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The moment Hollywood stunt driver Ben Collins discovered his mother Juliet, who taught him to drive, had secretly competed against him in the V-Auto by Vodafone safe driving challenge.
British stunt and racing car driver, Ben Collins, with his mother, Juliette. For Vodafone.
Photograph by Felix Clay
"He's a quiet person, whether it's practice or the game,'' coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's just a worker. He's kind of like E.F. Hutton: When he speaks, everybody listens."
Johnson quietly has become one of the top receivers in the NFL in his six seasons with the Texans. Johnson has caught passes in 48 consecutive games and he's caught at least one pass in 82 of 83 career games. Johnson surpassed the 100-catch mark for the second time in his career.
Kubiak is always trying to find ways to tap into Johnson's talent.
"I carry a little sheet with me in the back of my pocket, I've done it for years,'' Kubiak said. "How do you get 'X' the ball, how to get 'Z' the ball, how to get 'Y' the ball. Believe me, his list is long."
Kubiak might appreciate Johnson's unselfishness more than his talent.
"The reason he is so special is because I can move him all over the place and it doesn't bother him," Kubiak said. "There are some players that you ask them to play too many spots and they get bogged down. He says, 'Where do you want me to go? I'll play inside, outside. I'll do whatever you want me to do.'"
As the seconds ticked down in the game and it was obvious the Texans had pulled off the upset, Johnson was among the most excited players on the field, jumping up and down and hugging teammates. Quarterback Matt Schaub, in his second season with the Texans, understands Johnson's elation.
"I can understand all the tough years he's been here and he can sense that times are changing and headed in the right direction with him and Chester Pitts and Petey (Faggins) and Kris Brown," Schaub said. "You can sense the excitement."
Johnson was the Texans' first-round pick in 2003. Pitts, Faggins and Brown are original Texans.
Schaub and Johnson have become a lethal pass-catch combination.
"He has that big-play ability, a way to spark us and to get a big catch," Schaub said. "He did that numerous times for us today. He just brings a lot of excitement and energy to our team when he goes up like he did on the go route and catches the ball over 31's (Cortland Finnigan) head.
"He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's always something important and we always listen. It doesn't happen very often. We're all thankful for the guys on this team. That's the kind of bond that we have."
The season has been big for character building. The Texans lost their first four games after entering the season with hopes of making the playoffs.
"There's been a lot of frustration at the beginning of the season," Johnson said. "I've talked about it. I put that all behind me. I said to myself before that Colts game I'm going out to do whatever I have to do to help this team win.
"It's been a long road. I didn't think it would take this long when I first got here. We've grown and learned a lot about ourselves and now we're starting to see that we're starting to find our niche."
Andre Johnson was amazing enough on the field Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. He did something even more astounding in the postgame locker room: He spoke.
Johnson, the quiet leader of the team, caught 11 passes for a club-record 207 yards, scored one touchdown and was the driving force in the Texans' 13-12 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Titans.
Then, he reminded his teammates how far they'd come this season to win four games in a row for the first time in franchise history, and just how thankful they are to have each other and how far they've come together.
"The week after Thanksgiving everyone was talking about what they were thankful for in the chapel service," Johnson said. "It was shocking to me because other than the guys' kids or family, the first thing that came out of their mouths was this team."
That's what Johnson wanted to remind his teammates Sunday.
"I was just telling everybody about that, even the ones who weren't there (at the chapel service), I was letting them know that the guys here are thankful for their teammates," Johnson said. "I think it's been shown over the past month that guys are giving it up for the team. It's not about one guy. It's about everybody. We've been able to go out and get the job done."
The Texans' closeness proved a winning formula again on Sunday. After a frustrating loss to Indianapolis that could have pulled the team apart, the Texans beat Cleveland on the road, Jacksonville on Monday Night Football, the Packers in frigid Lambeau Field and now they've whipped the team with the best record in the NFL.
And no one gets more credit for the Texans' surge than Johnson.
Andre Johnson was amazing enough on the field Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. He did something even more astounding in the postgame locker room: He spoke.
Johnson, the quiet leader of the team, caught 11 passes for a club-record 207 yards, scored one touchdown and was the driving force in the Texans' 13-12 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Titans.
Then, he reminded his teammates how far they'd come this season to win four games in a row for the first time in franchise history, and just how thankful they are to have each other and how far they've come together.
"The week after Thanksgiving everyone was talking about what they were thankful for in the chapel service," Johnson said. "It was shocking to me because other than the guys' kids or family, the first thing that came out of their mouths was this team."
That's what Johnson wanted to remind his teammates Sunday.
"I was just telling everybody about that, even the ones who weren't there (at the chapel service), I was letting them know that the guys here are thankful for their teammates," Johnson said. "I think it's been shown over the past month that guys are giving it up for the team. It's not about one guy. It's about everybody. We've been able to go out and get the job done."
The Texans' closeness proved a winning formula again on Sunday. After a frustrating loss to Indianapolis that could have pulled the team apart, the Texans beat Cleveland on the road, Jacksonville on Monday Night Football, the Packers in frigid Lambeau Field and now they've whipped the team with the best record in the NFL.
And no one gets more credit for the Texans' surge than Johnson.
"He's a quiet person, whether it's practice or the game,'' coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's just a worker. He's kind of like E.F. Hutton: When he speaks, everybody listens."
Johnson quietly has become one of the top receivers in the NFL in his six seasons with the Texans. Johnson has caught passes in 48 consecutive games and he's caught at least one pass in 82 of 83 career games. Johnson surpassed the 100-catch mark for the second time in his career.
Kubiak is always trying to find ways to tap into Johnson's talent.
"I carry a little sheet with me in the back of my pocket, I've done it for years,'' Kubiak said. "How do you get 'X' the ball, how to get 'Z' the ball, how to get 'Y' the ball. Believe me, his list is long."
Kubiak might appreciate Johnson's unselfishness more than his talent.
"The reason he is so special is because I can move him all over the place and it doesn't bother him," Kubiak said. "There are some players that you ask them to play too many spots and they get bogged down. He says, 'Where do you want me to go? I'll play inside, outside. I'll do whatever you want me to do.'"
As the seconds ticked down in the game and it was obvious the Texans had pulled off the upset, Johnson was among the most excited players on the field, jumping up and down and hugging teammates. Quarterback Matt Schaub, in his second season with the Texans, understands Johnson's elation.
"I can understand all the tough years he's been here and he can sense that times are changing and headed in the right direction with him and Chester Pitts and Petey (Faggins) and Kris Brown," Schaub said. "You can sense the excitement."
Johnson was the Texans' first-round pick in 2003. Pitts, Faggins and Brown are original Texans.
Schaub and Johnson have become a lethal pass-catch combination.
"He has that big-play ability, a way to spark us and to get a big catch," Schaub said. "He did that numerous times for us today. He just brings a lot of excitement and energy to our team when he goes up like he did on the go route and catches the ball over 31's (Cortland Finnigan) head.
"He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's always something important and we always listen. It doesn't happen very often. We're all thankful for the guys on this team. That's the kind of bond that we have."
The season has been big for character building. The Texans lost their first four games after entering the season with hopes of making the playoffs.
"There's been a lot of frustration at the beginning of the season," Johnson said. "I've talked about it. I put that all behind me. I said to myself before that Colts game I'm going out to do whatever I have to do to help this team win.
"It's been a long road. I didn't think it would take this long when I first got here. We've grown and learned a lot about ourselves and now we're starting to see that we're starting to find our niche."
Corie was with his family when I walked over to speak with him. He was immediately interested in the project and we moved over to the “lane-way Studio” for a few shots. I liked his very French look with his beret and striped top. After a couple of failed attempts at off camera flash I settled for going with natural light. In hindsight it was a good decision as it helped to reduce the reflections in his glasses.
Corie is a traveler and has been to most countries in Asia and South America. He met his wife in a Tokyo night club and they now have a 5 month old son who Corie cherishes. He is a Barista by trade and has worked in many of the high end establishments. He plays 12 string guitar and loves blues music as well as having a real interest in fine cooking. So much so, he pulled out his iPhone and showed me a picture of an amazingly complicated and exquisite desert that his friend (who is a Sous Chef) created.
We chatted about the restaurant industry a little and I could see that he had a real passion for food and life! I thanked him for his time and left him to get back to his family who were patiently waiting for him.
Thanks for being part of the 100 Strangers Project.
This picture is #182 in my 2nd round of The100 Strangers Project.
You can see my 1st 100 Strangers Set here
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
yep, I hiked both lower and upper canyons in a dress and sandals (forgot to pack socks for my boots) but hey- at least I didn't end up with blisters and/or feet pain
Gathering at San Jose City Hall before the Women’s March — Sign reads: “Dear World. The majority of Americans did NOT vote for him… We are sorry.”
363/365
I was thinking how a lot has changed this year and whatnot but also how Dan has changed and how we have changed together so I wanted to include him in the last few days of my 365.
I had trouble deciding what photo to use today. I took a lot with Dan (I hope it isn't against the rules that I let him click the remote!). There are a few more serious ones but I like the love you can see in this one.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock Martial Arts and Karate
Karate for Kids Testimonial and Review
When my eight-year-old son first asked me if I would let him take Karate for Kids, I was a little worried. Karate seems so dangerous and I was concerned that my boy would end up injured. After talking with my husband, we agreed to give the program a chance and now we are so glad that we did.
First of all, I would like to state that Master Babin is wonderful with the children. While I was apprehensive that the Karate class would be all about fighting, I was relieved to learn that the focus was more on self-defense and moral values. Now my son is healthier than ever, doing an activity that he truly loves.
I would encourage every parent out there looking for a fun exercise-based activity for his or her child to participate in their Karate for Kids program a chance. My son is constantly talking about what he learned in his past karate lessons and practicing his blocks and punches in the living room. He is even playing his video games less.
After my initial reservations, I now cannot imagine my son participating in any other karate program. Consider this my highest recommendation.
David S
Reviews on Karate for Kids
When my son started karate instruction with Karate for Kids, he was timid, had few friends and had trouble paying attention in school. I didn't agree with the doctor who tried to tell me he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and that I should put him on medication to control it. To me, my son just needed some loving guidance, not to be medicated.
That is when I asked my good friend about her children's experiences with the local martial arts Instructor. Like my son, her children did not have a father figure in their lives and suffered greatly as the result. When they were approaching their teenage years, she decided to enroll them in karate at Karate For Kids Within a matter of weeks, I saw her pre-teen son and daughter become more confident, focused and goal-oriented and knew I wanted the same for my child.
After his very first lesson, my son, then aged nine, was already a changed child. He overflowed with enthusiasm as he explained how the karate for kids program pushed him to reach goals, but was "really nice" about it. To this mom, that means that my son finally got the caring, personal instruction that he deserves.
Thank you for such a fantastic Karate For Kids Program
Samantha W
Testimonial and Review on Martial Arts For Men
I am a forty-eight year old man and, until about four months ago, I had really let myself go. Between work-related stress and the other pressures of my day-to-day existence, I made little time for exercise and gave almost no thought to a healthy diet. In short, I was a mess.
One day, a colleague at my office took me aside and recommended that I sign up for the martial arts program offered locally. He had recently signed up for a class and loved it. After some convincing, I agreed to accompany him to his next class.
Fast-forward to today and I now love my martial arts training. Martial Arts for men workouts feels less like training and more like fun. I have been losing weight and now have a new energy when facing the daily grind. I have gone from one class a week to two, and am thinking of adding a third.
If you are looking for a fun way to get in shape, I would advise you to come on down our Martial Arts for Men Academy. You will not regret it.
Getting younger…
Lisa F
Testimonial and Review on Martial Arts For Women
I never would have thought that taking up martial arts, would change me so much as a person and in so many ways. I still use every occasion to thank my friends, for recommending me the Martial Art courses for women taught by a martial arts school that teaches quality skill sets for women
I used to be a very shy person, and had become quite fearful after having my purse stolen one evening. Now, that is no longer the case. Since participating in the martial arts courses, I have felt more empowered than ever. I enjoyed the friendly and encouraging atmosphere right from the start, and did not feel ashamed of my initial clumsiness.
Now, I can actually impress my friends with some of the moves I learned. Also, I am fully aware that martial arts represent a life style just as much as anything else. My Instructor simply amazed all of us throughout the entire program, with his dedication and willingness to teach us.
This morning he was hungry and he asked me if I would make him some breakfast. Of course, I would.
He asked me how do you know when to flip the egg. I answered, it depends how you like it, and wether or not it is in a sandwich or on a plate. He said he likes it in a sandwich and when he bites into it he likes it to pop but not run too much. I knew this from all of the egg sandwiches I had made before, but we never * talked* about it, ...before.
The egg sandwich was made, and then it was eaten, and then it was the ride to the field, where graduation was. I saw that he had shorts, a button down shirt , and a tie, and I thought he must know what he is doing after all.(and why didn't I get that picture)
His friend had come over and tied his tie. I asked, by the way, if his friend did it in a man love sort of way and he said absolutely, so we both smiled. Then, when I was on my way back to get ready myself , he called. He couldn't "walk" with shorts-*they* informed him.. he needed long pants, and would I mind bringing them to him?, the ones in front of his t.v.( x box addict ) in his room,.. and he thought his belt was in the laundry room, and could I bring them quickly?! Well, why should anything change? and so it went...
I did not cry, because when you are stressed out you don't cry right away. Later, and after, I might have, but nobody has any proof of that now do they?.
It took a while for Ryan to notice that his swim trunks had drifted a little too far south of the equator. Luckily there were lots of giggling children around to alert him.
Mixed media collage includes clear, textured glass over snippets from a hymnal, gold leafed grunge board crown/wings, gold leaf enhanced polymer clay, burlap, fibers and text from pages from a very old Bible given to me by my GD on an acrylic painted canvas.
Another corporate piece for a local men's clothing store. They needed something hip and modern, yet classy at the same time.
Logo developed through www.threeton.com.
Plaque: They said one to another. Behold. Here comes the dreamer... Let us slay him... And we shall see what will become of his dreams. Genesis 37: 19-20
opened as 16-room Windsor Hotel, c. 1925, later named Marquette Hotel • purchased, 1945, by Loree & Walter Bailey (1915-1988), renamed Lorraine after Bailey's spouse and the song Sweet Lorraine, a 1940 hit by Nat King Cole • added second floor, 12 rooms • later addition converted Lorraine to motel with more guest rooms and drive up access • upscale motel for African American clientele • guests included musicians recording at Stax Records, e.g., Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Ethel Waters, Otis Redding, Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett • at least two hits written here, “In the Midnight Hour” and “Knock on Wood”
site of April 4,1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) as he left his room, No. 306 • Bailey set aside King's Room and adjoining 307 as memorial • hours after assassination, while on the switchboard, Loree suffered a stroke, died five days later • Bailey placed her shoes in a display case in Rm. 306 • James Earl Ray (1928-1998) charged with murder of King, pled guilty, convicted, 1969, later recanted his confession
Bailey declared bankruptcy, 1982, building to be auctioned • self-described “black radical” D’Army Bailey (b. 1941), a circuit court judge, organized Memphis philanthropists to "Save the Lorraine" from possible demolition • motel building now part of the National Civil Rights Museum (1991) • Wikipedia
SepiaTown • The Crucible –Memphis Magazine • Memphis Manhunt –History Matters • Findings on MLK Assassination -National Archives • King Assassination Conspiracy Theories —NPR • King Assassination Conspiracy Trial • trial transcript
Marker: Originally the Windsor Hotel (c.1925) and later one of only a few hotels for blacks, it hosted such entertainers as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, B.B. King, and Nat King Cole. Walter and Loree Bailey bought it in 1942, renaming it the Lorraine. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside room 306 on April 4, 1968, making it a symbol for the civil rights movement. In 1982, a local nonprofit group saved the site from foreclosure for use as America's first civil rights museum.
I Lost a Friend Yesterday
God took away a friend yesterday. I will miss him. I met Mike by the virtue of the alphabet. It was my first day in high school in a new city after 15 years of bouncing around the world due to my father’s career in the U.S. Army. I knew no one, but due to the quirk of our homeroom teacher who insisted we seat our selves alphabetically, I was placed in the seat in back of Mike. It was the beginning of a friendship that would last 43 years.
He was a slim kid with dark horned rimmed glasses and we didn’t have much in common. He was smart, very smart, but I didn’t know that then. We were both in the college curriculum so we shared many classes. We didn’t have much else in common. He was a bookworm, I was athletic and loved the woods. I was a hunter then and at some point I introduced Mike to shooting. Guns would become the passion of Mike’s life, I found that guns were just an excuse to go into the woods. I replaced the gun with a camera but Mike whose mother wouldn’t let him have a gun early in life would eventually amass a collection of hundreds. We didn’t have much in common, but we were friends.
When it was time to go to college I really didn’t know where to apply, but Mike knew. I didn’t know what to major in, but Mike knew. We were both eventually accepted into Mechanical Engineering programs at several schools settling on the University of Massachusetts, mostly because that is what finances would allow. We became college roommates, again more because of convenience than anything in common. Mike became a student, I became a hippie. Mike was a “nerd”, that is not a bad thing, Mike knew he was a nerd. From the dark horn rimmed glasses, pocket protector and slide rule case on his belt he was a nerd through and through. I wasn’t, but we were friends. Mike followed his passion and became an engineer, I followed a different path but still we remained friends. We remained roommates for three years. I was the Felix to Mike’s Oscar. He was meticulously organized. Everything had a place and everything was on a list. There was no line down the middle of our room, but it existed. I once borrowed a pencil from him while he was out and replaced it in his drawer. Mike noticed someone had been in his drawer within minutes of returning to the room. I had put it back facing the wrong direction. This started a friendly and unspoken contest. Every time he left the room, I would move something. Every time he returned he would replace it within moments. We never spoke of it. At first it was obvious, I’d move his waste basket from the left to the right of the chair. That was too easy. Next I started reorganizing his books, one at a time. He never said a word but he would move them back. Eventually it went from the sublime to the absurd. I would move a paperclip in his drawer and he would know. We were different, but we were friends.
After three years, I met my future wife and moved out. Mike would never really have a serious relationship with a woman and never married. We went separate ways for a year or so and never as much as called the other. We didn’t have too, we were friends. We knew that.
Mike graduated with honors and went on to become an Engineer, I somehow graduated. He followed his passion for guns and worked at Smith & Wesson, Colt Fire Arms, Savage Arms and again for Colt. He even had his own gun shop for a while. He was a Director at Colt when he died. I can’t believe he is dead, he is my friend.
Mike’s love for guns caused him to travel the world, both for pleasure and business. He went to South Africa and Rhodesia to shoot in the world pistol championships. He traveled all through Europe even venturing into South America. He would think nothing of traveling to Ohio or Arizona for the weekend just to shoot machine guns or ride in a tank. We had nothing in common and in fact he had a varied group of friends that I would never know.
Then there was China. Mike traveled to China four different times, just to see steam trains. That’s all he would do. He would come back with 500 hundred pictures, all of steam trains. They were so similar sometimes the only thing that would distinguish one from the other was the number on the train engine. Never a picture of a building or a mountain or a person or a lake, only steam trains. That was Mike. He was my friend.
I met with Mike and others almost every Saturday night for a few beers. Last Saturday, I didn’t show up, neither did Mike. He had had a heart attack. I saw him in the hospital Sunday. He had had an angioplasty removing a blockage and was in remarkably good spirits. I saw him again Tuesday, he was doing great and they were releasing him Wednesday. Friday, I took him to the doctor, all seemed well. Saturday he was back at our usual watering hole laughing, smiling and joking and even having a couple of beers.
I saw him last at 11PM Saturday. He never picked up his Sunday paper. His sister found him yesterday when her calls went unanswered. I don’t yet know the details. I hope he went easily, knowing he was loved. I will miss him, he was my friend.
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site. It was built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal (whose son was Shalivahan II. Manj & Bhati Rajputs are the descendants of him.), from whom it derives it name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion colour during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the Sonar Quila or Golden Fort. The fort is located in the very heart the city, and is one of the most notable monuments in the locality.
HISTORY
During medieval times, the city played a major role in trade with Persia, Arabia, Egypt and Africa. The fort contains 3 layers of walls. The outer or the lower layer is made out of solid stone blocks and it reinforces the loose rubble of Trikuta Hill. The second, or middle, wall snakes around the fort. From the innermost, or third, wall, the Rajput warriors once hurled boiling oil and water as well as massive blocks of rock at their enemies, who would become entrapped between the second and third walls. This defences of the fort include 99 bastions, of which 92 were built between the period of 1633-47.
Ala-ud-din Khilji attacked and captured the fort in the 13th century and managed to hold it for 9 years. During the siege of the fort the Rajput women committed Jauhar. The second battle at the fort happened in 1541, when Mughal emperor Humayun attacked the fort city.
With the advent of British rule, the emergence of maritime trade and the growth of the port of Bombay led to the gradual economic decline of Jaisalmer. After independence and the Partition of India, the ancient trade route was totally closed, thus sealing the fate of the city. Nonetheless, the continued strategic importance of Jaisalmer was demonstrated during the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. Although at one point the entire population of Jaisalmer lived within the fort, it today has a resident population of about 4,000 people who are largely from the Brahmin and Daroga communities. They are mostly descendants of the workforce of the Bhati rulers of Jaisalmer which was permitted to reside within the fort's premises. With an increase in population, people gradually relocated to the foot of the Trikuta Hill and the town of Jaisalmer spread out from the fort.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Raj Mahal (Royal palace)
Laxminath temple
4 massive gateways
Merchant Havelis. These are large houses often built by wealthy merchants in Rajasthani towns and cities in North India, with beautiful, ornate sandstone carvings. Some havelis are many hundreds of years old. In Jaisalmer there are many elaborate havelis carved from yellow sandstone. Some of these have many floors and countless rooms, with decorated windows, archways, doors and balconies. Some havelis are today museums but most in Jaisalmer are still lived in by the families that built them. Among these is the Vyas haveli which was built in the 15th century, which is still occupied by the descendants of the original builders. Another example is the Shree Nath Palace which was once inhabited by the prime minister of Jaisalmer. Some of the doors and ceilings are wonderful examples of old carved wood from many hundreds of years ago.
The fort has an ingenious drainage system called the ghut nali which allows for the easy drainage of rainwater away from the fort in all four directions of the fort. Over the years, haphazard construction activities and building of new roads has greatly reduced its effectiveness.
The fort has numerous eateries, including Italian, French, and native cuisines. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote the Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress), a detective novel, based on the fort and he later filmed it here. The film became a classic and a large number of tourists from Bengal and around the world visit the fort annually to experience for themselves the world that Ray portrayed in the movie.
THREATS TO THE FORT
The Jaisalmer Fort today faces manifold threats that are a result of the increasing population pressure on it. Water seepage, inadequate civic amenities, derelict houses and seismic activity around the Trikuta Hill are some of the major concerns impacting the Fort. Unlike most other forts, the Jaisalmer Fort has been built over a weak sedimentary rock foothill which makes its foundations especially vulnerable to seepage. Over the years this has led to the collapse of significant portions of the Fort such as the Queen’s Palace or Rani Ka Mahal and parts of the outer boundary wall and the lower pitching walls.
The World Monuments Fund included the Fort in its 1996 World Monuments Watch and again in the 1998 and 2000 reports due to the threats posed to it by an increase in its resident population and the increasing numbers of tourists who visit it every year. The Fort is one of Rajasthan's most popular tourist attractions with as many as five to six hundred thousand tourists visiting it annually. As a result, it is abuzz with commercial activities and has seen a phenomenal growth in both human and vehicular traffic.
Major restoration work has been undertaken by the World Monuments Fund and UK based charity Jaisalmer in Jeopardy. According to former INTACH chairman S.K. Misra, American Express has provided more than $1 million for the conservation of Jaisalmer Fort. The absence of coordinated action among the various government departments responsible for civic amenities, the local municipality and the Archaeological Survey that is responsible for the upkeep of the fort is a major impediment in its maintenance and restoration.
WIKIPEDIA
He was riding his bicycle slowly beside me on the sidewalk of Toronto’s College Street and I commented on the leashed dog trailing behind him. “Too bad he’s not a Husky because then he could be pulling you instead of the other way around.” He laughed and said “Actually she’s part Husky – you can see it in her tail – and she does pull me but she’s had a long run today and she’s tired.”
I was on my way to buy ground coffee from a nearby coffee shop whose product I like and we chatted as I and his dog walked and he rode. I told him of the Husky we had and loved for 16 years and some of his antics. Meet John. John told me what a great dog Ohso is and it was obvious that she is his faithful companion. We were approaching a shaded parkette near the coffee shop that was my destination so I asked John if he would consider joining my project by letting me photograph him. He said he would be happy to so we stepped under the trees so John could put down his backpack and helmet and let Ohso walk around a bit. The shaded light was decent for this portrait but there were distractions and bright areas everywhere in the background. I opted to shoot the photo from a somewhat low perspective to let the trees and bright cloudy sky form the background.
John is 23 and grew up in Pembroke Ontario in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. He came to Toronto just three weeks ago to visit a friend and found that work was more plentiful than in Pembroke or any of the other places he has visited. He does mostly general labor and said he has done a wide variety of jobs in his few years. The one I recall was working in a grain elevator. He signed up with an agency that places him in short-term labor jobs and he was pleased when one employer gave him a very high rating at the end of the day. He said this voluntary compliment will be greatly to his advantage in getting jobs. The construction boom in Toronto provided many jobs for people familiar with the construction field.
Thank you John for participating in 100 Strangers. You are now Stranger #516 in Round 6 of my project. I hope Toronto treats you well and I’m glad you have your faithful companion with you to share the adventure of life in a new city.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/
To browse Round 2 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157634422850489/
To browse Round 3 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157635541434065/
To browse Round 4 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157639207561566/
To browse Round 5 of my 100 Strangers project click here:
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Allah’s peace be upon Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), the glorious Prophet of Islam, and on his Companions and his followers.
TASAWWUF
"There is no doubt that Tasawwuf is an important branch of Islam. The word itself may have been derived form the Arabic word "Soof" (Wool) or from "Safa" (cleanliness), but its foundation lies in one’s personal sincerity in seeking Allah’s nearness and trying to live a life pleasing to Him. Study of the Quran, the Hadith, and the practical life of the holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and his faithful Companions provide unmistakable support to this reality." (Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A)
SUFISM, AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ISLAM
Doubts exist not only in the minds of the Muslim faithful but also among the Ulema, notably the exoteric about Tasawwuf and its votaries. Often they lead to misunderstanding, as if Shariah and Tariqah were two separate entries, or that Tasawwuf was some obscure discipline foreign to Islam, or that it was altogether above the established laws and injunctions of our Religion. To help remove these misgivings and to reassure seekers, as well as scholars, our Sheikh Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A), Sheikh Silsila Naqshbandia Awaisia, wrote Al-Jamal Wal Kamal, Aqaid-O-Kamalaat Ulmai-e-Deoband, Binat-e-Rasool (S.A.W), Daamad-e-Ali (R.A), Dalael-us-Salook, Ejaad-e-Mazhab Shia, Hayat-un-Nabi (S.A.W), Hayat Barzakhia, Ilm-o-Irfan, Niffaz-e-Shariat Aur Fiqah-e-Jaferia, Saif-e-Owaisi, Shikast-e-Ahdai Hussain and Tahkeek Halal Haram books.
BIOGRAPHY
Sheikh Allah Yar Khan was born in Chakrala, a remote village of Mianwali District of Pakistan, in 1904. He completed his religious education in 1934. The very year, he met Shaykh Abdul Rahim, who took him to the shrine of Shaykh Allah Deen Madni. By Divine Will his spiritual connection was right away established with the saint of the 10th century Hijra (sixteenth century) and he started receiving spiritual beneficence. His sublime education in Sufism, signifying progressive spiritual growth and advancement, continued for about twenty-five years. In 1962 he was directed to carry out the propagation of Prophetic blessings - a noble mission that he accomplished with singular enthusiasm and devotion for a period spanning half a century. Anybody who visited him was duly rewarded with a share of spiritual bliss as per his/her sincerity and capacity. Shaykh Allah Yar Khan's mission produced men and women of deep spiritual vision and distinction.
Although Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A) have lived a major portion of his life as a scholar, with the avowed mission of illuminating the truth of Islam and the negation of fallacious sects, and this would appear quite removed from Tasawwuf, yet the only practical difference between the two, namely the use of the former as a media to expound the truth, and the latter to imbue people with positive faith. Nevertheless, people are amazed that a man, who until the other day, was known as a dialectician and a preacher of Islam, is not only talking of Mystic Path, but is also claiming spiritual bonds with the veteran Sufi Masters of the Past. This amazement is obviously out of place in the view of Quranic injunction: This is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills. (62:4)
THE PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL
The purification of the soul always formed part of the main mission of the Prophets; that is, the dissemination and propagation of the Devine Message. This responsibility later fell directly on the shoulders of the true Ulema in the Ummah of the last Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), who, as his genuine successors, have continued to shed brave light in every Dark Age of materialism and sacrilege. In the present age of ruinous confusion, the importance of this responsibility has increased manifold; of the utter neglect of Islam by Muslims has not only driven them to misery, but also grievously weakened their bonds of faith in Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). The decay in their belief and consequent perversion in their conduct has reached a stage that any attempt to pull them out of the depth of ignominy and the heedless chaos of faithlessness, attracts grave uncertainties and apprehensions rather than a encouraging will to follow the Shariah, to purify the soul and to reform within. The Quranic Verse: Layers upon layers of darkness… (24:40) provides the nearest expression of their present state.
SHARIAH & SUFISM
Any action against the Sunnah (Prophet’s way of life) cannot be called Sufism. Singing and dancing, and the prostration on tombs are not part of Sufism. Nor is predicting the future and predicting the outcome of cases in the courts of law, a part of Sufism. Sufis are not required to abandon their worldly possessions or live in the wilderness far from the practical world. In fact these absurdities are just its opposites. It is an established fact that Tazkiyah (soul purification) stands for that inner purity which inspires a person’s spirit to obey the holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). If a false claimant of Sufism teaches tricks and jugglery, ignoring religious obligations, he is an impostor. A true Sheikh will lead a believer to the august spiritual audience of the holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). If you are fortunate enough to be blessed with the company of an accomplished spiritual guide and Sheikh of Sufism, and if you follow his instructions, you will observe a positive change in yourself, transferring you from vice to virtue.
ISLAM, AS A COMPLETE CODE OF LIFE
Islam, as a complete code of life or Deen, was perfected during the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). He was the sole teacher and his mosque was the core institution for the community. Although Islam in its entirety was practiced during that blessed era, the classification and compilation of its knowledge into distinct branches like ‘Tafsir’ (interpretation of the Quran), Hadith (traditions or sayings of the holy Prophet- SAWS), Fiqh (Islamic law), and Sufism (the soul purification) were undertaken subsequently. This Deen of Allah passed from the holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) to his illustrious Companions in two ways: the outward and the inward. The former comprised the knowledge defined by speech and conduct, i.e., the Quran and Sunnah. The latter comprised the invisible blessings or the Prophetic lights transmitted by his blessed self. These blessings purified the hearts and instilled in them a passionate desire to follow Islam with utmost love, honesty and loyalty.
WHAT’S SUFISM
Sufism is the attempt to attain these Barakah (Blessings). The Companions handed down Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) teachings as well as blessings to the Taba’een. Their strong hearts were capable of infusing these blessings into the hearts of their followers. Both aspects of Islam were similarly passed on by the Taba’een to the Taba Taba’een. The compilation of knowledge and its interpretation led to the establishment of many schools of religious thought; famous four being the Hanafi, the Hanbali, the Maliki, and the Shafa'i, all named after their founders. Similarly, in order to acquire, safeguard and distribute his blessings, an organized effort was initiated by four schools of Sufism: The Naqshbandia, the Qadria, the Chishtia, and the Suharwardia. These schools were also named after their organizers and came to be known as Sufi Orders. All these Orders intend to purify the hearts of sincere Muslims with Prophetic lights. These Sufi Orders also grew into many branches with the passage of time and are known by other names as well. The holy Quran has linked success in this life and the Hereafter with Tazkiyah (soul purification). He, who purified, is successful. (87: 14) Sufi Orders of Islam are the institutions where the basics of Tazkiyah (soul purification) and its practical application are taught. They have graded programs in which every new seeker is instructed in Zikr-e Lisani (oral Zikr) and is finally taught the Zikr-e Qalbi (Remembrance in heart).
ZIKR-E QALBI
However, in the Naqshbandia Order, Zikr-e Qalbi is practiced from the very beginning. Adherence to the Sunnah (Prophet’s way of life) is greatly emphasized in this Order, because the seeker achieves greater and quicker progress through its blessings. The essence of Zikr is that the Qalb should sincerely accept Islamic beliefs and gain the strength to follow the Sunnah with even greater devotion. ‘If the heart is acquainted with Allah and is engaged in His Zikr; then it is filled with Barakaat-e Nabuwwat (Prophetic blessings) which infuse their purity in the mind and body. This not only helps in controlling sensual drives but also removes traces of abhorrence, voracity, envy and insecurity from human soul. The person therefore becomes an embodiment of love, both for the Divine and the corporeal. This is the meaning of a Hadith, “There is a lump of flesh in the human body; if it goes astray the entire body is misguided, and if it is reformed the entire body is reformed. Know that this lump is the Qalb”.’
PAS ANFAS
Recent History Khawajah Naqshband (d. 1389 CE) organized the Naqshbandia Order at Bukhara (Central Asia). This Order has two main branches – the Mujaddidia and the Owaisiah. The former is identified with Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi, known as Mujaddid Alif Sani (literally: reviver of the second Muslim millennium), a successor to Khawajah Baqi Billah, who introduced the Order to the Indo- Pakistan sub-continent. The Owaisiah Order employs a similar method of Zikr but acquires the Prophetic blessings in the manner of Khawajah Owais Qarni, who received this beneficence from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) without a formal physical meeting. The Zikr employed by the Naqshbandia is ‘Zikr-e Khafi Qalbi’ (remembrance of Allah’s Name within the heart) and the method is termed ‘Pas Anfas’, which (in Persian) means guarding every breath. The Chain of Transmission of these Barakah, of course, emanates from the holy Prophet- SAWS.
SPIRITUAL BAI’AT (OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
It is necessary in all Sufi Orders that the Sheikh and the seekers must be contemporaries and must physically meet each other for the transfer of these blessings. However, the Naqshbandia Owaisiah Order goes beyond this requirement and Sufis of this Order receive these Barakah regardless of physical meeting with their Sheikh or even when the Sheikh is not their contemporary. Yet, it must be underscored that physical meeting with the Sheikh of this Order still holds great importance in dissemination of these Barakah. Sheikh Sirhindi writes about the Owaisiah Order in his book ‘Tazkirah’: ‘It is the most sublime, the most exalted, and the most effective…and the highest station of all others is only its stepping stone.’ By far the greatest singular distinction of the Naqshbandia Owaisiah Order is the honor of Spiritual Bai’at (Oath of Allegiance) directly at the blessed hands of the holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
SHEIKH HAZRAT MOULANA ALLAH YAR KHAN (R.A)
The Reviver Sheikh Allah Yar Khan was born in Chikrala, a remote village of Mianwali District of Pakistan, in 1904. He completed his religious education in 1934. The same year, he met Sheikh ‘Abdul Rahim, who took him to the shrine of Sheikh Allah Deen Madni. By Divine Will his spiritual connection was immediately established with the saint of the 10th century Hijra (sixteenth century CE) and he started receiving spiritual beneficence. His sublime education in Sufism, signifying progressive spiritual growth and advancement, continued for about twenty-five years, after which he was directed to undertake the propagation of Prophetic blessings - a noble mission that he accomplished with singular zeal and dedication for a period spanning half a century. Anybody who visited him was duly rewarded with a share of spiritual bliss commensurate with his/her sincerity and capacity. Sheikh Allah Yar Khan’s mission produced men and women of deep spiritual vision and eminence. He authored eighteen books, the most distinguished being Dalael us-Sulook (Sufism - An Objective Appraisal), Hayat-e Barzakhiah (Life Beyond Life) and Israr ul- Haramain (Secrets of the two holy Mosques). He was undoubtedly one of the most distinguished Sufi saints of the Muslim Ummah and a reviver of the Naqshbandia Owaisiah Order. He passed away on 18 February 1984 in Islamabad at the age of eighty.
THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION OF NAQSHBANDIA OWAISIAH
1. Hazrat Muhammad ur-Rasool Allah (Sall Allah-o Alaihi wa Sallam), 2. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radhi Allah-o Unho), 3. Hazrat Imam Hassan Basri (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 4. Hazrat Daud Tai (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 5. Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 6. Hazrat Ubaid Ullah Ahrar (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 7. Hazrat Abdur Rahman Jami (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 8. Hazrat Abu Ayub Muhammad Salih (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 9. Hazrat Allah Deen Madni (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi), 10. Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (Rahmat Ullah Alaihi).
THE SPIRIT OR RUH
The spirit or Ruh of every person is a created reflection of the Divine Attributes and it originates in Alam-e Amar (Realm of Command). Its food is the Light of Allah or the Divine Refulgence, which it acquires from the Realm of Command through the holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s choicest favors and peace be upon him), whose status in the spiritual world is like that of the sun in the solar system. The Quran refers to him as the ‘bright lamp’. Indeed, he is the divinely selected channel of all Barakah. All Exalted Messengers themselves receive these Barakah from him.
LATAIF
The human Ruh also possesses vital organs like the physical body; through which it acquires its knowledge, food and energy. These are called Lataif (singular Latifah: subtlety). Scholars of various Sufi Orders have associated them with specific areas of the human body. The Naqshbandia Owaisiah Order identifies these Lataif as follows. First - Qalb: This spiritual faculty is located within the physical heart. Its function is Zikr. Its strength increases one’s capacity for Allah’s Zikr. Second – Ruh: The site of this Latifah, which is a distinct faculty of the human Ruh, is on the right side of the chest at the level of Qalb. Its primary function is concentration towards Allah. Third – Sirri: This is located above the Qalb and functions to make possible Kashf. Forth – Khaffi: This is located above the Ruh and functions to perceive the omnipresence of Allah. Fifth – Akhfa: This is located in the middle of chest, at the centre of the first four Lataif and makes it possible for the Ruh to perceive the closeness of Allah, Who is closer to us than our own selves. Sixth – Nafs: This Latifah is located at the forehead and functions to purify the human soul. Seventh – Sultan al-Azkar: This Latifah is located at the top centre of the head and serves to absorb the Barakah of Allah into the entire body, so that every cell resonates with Zikr.
FIVE EXALTED MESSENGERS OF GOD
There are Five Exalted Messengers among the many known and unknown Messengers of Allah. They are Hazrat Muhammad, Hazrat Nuh (Noah), Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham), Hazrat Musa (Moses), and Hazrat Esa (Jesus), peace be upon them all. Hazrat Adam is the first Prophet of Allah and the father of mankind. Each Latifah is associated with a particular Prophet. The Barakah and lights from Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him), descend on the first Latifah Qalb; its lights are reflected from the first heaven and are yellowish. The second Latifah is associated with Hazrat Nuh and Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon them). Its lights descend from the second heaven and appear as golden red. The lights descending upon the third Latifah are from Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him) and are white. One the fourth Latifah, the lights of Hazrat Esa (peace be upon him) descend from the fourth heaven and are deep blue. The fifth Latifah receives its Barakah directly from the holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s choicest favors and peace be upon him). The lights associated with this Latifah are green, descend from the fifth heaven, and overwhelm all the first four Lataif. The Lights descending upon the sixth and seventh Lataif are the Divine Lights, whose color and condition cannot be determined. These are like flashes of lightening that defy comprehension. If Allah blesses a seeker with Kashf, he can observe all of this. The vision is slightly diffused in the beginning, but gradually the clarity improves.
SULOOK
Stages of the Path After all seven Lataif of a seeker have been illuminated with Divine Lights through Tawajjuh of the Sheikh and his Ruh has acquired the ability to fly, the Sheikh initiates its journey on the sublime Path of Divine nearness. The Path is known as Sulook, and its stages are not hypothetical imaginations but real and actually existing stations on the spiritual Path. These are also referred to as Meditations, because a seeker mentally meditates about a station while his/her Ruh actually ascends towards it. The first three stations that form the base of whole Sulook are described as; Ahadiyyat, a station of Absolute Unity of Divinity. It is above and beyond the seven heavens. It is so vast a station that the seven heavens and all that they encompass are lost within Ahadiyyat as a ring is lost in a vast desert. Its lights are white in color. Maiyyat station denotes Divine Company, ‘He is with you, wherever you might be.’ This station is so vast that Ahadiyyat along with the seven heavens beneath are lost within it as a ring is lost in a desert. Its lights are green in color. Aqrabiyyat station denotes Divine Nearness, ‘He is nearer to you than your life- vein.’ Again, Aqrabiyyat is vast as compared to Maiyyat in the same proportion. Its lights are golden red and are reflected from the Divine Throne. It is indeed the greatest favor of Almighty Allah that He blesses a seeker with an accomplished Sheikh, who takes him to these sublime stations. The final station that a seeker attains to during his/her lifetime becomes his/her Iliyyeen (blessed abode) in Barzakh and his/her Ruh stays at this station after death.
ZIKR
Why is Zikr Necessary for Everyone? Allah ordains every soul in the Quran to Perform Zikr. This not only means reciting the Quran and Tasbeeh but also Zikr-e Qalb. It is only through Zikr-e Qalbi that Prophetic Lights reach the depths of human soul and purify it from all vice and evil. Zikr infuses a realization of constant Divine Presence and a seeker feels great improvement in the level of sincerity and love towards Allah and the holy Prophet- SAWS. Such levels of sincerity, love and feelings of Divine Presence can never be obtained without Zikr. It would be a mistake to believe that Zikr may be a requirement only for the very pious and virtuous people. Zikr provides the Prophetic blessings which are in effect the life line of every human soul. It transforms even the most corrupted humans into virtuous souls by bringing out the best in them. The fact is that Zikr is the only way to achieve true contentment and satisfaction in life. The holy Quran has pointed to this eternal fact that it is only through Zikr Allah that hearts can find satisfaction. Such satisfaction and peace are the ultimate requirements of every person, regardless of religion, race and ethnicity. Practicing Zikr regularly removes all traces of anxiety and restlessness, and guides the human soul to eternal bliss and peace.
KHALIFA MAJAZEEN
Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A), during his life time in 1974, presented a nomination list to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), during Maraqba, of expected Khalifa Majazeen for Silsila Naqshbandia Awaisia. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) approved some names, deleted some of the names, and added down the name of Major Ghulam Muhammad as also Khalifa Majaaz of Silsila Naqshbandia Awaisia (which was not previously included in the list)
The approved names at that time included:
1. Mr. Muhammad Akram Awan Sahib,
2. Mr. Sayed Bunyad Hussain Shah Sahib,
3. Mr. Major Ahsan Baig Sahib,
4. Mr. Col. Matloob Hussain Sahib,
5. Mr. Major Ghulam Muhammad Sahib of Wan Bhachran Mianwali,
6. Mr. Molvi Abdul Haq Sahib,
7. Mr. Hafiz Abdul Razzaq Sahib,
8. Mr. Hafiz Ghulam Qadri Sahib,
9. Mr. Khan Muhammad Irani Sahib,
10. Mr. Maolana Abdul Ghafoor Sahib,
11. Mr. Syed Muhammad Hassan Sahib of Zohb.
These Majazeen were authorized to; held Majalis of Zikar (Pas Anfas) in their respective areas, arrange Majalis of Zikar in neighboring areas, train them on the way of Sulook, prepare them for Spiritual Bai’at (Oath of Allegiance), and present them to Sheikh Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan for Spiritual Bai’at at the Hand of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), in the life of Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A), and were all equal in status as Khalifa Majaaz of Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A).
Presently we are following Hazrat Major ® Ghulam Muhammad Sahib, Khalifa Majaaz of Hazrat Moulana Allah Yar Khan (R.A).
Photo by Mark Tusk, All Rights Reserved
Visit/Contact him at Flaneur_foto on FLICKR
HOWL! FESTIVAL AND THE JACKIE FACTORY PRESENTED
LOW LIFE 3: VIPER MAD
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2009
5-7 PM, FREE ADMISSION
TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, NYC
REEFER MADNESS IN THE PARK!
On September 6, JACKIE FACTORY producers CHI CHI VALENTI and JOHNNY DYNELL presented their third annual LOW LIFE to crown the 2009 HOWL! FESTIVAL. LOW LIFE is a "Howlucination" created by the JACKIE FACTORY as an evening climax for HOWL! - a two hour theatrical showcasing the East Village - and especially, The Bowery, in a lavishly costumed production starring dozens of downtown's finest.
This year's edition - LOW LIFE 3: VIPER MAD - was inspired by the early 20th century "viper" culture shared by downtown (and Harlem) jazzmen and hipsters, the opium dens of nearby Chinatown and other Olde New York drug cultures. The show featured two MCs - PAUL ALEXANDER (of "The Ones" and JACKIE 60) with EMPRESS CHI CHI VALENTI, the show's co-producer. The splendid cast included burlesque Goddess DIRTY MARTINI, choreographer JULIE ATLAS MUZ and the PIXIE HARLOTS in "REEFER MADNESS", New Bowery crooner ADAM DUGAS, butoh ensemble VANGELINE THEATER (who reprised their "Butoh Brothel" for this special edition), period visionaries JONNY PORKPIE and NASTY CANASTA with PINCHBOTTOM BURLESQUE, international Dragstar SHERRY VINE of East Village based THEATRE COUTURE, THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF BURLESQUE choreographed by founder JO BOOBS WELDON, nightclub eminence HATTIE HATHAWAY, sensationalist AMBER RAY, trans songstress ERICKATOURE AVIANCE, reefer striptease by MISS MELODY SWEETS, vocal stylings of MR. PATTY BRUCE, and Viper Vamps DARLINDA JUST DARLINDA, LEGS MALONE and HEATHER LITTEER aka JESSICA RABBIT DOMINATION.
The LOW LIFE events were inspired by the seminal LUC SANTE book "LOW LIFE: The Lures and Snares of Old New York." The annual LOW LIFE extravaganzas at HOWL! continue a body of work born at JACKIE 60 over a decade ago, with past editions in London, Minneapolis and of course, the 2007 and 2008 HOWL! Festivals. For the show's producers, East Village residents for over two decades, this annual show is a Valentine to the neighborhood's past, present and future stars.
More on HOWL! Festival events at the East Village Howler (Blog)
NS 265 Rolls through the small community of Locust Shores AL with a rare sight for an intermodal in a BNSF executive MAC. NS 23N was also combined with this train which brought the total locomotive count to 6 with about 10,000+ft of train in tow
This was my second year of going to take photos of the Halloween Pub Crawl, in downtown Springfield, Missouri.
Yum! And a cute smile too!
Căn hộ Him Lam Chợ Lớn quận 6
Him Lam Chợ Lớn tọa lạc gần trung tâm Hành chính Quận 6, liền kề với khu dân cư hiện hữu, gần siêu thị Metro Bình Phú. Khu Căn hộ Him Lam Chợ Lớn
có một vị trí đắc địa, giao thông thuận tiện. Cách mặt tiền đường Hậu Giang khoảng 120m, cách khu vực Chợ Lớn khoảng 1,8 km, đại lộ Võ Văn Kiệt khoảng 1,6 km, Metro Bình Phú khoảng 1 km, công viên Bình Phú khoảng 1 km, bến xe Miền Tây 2,6 km, bến xe Chợ Lớn 2,2 km… Một vị trí đắc địa và thuận lợi cho việc đi lại của cộng đồng cư dân tại nơi đây.
xem Chi tiết dự án tại Fanpahe Facbook:
.
Quy mô dự án Him Lam Chợ Lớn
- Tổng diện tích của dự án : 4.08 hecta
+ Đất ở: 22.348 m2 (chiếm 54,76%)
+ Đất cây xanh-TDTT: 4.052 m2 (chiếm 9,93%)
+ Đất giao thông vỉa hè: 9.910 m2 (chiếm 24,28%)
+ Đất công trình công cộng: 4.500 m2 (chiếm 11,03%)
- Nhà ở: gồm 1.468 căn toàn bộ là căn hộ cao cấp , trong đó:
+ 01 Khối tái định cư lô A: cao 11 tầng, gồm 60 căn hộ với diện tích 63 -68 m2
+ 04 Khối thương mại lô C1, C4, B1, B4: cao 21 tầng, gồm 640 căn hộ với diện tích 98 - 105,5 m2
+ 04 Khối thương mại lô C2, C3, B2, B3: cao 25 tầng, gồm 768 căn hộ với diện tích 98 - 105,5 m2
- Công viên cây xanh – thể dục thể thao: Diện tích 4.052 m2
- Công trình công cộng: Trường tiểu học với diện tích 4.500 m2 cao 3 tầng.
- Giao thông:
+ Tuyến đường Chợ Lớn nối dài: Lộ giới 20m
+ Tuyến đường nội bộ: Lộ giới 12m - 16 m
Căn hộ - tiện ích tại khu Căn hộ Him Lam Quận 6
:
Khu căn hộ Căn hộ Him Lam Chợ Lớn được bố trí từ tầng 1 trở lên. Mỗi tầng có 8 căn hộ và tổng số căn hộ là 1.408 căn được chia thành 2 loại diện tích 100m2 và 105m2. Ngoài ra, các căn Penthouse có sân vườn với diện tích 230m2 – 260m2 được bố trí các tầng 20 – 21 và 24 – 25.
Khu thương mại, sinh hoạt cộng đồng được bố trí ở tầng trệt.
Căn hộ Him Lam Quận 6 bao gồm đủ các tiện ích:
- Phòng tập thể dục thể thao, GYM
- Nhà trẻ
- Trung tâm thương mại, Siêu thị
- 2 tầng hầm để xe phục vụ triệt để chỗ để xe cho cư dân.
- Trung tâm y tế, dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe
- Hệ thống cây xanh
- Phòng sinh hoạt cộng đồng phục vụ Lễ, tiệc cho cư dân
- Hệ thống xử lý rác riêng biệt
- Hệ thống gas trung tâm
- Hệ thống truyền hình cáp, ADSL… được lắp đặt ở từng căn hộ
căn hộ Him Lam Chợ Lớn Q6 liền kề với các tiện ích
- Siêu thị Metro Bình Phú: 1 km
- Kết nối Đại Lộ Võ Văn Kiệt một cách nhanh chóng: 1,6 km
- Bệnh viện Triều An: 2,6 km
- Bệnh viện Quận 6: 0,3 km
- Bến xe Miền Tây: 2,6 km
- Bến xe Chợ Lớn: 2,2 km
- Coop- Mart Phú Lâm: 1 km
- Coop- Mart Hậu Giang: 1,2 km
- Chợ Bình Tây (Chợ Lớn): 1,9 km
Tiến độ dự án Căn hộ HimLam Chợ Lớn Quận 6
Đã xây xong phần thô, quý II/2014 giao nhà
Liên hệ Phòng kinh doanh: 0937 69 99 69
từ khoá khách: căn hộ Him Lam Q6, căn hộ cao cấp quận 6, Dự án căn hộ him lam quan 6 , Dự án himlam quan 6 , Dự án căn hộ him lam chợ lớn , Căn hộ HimLam Quận 6.
can ho him lam cho lon, can ho him lam quan 6, can ho him lam cho lon quan 6, him lam cho lon
"Sillä onko toista suurta kansaa, jonka jumalat ovat sitä niin lähellä, kuin Herra, meidän Jumalamme, on lähellä meitä, niin usein kuin me häntä rukoilemme?"
"Ty vilket annat stort folk finnes, vars gudar äro det så nära som HERREN, vår Gud, är oss, så ofta vi åkalla honom?"
"For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?"
Deu. 4:7
Skogstorp Eskilstuna
Such a situation then you are looking at one who is really important for You
"In society" he is always strong, serious and busy
But now he is doing something cutest (And may be a bit ridiculous,ahah)
AND ITS OK, BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS!^__^
Such a feeling then You are slipping and Your dear covers You with a blanket
Or then the pedestrian tells You smth positive
Or then You can see Your Darling then other people can't)
Peeping round the corner is not so boring)
gave him watercolors to paint with, had my back turned ... immediately after scrubbing him off in the bathroom, he said he had to poop. I left him climbing onto the toilet. I returned a few minutes later to red nail polish on his toes, fingers, fingernails, and doorframe, with gold polish poured on the floor. Not one shred of remorse.
In Him alone is our hope
In Him alone is our strength
In Him alone are we justified
In Him alone are we saved
What have we to offer
That does not fade or wither
Can the world ever satisfy
The emptiness in our hearts
In vain we deny
When will you cease running
In search of hollow meaning
Let His love feed the hunger
In your soul till it overflows
With joy you yearn to know
In Him alone is our hope
Unto Him I pour out my heart
He alone will save me
With His love and mercy.
I saw him standing at the information kiosk in the university Student Learning Centre building on a dark, rainy Tuesday. I was intrigued by his appearance and approached him to introduce myself and ask if I could photograph him for my Human Family project. His response was friendly interest and he agreed, even though it meant leaving the building to get sufficient light on the front steps. Meet Daisujke who is from Tokyo.
The front steps of the Student Learning Centre were filled with students seeking shelter from the rain, taking smoke breaks from study, and checking their cell phones. Taking the photos was rather straightforward once I “claimed” some space on the steps and the flow of students started diverting themselves behind me instead of between me and Daisujke. It was a busy place.
Daisujke was very polite and his English was quite good. He explained that he is 31 and just arrived in Toronto five days ago from a visit to Jamaica. I quickly gained the impression that Daisujke is a committed traveler who has seen many places. His passion is calligraphy which he practices wherever he goes. His Instagram account @hiratabi which means “Writing on the Road.” He plans to return to Tokyo briefly after seeing Canada and then heads for the Philippines where he has a job lined up at a language school that teaches Japanese. I assumed he is a teacher but he told me his job will not be teaching but managing the program at the school. After the Philippines he has his sights set on South America.
When I asked what he had been doing at the information booth inside, he said he was discussing his calligraphy. Since I had told him I would only delay him a few minutes, we exchanged contact information and I walked him back into the building where I thanked him for his time and wished him safe travels. He said he would look forward to receiving his photo.
When Daisujke had completed his business at the information booth, I approached the students at the booth who had witnessed my “recruiting” Daisujke for my project and asked for clarification of what his purpose had been with them. They smiled and said he was just leaving off information about his calligraphy services for any students who wanted to have him do a calligraphy for them. “Is it like a small business?” I asked. “No” they replied. “It seems to be a gesture of good will” and they showed me the square of paper he had left on their desk with a sample of his calligraphy and contact information on the reverse. Intrigued by this travelling calligrapher, I asked if I could borrow the paper to photograph outside in the light and then return to them. They happily agreed. I was left with the impression that Daisujke and I are doing something rather similar - using what skills we have to make a friendly connection with strangers as we go about our daily lives. He uses calligraphy, I use photography.
When I returned the paper to the desk, one of the students asked how my project was going. I explained how well it was going and she said she was asking because I had photographed two of her student friends on campus in the past and it seemed like a fantastic project. It is.
It was time to finish my coffee and venture out into the rain. The day had turned so dark that it was starting to look like night even though it was mid-day.
Thank you Daisujke for taking a few minutes to meet and tell me about your fascinating lifestyle on the road. You are a real citizen of the world and your good will makes you a perfect subject for the Human Family project.
This is my 40th submission to the Human Family group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Follow-up: I received the following nice email from Daisujke:
"Hi, Mr. Jeff. Thank you for your kind mail. And I am sorry, my reply was late. By the way, finally I came back to Japan.
I really glad to met you in Toronto.
My motivation of travel is having fun. I like to know and to see things that I do not know. And my motivations of calligraphy are having fun, communicate with local people and to show Japanese culture to foreign people.
Now I am trying to write familys name for Japanese people. It is also exciting for me.
I saw your page and felt very happy.
Thank you for your nice essay.
I hope your act makes a lot of people very happy !!
See you someday.
Dasuke Hirata from Japan
P.S.I send your name in Japanese for you.
Your name means YOU HAVE RICH SMILE !!"
Created in 1863 as a memorial to Edmund William Johnson Bardin by Melbourne stained glass manufacturer Ferguson and Urie, the Holy Family stained glass window may be found at the north end of the nave, to the right of the ornate baptismal font. The window has a pair on the left. The window depicts the Holy Family. In the foreground, Mary holds Jesus in her lap. To the right stands Mary's pot with the letter M monogrammed upon it, from which springs the Annunciation lily, which represents Mary's purity. Behind them in the mid ground, Joseph sits in prayer looking sombre, perhaps as a result of his dream where an angel told him to flee to Egypt with his family to protect Jesus from King Herod's murderous plans.
Edmund William Johnson Bardin died on the 17th of August 1863 according to the beautiful brass plaque below the Holy Family window dedicated to him. Interestingly enough, whilst he died in Brunswick, he appears not to have been a member of the congregation. Records from the Londonderry Sentinel indicate that he was from Emerald Downs in Queenland. Edmund Bardin was the youngest son of the Reverend Charles Bardin (who was for many years the Rector of Derryloran, Cookstown, Diocese of Armagh in Ireland) and his wife Julia Helena Hodgkinson. His brother Alfred Thackeray Purdon Bardin has a memorial window next to him of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple on the opposite side of the baptismal font in Christ Church, Brunswick.
Christ Church, built almost on the corner of Glenlyon Road and Brunswick Street in Brunswick, is a picturesque slice of Italy in inner city Melbourne. With its elegant proportions, warm yellow stuccoed facade and stylish Romanesque campanile, the church would not look out of place sitting atop a rise in Tuscany, or being the centre of an old walled town. This idea is further enhanced when the single bell rings from the campanile, calling worshipers to prayer.
Christ Church has been constructed in a cruciform plan with a detached campanile. Although not originally intended as such, at its completion, the church became an excellent example of "Villa Rustica" architecture in Australia. Like other churches around the inner city during the boom and bust eras of the mid Nineteenth Century as Melbourne became an established city, the building was built in stages between 1857 and 1875 as money became available to extend and better what was already in existence. Christ Church was dedicated in 1857 when the nave, designed by architects Purchas and Swyer, was completed. The transepts, chancel and vestry were completed between 1863 and 1864 to the designs created by the architects' firm Smith and Watts. The Romanesque style campanile was also designed by Smith and Watts and it completed between 1870 and 1871. A third architect, Frederick Wyatt, was employed to design the apse which was completed in 1875.
Built in Italianate style with overture characteristics of classical Italian country house designs, Christ Church is one of the few examples of what has been coined "Villa Rustica" architecture in Victoria.
Slipping through the front door at the bottom of the campanile, the rich smell of incense from mass envelops visitors. As soon as the double doors which lead into the church proper close behind you, the church provides a quiet refuge from the busy intersection of Glenlyon Road and Brunswick Street outside, and it is quite easy to forget that cars and trams pass by just a few metres away. Walking up the aisle of the nave of Christ Church, light pours over the original wooden pews with their hand embroidered cushions through sets of luminescent stained glass windows by Melbourne manufacturers, Ferguson and Urie, Mathieson and Gibson and Brooks Robinson and Company. A set of fourteen windows from the mid-to-late Nineteenth Century by Ferguson and Urie depicting different saints are especially beautiful, filled with painted glass panes which are as vivid now as when they were created more than one hundred years ago. The floors are still the original dark, richly polished boards that generations of worshipers have walked over since they were first laid. The east transept houses the Lady Chapel, whilst the west transept is consumed by the magnificent 1972 Roger H. Pogson organ built of cedar with tin piping. This replaced the original 1889 Alfred Fuller organ. Beautifully executed carved rood figures watch over the chancel from high, perhaps admiring the marble altar.
Albert Purchas, born in 1825 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, was a prominent Nineteenth Century architect who achieved great success for himself in Melbourne. Born to parents Robert Whittlesey Purchas and Marianne Guyon, he migrated to Australia in 1851 to establish himself in the then quickly expanding city of Melbourne, where he set up a small architect's firm in Little Collins Street. He also offered surveying services. His first major building was constructing the mansion "Berkeley Hall" in St Kilda on Princes Street in 1854. The house still exists today. Two years after migrating, Albert designed the layout of the Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton. It was the first "garden cemetery" in Victoria, and his curvilinear design is still in existence, unaltered, today. In 1854, Albert married Eliza Anne Sawyer (1825 - 1869) in St Kilda. The couple had ten children over their marriage, including a son, Robert, who followed in his father's footsteps as an architect. Albert's brother-in-law, Charles Sawyer joined him in the partnership of Purchas and Sawyer, which existed from 1856 until 1862 in Queens Street. The firm produced more than 140 houses, churches, offices and cemetery buildings including: the nave and transepts of Christ Church St Kilda between 1854 and 1857, "Glenara Homestead"in Bulla in 1857, the Melbourne Savings Bank on the corner of Flinders Lane and Market Street (now demolished) between 1857 and 1858, the Geelong branch of the Bank of Australasia in Malop Street between 1859 and 1860, and Beck's Imperial Hotel in Castlemaine in 1861. When the firm broke up, Albert returned to Little Collins Street, and the best known building he designed during this period was St. George's Presbyterian Church in East St Kilda between 1877 and 1880. The church's tall polychomatic brick bell tower is still a local landmark, even in the times of high rise architecture and development, and St, George's itself is said to be one of his most striking church designs. Socially, Albert was vice president of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects for many years, before becoming president in 1887. He was also an inventor and philanthropist. Albert died in 1909 at his home in Kew, a wealthy widower and much loved father.
The stained glass firm of Ferguson and Urie was established by Scots James Ferguson (1818 – 1894), James Urie (1828 – 1890) and John Lamb Lyon (1836 – 1916). They were the first known makers of stained glass in Australia. Until the early 1860s, window glass in Melbourne had been clear or plain coloured, and nearly all was imported, but new churches and elaborate buildings created a demand for pictorial windows. The three Scotsmen set up Ferguson and Urie in 1862 and the business thrived until 1899, when it ceased operation, with only John Lamb Lyon left alive. Ferguson and Urie was the most successful Nineteenth Century Australian stained glass window making company. Among their earliest works were a Shakespeare window for the Haymarket Theatre in Bourke Street, a memorial window to Prince Albert in Holy Trinity, Kew, and a set of Apostles for the West Melbourne Presbyterian Church. Their palatial Gothic Revival office building stood at 283 Collins Street from 1875. Ironically, their last major commission, a window depicting “labour”, was installed in the old Melbourne Stock Exchange in Collins Street in 1893 on the eve of the bank crash. Their windows can be found throughout the older suburbs of Melbourne and across provincial Victoria.