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Increased warmth and sharpness. Used San Carmen filter. Door of an authentic Chinese restaurant at docklands
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A visit to the National Trust property Plas Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey. The seat of the Marquesses of Anglesey.
Plas Newydd is a country house set in gardens, parkland and surrounding woodland on the north bank of the Menai Strait, in Llanddaniel Fab, near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. The current building has its origins in 1470, and evolved over the centuries to become one of Anglesey's principal residences. Owned successively by Griffiths, Baylys and Pagets, it became the country seat of the Marquesses of Anglesey, and the core of a large agricultural estate. The house and grounds, with views over the strait and Snowdonia, are open to the public, having been owned by the National Trust since 1976.
From its earliest known resident in 1470, Plas Newydd passed by inheritance and marriage through 500 years of a family's increasing concentration of wealth, titles and estates, until the 7th Marquess of Anglesey presented it to the National Trust, so that the house and grounds could be opened to the public.
Plas Newydd is a Grade I listed building.
History
The present house at Plas Newydd is largely a C18 Gothick mansion, developed in three main phases, incorporating an earlier building, and with significant early C20 remodelling. The history of the house can be traced in documentary sources from c1300, but the first recorded house on the site was a hall-house built in the early C16. It was to this house that Sir Nicolas Bayly added a semi-circular turret in the middle of its E front, and an octagonal tower at the SE corner in 1751-3: Pictorial evidence suggests that these additions were accompanied by remodelling work to give a consistent picturesque Gothick style to the house (including embattled parapets, arched and quatrefoil windows as depicted in Moses Griffith's watercolour of 1776). This Gothick character was taken further in subsequent phases of work: The first of these was undertaken between 1783 and 1786 by John Cooper of Beaumaris, for Henry, Lord Paget (son of Sir Nicolas Bayly) and involved the addition of a second octagonal tower to the N end of the E front (thus making this elevation symmetrical), and remodelling the rooms behind this facade. Pictorial evidence suggests that the house was re-windowed at the same time, again in a spirit of regularity and symmetry. Between 1793-99, Lord Paget employed James Wyatt and Joseph Potter of Lichfield to create an entirely new entrance front to the W (on the site of the original great hall), with a series of interiors in the Neo-classical and Gothick styles. Potter added the N service wing in 1805, completing this phase of development. The final phase of change to the house took place in the 1930s for the 6th Marquess, by H.S. Goodhart-Rendell, architect: The effect was to give a more stripped down appearance by removing the battlements from the parapets, shortening the pinnacles; the house was again refenestrated with small paned windows. The north wing was completely re-built, with the Gothick windows of the chapel being replaced by square-headed windows to match the main block. The theatre was converted into a long dining room, decorated by Rex Whistler between 1936 and 1940. On the W side, the wing to the S of the Music Room was altered, and the domestic wing was brought forward, lessening the distinction between the two buildings and altering the symmetry of the building. A screen wall was also built on the N side of the Music Room, designed by Rex Whistler. Much of the house interior was re-decorated in the 1930s by Sybil Colefax. The house was sub-divided in 1947 when the H.M.S. Conway Training School was established at Plas Newydd, with the N wing being used by the school, as well as the stable block and harbour. In the 1950s a training school was built to the N of the house, now called the Conway Centre. The school is now leased to the Cheshire County Council as an education centre, including the stable block and N wing of the house. In 1976 Plas Newydd was given to the National Trust by the 7th Marquess of Anglesey.
Exterior
The house is aligned N-S, with the main living rooms facing E overlooking the Menai Strait. Main house 3 storeys, built over a double basement. Walls of limestone ashlar masonry with plinth, moulded 1st floor sill band and moulded cornice below plain parapet (formerly with battlements). East front: symmetrical main block with 3-bay advanced central block (semi-circular bay and flanking windows), stressed by angle pilasters surmounted by Tudor caps; with single window range (having 4-centred arched doorways) separating this from the full-height canted bays to either side, and there is a further 9-window range to the right. Windows are 1930s recessed 24-pane sashes to ground floor, 24-pane casements to 1st floor, 20-pane fixed-light casements to 2nd floor, all with voussoir lintels with moulded hood bands. The northern continuation of this range is a 3 storey, 9-window range (replacing early C19 chapel with 3 Gothick windows) of squared rough-faced limestone, plinth, plain sill band at 1st floor and below parapet, slate roof. Domestic buildings at N end raised to 2 storeys, lower storey of rubble, upper of squared limestone. Original horned sash windows - 12-pane to 1st floor and 16-pane to 2nd.
South return front: asymmetrical design with 3-window range and canted bay to right (the original octagonal tower).
West entrance front: Built 1797-9 by Wyatt and Potter, extending the original hall house. Originally designed as a symmetrical composition with 2 entrance porches around a Gothick windowed hall, with 3-window flanking wings. The symmetry was disrupted in the 1930s when a 3-window range was added to the N (the original line was set back from the main block), linking the main block with the 5-window service wing to the N. Limestone ashlar masonry with plinth, moulded cornice below plain parapet (formerly with battlements). Central slightly advanced 2 storey, 3-window hall (called 'The Music Room') with 3 tall Gothick windows breaking 1st floor sill band. Similar traceried windows with moulded arched hood band and moulded sill band to elevated 1st floor. Flanking octagonal buttress piers with Tudor caps on angles of return and at either end of main block. To S is 3-window range, with 2 windows blocked on each floor. Gothick porch with 4-centred arch and battlements to S; the balancing porch in the block to the N of the Music Room was removed in the 1930s. Two window range to N of Music Room has wide square-headed entrance on S side with mouldings and Gothick detailing. Narrow arched windows to N. Moulded 1st floor sill band and cornice. Three window range to N of main block, linking main block to 5-window range to extreme N (which formed the service areas, partly built on the site of the original stables). Ice house and apple store in yard to W. Running at right angles from the N side of the Hall is a screen wall designed by Rex Whistler in the 1930s, with voussoir arch with projecting keystone at either end.
Interior
Plan comprises 2 parallel ranges of rooms, each en filade, and divided by a spinal corridor. The easternmost range represents the earlier C18 house, with the western range largely the work of Wyatt and Potter in the 1790s. This range is broadly symmetrical in layout, with the music room flanked by the stair hall to the left, and the Gothick hall to the right. This, the main entrance hall, rises through 2 storeys with a gallery at one end; fine plaster fan-vaulted ceiling. The Music room also has a plaster fan-vaulted ceiling, and ornate carved chimney breast, flanked by plaster figures of Medieval knights. The N entrance led into the Neo-classical stair hall and anteroom to its N. Cantilevered staircase with wrought-iron balustrade leads to landing with fluted and marble-painted Doric columns. E wing interiors also substantially as remodelled by Wyatt c1795 (though in plan the result of the earlier phases). Decorative schemes here and in the first floor rooms are largely the work of Sybil Colefax in the 1930s. The N wing was entirely remodelled 1935-6; its principal feature is now the Rex Whistler room which contains the artist's last and largest mural, completed by 1940. The mural is a Georgian landscape fantasy based on views from Plas Newydd over the Menai Strait and Snowdonia, mixed with classical architecture and personal recollections.
Reasons for Listing
Listed grade I as an important example of an C18 country house, notable for the early use of gothick in the remodelling and extension of an earlier building in the 1750's, but especially for the coherent remodelling of the house by Wyatt and Potter, combining neo-classical symmetry with gothick detail, and including interior work of exceptional quality. The C20 work to the house is also of consistent character, and the Rex Whistler work is particularly notable.
A paratrooper from 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment patrols November 19, 2018 in Kenya, Africa for a simulated enemy during a live-fire exercise alongside British paratroopers of 2PARA, 16 Air Assault Brigade. The live-fire exercises were part of Operation Askari Storm, a multinational training exercise occurring in Kenya, Africa between U.S., British and other partner-nation forces. The training focuses on increasing the readiness and interoperability of the participating forces while placing them in tough, realistic scenarios against simulated near-peer adversaries.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. John Lytle)
We leave for a self-organized expedition trek along pristine fjords, filled with giant icebergs, over rugged passes and across empty tundra valleys of the far north. A few weeks into the wilderness, away from any form of human civilization can not go on without a firm preparation, even though every day is as unpredictable as the night. You guessed it right: we would encounter no human trace for the coming weeks.
Together with our old friends, Dries and Ellen, we leave for a self-organized expedition trek along pristine fjords, filled with giant icebergs, over rugged passes and across empty tundra valleys of the far north. A few weeks into the wilderness, away from any form of human civilization can not go on without a firm preparation, even though every day is as unpredictable as the night. You guessed it right: we would encounter no human trace for the coming weeks.
The global warming is affecting the Inuit big time. Not only do the glaciers of the Greenlandic ice sheet melt at a hurling speed, also the annually increasing melting pack ice of the Arctic, drifing away southwards, brings in more polar bears into the region. Where the region, during summer, used to be"polar bear free", the last years more and more polar bears are spotted in full summer along the fjords and around the Inuit villages. In Kulusuk, the village where we start our trek, we hear many stories of polar bear incidents in recent weeks.
The hunter who sales us into a remote fjord, "obliged" us to bring a gun. But we have never ever used a gun before? "No problem, it is very easy, you aim in the direction of the bear and just shoot at chest or head," he laughs .
We already have been in quite a few adventures so far, but what we experience in Greenland, surpasses all our dreams we ever had on this destination. Neck muscle defying granite walls cleave out of of the fjords and valley bottems as knives into the air, perpetual pink sunsets, huge glaciers that filled the fjords with icebergs the size of the football stadiums. And we have not talked about our new hobby: wading glacial rivers...
We leave for a self-organized expedition trek along pristine fjords, filled with giant icebergs, over rugged passes and across empty tundra valleys of the far north. A few weeks into the wilderness, away from any form of human civilization can not go on without a firm preparation, even though every day is as unpredictable as the night. You guessed it right: we would encounter no human trace for the coming weeks.
Together with our old friends, Dries and Ellen, we leave for a self-organized expedition trek along pristine fjords, filled with giant icebergs, over rugged passes and across empty tundra valleys of the far north. A few weeks into the wilderness, away from any form of human civilization can not go on without a firm preparation, even though every day is as unpredictable as the night. You guessed it right: we would encounter no human trace for the coming weeks.
The global warming is affecting the Inuit big time. Not only do the glaciers of the Greenlandic ice sheet melt at a hurling speed, also the annually increasing melting pack ice of the Arctic, drifing away southwards, brings in more polar bears into the region. Where the region, during summer, used to be"polar bear free", the last years more and more polar bears are spotted in full summer along the fjords and around the Inuit villages. In Kulusuk, the village where we start our trek, we hear many stories of polar bear incidents in recent weeks.
The hunter who sales us into a remote fjord, "obliged" us to bring a gun. But we have never ever used a gun before? "No problem, it is very easy, you aim in the direction of the bear and just shoot at chest or head," he laughs .
We already have been in quite a few adventures so far, but what we experience in Greenland, surpasses all our dreams we ever had on this destination. Neck muscle defying granite walls cleave out of of the fjords and valley bottems as knives into the air, perpetual pink sunsets, huge glaciers that filled the fjords with icebergs the size of the football stadiums. And we have not talked about our new hobby: wading glacial rivers...
STUDENTS DayX3 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION (Part 2)
Protest and march against University tuition fee increases, 09th Dec. 2010
Over 20,000 students from around the country converged on Central London today to march for a third time to protest against the coalition government's plans to massively increase University tuition fees, which will ultimately mean that far fewer students from poorer backgrounds will be able to even consider a University education because of the massive debts incurred which will follow them for the rest of their working lives.
I joined the days proceedings in the afternoon as they were assembling in Trafalgar Square. To throw the police off-guard they suddenly took off, en mass, through Admiralty Arch in a bid to get to Parliament Square, which had been forbidden. That evening the House of Commons was voting on the Education Funding Bill, and the students were determined to make sure that Parliament heard their protests.
The day started in a good mood, but by the time they reached Parliament pockets of disorder had started breaking out - Flares were lit and thrown, crush barriers and construction site fencing ripped up to be used as weapons against the massed ranks of riot police and later on the mounted police. I had to leave by around 3pm, and by the time I got home and turned on the BBC news all hell had broken loose outside Parliament. Protesters were pelting the police with lumps of masonry, metal poles and scaffolding. They lit large fires, broke down the doors to The Treasury and the new Ministry of Justice buildings, smashing many windows, daubing graffiti everywhere and generally smashing up the joint. Many people were arrested and many people hurt, some badly.
As the police gradually started releasing the by-now contained protesters in small numbers, several small groups headed up to Oxford Street, where they smashed the windows of the flagship TopShop store (owned by Sir Phillip Green who is being attacked for shovelling billions of pounds of what should be UK taxable income into tax haven accounts owned by his wife as part of a legal tax dodge), and in Regent Street they engulfed the Bentley containing Prince Charles and his horse-faced wife Camilla who were in the process of swanning orf the the Royal Variety Performance! The protesters started kicking the vehicle. They broke the windows and threw a tin of white paint over the car. One was not amused!
Needless to say the Bill was passed in Parliament tonight, and the students have vowed to continue their campaign of demonstration and civil disobedience...
All photos ⓒ Pete Riches
Please do not use my photos without my prior agreement.
Please do not re-blog my photos without my agreement.
Email: peteriches@gmail.com
Illustration for a poster promoting a campaign to increase literacy by dispatching old, reused books to disadvantaged areas.
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Refurbishment changes to the design and layout of this space have resulted in a 3 fold increase in the number of visitors, from 5,000 to 15,000 per month. The success of the space, in part, is due to the increased flexibility and comfort it now has, with the easily movable screens, furniture and the soft seating.
The South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) is now 80 per cent complete and on-track to open in December 2013.
Minister Stone addresses media at a press event, announcing the 80% milestone.
Learn more: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/07/south-fraser-perimeter-roa...
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Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Clangula hyemalis | [UK] Long-Tailed Duck | [FR] Harelde kakawi | [DE] Eisente | [ES] Havelda | [IT] Moretta codona | [NL] Ijseend
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 70 cm
spanwidth max.: 74 cm
size min.: 38 cm
size max.: 58 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 24 days
incubation max.: 29 days
fledging min.: 35 days
fledging max.: 50 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 6
eggs max.: 10
Physical characteristics
The Long-tailed Duck is a distinctive sea duck with a short bill and heavy body. The short, pointed, all-dark wings of the Long-tailed Duck are evident in all sexes and plumages. In breeding plumage, the male has a long, black tail-plume, a white rump and belly, and black breast. The head and back are black, with brown shoulders and a white patch around the eye. In winter the brown on the back is replaced by white, and the head is white with a gray cheek-patch. In spring, the female is gray with a white rump, and white around the eye and at the nape of the neck. In winter, she has a white face with dark crown and cheek-patch. The juvenile is similar to the female--gray with white, although it has more white on its face than the female.
Long-tailed Ducks dive and swim under water, and, while they propel themselves with their feet like other ducks, their wings are sometimes partly opened under water. Most feeding is done within 30 feet of the surface, but they are capable of diving more than 200 feet below the surface. Long-tailed Ducks fly low with stiff and shallow wing-beats, often tilting from side to side.
Habitat
Long-tailed Ducks breed in shallow tundra ponds and lakes. During other seasons, Long-tailed Ducks can be found on the ocean over sandy substrates. They prefer sheltered water, but can be found on the open ocean as well.
Other details
Clangula hyemalis is a widespread breeder in northernmost Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>690,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. Although trends in Greenland, Iceland and Sweden during 1990-2000 were unknown, populations were stable elsewhere-including in the Russian stronghold-and the species probably remained stable overall.
This duck has a wide distribution at high latitudes in Eurasia and North America. Most of the birds inhabiting northern Europe are wintering in the Baltic Sea. This population is estimated at 4.5 millions of individuals, but only a few thousand reach the Wadden Sea and only stragglers are recorded more south, especially in hard winters. The birds of Greenland and Iceland reach the west of the British islands. This population is estimated at 150000 individuals. Both populations seems stable (Scott & Rose), despite the fact that some decrease has been reported from Scandinavia and that the bird is sensitive to oil pollution of the s
Feeding
For Long-tailed Ducks at sea, mollusks and crustaceans are the main source of food. In summer, aquatic insects, other aquatic invertebrates, and some plant material are eaten.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 7,200,000-7,800,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
Most female Long-tailed Ducks first breed at the age of two. Pair bonds are established in the winter, or during the spring migration, and last until incubation begins. The nest is located on dry ground close to the water, often hidden in the undergrowth or among rocks. It is a depression lined with plant material and great quantities of down that the female adds to the nest after she begins laying. She usually lays from 6 to 11 eggs and incubates them for 24 to 29 days. Shortly after hatching, the young leave the nest and can swim and dive well. The female tends them and may dislodge food items for them when she is diving, but they feed themselves. They first fly at 35 to 40 days.
Migration
Migratory and partially migratory. winters mainly offshore between 55 degrees North and 75 degrees North and in Baltic Sea. Icelandic breeders are partial migrants, some remaining to winter around coasts, others moving to southern Greenland. Baltic Sea appears to be the most important wintering area in west Palearctic. Though extensive moult migration occurs in east Siberia, in west Palearctic males moult on coasts and lakes close to breeding areas either solitarily or in small flocks. Movements beginning late June to early July. Large flocks build up August-September as females and young desert breeding areas. Some reach south Sweden mid-September, but overland passage from White Sea to Gulf of Finland mostly 1st half October. Main influx to west Baltic November or December. Return movement North and Baltic Seas from mid-March, with major overland passage towards White Sea in May. They return to breeding areas dependent on thaw, late April or early May in Iceland, mid-May to mid-June in Russian tundras.
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Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Aythya marila | [UK] Greater Scaup | [FR] Fuligule milouinan | [DE] Bergente | [ES] Porrón Bastardo | [IT] Moretta grigia | [NL] Topper
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 71 cm
spanwidth max.: 80 cm
size min.: 42 cm
size max.: 51 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 26 days
incubation max.: 28 days
fledging min.: 40 days
fledging max.: 45 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 8
eggs max.: 13
Physical characteristics
The male Greater Scaup has white flanks, a black rump and breast, and barred gray back. He has a green-black iridescent head and light gray-blue bill. The adult in its second year has a yellow eye. The male in non-breeding plumage has a black head and breast, brown body, and black rump. The female is brownish overall, also with a yellow eye after the age of two. The female also has a white semi-circle at the base of the beak. The Greater and Lesser Scaup can be difficult to distinguish in the field. The Greater Scaup averages about 10% longer and 20% heavier than the Lesser Scaup. The Lesser Scaup has a peaked, angular head that the Greater Scaup lacks. The Greater Scaup has a larger bill with a more pronounced nail (tip of the bill) than the Lesser Scaup. Seen in flight, the white on the wings of the Greater Scaup extends into the primaries, where it is gray on the Lesser Scaup. Habitat, range, and season may help differentiate between the two species, as well as using a field guide and working with experienced observers.
Outside of the breeding season, Greater Scaup form large flocks or rafts, numbering in the thousands. In tidal waters, they tend to face up-current. While individuals may drift downstream, birds from the back of the flock fly to the front, maintaining the raft in the same position. A diver, the Greater Scaup catches its food under water, but eats it on the surface. Occasionally scaups forage at or near the water's surface as well.
Habitat
The Greater Scaup is the more northerly of the two species of North American Scaup. In the summer, they breed on marshy, lowland tundra at the northern limits of the boreal forest. In winter, they gather in coastal bays, lagoons, and estuaries, with some wintering on inland lakes. While the Greater Scaup does overlap with the Lesser Scaup in winter, it tends to frequent more open, exposed areas.
Other details
Aythya marila breeds in northern Europe, and winters mainly in north-western Europe and the Black Sea, which together account for less than half of its global wintering range. Its European wintering population is large (>120,000 individuals), and was stable between 1970-1990. Although most wintering populations were broadly stable during 1990-2000, there were substantial declines in north-western Europe, and the species probably underwent a very large decline (>50%) overall.
This duck has a wide distribution at high latitudes in Eurasia and North America. In Europe its mainly marine wintering area is reaching the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, but most birds winter in the Baltic and North Seas. This north-western European population is estimated at 310000 individuals. A decline has been recorded in the British Isles and in Denmark; an increase in the Netherlands and Germany. Its global trends are unknown
Feeding
Mollusks and plant material are both important components of the Greater Scaup's diet. In the summer, aquatic insects and crustaceans are also eaten.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 1,100,000-1,400,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
While Greater Scaup may nest at one year of age, they are more likely to begin breeding at the age of two. Pair formation begins in late winter or early spring on the wintering grounds and during migration back to the breeding grounds. The pair bond lasts until the female begins to incubate, and then the male leaves. Nests are located close to the water on an island, shoreline, or floating mat of vegetation, often close together in loose colonies. The female makes a shallow depression lined with grass. During incubation, the female adds down to the nest. Incubation of the 6 to 9 eggs lasts for 23 to 28 days. Soon after they hatch, the female leads the young to the water. Multiple broods may form small crèches and be tended by one or more females. The young can swim and find their own food immediately, but can't fly until about 40 to 45 days old
Migration
Migratory, winters along coasts of North America (Atlantic and Pacific), NW Europe, Black and Caspian Seas and Japan, Yellow and East China seas. At some localities (e.g. Central Europe, Great lakes of North America) also inland. Males to remain much further N than females or immatures
Leam Lane Estate is a housing estate in Gateshead, built in the 1950s and early 60's. Originally made up solely of council-built accommodation and housing association houses. Most of the properties are now privately owned. The estate is located around 4 miles (6.4 km) from Newcastle upon Tyne, 10.5 miles (16.9 km) from Sunderland, and 15.5 miles (24.9 km) from Durham. In 2011, Census data for the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council ward of Wardley and Leam Lane recorded a total population of 8,327.
The estate's main shopping area, Fewster Square, provides a number of amenities, including independent shops, two supermarkets, post office, and medical centre. The nearby Oliver Henderson Park includes a play area, lake, skateboard park and a bowling green, as well as a large grass football pitch.
Leam Lane Estate is bordered by Heworth, Whitehills Estate, Springwell Estate, Wardley and Windy Nook. Most of the estate is in the NE10 postcode, with NE9 covering the upper side of Leam Lane, at the border with Springwell.
Demography
According to the 2011 Census, the Wardley and Leam Lane ward has a population of 8,327. 51.2% of the population are female, slightly above the national average, while 48.8% are male. Only 2.5% of the population were from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) group, as opposed to 14.6% of the national population.
Data from the 2011 Census found that the average life expectancy in Wardley and Leam Lane is 79.9 years for men, and 81.9 years for women. These statistics compare fairly favorably, when compared to the average life expectancy in the North East of England, of 77.4 and 81.4 years, respectively.
Car ownership is higher than the average in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead (63.5%), but lower than the national average of 74.2% – with 67.8% of households in the Wardley and Leam Lane ward owning at least one car.
Education
Leam Lane Estate is served by four primary schools: Colegate Community Primary School and St. Augustine's Catholic Primary School – both of which were rated "good" by Ofsted. Also, Lingey House Primary School and Roman Road Primary School – both of which were rated "outstanding". Nearby primary schools also include The Drive Community Primary School in Heworth, St. Alban's Catholic Primary School in Pelaw, and Wardley Primary School and White Mere Community Primary School in Wardley.
In terms of secondary education, Leam Lane Estate is located within the catchment area for Heworth Grange School. An inspection carried out by Ofsted in January 2017 deemed the school to be "inadequate". Students from the area also attend the nearby Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Wrekenton, rated "outstanding" by Ofsted in January 2014, as well as St. Joseph's Catholic Academy in Hebburn, which was rated "requires improvement" by Ofsted in January 2019.
Governance
Wardley and Leam Lane is a local council ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. This ward covers an area of around 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), and has a population of 8,327. As of April 2020, the ward is served by three councillors: Anne Wheeler, Linda Green and Stuart Green. Leam Lane Estate is located within the parliamentary constituencies of Gateshead. As of April 2020, the constituency is served by MP Ian Mearns.
Transport
Air
The nearest airport to Leam Lane Estate is Newcastle International Airport, which is located around 11.5 miles (18.5 km) away by road. Teesside International Airport and Carlisle Lake District Airport are located around 34.5 and 60 miles (55.5 and 96.6 km) away by road, respectively.
Bus
Leam Lane Estate is served by Go North East's local bus services, with services 51, 52, 57 and 58 serving Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. Gateshead Central Taxis also operate services 67 and 69, which serve Wardley, Winlaton and the Metrocentre.
Rail
The nearest Tyne and Wear Metro stations are located at Pelaw and Heworth. The Tyne and Wear Metro provides a regular service to Newcastle, with trains running up to every 6 minutes (7–8 minutes during the evening and Sunday) between Pelaw and South Gosforth, increasing to up to every 3 minutes at peak times. Heworth is the nearest rail station, with Northern Trains providing an hourly service along the Durham Coast Line.
Road
Leam Lane Estate is located near to the A184 – a busy route linking South Tyneside with Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. By road, Gateshead can be reached in around 10 minutes, Newcastle in 15 minutes, and Newcastle International Airport in 30 minutes.
People from Leam Lane Estate
Chris Waddle – former professional football player and manager
Jill Halfpenny – actress, best known for her roles in Coronation Street, EastEnders and Waterloo Road
In the media
The world's first online home shopping took place in the area, when resident, Jane Snowball, bought an item from a local Tesco supermarket in May 1984, by using her television set and remote control. The scheme had been developed by Newcastle University lecturer, Ross Davies, in conjunction with Rediffusion.
Gateshead is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The town shares the Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and multiple other bridges with Newcastle upon Tyne.
Historically part of County Durham, under the Local Government Act 1888 the town was made a county borough, meaning it was administered independently of the county council.
In the 2011 Census, the town had a population of 120,046 while the wider borough had 200,214.
History
Gateshead is first mentioned in Latin translation in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People as ad caput caprae ("at the goat's head"). This interpretation is consistent with the later English attestations of the name, among them Gatesheued (c. 1190), literally "goat's head" but in the context of a place-name meaning 'headland or hill frequented by (wild) goats'. Although other derivations have been mooted, it is this that is given by the standard authorities.
A Brittonic predecessor, named with the element *gabro-, 'goat' (c.f. Welsh gafr), may underlie the name. Gateshead might have been the Roman-British fort of Gabrosentum.
Early
There has been a settlement on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, around the old river crossing where the Swing Bridge now stands, since Roman times.
The first recorded mention of Gateshead is in the writings of the Venerable Bede who referred to an Abbot of Gateshead called Utta in 623. In 1068 William the Conqueror defeated the forces of Edgar the Ætheling and Malcolm king of Scotland (Shakespeare's Malcolm) on Gateshead Fell (now Low Fell and Sheriff Hill).
During medieval times Gateshead was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham. At this time the area was largely forest with some agricultural land. The forest was the subject of Gateshead's first charter, granted in the 12th century by Hugh du Puiset, Bishop of Durham. An alternative spelling may be "Gatishevede", as seen in a legal record, dated 1430.
Industrial revolution
Throughout the Industrial Revolution the population of Gateshead expanded rapidly; between 1801 and 1901 the increase was over 100,000. This expansion resulted in the spread southwards of the town.
In 1854, a catastrophic explosion on the quayside destroyed most of Gateshead's medieval heritage, and caused widespread damage on the Newcastle side of the river.
Sir Joseph Swan lived at Underhill, Low Fell, Gateshead from 1869 to 1883, where his experiments led to the invention of the electric light bulb. The house was the first in the world to be wired for domestic electric light.
In the 1889 one of the largest employers (Hawks, Crawshay and Company) closed down and unemployment has since been a burden. Up to the Second World War there were repeated newspaper reports of the unemployed sending deputations to the council to provide work. The depression years of the 1920s and 1930s created even more joblessness and the Team Valley Trading Estate was built in the mid-1930s to alleviate the situation.
Regeneration
In the late noughties, Gateshead Council started to regenerate the town, with the long-term aim of making Gateshead a city. The most extensive transformation occurred in the Quayside, with almost all the structures there being constructed or refurbished in this time.
In the early 2010s, regeneration refocused on the town centre. The £150 million Trinity Square development opened in May 2013, it incorporates student accommodation, a cinema, health centre and shops. It was nominated for the Carbuncle Cup in September 2014. The cup was however awarded to another development which involved Tesco, Woolwich Central.
Governance
In 1835, Gateshead was established as a municipal borough and in 1889 it was made a county borough, independent from Durham County Council.
In 1870, the Old Town Hall was built, designed by John Johnstone who also designed the previously built Newcastle Town Hall. The ornamental clock in front of the old town hall was presented to Gateshead in 1892 by the mayor, Walter de Lancey Willson, on the occasion of him being elected for a third time. He was also one of the founders of Walter Willson's, a chain of grocers in the North East and Cumbria. The old town hall also served as a magistrate's court and one of Gateshead's police stations.
Current
In 1974, following the Local Government Act 1972, the County Borough of Gateshead was merged with the urban districts of Felling, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton and part of the rural district of Chester-le-Street to create the much larger Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.
Geography
The town of Gateshead is in the North East of England in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear, and within the historic boundaries of County Durham. It is located on the southern bank of the River Tyne at a latitude of 54.57° N and a longitude of 1.35° W. Gateshead experiences a temperate climate which is considerably warmer than some other locations at similar latitudes as a result of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream (via the North Atlantic drift). It is located in the rain shadow of the North Pennines and is therefore in one of the driest regions of the United Kingdom.
One of the most distinguishing features of Gateshead is its topography. The land rises 230 feet from Gateshead Quays to the town centre and continues rising to a height of 525 feet at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sheriff Hill. This is in contrast to the flat and low lying Team Valley located on the western edges of town. The high elevations allow for impressive views over the Tyne valley into Newcastle and across Tyneside to Sunderland and the North Sea from lookouts in Windmill Hills and Windy Nook respectively.
The Office for National Statistics defines the town as an urban sub-division. The latest (2011) ONS urban sub-division of Gateshead contains the historical County Borough together with areas that the town has absorbed, including Dunston, Felling, Heworth, Pelaw and Bill Quay.
Given the proximity of Gateshead to Newcastle, just south of the River Tyne from the city centre, it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as being a part of Newcastle. Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council teamed up in 2000 to create a unified marketing brand name, NewcastleGateshead, to better promote the whole of the Tyneside conurbation.
Economy
Gateshead is home to the MetroCentre, the largest shopping mall in the UK until 2008; and the Team Valley Trading Estate, once the largest and still one of the larger purpose-built commercial estates in the UK.
Arts
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has been established in a converted flour mill. The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, previously The Sage, a Norman Foster-designed venue for music and the performing arts opened on 17 December 2004. Gateshead also hosted the Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990, rejuvenating 200 acres (0.81 km2) of derelict land (now mostly replaced with housing). The Angel of the North, a famous sculpture in nearby Lamesley, is visible from the A1 to the south of Gateshead, as well as from the East Coast Main Line. Other public art include works by Richard Deacon, Colin Rose, Sally Matthews, Andy Goldsworthy, Gordon Young and Michael Winstone.
Traditional and former
The earliest recorded coal mining in the Gateshead area is dated to 1344. As trade on the Tyne prospered there were several attempts by the burghers of Newcastle to annex Gateshead. In 1576 a small group of Newcastle merchants acquired the 'Grand Lease' of the manors of Gateshead and Whickham. In the hundred years from 1574 coal shipments from Newcastle increased elevenfold while the population of Gateshead doubled to approximately 5,500. However, the lease and the abundant coal supplies ended in 1680. The pits were shallow as problems of ventilation and flooding defeated attempts to mine coal from the deeper seams.
'William Cotesworth (1668-1726) was a prominent merchant based in Gateshead, where he was a leader in coal and international trade. Cotesworth began as the son of a yeoman and apprentice to a tallow - candler. He ended as an esquire, having been mayor, Justice of the Peace and sheriff of Northumberland. He collected tallow from all over England and sold it across the globe. He imported dyes from the Indies, as well as flax, wine, and grain. He sold tea, sugar, chocolate, and tobacco. He operated the largest coal mines in the area, and was a leading salt producer. As the government's principal agent in the North country, he was in contact with leading ministers.
William Hawks originally a blacksmith, started business in Gateshead in 1747, working with the iron brought to the Tyne as ballast by the Tyne colliers. Hawks and Co. eventually became one of the biggest iron businesses in the North, producing anchors, chains and so on to meet a growing demand. There was keen contemporary rivalry between 'Hawks' Blacks' and 'Crowley's Crew'. The famous 'Hawks' men' including Ned White, went on to be celebrated in Geordie song and story.
In 1831 a locomotive works was established by the Newcastle and Darlington Railway, later part of the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway. In 1854 the works moved to the Greenesfield site and became the manufacturing headquarters of North Eastern Railway. In 1909, locomotive construction was moved to Darlington and the rest of the works were closed in 1932.
Robert Stirling Newall took out a patent on the manufacture of wire ropes in 1840 and in partnership with Messrs. Liddell and Gordon, set up his headquarters at Gateshead. A worldwide industry of wire-drawing resulted. The submarine telegraph cable received its definitive form through Newall's initiative, involving the use of gutta-percha surrounded by strong wires. The first successful Dover–Calais cable on 25 September 1851, was made in Newall's works. In 1853, he invented the brake-drum and cone for laying cable in deep seas. Half of the first Atlantic cable was manufactured in Gateshead. Newall was interested in astronomy, and his giant 25-inch (640 mm) telescope was set up in the garden at Ferndene, his Gateshead residence, in 1871.
Architecture
JB Priestley, writing of Gateshead in his 1934 travelogue English Journey, said that "no true civilisation could have produced such a town", adding that it appeared to have been designed "by an enemy of the human race".
Victorian
William Wailes the celebrated stained-glass maker, lived at South Dene from 1853 to 1860. In 1860, he designed Saltwell Towers as a fairy-tale palace for himself. It is an imposing Victorian mansion in its own park with a romantic skyline of turrets and battlements. It was originally furnished sumptuously by Gerrard Robinson. Some of the panelling installed by Robinson was later moved to the Shipley Art gallery. Wailes sold Saltwell Towers to the corporation in 1876 for use as a public park, provided he could use the house for the rest of his life. For many years the structure was essentially an empty shell but following a restoration programme it was reopened to the public in 2004.
Post millennium
The council sponsored the development of a Gateshead Quays cultural quarter. The development includes the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, erected in 2001, which won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2002.
Former brutalism
The brutalist Trinity Centre Car Park, which was designed by Owen Luder, dominated the town centre for many years until its demolition in 2010. A product of attempts to regenerate the area in the 1960s, the car park gained an iconic status due to its appearance in the 1971 film Get Carter, starring Michael Caine. An unsuccessful campaign to have the structure listed was backed by Sylvester Stallone, who played the main role in the 2000 remake of the film. The car park was scheduled for demolition in 2009, but this was delayed as a result of a disagreement between Tesco, who re-developed the site, and Gateshead Council. The council had not been given firm assurances that Tesco would build the previously envisioned town centre development which was to include a Tesco mega-store as well as shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, offices and student accommodation. The council effectively used the car park as a bargaining tool to ensure that the company adhered to the original proposals and blocked its demolition until they submitted a suitable planning application. Demolition finally took place in July–August 2010.
The Derwent Tower, another well known example of brutalist architecture, was also designed by Owen Luder and stood in the neighbourhood of Dunston. Like the Trinity Car Park it also failed in its bid to become a listed building and was demolished in 2012. Also located in this area are the Grade II listed Dunston Staithes which were built in 1890. Following the award of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of almost £420,000 restoration of the structure is expected to begin in April 2014.
Sport
Gateshead International Stadium regularly holds international athletics meetings over the summer months, and is home of the Gateshead Harriers athletics club. It is also host to rugby league fixtures, and the home ground of Gateshead Football Club. Gateshead Thunder Rugby League Football Club played at Gateshead International Stadium until its purchase by Newcastle Rugby Limited and the subsequent rebranding as Newcastle Thunder. Both clubs have had their problems: Gateshead A.F.C. were controversially voted out of the Football League in 1960 in favour of Peterborough United, whilst Gateshead Thunder lost their place in Super League as a result of a takeover (officially termed a merger) by Hull F.C. Both Gateshead clubs continue to ply their trade at lower levels in their respective sports, thanks mainly to the efforts of their supporters. The Gateshead Senators American Football team also use the International Stadium, as well as this it was used in the 2006 Northern Conference champions in the British American Football League.
Gateshead Leisure Centre is home to the Gateshead Phoenix Basketball Team. The team currently plays in EBL League Division 4. Home games are usually on a Sunday afternoon during the season, which runs from September to March. The team was formed in 2013 and ended their initial season well placed to progress after defeating local rivals Newcastle Eagles II and promotion chasing Kingston Panthers.
In Low Fell there is a cricket club and a rugby club adjacent to each other on Eastwood Gardens. These are Gateshead Fell Cricket Club and Gateshead Rugby Club. Gateshead Rugby Club was formed in 1998 following the merger of Gateshead Fell Rugby Club and North Durham Rugby Club.
Transport
Gateshead is served by the following rail transport stations with some being operated by National Rail and some being Tyne & Wear Metro stations: Dunston, Felling, Gateshead Interchange, Gateshead Stadium, Heworth Interchange, MetroCentre and Pelaw.
Tyne & Wear Metro stations at Gateshead Interchange and Gateshead Stadium provide direct light-rail access to Newcastle Central, Newcastle Airport , Sunderland, Tynemouth and South Shields Interchange.
National Rail services are provided by Northern at Dunston and MetroCentre stations. The East Coast Main Line, which runs from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, cuts directly through the town on its way between Newcastle Central and Chester-le-Street stations. There are presently no stations on this line within Gateshead, as Low Fell, Bensham and Gateshead West stations were closed in 1952, 1954 and 1965 respectively.
Road
Several major road links pass through Gateshead, including the A1 which links London to Edinburgh and the A184 which connects the town to Sunderland.
Gateshead Interchange is the busiest bus station in Tyne & Wear and was used by 3.9 million bus passengers in 2008.
Cycle routes
Various bicycle trails traverse the town; most notably is the recreational Keelmans Way (National Cycle Route 14), which is located on the south bank of the Tyne and takes riders along the entire Gateshead foreshore. Other prominent routes include the East Gateshead Cycleway, which connects to Felling, the West Gateshead Cycleway, which links the town centre to Dunston and the MetroCentre, and routes along both the old and new Durham roads, which take cyclists to Birtley, Wrekenton and the Angel of the North.
Religion
Christianity has been present in the town since at least the 7th century, when Bede mentioned a monastery in Gateshead. A church in the town was burned down in 1080 with the Bishop of Durham inside.[citation needed] St Mary's Church was built near to the site of that building, and was the only church in the town until the 1820s. Undoubtedly the oldest building on the Quayside, St Mary's has now re-opened to the public as the town's first heritage centre.
Many of the Anglican churches in the town date from the 19th century, when the population of the town grew dramatically and expanded into new areas. The town presently has a number of notable and large churches of many denominations.
Judaism
The Bensham district is home to a community of hundreds of Jewish families and used to be known as "Little Jerusalem". Within the community is the Gateshead Yeshiva, founded in 1929, and other Jewish educational institutions with international enrolments. These include two seminaries: Beis Medrash L'Morot and Beis Chaya Rochel seminary, colloquially known together as Gateshead "old" and "new" seminaries.
Many yeshivot and kollels also are active. Yeshivat Beer Hatorah, Sunderland Yeshiva, Nesivos Hatorah, Nezer Hatorah and Yeshiva Ketana make up some of the list.
Islam
Islam is practised by a large community of people in Gateshead and there are 2 mosques located in the Bensham area (in Ely Street and Villa Place).
Twinning
Gateshead is twinned with the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in France, and the city of Komatsu in Japan.
Notable people
Eliezer Adler – founder of Jewish Community
Marcus Bentley – narrator of Big Brother
Catherine Booth – wife of William Booth, known as the Mother of The Salvation Army
William Booth – founder of the Salvation Army
Mary Bowes – the Unhappy Countess, author and celebrity
Ian Branfoot – footballer and manager (Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton)
Andy Carroll – footballer (Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United)
Frank Clark – footballer and manager (Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest)
David Clelland – Labour politician and MP
Derek Conway – former Conservative politician and MP
Joseph Cowen – Radical politician
Steve Cram – athlete (middle-distance runner)
Emily Davies – educational reformer and feminist, founder of Girton College, Cambridge
Daniel Defoe – writer and government agent
Ruth Dodds – politician, writer and co-founder of the Little Theatre
Jonathan Edwards – athlete (triple jumper) and television presenter
Sammy Johnson – actor (Spender)
George Elliot – industrialist and MP
Paul Gascoigne – footballer (Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers and Middlesbrough)
Alex Glasgow – singer/songwriter
Avrohom Gurwicz – rabbi, Dean of Gateshead Yeshiva
Leib Gurwicz – rabbi, Dean of Gateshead Yeshiva
Jill Halfpenny – actress (Coronation Street and EastEnders)
Chelsea Halfpenny – actress (Emmerdale)
David Hodgson – footballer and manager (Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Sunderland)
Sharon Hodgson – Labour politician and MP
Norman Hunter – footballer (Leeds United and member of 1966 World Cup-winning England squad)
Don Hutchison – footballer (Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton and Sunderland)
Brian Johnson – AC/DC frontman
Tommy Johnson – footballer (Aston Villa and Celtic)
Riley Jones - actor
Howard Kendall – footballer and manager (Preston North End and Everton)
J. Thomas Looney – Shakespeare scholar
Gary Madine – footballer (Sheffield Wednesday)
Justin McDonald – actor (Distant Shores)
Lawrie McMenemy – football manager (Southampton and Northern Ireland) and pundit
Thomas Mein – professional cyclist (Canyon DHB p/b Soreen)
Robert Stirling Newall – industrialist
Bezalel Rakow – communal rabbi
John William Rayner – flying ace and war hero
James Renforth – oarsman
Mariam Rezaei – musician and artist
Sir Tom Shakespeare - baronet, sociologist and disability rights campaigner
William Shield – Master of the King's Musick
Christina Stead – Australian novelist
John Steel – drummer (The Animals)
Henry Spencer Stephenson – chaplain to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II
Steve Stone – footballer (Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Portsmouth)
Chris Swailes – footballer (Ipswich Town)
Sir Joseph Swan – inventor of the incandescent light bulb
Nicholas Trainor – cricketer (Gloucestershire)
Chris Waddle – footballer (Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday)
William Wailes – stained glass maker
Taylor Wane – adult entertainer
Robert Spence Watson – public benefactor
Sylvia Waugh – author of The Mennyms series for children
Chris Wilkie – guitarist (Dubstar)
John Wilson - orchestral conductor
Peter Wilson – footballer (Gateshead, captain of Australia)
Thomas Wilson – poet/school founder
Robert Wood – Australian politician
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Faisalabad, March 19 – American scientists and Pakistani wheat experts are collaborating to increase Pakistan’s wheat harvest and ensure greater prosperity to farmers nationwide. A bi-national team of scientists, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), met in Faisalabad last week to evaluate wheat varieties for disease-resistance. In order to determine which wheat varieties will perform best in Pakistan’s unique ecosystem, U.S. and Pakistani researchers studied the effects of heat and other types of environmental stress on the different varieties of wheat that can be planted in Pakistan.
USDA, through its Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project (WPEP), currently helps evaluate 60 wheat varieties planted in 115 wheat trials throughout Pakistan. In order to increase the quality of this joint research, last week USDA also provided Pakistani research institutions specialized wheat planting and harvesting equipment. The new machines, which replaced equipment over 25 years old, will allow scientists to study more wheat varieties each year and more rapidly improve Pakistani farmers’ harvest yields.
“Wheat is critical to the food security of both Pakistan and the United States,” said USDA Plant Health Advisor Ian Winborne after a ceremony at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) celebrating the handover of the new equipment. He added, “Lasting links between Pakistani and U.S. scientists can help improve and protect agricultural harvests in both our countries.”
WPEP facilitates scientific collaboration between USDA, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and Pakistan’s national wheat programs. WPEP funds scientific exchanges to develop, introduce, and test disease-resistant wheat varieties; improve agronomic practices; and upgrade research capacity in Pakistan.
This initiative is just one part of a comprehensive U.S. economic growth assistance program which includes expanding irrigation by more than 200,000 acres near the Gomal Zam and Satpara dams; constructing more than 1,000 km of roads to connect communities and facilitate trade; modernizing dairy farms in Punjab; and launching private equity investment funds to help small and medium businesses grow.
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With global warming increasing, resources running low and populations predicting to double by 2050, mankind must reach beyond in order to continue survival. Man has already taken a huge step by landing on the Moon; however a step to Mars is yet to be achieved. Shahidul Syed Alam's vehicle is designed for Mars 2050 and aims to assist researchers in exploring the planet.
Nathanael Mather was the son of Increase Mather and the brother of Cotton Mather, Puritan ministers. The inscription reads "An Aged person that had seen but 19 winters in this world." Nathanael entered Harvard at age 12, graduated at 16 and died 3 years later. The stone was carved by William Mumford.
The Charter Street Burial Ground, started in 1637, also known as "Old Burying Point" or the "Charter Street Cemetery", is the oldest cemetery in Salem. Many early and famous Salem residents are buried here, such as Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, both judges in the Salem witch trials of 1692 and Samuel McIntire, Salem's great woodcarver. Another famous gravestone is of the only Mayflower passenger buried here, a Capt. Richard More.
abcnews.go.com/Health/cornell-university-reports-indicati...
Cornell University reports indications of 'substantial prevalence' of COVID-19 on campus
The school recorded 515 positive COVID-19 infections among community members.
After a significant viral outbreak before winter break in December, COVID-19 infection levels at Cornell University had markedly declined, as the omicron surge receded, and students returned to campus for the spring semester.
However, as new case totals begin to tick up in the state of New York, the campus is once again reporting a viral resurgence. This week, Cornell elevated its COVID-19 alert system to "yellow," indicating that transmission is rising, and prevalence of the virus is above predicted levels.
Between March 17 and March 23, Cornell recorded 515 positive COVID-19 infections among students, staff and faculty, according to data from the university.
"COVID-19 cases on the Ithaca campus are increasing beyond our predictions, indicating a substantial prevalence of the virus on campus," Provost Michael Kotlikoff said in a statement on Wednesday. "This rising transmission is likely due to a number of factors, including relaxing mask requirements, the emergence of the BA.2 variant, and increased social activities."
Data shows 97% of the student population is vaccinated, while 92% of those eligible are boosted.
At this time, all unvaccinated or unboosted students, faculty, and staff are required to participate in surveillance testing. Cornell provides symptomatic test kits to community members who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
"The majority of positive cases being reported on campus are from symptomatic testing, which tells us that there are even more asymptomatic cases within our community," Kotlikoff wrote.
The increase comes less than two weeks after the school dropped its mask mandate for most locations, though community members are still required to wear masks when in certain settings, such as classrooms and laboratories, at health care and testing facilities, and on public transportation.
Given the resurgence, the university strongly encourages community members to get tested before and after spring break, which is not for another week.
With increasing viral transmission occurring overseas, federal officials have been warning that the U.S. is likely to see an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the weeks to come, as the presence of the omicron subvariant, BA.2, spreads across the country.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday her agency is "carefully" watching New England and New York City for increases of the BA.2 variant after they found slight increases in the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater surveillance.
"Currently, we're seeing a modest uptick of sites reporting an increase of virus levels in wastewater in some communities. In fact, over the past two weeks we have seen increasing wastewater signals in New York City and parts of New England, where we are now seeing increases in cases and some increased hospitalizations," Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 briefing.
Walensky said officials have been focused largely on hospitalization metrics, to guide potential future guidance on masking and restriction measures.
"If cases do go up, we have the framework to implement additional layers of prevention strategies at the local level to swiftly protect individuals and communities," Walensky said.
Many experts have been warning that the virus may be already spreading rapidly across the country.
Dozens of states have moved to shutter public testing sites, with more at-home COVID-19 tests now available in pharmacies, and through the federal testing program. Most Americans are not reporting their results to officials, and thus, experts said infection totals are likely significantly undercounted.
Nationwide, BA.2, now accounts for more than a third of new COVID-19 cases. Many top health officials, including Walensky and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, have said that they anticipate that over the next few weeks, BA.2 will become the predominant variant in the U.S.
Although breakthrough COVID-19 infections surged during the omicron wave, data from the CDC shows vaccines still dramatically reduced the risk of requiring hospitalization or dying of the virus.
In January, unvaccinated adults were 9 times more likely to die of COVID-19, compared to vaccinated individuals, and six times more likely to require hospitalization.
Additionally, unvaccinated adults were about 21 times more likely to die of COVID-19 in January, and 12 times more likely to require hospitalization, compared to fully vaccinated and boosted adults.
www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/percentage-of...
Omicron subvariant BA.2 spreading rapidly in L.A. and across the nation
The percentage of Omicron subvariant BA.2 cases is rising in Los Angeles County, a trend seen elsewhere nationwide as officials sound the alarm about Congress’ failure to provide critical funding for vaccinations, tests and anti-COVID drugs.
Officials in L.A. County and nationally have warned about the risk to public health if new pandemic federal funding fails to be approved. There is no money left to reimburse doctors for COVID care for uninsured Americans, and funds will soon run out to provide vaccinations, Xavier Becerra, the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, said this week.
According to data released Thursday, 14.7% of coronavirus samples analyzed for L.A. County between Feb. 27 to March 5 were the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant. That’s more than double the previous week’s figure of 6.4%.
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer continued to urge residents to adhere to the strong recommendation issued by her department and state health officials to continue masking in indoor public settings.
“Along with the increasing circulation of the more-infectious BA.2 subvariant, everyone, especially those who are at elevated risk or live with someone at elevated risk, should wear a high-quality mask and get vaccinated and boosted,” Ferrer said in a statement Thursday.
More recent national estimates have suggested BA.2 will quickly become dominant soon. BA.2 comprised an estimated 35% of analyzed samples between March 13 and March 19; the previous week, it made up 22%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the Southwestern U.S. — which includes California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii — BA.2 made up an estimated 41% of coronavirus samples. The previous week, it was 28%. And for the first time, BA.2 is the now estimated to be the dominant subvariant in the Northeast, making up more than half the analyzed coronavirus cases in New York, New Jersey and New England.
BA.2 is believed to be 30% to 60% more contagious than the earlier Omicron subvariant. BA.2, however, doesn’t appear to result in more severe illness, and it’s likely that people recently infected with the earlier Omicron subvariant will have a decent degree of at least short-term immunity to BA.2.
It’s not clear whether the rise of BA.2 will result in a major surge that will strain hospitals yet again, or whether BA.2 will merely slow the continued decline in new coronavirus cases. But officials say it’s prudent to be prepared for the worst, wear masks in indoor public spaces and get up-to-date on vaccinations and booster shots.
One potential warning sign is from Britain, which has seen its coronavirus case rate more than triple since late February and is reporting more than 1,100 cases a week for every 100,000 residents, according to Johns Hopkins University. Coronavirus-positive hospitalizations are also up by 20% in Britain over the last week, and deaths are on an upward trend as well, according to Britain’s coronavirus data tracking website.
But not all European nations are seeing a BA.2-fueled surge; Spain’s case rate is much lower than Britain’s and appears to be flat, at around 250 cases a week for every 100,000 residents.
In the U.S., the Northeast is likely to provide some hints as to how BA.2 might influence pandemic trends in California.
“Over the past week, we have seen a small increase in reported COVID-19 cases in New York state and New York City, and some increases in people in the hospital with COVID-19 in New England, specifically, where the BA.2 variant has been reaching levels above 50%,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday.
“This small increase in cases in the Northeast is something that we are closely watching as we look for any indication of an increase in severe disease from COVID-19 and track whether it represents any strain on our hospitals. We have not yet seen this so far,” Walensky said.
Cases are relatively flat nationwide and in California. In L.A. County, coronavirus cases are still continuing to decline, when accounting for a backlog of cases recently reported that actually occurred earlier in the pandemic.
Officials in L.A. County and at the White House have voiced deep worry about Congress’ failure to provide additional federal funding to respond to the pandemic.
Last week, Ferrer said because of the stalemate in Washington, many of L.A. County’s community groups were no longer expected to be reimbursed for the vaccination or testing of uninsured people as of this week, a situation that “wrecks our network immediately.”
“We need to be prepared for a potential challenge in the future — and in the near future. We don’t want to be caught off guard,” Ferrer said.
Added Dr. Sara Cody, the public health director for Santa Clara County, Northern California’s most populous county, last week: “COVID funding has essentially collapsed. That is breathtaking and shocking in the middle of a global pandemic.”
Becerra said at a press briefing Wednesday that there’s no money left in the fund Congress created to reimburse doctors for COVID care to Americans, particularly the uninsured. The fund will also need to stop accepting new claims for vaccination services around April 5 — less than two weeks away.
“Examples of entities this will impact include, but are not limited to, ambulances, testing providers, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals,” officials from the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in response to an inquiry from The Times. “The county’s options to address this lack of funding are limited as it is a federal program.”
Maintaining the capacity to administer hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses and coronavirus tests per day, as well as ready access to therapeutics, are also major components of the COVID-19 preparedness blueprint California unveiled last month.
“As we move into the third year dealing with COVID, we know a lot more. We know how to use the tools in the toolkit. We’re hoping not to use them all all the time, but we know how to use them in more precise ways, what metrics matter,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s health and human services secretary, said during an appearance this week on the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s “Public Health On Call” podcast.
But it remains to be seen how, or whether, the lack of new federal funding might affect the state’s goals. The California Department of Public Health “is aware of changes to COVID-19-related federal reimbursement and is assessing the impact on state programs and constituencies,” officials said in a statement Friday.
“Our priority throughout the pandemic has been to provide all Californians, irrespective of insurance status or ability to pay, access to testing and vaccines,” the statement continued. “We continue to be focused on this priority and will ensure that we provide these important services based on the needs of individuals and communities, and not based on the bureaucratic structures of government or the specific funding sources.”
Already, the U.S. government has had to cancel a purchase of some potentially life-saving anti-COVID drugs that had been planned for this week. The federal supply of a type of anti-COVID drug, known as monoclonal antibodies, will likely run out in May if funding is not replenished, Becerra said. The monoclonal antibodies that can be used against the Omicron variant are sotrovimab and bebtelovimab.
In addition, the federal government now must scale back plans to buy more doses of Evusheld, a drug intended to prevent COVID-19 among people who haven’t been exposed to the coronavirus, and either have a weakened immune system because of a medical condition or cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons. “This increases the risk of having an insufficient supply of this treatment by the fall,” Becerra said.
The U.S. government has enough vaccines to give immunocompromised people a fourth dose this spring, and, if eventually authorized, fourth doses to seniors and other vulnerable people. But if a fourth dose — also known as a second booster shot — is made available for the general public, the current funding situation will result in the U.S. not having an adequate supply for all Americans, said Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 task force coordinator.
“Not having enough vaccines is completely unacceptable, as vaccines have proven to be our single most important tool in protecting Americans. We should be securing additional supply right now,” Zients said at a news briefing Wednesday. “Many other countries are already doing so. In fact, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hong Kong have already secured future booster doses.”
Without additional funds, the U.S. also risks losing its domestic testing manufacturing capacity. “And because it takes months to ramp back up to rebuild capacity, failure to invest now will leave us with insufficient testing capacity and supply if we see another surge in cases and demand for testing increases once again. That should not be allowed to happen,” Zients said.
“These consequences will only get more significant over time, with less treatments, vaccines, and tests for the American people,” Zients added.
"It is by effectively increasing cooperation between member states - from security apparatus to intelligence activities - that we, together, can defeat terrorism, make our citizens safer and preserve our way of life", President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella told MEPs during a formal sitting on Wednesday. Mr Mattarella spoke about the future of the EU, and in particular how EU countries should respond to the threat of terrorism and the challenges of migration.
Read more here:
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151120...
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(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu
Hoenheim Nord Terminus Strasbourg, France
Architect: Zaha Hadid
BACKGROUND - The city of Strasbourg has been developing a new tram-line service to combat increasing congestion and pollution in the city centre. It encourages people to leave their cars outside the city in specially designed car parks, and then take a tram to the more inner parts of the city. The first part of this initiative was the development of Line ‘A’ that ran east to west across Strasbourg. Zaha Hadid has been invited, as part of the new artist’s interventions, to design the tram-station and a car park for 700 cars at the northern apex of the line.
CONCEPT - The overall concept towards the planning of the car park and the station is one of overlapping fields and lines that knit together to form a constantly shifting whole. Those ‘fields’ are the patterns of movement engendered by cars, trams, bicycles and pedestrians. Each has a trajectory and a trace, as well as a static fixture. It is as though the transition between transport types (car to tram, train to tram) is rendered as the material and spatial transitions of the station, the landscaping and the context.
MATERIALISED VECTORS - The Station contains a basic program of waiting space, bicycle storage, toilets and shop. This sense of three dimensional vectors is enhanced in the treatment of space: the play of lines continues as light lines in the floor, or furniture pieces or strip-lights in the ceiling. Viewed in plan, all the ‘lines’ coalesce to create a synchronous whole. The idea is to create an energetic and attractive space that is clearly defined in terms of function and circulation, which is made possible through three-dimensional graphics of light and openings.
MAGNETIC FIELDS - The car park is divided into two parts to cater for 700 cars. The notion of the cars as being ephemeral and constantly changing elements on site is manifest as a ‘magnetic field’ of white lines on the black tarmac. These delineate each parking space and start off aligned north/south at the lowest part of the site, then gently rotate according to the curvature of the site boundaries. Each space has a vertical light post. In contrast with the lines on the ground, an area of darker concrete, almost an imaginary ‘shadow’, cuts gently through the car park, linking the field of the station to the one of the car park. Overall, the ‘field’ of the light posts maintains a constant datum height that combines with the gradient of the floor slope. Again, the intention is to reciprocate between static and dynamic elements at all scales.
Date: 1999/2001
Client: Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois
Architectural design Zaha Hadid
Project architect: Stéphane Hof
Structural engineer: Dr. Ing. Luigi Martino
Superficie: 25.000 m²
Bus and Tram Station 3.000 m²
Parking 700 places.
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
This projectile was fitted with a Mk 9 warhead. The projectile was designed to be fired by the M65 Atomic Cannon, often called "Atomic Annie." The M65 was a mechanized truck transported artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s and fielded in Europe and Korea. Beginning in 1955 the Mk 9 was replaced with the Mk 19 warhead which was lighter, increasing the projectiles range.
3D Cross view- To view, sit back from your monitor 2 feet and place your index finger about 10 inches in front of your eyes and focus on your finger. This will cause your eyes to go comfortably cross eyed. Keep that same cross eyed focus and notice there are now 3 photos in the back ground. Do not let your eyes leave the cross eye as you look at the middle picture which has appeared. Now increase or decrease how much your eyes are cross eyed until the image pops into 3D. Your eyes will want to leave the cross eye, but fight that urge. This is an acquired skill and takes practice. Stop if it's uncomfortable.
Travels with Bill
USA trip, April through June 1963.
Close friend, William J. Armstrong passed away in March of 2013 at the age of 80. I came in possession of his many travel slides which he had taken through the years, and felt it would be an honor to share these many fine photos for all to see. One of Bill’s many interests was in transportation, and included almost all forms, from the streetcar, to the Jet plane. Early on, he could be found with a simple box camera taking photos of 3rd Avenue Railway streetcars in his native Bronx and nearby southern Westchester County. As he matured, the circle of travel increased to all of the New York metropolitan area, and then to other cities. Bill loved to travel, to see and experience not only his native New York, but the country as well. His interests went far beyond just transportation, but included history, geography, geology, and photography.
In April of 1963, a thirty year old Bill Armstrong set out on a two and one half month journey to see the country. He had just purchased a new 1963 Ford Falcon four door sedan, teal green in color and equipped with a rare 4 speed manual transmission mated to the base six cylinder engine. The car would take him across the plains of Texas, through the searing heat of Death Valley, along the Pacific Coast, and to Crater Lake where snow was still packed higher than his car. He drove north to Vancouver, Canada and then south along the eastern front of the Rockies. He and his trusty Falcon would visit many of the fabled National Parks such as the Grand Canyon, Crater Lake, and Yosemite. Cities such as Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Most of the driving was done on the old network of US highways, as the Interstate highway system was largely to be built.
Viewing these slides we are seeing our nation as it was fifty years ago. JF Kennedy was President, but would only live a few months longer. Our nation was engaged in a war in Viet Nam that would go on throughout the decade. The civil rights movement was growing as the decade progressed, and then Martin Luther King would be killed. But our nation was still optimistic for the future, and in six years we would land on the moon. Ours was a different nation then, and looking at these photos we see how styles have changed, and just look at all the “old” cars.
Bill loved to share his photos, and presented many evening slide shows during the years. I’m sure he would be pleased, and humbled, that his photos have been preserved and restored as much as possible. Time has not been kind to his color slides. After fifty years the colors have either faded or have changed tint. Bill shot many of his slides using Kodak Ektachrome, which faded very rapidly after developing. Many of those slides could only be saved into a black and white format. Fortunately during the 1963 trip he began to change over to Kodachrome slide film which held up far better. Although Kodachrome turned somewhat purple and darker over the years, a quick session with Photoshop managed to restore much of the color and sharpness. I have included several of the original Ektachrome slides as “before” images for comparison purposes.
This trip served to take Bill from a basic photographer to a highly competent scenic photographer. One can see his mastery of the camera improve as the trip progresses. Note how composition improves, and the use of foreground elements becomes evident during the trip. These photos were all taken with a relatively basic 35mm rangefinder camera with manual focus, lens and shutter adjustment. Bill never used a light meter, instead using the simple instructions provided on the inside of the film box, and let’s not forget the very slow speed of those old color slide films.
So enjoy the trip through Bill’s USA….I’m sure he is smiling.
John F. Ciesla
Faisalabad, March 19 – American scientists and Pakistani wheat experts are collaborating to increase Pakistan’s wheat harvest and ensure greater prosperity to farmers nationwide. A bi-national team of scientists, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), met in Faisalabad last week to evaluate wheat varieties for disease-resistance. In order to determine which wheat varieties will perform best in Pakistan’s unique ecosystem, U.S. and Pakistani researchers studied the effects of heat and other types of environmental stress on the different varieties of wheat that can be planted in Pakistan.
USDA, through its Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project (WPEP), currently helps evaluate 60 wheat varieties planted in 115 wheat trials throughout Pakistan. In order to increase the quality of this joint research, last week USDA also provided Pakistani research institutions specialized wheat planting and harvesting equipment. The new machines, which replaced equipment over 25 years old, will allow scientists to study more wheat varieties each year and more rapidly improve Pakistani farmers’ harvest yields.
“Wheat is critical to the food security of both Pakistan and the United States,” said USDA Plant Health Advisor Ian Winborne after a ceremony at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) celebrating the handover of the new equipment. He added, “Lasting links between Pakistani and U.S. scientists can help improve and protect agricultural harvests in both our countries.”
WPEP facilitates scientific collaboration between USDA, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and Pakistan’s national wheat programs. WPEP funds scientific exchanges to develop, introduce, and test disease-resistant wheat varieties; improve agronomic practices; and upgrade research capacity in Pakistan.
This initiative is just one part of a comprehensive U.S. economic growth assistance program which includes expanding irrigation by more than 200,000 acres near the Gomal Zam and Satpara dams; constructing more than 1,000 km of roads to connect communities and facilitate trade; modernizing dairy farms in Punjab; and launching private equity investment funds to help small and medium businesses grow.
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October 31, 2019- Clayton, NY- Governor Andrew Cuomo announces the state is providing $60 million to advance 38 projects in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties under the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. Governor Cuomo launched REDI in May to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Today's announcement marks a major milestone in the REDI effort. Identified by the communities and evaluated by state agency experts, the projects address both immediate and long-term resiliency needs, enhance economic development, protect critical infrastructure, incorporate green, natural, or nature-based features, and will help sustainably rebuild and enhance communities along the Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River shorelines.
Aquatics Centre
for London 2012.
It forms part of the gateway to the Olympic Park – more than two-thirds of spectators will enter the Park at the south-east corner via a bridge that forms part of the venue’s roof.
The design and build
With a capacity of 17,500, the Aquatics Centre’s spectacular wave-like roof is 160m long and up to 80m wide – giving it a longer single span than Heathrow Terminal 5.
The venue features a 50m competition pool, a 25m competition diving pool, a 50m warm-up pool and a ‘dry’ warm-up area for divers. Construction on the venue began in July 2008 and was completed in July 2011.
The venue’s roof proved to be one of the most complex engineering challenges of the Olympic Park big build. Its skeletal structure rests on just two concrete supports at the northern end of the building and a supporting ‘wall’ at its southern end. This steel framework was initially constructed on temporary supports, before the entire 3,000-tonne structure was lifted up 1.3m in a single movement and successfully placed back down on to its permanent concrete supports.
Work began on the inside of the venue once the roof was in position. The three pools were dug out, lined, filled with water and tested, before they were fitted with more than 180,000 tiles.After the Games
The Aquatics Centre will be transformed into a facility for the local community, clubs and schools, as well as elite swimmers, attracting an anticipated 800,000 visitors a year. All the pools have moveable booms and floors to create different depths and pool sizes, so it can be used by swimmers of all abilities and experience. After the Games, the venue’s operator after the Games will be Greenwich Leisure Limited
The two temporary wings will be removed – reducing its capacity to 2,500 – although it will be possible to increase the venue capacity for major competitions.
The venue will also feature a creche, family-friendly changing facilities and a cafe, alongside a new public plaza in front of the building.
During Operation Key Resolve, which began March 8 and ended Thursday, the 129th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services), located at Yongsan, and Team 4 of the 106th Medical Detachment, located at Osan Air Base, provided medical and surgical services to the USAG-Humphreys community.
The 129th set up its Veterinary Field Hospital across the street from Tommy D’s, where it offered sick-call, preventive medicine and elective surgical appointment for pets. USAG-Humphreys veterinary services are usually met by Team 4 during its monthly visits.
U.S. Army photos by Steven Hoover
For more information on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and living and working in Korea visit: USAG-Humphreys' official web site or check out our online videos.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry highlights the urgent need for the international community to increase efforts to fight ebola in West Africa during his joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on October 8, 2014. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
"Increasing Gender Diversity in Game Development Programs
Clara Fernandez Vara | Associate Arts Professor, NYU Game Center
Julia Wlochowski | Game Designer, Greenbrier Games
Elaine Gomez | Graduate Student, University of Southern California
Elyse Lemoine | Game Designer / Writer, NYU Game Center
Deirdra ""Squinky"" Kiai | MFA Student, UC Santa Cruz
Location: Room 3001, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 2
Time: 11:15am - 11:40am"
Historic Old Central Fire Station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The building included a 60 ft hose drying tower.
The former fire station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 (NRHP No. 77000177). It is also part of the Park Square Historic District Boundary Increase (NRHP District No. 91001826).
Durga Puja
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Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
KENYA, Laikipia: In a photograph taken 22 May 2015 by Make It Kenya and made available 25 May, a rhino handler and a female northern white rhino are seen at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 90,000-acre conservancy in central Kenya which has made great strides in protecting and increasing rhino populations in Kenya. US-born model and Bollywood actress Nagris Fakhri (not seen) was visiting 'Sudan' the world's last remainingin the East African country to help raise awareness and support around conservation efforts to save rhinos from extinction. MANDATORY CREDIT: MAKE IT KENYA PHOTO / STUART PRICE.
An afternoon wonder around Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain is a commune in the French department of Côte-d'Or, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
The village was awarded membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("France's most beautiful villages").
The medieval village of Flavigny is situated on a rocky spur, surrounded by three streams: the Ozerain, the Recluse and the Verpant.
The first written mention of the village of Flavigny was in the Latin form of its name, Flaviniacum, which appears in the cartulary (or charter) of the Benedictine abbey founded on the site by a certain Widerard in 719. In the mid-9th century, in response to the increasing frequency of Viking raids, the relics of Saint Reine (or Santa Regina) were removed from the nearby town of Alise to Flavigny in the hopes that they could be better protected in a more fortified setting. The relics remain in Flavigny to this day, although they travel back to Alise every fall for the celebration of the saint's feast day in early September.
The town was prosperous during the Middle Ages, catering to large numbers of pilgrims, both those who came to visit the relics of Saint Reine and those on their way to Santiago de Compostela. By the 10th century, the abbey had grown into a town, with a parish church dedicated to St. Genest in addition to the abbey church (dedicated to St Peter). During the 12th and 13th centuries, extensive fortifications were raised around the town; large portions of these walls still surround the village to this day, including the Porte du Val (which includes both an inner gate dating to the 13th century and a sixteenth-century outer gate), and the 15th century Porte du Bourg with its statue of the Virgin. Despite these fortifications, Flavigny was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War.
In 1632 the Ursuline convent of Flavigny was founded, and in the early 18th century a new residence for the Abbot of Flavigny was constructed. However, by that time the abbacy had become corrupt and was held by a layman who had little to do with the town. At the time of the French Revolution, there may have been as few as five monks in residence. The abbey church was probably already in ruins, although local tradition holds that it suffered damage at the hands of revolutionaries. The parish church, St. Genest, emerged from the Revolution more or less unharmed.
In the 21st century, Flavigny has fewer than 400 year-round residents, although this number increases in the summer due to the substantial number of foreigners (Swiss, American, Australian, German) who have summer homes in the village. The abbey now houses the factory which manufactures Les Anis de Flavigny, small aniseed-flavored pastilles distributed worldwide. Various artists and artisans make their homes in the village, and it has become a popular tourist destination.
A statue seen near Chemin de l'Esplanade. Beyond it is a path of trees leading back to Rue Saint-Jacques.
Statue of Père Lacordaire
Monument to Father Lacordaire - Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
1875: Inauguration on 10 June under the presidency of the Bishop of Dijon and Father Chocarne, Dominican Provincial. Father Monsabre had composed on the sculpture the following sonnet: The bronze has flowed from the burning furnace; From a magisterial mold she took all the features: It's him! His noble brow, his open air without preparations, His eye full of lightning and his lip abundant. It is he, not the orator, but the verve torments, But the father, the friend, as he is seen from near, Whispering the counsels of his prudent soul; As our immortal regrets have painted in us. Bonnassieux, be content, your work is finished! But a work more beautiful in our soul is dreamed: We want better than you to triumph over death. His austere virtues, which a chisel can not render, We will practice and make them understand.
On the plinth, on the right: BONNASSIEUX / PARIS 1875; At the back: CRUISE JNE FDEUR on the pedestal: MEMORIAE / ADMIN. P. HNRICI DOMINICO / LACORDAIRE ...
The view from near Jard sous la ville with Les Anis de Flavigny - Flavigny Abbey.
"Increasing Gender Diversity in Game Development Programs
Clara Fernandez Vara | Associate Arts Professor, NYU Game Center
Julia Wlochowski | Game Designer, Greenbrier Games
Elaine Gomez | Graduate Student, University of Southern California
Elyse Lemoine | Game Designer / Writer, NYU Game Center
Deirdra ""Squinky"" Kiai | MFA Student, UC Santa Cruz
Location: Room 3001, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 2
Time: 11:15am - 11:40am"
From November 25 to December 10, 2018, USAID joins the international community for the global campaign #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. www.usaid.gov/16-days
Join us as we advocate globally to prevent and respond to end gender-base violence as well as highlight partnerships for impact across sub-Saharan Africa.
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"Women's rights are human rights," is how we are celebrating Human Rights Day. Meet the “Betteh Women” of Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA)/Savings Group (SG) beneficiaries of USAID Women Empowered for Leadership and Development project in the Bombali district, Sierra Leone. These community managed saving groups model implemented across Africa increases women’s economic empowerment directly. These savings groups provide designated safe place to save their money and routine access to grants or no-interest loans from the social fund to help to respond to emergencies. Thanks to the economic aspect of WELD women increase their financial discipline, literacy and benefit from group solidarity and social capital that grows as members successfully save together and build trust. Overall women who are victims of gender-based violence, recover their social and economic power.
Photo Credit: Michael Duff, USAID
KZN Floods: Listening to Professor Anthony Turton on the news this morning, it seems those rolling greens hills of KwaZulu-Natal that we're so taken with (well, I am) are basically massive, pre-historic sand-dunes covered with vegetation.
The rain has saturated top layers all over the place, which leads to increased viscosity and then those massive mud-slides we see washing away buildings and well, everything - on-masse.
Plus, a great many new developments are being done on reclaimed sugar fields, and there's really nothing to support them when you have a month's worth of rain in one day. It's an awful thing to see - whole buildings, houses, roads, bridges, washed away.
Most of the infrastructure and buildings were designed with the conditions of yesteryear in mind, but climate change and extreme weather will necessitate a dramatic rethink going forward.
And this may be only the tip of the iceberg, as it were. Bloody hell.
I think I interpreted his interview correctly. It was fascinating and scary - extreme weather combined with little or no interest in investing in maintaining even the existing infrastructure, no matter how antiquated, and you have a catastrophe on your hands.
Interview here: m.facebook.com/watch/?v=542960280744278
As Professor Anthony Turton explains: "the simple reality is that between the Umzimkulu in the south and the Umlazi in North, there is a precisely defined geological province. The main feature is a basement consisting of igneous rock originating in volcanic and tectonic events over geological timescales measured in billions of years. That same region is bounded in both the north and south by a tectonic feature associated with rifting and faulting. Oribi Gorge is a feature of those tectonic forces.
Onto that basement we find an unconsolidated overlay of sand and clay. This is rich in iron oxide and is a reddish colour as a result. The overlay is the result of geomorphology measured in a shorter timescale of millions of years, as opposed to the basement feature that is the result of a much older timescale measured in billions of years.
This younger formation is the result of two sculpting forces - wind and water. The area used to be coastal wetland, and as sea levels rose and fell with successive warmer and cooler paleo climates, we find a layering of aeolian formations deposited above hydraulically deposited formations. The aeolian formation is characterised by wind driven dunes that mobilized particles of sand and clay of different fractions. Those sand dunes were characterised by rolling wavelike formations, all along the coastal area. These were consolidated over time by forest and grassland vegetation, which stabilised them.
This is evident where there is no surface striking rock formation and can be seen in the valleys scoured by rivers. Those valleys reveal the underlying geological formation of rock, now manifesting as meanders with relatively steep sides carved out by the action of water in paleo flood events. This means that flooding is what has shaped the region and is an entirely natural ocurrance with a history covering geological timescales.
This is further evidenced by the sedimentary deposition of silt in the ocean, for a considerable distance offshore. We see that process playing out right now as muddy seawater all along the coast, stretching almost to the horizon. That muddy water consists of the fine clay fraction of the eroded soil profile, held in suspension as a colloid and therefore persistent over time, but always associated with a flood event.
This is a simplistic description of a complex reality, but it shows that the geomorphology has been driven mostly by hydraulic and aeolian forces, at least insofar as the consolidated sand dunes are concerned. Tectonic events drove earlier geomorphology, manifest as rifting and faulting, but the more recent drivers have been floods.
Therefore flooding is a characteristic of the geological province, so policy designed to mitigate risk ought to be based on the assumption that future flood events will be a reasonably predictable driver of risk. Stated differently, and in simple form, the following is true of the coastal region between the Umzimkulu and Ulmazi rivers.
1) The absence of surface striking basement geology along the coastal strip renders the region geotechnically unstable and in need of precise building standards that must be strictly enforced.
2) Flooding is a natural occurrence that has shaped the geomorphology of both the land and immediate offshore sub-sea terrain.
3) Climate variability is a natural process, exacerbated by anthropogenic intervention, and is likely to feature an increase in extreme events, at least in our lifetime.
These three factors ought to be built into policy if the human population, and financial investment in the region, is to be protected in future.
Note that this is a gross simplification of a complex reality, rendered in such a way as to make it understandable to policymakers in government, insurance company decision makers, and investors deciding to purchase real estate."
The Pakistan Strategy Support Program (PSSP) held the conference, “Increasing Productivity and Unleashing Growth” at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad on May 26-27th, 2012. This conference also marked the final round of the Competitive Grants Program that was launched by PSSP in January 2012 for Pakistani PhD and graduate students studying locally and abroad on economic development issues of Pakistan. The finalists presented in front of the Research Advisory Committee, donor heads, professors and students from local universities. The event also consisted of plenary sessions on Pakistan’s various economic growth issues by renowned academics from all over the world, such as Dr. Jock Anderson, Dr. Regina Birner and Dr. David Spielman.
Leopard skins are in increasing demand among members of South Africa's Shembe Baptist Church, which has adopted the Zulu practice of wearing spotted cat fur (mainly leopard) during religious celebrations. Although trade in leopard skins is illegal in South Africa, the practice is widespread and expanding among the Shembe's estimated 5 million members. In order to reduce demand for real leopard skins, Tristan Dickerson, Panthera's Leopard Program Coordinator, has spent the past year working with digital designers and clothing companies to create a high-quality and affordable faux leopard skin which he will present at a future Shembe gathering.
This photo was taken by Tristan at a Shembe gathering that he visited to investigate the use of real and fake leopard skins.
Watch the CNN Inside Africa videos featuring Tristan and the Munyawana Project at bit.ly/pC6hxa
Learn more about the project at bit.ly/grsB9V
Learn more about Tristan at bit.ly/pzuAGB
Happy 50th anniversary La Silla Observatory
from yours @Spaceholix
with our travelbuddies,
the #SpaceMascots
@PinkLilDragon & houseguest @CamillaSpace
Thank YOU for being such a vital part of #TheCreationOfSpaceInspiration - not only for our family!
By discovering @ESO on social media back in 2012 during your #ESO50Years contest
YOU -amongst other space and science agencies- daily increased my curiosity and my wish to learn more about things out of my everyday business,
to explore and try things well outside my comfort zone and to #DareMightyThings.
One small step led to another and by nurturing that seed in me, an amazing journey gained speed for the three of us.
Thanks to the #MagicPowerOfSocialMedia,
my family and I explored some the most amazing places, met some the most inspiring people ever since, connected with people from all walks of life and from all around our beautiful #BlueDot sharing our passion for #Space and #Science - turning into an ever growing #SpaceFamily.
Thus YOU helped to enrich our lives with numerous unforgettable and often #ForrestGumpLikeMemories.
In a few of my entries for your first contest #ESO50Years #GoParanal from 2012 I wrote that I want to inspire my little one and to show him the beauty of our world and our universe and I am happy that -so far- we had many great chances doing so and I am looking forward to the future.
Sometimes I am wondering, how this German gal here with no professional scientific background at all did become a certified #AsteroidHunterRookie and #MeteoriteHunterRookie, live tweeted from @CERN‘s #LHC and -together with my family attended many space / science events by ESA and NASA TEDx and SpaceUp conferences traveling around our marble,...
... Organizing small space gatherings and sharing my art work and little mementos of our adventures specially designed for many of those events with all attendees AND speakers became a fond tradition in the past 7 years.
And having seen many astronauts, from Mercury and Apollo who flew to and walked on the moon to today’s inhabitants of the #ISS, astronomers, scientists, and our growing #SpaceFamily wearing my badges and lanyards and having them sign our Thank You posters always makes me smile.
And having become a member of the #IAAA (INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASTRONOMICAL ARTISTS iaaa.org), with my artwork being auctioned off by Apollo astronauts and a painting which will be exhibited under #SpaceShuttle #Atlantis on 21.12.2018 during the #Apollo8 #Earthrise celebration also marking the launch of project #Constellation created by Nicole Passonno Stott, Ron Garan, Anousheh Ansari and Leland Melvin AT Kennedy Space Center in Florida will forever be surreal.
As THIS is the place where I finally fell in love with everything around #Space during watching my 1st of 3 #SpaceShuttle launches of #STS115 back in 2006.
AND from where I sent my very first tweet EVER on July 8th 2011, while watching the final launch of #Shuttle #Atlantis together with @LightspeedLeo on the day he turned 9 months old. What a birthday candle that was.
#OneSmallStepForHumankindOneGiantLeapForMe
I LOVE it, when things come to full circles ;-)
simonkregar.com/constellationearthrise
I am so looking forward to the day when our now 8 year old son will understand, whom he met since being a toddler and to which places we were invited.
So I want to thank all of you around @ESO for inviting the public to #ReachingBeyondTheStars -literally and figuratively and for doing what you do.
You all make a difference.
And knowing that OUR story is only one of many inspired by your work is amazing.
#SharedMemoriesAreTheBest
My thanks also go to:
@bethbeck @NASA @NASASocial
@ExploreSpaceKSC @NASA_Johnson @NASAJPL @spacesuitart
@esa @ESA_de @esaoperations @ESA_EAC
@DLR_de @DLR_en @social4space
@CERN @GSI_DE @GSI_en @ScienceTweetup
@ASE_Astronauts @NASA_Astronauts
@Spacefest @ArtOfAstronomy
@SpaceUpConf
@GriffithObserv @VaticanObserv @keckobservatory @LowellObs
@AlanStern @NewHorizons2015 @OneEarthMessage
@NASAHubble @HUBBLE_space
@SGAC @NEOProjectsSGAC
@ESA_Rosetta @Philae2014 @ESA_Gaia
@MeteoriteMen @GeoffNotkin
@Spacerockslive @NSS
... and many more ...
Twitter @4tuneQkie
Facebook ALeox Neumann
QGC Vice President Sustainability, Brett Smith and Ms Ruth Saunders and Deputy Director for the Centre for Online Health, Associate Professor Anthony Smith, discuss the Health-e-Regions project with staff at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital using video-conferencing facilities at Dalby Hospital.
Climate Rush: Stop the Rail Fare Hikes protest, Waterloo Station. 16.08.2011
Protesters from eco-campaign group Climate Rush, the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the Rail & Maritime Union (RMT) and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) held a morning rush-hour protest outside London's Waterloo Station in response to the British Government's plan to allow train operators to massively increase rail fares by up to 28% by 2015 - applying increases of 3% over Retail Price Inflation - which will cause massive hardship to hundreds of thousands of already hard-pressed commuters who, already struggling with the rapidly increasiing cost of living and frozen wages, are faced with three choices: Pay the extortionate increase which for many will cost over £500 per year, be driven off the railways and back into their cars or either move closer to London or leave their jobs and try and find jobs closer to home.
A representative from Passenger Focus pointed out that train operators already had the option to increase some fares by as much as 5% above the average, meaning that passengers using certain types of tickets could be hit with a whopping 13% increase in 2012 alone. Already the cost of getting to work is the biggest single item in the monthly budget - bigger than mortgage payments and bigger than rent, as fares are set to increase four times faster than wages in the next year.
Aside from the harsh economic effects this will bring, Climate Rush is especially concerned that many will be driven back onto the already overburdened road networks, increasing congestion and air pollution, and also making a mockery of the notion of cheap and affordable mass transit. Financially, gridlocked roads and lost productivity costs the London economy in excess of £1.6 billion per annum, and the long-term health costs due to traffic pollution also runs into the billions - a direct burden not only on the Public Purse, but also on those directly affected by the massive increase in childhood asthma, and those who become unable to work (or have died) due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
After many years now of privately operated rail companies milking the subsidy system for billions of pounds of taxpayer's money and paying massive amounts to themselves and their already-bloated shareholders, the train operating companies have embarked on a dishonest hand-wringing campaign to justify these increases, claiming they need this extra money to pay for all the new rolling stock and network improvements that they were supposed to have been doing for all these years instead of shovelling all that public money offshore. Now the network is under severe stress, and they want to extort more and more money from the travelling public. The money must come from fare increases, they say, to lower the general burden on The Taxpayer - leaving us to ask the question 'If the rail infrastructure is in such a bad state now, what have you done with all our money, and who's going to be prosecuted first for looting?'. (That last bit was a joke, of course, because as we all know if you blatantly steal in the millions or billions the government will protect you at all costs, but if you're poor and angry and you steal a fucking donut during a riot you'll get 16 months in prison and have your entire future blighted by a criminal record... Oops! There I go again...)
Speakers at the protest were Maria Eagle - Labour shadow spokeswoman for Transport and Stephen Joseph, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).
For more information please visit: Climate Rush, Fair Fares Now, Passenger Focus and Campaign for Better Transport.
On Twitter: @climaterush @FairFaresNow
All photos © 2011 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available on application