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Chinese were very rude to the ambassador': Queen
An official cameraman recorded the 90-year-old monarch rarely comments publicly on political matters, and media accompanying her are asked not to eavesdrop on private conversations.
Top Left Photograph:
unknown, _Grandmother and Friends_, photograph, 1951, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.
Top Right Photograph:
unknown, _Grandmother and Grandfather_, photograph, 1951, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.
Bottom Left Photograph:
unknown, _Girl with Bike_, photograph, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.
Middle Photograph:
unknown, _Grandmother and Friends in Bathsuits_, photograph, 1954, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.
Bottom Middle Photograph:
unknown, _Girls Outside of House_, photograph, 1956, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.
Bottom Right Photograph:
unknown, _Girls Day Out_, photograph, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker Georgia.
The 1950’s woman could be described by using one word: perfection. Women in the 1950’s were expected to keep a flawless appearance while maintaining a home and a job. Fashion was very prominent and Paris became one of the largest fashion capitals during this time. World War II was over, and women began to become homemakers, although they did not altogether desert their new strength in the workforce. Women began to have a much more influential role in society. The ideal woman of the 1950’s would wear a beautiful dress, high heels, red lipstick, perfectly combed hair, and a smile on her face as she worked, cleaned, and cooked for her husband. It was a common trend for women to match their lipstick color to the color of their nail polish. A new trend in make-up was to wear harsh black eyeliner paired with a very light, pale lip-gloss. Pearls were a common jewelry choice. Women started to embrace their curves, rather than adopt a straight boyish figure that was common in the 1940’s. Family was the focus of the 1950’s, and the housewife became a major symbol in the media because of their consuming power. New technologies that were developed during the war benefitted the consumer and the level of the comfort of living was increased. Another new ideal that greatly influenced the market place was the invention of the teenager. The teenagers of the 1950’s did not follow the trends of their parents and the Paris fashion craze, rather they wore skirts and nice cardigans or if they were daring, oversized sweaters with tight black pants and flats. Rock and Roll influenced the use of leather pants and jackets for men. This was the first time in history that teenagers were defined as consumers and therefore the marketplace began to tailor products specifically for teens. Hairstyles changed frequently. Women began to visit hairstylists more often, although home dye kits were still very popular and hair color that only lasted for a day or week was invented. The hairstyles of famous movie stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe created new trends in hair that were copied by women all over the world. The strapless bra became incredibly popular in the 50’s due to the ability of women to wear strapless dresses. Long petticoats were also very popular. Swim wear was another trend of the 1950’s and was displayed in the media, the beach, and in magazines. Even though the bikini was invented in the 1940’s, its popularity grew immensely in the 1950’s.
Brookes, Rosetta, and Teal Triggs. Chic Thrills. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1992.
Clancy, Deirdre. Costume Since 1945- Couture, Street Style, and Anti-Fashion. New York: Drama Publishers, 1996.
Keyes, Jean. A History of Women's Hairstyles 1500-1965. London: Methuen and Co. Ltd, 1968.
Mulvey, Kate. Decades of Beauty. New York: Reed Consumer Books Limited, 1998.
Winick, Charles. "The Beige Epoch: Depolarization of Sex Roles in America." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (1968): 1-7. JSTOR. [Database Online.]
For more information on fashion, as well as culture of the 1950's, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950's#Fashion
Many of my Flickr photos are of Stagecoach RLs, I wasn't however expecting to get the chance to upload any in 2017!
Nice to catch up with one (plus the one on staff shuttles in Barrow), after failing to find any of Stagecoach South's examples in December.
16639 was operating the 1330 Barrow to Haverigg route 7 before heading off for a school working.
Just liked this Pin: Bring some spice into your life with this Chai Spice Cheesecake! This tall spicy cheesecake is just what you'd expect from a Chai Spice Cheesecake. For m discover more about this pictures related in this site is.gd/ChristmasWallpaper
"A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone."
-- Author Unknown
These are other shots of Shaui, who is 7 months pregnant, during the shoot. These shots show how happy and proud she is to have her baby. Thanks again to Mitch Bautista for tutoring and allowing me to participate in the shoot.
Please click here to view this Large on Black.
Model: Shaui
LIghting: Mitch Bautista
Make-up: Toni Rodriguez
Location: Rogue Studio, Salcedo Village, Makati
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its 20,200 Agents[1] are primarily responsible for immigration and border law enforcement as codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Their duty is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States and to deter, detect, and apprehend illegal aliens and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who enter the United States other than through designated ports of entry.
Additionally, the CBP enforces federal controlled substances laws (as codified in the Controlled Substances Act) when violations occur or are found during the enforcement of federal immigration laws, via delegated authority from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Note that there are two personnel segments of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that people often confuse with each other, the CBP Officer [1], who wears a blue uniform and the Border Patrol Agent [2] who wears a green uniform.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Strategy
2.1 1986: Employer sanctions and interior enforcement
2.2 Inspection stations
2.2.1 El Paso Sector's Operation Hold the Line
2.2.2 San Diego Sector's Operation Gatekeeper
2.2.3 Tucson Sector's Operation Safeguard
2.3 Northern border
2.4 Border Patrol moves away from interior enforcement
2.5 The new strategy
3 Capabilities
4 Expansion
5 Special Operations Group
5.1 Other specialized programs
6 Border Patrol organization
6.1 Border Patrol Sectors
7 Training
7.1 Uniforms
7.2 Border Patrol (OBP) Ranks and Insignia
7.2.1 Border Patrol Shoulder Ornaments
8 Awards
8.1 Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism
9 Border Patrol Uniform Devices
10 Equipment
10.1 Weapons
10.2 Transportation
11 Line of duty deaths
12 Armed incursions
13 Ramos and Compean
14 Criticisms
14.1 Ineffective
14.2 Allegations of abuse
14.3 Corruption
15 National Border Patrol Council
16 National Border Patrol Museum
17 In popular culture
17.1 Books
17.2 Film
17.2.1 Documentaries
18 See also
19 References
20 External links
21 External Video
21.1 GAO and OIG Reports
[edit] History
Immigration inspectors, circa 1924Mounted watchmen of the United States Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to prevent illegal crossings as early as 1904, but their efforts were irregular and undertaken only when resources permitted. The inspectors, usually called "mounted guards", operated out of El Paso, Texas. Though they never totaled more than 75, they patrolled as far west as California trying to restrict the flow of illegal Chinese immigration.
In March 1915, Congress authorized a separate group of mounted guards, often referred to as "mounted inspectors". Most rode on horseback, but a few operated automobiles, motorcycles and boats. Although these inspectors had broader arrest authority, they still largely pursued Chinese immigrants trying to avoid the National Origins Act and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. These patrolmen were Immigrant Inspectors, assigned to inspection stations, and could not watch the border at all times. U.S. Army troops along the southwest border performed intermittent border patrolling, but this was secondary to "the more serious work of military training." Non-nationals encountered illegally in the U.S. by the army were directed to the immigration inspection stations. Texas Rangers were also sporadically assigned to patrol duties by the state, and their efforts were noted as "singularly effective".
The Border Patrol was founded on May 28, 1924 as an agency of the United States Department of Labor to prevent illegal entries along the Mexico–United States border and the United States-Canada border. The first two border patrol stations were in El Paso, Texas and Detroit, Michigan.[2] Additional operations were established along the Gulf Coast in 1927 to perform crewman control to insure that non-American crewmen departed on the same ship on which they arrived. Additional stations were temporarily added along the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Eastern Seaboard during the sixties when in Cuba triumphed the Cuban Revolution and emerged the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Prior to 2003, the Border Patrol was part of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), an agency that was within the U.S. Department of Justice. INS was disbanded in March 2003 when its operations were divided between CBP, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The priority mission of the Border Patrol, as a result of the 9/11 attacks and its merging into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States of America. However, the Border Patrol's traditional mission remains as the deterrence, detection and apprehension of illegal immigrants and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who generally enter the United States other than through designated ports of entry. The Border Patrol also operates 33 permanent interior checkpoints along the southern border of the United States.
Currently, the U.S. Border Patrol employs over 20,200 agents (as of the end of fiscal year 2009),[3] who are specifically responsible for patrolling the 6,000 miles of Mexican and Canadian international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the Florida Peninsula and the island of Puerto Rico. Agents are assigned primarily to the Mexico–United States border, where they are assigned to control drug trafficking and illegal immigration.[4] Patrols on horseback have made a comeback since smugglers have been pushed into the more remote mountainous regions, which are hard to cover with modern tracking strategies.[5]
[edit] Strategy
[edit] 1986: Employer sanctions and interior enforcement
Border Patrol Agents with a Hummer and Astar patrol for illegal entry into U.S.The Border Patrol's priorities have changed over the years. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act placed renewed emphasis on controlling illegal immigration by going after the employers that hire illegal immigrants. The belief was that jobs were the magnet that attracted most illegal immigrants to come to the United States. The Border Patrol increased interior enforcement and Form I-9 audits of businesses through an inspection program known as "employer sanctions". Several agents were assigned to interior stations, such as within the Livermore Sector in Northern California.
Employer sanctions never became the effective tool it was expected to be by Congress. Illegal immigration continued to swell after the 1986 amnesty despite employer sanctions. By 1993, Californians passed Proposition 187, denying benefits to illegal immigrants and criminalizing illegal immigrants in possession of forged green cards, I.D. cards and Social Security Numbers. It also authorized police officers to question non-nationals as to their immigration status and required police and sheriff departments to cooperate and report illegal immigrants to the INS. Proposition 187 drew nationwide attention to illegal immigration.
[edit] Inspection stations
United States Border Patrol Interior Checkpoints are inspection stations operated by the USBP within 100 miles of a national border (with Mexico or Canada) or in the Florida Keys. As federal inspection stations are also operated by the Mexican government within 50 km of its borders where they are officially known as a "Garita de Revisión." or Garitas, they are known also by that name to Latinos.
[edit] El Paso Sector's Operation Hold the Line
El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent (and future U.S. congressman) Silvestre Reyes started a program called "Operation Hold the Line". In this program, Border Patrol agents would no longer react to illegal entries resulting in apprehensions, but would instead be forward deployed to the border, immediately detecting any attempted entries or deterring crossing at a more remote location. The idea was that it would be easier to capture illegal entrants in the wide open deserts than through the urban alleyways. Chief Reyes deployed his agents along the Rio Grande River, within eyesight of other agents. The program significantly reduced illegal entries in the urban part of El Paso, however, the operation merely shifted the illegal entries to other areas.
[edit] San Diego Sector's Operation Gatekeeper
A Border Patrol Jeep stands watch over the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro, California.San Diego Sector tried Silvestre Reyes' approach of forward deploying agents to deter illegal entries into the country. Congress authorized the hiring of thousands of new agents, and many were sent to San Diego Sector.[citation needed] In addition, Congressman Duncan Hunter obtained surplus military landing mats to use as a border fence.[citation needed] Stadium lighting, ground sensors and infra-red cameras were also placed in the area.[citation needed] Apprehensions decreased dramatically in that area as people crossed in different regions.
[edit] Tucson Sector's Operation Safeguard
California was no longer the hotbed of illegal entry and the traffic shifted to Arizona, primarily in Nogales and Douglas.[citation needed] The Border Patrol instituted the same deterrent strategy it used in San Diego to Arizona.
[edit] Northern border
In 2001, the Border Patrol had approximately 340 agents assigned along the Canada – United States border border. Northern border staffing had been increased to 1,128 agents to 1,470 agents by the end of fiscal year 2008, and is projected to expand to 1,845 by the end of fiscal year 2009, a sixfold increase. Resources that support Border Patrol agents include the use of new technology and a more focused application of air and marine assets.
The northern border sectors are Blaine (Washington), Buffalo (New York), Detroit (Selfridge ANGB, Michigan), Grand Forks (North Dakota), Havre (Montana), Houlton (Maine), Spokane (Washington), and Swanton (Vermont).
[edit] Border Patrol moves away from interior enforcement
In the 1990s, Congress mandated that the Border Patrol shift agents away from the interior and focus them on the borders.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security created two immigration enforcement agencies out of the defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ICE was tasked with investigations, detention and removal of illegal immigrants, and interior enforcement. CBP was tasked with inspections at U.S. ports of entry and with preventing illegal entries between the port of entry, transportation check, and entries on U.S. coastal borders. DHS management decided to align the Border Patrol with CBP. CBP itself is solely responsible for the nation's ports of entry, while Border Patrol maintains jurisdiction over all locations between ports of entry, giving Border Patrol agents federal authority absolutely[dubious – discuss] nationwide[dubious – discuss].
In July 2004, the Livermore Sector of the United States Border Patrol was closed. Livermore Sector served Northern California and included stations at Dublin (Parks Reserve Forces Training Area), Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield. The Border Patrol also closed other stations in the interior of the United States including Roseburg, Oregon and Little Rock, Arkansas. The Border Patrol functions in these areas consisted largely of local jail and transportation terminal checks for illegal immigrants. These functions were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
[edit] The new strategy
Cameras add "Smart Border" surveillance.In November 2005, the U.S. Border Patrol published an updated national strategy.[6] The goal of this updated strategy is operational control of the United States border. The strategy has five main objectives:
Apprehend terrorists and terrorist weapons illegally entering the United States;
Deter illegal entries through improved enforcement;
Detect, apprehend, and deter smugglers of humans, drugs, and other contraband;
Use "smart border" technology; and
Reduce crime in border communities, improving quality of life.
[edit] Capabilities
The border is a barely discernible line in uninhabited deserts, canyons, or mountains. The Border Patrol utilizes a variety of equipment and methods, such as electronic sensors placed at strategic locations along the border, to detect people or vehicles entering the country illegally. Video monitors and night vision scopes are also used to detect illegal entries. Agents patrol the border in vehicles, boats, aircraft, and afoot. In some areas, the Border Patrol employs horses, all-terrain motorcycles, bicycles, and snowmobiles. Air surveillance capabilities are provided by unmanned aerial vehicles.[3]
The primary activity of a Border Patrol Agent is "Line Watch". Line Watch involves the detection, prevention, and apprehension of terrorists, undocumented aliens and smugglers of aliens at or near the land border by maintaining surveillance from a covert position; following up on leads; responding to electronic sensor television systems and aircraft sightings; and interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence. Major activities include traffic check, traffic observation, city patrol, transportation check, administrative, intelligence, and anti-smuggling activities.[4]
Traffic checks are conducted on major highways leading away from the border to detect and apprehend illegal aliens attempting to travel further into the interior of the United States after evading detection at the border, and to detect illegal narcotics.[3]
Transportation checks are inspections of interior-bound conveyances, which include buses, commercial aircraft, passenger and freight trains, and marine craft.[3]
Marine Patrols are conducted along the coastal waterways of the United States, primarily along the Pacific coast, the Caribbean, the tip of Florida, and Puerto Rico and interior waterways common to the United States and Canada. Border Patrol conducts border control activities from 130 marine craft of various sizes. The Border Patrol maintains watercraft ranging from blue-water craft to inflatable-hull craft, in 16 sectors, in addition to headquarters special operations components.[3]
Horse and bike patrols are used to augment regular vehicle and foot patrols. Horse units patrol remote areas along the international boundary that are inaccessible to standard all-terrain vehicles. Bike patrol aids city patrol and is used over rough terrain to support linewatch.[3] Snowmobiles are used to patrol remote areas along the northern border in the winter.
[edit] Expansion
Attrition in the Border Patrol was normally at 5%. From 1995-2001 attrition spiked to above 10%, which was a period when the Border Patrol was undergoing massive hiring. In 2002 the attrition rate climbed to 18%. The 18% attrition was largely attributed to agents transferring to the Federal Air Marshals after 9/11. Since that time the attrition problem has decreased significantly and Congress has increased journeyman Border Patrol Agent pay from GS-9 to GS-11 in 2002. The Border Patrol Marine Position was created in 2009 (BPA-M). This position will be updated to a GS-12 position sometime in 2010 or 2011. Border Patrol Field Training Officers may possibly be updated in 2010 to a temporary GS-12 pay rate. In 2005, Border Patrol attrition dropped to 4% and remains in the area of 4% to 6% as of 2009.[7]
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (signed by President Bush on December 17, 2004) authorized hiring an additional 10,000 agents, "subject to appropriation". This authorization, if fully implemented, would nearly double the Border Patrol manpower from 11,000 to 21,000 agents by 2010.
In July 2005, Congress signed the Emergency Supplemental Spending Act for military operations in Iraq/Afghanistan and other operations. The act also appropriated funding to increase Border Patrol manpower by 500 Agents. In October 2005, President Bush also signed the DHS FY06 Appropriation bill, funding an additional 1,000 Agents.
In November 2005, President George W. Bush made a trip to southern Arizona to discuss more options that would decrease illegal crossings at the U.S. and Mexican border. In his proposed fiscal year 2007 budget he has requested an additional 1,500 Border Patrol agents.
The Secure Fence Act, signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2006, has met with much opposition. In October 2007, environmental groups and concerned citizens filed a restraining order hoping to halt the construction of the fence, set to be built between the United States and Mexico. The act mandates that the fence be built by December 2008. Ultimately, the United States seeks to put fencing around the 1,945-mile (3,130 km) border, but the act requires only 700 miles (1,100 km) of fencing. DHS secretary Michael Chertoff has bypassed environmental and other oppositions with a waiver that was granted to him by Congress in Section 102 of the act, which allows DHS to avoid any conflicts that would prevent a speedy assembly of the fence.[8][9]
This action has led many environment groups and landowners to speak out against the impending construction of the fence.[10] Environment and wildlife groups fear that the plans to clear brush, construct fences, install bright lights, motion sensors, and cameras will scare wildlife and endanger the indigenous species of the area.[11] Environmentalists claim that the ecosystem could be affected due to the fact that a border fence would restrict movement of all animal species, which in turn would keep them from water and food sources on one side or another. Desert plants would also feel the impact, as they would be uprooted in many areas where the fence is set to occupy.[12]
Property owners in these areas fear a loss of land. Landowners would have to give some of their land over to the government for the fence. Citizens also fear that communities will be split. Many students travel over the border every day to attend classes at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Brownsville mayor Pat Ahumada favors alternative options to a border fence. He suggests that the Rio Grande River be widened and deepened to provide for a natural barrier to hinder illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.[13]
The United States Border Patrol Academy is located in Artesia, New Mexico.
[edit] Special Operations Group
A Border Patrol Special Response Team searches room-by-room a hotel in New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina.
CBP BORSTAR canine team conducting rappeling trainingIn 2007, the Border Patrol created the Special Operations Group (SOG) headquartered in El Paso, TX to coordinate the specialized units of the agency.[14]
Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC)
National Special Response Team (NSRT)
Border Patrol, Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR)
Air Mobile Unit (AMU)
[edit] Other specialized programs
The Border Patrol has a number of other specialized programs and details.
Air and Marine Operations
K9 Units
Mounted Patrol
Bike patrol
Sign-cutting (tracking)
Snowmobile unit
Infrared scope unit
Intelligence
Anti-smuggling investigations
Border Criminal Alien Program
Multi-agency Anti-Gang Task Forces (regional & local units)
Honor Guard
Pipes and Drums
Chaplain
Peer Support
[edit] Border Patrol organization
David V. Aguilar, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border ProtectionThe current Acting Chief of the Border Patrol is Michael J. Fisher who succeeded in 2010 David V. Aguilar, who is now the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.
[edit] Border Patrol Sectors
There are 20 Border Patrol sectors, each headed by a Sector Chief Patrol Agent.
Northern Border (West to East):
Blaine Sector (Western Washington State, Idaho, and Western Montana.) - stations; Bellingham, Blaine, Port Angeles, Sumas.
Spokane Sector (Eastern Washington State)
Havre Sector (Montana)
Grand Forks Sector (North Dakota)
Detroit Sector (Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan) - stations; Downtown Detroit, Marysville, Gibralter, Sault Sainte Marie, Sandusky Bay.
Buffalo Sector (New York) - stations; Buffalo, Erie, Niagura Falls, Oswego, Rochester, Wellesley Island.
Swanton Sector (Vermont)
Houlton Sector (Maine)
Southern Border (West to East):
San Diego Sector (San Diego, California)
El Centro Sector (Imperial County, California)
Yuma Sector (Western Arizona)- stations; Wellton, Yuma, Blythe
Tucson Sector (Eastern Arizona)
El Paso Sector (El Paso, Texas and New Mexico) - stations; Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Deming, El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Truth or Consequences, Ysleta
Marfa Sector (Big Bend Area of West Texas) - stations; Alpine, Amarillo, Big Bend, Fort Stockton, Lubbock, Marfa, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn
Del Rio Sector (Del Rio, Texas) - stations; Abilene, Brackettville, Carrizo Springs, Comstock, Del Rio, Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, Rocksprings, San Angelo, Uvalde
Rio Grande Valley Sector (South Texas) - stations; Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Falfurrias, Fort Brown, Harlingen, Kingsville, McAllen, Rio Grande City, Weslaco
Laredo Sector (South Texas) - stations; Cotulla, Dallas, Freer, Hebbronville, Laredo North, Laredo South, Laredo West, San Antonio, Zapata
New Orleans Sector (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Florida)
Miami Sector (Florida East and South)
Caribbean
Ramey Sector (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States
[edit] Training
All Border Patrol Agents spend 15 weeks in training at the Border Patrol Academy (if they are fluent in Spanish) in Artesia, New Mexico, which is a component of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).Those who are not fluent in Spanish spend an additional eight weeks at the Academy. Recruits are instructed in Border Patrol and federal law enforcement subjects.
Border Patrol courses include: Immigration and Nationality Law, Criminal Law and Statutory Authority, Spanish, Border Patrol Operations, Care and Use of Firearms, Physical Training, Driver Training, and Anti-Terrorism.
FLETC courses include: Communications, Ethics and Conduct, Report Writing, Introduction to Computers, Fingerprinting, and Constitutional Law.[15]
The physical aspects of the Border Patrol Training Program are extremely demanding. At the end of 55 days, trainees must be able to complete a one and a half mile run in 13 minutes or less, a confidence course in two and a half minutes or less, and a 220 yard dash in 46 seconds or less. This final test is much easier than the day to day physical training during the program.[15]
[edit] Uniforms
The Border Patrol currently wears the following types of uniforms:
CBP officers at a ceremony in 2007Dress uniform – The dress uniform consists of olive-green trousers with a blue stripe, and an olive-green shirt, which may or may not have blue shoulder straps. The campaign hat is worn with uniform.
Ceremonial uniform – When required, the following items are added to the dress uniform to complete the ceremonial uniform: olive-green Ike jacket or tunic with blue accents (shoulder straps and cuffs, blue tie, brass tie tack, white gloves, and olive-green felt campaign hat with leather hat band. The campaign hat is worn with uniform.
Rough duty uniform – The rough duty uniform consists of green cargo trousers and work shirt (in short or long sleeves). Usually worn with green baseball cap or tan stetson.
Accessories, footwear, and outerwear – Additional items are worn in matching blue or black colors as appropriate.
Organization patches – The Border Patrol wears two:
The CBP patch is worn on the right sleeves of the uniform. It contains the DHS seal against a black background with a "keystone" shape. A "keystone" is the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch, which holds all the other stones in place.
Border Patrol agents retain the circular legacy Border Patrol patch, which is worn on the left sleeve.
The Border Patrol uniform is getting its first makeover since the 1950s to appear more like military fatigues and less like a police officer's duty garb.[16] Leather belts with brass buckles are being replaced by nylon belts with quick-release plastic buckles, slacks are being replaced by lightweight cargo pants, and shiny badges and nameplates are being replaced by cloth patches.
[edit] Border Patrol (OBP) Ranks and Insignia
Location Title Collar insignia Shoulder ornament Pay grade
Border Patrol Headquarters Chief of the Border Patrol Gold-plated Senior Executive Service (SES)
Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Gold-plated SES
Division Chief Gold-plated SES
Deputy Division Chief Gold-plated GS-15, General Schedule
Associate Chief Gold-plated GS-15
Assistant Chief Silver-plated GS-14
Operations Officer Oxidized GS-13
Border Patrol Sectors Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Gold-plated SES or GS-15
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) Gold-plated SES/GS-15 or GS-14
Division Chief Gold-plated GS-15
Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA) Silver-plated GS-15 or GS-14
Patrol Agent in Charge (PAIC) Silver-plated GS-14 or GS-13
Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge (APAIC) Oxidized GS-13
Special Operations Supervisor (SOS) Oxidized GS-13
Field Operations Supervisor (FOS) Oxidized GS-13
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (SBPA) Oxidized GS-12
Senior Patrol Agent (SPA) (Note: Being phased out through attrition) No insignia Currently GS-11 (Will be upgraded to full performance level GS-12 sometime during the 1st quarter of 2011)
Border Patrol Agent (BPA) No insignia GS-5, 7, 9, 11 (Upgrade to GS-12 pending)
Border Patrol Academy Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Gold-plated GS-15
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) Gold-plated GS-15
Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA) Silver-plated GS-14
Training Operations Supervisor (TOS) Oxidized GS-14
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Senior Instructor) Oxidized GS-13
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Instructor) Oxidized GS-13
[edit] Border Patrol Shoulder Ornaments
[edit] Awards
Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism Commissioners Distinguished Career Service Award Commissioners Exceptional Service Medal Commissioners Meritorious Service Award Commissioners Special Commendation Award Chiefs Commendation Medal
No Image Available No Image Available No Image Available
Commissioners Excellence in Group Achievement Award Purple Cross Wound Medal Academy Honor Award Winner Border Patrol Long Service Medal 75th Anniversary of the Border Patrol Commemorative Medal
No Image Available No Image Available
[edit] Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism
The Border Patrol's highest honor is the Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism. This Award is bestowed to Border Patrol Agents for extraordinary actions, service; accomplishments reflecting unusual courage or bravery in the line of duty; or an extraordinarily heroic or humane act committed during times of extreme stress or in an emergency.
This award is named for Border Patrol Inspectors Theodore Newton[17] and George Azrak,[18] who were murdered by two drug smugglers in San Diego County in 1967.
[edit] Border Patrol Uniform Devices
Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) Special Response Team (NSRT) Honor Guard Border Patrol Pipes and Drums Cap Badge
No Image Available
K-9 Handler Chaplain Field Training Officer Peer Support
[edit] Equipment
[edit] Weapons
A Border Patrol Agent carrying an M14 rifle.Border Patrol Agents are issued the H&K P2000 double action pistol in .40 S&W. It can contain as many as 13 rounds of ammunition (12 in the magazine and one in the chamber).
Like other law enforcement agencies, the Remington 870 is the standard shotgun.
Border Patrol Agents also commonly carry the M4 Carbine and the H&K UMP 40 caliber submachine gun. The M14 rifle is used for mostly ceremonial purposes.
As a less than lethal option, the Border Patrol also uses the FN303.
[edit] Transportation
Unlike in many other law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Border Patrol operates several thousand SUVs and pickup trucks, which are known for their capabilities to move around in any sort of terrain. This vehicles may have individual revolving lights (strobes or LEDs) and/or light bars and sirens. An extensive modernization drive has ensured that these vehicles are equipped with wireless sets in communication with a central control room. Border Patrol vehicles may also have equipment such as speed radar, breathalyzers, and emergency first aid kits. Some sectors make use of sedans like the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor or the Dodge Charger as patrol cars or high speed "interceptors" on highways. The Border Patrol also operates ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and small boats in the riverine environment. In 2005, all Border Patrol and ICE aircraft operations were combined under CBP's Office of Air and Marine. All CBP vessel operation in Customs Waters are conducted by Office of Air and Marine.
Color schemes of Border Patrol vehicles are either a long green stripe running the length of the vehicle or a broad green diagonal stripe on the door. Most Border Patrol vehicles are painted predominantly white.
The Border Patrol also extensively uses horses for remote area patrols. The U.S. Border Patrol has 205 horses As of 2005[update]. Most are employed along the Mexico–United States border. In Arizona, these animals are fed special processed feed pellets so that their wastes do not spread non-native plants in the national parks and wildlife areas they patrol.[19]
[edit] Line of duty deaths
Total line of duty deaths (since 1904): 105[20]
Aircraft accident: 14
Assault: 2
Automobile accident: 28
Drowned: 4
Fall: 4
Gunfire: 30
Gunfire (Accidental): 3
Heart attack: 6
Heat exhaustion: 1
Motorcycle accident: 2
Stabbed: 2
Struck by train: 3
Struck by vehicle: 3
Vehicle pursuit: 2
Vehicular assault: 3
[edit] Armed incursions
On August 7, 2008, Mexican troops crossed the border into Arizona and held a U.S. Border Patrol Agent at gunpoint. Agents stationed at Ajo, Arizona said that the Mexican soldiers crossed the border into an isolated area southwest of Tucson and pointed rifles at the agent, who has not been identified. The Mexicans withdrew after other American agents arrived on the scene.[21]
[edit] Ramos and Compean
In February 2005, Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were involved in an incident while pursuing a van in Fabens, Texas. The driver, later identified as Aldrete Davila, was shot by Agent Ramos during a scuffle. Davila escaped back into Mexico, and the agents discovered that the van contained a million dollars worth of marijuana (about 750 pounds). None of the agents at the scene orally reported the shooting, including two supervisors. The Department of Homeland Security opened up an internal affairs investigation into the incident.[22] See also [23][24][25]
[edit] Criticisms
[edit] Ineffective
In 2006, a documentary called The Illegal Immigration Invasion[26] linked the scale of illegal immigration into the United States chiefly to the ineffectiveness of the Border Patrol. The film claimed that this is due to the lack of judicial powers of the Border Patrol and the effective hamstringing of the agency by the federal government. The film interviews people that deal with illegal immigration on a daily basis, as well as local citizens living in the border areas.
[edit] Allegations of abuse
There are allegations of abuse by the United States Border Patrol such as the ones reported by Jesus A. Trevino, that concludes in an article published in the Houston Journal of International Law (2006) with a request to create an independent review commission to oversee the actions of the Border Patrol, and that creating such review board will make the American public aware of the "serious problem of abuse that exists at the border by making this review process public" and that "illegal immigrants deserve the same constitutionally-mandated humane treatment of citizens and legal residents".[27]
In 1998, Amnesty International investigated allegations of ill-treatment and brutality by officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and particularly the Border Patrol. Their report said they found indications of human rights violations during 1996, 1997 and early 1998.[28]
An article in Social Justice by Michael Huspek, Leticia Jimenez, Roberto Martinez (1998) cites that in December 1997, John Case, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region, but that of the 2,300 cases, the 243 cases of serious allegations of abuse were down in 1997. These serious cases are considered to be distinct from less serious complaints, such as "verbal abuse, discrimination, extended detention without cause."[29]
[edit] Corruption
Incidences of corruption in the U.S. Border Patrol include:
Pablo Sergio Barry, an agent charged with one count of harboring an illegal immigrant, three counts of false statements, and two counts of making a false document.[30] He plead guilty.[31]
Christopher E. Bernis, an agent indicted on a charge of harboring an illegal immigrant for nine months while employed as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.[32]
Jose De Jesus Ruiz, an agent whose girlfriend was an illegal immigrant, he was put on administrative leave pending an investigation.[32]
Oscar Antonio Ortiz, an illegal immigrant[33] who used a fake birth certificate to get into the Border Patrol admitted to smuggling more than 100 illegal immigrants into the U.S., some of them in his government truck,[34] and was helping to smuggle illegal immigrants and charged with conspiring with another agent to smuggle immigrants.
An unidentified patrol agent who was recorded on a wire tap stating that he helped to smuggle 30 to 50 immigrants at a time.[33]
[edit] National Border Patrol Council
National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) is the labor union which represents over 14,000 Border Patrol Agents and support staff. The NBPC was founded in 1968, and its parent organization is the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO. The NBPC's executive committee is staffed by current and retired Border Patrol Agents and, along with its constituent locals, employs a staff of a dozen attorneys and field representatives. The NBPC is associated with the Peace Officer Research Association of California’s Legal Defense Fund.[35]
[edit] National Border Patrol Museum
The National Border Patrol Museum is located in El Paso, Texas. The museum exhibits uniforms, equipment, photographs, guns, vehicles, airplanes, boats, and documents which depict the historical and current sector operations throughout the United States.
[edit] In popular culture
[edit] Books
Border Patrol by Alvin Edward Moore
The Border Patrol by Deborah Wells Salter
EWI: Entry Without Inspection (Title 8 U.S.C. § 1325 Improper entry by alien) by Fortuna Testarona Valiente
Tracks in the Sand: A Tale of the Border Patrol by Kent E Lundgren,
On The Line: Inside the U.S. Border Patrol by Alex Pacheco and Erich Krauss
Patrolling Chaos: The U.S. Border Patrol in Deep South Texas by Robert Lee Maril
The U.S. Border Patrol: Guarding the Nation (Blazers) by Connie Collwell Miller
My Border Patrol Diary: Laredo, Texas by Dale Squint
Holding the Line: War Stories of the U.S. Border Patrol by Gerald Schumacher
The Border Patrol Ate My Dust by Alicia Alarcon, Ethriam Cash Brammer, and Ethriam Cash Brammer de Gonzales
The Border: Exploring the U.S.-Mexican Divide by David J. Danelo
Beat The Border: An Insider's Guide To How The U.S. Border Works And How To Beat It by Ned Beaumont
West of the Moon: A Border Patrol Agent's Tale by D. B. Prehoda
The Journey: U.S. Border Patrol & the Solution to the Illegal Alien Problem by Donald R. Coppock
Border patrol: With the U.S. Immigration Service on the Mexican boundary, 1910-54 by Clifford Alan Perkins
Border Patrol: How U.S. Agents Protect Our Borders from Illegal Entry by Carroll B. Colby
In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America's Border and Security by Tom Tancredo
[edit] Film
Border Patrolman, a 1936 film in which a Border Patrolman Bob Wallace, played by George O'Brien, resigns in protest after being humiliated by the spoiled granddaughter of a millionaire.
Border Patrol, a 1943 film starring William C. Boyd, Andy Clyde, George Reeves, and Robert Mitchum
Borderline, a 1950 film noir starring Fred MacMurray about drug smuggling across the U.S./Mexico border
Border Patrol, a 1959 syndicated television series, starring Richard Webb as the fictitious deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol
Borderline, a 1980 movie starring Charles Bronson about a Border Patrol Agent on the U.S./Mexico border
The Border, a 1982 film starring Jack Nicholson
El Norte, a 1983 film portraying Central American Indian peasants traveling to the United States.
Flashpoint, a 1984 film starring Kris Kristofferson
Last Man Standing, a 1996 film starring Bruce Willis and Ken Jenkins as Texas Ranger Captain Tom Pickett who is investing the killing of an unnamed Immigration Inspector (played by Larry Holt) across the border in Mexico.
Men in Black, a 1997 science fiction comedy action film starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The Border Patrol was portrayed as Immigration Inspectors
The Gatekeeper, a 2002 film by John Carlos Frey about the struggles of migrants at the Mexican/US border.
The Shepherd: Border Patrol, a 2007 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Linewatch, a 2008 film starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., as a Border Patrol agent defending his family from a group of Los Angeles gang members involved in the illegal trade of importing narcotics into the United States.
[edit] Documentaries
Border Patrol: American's Gatekeepers A&E with former United States Attorney General Janet Reno
Investigative Reports: Border Patrol: America's Gatekeepers A&E Investigates
History the Enforcers : Border Patrol History Channel
[edit] See also
Border Protection Personnel
United States portal
Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal
List of United States federal law enforcement agencies
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Border control
Ignacio Ramos
Illegal immigration
H.R. 4437
Minuteman Project
MQ-9 Reaper
No More Deaths
Office of CBP Air
United States Mexico barrier
United States-Canadian Border
la migra
[edit] References
^ "Reinstatements to the northern border". CPB.gov. US Customs and Border Protection. 2008-05-19. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/reinsta.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_...
^ a b c d e f "Boarder Patrol overview". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-08-22. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ a b "Who we are and what we do". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-09-03. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/who_we_.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Gaynor, Tim (2008-01-23). "U.S. turns to horses to secure borders". Reuters. www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSN2323280820080124.... Retrieved 2008-01-24.
^ www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/border_security/border_patro...[dead link]
^ Nuñez-Neto, Blas (2006-010-25) (PDF). Border security: The role of the U.S. Border Patrol. Congressional Research Service. p. 35. digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs//data/2006/upl-meta-c.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Coyle, Marcia (2008-03-03). "Waivers for border fence challenged: Environmental groups take their complaints to Supreme Court". The Recorder.
^ Archibold, Randal C. (2008-04-02). "Government issues waiver for fencing along border". New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/us/02fence.html. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
^ "Conservation groups call for an immediate halt to construction of border fence in San Pedro National Conservation Area". US Newswire. 2007-10-05.
^ Gordon, David George (May 2000). "A 'grande' dispute". National Geographic World: p. 4.
^ Cohn, Jeffrey P. (2007). "The environmental impacts of a border fence". BioScience 57 (1): 96. doi:10.1641/B570116. www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1641/B570116. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Expansive border fence stirs fights over land". Tell Me More. NPR. 2008-03-03.
^ 2007 State of the Border Patrol video[dead link]
^ a b "FAQs: Working for the Border Patrol-basic training". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-05-29. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_career.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Spagat, Elliot (2007-08-16). "Border Patrol uniform gets first makeover since the 1950s". North County Times. www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/17/news/sandiego/18_64_3.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Border Patrol Inspector Theodore L. Newton Jr.". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=9933. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Border Patrol Inspector George F. Azrak". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=1368. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Rostien, Arthur H. (2005-06-09). "Border Patrol horses get special feed that helps protect desert ecosystem". Environmental News Network. www.enn.com/top_stories/article/1731. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Border Patrol". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/agency/4830-united-states-department-of-home.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Meyers, Jim (2008-08-06). "Mexican troops cross border, hold border agent". Newsmax.com. newsmax.com/insidecover/mexican_troops_border/2008/08/06/.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Glenn Beck: Ramos & Compean - the whole story". The Glenn Beck Program. Premiere Radio Networks. 2008-07-29. www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/13098/. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Ramos-Compean. ramos-compean.blogspot.com/. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "2 Border Patrol agents face 20 years in prison". WorldDailyNet. 2006-08-07. www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51417. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Ramos and Campean - court appeal". www.scribd.com/doc/219384/Ramos-and-Campean-Court-Appeal. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ (Google video) The illegal immigration invasion. October Sun Films. 2006-04-06. video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1451035544403625746. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Jesus A. Trevino (1998). "Border violence against illegal immigrants and the need to change the border patrol's current complaint review process" (PDF). Houston Journal of International Law 21 (1): 85–114. ISSN 0194-1879. www.hjil.org/ArticleFiles/21_1_10.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ United States of America: Human rights concerns in the border region with Mexico. Amnesty International. 1998-05-19. web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510031998. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Huspek, Michael; Roberto Martinez, and Leticia Jimenez (1998). "Violations of human and civil rights on the U.S.-Mexico border, 1995 to 1997: a report" (Reprint). Social Justice 25 (2). ISSN 1043-1578. findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3427/is_n2_v25/ai_n28711.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
The data compiled in this report suggest that law enforcement in the southwest region of the United States may be verging on lawlessness. This statement receives fuller support from announcements emanating from the INS. In December 1997, John Chase, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region. Over 2,300 complaints were filed in 1997 as opposed to the 1,813 complaints filed in 1996. Another 400 reports of "minor misconduct" were placed in a new category. Chase was quick to emphasize, however, that the 243 "serious" allegations of abuse and use of excessive force that could warrant criminal prosecution were down in 1997, as compared with the 328 in 1996. These "serious" cases are considered to be distinct from less serious complaints, such as "verbal abuse, discrimination, extended detention without cause.
^ June 23, 2005 "Border agent accused of hiding an illegal entrant". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-06-23. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/81082.php June 23, 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "Border agent pleads guilty to harboring illegal entrant". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-09-22. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/94491.php. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ a b "U.S. border agent indicted". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-03-11. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/65117.php. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ a b "Boarder agent said to also be smuggler". SignOnSanDiego.com. Union-Tribune Publishing. 2005-08-05. www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20050805-9999-.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ Spagat, Elliot (2006-07-28). "Border agent gets 5 years for smuggling". The Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
^ "About NBPC". National Border Patrol Council. 2008-08-14. www.nbpc.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&a.... Retrieved 2009-06-01.
[edit] External links
Official US Border Patrol website
US Border Patrol history
National Border Patrol Strategy(PDF)
Border Patrol official recruiting page
Border Patrol Supervisor's Association (BPSA)
Border Patrol agents killed in the line of duty
Large Border Patrol site
Border Patrol Museum official site
National Border Patrol Council official site
National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers
Friends of the Border Patrol
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the U.S. Border Patrol
Civilian Border Patrol Organizations: An Overview and History of the Phenomenon by the Congressional Research Service.
Border Patrol hiring forums and information for potential agents
National Border Patrol Museum
Pictures of Border Patrol vehicles
Crossing Guards in Training LA Times report on Border Patrol training.
The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration
Border Patrol unofficial Auxiliary NOT a Government Agency and not affiliated with the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
[edit] External Video
Border Stories
[edit] GAO and OIG Reports
GAO Report: Border Patrol - Southwest Border Enforcement Affected by Mission Expansion and Budget August 1992
GAO Report: Border Control - Revised Strategy is Showing Some Positive Results December 1994
g96065.pdf GAO Report: Border Patrol - Staffing and Enforcement Activities March 1996
GAO Report: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - Southwest Border Strategy Results Inconclusive; More Evaluation Needed December 1997
USDOJ OIG Report: Operation Gatekeeper July 1998
GAO Report: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - Status of Southwest Border Strategy Implementation 1999
GAO Report: Border Patrol Hiring December 1999
GAO Report: Southwest Border Strategy - Resource and Impact Issues Remain After Seven Years August 2001
National Border Patrol Strategy March 2005
GAO Report: Effectiveness of Border Patrol Checkpoints July 2005
DHS OIG Report: An Assessment of the Proposal to Merge Customs and Border Protection with Immigration and Customs Enforcement November 2005
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Categories: Federal law enforcement agencies of the United States | Border guards | Specialist law enforcement agencies of the United States | History of immigration to the United States | United States Department of Homeland Security | Borders of the United States
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Arwork for Elysium Art Fest @InWorldz. March 2013.
"Expected transition" by PralineB.
We have no fear of time passing.
We have always known
That the Birds People take care of trans-humans.
They carries the universe,
The beyond, the unspeakable, in their bellies.
They are the elders of the Watchers.
We are the one,
We are the all.
The transition is occurring always
Under the watchful eyes of the Birds People.
They know the matrix creates the merger,
The merger creates the multicolored, multiple and unique being
Fused in the Birds to the infinite.
The universe and the beyond belong to the Birds People.
PB.
FYI: I am just another amateur photographer, not that interested so much in the technical side of things, just rambling on about my experiences with this new Olympus camera and lens.
I plan to post shots with the following lenses: Lumix 35-100, Lumix 100-300, Lumix 20mm, Macro 45, Lumix 25mm, M.Zuiko 45mm, M.Zuiko 17mm and the M.Zuiko 60mm Macro.
Well retirement has it's downsides such as sticking to budgets, and more specifically my annual allowance for this hobby. I mention this because having pre-ordered both the E-M1 and the 12-40 PRO lens, I will be in the hole to 2015! Some kit will be sold no doubt about that.
I actually ordered before I read Robin Wong's hands on review, but having read Dpreview's review. Expect to have the cam in time for an early December trip, but the lens will more than likely arrive while I am away :(
23.10.13: Living in Canada I am used to new kit coming in after US outlets are already shipping, so sometimes being an early adopter, I have located and purchased kit from them (i.e.: OM-D E-M5). Last night I located a US E-M1 in stock but resisted the temptation only because the combo price here is better than in the US (so far) - one has only to search the net.
Is it me or is the Olympus rebate offer confusing (as usual). I have asked my camera dealer for clarification and he will be asking the Oly rep. 8.03.14 note: $200.00 cheque received last month from Olympus!
27.10.13: Tracking reports by various new owners of the cam (in the forums) there are the usual claims of DOA or other small issues. Either I have been very lucky over the years, but I have as yet never had a camera or lens problem. I just recently had a problem with the FL600r out of the warranty period (it was little used) = $130.00 for repairs.
This evening I snagged a HDL-7 grip at Amazon.ca, last one in stock. I will get the grip before the camera, but been there, done that before.
29.10.13: Checked with my Edmonton camera store and found that I was 14th out of 31 pre-orders for the E-M1 and aprox. the same for the lens. A Calgary shop placed me at 7th if ordered today, and they were receiving about 5 units per week. I decided to check with London Drugs web sales and found that they had 4 units in stock at their lower mainland wharehouse (B.C.). I ordered one and pre-ordered the lens with them because I think I will stand a better chance to get one sooner than later.
No 'deals' with LD but a bird in the hand......:) Now the wait begins as they will take about 48 hours to process the order, but the shipment will only take a day in transit.
30.10.13: Thought about this overnight and called LD re matching a better price in town, and they would not so cancelled both orders. Spoke to the rebates people and they assured me that Olympus was delivering both cameras and lenses to all shops in Canada this week, so plenty of time before the December 2nd deadline - we shall see ( I do not think that even she could interpret the rebate language.
1.11.13: HLD-7 Grip arrives.
2.11.13: Just posting a shot on Flickr with the 12-35 on the E-M5. Interesting to see
how the latter compares to the 12-40, especially in view of the user reviews filtering in.
5.11.13: Just got a call from McBain Camera confirming that that both the E-M1 and
12-40 were on the way! I did not expect the camera to be shipped for another week or so, and the lens (if I was lucky) by the end of the month, hopefully in time for my
travel plans.
7.11.13: Out for Delivery! And of course rain and clouds for the next week. Delivered at 11:40, unpacked (the packaging is new and I am thinking in line with Oly's Pro designation) and shots taken. Noticed the difference in size next to the GH3, the E-M1 is smaller but around the same weight. The lens reminds me of the Zuiko 12-60 - it very well built, but it is heavy by comparison to the Pany 12-35 (combined with the E-M1, it reminds me somewhat of the E-5 and 12-60 in terms of weight, but less so! The built-in grip is a must for the new lens (for me at least), and I am considering whether it will feel more confortable with the HLD-7 attached.
Focusing is fast, and while I normally use a tripod when indoors with a new cam, today I shot handheld and I think that they will satisfy me once viewed on the iMac.
Off to take some more shots, and dare I say, who cares if it is raining.
8.11.13: An Oly lens with a hood? I stopped at London Drugs for a screen protector and for the first time that I can remember, there were three of us that were Olympus shooters, in the same room. Trying to sell Olympus gear in this city is not easy - Canon and Nikon no problem, but times are changing. E-M1 with the grip on feels good but reminds me of the D700 in terms of weight, but less so. Some of the test jpgs with intermittent sun today also remind me of the D700. There will be a learning curve with some of the differences with respect to the E-M5 and the GH3, for example, the off on switch location and the Fn2 button which I have hit instead of the shutter button. I will use age as an excuse.
11.11.13: Shot some sample shots yesterday, indoors, available light from a small window, of my Colombian hand hammered copper tray - tripod mounted IS off. All of my lenses except for the 100-300 and 12-50. I am not convinced that LR5.3RC is doing a good job with the raw files, but they are not bad to my eye. The 12-40 is living up to the various reviews I have read, and so is the E-M1, now for some half decent good weather.
12.11.13: Aperture does not support this camera, LR5.3RC does, Photo Mechanic does (but I am not sure how since I have not upgraded lately), and Capture One has not been updated for Apple 10.9 Mavericks.
I did review yesterday's shots of our 10 month old twin grand-daughters and all I can say is wow! Does this cam and lens make me look good. Reminiscent of my D300 and D700 days.
15.11.13: Very happy with the cell tower shot (E-M1 + 12-40 ). I think the best of the tower shots yet. Sold the DMC-GH3 and the 20mm/F1.7. My wife now has the 12-35, so I am back on budget :) Have already pre-ordered the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm/F2.8 for next year.
23.11.13: Sunny but cold (at least it is for us) and better photo ops for me. Not worried about coming indoors afterwards without keeping the cam in a bag, and when it has rained, I have actually ventured out. Now to see how it does in the tropics with A/C and outdoor humidity. Deciding what lenses to take besides the 12-40 and the 25/F1.4 (100-300 and/or the 35-100). I am biased, but this is one great looking camera and lens!
Photo Mechanic 5 and Iridient Developer both have had the raw E-M1 support for a few weeks now - whats up with Aperture, DXO and C1?
24.11.13: Trying out Lyn 1.3.4 app and it supports E-M1 raw and the rendering(skin colour) is very good to my eye, better than Aperture (E-M5) and LR5.3RC IMO. Will have to check this app with my landscape shots as well. 12.03.14 Update: This app crashing and slow so put on hold, and using Photo Mechanic to review on cards before ingesting.
15.12.13: Notes at 34000 feet winging our way home. Very pleased with the E-M1 and 12-40. Photos as viewed on the iPad Air are sharp to my eye, but we shall see on the iMac. I found that I kept the grip on most of the time.
30.12.13: Very happy with this cam. Continue to have some problems with the FL 600R which is picky about which batteries I use (for instance you get blinking auto check test charge lights if you use 1.2V InfiniCell, but do not if you use Energizer 2300 mAh or above). My son the wedding photographer (Canon 6D) remarked on how much lighter my combo [ E-M1, grip and 12-40 ] was by comparison. I may yet see the day that he will agree to shoot a wedding with Olympus gear.
31.12.13: theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer...
8.01.14: The holiday season, for me, was a great opportunity to test the E-M1,12-40/F2.8 and FL600R combo with family photos, both setup or grandkids on the move. I missed the Canon or Nikon combos because I never had to worry about the flash, now I need not with this kit.
I continue to use DxO 9 for my processing, although my workflow takes a littly more time than it did with LR ( do not like the rendition of colours with E-M1 Raw), or Aperture (which I continue to use for family shots only).
8.03.14: Waiting for part 2 of Robin Wong's review of the new Oly 25/f1.8, as well as his comparison to the Lumix 25/F1.4 which I have. The 17mm is being used most often for indoors shooting of fast moving grand-kids in low light, where confined space preclude's use of the 25/F1.4 ( good mounted on the EM-5, but excellent on the EM-1 ). 20.03.14: Keeping this lens and will not be tempted by the Oly.... for now:)
I am looking forward to landscape shooting with the EM-1 + 12-40/F2.8 while Rving in the B.C. interior ( As compared to the EM-5 + 12-35/F2.8 combo used last year ).
12.03.14 - www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/content/pro-photographer-who... I am considering upgrading my 6 old computer gear to present technology ( 27" iMac and travel edti/view options. - After reading many opinions in the various forums regarding the pros and cons on using an Apple MBAir for photo editing while travelling the most convincing for me was the blogger at the link provided above. I currently travel with a iPad Air and backup drive (the cards are with me and the drive secured on site). I do not normally edit on the road, but usually end up with 1500+ shots and would like to delete the shots I am not interested in. Deleting on the iPad still leaves the card shots to deal with when I get home ( no access to the card from the iPad ). A MBAir would allow for reviewing, deleting, but not for editing so much as it would with a Retina display which for me is a must at my age. Is there an iPad Air with a Retina display planned for the near future? Net rumours are for an iPad Pro whatever that means, but I do not think that Apple will impact on their MacBook Pro sales, although the Air maybe. More to review and consider, but I do know that I will replace my iMac with an up-to-date Apple 27" Thunderbolt Display or iMac 27".
17.03.14: I am going to wait and see if Apple is going to offer a MacB Air (or iPad Pro), with similar upgrade options sometime this year.
20.03.14: My wedding shooting family member's older iMac 27" died the other day so they will be getting my 2009 vintage iMac which has precipitated my decision. Apple 27" Thunderbolt Display ordered as well as an all options (including 512 gb flash storage) MacBook Air, Superdrive and a LaCie 2TB Rugged Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Series Hard Drive. I am hopping that I will see no less performance than that which I have with the iMac, and maybe better, although I am betting that the flash memory will help compensate for the max 8gb of ram.
22.03.14: Well, I gave up after the initial request for a refund ( 24 hours after downloading and then waiting for 3 days as per Adobe instructions) and two Adobe (Offshore) chats, deactivating, re-downloading, installing and uninstalling (3 times), promises that Adobe sales would contact me by email (they did, only to offer advice on how to use the software), but no credit back. Elements 12 for my wife (returned as bloated and slow) and Premier for videos ( returned as it is bloated, unstable, and slow IMO). As long time users of PS, LR and Elements, no more upgrades for us from this vendor. ...................................................................................30.03.14: Workflow due to grand children babysitting duties is now possible with the MBAir. Finding that the battery is not lasting anywhere near that advertised or in forums. Downloaded coconutBattery app to monitor the battery and will have to tinker with the brightness, etc. Fan a bit noisy, but overall way faster than my vintage 2009 27" iMac, and the new 27" Thunderbolt Display is perfect. Aperture is working just fine and seamlessly with photoFXlab. If I am looking for a bit more processing I export to DXO Optics Pro 9. ......................................................................................................................................................3.05.14: Decided to sell my Panasonic 25F/1.4 (to be replaced by the Oly 25/F1.8) and 45/F2.8 Macro (I have the 60mm). Considering also selling the 45/F1.8 as it sits in the bag most of the time. 10.05.14: Did I go over to the dark side? Since days of the Sony Clie PDA, and their short manufacturing and support period, I have not bought a Sony product since. They seem to have stayed the course with their camera division and I had been looking at the RX100M2 as a pocketable camera (as opposed to the XZ-2). Well, I bit the bullet and bought one this week (also ordered the 'Tru-Finer' (20% off) and a spare battery from Sony as well as a grip from Richard Franiec. Personally I have always favoured Oly's Live SCP to quickly change settings, so the Sony way is going to be a learning curve for me. So far the Sony 'SteadyShot' has left me with far more out of focus shots that say the XZ-2 ( grandkids = E-M1 ) - Have I come to rely on Oly's IS system too much?, The sensor, however, is living up to the on-line consensus, and I am looking forward to shooting landscapes this Summer and Fall.
11.05.14: Spent Mother's Day shooting (with the RX100M2) 3 generations of mother's, kids & grand-kids @ Beacon Hill Park. Sunny day. Got a better understanding of this cam and very happy with the results! Very hard composing a shot with the LCD in the bright sunlight, even with the tilt option. Focusing in a crowd of adults, children and goats ( petting zoo ) was good, but not as good as the E-M1 which I was also using. Based on experience so far, I have decided to sell my E-M5. This cam will do for travel ( along with the E-M1/35-100 ) and day to day in the pocket.
2.06.14: At my daughters request we spent several hours @ Beacon Hill Park for her family's annual shoot. The E-M1+ 12-40 was in use for the most part, but the RX100M2 was used often and in particular in multiple shots mode. Although no match against the E-M1 with respect to the latter, I was pleasantly surprised at the keepers. The VF was in use (Mid-day sun) and I am glad that I had it. We shall see how the M3's VF compares. I do not often use my FL600r flash but I used a number of times and it worked flawlessly. Selling all of my primes with the exception of the 17mm/f1.8, as the 12-40 is on my cam most of the time, while the 35-100 is used for travel (along with the RX100M3 - 24-70,1.8-2.8.) I sold the 100-300 (although my wife thinks it is better than the 75-300) as I seldom shoot long anymore.
19.06.14: My E-M1 has seen little use lately, and probably less so with the M3 coming next week, but it is still número uno for me.
16.08.14: RX100M3 in my pocket every day, RX10 for video(with Sony stereo microphone), and the E-M1 for serious shooting and wet weast coast weather.
18.08.14: Some more shooting with the grand-kids yesterday. RX100M3 was by far the best cam indoors (1.8) than than the RX10 (2.8) (shooting Raw). The M3 flash pulled back for bounce works well depending on the height of the ceiling, but obviously not as well as a proper flash unit. I just plain got frustrated with the noise with the RX10 ( I know I was shooting raw and could/will deal with it in PP, however, Olympus (E-M5 and especially the E-M1 produce far better raw, which most of the time do not require PP). Net result is that the E-M1 goes back to primary, while the M3 will be day to day. Under similar conditions today, the E-M1 (pixel peeping in camera) the E-M1 shots are better (less noise), but wether or not it would make a difference when traveling (use the RX10 for outdoors and the M3 for indoors, etc. is my question to ponder.
17.09.14: Back from 11 day road trip (2500k) around the Provinces of B.C. and Alberta. I left the E-M1 at home and used the RX10 and RX100M3 for all my shooting. I duplicated shots with both cams for caparison purposes, but used the M3 for mostly for interior shots and the RX10 for landscape. I was very happy with the combo and was able to review shots while on the road, with my Macbook Air, but preliminary views on my Apple 27" screen (pixel peeping, what can I say) ingested by Aperture and Photo Mechanic, appeared to me to be noisier than I would have expected if using the E-M1 and 35-100 /f2.8.
More later as I review and PP.
21.09.13: Posted 3 shots so far with marginally more PP than the E-M1 might have, but Topaz was used for landscape shots as my typical workflow. I will more than likely opt for the E-M1 + 35-100 /f2.8 and RX100M3 combo for local and traveling shooting, and turn the RX10 over to my wife who, while she has the E-M5+12-35 /f2.8 and the RX100M2, she misses the range of the C8080 for travelling. The E-M1+ 17mm /f1.8 is my go to combo for indoor grandchildren shots, although the M3 is no slouch.
25.11.14: Pulled the plug today and passed this cam and lens onto my wife, an OM shooter from way back. I am now 100% over to Sony in that the replacement will be a RX1 - I expect it to take me back to the days of shooting landscapes with the D700.
22.02.19: Update - Now shooting with the ILCE-7M2, 24-105 f/4.0 and 35mm f/1.4, RX1 f/2.0, and RX100M5. The RX10M4 is now being used by my wife, and the OMD-EM1 + 70-300 will serve me for long shots (the 12-40 for damp weather?).
1.03.24: Update - Have been shooting with the ILCE-7M3 & the Tamron 70-300 since last year. Day to day shots with an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Recently shooting now and then with the OMD-EM1!
We are expecting a very unwelcome snowstorm, starting this afternoon. I need to get a few more overseas Christmas cards and letters written, so that I can hopefully get out to post them before any snow needs clearing off my car. Will have to finish off my descriptions later. (later, evening, maybe six or so inches of snow so far.)
Luckily, the snow didn't start until I was back home from running an errand or two. I also called in at the home of a man who has been making simple wooden Christmas trees. He has not been able to work (carpentry) after having surgery in September on his shoulder (rotator cuff issue, which I can relate to). So, he decided to make Christmas trees, using Spruce, to sell, for people to decorate in any way they choose. He even made the newspaper and TV, which was great. A lot of people in his community have been buying these trees and placing them outside in their front garden to bring some Christmas cheer to all the neighbours. A few people have come forward to help him with his creations, which was nice to see. A real entrepreneur, especially in a time of his own need, and in a year unlike any other. I have a lot of respect for you, Derek. You have certainly brought your community together and given so much pleasure! Great inspiration.
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-woodworkers-hom...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/derek-mcgillis-christmas-t...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdFYOXaPWs
The first time I ever saw this beautiful old house/barn was on 18 July 2016, when my daughter and I did a very long drive from Calgary to the Drumheller area. Ever since then, I have wanted to go back and see it again, and yesterday, 20 December 2020, I finally found it once again. Earlier this year, I was just a road or two away from it. I had been sure I knew exactly where it stood, but learned that I really didn't. It has been updated to celebrate graduation time for 2020 - a very different kind of year and celebration for so many young people, thanks to the ongoing pandemic that has so far lasted almost a year. Well done, to all students who have been able to continue their education, whether online or in person, or a mix of both. Well done to all the parents out there, who have somehow managed to keep going, despite the enormous challenges of 2020. I don't know how you did it! Good luck in 2021, as the pandemic continues, but now with a lot more hope.
This is what I wrote about this colourful structure when I posted a photo back in 2016:
"As well as birds and beautiful scenery, we saw several old barns, including this old house/barn. Each year, the farmer allows the graduating class from the local high school to decorate this old building in any way they wish. A fun idea and it certainly adds a splash of colour. I was absolutely fascinated to read a little bit of history from someone who was a contact of mine on Flickr two or three years ago. Her Grandmother was apparently born in this house/barn. It was later converted to a granary and now, of course, has become the canvas for local students."
Yesterday, this barn was my main destination, and that is pretty much all I saw. Funny how days can be so different. I can see so many things one day, yet another outing to a different area on a different day results in maybe only a couple of dozen photos. No sign of any Snowy Owls this day.
The tin is already half empty or still half full. That's up to you.
/ 365 days in color: rust - day 365 + 101
~Sarah Ban Breathnach
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Model / Actor: Hope Rosemary
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shot: 85mm, F2.0, ISO 640, afternoon sunlight
pp: brightness/contrast, saturation and levels adjustments, custom curves
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Photo: Hope For Spring
by Nelonie Crelencia aka lancelonie
© lancelonie photography | DO NOT ALTER MY IMAGES.
Sagrada Família Barcelona, Spain - situation 2017
Construction of the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família began in 1882. The temple is still under construction, with completion expected in 2026. It is perhaps the best known structure of Catalan Modernism, drawing over three million visitors annually. Architect Antoni Gaudi worked on the project until his death in 1926, in full anticipation he would not live to see it finished.
Gaudi was appointed architect in 1883 at 31 years of age, following disagreements between the temple’s promoters and the original architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. He maintained del Villar’s Latin cross plan, typical of Gothic cathedrals, but departed from the Gothic in several significant ways. Most notably, Gaudi developed a system of angled columns and hyperbolical vaults to eliminate the need for flying buttresses. Rather than relying on exterior elements, horizontal loads are transferred through columns on the interior. La Sagrada Familia utilizes three-dimensional forms comprised of ruled surfaces, including hyperboloids, parabolas, helicoids, and conoids. These complex shapes allow for a thinner, finer structure, and are intended to enhance the temple’s acoustics and quality of light. Gaudi used plaster models to develop the design, including a 1:10 scale model of the main nave measuring five meters in height and width by two meters in depth. He also devised a system of strings and weights suspended from a plan of the temple on the ceiling. From this inverted model he derived the necessary angles of the columns, vaults, and arches. This is evident in the slanted columns of the Passion facade, which recall tensile structures but act in compression.
Gaudi embedded religious symbolism in each aspect of La Sagrada Familia, creating a visual representation of Christian beliefs. He designed three iconic facades for the basilica, the Glory, Nativity, and Passion facades, facing south, east, and west, respectively. The sculpting of the Nativity facade recalls smooth, intricate corbelling and was overseen by Gaudi. The Passion Facade is characterized by the work of Josep Maria Subirachs, whose angular sculptures extend the modernist character of the temple. The sculptor Etsuro Sotoo is responsible for the window ornaments and finials, which symbolize the Eucharist. The central nave soars to a height of 45 meters, and is designed to resemble a forest of multi-hued piers in Montjuïc and granite. The piers change in cross section from base to terminus, increasing in number of vertices from polygonal to circular. The slender, bifurcating columns draw the eye upward, where light filters through circular apertures in the vaults. These are finished in Venetian glass tiles of green and gold, articulating the lines of the hyperboloids.
Once completed, La Sagrada Familia will feature eighteen towers. Four bell towers representing the Apostles crown each facade, reaching approximately 100 meters in height. At the north end, a tower representing the Virgin Mary will stand over the apse. The central tower will reach 72 meters in height and symbolize Christ, surrounded by four towers representing the Evangelists. Even as construction continues, older portions are undergoing cleaning and restoration. The temple has relied entirely on private donations since its inception, and has seen many delays due to lack of funding. A particularly significant setback occurred during the Spanish Civil War, when Gaudi’s workshop was destroyed, including much of the documentation he left behind. Subsequent generations of craftsman and architects have relied on the remaining drawings and plaster models to advance the project, adhering to Gaudi’s vision as closely as possible. As a result, the design of the temple is a collaboration spanning centuries. Gaudi himself viewed the project as the collective work of generations. "I will grow old but others will come after me. What must always be conserved is the spirit of the work, but its life has to depend on the generations it is handed down to and with whom it lives and is incarnated."
In recent decades, La Sagrada Familia has adopted contemporary digital design and construction technologies. Architects and craftsmen use Rhinoceros, Cadds5, Catia, and CAM to understand the complex geometries and visualize the building as a whole. Plaster models are still used as a design tool, now generated by a 3-D printer to accelerate the process.
Architect: Antoni Gaudi
Present Chief Architect: Jordi Fauli
Former Chief Architects: Jordi Bonet, Francesc de Paula Quintana i Vidal, Isidre Puig i Boada, Lluís Bonet i Garí, , Francesc de Paula del Villar y Lozano
Deputy Chief Architects: Carles Buxadé, Joan Margarit, Josep Gómez Serrano
Technical Consultants: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Project Department: Jordi Coll, Andrés de Mesa
Sculptors: Etsuro Sotoo, Josep Maria Subirachs
Stained Glass: Joan Vila-Grau
Area: 4.500 m2
She and I emerged from the subway station at the same time and her height and great sense of style caught my eye immediately as a potential subject for my Human Family photography project. I expected her to disappear into the downtown crowd but instead she walked up to the door to a clothing store near the exit to the mall and joined a couple of other women who were waiting for the door to be unlocked by the security guard. Feeling that this twist of fate should not be ignored, I approached her and explained my desire to photograph her for my project. She listened to my explanation and when she saw my sample photos she became decisive. The only problem was her commitment to being one of the first customers into the store when the door opened in a couple of minutes. She was friendly, but adamant that she couldn’t be delayed. Suddenly she said, “Can you take it right here?” meaning in the atrium. It wasn’t ideal, but beggars can’t be choosers and I said “Yes. Let’s do it quickly.” Meet Prudence.
I grabbed a quick photo where she was standing, then asked her to turn a bit for somewhat better light and a more open background and took another couple of photographs. Since the security guard had not yet unlocked the door, I suggested we might follow up with things via email later. She volunteered her email address.
Prudence explained that she had come into Toronto from Barrie, ninety minutes north of the city, specifically to be first into the fashion store and couldn’t risk having the items she was after purchased by someone else. She was evidently wanting some new fashion items which were just being introduced today. She runs an eBay store where she buys and sells style and fashion items. That information fit when I put it together with her very fashion-conscious personal style. Her eBay store can be viewed here: www.ebay.ca/usr/luxeforless2014.
She mentioned she had just returned to Canada from a trip “back home.” Back home turned out to be Cameroon in Central Africa. Prudence was born in Cameroon and her family moved to Belgium when she was three, subsequently moving to Canada which is now home. We connected briefly regarding Belgium which my wife and I visited on a bicycle-barge trip four years ago. Her challenge? “Smiling. I hardly ever smile and my mother tells me I have a nice smile and should use it more often.” This surprised me and I said “You sure had a beautiful smile when I photographed you a minute ago.” She said “I’m practicing. I’m practicing every day because I think when people smile it’s a good thing and makes the world more friendly.”
Just then the security guard looked as if he was about to unlock the store and I realized I was going to be late to class. I promised to send her the photos and have already done so. I hope the friendly, stylish Prudence remembers to write me and tell me a bit more about herself.
This is my 555th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
I wasn't expecting to see a double-articulated bus in Kaunas, but here is one working its way down Vytautas Avenue. It is a Van Hool AGG300, new to GVU Utrecht in the Netherlands in 2002 (so it looks good and modern for its age). It was originally registered ZZ-63-89 with fleetnumber 905 (later 4905), before being sold to Kaunas, Lithuania in 2015. It is one of only 4 in Kaunas. I am not sure which route it was operating.
death anticipated...when his time is over, stoically bound and dragged into the lake by Lucifer himself
expectant mother
Elodie & Sylvain
Photographe pour femmes enceintes, bébé et famille sur toulouse et le sud ouest de la France.
Cette photo est la propriété de Jenny'S, toute reproduction, copie, modification ou autre autre est interdite sans mon autorisation. Merci
I expect one of you locals will be able to say where in Colchester this was taken. It was probably somewhere on the walk from the station to the town. The "Jumbo" water tower is prominent on the skyline. The occasion was Tuesday 15th March 1977. The two vehicles seen here must have been among the oldest and newest in the Colchester fleet. Approaching is a Leyland Titan PD2A/31 with Massey body, new in 1963; going in the opposite direction is a Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R with body by ECW.
Decent livery but wrongly applied, with too much of the lighter colour. On the Atlantean especially the method of application is all over the place. The correct procedure is, of course, to paint the whole exterior in the darker colour, with only a band of the lighter colour above the lower deck windows. It is essential that this lighter colour be lined out in black. Mudguards, where present, should also be black. The practice of placing the "fleetname" on the foremost of the 'tween decks panels, where nobody noticed it, was also misguided. In the case of a municipal undertaking the town's Achievement of Arms, should be displayed centrally on the lower deck side panels. I can't remember how the Colchester undertaking styled itself in those days ...probably Colchester Borough Transport or something... but the form Colchester Corporation should have been revived. The two words, placed on either side of the Achievement and being of almost equal length and typographic weight, would have made for a pleasingly balanced composition.
Normal services have resumed - expect a massive drop in uploads if you’re not familiar with the photostream. A surprise find last Tuesday drew me to the Bridgehead Business Park, where by lucky coincidence after seeing the Mercedes at the front, the 55 showed up, too - and fittingly, it is the one I've yet to get actually on the 55. So with that, this wraps up the EastRider 55s once and for all! Retakes from here on out... maybe even the possibility of a ride on one?
Coming in unexpectedly a few mins after I stopped off here, East Yorkshire's 'EastRider' 55-branded 794, a 2015 Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini new to Go North East for their 'Red Kite' services as their 6118, drops off it's passengers - and picks up one East Yorkshire driver - on the 55 to Gilberdyke at the Bridgehead Business Park.