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A solid case could be made to say that Zionism began in 70 AD at the beginning of the Diaspora following the destruction of Jerusalem, because from that day the dream of every Jew has been to return to their homeland. But, as Leon Pinkster explained in 1882, the belief in the intervention of the Messiah “to bring about our political resurrection and the religious assumption that we must bear patiently divine punishment, caused us to abandon every thought of our national liberation. Consequently we renounced the idea of a nation and did so the more readily since we were preoccupied with our immediate needs. Thus, we sank lower and lower. ‘The people without a country’ forgot their country.”
In other words, the Jewish people had drifted deeper and deeper into apathy through the centuries, resigning themselves to their situation, giving up the hope that the Scriptures clearly held out as a certainty.
Theodor Herzl, an early leader in the Zionist movement, in one of the most extra-Biblical prophetic statements ever spoken, said, “Were I to sum up the Basel Congress in a word, it would be this: ‘At Basel I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. If not in five years, certainly in 50, everyone will know it.” He made that statement in 1897. If you are not impressed, add 50 years to 1897 and see what year you get.
Admittedly there are those who believe that the nation of Israel is a humanly-conceived and man-made venture and that it is, therefore, not of God. That is possible to accept, but only on one condition: that one ignores that God always works through men. To list them all would be impossible, men like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, and Daniel. It is, therefore, absurd to think that He would do anything different to bring the promised rebuilding of the nation of Israel through any other means.
To object to the work that these faithful men and woman committed to and have accomplished, to call it human rather than divinely conceived, is akin to calling Noah a fool because he built an ark. Sure, God could have spoken the Ark into existence in a literal heartbeat, but He didn’t. Instead it took Noah over 100 years to do it. The problem is that some folks believe only what their eyes can see and their hands can touch. Yet the Bible describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
To see the nation of Israel as it is today and to say that it is not a work of God is stunningly preposterous. Zionism exhibits the rising faith of the Jewish people in the latter 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries that God, working through willing servants and leaders, would keep His promise that Israel would, indeed, return to the Promised Land. As the sometimes disturbing scenario in the Middle East unfolds, it is possible for Bible scholars to see how the table is being set for prophecies concerning Israel to be fulfilled, such as the expansion of its territories and the rebuilding of the Temple.
In order for the Lord to do the things He has promised to do with and for Israel, it was necessary for Israel to be gathered together again as a nation. Using men and women who longed for that day, people called Zionists, God has brought them into the land and has prospered them. What a beautiful and blessed fulfillment of His promises we have been able to witness, and are witnessing still. Pray with thanks when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and pray with faith, believing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has said He will do.
For more on this story, visit: Jerusalem Prayer Team Articles Page.
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"ESP Explained" I started with a drawing I found in a 1930s "How to Draw" booklet. Using grids, I re-drew the figure to size onto illustration board. I framed it with ink inside a black ink frame, adding the inked ESP arrows and boxes representing sending & receiving. I used a goache to shade the cityscape gray. I used a "blower brush" with ink to create the coarse black texture inside the framed image. Yes, I used frisking paper to cover the figure. The two radiating boxes were hand drawn with ink. Digital colors and impossible shading were added last.
This is a good shot for explaining senja-fuda, which are stickers you often see on temple and shrine gates (in this case, the Fudo-mon). The practice originated in the Heian period and began as wooden tablets, but later evolved to rice paper with ink. When the paper peeled away, it left a stamp. By the Edo period it became more of a novelty. People who visited temples/shrines would leave their mark, in a sense, to say "I was here." Today you can buy these stickers with your name alread printed on them, but most places now prohibit the practice of actually sticking them to important cultural relics like this one.
Kawasaki Daishi is a Shingon temple dedicated to Kobo Daishi. It is located in Kanagawa prefecture, and is the head temple of the Chisan sect. Established in 1128, this popular temple is now one of the busiest temples in all of Japan during the New Year holiday, and by far the most popular hatsumode temple in Kanagawa.
Kawasaki Daishi. Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
Bodhi Tree
This sacred temple Buddha Gaya, has a 55m (180ft) tower. The present temple of Mahabodhi was restored in 1880's. The Prince Siddhartha Gautama, attained "Sammasambudhatva" - Supreme Buddhahood under Bodhi Tree on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, the year 588 BCE He sat with a for, resolution under the Jayashrimaha Bodhi Tree to attain Enlightenment.
Bodhgaya is to Buddhists, what Bethlehem to Christmas, Macca and Medina are to Muslims. This shows the importance of this Great Buddhist shrine.
In the Ariyapariyesana Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya (Sutta 26) the Blessed One explained this beautiful spot and described the environment of Bodhgaya thus:-
"A delightful grove with a clear-flowing river with pleasant, smooth banks and a nearby village for alms. This is a beautiful place, serene, calm, cool place for striving."
It was under the shade of this most sacred significant Bodhi Tree, Prince Siddhartha attained Imperturbability - Nibbana. He realized the Dhamma-37 factors of Enlightenment based on Four Noble Truths, the dependent origination and three characteristics of existence of all animate and inanimate things in the world.
Like the Enlightened One or the Blessed One - Jayashri Maha Bodhi is majestic. The greatest happiness calmness and coolness that I have gained in my life was when I worshipped the Bodhi sitting under the shade of Jayashri Maha Bodhi in Bihar, India, and at most venerated Sri Mahabodhi at Mahamevuna Uyana, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and Bellanwila Bodhiya, Bellanwila.
The Bodhi Tree at Bodhgaya is considered as oldest and the most venerated tree in the world. The original Bodhi Tree was supposed to be destroyed by a vicious Queen of India. The dessendent of the original tree, a branch was taken to Sri Lanka by Arhant Bhikkuni - Nun Sangamitta. It is from a sapling of this Bodhi Tree, there exit Jayashrimaha (Peepal Tree) in Bodhgaya.
There are various theories relating to the Jayashri Maha Bodhi in India. It is said General A Lunnigham, the Indian Archaeological Commissioner took a seed from the original tree before it died in 1871 and planted it in its place in 1880.
The excavation of Bodhgaya was done by General Cunningham and Dr Rajendralal Mitra as instructed by the Indian Government.
The Great Emperor Asoka (273-232 BCE) the greatest Buddhist benefactor and Missionary visited most of the places related to the Life of the Buddha, erected Rock Edicts and Pillars. He visited Bodhgaya. The boundary wall and Vajrasana, are the oldest construction found at Bodhgaya. In an inscription discovered Bodhgaya, reveal that King Megavarna of Sri Lanka, constructed a Sangharama, during Gupta Period (388 AD).
The Chinese Buddhist Travelers Fahein and Hiuena Tsang, stated in their writings that at Bodhgaya there were three viharas and Sangharamayas respectively.
It should be mentioned here Sri Lanka maintained close relationship with Bodhgaya from the times of Asoka.
The excavations were done and the main Mahabodhi basement of the Vihara was unearthed. Presently, Mahavihara stands 180 feet high. On three corners of the court yard of Mahabodhi Vihara stands Ratnagirihe, Rajayatana and Ranaula temples.
One name that coined with Bodhgaya is the Sri Lankans Greatest. Buddhist Patriot Anagarika Dharmapala. He was born to a rich family - Hewavitharanas in the Southern Sri Lanka, during the time Buddhist revivalism was taking place in 1870's. He first visited Buddhagaya in 1891. He went to Saranath first. He was shocked. The place where Buddha made his first discourse - Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta was made as a place to dump garbage and it was a place where pigs were grazing.
Then, Dharmapala proceeded to Buddhagaya with a Japanese monk - Kojan. He founded the Mahabodhi Society in 1891 to restore Buddhagaya. This Great Patriot started publishing the Mahabodhi Journal.
He addressed Religious Conference in Chicago. He fought a court case with Mahanta and won the Buddhist Rights. In the history of Buddhist, missionary activities, after Emperor Asoka, it was Anagarika Dharmapala who dedicated his entire life to the Buddhist cause in India.
If the Great Anagarika Dharmapala who opened the doors to Sri Lanka and other Buddhists in the world to visit the sacred places of India.
With the July 7th attack, the Sri Lanka's High Commissioner, former Richmondite and University cricketer and his staff took immediate action to protect Buddhagaya. His excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa contacted the relevant authorities of India promptly and took action to safeguard the Sri Lankan pilgrims.
Jason Gill (LMU Coach), Gary Powers (UNR Coach), Heath Jones (umpire), Joe Maiden (umpire), Rob Hansen (umpire).
Explainer Elizabeth Devine interviews Steven F. Udvar-Hazy at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, December 15, 2018. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at: airandspace.si.edu/research/resources/permission-requests
Explaining the program. A UNICEF staff sheds light on water, sanitation and hygiene (W.A.S.H) interventions made by their organization. © IOM 2014
Auditor D. Michael Ingram from Green Collar Crew (greencollarcrews.com/) explains the home energy audit process to homeowner Cat Lazaroff.
Silver Spring, MD
Photo credit: Andy Harper
60iMedia Productions, LLC
Casablanca, Hasan II Mosque, a place of many superlatives. Seeing the size of this place, I consider myself fortunate to have so very little company ion the middle of a December day.
One of the original values the Drishya school was built on was Ghandi's metaphor of oceanic circles, meaning independance (on in Drishya's case, interdependance) must begin at the bottom and move outward. During future program planning session (05/29/08)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the conspiracy theory that contrails are deliberate releases of poison. For harmful chemicals emitted by aircraft, see Environmental impact of aviation. For attempts to influence weather with aircraft, see Cloud seeding. For the use of aircraft to apply pesticide and herbicide, see Crop dusting. For the Beck song, see Chemtrails (song).
An Airbus A340's engines leaving a water condensation trail (contrail) – miniature clouds formed by the engine exhaust
The chemtrail conspiracy theory /ˈkɛmtreɪl/ is the erroneous[1] belief that long-lasting condensation trails left in the sky by high-flying aircraft are actually "chemtrails" consisting of chemical or biological agents, sprayed for nefarious purposes undisclosed to the general public.[2] Believers in this conspiracy theory say that while normal contrails dissipate relatively quickly, contrails that linger must contain additional substances.[3][4] Those who subscribe to the theory speculate that the purpose of the chemical release may be solar radiation management,[3] weather modification, psychological manipulation, human population control, biological or chemical warfare, or testing of biological or chemical agents on a population, and that the trails are causing respiratory illnesses and other health problems.[2][5]
The claim has been dismissed by the scientific community.[6] There is no evidence that purported chemtrails differ from normal water-based contrails routinely left by high-flying aircraft under certain atmospheric conditions.[7] Proponents have tried to prove that chemical spraying occurs, but their analyses have been flawed or based on misconceptions.[8][9] Because of the conspiracy theory's persistence and questions about government involvement, scientists and government agencies around the world have repeatedly explained that the supposed chemtrails are in fact normal contrails.[3][10][11]
The term 'chemtrail' is a portmanteau of the words 'chemical' and 'trail', just as 'contrail' blends 'condensation' and 'trail'.[12]
History
Multiple concurrent contrails. How long they last depends upon the weather, especially the temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
Chemtrail conspiracy theories began to circulate after the United States Air Force (USAF) published a 1996 report about weather modification.[11] In the late 1990s, the USAF was accused of "spraying the U.S. population with mysterious substances" from aircraft "generating unusual contrail patterns."[7][13] The theories were posted on Internet forums by people including Richard Finke and William Thomas and were among many conspiracy theories popularized by late-night radio host Art Bell, starting in 1999.[14][9] As the chemtrail conspiracy theory spread, federal officials were flooded with angry calls and letters.[11][3]
A multi-agency response attempting to dispel the rumors was published in 2000 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).[15][16] Many chemtrail believers interpreted agency fact sheets as further evidence of the existence of a government cover-up.[3] The EPA refreshed its posting in 2015.[17]
In the early 2000s, the USAF released an undated fact sheet that stated the conspiracy theories were a hoax fueled in part by citations to a 1996 strategy paper drafted within their Air University titled Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025.[18][19] The paper was presented in response to a military directive to outline a future strategic weather modification system for the purpose of maintaining the United States' military dominance in the year 2025, and identified as "fictional representations of future situations/scenarios."[19] The USAF further clarified in 2005 that the paper "does not reflect current military policy, practice, or capability" and that it is "not conducting any weather modification experiments or programs and has no plans to do so in the future."[7][20] Additionally, the USAF states that the "'chemtrail' hoax has been investigated and refuted by many established and accredited universities, scientific organizations, and major media publications."[7]
The conspiracy theories are seldom covered by the mainstream media, and when they are, they are usually cast as an example of anti-government paranoia.[4] For example, in 2013, when it was made public that the CIA, NASA, and NOAA intended to provide funds to the National Academy of Sciences to conduct research into methods to counteract global warming with geoengineering, an article in the International Business Times anticipated that "the idea of any government agency looking at ways to control, or manipulate, the weather will be met with scrutiny and fears of a malign conspiracies" [sic], and mentioned chemtrail conspiracy theories as an example.[21]
Description
Proponents of the chemtrail conspiracy theory find support for their theories in their interpretations of sky phenomena, videos posted to the Internet, and reports about government programs; they also have certain beliefs about the goals of the alleged conspiracy and the effects of its alleged efforts and generally take certain actions based on those beliefs.
Interpretation of evidence
Airbus A380 water-filled tanks simulate passenger weight for different takeoff and landing displacement weights. Similar photographs are sometimes said to show chemtrail planes in action.
Ballast barrels with water in a prototype Boeing 747 flight-test plane
Proponents of the chemtrail conspiracy theory say that chemtrails can be distinguished from contrails by their long duration, asserting that the chemtrails are those trails left by aircraft that persist for as much as a half-day or transform into cirrus-like clouds.[4] The proponents claim that after 1995, contrails had a different chemical composition and lasted a lot longer in the sky; proponents fail to acknowledge evidence of long-lasting contrails shown in World War II–era photographs.[9]
Proponents characterize contrails as streams that persist for hours and that, with their criss-cross, grid-like, or parallel stripe patterns, eventually blend to form large clouds. Proponents view the presence of visible color spectra in the streams, unusual concentrations of sky tracks in a single area, or lingering tracks left by unmarked or military airplanes flying atypical altitudes or locations as markers of chemtrails.[3][5][22][23][24]
Photographs of barrels installed in the passenger space of an aircraft for flight test purposes have been claimed to show aerosol dispersion systems. The barrels' actual purpose is to simulate the weight of passengers or cargo. The barrels are filled with water, and the water can be pumped from barrel to barrel to test different centers of gravity while the aircraft is in flight.[25]
Former CIA employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden, interviewed on The Joe Rogan Experience, said he had searched through all the secret information of the U.S. government for evidence about (aliens and) chemtrails. According to a CNN report[26] about the webcast,[27] he said: "In case you were wondering: ... Chemtrails are not a thing" and "I had ridiculous access to the networks of the NSA, the CIA, the military, all these groups. I couldn't find anything".
Jim Marrs has cited a 2007 Louisiana television station report as evidence for chemtrails. In the report, the air underneath a crosshatch of supposed chemtrails was measured and apparently found to contain unsafe levels of barium: at 6.8 parts per million, three times the nationally recommended limit. But a subsequent analysis of the footage showed that the equipment had been misused and the reading exaggerated by a factor of 100—the true level of barium measured was both usual and safe.[8]
In 2014, a video that went viral showed a commercial passenger airplane landing on a foggy night, which was described as emitting chemtrails.[28] Discovery News pointed out that passengers sitting behind the wings would clearly see anything being sprayed, which would defeat any intent to be secretive, and that the purported chemical emission was normal air disruption caused by the wings, visible due to the fog.[28]
In October 2014, Englishman Chris Bovey filmed a video of a plane jettisoning fuel on a flight from Buenos Aires to London, which had to dump fuel to lighten its load for an emergency landing in São Paulo. The clip went viral on Facebook, with over three million views and more than 52,000 shares, cited as evidence of chemtrails. He later disclosed that the video post was done as a prank.[29][30]
In some accounts, the chemicals are described as barium and aluminum salts, polymer fibers, thorium, or silicon carbide.[31]
Chemtrail believers interpret the existence of cloud seeding programs and research into climate engineering as evidence of the conspiracy.[32]
Beliefs
Various versions of the chemtrail conspiracy theory have been propagated via the Internet and radio programs.[3] There are websites dedicated to the conspiracy theory, and it is particularly favored by far-right groups because it fits well with a deep suspicion of the government.[4]
A 2014 review of 20 chemtrail websites found that believers appeal to science in some of their arguments but do not believe what academic or government-employed scientists say;[31] scientists and federal agencies have consistently denied that chemtrails exist, explaining the sky tracks are simply persistent contrails.[3][13][33] The review also found that believers generally hold that chemtrails are evidence of a global conspiracy; they allege various goals which include profit (for example, manipulating futures prices, or making people sick to benefit drug companies), population control, or weapons testing (use of weather as a weapon, or testing bioweapons).[31][33][2] One of these ideas is that clouds are being seeded with electrically conductive materials as part of a massive electromagnetic superweapons program based around the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP).[34][35] Believers say chemtrails are toxic; the 2014 review found that they generally hold that every person is under attack and often express fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger about this.[31] A 2011 study of people from the US, Canada, and the UK found that 2.6% of the sample believed entirely in the conspiracy theory, and 14% believed it partially.[36][31] An analysis of responses given to the 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Study[37] showed that 9% of the 36,000 respondents believed it was "completely true" that "the government has a secret program that uses airplanes to put harmful chemicals into the air" while a further 19% believed this was "somewhat true".[38]
Chemtrail conspiracy theorists often describe their experience as being akin to a religious conversion experience. When they "wake up" and become "aware" of chemtrails, the experience motivates them to advocacy of various forms.[31] For example, they often attend events and conferences on geoengineering, and have sent threats to academics working in geoengineering.[31]
Some chemtrail believers adopt the notions of Wilhelm Reich, who devised a "cloudbuster" device from pipework. Reich claimed this device would influence weather and remove harmful energy from the atmosphere. Some chemtrail believers have built cloudbusters filled with crystals and metal filings, which are pointed at the sky in an attempt to clear it of chemtrails.[39]
Chemtrail believers sometimes gather samples and have them tested, rather than rely on reports from government or academic laboratories, but their experiments are usually flawed; for example, collecting samples in jars with metal lids contaminates the sample and is not done in scientific testing.[31][40]
Incidents
In 2001, in response to requests from constituents, U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced (but did not author) H.R. 2977 (107th), the Space Preservation Act of 2001, which would have permanently prohibited basing weapons in space, listing chemtrails as one of a number of "exotic weapons" that would be banned.[41][42] Proponents have interpreted this explicit reference to chemtrails as official government acknowledgment of their existence.[22][43] Skeptics note that the bill in question also mentions "extraterrestrial weapons" and "environmental, climate, or tectonic weapons".[41] The bill received an unfavorable evaluation from the United States Department of Defense and died in committee, with no mention of chemtrails appearing in the text of any of Kucinich's three subsequent failed attempts to enact a Space Preservation Act.
In 2003, in a response to a petition by concerned Canadian citizens that "chemicals used in aerial sprayings are adversely affecting the health of Canadians", the Government House Leader responded: "There is no substantiated evidence, scientific or otherwise, to support the allegation that there is high altitude spraying conducted in Canadian airspace. The term 'chemtrails' is a popularised expression, and there is no scientific evidence to support their existence."[44][45][46][47] The House leader added, "it is our belief that the petitioners are seeing regular airplane condensation trails or contrails."[44]
In 2005 in the United Kingdom, Elliot Morley, a Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs[48] was asked by David Drew, the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Stroud, "what research [the] Department has undertaken into the polluting effects of chemtrails for aircraft", and responded that "the Department is not researching into chemtrails from aircraft as they are not scientifically recognised phenomena", and that work was being conducted to understand "how contrails are formed and what effects they have on the atmosphere."[13][49]
During the 2011–2017 California drought, some local politicians in Shasta County reacted credulously to conspiracy theories suggesting that weather-modifying chemtrails had caused the unusual weather conditions.[50]
Contrails
Main article: Contrail
Contrails from propeller-driven aircraft engine exhaust, early 1940s
Contrails, or condensation trails, are "streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes".[7] Fossil fuel combustion (as in piston and jet engines) produces carbon dioxide and water vapor and soot particulates that act as cloud condensation nuclei. At high altitudes, the air is very cold. Hot humid air from the engine exhaust mixes with the colder surrounding air, causing the water vapor to condense into droplets or ice crystals that form visible clouds. The rate at which contrails dissipate is entirely dependent on weather conditions. If the atmosphere is near saturation, the contrail may exist for some time. Conversely, if the atmosphere is dry, the contrail will dissipate quickly.[7]
Exhaust gases and emissions
Wingtip condensation trails
It is well established by atmospheric scientists that contrails can persist for hours, and that it is normal for them to spread out into cirrus sheets. The different-sized ice crystals in contrails descend at different rates, which spreads the contrail vertically. Then the differential in wind speeds between altitudes (wind shear) results in the horizontal spreading of the contrail. This mechanism is similar to the formation of cirrus uncinus clouds. Contrails between 25,000 and 40,000 feet (7,600 and 12,200 m) can often merge into an "almost solid" interlaced sheet.[51] Contrails can have a lateral spread of several kilometers, and given sufficient air traffic, it is possible for contrails to create an entirely overcast sky that increases the ice budget of individual contrails and persists for hours.[52]
Contrail testing being carried out on an Airbus A340 and much older Boeing 707[7]
Experts on atmospheric phenomena say that the characteristics attributed to chemtrails are simply features of contrails responding to diverse conditions in terms of sunlight, temperature, horizontal and vertical wind shear, and humidity levels present at the aircraft's altitude.[3][7][5][22] In the US, the gridlike nature of the National Airspace System's flight lanes tends to cause crosshatched contrails, and in general it is hard to discern from the ground whether overlapping contrails are at similar altitudes or not.[7] The jointly published fact sheet produced by NASA, the EPA, the FAA, and NOAA in 2000 in response to alarms over chemtrails details the science of contrail formation, and outlines both the known and potential impacts of contrails have on temperature and climate.[20] The USAF produced a fact sheet that described these contrail phenomena as observed and analyzed since at least 1953. It also rebutted chemtrail theories more directly by identifying the theories as a hoax and disproving the existence of chemtrails.[7][3]
Patrick Minnis, an atmospheric scientist with NASA's Langley Research Center, has said that logic does not dissuade most chemtrail proponents: "If you try to pin these people down and refute things, it's, 'Well, you're just part of the conspiracy'".[3]
Analysis of the use of commercial aircraft tracks for climate engineering has shown them to be generally unsuitable.[53]
Astronomer Bob Berman has characterized the chemtrail conspiracy theory as a classic example of failure to apply Occam's razor, writing in 2009 that instead of adopting the long-established "simple solution" that the trails consist of frozen water vapor, "the conspiracy web sites think the phenomenon started only a decade ago and involves an evil scheme in which 40,000 commercial pilots and air traffic controllers are in on the plot to poison their own children."[54]
A 2016 survey of 77 atmospheric scientists concluded that "76 out of 77 (98.7%) of scientists that took part in this study said they had not encountered evidence of a [secret large-scale atmospheric program] (SLAP), and that the data cited as evidence could be explained through other factors, such as typical contrail formation and poor data sampling instructions presented on SLAP websites."[6][55]
St Martin sits on the edge of modern Folkestone, perched on the side of a hill and overlooked by the downs. Looking north and east it would appear rural, Yet on the south side the modern town tumbles down the valley towards Sandgate, and although hidden by landscape, east lies the M20, the main railway line to London and the Channel Tunnel terminal.
Evident all over the churchyard is the modern habit of people kicking gravestones so they are so damaged they fall over or are broken. Is modern life so dull that this is an acceptable hobby? Maybe this explains why the church is locked and unwelcoming, if its modern neighbours treat it this way?
This was my second visit here, and I was hoping it would be open, but not too hopeful. In the end, not only it was open, but there was an arts fair on too, which can be a mixed blessing, as blankets and other works can cover up the fixtures and fittings, which did happen. But as I was early, I got round to snap most, and notice the obviously ancient base of the tower at the north end of the church, possibly Saxon, and a delight.
On the war memorial was a blade of a crashed Spitfire propeller, that one of the wardens had not noticed before.
I noticed.
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A little-known and rarely visited church of Saxon origin. A double splayed window gives it away, and it is thought that the base of the thirteenth-century tower may have been a Saxon porch. The outstanding feature of Cheriton is the decorative arcading in the chancel. It consists of six deeply set arches to north and south. The shafts are of local Bethersden marble and are very finely carved. The lancet windows above are not placed centrally over the arcading - an unusual variation. A further oddity is the fact that the arcading does not include sedilia, which were almost a prerequisite of thirteenth-century rebuildings. Yet there is a sedilia in the south aisle, which dates from a hundred years later. Near the sedilia is a rustic standing monument of a woman.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Cheriton
A church has stood on the hillside at the top of the Horn Street valley for over a thousand years. The date the church was built is not known, however the original building (consisting of the nave and tower) was built during Saxon times prior to 900AD. Inside of the church one can see the original Saxon doorway into the tower and a Saxon window above; and on the outside of the tower one can see the remnants of an earlier doorway above the present tower door.
The Chancel was the next addition to the church, probably around 1225AD, for which deep foundations were dug into hill, and originally there was a doorway (now blocked in) in the north wall of the Chancel. Inside the Chancel are 6 arches on each side of an Early English style with thin shafts of Bethersden marble.
During the 14th Century the South Aisle was added, and a small chapel, the Enbrook Chapel, added to the north side. Also it is probable that the diagonal buttresses on the west outside wall of the tower were added at this time when extensive additional work was carried out on the tower.
The next major period of building came during the Victorian age. By now a porch had been a feature of the church and originally stood next to the Enbrook Chapel, however between 1873 & 1878 the church was enlarged further, with the Saxon north wall and porch being demolished and a North Aisle added. The new (and current) porch was then erected as a memorial to one of the first two Lord Justices of Appeal in Chancery of England, Sir James Lewis Knight-Bruce. Also a Vestry was added on the south side.
During the Victorian restoration, extensive work was also done inside the church including the somewhat out of place looking arcading on the east wall of the Chancel and a hot water central heating system (that kept the church warm until 1985!) fuelled from a boiler room beneath the vestry.
Oil lamps were replaced by electricity in 1928, and the church narrowly escaped being destroyed during the Second World War when a German bomb exploded in the churchyard luckily only damaging some of the Chancel and South Aisle windows.
By the end of the 20th century, the church was in need of another restoration, with the roof and heating being replaced and major structural repairs carried out to preserve this beautiful building well into the next millennium. And bringing the story up to date, a toilet was added, adjoining the porch in 2008.
It is also worth mentioning that the churchyard also contains the grave of Samuel Plimsoll, a Liberal M.P. for Derby, who is world renowned for creating the “Plimsoll Line” on ships which has undoubtedly saved the lives of many thousands of seamen, and earned him the nickname “The Sailor’s Friend.”
www.cheritonchurches.org.uk/st-martin/history/
CHERITON is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Dover.
¶The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is built of sand-stone, and consists of two isles and two chancels, having a tower steeple at the west end, in which are four bells.
This church has always been esteemed as appendant to the manor of Cheriton, the succeeding owners of which have been from time to time owners and patrons of it, and it is now as such in the patronage of James Drake Brockman, esq. of Beechborough.
It is a rectory, and is valued in the king's books at 16l. 12s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 13s. 3d. In 1588 it was valued at one hundred pounds, communicants one hundred and seventy. In 1640 at eighty pounds, communicants one hundred and seventeen. It was, in the year 1771, united to the vicarage of the adjoining parish of Newington, both churches having the same patron.
Virtual Tour companies are a dime a dozen. And they're pretty much all the same - except SavvyTours. SavvyTours is a completely new concept. This 90 sec video attempts to explain "What's so great about SavvyTours" in a way that gets to the point and makes the viewer want to learn more (hopefully). :-)
Jacques Villeneuve with no front wing
F1 > Monaco GP, 2005-05-22 (Monte Carlo): Sunday race
Villeneuve admits Monaco move was misjudged
Racing series F1
Date 2005-05-24
By Nikki Reynolds - Motorsport.com
Unsurprisingly, Peter Sauber was not terribly impressed by the move that Jacques Villenueve tried on teammate Felipe Massa in the Monaco Grand Prix, which resulted in Massa being forced off the track and Villeneuve hitting the barrier. The Canadian dived up the inside at Ste Devote but rather misjudged it and wasted the chance of both cars being in the points.
Massa was running eighth at the time and Villeneuve ninth; a few laps later the Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella and the Toyota of Jarno Trulli both had problems that dropped them to 10th and 12th. Therefore, if not for the altercation at Ste Devote, Massa and Villeneuve could have been comfortably in the points. They finished ninth and 11th respecitvely.
Sauber said it was a "very serious situation" and has summoned both drivers to team headquarters in Hinwil to explain what happened. However it would seem that Sauber already knows who was at fault, as after the race he referred to "the incident caused by Jacques". Villeneuve himself admitted it was not a great move.
"15 laps from the finish, I tried to pass Felipe, my team-mate, as he was struggling with a pair of damaged rear tyres," he told his website. "Unfortunately, my manoeuvre was misjudged and it resulted in forcing Felipe to run wide to avoid my car. I also damaged my front wing and I had to stop for a second time to change the nose of my car."
"This is something I could have avoided of course, but at this point I thought that I had to take that risk as we were in good shape to bring some valuable points to the team. I did not want to let Fisichella to get away but I tried something that unfortunately didn't work."
Massa kept his cool and said he was not angry with Villeneuve, only angry about the tyre wear. Jacques spoke to the Brazilian afterwards: "I went to see Felipe after the race and explained what happened," he added. "He completely understood and confirmed to me that his tyres could not hold the same pace as mine at this point."
Whether Sauber will hand out any kind of punishment depends on what the drivers have to say to him. However, the situation has once again put the spotlight on Villeneuve and his position within the team. After a rocky start to the season things improved at Imola, where the Canadian scored points, but now he's back in a tricky spot again.
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