There is a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Shekinah Chapter, that meets at the West Toronto Masonic Temple, 151 Annette St. Toronto, ON on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month. They circulated this announcement via University Lodge No. 496.

 

Location: Lenanon Chapter No. 220.

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Prophecies of the return of the "Shekinah," which had left the Temple and city of Jerusalem in the days of Ezekiel, are repeated in Zechariah. These same prophecies are also fulfilled in the historical period and record of Zechariah. To better understand these prophecies it is necessary to have an acquaintance with the history of the "Shekinah."

 

Objection is made that the word "Shekinah," (), is not found in the scripture in its noun form and that it describes a concept that is not scriptural. It is said that the word is coined by Post-biblical Rabbinic scholars. While it is admitted that the Rabbinic concept of God being a hovering non-personal force is an unacceptable extension of meaning, the concept of a physical manifestation of God's localized dwelling is none-the-less scriptural. We have chosen to use the word "Shekinah," (shknh) , to name this "presence" since this meaning is in general distribution among many Christians, albeit ignorant of the origin of the word.

 

The word was coined from verbal cognates in the Bible which describe the "presence" of God in a locality. The verbal cognates are copiously used to describe the "Shekinah" appearances. The word "Shekinah," itself is not in the biblical text but the concept, as I have defined it, clearly is. The word most certainly is derived from "shakan," and whoever first used the word "Shekinah" coined it as a substantive (noun form) from the verbal forms used to describe the "abiding, dwelling, or habitation" of the physical manifestations of God described in Ex 24:16; Ex 40:35, Nu 9:16-18; and numerous other places where "shakan" is used. The word is also used to describe the mystical "Shekinah" presence in the tabernacle. The word "mishkan," (), a derivative of "shakan," (), is often translated "tabernacle." The Hebrew for tabernacle is more often simply "ohel," (), or tent. "Mishkan" means "dwelling place." That is, the "dwelling place" of "Him who dwells" or "Shekinah."

 

"Shekinah" in Hebrew is a a feminine noun, It is interesting that Isaiah refers to the Shekinah using feminine pronouns. Especially in Isaiah 51. Particularly in Isaiah 51:9and 10 and its context the pronouns are feminine. In verse 10 the KJV uses thou and it to refer to the Shekinah. Both pronouns are feminine in Hebrew. The Qumran text makes the feminine form certain by adding a yod to 2fs. Literally feminine "you she" translated in KJV "thou it." Without doubt this is why the inter-testament Rabbis coined the word Shekinah to describe the events where the physical presence performed miracles to guide and protect Israel. In the same passage (Isa 51:9) there is a phrase "arm of YHWH" that is used exclusively for the Messiah. This means Jesus was the Shekinah presence in the Old Testament events. That is why the coming of the Messiah and the return of the Shekinah to the second temple are intermixed in the extraordinarily mystically mixed passage of Zechariah 2:8-11.

 

Zechariah uses cognates of the word in referring to the return of, the then absent, "presence" which he supposed was imminent. We will show that Zechariah previewed an imminent restoration of what Ezekiel (seventy years previously) saw depart in his day and then predicted the return of to a restored temple. What ever noun one calls it, such physical representations of the "presence" are in the Bible. What did Ezekiel see leave the temple? It is certain that what ever name you call the "presence" it is linked with the fiery cloud of Sinai. We have chosen to use the word "Shekinah" to name the biblically described mystical thing "dwelling" or thing "abiding."

 

I also accept that "Cavod YHWH," () (glory of the LORD) and "Shekinah" are identical in the contexts I make reference to, such as the fire enfolding cloud on Sinai, (Ex. 24:15-17) the dedication of Solomon's temple, and that which is associated with Ezekiel's vision of the departure and return.

 

To say that "Shekinah" is not in a text where the presence of God is described by a cognate of "shakan" may be closely akin to saying "baptism" does not appear in the great commission passages and Acts 2:38 because verbal cognates (baptized, baptizing) are used and not the noun "baptism" itself.

 

The Hebrew verb "shakan," (), simply means to take up residence with long continuity in a neighborhood. The distinction between this word and "yashav" which is also translated "dwell" is just this: You can use the latter to mean an individual doing the dwelling without reference to others or to duration while "shakan" means a protracted dwelling in the midst of a neighborhood or a group of people or might be limited to one other person but only by extension. The primary meaning is to reside and continue as a member of the community. This is a common word used for all classes to convey this idea. However, when it refers to God it takes on an added mysticism which is obvious upon small consideration.

 

When verbal forms are translated as nouns the word sometimes means "habitat." It is the habitat of animals and birds as well as humans and God. (Dan. 4:21) Grammatically, when verbal forms are translated as nouns, in Hebrew, they are called "substantives." Technically, "Shekinah", therefore is a substantive rather than a noun.

 

God speaks of his "desire" for this relationship with his people. The "Shekinah" therefore refers to the presence of God that was, but is not now, physically manifested in the time- space continuum. It could be seen. The presence was a vehicle of the person of God in the three dimensional world. The understanding of Solomon that God can not actually be limited to Temples on earth because of his eternal nature is seen in 1Ki. 8:27:

 

"But will God indeed dwell ["yashav"] on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built?"

 

This omniscient eternal presence of the Almighty, that Solomon recognized, is the heavenly, but not the earthly, "Shekinah." Although the infinite spiritual presence is and was coincident with the physically discernable "Shekinah," it was distinguished from the physical even in Mosaic times. It is only in this infinite way that the "Shekinah" is now manifested. He indwells his people as a spirit. Isa. 57:15 says as much:

"For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits ("shakan") eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell ("shakan") in the high and holy place, and with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

 

"Who inhabits" In this passage the word "shokeyn," () translated "who inhabits," is as close to the meaning and direct use of the word "Shekinah" (), in the Bible, as one will find. The Hebrew letters, in the order they are pronounced, are sh = sh, = o, k = k, = ey, n = n. The unpointed original Hebrew is simply (). The form is a masculine participle and literally means "He who inhabits" or "the one who is inhabiting." This refers to God Himself. According to this verse, He is the "Inhabiter" of heaven and human hearts at one and the same time! The word "Shekinah" , which describes the physical thing which was "proof" of his "dwelling" on earth in the Mosaic dispensation, is akin to this construction. In fact, it is the identically same word, only the gender is changed. If you simply add the feminine ending to change it from a masculine to a feminine participle "shokeyn," (shkn), becomes "Shekinah" (shknh). Thus, the masculine form of the substantive "Shekinah" does appear in the Bible in Isaiah 57:15.

 

In the Mosaic period the added physical "Shekinah" presence was evidence of the real which is omnipresent and unseen. In the Mosaic dispensation the "Shekinah" presence was physically disturbing. The presence was not God. It was a physical manifestation of the actual presence of God among his people and is to be distinguished from the "angel of the LORD." It was first evident in the crossing of the Red Sea in the escape from Egypt. There the "Shekinah" appeared as a cloudy pillar in the day and a fiery pillar at night. The nation was led by the "Shekinah" for forty years after which the "holy presence" of the omniscient God inhabited the tabernacle and the land of Israel. It was not always afterward physically manifested. Thus:

 

(Num. 35:34) "Defile not therefore the land which you shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: ["shakan"] for I the LORD dwell ["shakan"] among the children of Israel."

 

However when that presence was physically manifested it was frightening to those who beheld it.

 

(Ex. 24:15) And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. (Ex. 24:16) And the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] abode ["shakan"] upon mount Sinai and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. (Ex. 24:17) And the sight of the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

 

Earlier, the seventy elders had gone up into the cloud and actually saw the "Shekinah" glory, and they were so afraid they asked Moses never to take them again. As far as they were concerned, they saw God! You can only imagine their hair on end and their wide eyed appearance as they came down from the mountain exclaiming "We saw God! It was terrible!"

 

(Ex. 24:10) And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Ex. 24:11) And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand; also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

 

The mixture of clarity and confusion in similar passages is evidence of the mystical nature of the experience. They were disoriented and afraid and the later writing of the event records the confusion.

 

The appearance a few days earlier of the physical presence of God on Mount Sinai is described as fire and cloud and thick darkness when the ten commandments were given. The Psalms contains a description of this event calling it a "Shekinah" presence. The description is in a Messianic portion and the Messiah is the "Shekinah" presence. He indwells ["shakan"] his people.

 

(Ps. 68:16) "Why do you leap, you high hills? this is the hill [Sinai] which God desires to dwell ["shakan"] in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever. (Ps. 68:17) The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the LORD is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. (Ps. 68:18) You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [shakan] among them."

 

He was on Mt. Sinai when the hills leaped, and verse 18 speaks of the resurrection and ascension which results in the indwelling of his people! These are New Testament applications that place Jesus of Nazareth in the events of Sinai in the Old Testament.

 

Later the physical "Shekinah" presence of God took up residence in the completed tabernacle and was apparent to the whole nation. This is recorded in Ex. 40:34:

 

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] filled the tabernacle. (Ex. 40:35) And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode [shakan] on it, and the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH,"] filled the tabernacle. (Ex. 40:36) And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys; (Ex. 40:37) But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. (Ex. 40:38) For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

 

The same event is recorded in Num. 9:15

 

And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. (Num. 9:16) So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. (Num. 9:17) And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.

 

There are other mystical moments when the direct intervention of God was manifest in a "Shekinah" presence to Moses. At the time of the setting up of the tabernacle before it was furnished God spoke to Moses out of the cloud and Moses realized the "Shekinah" was a vehicle and not God. He asked for more -- to "see" God! God allowed him to see a larger portion of his physical presence. Thus:

 

(Ex. 33:18) "And he said, I beseech you, show me your glory. [He was speaking to God's voice coming from the "Shekinah."] (Ex. 33:19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (Ex. 33:20) And he said, You can not see my face; for no man shall see me, and live."

 

After the entrance into the promised land God's presence was manifested spiritually in the tabernacle and not often in a physical way. The actual presence was always accepted as being in the tabernacle, and later in the Temple, but was not always physically confirmed by the visible "Shekinah." But to the people of that dispensation under the Mosaic covenant there were occasional renewals of a miraculous appearance of the "Shekinah." This happened again when the Temple of Solomon was dedicated. There was an initial appearance in a vision when the LORD promised that he would "shakan" or dwell in the house that Solomon was constructing.

 

(1Ki. 6:11) And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, (1Ki. 6:12) Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with you, which I spoke to David your father; (1Ki. 6:13) And I will dwell ["shakan"] among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. (1Ki. 6:14) So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

 

Solomon then visited the tabernacle which was not in Jerusalem but at Gibeon. The ark of the covenant was in Jerusalem, however in a different tent.

 

(1Ch 16:39) And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was in Gibeon, (1Ch 21:29) For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

 

The ark of the covenant, which had been taken from the tabernacle by the sons of Eli and was captured by Philistines, had then been sent by the Philistines back to Judah. Eli's daughter-in-law called the taking of the ark the departure of the glory of Israel.

 

(1Sa 4:21) And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

 

After an unhappy experience with the ark the Philistines sent it back to Israel. Cows heavy with milk had left their calves and borne the ark from the Philistines to the house of Obed Edom. It was from there after many years that David would bring up the ark to Jerusalem, in the part of the city called Zion, where he set it in a specially prepared tent. It was not restored to the Tabernacle.

 

(2Ch 1:4) But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath Jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

  

But the tabernacle stayed in Gibeon about ten miles north of Jerusalem.

 

(1Ch 21:29) For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon

 

It was from there about ten miles north, that its furniture was brought to the completed Temple of Solomon.

 

(2Ch 5:2) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion...(2Ch 5:5) And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.

 

They brought the tabernacle and its furniture from Gibeon and the ark was brought from Zion, less than a mile from the Temple. Then the Temple was dedicated.

 

(2Ch 5:13) It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

 

Thus the same incident is recorded in 1 Ki.8, when on the day of the dedication of Solomon's Temple there was a physical miracle of the presence of God. The "Shekinah" would no longer be associated with the tabernacle but was to be transferred to the Temple; therefore this manifestation was necessary to that generation because the Law of Moses was being amended in this point, and God showed his approval of the amendment to His legal system by the manifestation of the "Shekinah."

 

(1Ki. 8:10) And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, (1Ki. 8:11) So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] had filled the house of the LORD. (1Ki. 8:12) Then spoke Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell [shakan] in the thick darkness. (1Ki. 8:13) I have surely built you an house to dwell in, a settled place for you to abide in for ever.

 

There are conditions connected to God's "forever" promises as is already seen since he was to indwell the tabernacle forever. Thus, at the destruction of the first Temple, He did not allow his "Shekinah" presence to stay in the Temple after a certain level of corruption had taken place. The surprise is that God's indwelling remained so long. He evidently loves us so much that he endures more than any human judge would think possible. Jerusalem was more corrupt than we would think God would endure all of the last days of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin and most of the reign of Zedekiah. However, Ezekiel's vision of the departure of the "Shekinah" from the Temple and city was not until after the beginning of the final siege of the city by Nebuchadnezzar just before its destruction.

 

Ezekiel's description of the "Shekinah" is more detailed but is similar to what the seventy elders saw on Mount Sinai recorded in Ex. 24. (It might be inserted here as a warning to those who have the Holy Spirit living in them that Nadab and Abihu were among those who "saw God.") Ezekiel's description of the "Shekinah" in chapter one of his prophecy is physically exciting just to read. Imagine actually seeing it! It is described as fire enfolding itself borne by cherubic creatures whose appearance pulsated with undulating light, themselves borne by gyroscopic double wheels. Lightning came out of the midst of the fire surrounded by clear sapphire where a man like person on a throne sat in an electric eye. If electricity is anachronistic, the word is none the less "chashmal" which is the modern Hebrew word for electricity. The Septuagint has "electrum" and so does the Vulgate! What ever "chashmal" and "electrum" meant to the ancients who used these words it can only be said that "'eyn chashmal" in Hebrew and "opsin electrou" in Greek and "speciem electri" found in Latin in Eze. 1:27 is not "amber" as in the English translation. The word "color" does not appear in the text. There are other descriptions of the elements of the "Shekinah" that Ezekiel saw leaving a then desolate Temple. The building was still there but was desolate before it was destroyed!

 

The Departure and Return of the "Shekinah."

 

Ezekiel saw both the departure of the "Shekinah" and the return in two separate visions separated in time by a number of years. The "Shekinah" would later return to the Temple after the initiation of the building under Zerubbabel but before the arrival of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezekiel saw the restored Temple in a vision while it actually lay desolate and Jerusalem and Judea were all but uninhabited. Ezekiel's vision, of events that happened after his own death, describes the same "skekinah," which he saw first in chapter one, afterward leave the Temple in chapter ten. At the beginning of chapter ten the "Shekinah" was still in the Temple:

 

(Eze. 10:4) Then the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory ["Cavod YHWH"].

  

But preparations were made to take the "Shekinah" from the Temple and then from the city itself.

 

(Eze. 10:19) And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight; when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

  

Then the actual departure is recorded:

 

(Eze. 11:23) And the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] went up from the midst of the city, and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

 

Ezekiel, still in a vision, returned to the captives in Babylon and reported this event. He would later see in a vision the restored second Temple which is recorded in chapters 40-43. In his vision of the Temple, as it would be after it would have been rebuilt, Ezekiel saw the "Shekinah" return to the Temple. Thus is that event recorded which he says was the same "Shekinah" that left the Temple and would then be returned to a future restored Temple:

 

(Eze. 43:2) And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and his voice was like a noise of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory. (Eze. 43:3) And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. (Eze. 43:4) And the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. (Eze. 43:5) So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD ["Cavod YHWH"] filled the house. (Eze. 43:6) And I heard him speaking to me out of the house; and the man stood by me. (Eze. 43:7) And he said to me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell [shakan] in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.

 

This event which Ezekiel saw in a vision was fulfilled. It happened in the days of Zerubbabel and is recorded by Zechariah. The lives of Zechariah and Ezekiel overlapped. They were both prophets and priests. Surely they knew of each other and it is likely they met. Zechariah knew of the visions of the departure of the "Shekinah" and the return and therefore he records the predictions of the return that would fulfill the same future event which Ezekiel saw. Thus God first foretells his "Shekinah" return.

 

(Zec. 2:10) Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell [shakan] in the midst of you, says the LORD.

 

This verse is a prediction of the return of the "Shekinah" which was imminent but had not happened yet when Zechariah wrote this in the second year of Darius. In what follows he foretells the, future but imminent, long period of continuity of the restored "Shekinah" called "that day," meaning that the period of time beginning with the restoration of the "Shekinah" would extend to the call of the Gentiles.

 

(Zec. 2:11) And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell ["shakan"] in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

 

This verse also introduces references to a dual "Shekinah" return and presence. One is to take place at the completion of the Temple and the other to extend to the presence of the one who will actually be the "Shekinah, whom YHWH will have sent to call the Gentiles.

 

See also notes on Zecariah 2:8-11.

 

The Return of the "Shekinah" to the Restored Temple

 

From the time that Zechariah began to prophesy in the second year of Darius it would be approximately four years before the Temple would be finished and dedicated. The building itself would be partially finished and complete enough after two years of committed rebuilding that it would be called, in chapter seven, "the house of God." It is in chapter eight that God speaks and says that He has returned the "Shekinah." There is no record of the actual event. Whether it was associated with physical phenomena is not told. The only physical description is in the vision of Ezekiel which was not a material event. Nonetheless the "Shekinah" and the real presence of the omniscient God returned to the rededicated Temple on time, either at the dedication or in anticipation as noted in Zec. 8:3.

 

"Thus says the Lord; I am returned to Zion, and will dwell ["shakan"] in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain."

 

(See notes in the text on these verses where the tenses of the verbs are discussed. The reason for different translations of the tenses of the verbs in several different versions which say that the "Shekinah" has returned or shall return is discussed there)

 

Before the dedication of the Temple Darius the Persian, a non-Jewish believer, sent letters, to the neighboring Syrians in response to their attempts to stop the rebuilding then progressing under Zerubbabel, in which he spoke of the "Shekinah" as present in Jerusalem.

 

(Ezr. 6:12) And the God that has caused his name to dwell [shakan] there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

 

Here Darius attributes to God his decision to dwell or "shakan," as being completed. Thus the return of his "Shekinah" presence in Jerusalem is considered as a fact. This is before the dedication of the completed Temple and was before or would nearly coincide with the time of Zec. 7:1 and Zec. 8:3.

 

A generation later a new Persian king would send Ezra and mention the "Shekinah."

 

(Ezr. 7:15) And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [Heb. mishkan] is in Jerusalem.

 

This last comment is made by Artaxerxes Longimanus who commissioned Ezra and who says the habitation ["Shekinah"] of God is in Jerusalem. These sources are quoted by Porten, an active Jewish writer currently living in Jerusalem. His position seems to favor the return of the "skekinah" before the actual dedication.

 

The Golden Age to come, which Zechariah said was to follow the return of the "Shekinah," describes the city and surrounding areas being at peace in an age where people can grow old in a secure environment. To those who lived in Jerusalem, in the hearing of Zechariah, that would indeed be a marvel, so great was the continuing desolation of the place. This continuing desolation, after the return but before the rebuilding, was portrayed by Daniel:

 

(Dan. 9:12) And he has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem.

 

But of the conditions which will follow the return of the "Shekinah" Zechariah says:

 

(Zec. 8:4) Thus says the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. (Zec 8:5) And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. (Zec 8:6) Thus says the Lord of hosts, If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it [not] also be marvelous in my eyes? says the Lord of hosts.

 

The Golden Age is described in the chapter on the "Silent Years" in this book and in the verse by verse exposition of the text. Zechariah tells in his prophecy that there will be times of trouble in the distant future after the "Golden Age" and speaks of the presence of God who would then stand on Mt. Olive. We know that that one who stood on Mt. Olive is the embodiment of the mystery of the Godhead. "In him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily."

 

Jesus of Nazareth, himself the embodiment of God, the manifestation of the Almighty, lived in Israel while the "Shekinah" indwelt the Temple! He prophesied the departure of the "Shekinah" which would make the Temple desolate:

 

(Mt. 23:37) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! (Mt. 23:38) Behold, your house is left to you desolate."

 

When he died on the cross and his spirit left the body there were accompanying earthquakes, darkness, and that slippage between time and eternity that one would expect at such extraordinary, inexplicable moments when the finite and infinite meet. The dead bodies of many arose and walked in the city as a result of his resurrection from the dead! But when he died, at that very moment:

 

(Mt. 27:51) "the veil of the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks rent."

 

That the veil of the Temple was rent in two indicates the departure of the "Shekinah" from the then desolate Temple. The Temple became desolate with the departure of the "Shekinah," not at the time of its destruction. It was made desolate by the departure of the presence of God. Daniel, when prophesying of the destruction of the city and the Temple, says that the destruction would be poured out on that which had already been made desolate. Dan. 9:26,27.

 

From thenceforth the Temple would be manifested in two ways. Not in buildings but in the hearts of spiritual Israel, the exiled ones called from among the Gentiles to bring their treasures to Jerusalem. The assembled body of believers also has the indwelling presence of which the "Shekinah" was a representation in type. This same presence is in each obedient believer. These dual aspects of the "Shekinah" were seen by Zechariah who completes the Old Testament references to the "Shekinah" events.

Nathan Abel is a Dean’s Honored Graduate in the School of Biological Sciences. He is graduating with a degree in cell and molecular biology, as well as a degree in government and in philosophy. Nathan is being recognized for his scholastic achievement and his research, which resulted in a thesis, “Subcellular Localization and Transcriptome-Wide RNA Binding Profiles of Argonaute Proteins in Cultured Human Cell Lines,” performed under the direction of Professor Vishy Iyer.

 

Nathan approached Professor Iyer with an interest in gene regulatory networks, where regulators such as protein transcription factors and non-coding RNAs called microRNAs work with one another to regulate large-scale programs of gene expression in mammalian cells. Nathan worked on genetic constructs aimed at testing specific regulatory interactions between a microRNA called miR-22 and its putative mRNA targets, indicative of their participation in regulatory networks. Nathan was made a co-author on the recent publication of this work in the highly regarded Nucleic Acids Research. In a distinct but related project, Nathan obtained results that suggested that microRNAs could bind to their target genes in ways different from what was commonly accepted in the field. Nathan made a key breakthrough in a computational search of the relevant RNA sequences, and how to identify and then test it experimentally. For his honors thesis, Nathan investigated non-coding RNA regulation within the nucleus rather than the cytoplasm where regulation is usually thought to be prevalent. Nathan read the key literature, designed a series of experiments, and identified several shortcomings in previous methods that had been used to separate the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions.

 

What is important to appreciate about Nathan is that he made these contributions to Professor Iyer’s lab while simultaneously writing an honors thesis as part of the Plan II program as a government major under the direction of Professor Jeff Tulis. His government thesis was submitted as a paper, “Theory and Practice of Structural Agenda Setting: A Case Study of U.S. HIV/AIDS Policy from 1979 to 1989,” to the 18th Annual Illinois State University National Conference for Students of Political Science, where it won first prize. He also completed a project with Dr. Zach Elkins to annotate and analyze dozens of national constitutions written since 1776 to quantitate the features that led to success or failure.

 

After graduation, Nathan plans to continue working in Professor Iyer’s lab as a research assistant. He plans on applying for MD/PhD programs while finishing out his current projects. For his book award, Nathan has chosen a blend of his science and liberal arts interests, including The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and The 7 Sexes: The Biology of Sex Determination.

 

Languages overview page (with fake data!)

A seminar on “Localizing the Open Government Partnership: Pushing the Boundaries of Local Governance” on 4 May 2018 at the 51st ADB Annual Meeting highlighted the growing role of CSO engagement with governments to strengthen the implementation of the Open Government Partnership across national and subnational levels.

 

Learn more here.

Mohenjo-daro is located in the Larkana District of Sindh, Pakistan,[5] on a Pleistocene ridge in the middle of the flood plain of the Indus River Valley, around 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the town of Larkana. The ridge was prominent during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, allowing the city to stand above the surrounding plain, but the flooding of the river has since buried most of the ridge in deposited silt. The site occupies a central position between the Indus River and the Ghaggar-Hakra River. The Indus still flows to the east of the site, but the riverbed of the Ghaggar-Hakra on the western side is now dry.

The ruins of the city remained undocumented for over 3,700 years, until their discovery in 1922 by Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay, an officer of the Archaeological Survey of India.[7] He was led to the mound by a Buddhist monk, who reportedly believed it to be a stupa. In the 1930s, major excavations were conducted at the site under the leadership of John Marshall, D. K. Dikshitar and Ernest Mackay. Further excavations were carried out in 1945 by Ahmad Hasan Dani and Mortimer Wheeler. The last major series of excavations were conducted in 1964 and 1965 by Dr. George F. Dales. After 1965 excavations were banned due to weathering damage to the exposed structures, and the only projects allowed at the site since have been salvage excavations, surface surveys, and conservation projects. However, in the 1980s, German and Italian survey groups led by Dr. Michael Jansen and Dr. Maurizio Tosi used less invasive archeological techniques, such as architectural documentation, surface surveys, and localized probing, to gather further information about Mohenjo-daro.[

Unique localized solution in Blida to avoid tensions during ‘olive season’. Photo by Haidar Fahs/ UNIFIL

Photo of USAID Assistant Administrator for Bureau for Africa Monde Muyangwa and participants during roundtable on localization and and New Partnerships Initiative in Nigeria.

 

In February 2023, USAID Bureau for Africa Monde Muyangwa visited Nigeria to meet with USAID/Nigeria staff and partners. Photo: USAID

Localized damage to a steam pipe with asbestos magnesia insulation. An adjacent pipe hanger rod in close proximity has cut into the soft, friable asbestos insulation due to vibrational movement associated with periodic expansion and contraction of the pipe system itself during normal operation. Consequently, asbestos-laden dust had accumulated on various surfaces below, requiring urgent response clean-up and repair action. Additionally, reconfiguration of the problematic pipe hanger and proper protection of the pipe insulation should be considered as well, to prevent further damage.

 

Did you know that you can switch languages in Windows Live without having to reinstall the Essentials suite?

There are twelve of these for the direct observation of celestial latitude and longitude. Each instrument can be used when the corresponding sign (Taurus, Leo, etc.) is on the meridian.

 

Here it is…my last big vacation of 2015. It also happened to be the longest of the year. I’ve actually put off editing these pictures (until this week – mid-January 2016). I’ve been putting this off because, honestly, I have very mixed emotions about the trip.

 

I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about India and all the Indians I met there – better things yet to say about Indian cuisine. However, I didn’t travel alone, and that caused quite a bit of headaches. So, I’ve been lazier than usual about going through these. However, in looking at them, I’m starting to dwell only on the good side, and hopefully will show that here. (I won’t mention anything else about what or why I didn’t enjoy the trip. Honestly, I hope to go back to India again sometime. It’s the 7th largest country in the world and has a lot to see…)

 

This particular trip was 13 days…and very localized. We only visited two states: Rajasthan (RJ) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). Also Delhi, though I didn’t go out in Delhi and don’t have a single picture to show for it. In those two weeks, we took the following tour, in this order: landed in Delhi (at 3:00 a.m.) on September 26. At 7:30 a.m., we were on a bus to our first destination: Rajasthan.

 

The first week we spent in Rajasthan visiting each of these cities for approximately two days: Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. (I found myself thinking, “There sure are a lot of ‘purs’ here…just like there are a of ‘zhous’ in China – Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Zhouzhou. ‘Pur,’ like ‘zhou,’ apparently means “town.”) Rajasthan is hot. Damn hot. Even in late September the daytime temperatures seemed to soar close to 40 degrees. At least 35, for certain… Rajasthan has a lot of desert terrain and many castles. Quite a few old palaces are out in Rajasthan, so it can tend to have a bit of a romantic feel to it.

 

After finishing in Rajasthan, we went over to Uttar Pradesh for literally one afternoon seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra, before shuffling off to the holy city of Varanasi (one of Hinduism’s most famous – if not the most famous – cities). From Varanasi, we took an 18 hour train ride (during which I apparently ate something so nasty that it stayed with me…for close to three months). Note to readers: Try to avoid eating on Indian trains. After another two days in Delhi, we flew back around 4:00 in the morning on October 9. For now…back to the beginning in Jaipur.

 

Jaipur is famously called the Pink City. A lot of the old town architecture is pink, so…well, you get the idea. It’s named for its founder, Jai Singh II (1688-1744), a great warrior-astronomer who assumed power at age 11 upon his father’s death.

 

The following is from Lonely Planet India: “Jai Singh could trace his lineage back to the Rajput clan of Kachhawas, who consolidated their power in the 12th century.” Their capital was at Amber (which is pronounced ahm-AIR…not AM-burr) about 10 kilometers northeast of town. This is northern India’s first planned city, if LP is being honest with me.

 

All I hope you get out of that is that this is an area with close to a millennium of “important” history to India, but the city of Jaipur as we see it now is only about 300-400 years old. Jaipur currently has a population of about three million. There’s an Old City (Pink City) which is where most of the tourists head – including yours truly – a new city, and….that’s about it. For my purposes (and in an attempt at brevity), I’ll say we went to the Central Museum (Albert Hall) south of the Old City. We also visited Hawa Mahal, Tripolia Bazaar (and Gate), and Jantar Mantar in the Old City. Other than that, we went to Amber Fort for a few hours.

 

Things started innocuously enough. We had left Delhi at 7:30 in the morning and gotten to Jaipur about 5 hours later. We had one stop on the bus for breakfast. I don’t recall what I ate…some type of curry, of course, but I don’t recall which. It may have just been mutter paneer. It was, however, delicious, and I didn’t feel hungry at all again until dinner.

 

The bus. Bus transportation in India, by the way, is rather interesting. Sometimes they are private buses (the small kind that only hold 8-12 people), sometimes sleeper buses, sometimes regular coaches…but the regular coaches didn’t seem too common. There doesn’t seem to be any uniformity in India about this.

 

Anyway, the bus dropped us off right next to Amber Fort. Since this was one of the small 8-12 person jobs, it could pretty much stop and go where it pleased, it seems, and this one didn’t actually take us to Jaipur.

 

As soon as we got off the bus here, we hired a tuk tuk (san lun che, for you Chinese readers) that took us down to the Old City. There, we switched to another one that took us the 2-3 kilometers west of the Old City to the more quiet and residential Bani Park where our hotel (the Hotel Anuraag Villa, which turned out to be about the nicest one we stayed in) was located. The second tuk tuk driver is the one we hired to take us around that afternoon and the next day. For the first day, I paid 500 rupees (~50 RMB/$8) for 4-6 hours’ work. We checked in and he waited patiently as we ate lunch in the backyard of the hotel.

 

Our driver took us first to the Central Museum (Albert Hall) where we spent an hour or two in mid-afternoon. The museum itself isn’t too bad. It has standard fare: tribal dress, Buddhist sculptures, even an Egyptian mummy. The building itself, though, is worth seeing. Anyway, an hour here was more than enough time.

 

From there, we went to the Sun Temple (I think that’s what it’s called) where I enjoyed the late afternoon sun (and rather smoggy view, though not quite as smoggy as Chinese cities I’m accustomed to). After that, we ended up going to a rather nice restaurant that cost about 2500 rupees (250 RMB/$40) for two. I splurged. It was fantastic.

 

After a night of sleep that may or may not have transported me to an alternate universe (I sleep more deeply than most bears), I woke up ready to go the next morning. I hired the same tuk tuk driver to haul us around, and we went first to the Old City (Hawa Mahal, the Tripolia Bazaar, Jantar Mantar, and Amber Fort…plus another fort in the middle of the water whose name I’ve forgotten). Though the time was a little shorter than the previous day, I paid him 750 rupee, since he actually drove us around farther. That’s still just under $15, so I had no problem with that.

 

Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) is the most recognizable architectural building in the Pink City (though it’s technically just outside the Old City). It’s a five story building that was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 to “enable ladies of the royal household to watch the life and processions of the city.” There are nice views of Jantar Mantar and the City Palace to the west and the Siredoori Bazaar directly across the street.

 

Jantar Mantar is an observatory that was built by Jai Singh in 1728. “Jantar mantar” is derived from the Sanskrit “yanta mantr,” which means “instrument of calculation.” There are some rather large, interesting, and certainly eclectic sculptures, all for measuring time among the heavens.

 

Amber Fort was the highlight of Jaipur for me. The Kachhawaha Rajputs ruled from here for over 800 years. This fort was built beginning in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh using war booty. It’s a royal palace built from pale yellow and pink sandstone with various courtyards. If you walk up the hill, you will enter the fort through the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) and find yourself in Jaleb Chowk (Main Square) where the armies presented to the king. Walking up the stairs from Jaleb Chowk will bring you to the second courtyard and Diwan-I-Am (Hall of Public Audience) with its double row of columns. The maharaja’s apartments are located around the third courtyard, which you enter through Ganesh Pol. On one side of the interior courtyard is the Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) which has many mirrored tiles. On the opposite side of Jai Mandir, across Maota Lake (a very small decorative pond, really) is Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure). The fourth courtyard has the zenana (women’s quarters), which were designed so the maharaja could make his nightly visits without the other women knowing about it. In all, the fort/palace and the views from the fort are wonderful. I won’t say “breathtaking” or “stunning,” but certainly worth the visit.

 

Once I bade farewell to the tuk tuk driver, we wandered around the Old City a little longer before heading over to the hotel for dinner and to see a puppet show (that was not free, but wasn’t advertised as costing anything; they basically try to shame you into “donating” when they’re done). After that, we headed to the train station for a midnight ride across the state on Indian Railways…the first of five train rides throughout these two weeks.

 

If anyone has seen Slumdog Millionaire, you saw Indian Railways in action…with people riding ON the cars, among other things. I didn’t see anything quite like that, but…the lowest class passenger cars were quite crowded. We were always in first- or second-class sleepers which, to me, didn’t differ too much from the style of sleeper cars in China, though they weren’t quite as nice. They were…very close to the same, at least from my experience.

 

So, goodbye Pink City and hello Golden City. Jaisalmer was a twelve hour ride due west from Jaipur, and we arrived sometime mid-morning. More to come…

This iIlustration explains where you can find ancient DNA. DNA is localized in two different compartments in the cell. Nuclear DNA harbors most of the genetic information, while the much smaller mitochondrial genome is present in thousands of copies. After death, DNA is degraded over time and ultimately only small amounts remain. It also becomes contaminated with DNA from e.g. bacteria and contemporary humans.

 

Geneticists can study human ancestors by isolating the nuclear DNA, or the much smaller mitochondrial genome, found in all sorts of remains — including bones, teeth or hair. Much can be gleaned by comparing the genetic variations between different genomes (noted as “mutations” here). But extraction of ancient DNA is no easy task. In some cases, DNA may be too old to study. It also becomes damaged and degraded after death. And it may become contaminated with the genetic material of microbes and modern humans.

 

Read more in Knowable Magazine

 

"Navigating the ethics of ancient human DNA research"

Q&A — Anthropologist Alyssa Bader: Paleogenomic research has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, igniting heated debate about handling remains. Who gives consent for study participants long gone — and who should speak for them today?

knowablemagazine.org/article/society/2023/navigating-ethi...

 

Lea en español: Navegando los dilemas éticos de la investigación del ADN humano antiguo

 

Take a deeper dive: Selected scholarly reviews

 

Ethical Guidance in Human Paleogenomics: New and Ongoing Perspectives, Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics

 

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Knowable Magazine from Annual Reviews is a digital publication that seeks to make scientific knowledge accessible to all. Through compelling articles, beautiful graphics, engaging videos and more, Knowable Magazine explores the real-world impact of research through a journalistic lens. All content is rooted in deep reporting and undergoes a thorough fact-checking before publication.

 

The Knowable Magazine Science Graphics Library is an initiative to create freely available, accurate and engaging graphics for teachers and students. All graphics are curated from Knowable Magazine articles and are free for classroom use.

 

Knowable Magazine is an editorially independent initiative produced by Annual Reviews, a nonprofit publisher dedicated to synthesizing and integrating knowledge for the progress of science and the benefit of society.

 

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We love to hear how teachers are using our graphics. Contact us: knowablemagazine.org/contact-us

 

So easy to type it...

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure detected localized ground movement on Old Fort Road on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at approximately 7 p.m., and closed the road overnight as a precaution.

 

There was no ground movement detected near residents. Old Fort Road is now open for short periods of time to allow local traffic and essential services through while ministry technical staff assess the road and crews make subsequent repairs.

 

Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/22444

 

Peacock bass were stocked to create a localized fishery.

 

Butterfly Peacock: Cichla ocellaris

 

Appearance:

Body shape similar to that of a largemouth bass; color highly variable, but generally golden with three black vertical bars that tend to fade and are possibly absent in older fish; black spot with a yellow-gold halo on the caudal fin.

 

Range:

Introduced by FWC in large coastal canals of southeast Florida in 1984; low water temperatures and intolerance of saltwater prevent this species from becoming abundant outside of coastal Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Native range lies within the Amazon River basin of South America.

 

Habitat:

Successful in warm, slow flowing canals, ponds, lakes, deep rock pits, and lateral canals; frequently found in shady areas around bridges, culverts, canal intersections, bends, dead ends, and near fallen trees; spawns and often feeds in shallow water adjacent shorelines with overhanging vegetation; cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60oF or salinities greater than 18 ppt.

 

Behavior:

Spawning Habits: Typically spawn from April through September with a peak in May and June; both adults prepare a flat, hard surface near shore, then lay between 4,000 and 10,000 eggs; young are guarded by both parents, sometimes for several months; males commonly develop a 'nucchal' hump on foreheads when reproductively active.

 

Feeding Habits: Feed almost exclusively on fish; tend to use great speed to capture prey; typically feeds only during daylight hours; this fish has helped reduce the number of undesirable exotic fishes, especially the spotted tilapia.

 

Age and Growth

Grow rapidly to 12-14 inches during the first 16-18 months, after which they become much heavier with each inch they add in length. A 17-inch fish will weigh approximately three pounds while a 19-inch fish will weigh up to five pounds. The largest butterfly peacock caught in Florida weighed 12.0 pounds and measured 25.5 inches, but this fish was not submitted for a state record. It is not known how long they live, but preliminary data suggests about six years.

 

Sporting Quality

One of the most popular sportfish in southeast Florida canals where it generates millions of hours of fishing pleasure for thousands of anglers who spend more than $8 million a year to catch them; available to both boat and bank anglers using the same basic tackle as largemouth bass anglers; small shiners are the preferred live bait; rarely take plastic worms like largemouth bass do, but top-water lures, minnow imitating crank and jerk baits, and marabou jigs are popular artificial baits; streamers, epoxy minnows and pencil poppers are favorites of fly fishers; daily bag limit of two fish, only one of which can be greater than 17 inches.

 

Edibility

Good but the real value of this fish is in its use for controlling over-abundant exotic forage fishes and its sporting qualities; therefore FWC encourages anglers to catch and release these fish, especially those longer than 14 inches.

 

Additional Information

State record: 9.08 pounds, but fish up to 12 pounds have been caught; current IGFA all-tackle world record is 12.6 pounds (caught in Venezuela); 13 of the 16 current IGFA world records caught from Florida waters

 

Photo courtesy of Vance Crain, FWC

taormina giardini naxos letojanni isola bella club med clubmed sea beach flowers iris sicilia sicily italia italy landscape wallpaper castielli travel creative commons zero cc0 cc gnuckx facebook bebo news notizie panoramio flickr googleearth high qualiy photo gallery picture pic pics maps googlemaps geotagged geotag gps localized locale wiki wikipedia

The Betchworth Estate has changed hands only twice by purchase since Domesday. In 1634, the Betchworth Estate was purchased by Sir Ralph Freeman (1610~1655), a wealthy civil judge, Auditor of the Imprests and tin trader whose descendants sold it in 1816 to the Rt. Hon. Henry Goulburn (1784~1856), Chancellor of the Exchequer in both the Duke of Wellington's government (1828) and Robert Peel's second cabinet (1841) and Home Secretary in Robert Peel's first government (1834).

  

In 1980, the Betchworth Estate was inherited from Major General Edward Goulburn D.S.O. by his cousin The Hon. James Hamilton, later Lord Hamilton of Dalzell (1938~2006), the father of the current owner.

  

The Betchworth Estate is currently owned by Robert Hamilton, who lives in part of Betchworth House with his family.

 

Laundry Street (Sai Yi Street), Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

九龍 旺角 洗衣街

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taormina giardini naxos letojanni isola bella club med clubmed sea beach iris sicilia sicily italia italy landscape wallpaper travel creative commons cc gnuckx facebook bebo news notizie panoramio flickr googleearth high qualiy photo gallery picture pic pics maps googlemaps geotagged geotag gps localized locale wiki wikipedia

Loveness Mhlanga, 40, waters a nutritional garden in Kotiva Village, Bubi District. The ZZJR project has increased dietary diversity through the provision of water for the garden.

 

The joint response of the Dutch Relief Alliance, a consortium of 16 Dutch aid organizations, provides life-saving assistance to people facing severe food insecurity in drought-affected Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

Most southern Africa countries are likely to receive below normal harvests in 2020, given the poor performance of the 2019/20 rainfall season, characterized by erratic and below normal rains. This is also the outlook for Zambia and Zimbabwe – the impact of the reduced rains is expected to have caused a contraction in the area planted and lowered yield prospects. Heavier rainfall since mid-December 2019 provided some respite and helped to alleviate moisture deficits, but concurrently resulted in localized flooding in parts of both countries with the earth too dry and hard to absorb the rain. In Zambia, the number of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance will rise from 1.7 million people (May – September 2019), to about 2.3 million people being in a severe food insecure situation.

 

The Joint Response in Zambia and Zimbabwe targets the most vulnerable households, aiming to improve direct access to food, protect and rebuild livelihoods, which contributes to the structural approach addressing the drought, provide access to clean drinking water and raise awareness on hygiene and nutrition, and screen and treat children below 5 and pregnant and lactating women for malnutrition. The design of the intervention is based on the sectors directly related to the drought situation, in line with the cluster recommendations, based on the expertise of partners and complementarity with other ongoing interventions. Partners work in rural as well as urban areas, depending on the locally identified needs. Throughout the intervention, cluster, SPHERE and CHS standards are followed. After the outbreak of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the project duration was extended until 30 November 2020, and an extra budget was made available to cater to the increasing needs in both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

ognina catania boat fisher island isola sicilia sicily italia italy sea sun landscape europe wallpaper castielli travel creativecommons creative commons zero CC0 cc0 CC cc panoramio flickr googleearth maps geotagged gimp wikimedia

Small localized area of exposed asbestos magnesia boiler block insulation apparently previously cut away for access to coupling.

Learn more and pre-order FIFA 12: www.ea.com/uk/football/localize/fifa

 

Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 1.8/50

ボケ気味ですが雰囲気優先にしました。

MEGA MAN 3 Dr. Willy's Stage Metal Version With Awesome Guitar By Pete Metropoulos - Rocktropolis

www.RocktropolisMusic.com

 

Mega Man 3, known as Rockman 3 Dr. Wily no Saigo!? (ロックマン3 Dr.ワイリーの最期!? Rokkuman Surī Dokutā Wairī no Saigo!??, lit. "Rockman 3: The End of Dr. Wily!?") in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game of the original Mega Man series and was originally released in Japan on September 28, 1990. The game localized in North America later in 1990 and in European regions in 1992. Taking place after the events of Mega Man 2, the plot follows the titular hero as he helps his creator, Dr. Light, and a former villain, Dr. Wily, collect parts for a peace-keeping robot by defeating several Robot Masters that have gone haywire.

A platform-action game, Mega Man 3 follows the same format set forth by its two predecessors. The player, as Mega Man, must complete a series of stages in any order. Defeating a stage's boss will earn the player its special weapon, which can be selected and used at will throughout the rest of the game. Mega Man 3 introduces new gameplay elements such as Mega Man's canine sidekick Rush and the ability to slide along the ground. Unlike with the first two installments of the series, artist and designer Keiji Inafune has considered the creation of Mega Man 3 to be very stressful due to time constraints and his own increased responsibilities during its development.

Following the success of Mega Man 2 released two years earlier, Mega Man 3 has sold over one million copies and has been positively received in critical reviews. Its presentation and gameplay has been especially praised, although many sources found the game to be too difficult. Like other titles in the series, Mega Man 3 has been re-released several times on other gaming platforms, on mobile phones, and as part of various Mega Man franchise compilations.

 

Mega Man 3 takes place during an unspecified year during the 21st century (200X). The mad scientist Dr. Wily, having twice had plans for world domination dashed, claims to have reformed and begins work with Dr. Light on a project to build a peace-keeping robot named "Gamma".[15] Robot Masters in charge of a set of "mining worlds", however, go berserk and make off with Gamma's eight power crystals.[16] Mega Man is called into action, this time with a canine companion named Rush, to retrieve the crystals from the sites.[17] Throughout his mission, the protagonist continuously encounters and spars with Break Man, a masked foe who has abilities comparable to Mega Man's own.[15] After Mega Man destroys the eight Robot Masters, he must then revisit four of the mining sites to face off against eight "Doc Robots", who possess the abilities of the Robot Masters from Mega Man's most recent mission. Once the crystals are retrieved, Wily reverts to his evil ways, steals Gamma, and retreats to his new fortress. To stop Wily's newest plan to conquer the world, Mega Man destroys Gamma and defeats Wily in a final confrontation. As the fortress begins to crumble, Break Man appears in enough time to save Mega Man, but is too late to save Wily, who is seen being crushed under the rubble. When Mega Man regains consciousness in Dr. Light's lab, his creator informs him that he must have been rescued by Proto Man, Mega Man's brother.[18][19]

Pete Metropoulos Guitarist/Producer/Session Player

www.RocktropolisMusic.com

Biography

Guitarist/Producer/Session Player

Pete Metropoulos (Rocktropolis) is the guitarist for the progressive rock band Rocktropolis. Pete Metropoulos (Rocktropolis) has worked with The Process, Gabe Gonzalez (George Clinton) and former drummer John Macaluso (Yngwie Malmsteen, ARK and VOX). Pete Metropoulos (Rocktropolis) is a Nominee of the 2013 Detroit Music Awards.

 

ROCKTROPOLIS is represented by Howard Hertz/Joseph Bellanca (Hertz Schram, p.c.) Mr. Hertz's impressive roster includes George Clinton, Sippie Wallace, The Romantics, The Bass Brothers, Eminem, Marilyn Manson, Russell Simmons, O-Town, Pantera, Marcus Belgrave, The GO, Mike Posner, Elmore Leonard, Warner Tamerlane and Atlantic Records.

Unique localized solution in Blida to avoid tensions during ‘olive season’. Photo by Haidar Fahs/ UNIFIL

The great egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, large egret or (in the Old World) great white heron,[2][3][4] is a large, widely distributed egret, with four subspecies found in Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized but more widely distributed in North America. It builds tree nests in colonies close to water.

Like all egrets, it is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae. Traditionally classified with the storks in the Ciconiiformes, the Ardeidae are closer relatives of pelicans and belong in the Pelecaniformes instead. The great egret—unlike the typical egrets—does not belong to the genus Egretta but together with the great herons is today placed in Ardea. In the past, however, it was sometimes placed in Egretta or separated in a monotypic genus Casmerodius.

The Old World population is often referred to as the great white egret. This species is sometimes confused with the great white heron of the Caribbean, which is a white morph of the closely related great blue heron.

The scientific name comes from Latin ardea "heron", and alba, "white".[5]

Subspecies[edit]

There are four subspecies in various parts of the world, which differ but little.[6] Differences are bare part coloration in the breeding season and size; the largest A. a. modesta from Asia and Australasia some taxonomists consider a full species, the eastern great egret (Ardea modesta).

A. a. alba Linnaeus, 1758 – nominate, found in Europe

A. a. egretta Gmelin, JF, 1789 – found in Americas

A. a. melanorhynchos Wagler, 1827 – found in Africa

A. a. modesta Gray, JE, 1831 – eastern great egret, found in India, Southeast Asia, and Oceania

The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in).[7][8] Body mass can range from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5 to 3.3 lb), with an average of around 1,000 g (2.2 lb).[9] It is thus only slightly smaller than the great blue or grey heron (A. cinerea). Apart from size, the great egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults. Differentiated from the intermediate egret (Mesophoyx intermedius) by the gape, which extends well beyond the back of the eye in case of the great egret, but ends just behind the eye in case of the intermediate egret.

It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight. The great egret walks with its neck extended and wings held close. The great egret is not normally a vocal bird; it gives a low hoarse croak when disturbed, and at breeding colonies, it often gives a loud croaking cuk cuk cuk and higher-pitched squawks.[10]

The great egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. It is ubiquitous across the Sun Belt of the United States and in the Neotropics.[1] In North America, large numbers of great egrets were killed around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. Numbers have since recovered as a result of conservation measures. Its range has expanded as far north as southern Canada. However, in some parts of the southern United States, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss, particularly wetland degradation through drainage, grazing, clearing, burning, increased salinity, groundwater extraction and invasion by exotic plants. Nevertheless, the species adapts well to human habitation and can be readily seen near wetlands and bodies of water in urban and suburban areas.[1]

The great egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with colder winters. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.[citation needed]

In 1953, the great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers.[11][12]

On 22 May 2012, it was announced a pair of great egrets were nesting in the UK for the first time at the Shapwick Heath nature reserve in Somerset.[13] The species is a rare visitor to the UK and Ben Aviss of the BBC stated that the news could mean the UK's first great egret colony is established.[13][14] The following week, Kevin Anderson of Natural England confirmed a great egret chick had hatched, making it a new breeding bird record for the UK.[15]

 

Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana, has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa. By size, it is the third largest park in the country, after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Gemsbok National Park, and is the most biologically diverse. It is also Botswana's first national park.

 

The park can be divided up to 4 areas, each corresponding to one distinct ecosystem:

The Serondela area (or Chobe riverfront), situated in the extreme Northeast of the park, has as its main geographical features lush floodplains and dense woodland of mahogany, teak and other hardwoods now largely reduced by heavy elephant pressure. The Chobe River, which flows along the Northeast border of the park, is a major watering spot, especially in the dry season (May through October) for large breeding herds of elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable and cape buffalo. The flood plains are the only place in Botswana where the puku antelope can be seen. Birding is also excellent here. Large numbers of carmine bee eaters are spotted in season. When in flood spoonbills, ibis, various species of stork, duck and other waterfowl flock to the area. This is likely Chobe's most visited section, in large part because of its proximity to the Victoria Falls. The town of Kasane, situated just downstream, is the most important town of the region and serves as the northern entrance to the park.

The Savuti Marsh area, 10,878 km2 large, constitutes the western stretch of the park (50 km north of Mababe Gate). The Savuti Marsh is the relic of a large inland lake whose water supply was cut a long time ago by tectonic movements. Nowadays the marsh is fed by the erratic Savuti Channel, which dries up for long periods then curiously flows again, a consequence of tectonic activity in the area. It is currently flowing again and in January 2010 reached Savuti Marsh for the first time since 1982. As a result of this variable flow, there are hundred of dead trees along the channel's bank. The region is also covered with extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands, which makes wildlife particularly dynamic in this section of the park. At dry seasons, tourists going on safari often view the warthog, kudu, impala, zebra, wildebeest and a herd of elephants bullying each other. At rain seasons, the rich birdlife of the park (450 species in the whole park) is well represented. Packs of lions, hyenas, zebras or more rarely cheetahs are visible as well. This region is indeed reputed for its annual migration of zebras and predators.

The Linyanti Marsh, located at the Northwest corner of the park and to the North of Savuti, is adjacent to Linyanti River. To the west of this area lies Selinda Reserve and on the northern bank of Kwando River is Namibia's Nkasa Rupara National Park. Around these 2 rivers are riverine woodlands, open woodlands as well as lagoons, and the rest of the region mainly consists of flood plains. There are here large concentrations of lion, leopard, African wild dog, roan antelope, sable antelope, a hippopotamus pod and enormous herds of elephants. The rarer red lechwe, sitatunga and a bask of crocodiles also occur in the area. Bird life is very rich here.

Between Linyanti and Savuti Marshes lies a hot and dry hinterland, mainly occupied by the Nogatsaa grass woodland. This section is little known and is a great place for spotting elands.

 

The original inhabitants of this area were the San bushmen (also known as the Basarwa people in Botswana). They were nomadic hunter-gatherers who were constantly moving from place to place to find food sources, namely fruits, water and wild animals. Nowadays one can find San paintings inside rocky hills of the park.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the region that would become Botswana was divided into different land tenure systems. At that time, a major part of the park's area was classified as crown land. The idea of a national park to protect the varied wildlife found here as well as promote tourism first appeared in 1931. The following year, 24,000 km2 around Chobe district were officially declared non-hunting area; this area was expanded to 31,600 km2 two years later.

In 1943, heavy tsetse infestations occurred throughout the region, delaying the creation of the national park. By 1953, the project received governmental attention again: 21,000 km2 were suggested to become a game reserve. The Chobe Game Reserve was officially created in 1960, though smaller than initially desired. In 1967, the reserve was declared a national park.

At that time there were several industrial settlements in the region, especially at Serondela, where the timber industry proliferated. These settlements were gradually moved out of the park, and it was not until 1975 that the whole protected area was exempt from human activity. Nowadays traces of the prior timber industry are still visible at Serondela.

Minor expansions of the park took place in 1980 and 1987.

 

The park is widely known for its spectacular elephant population: It contains an estimated 50,000 elephants, perhaps the highest elephant concentration of Africa, and part of the largest continuous surviving elephant population.[citation needed] The elephant population seems to have solidly built up since 1990, from a few thousand.

Elephants living here are Kalahari elephants, the largest in size of all known elephant populations. They are characterized by rather brittle ivory and short tusks, perhaps due to calcium deficiency in the soils.

Damage caused by the high numbers of elephants is rife in some areas. In fact,[1] concentration is so high throughout Chobe that culls have been considered, but are too controversial and have thus far been rejected.

At dry season, these elephants sojourn in Chobe River and the Linyanti River areas. At rain season, they make a 200-km migration to the southeast stretch of the park. Their distribution zone however outreaches the park and spreads to northwestern Zimbabwe.

Localization: Esposende

Photos from the final Protect Our Salish Sea action of Backbone Campaign's Localize This! Action Camp. Go Here to learn more about this inspiring, beautiful, and deeply moving action and the model native leadership and non-native solidarity work it was designed to exemplify.

Example of localized damage to asbestos magnesia pipe insulation.

Localized damage to a steam pipe with asbestos magnesia insulation. An adjacent pipe hanger rod in close proximity has cut into the soft, friable asbestos insulation due to vibrational movement associated with periodic expansion and contraction of the pipe system itself during normal operation. Consequently, asbestos-laden dust had accumulated on various surfaces below, requiring urgent response clean-up and repair action. Additionally, reconfiguration of the problematic pipe hanger should be considered as well, to prevent further damage.

Small Group Discussion: Localizing Agricultural Value Chains for Shared Prosperity

The world’s agricultural economy exceeds $2 trillion, yet much of the production, processing, and manufacturing for high value food products that could be energizing developing economies instead takes place in developed countries, reducing opportunities for local livelihood improvement and economic growth. Some companies have identified an opportunity to strengthen their own businesses and invest in local livelihoods by keeping high-value processing and manufacturing in the low-income countries where their agricultural products are sourced. Others are localizing their supply chains, ensuring that food products they sell within developing countries are made using locally sourced ingredients. These trends can empower smallholder farmers, strengthen small- and medium-sized enterprises, and mitigate the climate footprint resulting from the transportation of goods across the globe, while at the same time reducing companies’ sourcing and production costs. To ensure that localized supply chains and value chains can function sustainably, businesses must cultivate ecosystems that support this type of business environment and the human capital needed for growth and prosperity.

 

In this session, participants will:

• Explore the economic, environmental, and social opportunities that can be achieved through local value chains and the partnerships that can make these possible.

• Examine case studies of successful efforts to localize supply chains serving domestic markets and create value chains in low-income countries to serve global markets.

 

MODERATOR:

Don Seville, Co-Director, Sustainable Food Lab

PARTICIPANTS:

Blanca Juti, Chief Corporate Relations Officer, Heineken

Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO, Acumen

Magatte Wade, Founder and CEO, Tiossan

Necrotizing granulomas localized around an airway. This is a common finding since the tubercle bacilli enter the lung via the airways except in miliary tuberculosis where entry is via the blood vessels.

taormina giardini naxos letojanni isola bella club med clubmed sea beach iris sicilia sicily italia italy landscape wallpaper travel creative commons cc gnuckx facebook bebo news notizie panoramio flickr googleearth high qualiy photo gallery picture pic pics maps googlemaps geotagged geotag gps localized locale wiki wikipedia

View of localized damage to corrugated-paper ("Air Cell") asbestos pipe insulation. Image also shows stitching of pipe insulation's canvas covering. Literally miles of the hand-stitched canvas pipe coverings were present in a vast network of tunnels and trenches; that's alot of sewing.

 

Although, it's assumed that the canvas coverings were probably received from the manufacturer as "pre-sewn sleeves" and then perhaps pulled over the sectional pipe insulation like a sock, then the stitches were pulled tight and finished.

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The Owl of Athena was also used in this instance, as a localized navigation map of Greenland, the Avernus Basin, and Labrador, which coincides with other Greek, Egyptian, and Irish mythology images meant to safely guide travelers over land and sea . It was probably used in many other locations as well.

 

See also the Avernus image...

www.flickr.com/photos/10749411@N03/5249386712/in/photostr...

 

Not a surprise, but the eyes of the Owl image are also the eyes of Hades image of Eastern North America, shown earlier.

 

While many of my theories I am 110% sure of, I am only 95% sure of this idea.

 

The lines of the owl are too close, and the "google eyes" match too well, the Hades eyes mentioned earlier.

 

The ancient adage was "As Above" (in the celestial heavens), "So Below" (on Mother Earth), and "As Within" (the human body itself). For this reason, I am now strongly suggesting that the Owl Figure was one of many interpretations of the features found on the moon, as well as mirroring the geographic landscape on earth, and certainly being the anthropomorphic form of Athena, the Greek version of the Moon Goddess. I am certain that these ideas have been a million times repeated, and I am just the latest.

 

As the Avernus Basin flooded surrounding Greenland, and all habitats at lower levels were lost, a new map was needed to show the navigation around the multiple islands and channels from the Atlantic area towards the Arctic Ocean.

 

The ancient message to me is clear. Past this channel area, you are entering the realm of night and death, so beware! Do not cross this area or face danger.

 

It also strongly indicates that some form of ancient Northwest passage existed for ships, to "cross into the other ocean", meaning the Pacific, through these series of channels. All passageways appear to have been filled with sediment, and the transit points became useless.

 

From the website called, "The Owl Pages", I have the following wonderful quote...

"In the mythology of ancient Greece, Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom, was so impressed by the great eyes and solemn appearance of the Owl that, having banished the mischievous crow, she honoured the night bird by making him her favourite among feathered creatures. Athene's bird was a Little Owl, (Athene noctua)."

www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=Owl+Mythology&t...

 

...and another wonderful quote from the same location...

"In Roman Mythology, Proserpine (Persephone) was transported to the underworld against her will by Pluto (Hades), god of the underworld, and was to be allowed to return to her mother Ceres (Demeter), goddess of agriculture, providing she ate nothing while in the underworld."

 

One last item, or two... If you look real close, there are two owl versions shown. The one depicted in the Greek coin has a slightly upright tail, the other has a "soft tail" flush down. The first one has eyes tweaked at about 20 degrees down from horizontal, the second one is horizontal with the Greenland overlay.

Here is what is even more amazing to me. The first Owl, "upright tail Greek coin version" ALSO overlays the portion of Greenland west of the original overlay towards Baffin Bay! The second Owl overlay image, which was used in the original overlay, has the tail figures transcending over the "Davis Strait" towards Labrador and "Leopold Island".

 

It is as if there was an early map version with head and body transcending towards Labrador across the "Davis Strait", and a later map version with an Owl body entirely in Greenland, and only the legs transcending towards Labrador! Amazing!

 

Side Notes: This also rings an etymology bell, in that Nashua, New Hampshire and Iowa, may both be named after Athene Noctua.

 

Anyways, I am only 95% certain on this theory, it makes explicit sense yet I can't be sure, and it will take true academics and scientists possibly 20 years to verify the navigation reasons for this image. I hope all enjoy the similarities.

At the San Jose airport: the Burger King has "gallo pinto," a typical costa rican dish of rice and beans, on the breakfast menu.

 

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

This mid-fifteenth century illuminated Book of Hours is written entirely in Dutch on fine vellum, and is remarkable for its eighteen grisaille miniatures. The technique, wherein the figures are modeled primarily in a gray wash, became a favorite in the Netherlands, and the hand behind the paintings in this manuscript has been identified with a group of artists known as the "Masters of the Delft Grisailles." This manuscript has been grouped with more than a dozen related works, including New York PML M. 349, London, Victoria and Albert Geo. Reid Ms. 32, Leiden B.P.L. 224, Brussels, BR 21696, Antwerp, Plantein Moretus Ms. 49, and the Hague K.B. Ms. 74 G 35. The manuscript is comprised of 152 folios and is almost completely intact, lacking only two miniatures, and retains its original brown leather binding decorated with mythological beasts and a now illegible inscription. The calendar is for the use of Utrecht, which helps localize its original ownership, as might a mostly erased ownership inscription that has been partially recovered by Marrow. Hours of the VIrgin.

 

To explore fully digitized manuscripts with a virtual page-turning application, please visit Walters Ex Libris.

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Creating Localized Language Style Guides Workshop at TEDSummit: A Community Beyond Borders. July 21-25, 2019, Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Experts from around the world came together to share insights and challenges around localizing education, specifically local educational resources (OER). This workshop was led by Jennryn Wetzler, Senior Program Designer in the Collaboratory at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Learn more: eca.state.gov/collaboratory

Here it is…my last big vacation of 2015. It also happened to be the longest of the year. I’ve actually put off editing these pictures (until this week – mid-January 2016). I’ve been putting this off because, honestly, I have very mixed emotions about the trip.

 

I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about India and all the Indians I met there – better things yet to say about Indian cuisine. However, I didn’t travel alone, and that caused quite a bit of headaches. So, I’ve been lazier than usual about going through these. However, in looking at them, I’m starting to dwell only on the good side, and hopefully will show that here. (I won’t mention anything else about what or why I didn’t enjoy the trip. Honestly, I hope to go back to India again sometime. It’s the 7th largest country in the world and has a lot to see…)

 

This particular trip was 13 days…and very localized. We only visited two states: Rajasthan (RJ) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). Also Delhi, though I didn’t go out in Delhi and don’t have a single picture to show for it. In those two weeks, we took the following tour, in this order: landed in Delhi (at 3:00 a.m.) on September 26. At 7:30 a.m., we were on a bus to our first destination: Rajasthan.

 

The first week we spent in Rajasthan visiting each of these cities for approximately two days: Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. (I found myself thinking, “There sure are a lot of ‘purs’ here…just like there are a of ‘zhous’ in China – Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Zhouzhou. ‘Pur,’ like ‘zhou,’ apparently means “town.”) Rajasthan is hot. Damn hot. Even in late September the daytime temperatures seemed to soar close to 40 degrees. At least 35, for certain… Rajasthan has a lot of desert terrain and many castles. Quite a few old palaces are out in Rajasthan, so it can tend to have a bit of a romantic feel to it.

 

After finishing in Rajasthan, we went over to Uttar Pradesh for literally one afternoon seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra, before shuffling off to the holy city of Varanasi (one of Hinduism’s most famous – if not the most famous – cities). From Varanasi, we took an 18 hour train ride (during which I apparently ate something so nasty that it stayed with me…for close to three months). Note to readers: Try to avoid eating on Indian trains. After another two days in Delhi, we flew back around 4:00 in the morning on October 9. For now…back to the beginning in Jaipur.

 

Jaipur is famously called the Pink City. A lot of the old town architecture is pink, so…well, you get the idea. It’s named for its founder, Jai Singh II (1688-1744), a great warrior-astronomer who assumed power at age 11 upon his father’s death.

 

The following is from Lonely Planet India: “Jai Singh could trace his lineage back to the Rajput clan of Kachhawas, who consolidated their power in the 12th century.” Their capital was at Amber (which is pronounced ahm-AIR…not AM-burr) about 10 kilometers northeast of town. This is northern India’s first planned city, if LP is being honest with me.

 

All I hope you get out of that is that this is an area with close to a millennium of “important” history to India, but the city of Jaipur as we see it now is only about 300-400 years old. Jaipur currently has a population of about three million. There’s an Old City (Pink City) which is where most of the tourists head – including yours truly – a new city, and….that’s about it. For my purposes (and in an attempt at brevity), I’ll say we went to the Central Museum (Albert Hall) south of the Old City. We also visited Hawa Mahal, Tripolia Bazaar (and Gate), and Jantar Mantar in the Old City. Other than that, we went to Amber Fort for a few hours.

 

Things started innocuously enough. We had left Delhi at 7:30 in the morning and gotten to Jaipur about 5 hours later. We had one stop on the bus for breakfast. I don’t recall what I ate…some type of curry, of course, but I don’t recall which. It may have just been mutter paneer. It was, however, delicious, and I didn’t feel hungry at all again until dinner.

 

The bus. Bus transportation in India, by the way, is rather interesting. Sometimes they are private buses (the small kind that only hold 8-12 people), sometimes sleeper buses, sometimes regular coaches…but the regular coaches didn’t seem too common. There doesn’t seem to be any uniformity in India about this.

 

Anyway, the bus dropped us off right next to Amber Fort. Since this was one of the small 8-12 person jobs, it could pretty much stop and go where it pleased, it seems, and this one didn’t actually take us to Jaipur.

 

As soon as we got off the bus here, we hired a tuk tuk (san lun che, for you Chinese readers) that took us down to the Old City. There, we switched to another one that took us the 2-3 kilometers west of the Old City to the more quiet and residential Bani Park where our hotel (the Hotel Anuraag Villa, which turned out to be about the nicest one we stayed in) was located. The second tuk tuk driver is the one we hired to take us around that afternoon and the next day. For the first day, I paid 500 rupees (~50 RMB/$8) for 4-6 hours’ work. We checked in and he waited patiently as we ate lunch in the backyard of the hotel.

 

Our driver took us first to the Central Museum (Albert Hall) where we spent an hour or two in mid-afternoon. The museum itself isn’t too bad. It has standard fare: tribal dress, Buddhist sculptures, even an Egyptian mummy. The building itself, though, is worth seeing. Anyway, an hour here was more than enough time.

 

From there, we went to the Sun Temple (I think that’s what it’s called) where I enjoyed the late afternoon sun (and rather smoggy view, though not quite as smoggy as Chinese cities I’m accustomed to). After that, we ended up going to a rather nice restaurant that cost about 2500 rupees (250 RMB/$40) for two. I splurged. It was fantastic.

 

After a night of sleep that may or may not have transported me to an alternate universe (I sleep more deeply than most bears), I woke up ready to go the next morning. I hired the same tuk tuk driver to haul us around, and we went first to the Old City (Hawa Mahal, the Tripolia Bazaar, Jantar Mantar, and Amber Fort…plus another fort in the middle of the water whose name I’ve forgotten). Though the time was a little shorter than the previous day, I paid him 750 rupee, since he actually drove us around farther. That’s still just under $15, so I had no problem with that.

 

Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) is the most recognizable architectural building in the Pink City (though it’s technically just outside the Old City). It’s a five story building that was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 to “enable ladies of the royal household to watch the life and processions of the city.” There are nice views of Jantar Mantar and the City Palace to the west and the Siredoori Bazaar directly across the street.

 

Jantar Mantar is an observatory that was built by Jai Singh in 1728. “Jantar mantar” is derived from the Sanskrit “yanta mantr,” which means “instrument of calculation.” There are some rather large, interesting, and certainly eclectic sculptures, all for measuring time among the heavens.

 

Amber Fort was the highlight of Jaipur for me. The Kachhawaha Rajputs ruled from here for over 800 years. This fort was built beginning in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh using war booty. It’s a royal palace built from pale yellow and pink sandstone with various courtyards. If you walk up the hill, you will enter the fort through the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) and find yourself in Jaleb Chowk (Main Square) where the armies presented to the king. Walking up the stairs from Jaleb Chowk will bring you to the second courtyard and Diwan-I-Am (Hall of Public Audience) with its double row of columns. The maharaja’s apartments are located around the third courtyard, which you enter through Ganesh Pol. On one side of the interior courtyard is the Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) which has many mirrored tiles. On the opposite side of Jai Mandir, across Maota Lake (a very small decorative pond, really) is Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure). The fourth courtyard has the zenana (women’s quarters), which were designed so the maharaja could make his nightly visits without the other women knowing about it. In all, the fort/palace and the views from the fort are wonderful. I won’t say “breathtaking” or “stunning,” but certainly worth the visit.

 

Once I bade farewell to the tuk tuk driver, we wandered around the Old City a little longer before heading over to the hotel for dinner and to see a puppet show (that was not free, but wasn’t advertised as costing anything; they basically try to shame you into “donating” when they’re done). After that, we headed to the train station for a midnight ride across the state on Indian Railways…the first of five train rides throughout these two weeks.

 

If anyone has seen Slumdog Millionaire, you saw Indian Railways in action…with people riding ON the cars, among other things. I didn’t see anything quite like that, but…the lowest class passenger cars were quite crowded. We were always in first- or second-class sleepers which, to me, didn’t differ too much from the style of sleeper cars in China, though they weren’t quite as nice. They were…very close to the same, at least from my experience.

 

So, goodbye Pink City and hello Golden City. Jaisalmer was a twelve hour ride due west from Jaipur, and we arrived sometime mid-morning. More to come…

Frantisek Kupka - Localization of Graphic Motifs, II, 1913

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This is the finished localized test strip printer (V2.0)

 

Parts:

2 x dollar store vinyl clipboard (1 x top, 1 x bottom)

1 x 1/2 in. MDF BASE 10 1/2 in. x 18 5/8 in.

1 x 1/2 in. MDF BOTTOM RAIL 3/4in. x 18 5/8 in.

8 x Pan head screws

4 x Rubber feet

 

Ms. Beverly Nkirote, Programme Officer, Network For Adolescents and Youth of Africa (NAYA Kenya) © UNFPA

Localized in Sao Luis our Travel agency specialized in tailor made trips off beaten path all over Brazil and along the Route of Emotion from Sao luis to Jericoacoara passing by the Lencois Maranhenses national park. All our trips are unique designed around your tastes, interests and budget, with an absolute commitment to quality.

Ms. Abdullah Anbar Anan Titir, Research Specialist, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) © UNFPA

Experts from around the world came together to share insights and challenges around localizing education, specifically local educational resources (OER). This workshop was led by Jennryn Wetzler, Senior Program Designer in the Collaboratory at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Learn more: eca.state.gov/collaboratory