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Mass Effect 1, 1080p, Forced 2x2 SSAA, High res textures and injected FXAA.
For an old game, and a console port, its not bad looking ^_^
Got a Mass Effect xmas card from my buddy Tony who works at Bioware. Sadly, I didn't have a Mythic one to send back.
Mass Effect 1, 1080p, Forced 2x2 SSAA, High res textures and injected FXAA.
For an old game, and a console port, its not bad looking ^_^
Actually my friend took this picture of me, and it looked like crap. But this effect made it look real cool. :)
my objective was to use something that would identify me (glasses) and portray my growth using different glasses (change), and so I used the so-called "effect of myopia".
Comes in a tin case with an Art Book, a small guide on the races and location in the game, bonus DVD and Battlestar Galactica ad
Today my nephew was in my house and we spent some time together taking pictures.
Strobist Info
- 1/200 - f/5.6 @ ISO100;
- 430 EX II behind subject with a DIY blue gel;
- Triggered with Impact.
Charlotte and I were out late last night to shoot and it was so wonderfully warm outside. It felt like we were in Spain.
It was a Cold and Wet October when Brands Hatch Played Host to the Formula Ford Festival in 2021 and Yet despite the Bad Weather it was a Very Important Year for the Festival as it was Celebrating its 50th Anniversary into the World of Motorsport.
Its Hard to Imagine that 50 Years Ago on July 2nd 1967 is when the First Official Race for Formula Ford took Place and with it came a Brand New Set of Rules Cars and Drivers all Competing to Earn their way into Formula 1 from Formula Ford.
With Such History and some Really Exciting Racing to look forward to Lets Turn our Attention to the Qualifying and See who Has come where and how this will Effect some of the Races Later Today.
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Qualifying Heat 1)
Formula Ford Racing Cars are built to be Very Nimble but also Very Fragile and when thease cars Race Close Together they Put on One Hell of a Good Show when they Visit Brands Hatch every Year and with this Year being the 50th Anniversary of the Series it made for a Special Weekend of History and Racing with a Tent in the Top Paddock Showcasing the Many Different Formula Fords thought History that Have both Raced and Won in the Hands of Many Great Former Champions.
Many of them all Have a Very Different Look and Design about them as each Driver and Team works together in order to try and Best Optimise the Airflow and Handling of their Cars.
During Qualifying Heat 1 there were Many Drivers all out there Pushing Hard and trying to get the Fastest Times they Possibly Could.
Lets Take a Look and See who took Pole Position for Race 1
In First Place was (Jamie Sharp) in his Medina Sport JL 17 with a Lap Time of 1:02.133 and a Top Speed of 69.98mph. Fantastic Driving there Jamie Really Pushing the Car and Giving it Everything you Have Got.
In Second Place was (Chris Middlehurst) in his Van Diemen LA10 with a Lap Time of 1:02.702 and a Top Speed of 69.35mph. Another Super Quick Drive from Chris for Second Place on the Grid and Only 0.569 of a Sec Gap.
In Third Place was (Jonathan Browne) in his Ray GR18 with a Lap Time of 1:02.744 and a Top Speed of 69.30mph. Fantastic work there Jonathan Really Working Hard to Keep that Formula Ford on the Track and Giving it Everything you Have Got.
Three Very Fast Drivers in Jamie, Chris, and Jonathan on Display after the First Qualifying Session and with Plenty More Action to Come it will be Interesting to see how Race 1 Develops. Will Jamie Sharp be able to Achieve Pole and take Home the First Trophy of the Day?
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Championship (Qualifying)
Next Up The Mazda MX5's Made their way onto the Circuit and with a Huge Grid of 34 Cars and Only One Man who could Achieve People Position the Battles During Qualifying for the Fastest Lap were Going to be Fast and Very In tense.
In First Place was (Steve Foden) in his MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:08.161 and a Top Speed of 63.79mph. Very Good work there Steve in Very Damp and Wet Conditions that was an Incredible Pole Position Lap.
In Second Place was (Brian Trott) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:08.177 and a Top Speed of 63.78mph. Fantastic Work there Brian Pushing Hard and Making sure to Keep Pace with Steve.
In Third Place was (Michel Knibbs) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:08.211 and a Top Speed of 63.75mph. Nice work there Michel a Very Good Drive for 3rd Position on the Grid.
Another Set of Fantastic Drivers in Steve, Brian and Michel All working Hard in order to ensure Victory Against their Fellow Competitors. Some Very Capable Drivers out there too. Good Luck to all other Competitors Competing and Keep Pushing Hard to ensure Victory. With More Action to Come on Sunday who will be able to Take Victory in Race 1? Only Time will Tell.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Clubman Championship (Qualifying)
Next Up was the Mazda MX5 Clubman Championship and with Another Very Large Grid of 32 Cars this was going to be Another Really Intense Qualifying Session. With Every Driver Making there way out onto the Circuit and getting Ready to start their Flying Laps Lets Find out who came where and who will be on Pole Come Race 1.
In First Place was (Brad Jones) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:09.188 and a Top Speed of 62.85mph. Well Done there Brad a Really Champion Like Drive from you to take Victory and Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Harry Storer) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:09.415 and a Top Speed of 62.64mph. Very Well Driven there Harry Pushing the Car Hard and doing a Phenomenal Job of staying Close to Brad on Timing.
In Third Place was (Chris Dawkins) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Lap Time of 1:09.540 and a Top Speed of 62.53mph. Another Great Drive from Chris Showing Really Amazing Skills and a Determination to Keep Hold of his Third Place.
A Super Exciting Qualifying Session for the Mazda Clubman Championship along with Three Very Fast and Capable Drivers in Brad, Harry and Chris. Looking Forward to Race 1 to see what thease Three Fantastic Drivers can do and Who else May be able to Steal Victory Away from them.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Super Cup Championship (Qualifying)
The Mazda Super Cup Championship was Next onto the Circuit and with Mazda MX5-MK3's Being used this Time Around it was going to make for Some Very Quick and Stirling Action thought the Qualifying Session to see who could Achieve Pole Position for the First Race for Super Cup.
In First Place Taking Pole and The Fastest Lap was (Declan Lee) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1.05.952 and a Top Speed of 65.93mph. Very Well Deserved there Declan an Amazing Drive with Some Very Fast Laps and Dedicated Commitment to take The Pole.
In Second Place was (Samuel Smith) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1:06.059 and a Top Speed of 65.82mph. Amazing work there Sam Really Fast Drive to take Second Place.
In Third Place was (Jack Harding) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1:06.208 and a Top Speed of 65.68mph. Great Work there Jack Keeping Up with both Samuel and Declan and Staying Very Close Together in the Top Three of Qualifying.
Three Fantastic Drivers in Declan Samuel and Jack all working Hard and Showing Real Competitiveness to Win and Dominate the entire Series. With Qualifying Second Fastest Coming Up Next it was Time Once Again to see what Each Driver could do Against the Clock.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Super Cup Championship (Qualifying Second Fastest)
After a Very Hectic Qualifying Session which saw Declan Lee take Pole Position with Samuel Smith in Second Place and Jack Harding in Third it was Time for The Second Fastest Qualifying Session to see if Once Again Anyone could Beat the Top Three from Q1.
Lets Find Out who Came out on Top and Will Start The First Race of the Weekend on Pole.
In First Place was (Declan Lee) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1:06.307 and a Top Speed of 65.58mph. Another Huge Congratulations to Declan Who Once Again Has Taken Pole Position for Race 1 and will be starting on the Front Row. Amazing Work Declan.
In Second Place was (Richard Amos) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1:06.350 and a Top Speed of 65.54mph. Very Well Done Richard a Well Deserved Second Place on the Gird.
In Third Place was (James Cossins) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Lap Time of 1:06.410 and a Top Speed of 65.48mph. Amazing Work James Beating Back Samuel to take 3rd Place on the Grid from Him.
Another Super Qualifying Session that Added some Real Twists to the Race and will no Doubt Make it even more Interesting to See other Drivers such as Jack and Samuel Having to Fight there way through the Gird in order to be in with a Chance of Getting on the Top Step of the Podium.
What Will there First Race of the Day Bring? Stay Tuned to Find Out.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Super Cup Championship (Race 1 Results)
With Both Qualifying Sessions Having Come to an End it was Finally Time to see out of all of the Drivers who would be able to Achieve Victory and take that All Important Pole Position in Race 1. With the Likes of Jack and Samuel in 8th and 4th Respectively Will they Be able to Fight there way through the Field?
In First Place Taking the Win was (Jack Harding) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Best Lap Time of 57.803 and an Average Speed of 57.32mph. What an Incredible Drive from Jack who Started in 8th Place and has come through to Claim His First Win of the Weekend. A Truly Magnificent Drive and a Well Deserving One. Congratulations Jack.
In Second Place was (James Cossins) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Best Lap Time of 57.981 and an Average Speed of 57.23mph. Super Driving from James who started 3rd and Had gained a Place Promoting Him to Second Place. A Fantastic Drive there James.
In Third Place was (Samuel Smith) in his Mazda MX5-MK3 with a Best Lap Time of 57.958 and an Average Speed of 57.21mph. Very Well Deserved for Samuel who Fought Hard to Finish On the Podium.
What a Fantastic Race with The Likes of Jack James and Samuel all Taking to the Podium and Celebrating their First Race Victories of the Day. Congratulations to all of the other Drivers who always know how to Fight Hard and Keep Pushing to the Limits of Speed and Beyond.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Clubman Championship (Race 1 Results)
Up Next the First Race for the Mazda Clubman Championship and with an Action Packed Grid and with the Likes of Brad Jones Harry Storer and Chris Dawkins Taking First Second and Third in Qualifying the Front Row is looking to be a Very Tough Place to Tackle.
With 32 Cars and 32 Very Confident and Competitive Drivers all Fighting for the Win the Lights go Out and Lets see who Came where.
In First Place taking the Win was (Chris Dawkins) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.857 and an Average Speed of 59.29mph. An Amazing Drive there From Chris who Qualified 3rd and Has Now Finished on the Top Step of the Podium Congratulations Chris.
In Second Place was (David Waters) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 1:11.824 and an Average Speed of 58.73mph. Fantastic Driving there from David taking Home Second Place and a Wonderful Podium Place.
In Third Place was (Brad Jones) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 1:12.208 and an Average Speed of 58.69mph. Nicely Done Brad Perhaps not the Result that you were after However a Superb Recovery to come Home in Third Place. Well Done.
A Thrilling First Race for the Mazda Clubman Championship and with so many Fantastic Battles Between Competitive Drivers and the Incredible Victories of Chris David and Brad this Race was a Truly Amazing Experience to Watch. With the Second and Final Race of the Weekend for the Mazda Clubman's Championship will Chris Dawkins manage to hang onto his Pole Position and take Home Another Race Win? and will the likes of David and Brad be able to Defend Second and Third Place? Lets Find Out.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Clubman Championship (Race 2 Results)
In First Place was (Chris Dawkins) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 59.238 and an Average Speed of 72.16mph. Another Incredible Victory for Chris Dawkins makes it Two in a Row for This Incredible Driver. Congratulations Chris a Truly Fantastic way to End the Weekend.
In Second Place was (Brad Jones) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 59.044 and an Average Speed of 72.13mph. Very Well Done Brad a Superb Way to Bow out of the Weekend with a Second Place Finish and an Awesome Battle with Chris at the Front of the Field.
In Third Place was (Alan Hawkins) in his Mazda MX5-MK1 with a Best Lap Time of 59.016 and an Average Speed of 72.12mph. Amazing Work Alan Fantastic Driving and a Well Deserved Podium Place to End a Weekend of Hard work and Commitment.
What an Incredible Weekend for the Mazda Clubman's Championship and some Incredible Talents in the Likes of Samuel Jack Alan Brad and David All Racing Hard and Putting on One Hell of a Display of Driver Ability and Exciting Racing. Well Done to all other Competitors Taking Part as Well. Keep Fighting for that All Important Victory.
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Heat 1 Results)
After a Crazy Morning Qualifying Session that saw Jamie Sharp take Pole Position with Chris Middlehurst and Jonathan Browne in Second and Third The First Race of Four for Saturday was Shaping up to be A Very Competitive One. but who will be able to Fight it out on Track for Victory and take Home the First Win in Formula Ford this Weekend? Lets Find Out.
In First Place taking the Race Win and Fastest Lap was (Jamie Sharp) in his Medina Sport JL17 with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.133 and an Average Speed of 69.98mph. Superb Start to the Weekend for Jamie Sharp Pushing his Formula Ford to the Limits and Taking Home Victory. Well Done Jamie.
In Second Place was (Chris Middlehurst) in his Van Diemen LA10 with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.702 and an Average Speed of 69.35mph. Amazing Work there Chris Keeping up Pace with Jamie and Hanging onto that Second Place Nicely.
In Third Place was (Jonathan Browne) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.744 and an Average Speed of 69.30mph. Great Drive Jonathan Taking Third Place on the Podium and showing off some Amazing Racing Skills Behind the Wheel.
Formula Ford Has Really Started off with a Bang this Year with Three of our First Winners in Jamie Chris and Jonathan all taking Victory in Race 1. But what Surprise's will Qualifying Heat 2 Bring?
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Qualifying Heat 2)
With Jamie Sharp Dominating at the Top and Chris and Jonathan in Second and Third what New Drivers will Emerge in Qualifying Heat 2?
In First Place Taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was (Thomas Mills) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.589 and a Top Speed of 70.60mph. Fantastic Work Thomas Really Good Driving to take Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Dennis Lind) in his Ray GR19 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.789 and a Top Speed of 70.37mph. Superb Drive Dennis Fantastic Work.
In Third Place was (Joey Foster) in his Firman 2021 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.999 and a Top Speed of 70.13mph. Amazing Speed and Car Control Out there Joey. Keep Pushing and Aim Even Higher.
Another Intense and Really Fast Qualifying Session in Q2 with Many New Drivers in Thomas Dennis and Joey All Looking to do Battle on the Indy Circuit. With Race 2 for Thease Drivers up Next will Thomas Mills be able to Hold onto His First Place or will the likes of Dennis or Joey Have the Upper Hand?
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Heat 2 Race Results)
In First Place taking the Race Win was (Joey Foster) in his Firman 2021 with a Best Lap Time of 57.638 and an Average Speed of 66.39mph. Very Well Done Joey Superb Driving to take First Place and the Race Win.
In Second Place was (Mathew Cowley) in his Van Diemen JL15 with a Best Lap Time of 57.734 and an Average Speed of 66.27mph. Fantastic Drive there Mathew Pushing your Machine Hard and Fighting all the way to the Checkered Flag.
In Third Place was (Jack Wolfenden) in his Firman RFR17 with a Best Lap Time of 57.916 and an Average Speed of 66.19mph. Great Work Jack A Well Deserved Third Place on the Podium.
Three New Winners for Formula Ford in Joey Mathew and Jack and some Fantastic Racing Having be seen so Far. With Qualifying Heat 3 Up Next Can anyone Else Make that first Step onto the Podium?
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Qualifying Heat 3 Results)
In First Place taking Pole Position and the Fastest Lap was (Maxwell Esterson) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.994 and a Top Speed of 70.14mph. Fantastic Work Maxwell and a Really Solid Drive to take Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Oliver White) in his Medina Sport JL17 with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.234 and a Top Speed of 69.87mph. Great Work Oliver Taking Second Place and Having a Really Good Lap on Lap Battle with Maxwell.
In Third Place was (Michel Moyers) in his Spectrum 011C with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.440 and a Top Speed of 69.64mph. Really Well Done Michel Fantastic Result and Good Luck in the Race.
Another Fantastic Set of Talented Drivers in Maxwell Oliver and Michel All looking to get that Top Spot on the Podium During the Race. Good Luck to all other Competitors too and Lets see what Happens Come Heat 3.
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Heat 3 Race Results)
In First Place taking the Victory and The Fastest Lap was (Maxwell Esterson) in his Ray GR18 with a Best Lap Time of 51.243 and an Average Speed of 82.61mph. Congratulations Maxwell on a Super Victory and to stand on the Top Step of the Podium. A Truly Fast and Incredible Driver.
In Second Place was (Oliver White) in his Medina Sport JL17 with a Best Lap Time of 51.234 and an Average Speed of 82.59mph. Again Very Well Done Oliver Keeping that Second Place from Qualifying and turning it into a Race Victory. Great Work.
In Third Place was (Michel Moyers) in his Spectrum 011C with a Best Lap Time of 51.418 and an Average Speed of 82.25mph. Awesome Job Michel Great Driving and Well Done on Getting P3 In the Race.
Three Great Future Champions
of Formula Ford in Maxwell Oliver and Michel All Looking to One Day take Home that Formula Ford Festival Trophy. Keep working Hard Boys and I'm sure One Day you can All Make that Dream a Reality.
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Heat 4 Qualifying Results)
With One Final Race and Qualifying Session of the Day who will be able to take that Last Podium Before the Day Draws to a Close and The Real Action Begins Tomorrow? Lets Go and Find Out.
In First Place Taking Pole and The Fastest Lap was (Rory Smith in his Medina JL18 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.78 and a Top Speed of 70.27mph. Amazing Job Rory Really Flying Around this Circuit and no Doubt enjoying Everything About Competitive Racing. So Great to See.
In Second Place was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.935 and a Top Speed of 70.21mph. Incredible Driving from Niall and doing a Really good Job at Keeping that All Important Second Place Come the Race.
In Third Place was (Neil MacLennan) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 1:02.049 and a Top Speed of 70.08mph. Great Work there Neil Really Working Hard to Hang onto that Third Place and Looking Good for the Race.
Another Set of Really Quick and Confident Drivers in Rory Niall and Neil but out of the Three which One of them Will Emerge Victorious and take Home The Victory? Lets Find Out.
BRSCC Formula Ford Festival (Heat 4 Race Results)
In First Place Taking the Win was (Niall Murray) in his Van Diemen BD21 with a Best Lap Time of 50.917 and an Average Speed of 83.67mph. Congratulations Neil a Superb Victory and a Really Well Deserved Win.
In Second Place was (Neil MacLennan) in his Spectrum KMR with a Best Lap Time of 51.331 and an Average Speed of 83.19mph. Great Work Once Again Neil Pushing Very Hard and Turning that Third Place in Qualifying into a Superb Second Place in the Race.
In Third Place was (Rory Smith) in his Medina JL18 with a Best Lap Time of 51.349 and an Average Speed of 83.03mph. Keep Working at it Rory but non the Less still a Really Well Fought out Victory for P3.
Three More Incredible Drivers in Niall Neil and Rory all Competing for the Overall Chance to become the 2021 Formula Ford Champion. Keep Working Hard and Always Remember to Never Give up Hope.
That Concludes Todays Racing and what an Incredible First Day it has been from Mazda's to Formula Fords there has been something Special for Everyone to watch.
See you all on Sunday where each of thease Incredible Formula Ford Race Car Drivers will be taking on the Grand Final and Only One of them can be Crowned the 2021 Champion. Until Then Keep Racing and Watch This Space.
This papercraft is a Human Fighter, a single-pilot combat small craft from the game Mass Effect 2, the paper model is created by BLaaR. There are 50 cm and 78 cm two size versions available.
You can download this papercraft template here: Mass Effect 2 - Human Fighter Free Paper Model Download [...
www.papercraftsquare.com/mass-effect-2-human-fighter-free...
J'ai découvert (notamment sur flickr) les adeptes du zooming effect qui consiste à modifier le zoom tout en prenant la photo. Me suis donc lancé. J'aime assez le résultat
picture taken with an iphone, while taking the picture move your hand, these distorted pictures are the result. distortion effect
Thanks for watching!
Press "L" to see it large on black. Recommended!
Press "F" if you like it. Your fav will be much appreciated!
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. The two surviving species of camel are the dromedary, or one-humped camel (C. dromedarius), which inhabits the Middle East and the Horn of Africa; and the bactrian, or two-humped camel (C. bactrianus), which inhabits Central Asia. Both species have been domesticated; they provide milk, meat, hair for textiles or goods such as felted pouches, and are working animals with tasks ranging from human transport to bearing loads.
The term "camel" is derived via Latin and Greek (camelus and κάμηλος kamēlos respectively) from Hebrew or Phoenician gāmāl.
"Camel" is also used more broadly to describe any of the six camel-like mammals in the family Camelidae: the two true camels and the four New World camelids: the llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña of South America.
BIOLOGY
The average life expectancy of a camel is 40 to 50 years. A full-grown adult camel stands 1.85 m at the shoulder and 2.15 m at the hump. Camels can run at up to 65 km/h in short bursts and sustain speeds of up to 40 km/h. Bactrian camels weigh 300 to 1,000 kg and dromedaries 300 to 600 kg.
The male dromedary camel has in its throat an organ called a dulla, a large, inflatable sac he extrudes from his mouth when in rut to assert dominance and attract females. It resembles a long, swollen, pink tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth. Camels mate by having both male and female sitting on the ground, with the male mounting from behind. The male usually ejaculates three or four times within a single mating session. Camelids are the only ungulates to mate in a sitting position.
ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ADAPTIONS
Camels do not directly store water in their humps as was once commonly believed. The humps are actually reservoirs of fatty tissue: concentrating body fat in their humps minimizes the insulating effect fat would have if distributed over the rest of their bodies, helping camels survive in hot climates. When this tissue is metabolized, it yields more than one gram of water for every gram of fat processed. This fat metabolization, while releasing energy, causes water to evaporate from the lungs during respiration (as oxygen is required for the metabolic process): overall, there is a net decrease in water.
Camels have a series of physiological adaptations that allow them to withstand long periods of time without any external source of water. Unlike other mammals, their red blood cells are oval rather than circular in shape. This facilitates the flow of red blood cells during dehydration and makes them better at withstanding high osmotic variation without rupturing when drinking large amounts of water: a 600 kg camel can drink 200 L of water in three minutes.
Camels are able to withstand changes in body temperature and water consumption that would kill most other animals. Their temperature ranges from 34 °C at dawn and steadily increases to 40 °C by sunset, before they cool off at night again. Maintaining the brain temperature within certain limits is critical for animals; to assist this, camels have a rete mirabile, a complex of arteries and veins lying very close to each other which utilizes countercurrent blood flow to cool blood flowing to the brain. Camels rarely sweat, even when ambient temperatures reach 49 °C Any sweat that does occur evaporates at the skin level rather than at the surface of their coat; the heat of vaporization therefore comes from body heat rather than ambient heat. Camels can withstand losing 25% of their body weight to sweating, whereas most other mammals can withstand only about 12–14% dehydration before cardiac failure results from circulatory disturbance.
When the camel exhales, water vapor becomes trapped in their nostrils and is reabsorbed into the body as a means to conserve water. Camels eating green herbage can ingest sufficient moisture in milder conditions to maintain their bodies' hydrated state without the need for drinking.
The camels' thick coats insulate them from the intense heat radiated from desert sand; a shorn camel must sweat 50% more to avoid overheating. During the summer the coat becomes lighter in color, reflecting light as well as helping avoid sunburn. The camel's long legs help by keeping its body farther from the ground, which can heat up to 70 °C. Dromedaries have a pad of thick tissue over the sternum called the pedestal. When the animal lies down in a sternal recumbent position, the pedestal raises the body from the hot surface and allows cooling air to pass under the body.
Camels' mouths have a thick leathery lining, allowing them to chew thorny desert plants. Long eyelashes and ear hairs, together with nostrils that can close, form a barrier against sand. If sand gets lodged in their eyes, they can dislodge it using their transparent third eyelid. The camels' gait and widened feet help them move without sinking into the sand.
The kidneys and intestines of a camel are very efficient at reabsorbing water. Camel urine comes out as a thick syrup, and camel feces are so dry that they do not require drying when the Bedouins use them to fuel fires.
Camels' immune system differs from those of other mammals. Normally, the Y-shaped antibody molecules consist of two heavy (or long) chains along the length of the Y, and two light (or short) chains at each tip of the Y. Camels, in addition to these, also have antibodies made of only two heavy chains, a trait that makes them smaller and more durable. These "heavy-chain-only" antibodies, discovered in 1993, are thought to have developed 50 million years ago, after camelids split from ruminants and pigs.
GENETICS
The karyotypes of different camelid species have been studied earlier by many groups, but no agreement on chromosome nomenclature of camelids has been reached. A 2007 study flow sorted camel chromosomes, building on the fact that camels have 37 pairs of chromosomes (2n=74), and found that the karyotime consisted of one metacentric, three submetacentric, and 32 acrocentric autosomes. The Y is a small metacentric chromosome, while the X is a large metacentric chromosome.The hybrid camel, a hybrid between Bactrian and dromedary camels, has one hump, though it has an indentation 4–12 cm deep that divides the front from the back. The hybrid is 2.15 m at the shoulder and 2.32 m tall at the hump. It weighs an average of 650 kg and can carry around 400 to 450 kg, which is more than either the dromedary or Bactrian can. According to molecular data, the New World and Old World camelids diverged 11 million years ago. In spite of this, these species can still hybridize and produce fertile offspring. The cama is a camel–llama hybrid bred by scientists who wanted to see how closely related the parent species were. Scientists collected semen from a camel via an artificial vagina and inseminated a llama after stimulating ovulation with gonadotrophin injections. The cama has ears halfway between the length of camel and llama ears, no hump, longer legs than the llama, and partially cloven hooves. According to cama breeder Lulu Skidmore, cama have "the fleece of the llamas" and "the strength and patience of the camel". Like the mule, camas are sterile, despite both parents having the same number of chromosomes.
EVOLUTION
The earliest known camel, called Protylopus, lived in North America 40 to 50 million years ago (during the Eocene). It was about the size of a rabbit and lived in the open woodlands of what is now South Dakota. By 35 million years ago, the Poebrotherium was the size of a goat and had many more traits similar to camels and llamas. The hoofed Stenomylus, which walked on the tips of its toes, also existed around this time, and the long-necked Aepycamelus evolved in the Miocene.
The direct ancestor of all modern camels, Procamelus, existed in the upper Miocone and lower Pliocene. Around 3–5 million years ago, the North American Camelidae spread to South America via the Isthmus of Panama, where they gave rise to guanacos and related animals, and to Asia via the Bering land bridge. Surprising finds of fossil Paracamelus on Ellesmere Island beginning in 2006 in the high Canadian Arctic indicate the dromedary is descended from a larger, boreal browser whose hump may have evolved as an adaptation in a cold climate. This creature is estimated to have stood around nine feet tall.
The last camel native to North America was Camelops hesternus, which vanished along with horses, short-faced bears, mammoths and mastodons, ground sloths, sabertooth cats, and many other megafauna, coinciding with the migration of humans from Asia.
DOMESTICATION
Most camels surviving today are domesticated. Along with many other megafauna in North America, the original wild camels were wiped out during the spread of Native Americans from Asia into North America, 12,000 to 10,000 years ago. The only wild camels left are the Bactrian camels of the Gobi Desert.
Like the horse, before their extinction in their native land, camels spread across the Bering land bridge, moving the opposite direction from the Asian immigration to America, to survive in the Old World and eventually be domesticated and spread globally by humans.
Dromedaries may have first been domesticated by humans in Somalia and southern Arabia, around 3,000 BC, the Bactrian in central Asia around 2,500 BC, as at Shar-i Sokhta (also known as the Burnt City), Iran.
Discussions concerning camel domestication in Mesopotamia are often related to mentions of camels in the Hebrew Bible. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: E-J for instance mentions that "In accord with patriarchal traditions, cylinder seals from Middle Bronze Age Mesopotamia showed riders seated upon camels."
Martin Heide's 2010 work on the domestication of the camel tentatively concludes that the bactrian camel was domesticated by at least the middle of the third millennium somewhere east of the Zagros Mountains, then moving into Mesopotamia, and suggests that mentions of camels "in the patriarchal narratives may refer, at least in some places, to the Bactrian camel." while noting that the camel is not mentioned in relationship to Canaan.
Recent excavations in the Timna Valley by Lidar Sapir-Hen and Erez Ben-Yosef discovered what may be the earliest domestic camel bones found in Israel or even outside the Arabian peninsula, dating to around 930 BCE. This garnered considerable media coverage as it was described as evidence that the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Jacob and Esau were written after this time.
The existence of camels in Mesopotamia but not in Israel is not a new idea. According to an article in Time Magazine, the historian Richard Bulliet wrote in his 1975 book "The Camel and the Wheel" that "the occasional mention of camels in patriarchal narratives does not mean that the domestic camels were common in the Holy Land at that period." The archaeologist William F. Albright writing even earlier saw camels in the Bible as an anachronism. The official report by Sapir-Hen and Ben-Joseph notes that "The introduction of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) as a pack animal to the southern Levant signifies a crucial juncture in the history of the region; it substantially facilitated trade across the vast deserts of Arabia, promoting both economic and social change (e.g., Kohler 1984; Borowski 1998: 112-116; Jasmin 2005). This, together with the depiction of camels in the Patriarchal narrative, has generated extensive discussion regarding the date of the earliest domestic camel in the southern Levant (and beyond) (e.g., Albright 1949: 207; Epstein 1971: 558-584; Bulliet 1975; Zarins 1989; Köhler-Rollefson 1993; Uerpmann and Uerpmann 2002; Jasmin 2005; 2006; Heide 2010; Rosen and Saidel 2010; Grigson 2012). Most scholars today agree that the dromedary was exploited as a pack animal sometime in the early Iron Age (not before the 12th century BCE)" and concludes that "Current data from copper smelting sites of the Aravah Valley enable us to pinpoint the introduction of domestic camels to the southern Levant more precisely based on stratigraphic contexts associated with an extensive suite of radiocarbon dates. The data indicate that this event occurred not earlier than the last third of the 10th century BCE and most probably during this time. The coincidence of this event with a major reorganization of the copper industry of the region - attributed to the results of the campaign of Pharaoh Shoshenq I - raises the possibility that the two were connected, and that camels were introduced as part of the efforts to improve efficiency by facilitating trade."
MILITARY USES
By at least 1200 BC, the first camel saddles had appeared, and Bactrian camels could be ridden. The first saddle was positioned to the back of the camel, and control of the Bactrian camel was exercised by means of a stick. However, between 500–100 BC, Bactrian camels attained military use. New saddles, which were inflexible and bent, were put over the humps and divided the rider's weight over the animal. In the seventh century BC, the military Arabian saddle appeared, which improved the saddle design again slightly.
Camel cavalries have been used in wars throughout Africa, the Middle East, and into modern-day Border Security Force of India (though as of July 2012, the BSF has planned the replacement of camels with ATVs). The first use of camel cavalries was in the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BC. Armies have also used camels as freight animals instead of horses and mules.
In the East Roman Empire, the Romans used auxiliary forces known as dromedarii, whom they recruited in desert provinces. The camels were used mostly in combat because of their ability to scare off horses at close ranges (horses are afraid of the camels' scent), a quality famously employed by the Achaemenid Persians when fighting Lydia in the Battle of Thymbra.
19th and 20th CENTURIES
The United States Army established the U.S. Camel Corps, which was stationed in California in the late 19th century. One may still see stables at the Benicia Arsenal in Benicia, California, where they nowadays serve as the Benicia Historical Museum. Though the experimental use of camels was seen as a success (John B. Floyd, Secretary of War in 1858, recommended that funds be allocated towards obtaining a thousand more camels), the outbreak of the American Civil War saw the end of the Camel Corps: Texas became part of the Confederacy, and most of the camels were left to wander away into the desert.
France created a méhariste camel corps in 1912 as part of the Armée d'Afrique in the Sahara in order to exercise greater control over the camel-riding Tuareg and Arab insurgents, as previous efforts to defeat them on foot had failed. The camel-mounted units remained in service until the end of French rule over Algeria in 1962.
In 1916, the British created the Imperial Camel Corps. It was originally used to fight the Senussi, but was later used in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in World War I. The Imperial Camel Corps comprised infantrymen mounted on camels for movement across desert, though they dismounted at battle sites and fought on foot. After July 1918, the Corps began to become run down, receiving no new reinforcements, and was formally disbanded in 1919.
In World War I, the British Army also created the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps, which consisted of a group of Egyptian camel drivers and their camels. The Corps supported British war operations in Sinai, Palestine, and Syria by transporting supplies to the troops.
The Somaliland Camel Corps was created by colonial authorities in British Somaliland in 1912; it was disbanded in 1944.
Bactrian camels were used by Romanian forces during World War II in the Caucasian region.
The Bikaner Camel Corps of British India fought alongside the British Indian Army in World Wars I and II.
The Tropas Nómadas (Nomad Troops) were an auxiliary regiment of Sahrawi tribesmen serving in the colonial army in Spanish Sahara (today Western Sahara). Operational from the 1930s until the end of the Spanish presence in the territory in 1975, the Tropas Nómadas were equipped with small arms and led by Spanish officers. The unit guarded outposts and sometimes conducted patrols on camelback.
FOOD USES
DAIRY
Camel milk is a staple food of desert nomad tribes and is sometimes considered a meal in and of itself; a nomad can live on only camel milk for almost a month. Camel milk is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and immunoglobulins; compared to cow's milk, it is lower in fat and lactose, and higher in potassium, iron, and vitamin C. Bedouins believe the curative powers of camel milk are enhanced if the camel's diet consists of certain desert plants. Camel milk can readily be made into a drinkable yogurt, as well as butter or cheese, though the yields for cheese tend to be low.
Camel milk cannot be made into butter by the traditional churning method. It can be made if it is soured first, churned, and a clarifying agent is then added. Until recently, camel milk could not be made into camel cheese because rennet was unable to coagulate the milk proteins to allow the collection of curds. Developing less wasteful uses of the milk, the FAO commissioned Professor J.P. Ramet of the École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires, who was able to produce curdling by the addition of calcium phosphate and vegetable rennet. The cheese produced from this process has low levels of cholesterol and is easy to digest, even for the lactose intolerant. The sale of camel cheese is limited owing to the small output of the few dairies producing camel cheese and the absence of camel cheese in local (West African) markets. Cheese imports from countries that traditionally breed camels are difficult to obtain due to restrictions on dairy imports from these regions.
Additionally, camel milk has been made into ice cream in a Netherlands camel farm.
MEAT
A camel carcass can provide a substantial amount of meat. The male dromedary carcass can weigh 300–400 kg, while the carcass of a male Bactrian can weigh up to 650 kg. The carcass of a female dromedary weighs less than the male, ranging between 250 and 350 kg. The brisket, ribs and loin are among the preferred parts, and the hump is considered a delicacy. The hump contains "white and sickly fat", which can be used to make the khli (preserved meat) of mutton, beef, or camel. Camel meat is reported to taste like coarse beef, but older camels can prove to be very tough, although camel meat becomes more tender the more it is cooked. The Abu Dhabi Officers' Club serves a camel burger mixed with beef or lamb fat in order to improve the texture and taste. In Karachi, Pakistan, some restaurants prepare nihari from camel meat. In Syria and Egypt, there are specialist camel butchers.
Camel meat has been eaten for centuries. It has been recorded by ancient Greek writers as an available dish at banquets in ancient Persia, usually roasted whole. The ancient Roman emperor Heliogabalus enjoyed camel's heel.[31] Camel meat is still eaten in certain regions, including Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, and other arid regions where alternative forms of protein may be limited or where camel meat has had a long cultural history. Camel blood is also consumable, as is the case among pastoralists in northern Kenya, where camel blood is drunk with milk and acts as a key source of iron, vitamin D, salts and minerals. Camel meat is also occasionally found in Australian cuisine: for example, a camel lasagna is available in Alice Springs.
A 2005 report issued jointly by the Saudi Ministry of Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details cases of human bubonic plague resulting from the ingestion of raw camel liver.
RELIGION
ISLAM
Camel meat is halal for Muslims. However, according to some Islamic schools of thought, a state of impurity is brought on by the consumption of it. Consequently, these schools hold that Muslims must perform wudhu (ablution) before the next time they pray after eating camel meat.
Also, some Islamic schools of thought consider it haraam for a Muslim to perform salat in places where camels lie, as it is said to be a dwelling place of shaytan.
According to Suni ahadith collected by Bukhari and Muslim, Muhammad ordered a certain group of people to drink camel milk and urine as a medicine. However, according to Abū Ḥanīfa, the drinking of camel urine, while not forbidden (ḥaram), is disliked (makrūh) in Islam.
Camel urine is sold as traditional medicine in shops in Saudi Arabia. The Sunni scholar Muhammad Al-Munajjid's IslamQA.info recommends camel urine as beneficial to curing certain diseases and to human health and cited Ahadith and scientific studies as justification. King Abdulaziz University researcher Dr. Faten Abdel-Rajman Khorshid has claimed that cancer and other diseases could be treated with camel urine as recommended by the Prophet. The United Arab Emirates "Arab Science and Technology Foundation" reported that cancer could be treated with camel urine. Camel urine was also prescribed as a treatment by Zaghloul El-Naggar, a religious scholar. Camel urine is the only urine which is permitted to be drunk according to the Hanbali madhhab of Sunni Islam. The World Health Organization said that camel urine consumption may be a factor in the spread of the MERS virus in Saudi Arabia. The Gulf Times writer Ahmad al-Sayyed wrote that various afflictions are dealt with camel urine by people. Dandruff, scalp ailments, hair, sores, and wounds were recommended to be treated with camel urine by Ibn Sina. Arab American University Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology Bashar Saad (PhD) along with Omar Said (PhD) wrote that medicinal use of camel urine is approved of and promoted by Islam since it was recommended by the prophet. A test on mice found that cytotoxic effects similar to cyclophosphamide were induced on bone marrow by camel urine. Besides for consumption as a medicinal drink, camel urine is believed to help treat hair. Bites from insects were warded off with camel urine, which also served as a shampoo. Camel urine is also used to help treat asthma, infections, treat hair, sores, hair growth and boost libido.
Several Sunni Ahadith mention drinking camel urine. Some Shia criticized Wahhabis for camel urine treatment. Shia scholars also recommend the medicinal use of camel urine. Shia Hadith on Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq reported that shortness of breath (asthma) was treated with camel urine. Shia Marja Ayatollah Sistani said that for medicinal purposes only, sheep, cow, and camel urine can be drunk.
JUDAISM
According to Jewish tradition, camel meat and milk are not kosher. Camels possess only one of the two kosher criteria; although they chew their cud, they do not possess cloven hooves:
Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them that only part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.
— Leviticus 11:4
DISTRIBUTION ANDNUMBERS
There are around 14 million camels alive as of 2010, with 90% being dromedaries. Dromedaries alive today are domesticated animals (mostly living in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Maghreb, Middle East and South Asia). The Horn region alone has the largest concentration of camels in the world, where the dromedaries constitute an important part of local nomadic life. They provide nomadic people in Somalia (which has the largest camel herd in the world) and Ethiopia with milk, food, and transportation.
The Bactrian camel is, as of 2010, reduced to an estimated 1.4 million animals, most of which are domesticated. The only truly wild Bactrian camels, of which there are less than one thousand, are thought to inhabit the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia.
The largest population of feral camels is in Australia. There are around 700,000 feral dromedary camels in central parts of Australia, descended from those introduced as a method of transport in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This population is growing about 8% per year. Representatives of the Australian government have culled more than 100,000 of the animals in part because the camels use too much of the limited resources needed by sheep farmers.
A small population of introduced camels, dromedaries and Bactrians, wandered through Southwest United States after having been imported in the 1800s as part of the U.S. Camel Corps experiment. When the project ended, they were used as draft animals in mines and escaped or were released. Twenty-five U.S. camels were bought and imported to Canada during the Cariboo Gold Rush.
WIKIPEDIA
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment
Buddha
Just an invert of this previous one I did - www.flickr.com/photos/fluffyboo2/2889454671/ quite liked the effect of it.
≈ Namaste ≈ om namah shivaya