probably looking for a curling wand or curling iron. What’s the difference? Curling irons have clamps that will hold your hair in place after it’s wrapped around the wand, creating tighter curls. Curling wands don’t have clamps and are usually used to create looser curls. Both curling wands and curling irons come in different widths. Wider wands create bigger, looser curls, while thinner wands create more corkscrew-type curls. Some curling wands feature “bubbles”along the length—these types are perfect for creating those beach curls we talked about earlier. You can even get a curling tool with several interchangeable options, so you don’t have to style your hair with the same types of curls every day.
Your hair care and styling routine will be as unique as you are, but we hope this helps you get started on developing that routine!
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