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CAMP CARROLL — The Echo Maintenance Company, 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion Family Readiness Group has sprung to life over the past two quarters to keep pace with the high operational tempo of supporting four fire units and a headquarters unit at geographically dispersed locations.
It is important to maintain the Soldier and one way of doing that is by sustaining the FRG, especially in Korea as a forward deployed unit.
Family readiness falls under the 2-1 ADA Battalion Commander’s command priority number three , Family Readiness; with personnel turnover and a smaller number of families on the peninsula versus a unit in CONUS, building and maintaining a great family readiness group is not an easy task. However FRG leader Kelly Moldenhauer has been able to propel the company’s program to heights never attained before with the support of outstanding volunteers filling key positions of treasurer, alternate treasurer, secretary and phone tree organizer.
The company began last quarter by receiving and integrating new families into the program to build a sense of pride and to welcome them to the unit. When it comes to family readiness, one thing that is very important to the family members and the service member is evacuating the family members to safety in the event of a crisis.
The Company has hosted Non-Combatant Evacuation Program training in which all new members of the company were able to have several experts on hand to assist them in preparing their evacuation plans and ensuring that they have all of the required documents and protective gear in the event of a full scale evacuation. The unit NEO warden, Staff Sgt. Aaron Moldenhauer, assisted new family members with filling out the forms correctly and briefed them on the importance of being prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. A spouse herself, Jennifer Rose, along with Moldenhauer were genuinely gracious to all for the static display of their NEO bags which were used to compare how a family with children might pack, versus ones without. It also allowed them to share ideas and dispel any myths about what would happen during an actual evacuation.
The next meeting will host Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to talk through their programs for military families. The company is continuing to plan for the future with both readiness and social activities like a trip to the Demilitarized Zone.
Army FRG is a Commander’s tool that allows the commander to communicate directly with Soldiers and Family Members to keep them informed and mission ready. “Keep Em Rollin.”
The struggle is real: how do you maintain a classic look on your pro-touring project, but still be able to clear your big disc brakes and accommodate the larger sizes of today’s modern performance tires? You’ve gotta pick the right wheel! Our friends at Davenport Motorsports recently equipped their "Plum Crazy" 1971 Plymouth Barracuda with Baer brakes, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, and these 18x9/19x10 Forgeline Heritage Series CR3 wheels finished with Polished & High-Gloss Clear Coated centers and outers! See more at: www.forgeline.com/customer_gallery_view.php?cvk=1965
#Forgeline #CR3 #notjustanotherprettywheel #doyourhomework #madeinUSA #protouring #Plymouth #Barracuda #Cuda #DavenportMotorsports
Size: 12x5x3cm, weight: XXXgr.
Density: X,XXgr./cm³ / Estimated grit size: very variable 4K-8K
Usage: with water or oil, water should be preferred
Colour: differs totally from which quarry and which layer the stone was quarried. To identify and get further more information about the different kinds, read Henk Bos - Grinding and Honing Part 4 about Belgian Whetstones in detail (www.bosq.home.xs4all.nl) additional a visit of Coticule.be (maintained & created by Bart Torfs) is recommended! (www.coticule.be)
A Sharpening Stone which is known as a Coticule, Belgian Waterwhestone or in german "Gelber Belgischer Brocken" which is also shortened as GBB. There is also a second type which is and in the past was mostly used a the backing of the Coticule, the "Belgian Blue Waterwhetstone" or in german "Blauer Belgischer Brocken" shortened as BBW/BBB. Coticules are very interesting in their apperance, none is like the other and sometimes they have really nice structures (banding, gradients, inclusions).
Concerning the performance of the stones, the Coticules are very flexible in usage. That means that the stones with a very thick slurry used with more pressure work quite fast and remove a lot of material! A moderate slurry is a bit slower, using plain water is the slowest way which is used to polish the bevel and finish on the Stone. Later on there is a link to both Sharpening techniques brought to paper from Coticule.be named "Unicot" und "Dilocut" which are both great if they are well learned.
"About this Stone"
A very thick stone (3cm) with a mixed up Coticule layer, on certain areas it has several hybrid layer inclusions (Quartz). It has a natural grown BBW backing. At the End on one side both layers (Coticule/BBW) get mixed up together, this is quite rare and ive never seen any comparable stone.
more about the History of Coticules can be found here:
www.ardennes-coticule.be/en/ardennes-coticule-en.html
General information on coticules:
Wikipedia.de: "Belgischer Brocken"
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgischer_Brocken
Coticule.be
Salmchateau.be: "Le Coticule de Salchateau"
www.salmchateau.be/article39.html
Vielsalm.be: "Musee de Coticule"
www.vielsalm.be/loisirs-et-tourisme/culture/les-musees/mu...
Sources of buying coticules:
Ardennes-coticule.be, Founder is Maurice Celis
Belgischer-Brocken.com, Site from Steffen J. Lindner:
The Supirior Shave (TSS):
How to use a coticule:
Coticule.be: "Méthode Unicot" with PDF Files in EN, NL, IT, FR, ES, DE
(Link: www.coticule.be/unicot.html)
Coticule.be: "Méthode Dilucot" with PDF Files in EN, NL, FR, ES
(Link: www.coticule.be/dilucot-honing-method.html)
Geological Information:
Région Walonne, Bra Lierneux, 55/3-4: "Carte Géologique de Wallonie "
Échelle: 1/25000, Notice Explicative
(Link: geologie.wallonie.be/files/content/sites/geoprod/files/re...)
Literature:
[1] Bos, Henk - "Grinding and Honing Part 4 Belgian Whetstones", Info 20M, ISSN 1872-7824
(Link: www.xs4all.nl/~bosq)
[2] Boulvain, F. Prof. & Pingot, J. L. Dr. - Excursions: "Une introduction à la GEOLOGIE de la WALLONIE", Université de Liège, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Géologie, 2014
(Link: www2.ulg.ac.be/geolsed/geolwal/geolwal.htm)
[3] Boulvain, F. Prof. - Excursions "Excursions des cours de Processus Sedimentaires et Geologie de la Wallonie", Université de Liège, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Géologie, 2013
[4] Caubergs Michel - "Inventaire de quelques anciennes mines et carrieres souterraines de Wallonie", Essai D'archeologie miniere, 1991
[5] Devleeschouwer, Xavier / Mullard, Cyril / Goemaere, Eric - "Underground Workings of Slate Vein and Coticule in the commune of Vielsam (Belgium): The Geological Risk Management through Database and GIS", Post-Mining 2005, November 16-17, Nancy, France
(Link: gisos.ensg.inpl-nancy.fr/fileadmin/File/PM_2005/PM05_pdf/...)
[6] Gaspard, Charles - "L'industrie de la Pierre a rasoir dans le region de Sart-Lierneux", Extraites des Enquêtes du Museé de la Vie Wallonie, TOME XIV (No. 5 157-160)
[7] Goemaere, Eric - "Ardoise et coticule en Terre de Salm, Des pierres et des Hommes", Collection Geosciences du Service Géologique de Belgique, Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, ISBN : 978-2-9600676-1-3
(Link: www.sciencesnaturelles.be/institute/structure/geology/gsb...)
(Extrait "L'atelier Burton: www.sciencesnaturelles.be/institute/structure/geology/gsb...)
[8] Goemaere, E. & Declercq, P-Y. , 2012. "Le "coticule" de Vielsalm et Lierneux (Belgique)" une pierrre à aiguiser au passé mondial. Ann. Soc. géologique du Nord, 19 (2e série), 117-131
[9] Lessuise, A., "Le coticule. Situation géographique et géologique des gisements. Exploitation et préparation des pierres abrasives. Valorisation des déchets d’exploitation" Annales des Mines de Belgique, 1: 101-125, 1981
[10] Remacle, A. - "Les ardoisières de l’Ardenne belge" Intérêt biologique et état des lieux des sites en surface. Région wallonne, Direction Générale des Ressources Naturelles et de l’Environnement, Division de la Nature et des Forêts, Travaux n° 30, 189 p., 2007
[11] Renard, A. & S.J. - "Sur la structure et La Composition Minéralogique Du Coticule et sur ses Rapports avec Le Phyllade Oligistifère, 21.10.1876
[12] Knight, Richard - Appendix No. V Pages 231-237, Paragraph Nr. 15 in "Transactions of the Society instituted at London for the...Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, Vol. L, 1836
███▓▒░░.Text and Links created by RAZORLOVESTONES 05.09.2014.░░▒▓███
Durga
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In Hinduism, Durga one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress; is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practising mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of tantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi. Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
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Durga puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
In synagogues a perpetual light is maintained in a lamp which consists generally of a glass vessel containing a wick burning in olive-oil; this is held in an ornamental metal receptacle suspended from the ceiling in front of the "Holy Ark," or "Aron ha-Ḳodesh," just as the candlestick ("menorah") in the Tabernacle and Temple had its place before the Ark of the Covenant.
In Judaism, the sanctuary lamp is known by its Hebrew name, ner tamid (Hebrew: נֵר תָּמִיד), which is usually translated as "eternal flame" or "eternal light". Hanging or standing in front of the ark in every Jewish synagogue, it is meant to represent the menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the continuously burning fire on the altar of burnt offerings in front of the Temple. It also symbolizes God's eternal presence and is therefore never extinguished. It is also intended to draw parallels between God and fire, or light, which is emphasized throughout the book of Exodus in the Torah.
In a Reform Jewish congregation, it is often used to symbolize the light released from the shards of the receptacles that God used to create light and goodness. These lights are never allowed to dim or go out, and in the case of electric problems, alternate emergency energy sources are used to prevent it from diminishing.
Though once fueled by oil, most today are electric lights. The ner tamidot at Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City, California, Temple Sinai in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are solar-powered, symbolizing those synagogues' commitment to preserve the environment.
HISTORY OF THE PLUM STREET TEMPLE
Prior to the Civil War, the 200 families of K. K. B'nai Yeshurun (Isaac M. Wise Temple) envisioned a magnificent building to house their growing twenty year old congregation that had already gained a national prominence because of their rabbi, Isaac Mayer Wise. With his energy and vision, the congregation and Cincinnati were fast becoming a center of national Jewish life. The lot on the corner of Eighth and Plum Streets was purchased for the sum of $35,000. Construction was anticipated to cost $55, 000, but the delays caused by the Civil War and its post-war inflation meant that the building was erected in 1866 at a cost of $263,525. As a note of interest, we have recently found the original ledger book with all the entries of specific costs entailed in the construction of Plum Street Temple.
Designed by James Keyes Wilson, a prominent American architect and first president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the building reflects a synagogue architectural style that had emerged in Germany in the nineteenth century, a Byzantine-Moorish style. It hearkens to a previous era of the Golden Age of Spain in Jewish history, and reflects Rabbi Wise's optimism that the developing American Jewish experience would be the next Golden Age. All other examples of such architecture in Germany were later destroyed by Hitler. Only one other synagogue of similar style is extant in America, in New York. The complex design of Plum Street Temple mirrors many cultures: from the outside the tall proportions, three pointed arched entrances and rose window suggest a Gothic revival church; the crowning minarets hint of Islamic architecture; the motif's decorating the entrances, repeated in the rose window and on the Torah Ark introduce a Moorish theme; the 14 bands of Hebrew texts surrounding the interior were selected by Rabbi Wise and are chosen primarily from the Book of Psalms.
The building has been carefully preserved. The original flooring, pews, and pulpit furnishings are still in use. The chandeliers and candelabra, formerly gaslight, are now electrical but still the original fixtures. The original pipe organ, itself historical in nature and a unique instrument, built by the Cincinnati firm of Koehnken and Company is still in place, although in need of restoration.
The 1994-1995 restoration renewed a sense of vitality and sparkle to a building which looks much the same now as when it was built 137 years ago. Designated a national historic landmark and placed on the Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it was recognized then as a "splendid and exotic building." It is even more so now with its recent restoration.
Plum Street Temple is not a museum to the past; it is a living, dynamic sanctuary still retained by a congregation devoted to its maintenance and its continuation. The building is used on a nearly weekly basis for Sabbath services, programs, life-cycle events, and other religious functions.
Beyond its history and its beauty, Plum Street Temple is the fountainhead of Reform Judaism in America. It was from this building that Rabbi Isaac M. Wise founded the institutions of Reform Judaism, which prior to his active career, had consisted of ideology without an institutional structure. The founding of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1873), the Hebrew Union College (1875) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (1889), representing the structure of Reform Judaism, was accomplished from the Plum Street Temple by Rabbi Wise who served as founder and president of these three institutions while Rabbi at K.K. B'nai Yeshurun until his death in 1900. The Temple still annually hosts the ordination of rabbis from the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College. The majestic synagogue continues to reflect Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise's vision of Reform Judaism, a religious movement with a distinctly American look, so that "a religious Jew can also be a citizen of a free country, a member of society, a reasoner of modern thought."
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
As the Egyptian border was threatened by an Italian and German invasion during the Second World War, the Royal Air Force established more airfields in Egypt. The Royal Egyptian Air Force was sometimes treated as a part of the Royal Air Force, at other times a strict policy of neutrality was followed as Egypt maintained its official neutrality until very late in the war. As a result, few additional aircraft were supplied by Britain, however the arm did receive its first modern fighters, Hawker Hurricanes and a small number of Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks. In the immediate post-war period, cheap war surplus aircraft, including a large number of Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXs were acquired.
Following the British withdrawal from the British Protectorate of Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, Egyptian forces crossed into Palestine as part of a wider Arab League military coalition in support of the Palestinians against the Israelis. During 1948–1949, Egypt received 62 refurbished Macchi C.205V Veltro (Italian: Greyhound) fighters. The C.205 was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine.
The C.205 Veltro was a refinement of the earlier C.202 Folgore. With a top speed of some 640 km/h (400 mph) and equipped with a pair of 20 mm cannon as well as two 12.7 mm Breda machine guns, the Macchi C.205 had been highly respected by Allied and Axis pilots alike. Widely regarded as one of the best Italian aircraft of World War II, it proved to be extremely effective, destroying a large number of Allied bombers, and it proved capable of meeting fighters such as the North American P-51D Mustang on equal terms.
For the Egyptian order, eight C.205 and 16 C.202 were upgraded to C.205 standard in May 1948. In February 1949, three brand new and 15 ex-C.202, and in May another ten C.205 and C.202 each were brought to the Egyptian C.205 standard. This last contract was not finalized, though: Israeli secret services reacted with a bombing in Italy, which at the time was supplying both Israel and the Arab states, which, among others, destroyed Macchi facilities and damaged Egyptian C.205s still on order.
Only 15 completed Macchis were delivered to Egypt before the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, seeing brief combat against the Israeli Air Force. The new Veltros were fully equipped, while the Folgore conversions were armed with only two 12.7 mm Breda machine guns. They were the lightest series of the entire production, and consequently had the best performance, but were seriously under-armed. Some Veltros, equipped with underwing bomb racks were used in ground-attack sorties against Israeli targets.
This left the Egyptian air force with a lack of capable fighters, so that Egypt ordered nineteen additional Fiat G.55 fighters from Italian surplus stocks and searched for ways to remedy the situation, since the relations with Great Britain had severely suffered under the Arab-Israeli War. This led to the plan to build and develop aircraft independently and just based on national resources, and eventually to the Helwan HA-100, Egypt’s first indigenous combat aircraft – even though it was rather a thorough upgrade program than a complete new construction.
Opened in late 1950 to manufacture airplanes, the Helwan Aircraft Factory, located in the South of Cairo, took on the challenge to create a domestic, improved fighter from existing C.205 and C.202 airframes in Egyptian service and its Fiat engines still available from Italy. The resulting Helwan HA-100 retained most of the forward fuselage structure of the C.205 with the original engine mounts, as well as the wings, but measures were taken to improve aerodynamics and combat value. One of these was the introduction of a new (yet framed) bubble canopy, which afforded the pilot with a much better all-round field of view and also improved the forward view while taxiing. This modification necessitated a lowered spine section, and wind tunnel tests suggested a deteriorated longitudinal stability, so that the tail section was completely redesigned. The fin was considerably enlarged and now had a square outline, while the stabilizers were raised into an almost cruciform tail configuration and also enlarged to improve the aircraft’s responsiveness to directional changes. The wings were clipped to improve handling and roll characteristics at low to medium altitudes, where most dogfights in the Arab-Israeli War had taken place.
The HA-100 retained the license-built Daimler Bent DB 605 from Italy, but to adapt this Fiat Tifone engine to the typical desert climate in Egypt with higher ambient temperatures and constant sand dust in the air, the HA-100 received an indigenous dust filter, a more effective (and larger) ventral radiator and a bigger, single oil cooler that replaced the C.205’s small drum coolers under the engine, which were very vulnerable, esp. to ground fire from light caliber weapons. To gain space in the fuselage under the cockpit for new fuel tank, both radiator and oil cooler were re-located to positions under the inner wings, similar in layout to early Supermarine Spitfire Marks.
While the HA-100 left the drawing boards and an initial converted C.205 went through trials, relations with Britain had been restored and the official state of war with Israel ensured that arms purchases continued. This gave the REAF an unexpected technological push forward: In late 1949, Egypt already received its first jet fighter, the British Gloster Meteor F4, and shortly after some de Havilland Vampire FB5s, which rendered the HA-100 obsolete. Nevertheless, the project was kept alive to strengthen Egypt’s nascent aircraft industry, but the type was only met with lukewarm enthusiasm.
The first HA-100 re-builds were delivered to 2 Sqn Royal Egyptian Air Force at Edku (East of Alexandria) in mid-1951, painted in a camouflage scheme of Dark Earth and Middle Stone with Azure Blue undersides, using leftover RAF material from WWII. Later, REAF 1 Sqn at Almaza near Cairo received HA-100s, too. Eventually, around forty HA-100s were built for the REAF until 1952. The only export customer for the HA-100 was Syria: sixteen machines, rejected by the REAF, were delivered in early 1952, where they served alongside former RAF Spitfire F.Mk.22s.
The REAF HA-100s only had a short career, but they eventually faced frontline duties and fired in anger. This also marked their last deployments, which occurred during the early stages of the Suez Crisis in 1956.
Only about 15 HA-100s of REAF No. 2 Squadron were still in flying condition due to quickly worsening engine spares shortages, and the aircraft had, in the meantime, been hardwired to carry up to four “Sakr” unguided 122mm rockets on the underwing hardpoints. Due to their agility at low altitude, the HA-100s were primarily used for ground attacks and low-level reconnaissance duties. On their missions the aircraft still performed well, but at that time, all Egyptian aircraft had been stripped off of their camouflage and were operated in a bare metal finish – a poor decision, since the glinting airframes were highly visible both in the air and on the ground. Consequently, the vintage propeller aircraft became easy targets, resulting high losses, and the HA-100s were grounded. They were officially retired by April 1957, after the end of the Suez conflict, and scrapped.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 9,10 m (29 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 10.01 m (32 ft 9½ in)
Height: 3.52 m (11 ft 6¼ in)
Wing area: 16.8 m² (181 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23018 (modified); tip: NACA 23009 (modified)
Empty weight: 2.695 kg (5,936 lb)
Gross weight: 3.621 kg (7,975 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4.100 kg (9,030 lb)
Powerplant:
1× Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone (license-built Daimler Bent DB 605) V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston
engine with 1,100 kW (1,500 hp), driving a 3-bladed constant-speed propeller#
Performance:
Maximum speed: 642 km/h (399 mph, 347 kn) at 7,200 m (23,600 ft)
Cruise speed: 400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn)
Range: 950 km (590 mi, 510 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft)
Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 2 minutes 40 seconds
Wing loading: 202.9 kg/m2 (41.6 lb/sq ft)
Armament.
2× 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, 400 RPG, in the nose
2× 20 mm MG 151 cannon, 250 RPG, in the outer wings
2× underwing hardpoints for 160 kg (350 lb) each for bombs or four 122mm Sakr unguided rockets
The kit and its assembly:
This oddity was spawned from curiosity – when read about the lightweight Helwan HA-300 fighter from the early Sixties, I wondered when and how the Egyptian aircraft industry had started? I was even more curious because I had already attributed a what-if model, the purely fictional (and later) HA-410 fighter bomber, to Egyptian engineering. So, I researched Helwan’s origins, checked the time frame of its establishment and eventually came across the REAF’s post-WWII C.205 Veltros. What if there had been an indigenous update program…?
Consequently, this conversion’s basis is a C.205V kit from Delta 2. This kit is based upon a unique mold, quite similar to the later Italeri kit, but it is different and has some curious solutions. For instance, the landing gear struts are mounted into the wings with L-shaped attachment pegs – as if the landing gear is supposed to be retractable. Odd, but very stable. Another weird solution: the wing gun barrels are attached to the wings together with massive plastic wedges that fit into respective openings. Another quite rigid construction, even though it calls for trimming and PSR. Beyond these quirks, the kit is quite nice. It comes with a convincing mix of recessed panel lines and raised rivet heads. Some parts are a bit soft in shape, though, e. g. the cowling fairings, but overall I am positively surprised.
To change the aircraft’s look I did some conversions, though. The most obvious change is the new tail section, which was transplanted wholesale from a KP Yak-23 and had the C.205’s tail wheel attachment section transplanted from the Delta 2 kit. Originally, I wanted to move the whole cockpit forward, but then just replaced canopy and spine section with a clear part from a Hobby Boss MiG-15 and putty. Other, rather cosmetic changes include clipped wing tips to match the Yak-23’s square tail surfaces shape, and the C.205’s small elliptic stabilizers were replaced with tailored, slightly bigger parts from the scrap box. A bigger/deeper radiator and a different oil cooler replaced the original parts, and I placed them under the inner wings behind the landing gear wells. Both donors come from Spitfires, even though from different kits (IIRC, the oil cooler from an AZ Models Mk. V kit and the radiator from a FROG Mk. XIV). The flaps were lowered, too, because this detail was easy to realize with this kit.
Painting and markings:
The HA-100 received a contemporary camouflage, the RAF Tropical Paint Scheme consisting of Dark Earth and Middle Stone with Azure Blue undersides. The pattern was adapted from RAF Spitfires, and Modelmaster (2052 and 2054) and Humbrol (157) enamels were used, with a light overall black ink washing and some post panel shading. Being a former Italian aircraft, I painted the cockpit in a typical, Italian tone, a very light grayish green called “Verde Anticorrosione“, which was used during WWII on many interior surfaces – I used a mix of Revell 59 with some 45. The landing gear and the respective wells became aluminum (Humbrol 56), though.
One challenge became the characteristic black-and-white REAF ID bands on the wings. These were improvised with generic decal material from TL-Modellbau: on a 1 cm wide black band I simply added two white 2.5 mm stripes, for a very good result. Most other markings belong to an early REAF MiG-15, taken from a Microscale omnibus sheet for various MiG fighters. This provided the green-trimmed white fuselage band, the roundels and the fin flash, and a white spinner completed the REAF ID markings. Unfortunately the decals turned out to be brittle (ESCI-esque...) and disintegrated upon the first attempt to apply them, so I tried to save them with Microsol Decal Film, and this actually worked like a charm, even though the resurrected decals did not adhere well to the model's surface. The REAF 2 Squadron emblem comes from a vintage PrintScale Hawker Hurricane sheet, the white code letter on the fuselage came from an Xtradecal RAF codes sheet, and the black Arabic serials came from a Begemot sheet for MiG-29s.
The kit received some soot stains around the exhaust ports and the gun muzzles and was finally sealed with matt acrylic varnish (Italeri).
Even though it’s just a modded Macchi C.205, the result looks …different. From certain angles the aircraft reminds a lot of a P-51D Mustang, like one of the lightweight prototypes? The Egyptian markings add a confusing touch, though, and while the bodywork is not perfect, I am happy with the result. The Yak-23 tail fits perfectly, and with the narrow wings the HA-100 also reminds a bit of the two-engine Westland Whirlwind?
To maintain accurate Jessica Alba measurements, she trains for the last 12 years with personal trainer Ramona Braganza, which also trains some other Hollywood celebrities.
6972. Clearly taken from the well-maintained Cockatoo island Dockyard photographic records, we get a good overview of the 1,075 ton 'S' and 'T' Class destroyer HMAS TASMANIA here. Built by Wm Beardmore and Co. Ltd at Dalmuir, Scotland, she reached Australia with sister ships in April 1920, but was one of those subsequently laid up on Oct. 6, 1921 in the face of heavy Defence budget cuts. TASMANIA was recommissioned in Sept. and and a visit to New Guinea in June-July 1924, the only aspect of her service we can find taking her outside local waters. Again, we suspect there is a little more to know than the sparse public records found thus far on these ships. TASMANIA was laid up again on Jan. 9 1928, and was eventually sold for breaking up on 4 June 1937, with her sister ships. Photo: Cockatoo Island Dockyard, RAN Archives, it appears on the RAN Serapower Centre's online history webpage for HMAS TASMANIA, which can be found here: www.navy.gov.au/hmas-tasmania
W. Patrick McCray, Professor of History, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA speaking during the Session "Maintaining Innovation" at the Annual Meeting 2017 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 20, 2017. .Copyright by World Economic Forum / Manuel Lopez
Mono Pass and Little Lakes Valley, Eastern Sierra, CA. A well-marked and well-maintained trail, it just steadily climbs up the side of Mount Starr, for the longest time running along a ridge that gives an ever-increasing view of the Little Lakes Valley below. This is the first lake in the chain.
Mono Pass Trail Hike, Little Lakes Valley, California. Located about a half an hour from Bishop, the Little Lakes Valley is one of the easiest access points to the High Sierra in California. Turning off from Highway 395 at the junction of Tom's Place, a paved road leads straight up into the mountains, terminating at a place in the John Muir Wilderness called Mosquito Flat just over 10,000 feet in elevation (one of the highest elevation paved roads in the state). From here, you can take the relatively easy hike among the glacier-carved lakes along the Little Lakes Valley and Rock Creek. Or, you can take the more challenging paths, up into the mountains.
From the trailhead at the valley floor, the trail follows along Rock Creek for the first half mile, until you reach a junction, turning left abruptly up along the flanks of Mount Starr. Climbing steadily for the next mile up to 11,000 feet, where a small spur leads off to Ruby Lake, situated at the very edge of the treeline. The trail then turns left again, heading around the southern edge of Mount Starr, climbing higher and getting more rugged with each step.
Turning northward, leaving the last of the hardy vegetation behind, it's a landscape of greys and browns, bare rock and lichens. Finally passing over the wide saddle of Mono Pass at 12,000 feet at the 3 1/4 mile mark, it's like a moonscape. Even at this extreme elevation, this is one of the more easily accessible path over the nearly-impassable Inconsolable Range of mountains, and this pass has been used for centuries by Indian tribes and (later) explorers. Yet it is only snow-free for a few short months during the late summer and early fall.
From here, the trail levels out, dropping slightly to Summit Lake half a mile to the north - a clear blue snow-fed depression at 11,900 feet. From here, the trail continues along the western slopes of the Sierra Crest, first to a little cirque called Fourth Recess, then into Pioneer Basin - far too remote for a day hike and reserved for only the dedicated backpackers. I turned around and returned back along the Mono Pass Trail, down to Ruby Lake and then back to the Little Lakes Valley. Sunburned and exhausted but satisfied to have explored this remote corner of California.
This is a popular place to hike, and there are plenty of other photographs of the region by others on the internet. For more information, here are a few websites to visit:
Hiker Technologies, including topographical map
Picture taken September 29, 2007. Photo #8 of 70 in my Mono Pass Trail photoset.
This photograph is free for use on the internet under the 'Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial' license. You are free to copy, distribute, transmit and/or adapt this photograph without seeking permission first, as long as you provide attribution to the photograph (preferably by linking to this web page, or including the phrase 'Copyright Matthew Lee High'), and as long as the the photo is not used for commercial purposes. For more information about Creative Commons licenses, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en.
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress; is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practising mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of tantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi. Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress; is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practising mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of tantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi. Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Archaeological Museum
The archaeological museum is situated in Palaiopoli. It was built by the American Archaeological Expedition and is maintained by the Greek state. The museum’s interior houses various findings, especially from the excavation at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods and is divided in four halls. In the central hall one finds architectural restorations of the sanctuary’s main buildings, such as the entablature of the Court of the Sanctuary’s Altar and of the Cupola of Arsinoe II, which are adorned by bulls and daisies. Moreover, sections of the superstructure of the Hall of Donations, a marble inscription which prohibited the entrance of the non-initiated ones to the Palace’s adytum (Amyiton mi eisiene).
The second hall houses parts of the relief marble frieze of Propoulos of the Shrine circa 340 BC displaying female dancers, which, according to Ciriaco d’Ancona, were Muses, as well as the bust of prophet Tiresias and an entire but headless form, perhaps of Persephone etc. Upon entering the third hall the visitor sees a bench with marble supports, which come from the Sacred Dwelling. A welded headless statue of Nike stands at the back, a rear corner ornament of the Sanctuary. It was an offering of Demetrius I Poliorcetes after his victory in Cyprus and was placed on a ship’s bow with its open wings headlong trumpeting the victory. It is made of Parian marble and is 2.75 meters tall. Metallic artefacts are displayed in display cases of which a lion-like Persian pin stands out.
The fourth hall houses findings of the Necropolises and a cast of Nike of Samothraki, which is currently at the Louvre Museum. Moreover, in a display case in this hall one finds the majority of the precious jewels and silver coins which were discovered during the excavation of the Necropolises and include silver and golden earrings, buckles, rings, a golden necklace, golden wreaths etc., which date from the end of the 6th century BC to the era of Augustus.
When the visitor walks out of the Museum and follows the cobbled path he or she will arrive at the entrance of the archaeological site. The buildings of worship and the public buildings are those which have by and large survived in the ruins up to this very day. The first excavations of the Sacred Site date from 1863, when the French Consul in Andrianoupolis, C. Champoiseau discovered and transferred to Paris the headless statue of the “Victory of Samothraki”.
The greatest archaeological remnants are the Palace with the Sacred Dwelling, the Arsinoeio in the form of a Rotunda, the Shrine, the Sanctuary, the Theatre, the Altar, the House of Offerings, the Stoa, the Fountain of Nike, the Cemetery, the building of the kings Philip III and Alexander IV, the Propylaeum of Ptolemy II etc.
The archaeological museum is open to the public every day, from 08:30 to 15:00 but not on Mondays.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SAMOTHRAKI
PALAIOPOLI
PHONE NUMBER: 25510 41474
The Sanctuary of the Great Gods
It is located in Paliapoli, 6.5 km from Kamariotissa, near the Archaeological Museum, and covers an area of about 13 acres. A row of buildings stand here, which testify the significant religious activity that prevailed in this area. The propylaeum of Ptolemy Vaetos Philadelphus, of Ionic rhythm, built in 285-280 BC. The Arsinoeio circular edifice of 500 BC. The square building, offering of Philip of Aridaia and of Alexander IV. The palace, the sacred dwelling, the cupola, the shrine, the sanctuary, the archaistic niche, the marble altar, the Hellenistic building, the Stoa and the Fountain, where was located the renowned Winged Victory of Samothraki.
The Ancient City
Our tour to the archeological finds of Paliapoli begins in the small parking lot in front of the little church of Agia Paraskevi. The cobbled pedestrianised street leads to the Museum and the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. To the east, on the northern slopes of Ai-Giorgis (1,448 meters) the ancient city of Samothraki was built, a part of its walls still being visible high on the slope. The surrounding wall in its highest part – at an altitude 286 meters - meets the steep crest which, descending towards the beach, is the eastern limit of the Ancient City and its natural fortification; only some parts of which have been replaced by reproduction parts. The port of the Ancient City, which was beyond the fortification, was referred to in writings for the first time in the 4th century BC and for the last time in the Acts of the Apostles, in which we read that Saint Paul the Apostle passed through here in 49-50 AD, during his journey from Asia Minor to Neapoli (modern-day Kavala). According to tradition, the Early Christian basilica was built in commemoration of this event. Ruins of this basilica are found in the eastern part of the ancient port.
The medieval fortification of the Ancient City, above the Early Christian basilica, dates from 1431-3 and was integrated in Gattilusi’s policy of construction or reconstruction of a series of fortifications in Samothraki, which would guarantee the defence of the island not only against the Turks but especially against the Venetians. The fortress includes a ditch, a surrounding wall and three towers, of which the south-eastern one, which survives almost in its entirety, is its most impressive section.
1-12-13 Wyndham Street Races
2004 Moto Guzzi California EV Touring Motorcycle Test
I've always found myself oddly attracted to Moto Guzzi motorcycles, yet at the same time a bit wary of them. Kind of a yin-yang thing caused in no small part by some of their oddball quirks. On the one hand you've got legendary reliability, a strong, easily maintained engine and driveline and a certain flair for style that only the Italians can ever really pull off. On the other hand you've got those Weird-Harold linked brakes (yeah, I know lots of manufacturers use linked brakes. I don't like those any better) and what might possibly be, at least from the standpoint of my own ergonomic inclinations, the worst foot controls in motorcycling.
Truthfully, the first few miles on the EV had me wondering if I'd made the right decision. Those damn foot controls nearly drove me nuts. Believe me, any gears I managed to engage on the first attempt were purely accidental. Stopping with the rear brake was simply out of the question. The pedal was awkward to reach and hard to modulate. Clearly a bit of adjustment was required. A little spanner work put the shifter where I could at least use it, and I placed the foot brake to a position that wasn't so uncomfortable. In candor, once the pedals were adjusted I suppose I could get used to them. But the reality of it is that the lower controls need a complete redesign, preferably by someone who's ridden one of the floorboard-equipped bikes from H-D or any of the Big Four, or at least has roughly humanly proportioned dimensions. With careful adjustment and the right technique they can be made to work, but frankly, it takes dedicated Guzzistis to put up with them in standard trim.
On that same note, linked brakes are something I've never really developed a taste for. Considering the majority of roads I'd be on while riding the EV were likely to be at best sandy and slippery, and at worst covered with snow and ice, a linked brake system, especially one without ABS, would seem to create more problems than it solves. Fortunately, for the most part the roads remained dry, and my arguments against linked brakes remained largely theoretical.
Other than those two issues, there is a lot to like about the EV. The 1064cc V-twin revs a little slow, but it pulls like Jack the Bear, especially in the midrange. The engine management package is superb. When it comes to fuel injection MG has really done its homework, and it shows. The bike started easily despite the cold, even when the temperature dropped into the single digits, and it immediately settled into a consistent idle, with none of the snorting, spitting or stalling that plagues some other bikes. There was no lean surging or any other indication that the mapping was less than perfect.
The transmission is still a bit on the agricultural side, but it shifts much better than any of its predecessors. It's still possible to miss a gear change here and there, but that's mainly due to the balky shift mechanism.
Once underway the EV handles quite well. It's a bit firmer than most cruisers, but likely the best-handling member of the club, at least until Ducati starts building one. The bike steers accurately, holds its lines well and has a light, taut feel that belies its cruiser moniker. On the open highway it feels planted and stable at high speed, high speed of course being a relative term when you're riding the thing in below-freezing temperatures all night. Dedicated Guzzi riders tell me they routinely drag the high floorboards on these things, though I'm not sure that's something to be proud about.
While my stint on the EV took place in midwinter, riding the EV during Mother Nature's worst isn't as tough as it sounds. The weather protection is first-rate for a cruiser, and not at all bad by touring-bike standards. The small fairing/windscreen and foot guards block more wind than you'd think, and the heavily valanced fenders keep the muck and mire at bay. When you factor in the heated grips, why it's practically as easy as taking the car.
In the end, the California EV Touring is a good, if slightly flawed, motorcycle, especially if you like your cruising with a sporting flair and some touring capability. It has that indisputable Italian bike cachet as well, if that sort of feature is important to you. Now if they'd only fit decent foot controls to the thing...
SPECIFICATIONS
2004 Moto Guzzi California EV Touring
Suggested base price: $13,490
Standard colors: Red/Black; back/chrome;blue/chrome; dark silver/black
Extra cost colors: NA
Standard warranty: 12 mo., unlimited miles
Website: www.motoguzzi-us.com
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
Type: Air-cooled, 90-degree transverse V-twin
Valve arrangement: SOHC, 1 intake valve, 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, operated by pushrods, hydraulic adjusters
Displacement, bore x stroke: 1064cc, 92 x 80mm
Compression ratio: 9.8:1
Carburetion: EFI
Lubrication: Wet sump
Transmission: Dry single-plate clutch, 5 speeds
Final drive: Shaft CHASSIS
Dry weight: 573 lb
Wheelbase: 61.4 in.
Overall length: 93.7 in.
Seat height: 30.7 in.
Rake/trail: 29.5o/ 4.26 in.
Wheels: Wire-spoke, 2.50 x 18 in. front, 4.00 x 17 in. rear
Front tire: 110/90 VB18 tubeless
Rear tire: 150/80 VB17 tubeless
Front brake: 2, 4-piston, double-action calipers, 12.6-in. discs
Rear brake: 2-piston, double-action caliper, 11.1-in. disc
Front suspension: Marzocchi 45mm, 5.5 in. travel, adjustable damping
Rear suspension: Dual dampers, 3.5 in. travel, adjustable for preload and damping
Fuel capacity: 5.01 gal.
Handlebar width: 32.0 in.
ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION
Battery: 12v, 16AH
Instruments: Speedometer,tachmometer, odometer, warning lights
Source: www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/2004_moto_guzzi_calif...
Staying active is important for older men, especially those taking a statin, to maintain independence and to stay healthy. (Graphic courtesy of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health)
Standing amid a well maintained garden, this substantial 1920s Art Deco villa in the provincial Victorian city of Ballarat, would have been built for a larger sized middle-class family.
Built of red and brown feature bricks, this sprawling house with its high gables is far simpler than some of its older late Victorian or Federation Queen Anne style neighbours, extolling the clean lines of the Art Deco movement so popular across Britain and her dominions during the 1920s and 1930s. Built in the years after the Great War (1914 - 1918), you can start to see the transition from Edwardian villa to the popular Californian Bungalow of the early 1920s. The overall design is very in keeping with the Arts and Crafts Movement. However, decoration typical of the "Metroland" Art Deco period are starting to appear in the design: most notably in the window design which features leadlight glass, rather than stained glass, in geometric patterns.
This style of house would have appealed to the merchant middle-classes of Ballarat whose money came from the business generated in the burgeoning city by the Nineteenth Century gold rush. Comfortable and very English, it would have shown respectability and not inconsiderable wealth, yet not been to showy.
Martin Stratmann, President, Max-Planck Institute, Germany speaking during the Session "Maintaining Innovation" at the Annual Meeting 2017 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 20, 2017. .Copyright by World Economic Forum / Manuel Lopez
Alongside the cycle path on the route of the former Chesterfield and Lincoln Direct Railway, approaching the former Fledborough Railway Station, in between Fledborough and High/Low Marnham in Nottinghamshire.
The station was opened by the LD&ECR in March 1897 and closed by British Railways in 1955. The station and the stationmaster's house were built in the company's standard style. From Tuxford the line fell gently past Marnham, where in 1960, High Marnham Power Station was built. The junction to the power station was about 500 yards west of Fledborough Station, which was, in turn, just before the line crossed the River Trent by means of the Fledborough Viaduct.
Like most new railways of the time the Chesterfield and Lincoln Direct Railway's purpose was the carriage of coal. The project's leading light was William Arkwright, a descendant of Richard Arkwright who had made the family's fortune by mechanising the spinning of cotton. William Arkwright had settled at Sutton Scarsdale Hall near Chesterfield and with the land came extensive deposits of coal.
The rail network in the vicinity provided by the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was still in its infancy and would not meet his requirements. In 1887 the Chesterfield and Lincoln Direct Railway was proposed independently to join with Midland lines at each end. It would cross his land but received insufficient support.
Arkwright decided to promote an independent line to provide through roads to opposite coasts of the country. In time it became known as "The East to West". It would be sufficiently large to maintain itself in the face of competition from other railways. There were a number of lines already approved but not carried forward which could be incorporated. With the Newark and Ollerton there was the Macclesfield and Warrington Railway and the Lincoln and East Coast Railway. A number of other lines had been considered but not formally proposed and these, together with plans for dock works at Sutton on Sea which had been approved in 1884, gave Arkwright his route and support from the various landowners involved. The Lancashire Derbyshire and East Coast Railway Company was formed at 27 George St in Westminster and published its plans in 1890.
There was initially a deal of opposition from landowners and other railway companies but, in the end, the main opponent was the MS&LR because the line would bypass its own line from Sheffield to Retford and thence to London. The Great Eastern Railway turned from opponent to supporteer, realising that the line could give it an entree to the Midlands coalfields. The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway Act authorising building the line was given Royal Assent on 5 August 1891.
Due to lack of investment, only the portion from Chesterfield to Lincoln was built. To have continued west of Chesterfield would have required some extremely expensive and difficult engineering works. It was an ambitious undertaking, with some extremely expensive engineering works, crossing the Peak District which had always been a major headache for railway builders. Even to the east it crossed lines of hills running north and south. In addition it would conflict with the lines of a number of other railway companies.
From Lincoln the line would continue eastward over the Lincolnshire Wolds, with a junction near Stainfield as it crossed the GNR Louth to Bardney line. Proceeding well to the north of Horncastle it would cross the East Lincolnshire Railway to the southwest of Alford passing to the south. It would then join that line's loop (at that time known as the Willoughby Railway) near Thurlby turning north east to Sutton on Sea, where the North Sea port would be built.
Passenger services over the line to Lincoln finished in September 1955.
When arriving from the south at Chicago union station you pass through the amtrak 14th Street Coach Yard & Maintainence facility Amtrak operates a 48 acre site here : ( Metra also has a 20 acre site adjoining, on the right )
A six-story control tower overlooks and coordinates activities there
Amtrak long distance trains could be described as hotels on wheels, Railroad workers perform numerous tasks here such as as repairing engines, replacing the wheels on sleeping cars, checking water supplies to restocking toilet paper.Replenishing food and drink supplies ,cleaning Etc..
There is a giant car wash for washing the locomotives and coaches
In the inspection building, which can hold as many as 28 cars on two sets of tracks. Are pits below the tracks that allow workers to walk the length of the trains and inspect the undercarriages.
In the car shop, five sets of tracks accommodate cars that need wheels replaced, refrigeration repairs or major electrical work.
In the Engine house, up to 20 locomotives are fueled, traction motors are changed and wheels are resurfaced.
On the storage tracks, cars wait to go out and a few are in line for maintenance.
Switch crews, coach cleaners, train directors, levermen, stationmasters, tower operators and yard masters are some of the 400 workers that keep the yard running 24 hours a day.
Crew chiefs maintain F-35A Lightning II fighter jets during Red Flag 19-1, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 4, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are participating in Red Flag 19-1 at Nellis AFB, Nevada. This is wing's second Red Flag with the F-35A, America's most advanced multi-role fighter, which brings game-changing stealth, lethality and interoperability to the modern battlefield. Red Flag is the Air Force's premier combat exercise and includes units from across the Air Force and allied nations. The 388th is the lead wing for Red Flag 19-1. U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw)
Sri Lanka's Foreign Service is one of the oldest public sector institutions in the country. It was initially headed by the Prime Minister and later by a Foreign Minister. It has long been a glamourous career option for the best and the brightest.
The Foreign Service has, in the past, earned a reputation for performing well in defending and advancing the country's interests overseas. However, whether it has continued to maintain this reputation has come into question in recent times.
The qualities of its cadres may have become uneven, political appointees may not have lived up to expectations and some may not even have realised the need to reflect the rapidly changing requirements of the country. It has produced many success stories, some of its silent achievers have retired gracefully after a life time of valiant service to the country, while a few have ventured further to bring credit to their country in the multilateral arena.
However, whether there is a uniform commitment to serve in the face of the multifarious challenges among all its staff is questionable.
As we advance into the 21st century, in an intensely complex international and domestic environment, the challenges confronting the Foreign Service today are daunting. The country will quite rightly demand more of this service. It is a costly ministry and should not be considered to be a cushy retirement option, as some have done or merely an opportunity to educate their children.
Terrorism has become a global threat and has become every country's nightmare. Sri Lanka has also been confronted by a ruthless terrorist group for over two decades, even as the country tugs at its reins to advance economically and socially. Terrorism's multi-dimensional, political and socio-economic threat requires a constantly vigilant response in the multilateral and bilateral spheres.
Primarily, the challenge to our diplomats is to ensure that there is no compromise permitted in the global commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. No subtle relaxation of the world's vigilance should be permitted, enabling a quiet life-line to be thrown to the LTTE.
Likewise, there would be no recognition for any level of parity between Sri Lanka and the terrorist, LTTE. In this, the endeavours of the Foreign Service have been successful. Every effort to damage our standing, with implications to the economy, needs to be countered proactively. The LTTE and its sympathizers tend to dominate the Sri Lankan Tamil population, and purport to represent it, particularly those living in the West, even though many may not willingly acknowledge the hegemony of the LTTE. This is a force that the LTTE deploys effectively and that needs to be constantly engaged, proactively. The propaganda war will require our diplomats to engage local decision makers, lobby groups, including NGOs, media, and importantly, the pro-Sri Lankan diaspora.
The LTTE has over the years sought to create a negative impression of Sri Lanka with the objective of disrupting aid flows, tourism, foreign investment and perceptions of the country overseas. Sri Lanka's real and perceived failings tend to get highlighted to a far greater extent than those of other countries. Like all other terrorist groups before and contemporary, the importance of destabilizing the Sri Lankan state economically has not been lost on the LTTE. It is incumbent on the Foreign Service to continue in its efforts to meet this challenge. Increasingly, public diplomacy will play a critical role in its work as the need to reach out to a broader audience, including non-governmental groups becomes critical. In many Western countries, community groups and NGOs exercise critical influence on public policy formulation, making it essential for our diplomats to reach out to these entities. Sri Lanka must continue to identify its interest with the global effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and build on commonalities with regional and global partners.
There are many seasoned officers in the Foreign Service who have confronted the LTTE and its legions of sympathizers over the years. Some of these LTTE sympathizers may simply be misguided into seeing innocent liberators forgetting the history of ceaseless killings of civilians, ethnic cleansing, suicide bombings targeting civilians, eliminating moderate Tamils etc. The LTTE pioneered the technique of massively deploying suicide bombers to terrorise political leaders and civilians. It is also important to ensure that the democratic world is not lulled into forgetting through clever propaganda, that Sri Lanka is Asia's oldest democracy and continues to be one. Its judiciary commands enormous respect.
There will be a continuing requirement to identify with democratic forces in the world and to ensure support for Sri Lanka as it seeks to strengthen democracy and consolidate its institutions, including the rule of law, in the face of the challenge posed by a ruthless terrorist group. The success in the Eastern elections must be exploited to the maximum.
Our consistent effort must be to emphasise the strengthening of our own institutions. The world cannot be allowed to ignore Sri Lanka's commitment to achieving and even surpassing the millennium development goals, remaining a high achiever on the UN Human Development Index and providing education and health services, infrastructure facilities and government services to the areas left under LTTE control pursuant to the now defunct CFA.
The contemporary Foreign Service must also be very much focused on the country's economic priorities. Historically, a trading nation, much admired by other trading nations, Sri Lanka' needs a continuous flow of investments, expanded trade and tourism for it to realise its true potential. It is also important to reinvigorate the centuries old tradition of trading, hospitality and wealth creation.
Today, the country's potential remains largely underutilized. The terrorist threat is a continuing dampener of economic enthusiasm. But opportunities are there and need to be marketed. A few examples come to mind. It is a significant supplier of apparel to lucrative Western niche markets but in global terms, remains a relatively small player. There is every possibility for capitalising on the hard work done and the excellent reputation earned by the pioneers in order to attract other top end industry players and customers. As often repeated, manufacturing and assembling industries could be encouraged to benefit from our strategic location, the pool of flexible and educated labour, the easy investment regime and bilateral trade agreements, particularly with the booming Indian sub-continent.
The vast Indian Ocean at our door step remains an immense resource waiting to be better utilised. Tourism could do with more international players, especially at the top end. Our culture, the history, the natural beauty, almost predictable weather and above all, our friendly people are the envy of other countries striving to develop their own tourist industries. Natural resources could be better exploited to improve the standards of living of our people. Against this backdrop, it becomes the responsibility of the Foreign Service to be actively engaged in encouraging inward investments and developing trade against the backdrop of our liberalised economy in collaboration with the responsible line ministries. A country that had been a trading hub for over two thousand years and with a history of having attracted traders from far away as Rome, Greece, Egypt and China should find the resources within itself, to reinvigorate its trading roots. The exaggerated size of Sri Lanka in Ptolemy's map of the world millennia ago indicates the importance ascribed to this land in distant Alexandria. It is interesting to note that many countries, e.g. New Zealand, Canada, Australia, have amalgamated the departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade to benefit from the obvious synergies.
Sri Lanka has been confronted by a barrage of accusations on human rights issues. Human rights is as important to democratic Sri Lanka as it is to any other country despite the paucity of institutional resources and the inherent drawbacks of a developing country. Alleged lapses in our standards, compounded by the ever present threat of terrorism and the shortcomings in our resource levels and technical infrastructure, make us the target of a well orchestrated tide of criticism.
In a world where human rights have sadly become a convenient political football, developing countries tend to be subjected to standards of scrutiny which are not always applied even to far more developed countries with more sophisticated support bases. The Foreign Service knows that while we may need assistance in improving standards, what we do not need are sanctimonious sermons from self seeking prophets who may have discovered human rights in the aftermath of recent egregious violations in their own country. Ours is an intrinsically caring and compassionate society where deep sentiments of respect for the fellow being existed long before many of our critics discovered human rights. As the President so aptly articulated this sentiment at the recent SAARC summit; "Human Rights were an inherent part of our culture before its discovery by some others in the aftermath of bloody global wars and the deaths of innocent millions caused by misguided philosophies".
While we must never shirk in our efforts to protect the rights of our fellow beings, and seek the company of those who do, we must also not permit recent converts to the cause opportunities to preach from the pulpit.
Advancing and consolidating existing relationships and developing new ones is a task that is natural to the Foreign Service. Our own region must be a critical focus and India, with the advantage of deep seated historical, religious, cultural and increasingly significant economic links must be central to our approach. The booming bilateral economic links, trade, investment, tourism, etc., add substance to the relationship. While the plethora of existing ties and the common democratic tradition might make the task of relationship building seem easy, the complexities of domestic political reality requires continuing attention on the part of both countries. Increasingly, Sri Lanka must focus on the Tamil Nadu factor. The South Asian region will demand continuing high level focus from the Foreign Service and the galloping economies of our neighbours will demand our attention. We stand to benefit extensively from the very fact of being part of the region with the necessary adjustments to our priorities. Our links with all our neighbours need constant and considered care. Pakistan, a critical friend and a source of military hardware needs constant attention.
Greater attention needs to be paid to understand Pakistan's culture and politics. The long standing cultural and religious ties with China now acquire a wider dimension due to its burgeoning economy which has confounded critics, skeptics and well-wishers alike. They are also a key supplier of military hardware and a source of investment. The firm relationship with Japan could be further strengthened in the cultural, religious and economic areas. Increasingly, large numbers of Sri Lankan youth are looking east for their education and employment. This development must be encouraged and further opportunities created. On the whole, Sri Lanka will benefit further from strengthening its ties in the SAARC, ASEAN and East Asian regions. The existing historical cultural and religious ties will be a good spring board for this.
Our Buddhist heritage, long neglected in our international relations, gives us unprecedented access to many of the countries of the region, which could assist our efforts to curtail LTTE money laundering and arms procurement. With little effort, we should be able to convert casual relations to reliable alliances. In global fora, Sri Lanka must continue to identify with issues of common concern such as terrorism, human rights, the environment, respect for the UN Charter, etc.
At a time when many suspect the motives of multilateral agencies, the Foreign Ministry must seek to allay unreasonable fears and develop effective linkages.
The Middle East is the temporary home for over 1,000,000 Sri Lankans and the source of over USD 2.7 billion in foreign earnings. While fostering our traditional links with the region, every effort must be made to encourage increased trade, two way investments and tourism, while ensuring that our citizens, temporarily resident abroad receive adequate protection from our Missions. Inward tourists from the Middle East have continued to grow in number. The country has enjoyed constantly good relations with Europe and the United States. However, for too long these relationships have been characterized by a dependence on development assistance. Sri Lanka has graduated to the status of a middle income country, and greater effort will need to be placed on strengthening our contacts on the basis of shared global values, intensified trade and investment, interaction between people and on the cultural and religious heritage that Sri Lanka can share.
Our relationships must never be based on dependence or create perceptions of inferiority.
A significant but inadequately utilized resource for the country is the large number of its citizens scattered around the world. Some left these shores, lured by the challenge of succeeding in a different environment, others sought greener pastures and yet others left in unhappier circumstances. All of them can be made partners in a forward looking, confident and advancing Sri Lanka. The attraction would not only be the old home in a charming village but also the prospect of participating in making Sri Lanka a better place for all its people and for its sons and daughters scattered around the world, the economic potential for success and the obvious joys of life on an island in the sun.
The Foreign Service will face these challenges in its efforts to advance the goals of the government. A Government's policy of only rewarding those who produce results and not those who claim rewards on the basis of longevity and personal need or patronage will facilitate this.
by Maurice de Tallyrand
(March 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian
The kids of the North American Solar Challenge really inspired me to make the E-Riding Mower, solar powered.
The two large Panels are wired in series for aprox 44vdc (OCV) to charge the 36volt mower's traction pack. The smaller panel will be used to charge the Electric WeedEater.
Please check out the photos/videos from the 2008 North American Solar Challenge, and the official website at: www.americansolarchallenge.org
Maintained by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, the site at Capel-le-Ferne is dedicated to the bravery and the heroism of Churchill's "Few" who fought in the skies overhead to keep this country free from Hitler's invasion force.
The memorial itself inspires quiet reflection on the bravery shown by the aircrew - fewer than 3,000 men - who flew, fought and sometimes died in what was probably the most crucial victory achieved by this country in the whole of the 20th century.
At the back of the site the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall lists the names of all those who took part in the Battle, while a replica Spitfire and Hurricane stand nearby as a reminder of the machines they flew to victory.
(www.battleofbritainmemorial.org)
Baddesley Clinton is not one the grandest of houses, nor is it filled with rare works of art, but having been owned by one family, the Ferrers, since the 16th century and maintained largely intact and original, it is a rare example of the average early-modern home of the lesser gentry. Unlike such mansions as nearby Coughton Court, Baddesley Clinton is relatively small, even cozy, and one can easily imagine the life of the people who lived here. It is best known for being the home of the Jesuit Henry Garnet for almost 14 years, and the existence of several priest hides conceived and built by Nicholas Owen.
The Clintons settled here in the thirteenth century, when it was called just Baddesley, and added their name to the place. They were responsible for the digging of the moat that you see above. It was eventually sold in 1438 to John Brome, a wealthy lawyer, and the Bromes built most of the east and west sides of the house.
John Brome was the Under Treasurer of England but a Lancastrian, and when Henry VI was deposed in 1461 by the Yorkist claimant Edward IV, Brome lost all of his court appointments. He later quarreled with John Herthill, Steward to Richard "the Kingmaker", Earl of Warwick, and Herthill murdered him in 1468 on the porch of the Whitefriars Church in London. Brome's second son, Nicholas, who inherited the estate, eventually avenged his father's murder by killing Herthill in 1471.
Nicholas Brome seems to have had a taste for violence. According to Henry Ferrers, a later owner of the house, it was soon after inheriting Baddesley Clinton that Nicholas 'slew the minister of Baddesley Church findinge him in his plor (parlour) chockinge his wife under ye chinne, and to expiatt these bloody offenses and crimes he built the steeple and raysed the church body ten foote higher". He was pardoned for this killing by both the King and the Pope. Nicholas seems also to have developed a taste for building, and is thought to have been responsible for the building of much of the earliest part of the house. Baddesley Clinton passed into the hands of the Ferrers family in 1517, through the marriage of Nicholas Brome's daughter, Constance, to Sir Edward Ferrers.
The most interesting of the Ferrers is Henry Ferrers (1549-1633), the great-grandson of Sir Edward Ferrers, and contemporary with the times of the Gunpowder Plot. He inherited the property in 1564, and lived through the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I and James I, dying in the reign of Charles I. He carried out extensive building, including the wing that contains the Great Hall, as well as adding the Great Parlour above the existing entranceway. He also installed much oak paneling and mantels that are still there as well.
Henry Ferrers was an antiquarian, and spent a lifetime collecting historical information, much of which was later used by Sir William Dugdale in the 'Antiquities of Warwickshire'. This interest of his can be seen by the enormous amount of heraldic glass and devices throughout the house. He was trained in the law, and admitted to the Middle Temple in 1572. He may also have served a term as an MP for Cirencester in 1593.
After the death of Henry Ferrers, the fortunes of the Ferrers family fluctuated through periods of heavy taxation such as during the Civil War and in the early eighteenth century, followed by attempts by some generations to maintain and improve the property in better times. The last Ferrers in the direct male line, Marmion Edward Ferrers (1813-1884), was so poor that Lady Chatterton, the aunt of his wife Rebecca, and her husband, Edward Heneage Deering, had to come and live with him to share the expense. These two were only married because of a misunderstanding. It is said that Deering came to Lady Chatterly to ask permission to pay address to her niece, but she thought it was a proposal to her, and accepted. Deering, although she was old enough to be his mother, was too chivalrous to set the story straight!
The estate passed down through Marmion Edward Ferrer's nephew through several relatives, and it was Mr. Thomas Ferrers-Walker who eventually sold the house to the Government, after which it became part of the National Trust. The Ferrers Archive is kept at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Henry Ferrers was also a devout Catholic, but a cautious one and was never convicted for recusancy. He must have been aware of the activities of the Vaux sisters, who rented the house from him in the 1590's in order to secretly shelter Father Henry Garnet and other priests, and to be able to conduct catholic services. Soon after they rented the house, Anne Vaux had Nicholas Owen build secret hiding places, including one created out of the sewer and the moat.
A spectacular raid on Baddesley in October 1591 was recorded both by Father John Gerard in his Autobiography of an Elizabethan, and also by Father Henry Garnet in a letter to his Jesuit superior, Aquaviva. Several priests, including Garnet and Gerard, as well as lay assistants had risen early and were preparing to leave the house, when it was surrounded and all the approach roads blocked by pursuviants. The stable-boys, knowing that so many horses saddled and ready to go would be suspicious, armed themselves with farm implements and blocked the pursuviants attempt at violent entry. This bought some time for those inside the house, as the pursuviants had to resort to requests, and led them to believe that the lady of the house had not yet arisen. Those outside had to wait patiently, albeit not quietly, while those inside were quickly hiding away the priests, Catholic vestments, and all other signs of the presence of a Catholic priest, including the overturning of their mattresses so that the pursuviants could not feel the warmth.
The priests stood in the hiding place in the moat, ankle-deep in cold water for over four hours while the pursuviants tore through the house, although their attempts at intimidation seemed to have far outweighed their skills in searching. Anne Vaux said "here was a searcher pounding the walls in unbelievable fury, there another shifting side-tables, turning over beds. Yet, when any of them touched with their hand or foot the actual place where some sacred object was hidden, he paid not the slightest attention to the most obvious evidence of a contrivance."
The searchers turned up nothing, and eventually left after being paid off by Anne Vaux with twelve gold pieces. As Gerard later said, "Yes, that is the pitiful lot of Catholics when men come with a warrant ... it is the Catholics, not the men who send them, who have to pay. As if it were not enough to suffer, they have to pay for their suffering."
You can still inspect these hiding places today, and we must say they are not for those who are claustrophobic or faint of heart. Until you actually see them, it is hard to imagine the cramped, damp, dark and tomb-like conditions these priests endured.
The first of these is a lath and plaster hutch in the roof above a closet off the bedroom in the gatehouse block. It measures six feet three inches by four feet, and is three feet nine inches high. It contains two wooden benches and is lined with fine hair-plaster.
In the corner of the kitchen, where a garderobe once existed, you can see through to the medieval drain where the hiding place used by Father Gerard and Father Garnet was located. At the time, this could only be accessed through the garderobe shaft in the floor of the Sacristy above. A hiding space beneath the floor of the Library was accessed through the fireplace in the Great Parlour, and can now be viewed from the Moat Room. It was in the Library Room that Nicholas Brome was said to have murdered the priest, and it is reputed to be haunted.
For an excellent account of the priest holes and the work of Nicholas Owen at Baddesley Clinton, the article Elizabethan Priest Holes : III - East Anglia, Baddesley Clinton, Hindlip by Michael Hodgetts, and published in Recusant History, is a must read.
The house itself consists almost entirely of building done by either the Bromes in the fifteenth century or by Henry Ferrers in the sixteenth, and although much repair and alteration work has been carried out inside the house, the panelling, fireplaces and heraldic glass throughout the house all date from the work of Henry Ferrers.
Originally quadrangular in shape, the property today consists of only three blocks, the east including the gatehouse and the Great Parlour, the south containing the Hall, and the west containing the kitchen. The gatehouse and kitchen wing are of grey sandstone, whereas the Hall, which was reconstructed in the 18th century, is of brick.
The crenellated gatehouse is one of the house's most interesting features. The lower part with the gun ports was built by Nicholas Brome in the late fifteenth century, and is thought originally to have had a drawbridge. The upper part was re-formed by Henry Ferrers to accommodate the Great Parlour. The brick bridge was built in the early eighteenth century, and the crenelations added in the nineteenth century. The massive carved oak door in the gatehouse leading through to the courtyard dates from Nicholas Brome.
The present owners are still undertaking restoration work to enable all the documented priest hides and trapdoors to be made available for viewing, this work includes part of the moat tunnel complex that is presently plugged in order to prevent midges from penetrating into the Sacristy and bedrooms
Baddesley Clinton, although still a private dwelling was sold to the Government and passed to the National Trust in 1980 and opened to the public in 1982.
The above was copied from "The gunpowder plot" website.
Great to place to visit. If only there had been some sun!
Kykkos monastery maintains separate grounds Engomi, Nicosia called Metochi tou Kykkou . The land on which it lies was acquired over the years by the monastery through bequests. With the city's rapid expansion, the area which once used to be in the outskirts has now become prime property. Despite this, much of it is still used for agricultural purposes.
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.
The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.
Durga
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In Hinduism, Durga one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress; is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practising mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of tantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi. Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
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Durga puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Obtaining is very easy.
Maintaining is very hard and expensive.
The business plan that makes you poor or could make you rich.
New Deal Ink and Toner Company
275 Cumberland Parkway # 157
Mechanicsburg, Pa 17055
Eliminating the printer manufacturing company from the printer customer seems to be the answer. The manufacturer has all the resources, experiences and money to develop and bring to market remarkable printing technology. To take a look at their big dream, it gets a little dark, at time even black. You can hand a clerk at a discount store less than thirty dollars and walk out with a brand new Hewlett Packard color inkjet printer.
The founder of our company, Gregory Bodenhamer New Deal Ink and Toner Company, Mechanicsburg, Pa 17055, started to research the big retailers and manufacturers several years ago. He found the best way to do this was to go directly work for a Fortune 500 company that was directly in the computer, printer, consumable, inkjet, toner cartridge business among other things.
He had the unique opportunity to look inside the big dream, the big plan, the buying and selling of technology like computers, printers, copiers, toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges and everything else you might need for your home business or even another Fortune 500 company.
Yes, he was surprised and he learned more than the hearts desire. He discovered exactly what he wanted to know. Some things just confirmed what he originally thought, yes, they had a lot of money, engineers, managers and a great deal of inventory, across the nation, stacked higher than you can imagine.
One thing that he couldn’t find was a factual bargain. A real, genuine and actual bargain would be the farmer selling one perfect red apple for a dime compared to the next farmer selling a similar apple, from the same tree, for say one dollar. He could not find a valid or authentic value to the consumer other than some discount off the dedicated and firm manufacturers suggested retail price.
“Printer and inkjet or laser cartridge manufacturers require a great deal of resources to produce and distribute your favorite printer and inkjet cartridge. They found their profit opportunity within the inkjet ink cartridge and toner cartridge business. To realize how much wealth they already have you can look in two places. Check the stock market and count the dollars or try to compete with them and land up in court for the rest of your life, I suppose.”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
The inspiration for the entire business is becoming clear, you wanted to print your posters, workbooks and family pictures in full living color and never leave home, or maybe major companies invented the color inkjet printer and then persuaded millions of people, people just like you, through advertising, pushing cheap printer and copier machines, plug and play technology and created you as a customer with the help of their supply chain retail partners.
“How much more wealth the supply chain can create is becoming a very serious question. The rightful place for a sincere value still remains with the end user or what you and I call the customer. The printer makers, the cartridge makers and their selling partners do not remember to appreciate and be grateful for their customers. Other people and their companies, like Gregory Bodenhamer, New Deal Ink and Toner Company have clearly discovered the cycle of wealth that printer makers and inkjet makers have created and sustained.” “New Deal doesn’t want to create the next best printer” “New Deal Ink and Toner, when you read the name, says a lot. They wanted to create the New Inkjet cartridge customer.” “The founder wanted his own factory”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
It seems that your luxury comes as a guest. You will buy expensive ink or you will not enjoy the printer technology of the day. The manufacturers gave you the luxury you wanted, the royal colors you demanded and you’ve become the great collector of full color prints, you own greeting cards, booklets for work and even your own business and dating cards. It seems sitting on top of every desk in every cubicle there is a printer. Why have desktop computers without a printer? Why have printers unless you can print color? Why not make millions and millions of needless prints when the boss isn’t looking? Why not have some of these amazing technologies at home?
“If, every American family, would simply purchase their inkjet O.E.M. printer cartridges from New Deal Ink & Toner Company Mechanicsburg Pa 17055 the total savings would correct the national economic housing problem” “I know it sounds silly but, if you are buying name branded inkjet cartridges from the name branded retailers, my research proves you’re getting ripped off big time.”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
You remember Fotomat, drop your roll of film off at their little parking lot building and the next day your picture prints, photographic prints, were ready to be picked up and enjoyed. One hour photo processing changed all that, big companies, little mom and pop shops sprang up by the thousands. Drop your film roll off and in one hour or less, you were looking at your full color prints, at the higher prices.
Major retailers like C.V.S. pharmacy, Walgreens and many others sold you prints, by the hundreds of billions, one hour photo print services and it was a great success. Then the digital camera.
“The retailers, like national pharmacy companies, are running away and shutting down their one hour photo processing operations, as quickly as possible. They take up a lot of room inside their retail stores and they don’t have any customers.” “American consumers no longer use film and they sure don’t use one hour photo services. It’s a junk business with no profits, but believe me; these big retailers have a plan. Are you ready for their next step to your wallet? They’ve jumped head long into something they don’t understand and their results show it. The big boy Walgreens is actually refilling inkjet ink cartridges, with little success so far, let me explain.”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
You didn’t buy Kodak film any more. In fact, you didn’t even use photo film any more. You took your pictures with a digital camera and started to print your own color prints on your very own digital color inkjet cartridge printer. Now, you’ve bought (printers) by the tens of millions and along with the inkjet printers you purchased billions of inkjet ink cartridges and Kodak almost went broke.
You have inherited a kingdom of technology, sitting right at home or in your office at work; this kingdom of printer technology requires a great deal of maintenance.
When you honestly look at maintaining your color inkjet printer at home it’s going to cost you a fortune. The foremost printer and copier producers, you know the names, Apple, Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Hewlett Packard (HP), I.B.M., Kyocera, Lexmark, Minolta, Mita, NEC, Okidata, Panasonic, Pitney Bowes, QMS, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Tektronix, Toshiba, Xerox will just above give you a home or small office/business printer, copier, fax and scanner machine.
“Most recently Wal-mart has been having a super sale on Hewlett Packard printers and this inkjet color printer retails for $29.99.” “This is really the king of printers setting you up to buy their expensive ink. The inkjet ink cartridges costs more than the printer. Your color luxury is coming as a guest into your home, now you get to feed it. Consumers have become printer and inkjet ink cartridge slaves. If you could get rid of every printer in the homes of Americans each home would save from $200.00 to $300.00 per year. If you walk down your own street and count every other home they have an inkjet printer inside. The little business on the corner spends just about $750.00 per year on their own printer satisfaction and luxury.”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
These companies, you might know, use very few American workers and all of their products are manufactured overseas, the term is cheap labor, and then they import their own products back into the United States and put them on the market for you to buy. They retail to you through their supply chain partners like Wal-mart, Best Buy, Target, Office Depot, Staples, Office Max and other national players and you snap them up like hot cakes.
Major manufacturing companies and their supply chain partners do most things contrary to their customers and only make choices that contribute to their own wealth and prosperity. In order to be wealthier, they have to get more money from you almost any way they can.
“The manufacturing printer base, in my opinion is corrupt. Corrupt not in the dishonest way, or the crooked way but maybe in the shady way. It is true they have invested millions but they have also taken billions by harming their manufacturing base workers and their customers.” “I’m confident that they would argue that their foreign workers are better off now then they were before. It’s the two bowls of rice vs. only one bowl of rice economic theory that rich people use to explain their individual wealth. It’s the poor average worker being less poor as the printer and cartridge makers become very wealthy idea.” “The American consumer, the world consumer for that matter, went to the stores with their eyes wide open and bought the cheap printer and the expensive inkjet ink. The printer makers knew something that you could have never really known; having a printer is like having a child; they require a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week commitment for several years concerning food and ink, not to mention regular paper and even photo paper. Consumers have started to look at their printers from different angles. One big angle, how much does the ink cost and where can I buy some bargain.”
Joyce Dorothy Parker Ph.D.
Once you have something, like an inkjet printer, you inherited everything that came before it and everything that will come after it. To maintain your royal splendor of color you go to Wal-mart, Best buy and Target and scoop up inkjet ink cartridges by the tens of millions. Any when you buy the brand names of ink you are paying the absolute lofty price that they created for each of their customers. From top to bottom all the manufacturing companies do the same thing. Almost give you a cheap price printer and sell you an elevated retail priced inkjet ink cartridge.
Now, they have created your habits. Give you a cheap printer and sell you high priced inkjet cartridges. Customers, just like you, have stopped getting satisfaction from their home inkjet printers. You boss hates the LaserJet toner copier and printers at work, they cost more than you do. Everybody hates the high prices of inkjet ink cartridges, LaserJet toner print and copier cartridges, everybody includes you.
New Deal Ink & Toner Company understands that people want to save a great deal of money on their inkjet and LaserJet cartridges. We’ve created the economic relationship so you can do this very thing; our wholesale direct to the public warehouse is the new idea we call the new deal.
You can write us at NewWay@Live.com and we’ll send you our wholesale cartridge catalog.
Day 2 of The Indy KA500 and After a Fantastic First Day of Racing and Celebrations now is where the Real Hard Work Begins as The Entire Field of 46 KA'S were in the Garages with Drivers Teams and Engineers at The Ready as they were about to tackle 8 Hours of the Indy Circuit.
With an 8 Hour Race anything can Happen and with such a Large Field of Cars a lot of Overtakes and Careful Navigation will be Required to Ensure Victory.
With The Start of The Race About to get underway Its Time to See Who will be able to Hold out the Longest and Take the Title of IndyKa500 Endurance Champion for 2021.
Hour 1 (11:04AM)
As The Field of 46 KA'S Completed the Formation Lap and Slowly made their way Towards the Start Finish Straight The Lights went Green and at Exactly 11:04AM the Race Had Begun.
Racing Down Towards Paddock Hill Bend it was The KA of Team (IP Racing's Adam Blair Scott Parkin Oliver Wilmot and Mark Witherington) Who took the Lead Followed Closely by Team (Octane Junkies Adam Smith Martyn Smith and Bazza Ward) in Second Place and Team (Alex Read Motorsport's Chris Reade Sam Luke's Carlito Miracco and Luke Read) in Third Place as they Thundered Up the Hill Towards The Tops of Druids and Back Down Again through Bottom Bend where Team (Ferguson Motorsport's Damon Astin Billy Ferguson Joe Ferguson and Daniel Ferguson) took the Lead from (Octane Junkies) before Flying Around The Track to Complete Lap 1 of 500.
As The Cars came Round Paddock for The Second Time The KA of (Ferguson Motorsport) Now Leads by a Heathy Margin While Further Back (IP Racing) and (Octane Junkies) Have A Fantastic Scrap over Second Place with The Two of Them Swapping The Lead Over and Over again. Car Number 55 of (Al Most Racers Alistair Hardie Alistair McDonald Lee Conway and Will Denny) was Seen Getting Air of The Inside Curb on the Exit of Paddock Hill Bend making for a Spectacular Sight.
Hour 2 (11:54AM)
Hour 2 and All 46 KA'S are Still Alive and Well with Each Driver Pushing Hard to Maintain their Advantage as the Tyres Begin to Warm Up and Start to Grip the Track More.
KA Number 56 Team (Hard And Enthusiastic Martyn Dilworth Mark Figes and Mike Hickey) are Locked in a Tight Battle at The Top of Paddock Hill Bend with KA Number 27 Team (Semprini Racing's Jeremy Evans James Hart Phil Hart and William Puttergill) as they Fight it Out Between the Two Cars for a Position.
Further Down the Field KA Number 23 Team (Kastrol's Michael Keegan Tim Keegan and David Murfitt) is Having its Own Battle with KA Number 4 of Team (Alex Read Motorsport) as The Two Teams Have a Go at One Another Thought the Course of The Lap trying Hard to Hold onto that Position they Worked so Hard for.
Another Battle at Paddock is the KA Number 3 of Team (Wingdat Racing's Andy Chapman Jonathan Barret and Wayne Jackson) Having to Fend off The KA Number 16 of Team (M and D Racing's Alex Martin Daniel Martin Tony Perfect and Mathew Rowling) as they Also were Looking to be in an Intense Battle Thought the Lap with Many Other Teams and Drivers Now Settling into a Rhythm. at The Endo f The Second Hour The KA't Mobile Number 49 of Team (LDR Performance Tuning's David Bywater Adrian Clarke Andy Grear Hardy and Sammy Bryan) is Seen Making its way Through Paddock Hill Bend and Through the Gravel Trap but Manages to Get Out Unaided and Safely.
At 12:12PM a Huge and Very Loud Crash is Heard at The Bottom of Paddock Hill Bend and Seen Rowling Through The Gravel Trap and Ending up on its Wheels is the KA Number 3 of Team (Windgat Racing) Bringing out the First Safety Car of The Endurance Race. Lucky The Driver was Fine and After a Few Minutes Due to The Recovery Taking Place they Are Back out in the Race But with a Lot of Catching Up to do.
Hour 3 (13:08PM)
With the Safety Car Now in the Race gets Back Underway and Already each Driver was Pushing Even Harder trying to either Create a Gap or Make Up for Lost Time Due to The Safety Car Intervention.
At The Top of Paddock Hill Bend a Fierce Battle is Taking Place Between the Two Teams of KA Number 13 and KA Number 155 Team (Deranged Motorsport's Jason Pelosi Josh Larkin and Alex Kelby) and Team (JRS's Nick Walker Alex Day and William Foster) as they Duel Thought the Whole of Paddock Hill Bend Starting at The Top and Still Keeping the Fight Going Right Up towards Druids in The End Deranged Motorsport Wins Out and Takes The Position Away from JRS.
At 13:24PM The Fighting Between each Team Continues at The Top of Paddock Hill Bend which is Proving to be the Best Overtaking Area as Each Car has Only 73 Break Horse Power so Carrying as Much Speed as Possible from the Main Straight Towards Paddock is Essential for a Successful Overtake.
Team (Piston Heads Peter Dignan Oliver Lewis Benjamin Lowden and Sam Sheehan) Battles it out with Team (LDR Performance Tuning's Laurence Davey Mike Paul James Parker and Glen Copeland) as The Two Cars Do Battle for All to See with Team LDR Taking The Position Away.
At 13:39PM A Set of 4 KA's are Seen Fighting Their Way up Towards Druids with All Four Teams not Giving up the Fight as they Swap Positions Relentlessly with not One Driver Willing to Give Up his Position.
The 98 55 53 and 13 All Really Having a Good Go at One Another Thought their Fight. As The Sun Starts its Slow Dissent Down Over The Hills and Valleys that Surround The Circuit Bottom Bend was Providing Some More Opportunities for Drivers to do Battle with One Another. A Four way Fight Between KA's Number 56 51 44 and 64 was Occurring with Number 56 Holding Strong at The Front of This Fight and Leading them on Towards Clearways.
Finally at 13:48PM An Epic Battle Between KA's Number 64 and 44 was Witnessed Through Bottom Bend with The Likes of The Number 64 Bouncing a Wheel Into The Air as The Car Took the Tight Racing Line making for an Amazing Picture and a Superb bit of Car Control To Keep that KA Pointing The Right Way.
Hour 4 (14:02PM)
The Fourth Hour and Pit Stops and Driver Changes were Imminent with Many Teams Choosing to Go into The Pits to Change Both Drivers and Top Up the Fuel as Well as Change Tyres if Necessary. Every Team was Running to a Different Strategy Depending Upon the Amount of Drivers they Had with Teams of Four Drivers Taking 2 Hours in the Car Each While Teams of Three or Less would Have to Take on Longer Stints of 3 To Maybe Even 4 Hours in the Car Hoping that Having to do Fewer Driver Changes would Mean they could make Up The Difference on Track.
Back on The Track at 14:02PM More Battles were Commencing Through Pilgrims Drop With KA's Number 81 Team (GM Performance's Gary Mitchell and Ian Mitchell) Going Head to Head with KA Number 46 Team (JDC Motorsport's Stu Neal Andy Gaugler and Simon Walker Hensell) with The KA of GM Performance Narrowly Taking The Place From JDC Motorsport on the Run towards Clearways.
At 14:20PM a Fantastic Battle Between KA Number's 18 100 127 3 55 and 115 was Seen as they Powered their Way onto Clearways with 155 Leading Followed by 55 and 3 127 100 and 18 All Slowly Gaining Ground to the Two Leading KA's at The Front of This Train.
Shortly After This Train of Cars Came Through Another Train of 5 KA's was not Far Behind this Time Being Lead by Number 13 Deranged Motorsport with 131 (Team Viking's Mark Holme Harry Nunn and Nick Nunn) Then came Number 4 Alex Read Motorsport with 98 Piston Heads and 41 (Rowe Rage Motorsport's Alex Butler Greg Caswell Jason Handcock and Sam Rowe) As they All Fought Hard to Catch One Another Thought their Fight.
KA's Number 98 4 and 64 were Also Seen at 14:48PM Having a Really Good Three Way Fight with 64 and 98 Side by Side down Pilgrims Drop with The Number 4 Car Closing Fast.
At 14:54PM A Final Battle was Seen on the Run Up Towards Clearways with The KA's of Number 60 (Powerflex's David Power Paul Cowland and Dom David) Battling Hard with KA's Number 7 (G and B Finch's Joe Bragg Lee Finch Steve Finch Benjamin Smith and Arthur Thurtle) and Number 127 (Fat Boys Racing's Charlie Jackson and Matt Pinny) with The Number 7 KA Leading The Trio On Towards Clearways as The Sun Began to Set.
Hour 5 (15:25PM)
The Fith Hour and a Swarm of KA's were Seen Storming Down the Main Straight towards Paddock Hill Bend with the Number 131 Car of (Team Viking) in the Lead by Some Distance Followed by Number 64 125 18 81 and 155 as they All Made their Way Towards Paddock for another Chance at an Overtake.
Another Battle Followed Closely Behind with KA Numbers 11 18 49 and 111 All Fighting as Well in order to Maintain or Improve their Positions as The Race Went on.
At 15:28PM The Safety Car was Out again While Another KA Somewhere on Track was Being Recovered and The Leading car Number 36 IP Racing's (Adam Blair Scott Parkin Oliver Wilmot and Mark Witherington's Lead Evaporates as the Field is Once again Bunched up.
Behind Them are KA's Number 44 (Mini Challenges Max Coates Dominic Wheatley Lewis Saunders and Dan Zelos) Looking to Make a More Once the Safety Car Period Ends The 14 of (Frugal Racing) and 51 of (Barwell Autosport's Taylor Norton Kamran Tunio Ryan Brinsted and Kester Cook) Also Looking to Take the Lead of This Endurance Race.
At 15:36PM The Car that Had Caused The Safety Car was Seen Being Recovered into the Outer Garage Area where cars are Held Before the Start of Each Race. KA Number 46 (JDC Motorsport) Had Made Contact Somewhere on the Circuit and Looked to Have a Broken Front Left Steering Arm with the Wheel Being Completely Bend Backwards into The Car with the Car Heading Back to the Garage for Repairs Before Rendering The Race Quite a Few Laps Down.
15:38PM and The Two KA's of Positive Motorsport's Andrew Rogerson Samuel Rendon and Ryan Frith Battle it Out with Number 13 Deranged Motorsport Through Westfield Towards Dingle dell with The Number 13 Beautifully Sweeping Around the Outside to Take The Position Away.
Another Battle was Seen at 15:38PM with (Alex Read Motorsport) Number 4 Battling Number 64 (Auto Teach Motorsport's Reece Kellow Andrew Howell Luca Ataccini Anzanello and Megan) through Westfields Side by Side on Towards Dingle dell.
Finally at 15:57PM Another KA Had Fallen Victim to an Issue with the Number 23 Car of (PSR's Carl Beresford Russel Danzey Tom Gilbert and Jack Wood) Being Taken on the Back of the Recovery Truck to The Garages for Repairs Before Going back Out into The Race as Night Began to Fall Upon The Indy Circuit.
Hour 6 (16:15PM)
As The Light Slowly began to Fade Away from the Indy Circuit Many Drivers were Now starting to use their Headlights as The Lighting Conditions got Darker and Darker as Time went by.
At 16:15PM A Massive Group of Cars came Flying Down Through Paddock Hill Bend with KA Number 55 Al Most Racers on the Inside Line 127 Fat Boys Racing on the Middle Line and 39 Kameleon Racing's Chris Bright Richard Cox Steve Goldsmith and Leigh Youles Michael on the Outside Line as they Fought their way Through the Bend and Up Towards Druids.
At 16:21PM Piston Heads Racing KA Number 98 was Seen Leading another Group of Cars Through Paddock Hill Bend with Numbers 41 52 33 and 2 All Fighting for Places as they Came Towards Paddock Hill Bend.
16:24PM and The Paddock Hill Bend Gravel Trap Claims Another Victim This Time the Number 131 KA of Team Viking Had Ended up Taking a Trip Through it Before a Half Spin Left Him Facing the Marshalls Post Opposite before Returning to the Track after Losing a Few Places. Recovery Teams set to work Once Again with The Safety Car Being Called into Action for The Third Time.
16:40PM and at The Top of Paddock Hill Bend a Three way Fight Becomes a Two Way Fight as The Number 127 KA of Fat Boys Racing Goes for a Spin after Trying to Get a Run on the Number 19 KA of LDR Performance Tuning with The Number 14 Car of Frugal Racing Just Narrowly Missing The Spinning Car.
16:42PM and a Final Intense Battle Between the Number 44 KA and The Number 1 KA of Burton Power Racing's Andy Burton Kyle Sagar Tom Valentine and Sammy Venables as They Fight Hard to try and Take that Position away from Mini Challenge to Round off The 6th Hour.
Hour 7 (16:50PM)
The Seventh Hour and at The Bottom of Surtees a Massive Crash is Heard as The KA's of Number 42 The K Teams (Paul Simmons Edward Simmons Glen Woodbridge Damo) is Seen Running off Track with Number 13 Deranged Motorsport Onto The Grass and Number 81 GM Performance Being Spun Out Trying to Avoid The Carnage in Front. All Drivers Okay and They Get back on Track and Continue on As Day Turns into Night.
17:02PM and a Top of Druids The Ka's of Number 72 Misty Racings (Adam Bonham and Simon Bonham) are Fighting Hard to Keep their Position from the Number 49 Car of LDR Performance Tuning as well as Number 7 of G and B Finch Trying to Find a Way Through on the Outside of Druids. The 98 of Piston Heads is also Closing in by This Stage with Headlights A Blaze.
17:05PM and Coming Towards Druids is a Sea of KA's All With Headlights A Blaze as they Fight for Positions Cars Number 60 3 19 and 39 All in Different Positions and Yet Still Fighting to try and Gain an Advantage that Could Swine this Endurance Race in Any of the Teams Favours. Further Back 127 and 140 Are Doing Battle on the Run Up Towards Druids.
17:09PM Once Again Another Battle at Druids This Time its The Trio of Number 127 36 and 60 That are All Trying to Better One Another in their Attempt to Gain a Place with Number 36 IP Racing Leading The Way.
17:14PM One Final Battle is Seen Coming Up towards Druids with The Number's 18 44 55 and 2 Fighting it Out Number 2 Kastrol's Has The Lead of This Group of Cars with Blazing Bright Headlights to Aid the Drivers Around The Circuit.
17:27PM and Now Darkness was Everywhere Making Visibility Very Difficult and Yet this did not Stop the Likes of Cars Number 128 JTR's Eliot Mason Nick Tandy David Mason and James Rhodes from Battling with Car Number 16 M and D Racing's Alex Martin Daniel Martin Tony Perfect and Mathew Rowling. In a Daring Move in the Pitch Black Darkness The Two Cars Go Side by Side Trying to Gain One over The Other Before JTR's Takes The Inside Line and The Position.
17:30PM Another Daring Battle is Captured Between The Number 180 Car of (Shine Auto motive's Colin French Mathew Eldridge and Wayne Clelland) and Number 44 (Mini Challenge's Max Coates Dominic Whitely Lewis Saunders and Dan Zelos) Defending The Outside Line as Best as they Can but Ultimately Shine Automotive Makes their way Through.
17:51PM A KA is Seen Flying Down Through The Bottom of Druids and into a Cloud of Dust Caused by Another KA Going off The KA is Just Barely Visible Showing The Dangers of what can Happen at Night When Visibility Becomes Low or Obstructed. Other KA's Soon Followed Through the Dust Cloud as Well with Many Backing off Slightly In case a Car was Stuck out on The Track but Thankfully All was Good as Hour 7 Ended.
Hour 8 (17:56PM) (THE FINAL HOUR)
The FINAL Hour of The 8 Hour Indy KA 500 and With Every Driver Now Getting into a Rhythm it was Up to Each Teams Last Driver to Strap in and Go for it to the Checkered Flag. However not All had gone to Plan for every Driver as The Number 29 KA of LDR Performance Tuning Found Out Slipping into the Gravel and Costing Them a Ridge Back to the Pits for Repairs with Less than 1 Hour to go.
18:00PM and The Number 2 KA of Kastrol's was Captured Racing Through Paddock Hill Bend During The Night Pushing Incredibly Hard to Ensure a Good Top 25 Finnish in the Points with Headlights Illuminating their way Around Paddock Hill Bend as The Car Flew Through The Bend.
18:30PM The Safety Car was Out for The Last Time During The Race and was Captured Leading a whole Train of KA's Through Pilgrims Drop and Onto Clearways with Each Driver Poised and Ready to Get Going Once the Safety Car Had Come In.
19:07PM An Amazing Sight to Behold with Just 15 Minutes Left on the Clock a Huge Rush of KA's Flooded their way Down The Main Straight and Past The Start Finnish Straight with Headlights on Full Beam to Aid in Visibility. The Number 8 KA Leads The way in This Group of Cars with The Number 18 CHR Hoonikan Car of Stratton MacKay Dave Mayer and Paul Robson Closing in Behind.
19:09PM And The Green Flag is Dropped for The Final Time as The Safety Car Comes into the Pitlane All 44 Remaining KA's Race Towards Druids with the Field so Bunched up this is Anyone's Race to both Win or Lose at This Stage.
The Number 42 KA of The K Teams Paul Simmons Edward Simmons and Glen Woodbridge Damo takes off Leading from Number 20 A Reeve's Motorsport Aron Reeve Stuart Lane and Andy Godfrey while The Number 127 of Fat Boys Racing Chases Them Down into a Nail Biting Finnish at The Centre of The Field.
19:13PM A Group of Six KA's are Captured Having an Intense Battle with Only 5 Minutes Left to Run The Likes of KA Number 127 36 and 128 All Putting Up One Hell of a Good Fight in The Closing Stages of The Endurance Race with Some Drives Having Driven for 4 Hours Straight.
19:21PM and after 8 Hours of Continuous Racing and 5 KA's Out of The Race The Checkered Flag was Ready and Waiting as The Number 81 KA of GM Performance's Gary Mitchell and Ian Mitchell Takes the Victory at The 2021 8 Hour Indy Car 500!!!! Followed Closely by The Number 72 Car Misty Racing's Adam Bonham and Simon Bonham in Second Place with KA Number 14 Frugal Racing's Jim McDougal Callum McDougal Mike Marais and Leon Bidgeway Taking Third Place.
A Huge Congratulations to The Overall Top Three Winners and to All of the other Teams and Competitors for Showing some Incredible Racing To End of The 2021 Motorsport Season. From
Historic Formula 1 to Classic Touring Cars To The Indy KA 500 This Season Has been One of The Best to Date.
See You All Again Next Year Where We Will do it All Over Again.
Ever since my son became interested in LEGO, I’ve been building “what ifs” for him. “What if” is a constrution that could be an official LEGO set, playable, buildable, fun, easy to maintain and repair, built according to LEGO’s rules in terms of durability, build flow, brick volume and so that I can make simple instructions for my kid to build these things.
This here is a 9V steam loco heavily inspired by Reinard “Ben” Beneke’s fake set of a BR 39 steam engine for April fools joke from 2004 (brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=95045).
I went that route mostly because I don’t care much for reinventing the wheel, saw that locomotive running and clearing switches so why sit and rethink a perfectly good drivetrain? Especially because in it’s day Ben spent a great deal of his time to perfect steam engines that would clear the LEGO tracks*.
Actually, my original idea was simply to reverese engeener and build it in black, but in the end no stone was left “unturned” (høhøhø), and although at first glance the engines seem similar they are different in almost every aspect. Main difference is that mine could be an official set. It is built following all LEGO rules and guidelines, and I’m sure that with a few tweaks here and there it could become an official set.
I’d shoot it’ll be a set for ages 10 and up, it’s a lot of black, and the drive wheels need to be built in certain order to insure their functionality.
I really wanted a “fire” in the boiler, and
tried very hard to run a 9V cable from the motor to the fire place, but while looking thru my kid’s junk yesterday, I found the remains of a Batwing/Brother Eye set which has a light brick and boom, “real” light in the fireplace. That’s nothing we’d do at LEGO, but for my kid it’s fine.
The train cars are from an official LEGO Set (2126 from 1997 > I’m 16 years old!)...
*Actually, the shown version, although it runs perfect on a closed oval, doesn’t clear the LEGO switches because it’s too low. The reason for that is the old style wheels that look sooooo much better than their modern counterparts with and give the train that 80ies catalogue vibe I love so much. The old wheels are smaller in diameter though, so the 2x4 brick they sit in must be turned on it’s side to line up with the other wheels. To play I simply swap the front and rear buggies for ones with wheels from 40370...
The Breakers, the Gilded Age summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II at 44 Ochre Point Avenue, is the most visited attraction in Rhode Island. Part of a 13-acre estate on the seagirt cliffs, it maintains a commanding position facing east overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, the home was constructed between 1893 and 1895 at the then-astronomical cost of more than $7 million.
The Breakers Mansion, regarded as the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages", served as a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad. His grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad system in 1885. That same year he purchased the Breakers, a wood-framed mansion from Pierre Lorillard IV. After it burned down in 1892, Vanderbilt commissioned Hunt, in what would be his last project, who directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to create a new 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo, with Beaux Arts and Victorian elements, inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. Allard and Sons of Paris assisted Hunt with furnishings and fixtures, Austro-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed relief sculpture, Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family quarters, and Ernest Bowdtich, a Boston engineer, landscape artist, and student of Frederic Law Olmsted, designed the grounds.
Vanderbilt insisted that The Breakers be made as fireproof as possible. Steel trusses support the masonry and exterior Indiana limestone blocks. The enormous heating plant was set beneath the caretaker’s cottage and joined to the house by a wide tunnel. The finished floors are of marble, tile, terrazzo, and mosaic.
The 250 foot by 120 foot dimensions of the five-story mansion are aligned symmetrically around a central Great Hall. Hunt based the Hall on the concept of rooms grouped around an open courtyard or cortile, but covered them as a concession to climate. He did, however, maintain the structured symmetry, with rooms of the first and second floors opening onto a 45-foot high central space. The walls of the Hall are made of carved Caen limestone from the coast of France and adorned with plaques of rare marbles ranging from the pink marble of Africa to the greens of Italian origin. Elaborately carved pilasters decorated with acorns and oak leaves support a massive carved and gilt cornice which surrounds a ceiling painted to depict a windswept sky. On the ceiling are four blue-green medallions bearing the acorn and oak leaf, a Vanderbilt family symbol representing strength and longevity.
A rounded bay projects from the South wing, accommodating the huge oval Music Room inside and overlooking the South Parterre. The ocean-facing East façade joins the north and south wings with a two-story arched loggia in the Palladian manner—the lower one with a vaulted mosaic ceiling and the upper painted to resemble canopies against the sky. The spandrels of the loggia arches are decorated with figures of the four seasons of the year. The wall between the Hall and the loggias is almost entirely of glass, affording a view of the ocean from inside.
The Main Entrance is approached through by 30-foot high wrought iron gateways, which are part of a 12-foot-high Genoese-style limestone and iron fence that borders the property on all but the ocean side. The gateway was crafted by the William Jackson Company and topped with elaborate scrollwork, including the acorn and oak leaf family symbol surrounding the initials of Cornelius Vanderbilt. A gravel drive leads to the large porte-cochére of the northwest facade. Flanking the entrance drive are four bronze lamp posts, decorated with molded figures executed by Henri Bonnard of New York, mounted on three-foot limestone pedestals with 4-globed bronze standards 13 feet high.
The "Cottage,", located between the side gate and the main house was used as a children's playhouse. A good example of Victorian architecture on a small scale, it was built by Robert Swain Peabody and John Goddard Stearns, the architects of the original Breakers House, whose Queen Anne Revival style elements were in keeping with the original design.
Cornelius Vanderbilt died from a cerebral hemorrhage caused from a second stroke in 1899 at the age of 56, leaving the Breakers to his wife, Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt. She outlived her husband by 35 years and died at the age of 89 in 1934. In her will, The Breakers was given to her youngest daughter Gladys. An ardent supporter of The Preservation Society of Newport County, she opened The Breakers in 1948 to raise funds for the Society. In 1972, the Preservation Society purchased the house from her heirs. Although the mansion is owned by the Society, the original furnishings displayed throughout the house are still owned by the family.
The Breakers National Register #71000019 (1971)
Bellevue Avenue Historic District National Register #72000023 (1972)
pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castro_de_Santa_Trega
English
The outline of Mount Santa Tegra form an archaeological site, which is in the Castro de Santa Tegra, belonging to the Celtic culture and the most emblematic and visited the forts Galicians. It was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument (Spain) in 1931 and also has the consideration of Cultural Interest.
The castro, according to the thesis maintained by de la Peña Santos, director of the last campaigns of archaeological excavations in the 1980s, had a continued occupation between the first century BC, soon to begin the process of Romanization of Galicia, and the first century AD , and from that moment began a slow process of abandonment, which could well have been interrupted by sporadic temporary reoccupations in late-Roman era. Petroglyphs were also found in several of the stones from the mountain, drawn around 2000 years before the occupation of the fort.
It is located on Mount Santa Tegra, 341 m of altitude, in the most southwestern extreme of Galicia, in the municipality of Guarda, a privileged place from which dominates the mouth of the river Minho. The hill slopes has some very pronounced cun visual field contour that made him possibly a strategic posted long before the lifting of the castro.
Archaeological excavations
Although the population of the Guard should have known of the existence of traces of old buildings on the hill for a long time, in 1745, when Father Sarmiento visited Guard, made no mention of them, but, on the contrary, made him the lot, its shrine and pilgrimage.
The first discovery of what has been constant in 1862, a sculpture of Hercules made in bronze was found by a stonemasons who worked near the hermitage. This sculpture was stolen from the museum in the 1970s.
In the second half of the nineteenth century the ruins began to be valued at their fair measure. Realize up the first written references to the ruins of the archaeological apontes Ramón López García in 1864, [2] and the witness Manuel Murguía in his work "Historia de Galicia" in 1888, which is deduced from the ruins of a kinship with the inhabitants "race" Celtic family of roosters.
In the twentieth century, the Guard was created in 1912, the Society Pro-Monte Santa Tecla, which promoted a year later to perform work of packing the outskirts of the chapel and the layout of an access road to the summit. The works of this road put in the open, in the place known as Campo Redondo, walls and foundations of buildings spans the outer wall of the fort.
Given these findings, the company requested an official authorization to initiate systematic excavations in place, that authorization was granted on February 26, 1914, [3] and that the chief archaeologist named Ignacio Calvo Rodríguez, the National Archaeological Museum (Spain) .
From this moment the site began appearing in the media. Also in 1914 the canon Fontela Domínguez, without any argument, the remains attributed to the "Iberian-Roman civilization" and identified them with the historic "Abóbrica" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (theory still followed today by some authors).
First excavations (1914-1923)
From 1914 until 1923 the director of the archaeological work was Ignacio Calvo, who was making known the outcome of proceedings in several articles. The Society Pro-Ride also participates in a zone known as the New Source. Calvo gave the town an occupation from the beginning of the Bronze Age to the Roman period. It was the first author to call it "citadel" (following the example of Portuguese archeology) and discuss the possibility of identifying it with the mythical Mount Medulio where classical writers also stood the ultimate mythical and heroic resistance of Galician.
Mergelina campaigns (1928-1933)
Between 1928 and 1933, the professor at the University of Valladolid, Cayetano de Luna y Mergelina directed, using the most advanced methods of the time, a series of archaeological campaigns focusing in particular on the eastern slopes, putting the open lot of houses and other buildings .
In 1945 he published the results of its work in a study titled "La citania Santa Tecla. La Guardia (Pontevedra)." Following the majority "invasionistas theories" of the moment, with a settlement dated the occupation since the sixth century BC to the third century AD, with a new occupation in the fifth century, and awarded him its inhabitants a nature "post-hallstáttica" of Celtic origin.
Abandonment period (1933-1979)
Despite having been declared a National Artistic Monument in 1931, the site has suffered in those years the expansion of the highway route of ascent and an aggressive reforestation of severely deteriorated hill site.
Since 1933, date last campaign Mergelina, traces the open positions have suffered the consequences of its abandonment filling with vegetation. This period of abandonment lasted until 1979.
During these years there have been few and brief interventions, such as Manuel Fernández Rodríguez in the vicinity of the building known as Casa Forest or reconstructions made in 1965 and 1972 in two houses on both sides of the highway, reconstructions that from a scientific standpoint, present serious problems of fidelity, but that soon became an icon of the Celtic culture.
This step of neglect ended in 1979, when Alfredo Garcia drove Alén cleaning and consolidation of structures closer to the highway, these works promoted by the Ministry of Culture (Spain).
Português
O contorno do monte de Santa Tegra forma um sítio arqueológico, no qual se encontra o Castro de Santa Tegra, pertencente à cultura castreja e o mais emblemático e visitado dos castros galegos. Foi declarado Monumento Histórico Artístico Nacional (Espanha) em 1931 e também tem a consideração de Bem de Interesse Cultural.
O castro, segundo a tese mantida por de la Peña Santos, diretor das últimas campanhas de escavações arqueológicas na década de 1980, teve uma ocupação continuada entre o século I a.C., ao pouco de começar o processo de romanização da Galiza, e o século I d.C., e que a partir desse momento começou um lento processo de abandono, que bem pôde ter sido interrompido por reocupações esporádicas temporárias em época tardo-romana. Foram encontrados também petróglifos, em várias das pedras do monte, elaborados por volta de 2000 anos antes da ocupação do castro.
Situa-se no monte de Santa Tegra, de 341 m de altitude, no extremo mais a Sudoeste da Galiza, no concelho da Guarda, num lugar privilegiado desde o que domina a desembocadura do rio Minho. O monte tem umas ladeiras muito pronunciadas, cun domínio visual do contorno que fez dele, possivelmente, um lugar estratégico destacado desde muito antes do levantamento do castro.
Escavações arqueológicas
Embora a população da Guarda devesse ter conhecimento da existência de vestígios de antigas edificações no monte desde faz muito tempo, em 1745, quando o Pai Sarmiento visitou A Guarda, não fez menção delas, mas, pelo contrário, fê-lo do monte, sua ermida e a romaria.
A primeira descoberta da que se tem constância foi, em 1862, a de uma escultura de Hércules feita em bronze que foi encontrada por uns canteiros que trabalhavam perto da ermida. Esta escultura foi roubada do museu na década de 1970.
Na segunda metade do século XIX as ruínas começaram a ser valoradas na sua justa medida. Constatam-se as primeiras referências escritas das ruínas nos apontes arqueológicos de Ramón López García em 1864,[2] e na testemunha de Manuel Murguía na sua obra "Historia de Galicia" em 1888, que deduze das ruínas um parentesco dos seus habitantes com a "raça" celta da família dos galos.
Já no século XX, foi criada na Guarda, em 1912, a Sociedade Pro-Monte de Santa Tecla, a qual um ano mais tarde promoveu a realização de obras de acondicionamento das cercanias da ermida e o traçado de uma rodovia de acesso ao cume. As obras desta rodovia puseram ao descoberto, no lugar conhecido como Campo Redondo, muros de edificações e alicerces de vãos da muralha exterior do castro.
Perante estas descobertas, a sociedade solicitou uma autorização oficial para iniciar escavações sistemáticas no lugar, autorização que foi concedida em 26 de Fevereiro de 1914,[3] e na que se nomeou arqueólogo chefe a Ignacio Calvo Rodríguez, do Museu Arqueológico Nacional (Espanha).
A partir deste momento o sítio começou a aparecer nos meios de comunicação. Também em 1914 o cônego Domínguez Fontela, sem nenhum tipo de argumentação, atribuiu os restos à "civilização ibérico-romana" e identificou-os com a histórica "Abóbrica" mencionada por Plínio o Velho (teoria ainda seguida na atualidade por alguns autores).
Primeiras escavações (1914-1923)
Desde 1914 até 1923 o diretor dos trabalhos arqueológicos foi Ignácio Calvo, que foi dando a conhecer o resultado dos trabalhos em vários artigos. A Sociedade Pro-Monte também participa nos trabalhos da zona conhecida como a Fonte Nova. Calvo atribuiu ao povoado uma ocupação desde os inícios da Idade do Bronze até a época romana. Foi o primeiro autor em denominá-lo "citânia" (seguindo o exemplo da arqueologia portuguesa) e em falar da possibilidade de identificá-lo com o mítico Monte Medulio, onde os escritores clássicos situaram a também mítica derradeira e heróica resistência dos galaicos.
As campanhas de Mergelina (1928-1933)
Entre 1928 e 1933, o catedrático da Universidade de Valladolid, Cayetano de Mergelina y Luna dirigiu, utilizando os mais avançados métodos da época, uma série de campanhas arqueológicas centradas, nomeadamente, na ladeira oriental, pondo ao descoberto grande quantidade de moradias e outros edifícios.
Em 1945 publicou o resultado dos seus trabalhos num estudo titulado "La citania de Santa Tecla. La Guardia (Pontevedra)". Seguindo as majoritárias "teorias invasionistas" do momento, datou o povoado com uma ocupação desde o século VI a.C. até o século III d.C., com uma nova ocupação no século V, e atribuiu-lhe aos seus habitantes uma natureza "post-hallstáttica" de origem celta.
Período de abandono (1933-1979)
Em que pese a ter sido declarado Monumento Histórico Artístico Nacional em 1931, o sítio sofreu nesses anos a ampliação do traçado da rodovia de subida e um agressivo reflorestamento do monte que deterioraram gravemente o sítio.
Desde 1933, data da última campanha de Mergelina, os vestígios postos ao descoberto sofreram as conseqüências do seu abandono enchendo-se de vegetação. Este período de abandono durou até 1979.
Durante estes anos houve poucas e breves intervenções, como a de Manuel Fernández Rodríguez nas cercanias do edifício conhecido como Casa Florestal ou as reconstruções feitas em 1965 e 1972 em duas moradias a ambos os lados da rodovia, reconstruções que, do ponto de vista científico, apresentam sérios problemas de fidelidade, mas que se tornaram em pouco tempo num ícone da cultura castreja.
Esta etapa de abandono terminou em 1979, quando Alfredo García Alén dirigiu trabalhos de limpeza e consolidação das estruturas mais próximas à rodovia, trabalhos estes promovidos pelo Ministério de Cultura (Espanha).
Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์, IPA: [wát pʰoː]), also spelt Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn (Thai: วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลารามราชวรมหาวิหาร; rtgs: Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimonmangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan; IPA: [wát pʰráʔ tɕʰê:t.tù.pʰon wíʔ.mon.maŋ.kʰlaː.raːm râːt.tɕʰá.wɔː.ráʔ.má.hǎː.wíʔ.hǎːn]). The more commonly known name, Wat Pho, is a contraction its older name Wat Photaram (Thai: วัดโพธาราม; rtgs: Wat Photharam).
The temple is first on the list of six temples in Thailand classed as the highest grade of the first-class royal temples. It is associated with King Rama I who rebuilt the temple complex on an earlier temple site, and became his main temple where some of his ashes are enshrined. The temple was later expanded and extensively renovated by Rama III. The temple complex houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, including a 46 m long reclining Buddha. The temple was also the earliest centre for public education in Thailand, and still houses a school of Thai medicine. It is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still taught and practiced at the temple.
HISTORY
Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest temples. It existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I. It was originally named Wat Photaram or Podharam, from which the name Wat Pho is derived. The name refers the monastery of the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. The older temple is thought to have been built or expanded some time in the reign of King Phetracha (1688–1703) of the Ayuthaya period on an even earlier temple site, but its founder is unknown. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese, King Taksin moved the capital to Thonburi where he located his palace beside Wat Arun on the opposite side of the river from Wat Pho, and the proximity of Wat Pho to this royal palace elevated it to the status of a wat luang (royal monastery).
In 1782, King Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi across the river to Bangkok and built the Grand Palace adjacent to Wat Pho. In 1788, he ordered the construction and renovation at the old temple site of Wat Pho, which had by then become dilapidated. The site, which was marshy and uneven, was drained and filled in before construction began. During its construction Rama I also initiated a project to remove Buddha images from abandoned temples in Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, as well other sites in Thailand, and many of these Buddha images were kept at Wat Pho. These include the remnants of an enormous Buddha image from Ayuthaya's Wat Phra Si Sanphet destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, and these were incorporated into a chedi in the complex. The rebuilding took over seven years to complete, and 12 years after work began, in 1801, the new temple complex was renamed Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklavas in reference to the vihara of Jetavana, and became the main temple for Rama I. The complex underwent significant changes in the next 260 years, particularly during the reign of Rama III (1824-1851 CE). In 1832, King Rama III began renovating and enlarging the temple complex, a process that took 16 years and seven months to complete. The ground of the temple complex was expanded to 22 acres, and most of the structures in Wat Pho were either built or rebuilt in this period, including the chapel of the reclining Buddha. He also turned the temple complex into a public center of learning by decorating the walls of the buildings with diagrams and inscriptions on various subjects.:90 These marble inscriptions have received recognition in the Memory of the World Programme launched by UNESCO on 21 February 2008. Wat Pho is regarded as Thailand’s first university and a center for traditional Thai massage. It served as a medical teaching center in the mid-19th century before the advent of modern medicine, and the temple remains a center for traditional medicine today where a private school for Thai medicine founded in 1957 still operates. The name of the complex was changed again to Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm during the reign of King Rama IV. Apart from the construction of a fourth great chedi and minor modifications by Rama IV, there had been no significant changes to Wat Pho since. Repair work, however, is a continuing process, often funded by devotees of the temple. The temple was restored again in 1982 before the Bangkok Bicentennial Celebration.
THE TEMPLE COMPLEX
Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres, and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images at 46 m in length. The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Chetuphon Road running in the east–west direction. The larger northern walled compound, the phutthawat, is the part open to visitors and contains the finest buildings dedicated to the Buddha, including the bot with its four directional viharn, and the temple housing the reclining Buddha.< The southern compound, the sankhawat, contains the residential quarters of the monks and a school. The perimeter wall of the main temple complex has sixteen gates, two of which serve as entrances for the public (one on Chetuphon Road, the other near the northwest corner). The temple grounds contain 91 small chedis (stupas or mounds), four great chedis, two belfries, a bot (central shrine), a number of viharas (halls) and other buildings such as pavilions, as well as gardens and a small temple museum. Architecturally the chedis and buildings in the complex are different in style and sizes. A number of large Chinese statues, some of which depict Europeans, are also found within the complex guarding the gates of the perimeter walls as well as other gates within the compound. These stone statues were originally imported as ballast on ships trading with China. Wat Pho was intended to serve as a place of education for the general public. To this end a pictorial encyclopedia was engraved on granite slabs covering eight subject areas, namely history, medicine, health, custom, literature, proverbs, lexicography, and the Buddhist religion. These plaques, inscribed with texts and illustration on medicine, Thai traditional massage, and other subjects, are placed around the temple, for example, within the Sala Rai or satellite open pavilions. Dotted around the complex are 24 small rock gardens (Khao Mor) illustrating rock formations of Thailand, and one, called the Contorting Hermit Hill, contains some statues showing methods of massage and yoga positions. There are also drawings of constellations on the wall of the library, inscriptions on local administration, as well as paintings of folk tales and animal husbandry. These illustrations and inscriptions in Wat Pho have been registered by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Programme set up to promote, preserve and propagate the wisdom of the world heritage.
PHRA UBOSOT
Phra Ubosot (Phra Uposatha) or bot is the ordination hall, the main hall used for performing Buddhist rituals, and the most sacred building of the complex. It was constructed by King Rama I in the Ayuthaya style, and later enlarged and reconstructed in the Rattanakosin style by Rama III. The bot was dedicated in 1791, before the rebuilding of Wat Pho was completed. This building is raised on a marble platform, and the ubosot lies in the center of courtyard enclosed by a double cloister (Phra Rabiang).Inside the ubosot is a gold and crystal three-tiered pedestal topped with a gilded Buddha made of a gold-copper alloy, and over the statue is a nine-tiered umbrella representing the authority of Thailand. The Buddha image, known as Phra Buddha Theva Patimakorn and thought to be from the Ayutthaya period, was moved here by Rama I from Wat Sala Si Na (now called Wat Khuhasawa) in Thonburi. Rama IV later placed some ashes of Rama I under the pedestal of the Buddha image so that the public may pay homage to both Rama I and the Buddha at the same time. There are also ten images of Buddha's disciples in the hall, Moggalana on its left and Sariputta on its right, and a further eight Arahants below. The exterior balustrade surrounding the main hall has around 150 depictions in stone of the epic, Ramakien, the ultimate message of which is transcendence from secular to spiritual dimensions. The stone panels were recovered from a temple in Ayuthaya. The ubosot is enclosed by a low wall called kamphaeng kaew, which is punctuated by gateways guarded by mythological lions, as well as eight structures that house the bai sema stone markers that delineate the sacred space of the bot.
- Phra Rabiang - This double cloister contains around 400 images of Buddha from northern Thailand selected out of the 1,200 originally brought by King Rama I. Of these Buddha images, 150 are located on the inner side of the double cloister, another 244 images are on the outer side. These Buddha figures, some standing and some seated, are evenly mounted on matching gilded pedestals. These images are from different periods, such as Chiangsaen, Sukhothai, U-Thong, and Ayutthaya, but were renovated by Rama I and covered with stucco and gold leaves to make them look similar.
The viharn in the east contains an 8 metre tall standing Buddha, the Buddha Lokanatha, originally from Ayutthaya. In its antechamber is Buddha Maravichai, sitting under a bodhi tree, originally from Sawankhalok of the late Sukhothai period. The one on the west has a seated Buddha sheltered by a naga, the Buddha Chinnasri, while the Buddha on the south, the Buddha Chinnaraja, has five disciples seated in front listening to his first sermon. Both Buddhas were brought from Sukhothai by Rama I. The Buddha in the north viharn called Buddha Palilai was cast in the reign of Rama I. The viharn on the west also contains a small museum.
- Phra Prang - There are four towers, or phra prang, at each corner of the courtyard around the bot. Each of the towers is tiled with marbles and contains four Khmer-style statues which are the guardian divinities of the Four Cardinal Points.
PHRA MAHA CHEDI SI RAJAKARN
This is a group of four large stupas, each 42 metres high. These four chedis are dedicated to the first four Chakri kings. The first, in green mosaic tiles, was constructed by Rama I to house the remnants of the great Buddha from Ayuthaya, which was scorched to remove its gold covering by the Burmese. Two more were built by Rama III, one in white tiles to hold the ashes of his father Rama II, another in yellow for himself. A fourth in blue was built by Rama IV who then enclosed the four chedis leaving no space for more to be built.
VIHARN PHRANORN
The viharn or wihan contains the reclining Buddha and was constructed in the reign of Rama III emulating the Ayutthaya-style. The interior is decorated with panels of mural.
Adjacent to this building is a small raised garden (Missakawan Park) with a Chinese-style pavilion; the centrepiece of the garden is a bodhi tree which was propagated from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka that is believed to have originally came from a tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment.
PHRA MONDOB
Phra Mondob or the ho trai is the Scripture Hall containing a small library of Buddhist scriptures. The building is not generally open to the public as the scriptures which are inscribed on palm leaves need to kept in a controlled environment for preservation. The library was built by Rama III. Guarding its entrance are figures of giants called Yak Wat Pho placed in niches beside the gates. Around Phra Mondob are three pavilions with mural paintings of the beginning of Ramayana.
OTHER STRUCTURES
- Phra Chedi Rai - Outside the Phra Rabiang cloisters are dotted many smaller chedis, called Phra Chedi Rai. Seventy-one of these small chedis were built by Rama III, each five metres in height. There are also four groups of five chedis that shared a single base built by Rama I, one on each corner outside the cloister. The 71 chedis of smaller size contain the ashes of the royal family, and 20 slightly larger ones clustered in groups of five contain the relics of Buddha.
- Sala Karn Parien - This hall is next to the Phra Mondob at the southwest corner of the compound, and is thought to date from the Ayutthaya period. It serves as a learning and meditation hall. The building contains the original Buddha image from the bot which was moved to make way for the Buddha image currently in the bot. Next to it is a garden called The Crocodile Pond.
- Sala Rai - There are 16 satellite pavilions, most of them placed around the edge of the compound, and murals depicting the life of Buddha may be found in some of these. Two of these are the medical pavilions between Phra Maha Chedi Si Ratchakarn and the main chapel. The north medicine pavilion contains Thai traditional massage inscriptions with 32 drawings of massage positions on the walls while the one to the south has a collection of inscriptions on guardian angel that protects the newborn.
- Phra Viharn Kod - This is the gallery which consists of four viharas, one on each corner outside the Phra Rabiang.
- Tamnak Wasukri - Also called the poet's house, this is the former residence of Prince Patriarch Paramanujita Jinorasa, a Thai poet. This building is in the living quarters of the monks in the southern compound and is open once a year on his birthday.
RECLINING BUDDHA
The chapel and the reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas, Thai พระพุทธไสยาสน์) were built by Rama III in 1832. The image of the reclining Buddha represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations. The posture of the image is referred to as sihasaiyas, the posture of a sleeping or reclining lion. The figure is 15 m high and 46 m long, and it is one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand. The right arm of the Buddha supports the head with tight curls, which rests on two box-pillows richly encrusted with glass mosaics. The figure has a brick core, which was modelled and shaped with plaster, then gilded.
The soles of the feet of the Buddha are 3 m high and 4.5 m long, and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. They are each divided into 108 arranged panels, displaying the auspicious symbols by which Buddha can be identified, such as flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers, and altar accessories. At the center of each foot is a circle representing a chakra or energy point. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor representing the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. Visitors may drop coins in these bowls as it is believed to bring good fortune, and it also helps the monks to maintain the wat.
Although the reclining Buddha is not a pilgrimage centre, it remains an object of popular piety. An annual celebration for the reclining Buddha is held around the time of the Siamese Songkran or New Year in April, which also helps raise funds for the upkeep of Wat Pho.
THAI MASSAGE
The temple is considered the first public university of Thailand, teaching students in the fields of religion, science, and literature through murals and sculptures. A school for traditional medicine and massage was established at the temple in 1955, and now offers four courses in Thai medicine: Thai pharmacy, Thai medical practice, Thai midwifery, and Thai massage. This, the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School, is the first school of Thai medicine approved by the Thai Ministry of Education, and one of the earliest massage schools. It remains the national headquarters and the center of education of traditional Thai medicine and massage to this day. Courses on Thai massage are held in Wat Pho, and these may last a few weeks to a year. Two pavilions at the eastern edge of the Wat Pho compound are used as classrooms for practising Thai traditional massage and herbal massage, and visitors can received massage treatment here for a fee.There are many medical inscriptions and illustrations placed in various buildings around the temple complex, some of which serve as instructions for Thai massage therapists, particularly those in the north medical pavilion. Among these are 60 inscribed plaques, 30 each for the front and back of human body, showing pressure points used in traditional Thai massage. These therapeutic points and energy pathways, known as sen, are engraved on the human figures, with explanations given on the walls next to the plaques. They are based on the principle of energy flow similar to that of Chinese acupuncture. The understanding so far is that the figures represent relationships between anatomical locations and effects produced by massage treatment at those locations, but full research on the diagrams has yet to be completed.
WIKIPEDIA
A 58th Fighter Squadron maintainer climbs out of the intake of an F-35A Lightning II after performing post-flight checks on the aircraft. The 58th FS is part of the 33rd Fighter Wing, a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
The best maintained and repainted buses till date have been seen with Aurangabad division. One such bus on its schedule to Paithan. Its owned by Aurangabad-2.
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Saint Philip of Agira (also Aggira, Agirone, Agirya or Argira) was an early Christian confessor. There are two parallel stories of this saint which give to possible dates in which this saint lived. Traditionally, thorugh the writings of St. Athanasius, it is maintained that Philip of Agira is a saint of the 1st century, born in the year AD 40 in Cappadocia (modern Turkey) and died on the 12th of May, AD 103.Another recent study says to have been born of a Syrian father in Thrace on an unknown date in the 5th century whose elder brothers drowned whilst fishing. Philip was known as the "Apostle of the Sicilians", as he was the first Christian missionary to visit that island. Nothing else can be certainly stated about him.His feast day is May 12 and he is, naturally, patron saint of the city of Agira, Sicily and of the city of Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Malta. Philip is one of the patron saints of the United States Army Special Forces.
Filippo di Agira (Tracia, 396 circa – Agira, 12 maggio 453 circa) è stato un presbitero taumaturgo ed esorcista ed venerato come santo dalla Chiesa cattolica. Sulla sua identità e sulla sua vita vi è più di una versione.Secondo il monaco Eusebio, suo compagno ed agiografo, Filippo fu istruito fin da giovane nella fede cristiana ed imparò anche il siriaco. Trasferitosi a Roma con lo stesso Eusebio, ricevette l'ordinazione sacerdotale e l'incarico di recarsi in Sicilia per assistere nella fede la popolazione dell'isola.Giunse a Calatabiano, dove venne ben accolto dalla popolazione e ascoltato attentamente nella predica del vangelo. Lasciato Calatabiano proseguì per Agira dove continuò a predicare la parola di Cristo fino al giorno della sua morte.Stabilitosi nell'l'antica città di Agyrium (divenuta poi San Filippo di Agira ed oggi Agira in provincia di Enna), visse compiendo esorcismi e miracoli. Alla sua morte, sulla sua tomba fu eretta dapprima una chiesa e successivamente un monastero. La sua salma fu esumata ed esaminata nel 1625. Il suo culto è piuttosto diffuso nell'isola. Viene celebrato il 12 maggio
Calatabiano is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east of Palermo and about 35 km northeast of Catania. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,286 and an area of 26.3 km².The municipality of Calatabiano contains the frazione (subdivision) Pasteria.Calatabiano borders the following municipalities: Castiglione di Sicilia, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Giardini-Naxos, Linguaglossa, Piedimonte Etneo, Taormina.
After a lengthy renovation, Cruyllas Castle of Calatabiano (situated between the Alcantara Valley and Etna and not far from Taormina and Naxos) is ready to welcome its visitors thanks to its splendid panorama Between the walls of the castle is enclosed the entire history of the Mediterranean. A procession of populations and cultures who, battling for strategic control of the area by way of the stronghold, have all contributed to the development and enlargement during the course of the centuries: from the Sicels to the Greeks, from the Byzantines to the Arabs; from the Normans to the Suebi/Suevi, until the settlement of the Cruyllas, in the Aragon period, during which the castle was at its maximum splendor.
Calatabiano è un comune italiano di 5.458 abitanti della provincia di Catania,Si trova a 62 metri d'altitudine e a meno di 3 chilometri dal mare Ionio. Il suo territorio, delimitato a nord dal corso del fiume Alcantara, è costituito da una fertile e ottimamente irrigata piana alluvionale e dalle retrostanti colline. Dista 40 chilometri da Catania e 59 chilometri da Messina.La popolazione è concentrata per circa il 75% nel centro capoluogo, e per la restante parte nella frazione di Lapide Pasteria.Calatabiano è un comune del Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara.Il suo territorio si trova sulla direttrice orientale sicula dei collegamenti stradali e ferroviari. Sono inoltre agevoli i collegamenti con l’entroterra alcantarino. È servito da una stazione ferroviaria.La storia di Calatabiano è strettamente collegata a quella del suo castello che si erge su un'altura a 160 metri d'altitudine, all'imboccatura meridionale della Valle dell'Alcantara. Con tutta probabilità, stante l'importanza strategica e militare del sito, una fortezza doveva già essere presente in epoca greca e forse addirittura sicula. A tal proposito lo Schubring sostenne che i Siculi dovevano tenere un caposaldo all'imboccatura della valle, di fronte al monte Tauro, nominato come Castello di Bidio, ma tale ipotesi non è mai stata suffragata dai reperti archeologici rinvenuti, che hanno invece datazione posteriore al II secolo.Il castello, nella sua conformazione attuale, e con l'annesso borgo collinare cinto da mura merlate, venne fondato dagli Arabi, che proprio dal territorio di Calatabiano mossero nel 902 alla conquista di Taormina. Lo stesso toponimo del paese è di chiara origine araba, derivando da قلعة, kalaat (castello) e 'al Bîan, probabile nome proprio del signore locale.Sotto il dominio normanno, regnando Ruggero II, nel 1135 Calatabiano venne elevata a baronia. Tra i vari signori che si succedettero nel corso dei secoli, il periodo più fulgido nella storia di Calatabiano si ebbe con la signoria dei Cruyllas. Famiglia di origine catalana, i Cruyllas ottennero la baronia nel 1396 tenendola per circa un secolo, ingrandendo il castello ed edificando la Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso. Esauritasi la successione per linea maschile questa continuò per linea femminile con il passaggio della signoria prima ai Moncada e poi ai Gravina, principi di Palagonia.Nel 1544 si ebbe la venuta del pirata Dragut che, sbarcato sul lido di San Marco, espugnò e saccheggiò il borgo. Nel 1677, a seguito della rivolta anti-spagnola di Messina i francesi assediarono lungamente il castello, venendo respinti dai 150 difensori spagnoli e poi sopraffatti dai soverchianti rinforzi.Il borgo e il castello vennero completamente abbandonati a seguito del Terremoto del Val di Noto del 1693, che danneggiò gravemente l'abitato. La popolazione si reinsediò ai piedi della collina da dove da qualche decennio insisteva già un piccolo insediamento, primo nucleo della Calatabiano moderna, che progressivamente si espanse sulla pianura.Nel 1813 il Parlamento Siciliano decretò la fine del feudalesimo nell'isola, elevando nello stesso anno il territorio di Calatabiano a comune autonomo, con i confini che ha mantenuto fino ad oggi.
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Soldiers with Charlie Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade, maintain their Tactical Troposcatter Communication Systems during the second day of the Lion Brigade’s Field Training Exercise called ‘Operation Lion’s Creed,’ at a training site at Fairfield County Airport, Winnsboro, South Carolina, May 20. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Lindsay D. Roman, 35th Signal Brigade Public Affairs/Released)Soldiers with Charlie Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade, maintain their Tactical Troposcatter Communication Systems during the second day of the Lion Brigade’s Field Training Exercise called ‘Operation Lion’s Creed,’ at a training site at Fairfield County Airport, Winnsboro, South Carolina, May 20. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Lindsay D. Roman, 35th Signal Brigade Public Affairs/Released)
if America wants to maintain the primacy of democracy in the world and represent its "arsenal" as already done in the past which is honored and respected, today it must fight for those same values. The current administration in office (on whose certainty of vote there are doubts) is unable to keep America as a beacon in the world as civilization, dignity and respect for the values of democracy.
We have 2 enemies named China & Russia.
If we want to be free we need to fight: the EU and the US should fight with the Ukrainians avoiding what already happened in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1967 where people did not act out of laziness with the excuse that human dignity can be trampled on if beyond the borders! Wake up America!
ITALIAN VERSION
se l'America vuole mantenere il primato della democrazia nel mondo e rappresentarne "l'arsenale" come già fatto nel passato a cui si rende onore e rispetto, oggi deve combattere per quegli stessi valori. L'attuale amministrazione in carica (sulla cui certezza di voto ci sono dubbi) non è capace di mantenere l'America faro nel mondo come civilità, dignità e rispetto dei valori della democrazia.
Abbiamo 2 nemici che si chiamano Cina & Russia.
Se vogliamo essere liberi serve battersi: Ue e Usa dovrebbero combattere con gli Ucraini evitando quanto già accaduto in Ungheria nel 1956 e in Cecoslovacchia nel 1967 dove non si agì per pigrizia con la scusa che la dignità umana può essere calpestata se oltre la frontiere! Sveglia America!
This 1956 Chevrolet Corvette SR2 Beach Racer was specifically built for racing. It was designed by Bill Mitchell and maintained by Smokey Yunick. The car was the test bed for Rochester Fuel Injection system. It was driven on the beach at Daytona by Buick Baker. He set a class record of 152 mph. The hand built body, featuring the high fin, had other unique features. Brake air ducts were provided to cool the front brakes and side scoops as the rear brake cooling runs through the length of the car, including the doors and jambs. Two-inch off-set air ducts to the engine came via the front fenders. This 2000-pound car has 10-pound doors and a 20-pound hood. It features a 48-gallon gas tank.
Smokey Yunick stroked and bored the original 283 engine out to 336 cubic-inches. The car raced Daytona, Sebring (finished 15th overall), Nassau and was expected to run at LeMans until Chevrolet pulled out of racing in 1957.
It is said the attention the SR2 provided during this brief racing period saved the production of the Corvette.The Chevrolet Corvette SR2 was a project car designed and built by the country's largest automaker, GM. During the mid-1950s, GM had annual sales of about 13 billion which was more than some countries and twice that of the second largest company in the US, Standard Oil of new Jersey. The company was very vast, and it needed a car that showed-off its capabilities and its greatness.
The Corvette was a new automobile and still had yet to prove it racing potential. In 1955 it could be ordered with an optional V8 engine which had earned it some notoriety and respect in the automotive community.
Zora Arkus-Duntov, commonly refereed to as the father of the Corvette, was tasked creating the SR-2. He worked with Chevrolet's Chief Engineer, Ed Cole, on creating a version of the Corvette that could outrun and outpace the competition.
A modified single-seater Corvette test-bed was brought to the Daytona Speedweeks in February of 1956. Its V8 engine produced around 240 horsepower and carried the car to an average speed of 150.58 mph. A little more fine-tuning to the engine increased the horsepower to 255. The car traveled the smooth sand surface at an average speed of 147.3 mph which was nearly 15 mph faster than the Ford Thunderbird's run.
The first cars to bear the SR name were shown at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956. It is still a mystery as to the official meaning of 'SR'; some believe its for 'Special Racing', others say its for 'Sebring Racer', while others argue its just initials. Four 'SR' cars were entered in the race, three with a 265 cubic-inch engine and one with a 307 cubic-inch unit. The 307 ci car had a newly created, and still unproven, Rochester mechanical fuel-injection system and a ZF close-ratio four-speed gearbox. It raced in the Class B category while the three other cars competed in the Class C group.
One Class C and the Class B entry retired prematurely from the race. John Fitch drove one of hte Class C cars to a very respectable 15th place finish. The other entry finished next to last. The Corvette's were still in their infancy of racing but the potential for greatness had been proven.
From there evolved the SR-2, with inspiration from Harley Earl's son, Jerry, who was head of GM styling at the time and an automotive sports car enthusiast. Construction of the SR-2 models began with a chassis very similar to the Sebring cars. The body was designed by Robert Cumberford, a GM designer at the time, and Tony Lapine using design cues and inspiration from the legendary Jaguar D-Type. The windshield panels were similar to the Sebring cars; a large fin was placed in the rear and original the cars were without a headrest which was added later in the design process.
Duntov handled some of the mechanical aspects of the car including the engine. It was similar to the Sebring cars.
Though intended for racing, it retained many of the refinements of a traditional road going car. It had a wood-rimmed steering wheel, radio, instrumentation, and even stainless steel decorative panels. This extra weight proved to be its Achilles heal when it went racing for the first time at Elkhart Lake in June of 1956. After the race, the weight was reduced. The vinyl seats were removed and replaced with lightweight Porsche Spyder seats. Non-essential components were also removed where necessary and possible.
There were a total of three SR-2 cars that would eventually be built. The second SR-2 was constructed for Bill Mitchell. Smokey Yunick prepared the engine and worked on the braking aspects of the car. Having learned valuable lessons from the first car, the second SR-2 was given lightweight materials which brought its weight down to 2300 pounds. The average stock Corvette weighed around 3,000 pounds at the time, so the decrease on the second SR-2 was rather substantial.
The Smokey Yunick tuning and weight reduction worked, and the car ran a 152.886 mph at the Daytona Speedweek in 1957.
The final SR-2 was built for GM president Harlow Curtice. This car was destined for the show circuit, and as such, did not feature many of the exotic setups as the second car. Instead, it had a bolt-on, bolt-off removable stainless steel top. There were Dayton wire wheels mounted on all four corners and the interior featured many stock Corvette pieces.
The lessons learned on the Sebring cars and fine-tuned on the SR-2 cars would quickly make their way into the production Corvettes. One of the first to make its way into the 1957 Corvettes was the four-speed gearbox and the fuel-injection system.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008
2012 二獎 / Second Place
王立俞 / 小小工作室
拍攝動機：
冰，可以將一生物完整保存，以此為出發點，保留住我們生活中必備的小事。
攝影心得：
必須失敗一次以上，才有找到成功的可能!
WANG, LI-YU / Little studio
Why I Took These Pictures：
Ice can preserve an entire organism intact. Taking photos means to preserve the small but essential things in our lives.
Winner’s Speech：Winner’s Speech:
Only through failure(s) can one find success.
Maintainers and crew chiefs prepare several U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft for takeoff Jan. 26, 2011, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)
CAOLAS MOR was built by Essex Yacht Builders in 1972 and has been in the same ownership since. Over the years she has been professionally maintained, thoughtfully upgraded and regularly surveyed, her last survey was in 2017. Lightly used in the last 10 years the boat is well presented with comfortable accommodation below decks for 6 people, including an en-suite heads in the aft cabin. The owners advancing years have brought about the hard decision to sell this much loved member of the family, she comes with a full inventory with the majority of equipment a new owner would require to sail away. Currently lying ashore under her winter cover here at Ardfern.
CONSTRUCTION
HULL Traditional heavy weight hand consolidated GRP moulded hull. Full length traditional type keel. Lead ballast keel mounted externally. Full depth rudder secured on pintle. Topsides painted with International Paints two-pack paint system 2003
DECK Traditional heavy weight hand consolidated single piece moulded GRP deck and coachroof. Non-slip textured panels moulded into decks. GRP moulded doghouse. Timber and perspex fixed enclosure at aft end of doghouse to create full protected wheelhouse. Decks and coachroof painted with International Paints systems 2011
SPARS AND RIGGING
Masthead, single spreader sloop rig. Spars of gold anodised alloy, manufactured by Sparlight. Standing rigging of 1x19 stainless steel wire with roll swage terminals and chromed bronze rigging screws. All new in 2004 On mast Bamar roller reefing system for mainsail. Hood Seafurl roller reefing system on forestay for genoa. Twin spinnaker pole tracks on mast. Removable inner forestay with Wichard tensioner. 2009. All running rigging completely replaced 2004/05. Z-Spars whisker pole.
SAILS
Mainsail - On mast roller reefing sail, white Dacron. Genoa - Roller reefing, white Dacron. Staysail - Heavy weight white Dacron, hank on to set on removable inner forestay. Owen Sails 2009
WINCHES
Primary Winches - Gibb 9CR chromed bronze, two speed. Mainsail Outhaul - Lewmar 30st, chromed bronze, two speed. Mainsheet - Single speed
MOORING AND GROUND TACKLE
Main Anchor - Delta plough type anchor on 80m 3/8ths chain rode Kedge Anchor - Admiralty Pattern type on short 3/8th chain rode. Spare Anchors - 1x Bruce anchor 1x Fisherman type folding anchor. Windlass - FML 400 Electric windlass. Mounted on deck with chain gypsy and warping drum.
ON DECK
Two pack painted coachroof and deck. Moulded non-slip panels painted in contrasting colour. Coachroof and doghouse tops painted in non-slip deck paint. Twin bow roller stem head fitting Panama style fairlead forward, port and starboard. Deck mounted horizontal windlass. Moulded bulwark running full length of deck edge with solid teak capping rail. Solid teak grabrails running the length of the coachroof and dog house roof. Stainless steel stanchion supporting stainless steel guardwires outboard. Guardwires completely replaced 2012. Fold down seat over liferaft on aft deck.
The original doghouse has been modified at the aft end to close in the cockpit with a timber framework and perspex panels. Washboards are fitted at the entrances on the port and starboard sides with perspex panels in way of the primary winches being fully removable. The modification creates a full enclosed cockpit and provides a second all weather living space. The cockpit itself is spacious with the large timber helm located centrally forward. Engine controls and instrumentation are all easily to hand and the three windows forward provide and excellent view. A chart table is provided forward of the helm on a varnished timber surface, some chart storage is provided below the working surface. Bench style seating is provides aft of the helm port and starboard with cavernous lockers beneath.
NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTATION
Depth Sounder - Seafarer 700 Wind Instrument - Autohelm ST50 Log - Analogue Plotter - Garmin GPSMAP 450 (2008) VHF - Icom-M421 DSCVHF (2006) Handheld VHF - Silva S12 Autopilot - Autohelm ST6000+ (1998) with SL100 remote control (2006) Hand Bearing Compass – Aalborg
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Freshwater System - Full pressurised hot and cold water system with faucets in galley, forward heads and aft heads.Hot water heated via calorifier with 240V heating element and engine feed. Water tank capacity - 380ltr Heating - Eberspacher diesel fired, blown air system with outlets in aft cabin, saloon and forepeak. Cooker - Plastimo Neptune 3000 gas stove. 3 burner, grill and oven. Fridge - Coolbox with SuperCool electric chiller unit. Forward Heads - Jabsco manual toilet, never used, installed 2016 Aft Heads - ITT Jabsco manual toilet.
BELOW DECKS
With one caring owner since she was built in 1972 CAOLAS MOR benefits from not having been 'modified' by a succession of different owners and the appearance of the finish below benefits from this. Internal joinery work is constructed from solid and veneer faced teak, finished with a gloss varnish. Throughout the interior soles are finished with carpets. As was customary at the time with designs of this type the aft cabin is accessible via a separate companionway, ideal for a couple cruising with younger children.
Forepeak - A clever design here allows the door for the hanging locker to double as a door into the forepeak when required. The space provides two well sized single berths in a V configuration. Access to the chain locker is provided forward via a large removable panel. Storage is provided with a small shelve running the length of the berths outboard while a good selection of locker space and drawers are provided beneath.
Forward Heads - The heads area is appointed with a brand new Jabsco manual toilet, vanity unit and stainless steel sink. An extendable sink faucet doubles as a shower head when required. The compartment is finished with easy clean formica facings and a teak sole grating. Opposite the heads is a full height wet hanging locker.
Galley - Running along the starboard side of the saloon space the galley is in a linear layout and open to the main saloon. The Plastimo Neptune 3 burner gas locker is located at the forward end with the stainless steel galley sink and drying rack set into the worktop running aft to the companionway. Top loading coolbox has been fitted with additional insulation and an electronic chiller unit to become a fridge. Good selection of storage provided beneath the worktop and in lockers outboard with dedicate storage racks for crockery.
Saloon - Opposite the galley to port the saloon table lies athwart ships with seating forward and aft. Gimballed oil lamps are fitted on the bulkheads to provide a cosy night light. A good volume of storage is again provided outboard of the seating and below each of the seating units.
Aft Cabin - Accessed via a separate companionway at the aft end of the cockpit the cabin provides two good sized single berths on the port and starboard sides. A central dresser type unit aft provides some personal storage space with additional large drawers beneath each bunk and a hanging locker to starboard forward.
Aft Heads - Located at the forward end of the cabin to port this is effectively an en-suite. A small compartment fitted out with manual toilet, sink and vanity unit.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Liferaft - Ocean Safety 6 person cannister raft. Last serviced 2016, next service due 2019. EPIRB - resuceME EPIRB1, dual frequency, mounted inside saloon. Expires 2026 Lifejackets - 4x Sowester Osprey - auto inflation type. Fire Blanket Pilot Gas Alarm
GENERAL EQUIPMENT
Shore Power System - Hard wired RCD Protected system with ring main, immersion heater and battery charger. Battery Charger - 240V hardwired charger (2003) Wind Generator - LVM Aerogen 25 Manual Bilge Pump Electric Bilge Pump Swimming Ladder - Custom made stainless steel folding swimming ladder mounted on transom with 3 rungs below water level (2003) Davits - Simpson type davits on transom. Tender - Zodiac C260 Aero (2008) Outboard - Honda 2.3hp, 4-stroke. Winter Cover - Heavy duty full cover with timber frame. Spares - With the owners giving up boating a large volume of spares and general tools are aboard the vessel and included with the inventory.
ENGINE
The engine is located within the cavernous space beneath the cockpit sole and is accessible by lifting the folding cockpit sole. Access around the engine for maintenance is excellent with the sole lifted. The space contains ample room to install a generator or any other gear that maybe required for longer distance cruising.
Perkins 4.236 4 cylinder naturally aspirated marine diesel engine. 72hp Borg Warner Velvet Drive hydraulic marine gearbox. Conventional shaft type sterngear, completely overhauled 2004. Hydraulic, manually operated shaft brake. Fixed 3 blade bronze propeller. Adverc alternator smart charge controller. Exhaust system completely replaced 2010. Cathodic bonding system re-wired 2012 Twin diesel tanks, total capacity 570ltr
SHIPS BATTERIES
All batteries replaced with new items in 2007.
GBP 34,500
January 2018
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in heart of the Vellore city, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India built by Vijayanagara Kings. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire. The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.
The Fort's ownership passed from Vijayanagara Kings, to the Bijapur Sultans, to Marathas, to the Carnatic Nawabs and finally to the British, who held the fort until India gained independence. The Indian government maintains the Fort with the Archaeological Department. During British rule, the Tipu Sultan's family and the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha were held in as prisoners in the fort. The fort houses the Jalakanteswarar Hindu temple, Christian St. John's Church and a Muslim mosque, of which the Jalakanteswarar Temple is famous for its magnificent carvings. The first rebellion against British rule erupted at this fort in 1806, and it is also a witness to the massacre of the Vijayanagara royal family of Sriranga Raya.
HISTORY
PART OF VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
Vellore Fort was built by Chinna Bommi Reddy and Thimma Reddy, subordinate Chieftains under Sadasiva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire in the year of 1566 AD. Vellore Fort gained strategic prominence following the re-establishment of Vijayanagar rule with Chandragiri as their 4th capital after the Talikota battle. The Aravidu Dynasty that held the title of Rayas in 17th century resided in this fort, using it as a base in the battle of Toppur in the 1620s. This major battle took place for the claiming of the Raya title between two factions of the Raya family. Each faction was by their respective subordinates; the Nayaks of Tanjore, the Gingee and the Madurai taking sides to suit their interests.
The Rayas also had long-running battles with their longtime rivals, the Bijapur Sultans, and with the Nayaks of Madurai and the Gingee over non-remittance of annual tributes. In the 1640s, during the reign of Sriranga Raya III, the Fort was briefly captured by the Bijapur army, but was eventually recaptured with the help of the Nayaks of Tanjore.
During Sriranga Raya's reign in 1614, a coup broke out within the royal family and the reigning Emperor Sriranga Raya and his royal family were murdered by the rival factions of the Royal family, with the younger son Rama Deva Raya of the Emperor smuggled out from the fort by supporting factions of the emperor. These events led to the Battle of Toppur in 1616, one of the largest South Indian wars of the century.
In 1639, Francis Day of the East India Company obtained a small strip of land in the Coromandel Coast from the Chieftains of Vellore-Chandragiri regions to do trading, which is now in present day Chennai.
UNDER BIJAPUR (1656–1678)
In the 1650s, Sriranga allied with the Mysore and Tanjore Nayaks and marched south to attack Gingee and Madurai. His first stop was the capture of Gingee Fort, but Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai responded by requesting the Sultan of Bijapur to attack Vellore from the North to divert Sriranga's attention. The Bijapur Sultan promptly dispatched a large army and captured Vellore Fort. Subsequently, both the Madurai-Bijapur armies converged on Gingee, defeating the Vellore-Tanjore forces. After a melee, both the Forts ended up in the hands of the Sultan of Bijapur. The defeat also marked the end of the last direct line of Vijayanagara emperors. Within 20 years after this incident, the Marathas seized the fort from the Bijapur Sultans.
UNDER THE MARATHAS (1678–1707)
In 1676, the Marathas under Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj marched south to the Tanjore country, which had recently been attacked and captured by Chokkanatha Nayak of Madurai. That same year, Ekoji, the brother of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, took control of Tanjore, but was under threat from his immediate neighbours Madurai and Bijapur Sultans, based in Gingee and Vellore respectively. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army first captured the Gingee Fort in 1677, but left the task of attacking Vellore to his assistant and rushed to Deccan as his territories were being attacked by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. In 1688, after a prolonged fourteen-month siege, the Fort passed on to the Marathas. Shivaji's representative strengthened the fort's fortifications and ruled the area in relative peace.
UNDER THE MUGHAL ARMY (1707–1760)
In 1707, the year that Aurangazeb died, the Delhi Army under Daud Khan captured Vellore Fort after defeating the Marathas. The struggle for the Delhi throne empowered the Deccan Muslim governors to declare independence. In 1710 the recently established Nawab of Arcot under Sadat Ullah Khan followed suit. Dost Ali, the latter's successor in 1733, gifted the fort to one of his sons-in-law.
UNDER CONTROL OF BRITISH (1760–1947)
Following the decline of Madurai Nayaks, the revolt from people and coinciding with the emergence of the British on the Madras coast, the Nawab and his sons-in-law broke out into a feud over the title of Nawab. The Nawab was supported by the British and the rival claimants by the French resulting in the Carnatic Wars. The British Nawab's victory in the 1760s in the Battle of Plassey finally sealed the fate of the French in India and launched Britain's dominance of the Indian subcontinent. In addition, the British took possession of Vellore fort with relative ease and used the Fort as a major garrison until the Indian independence. In 1780, the fort was besieged by Hyder Ali in the Second Anglo-Mysore War, but the English garrison held out against Hyder Ali for over two years after which the siege was lifted.
VELLORE MUTILY (1806)
In 1806 Vellore fort was used by the British to station two infantry regiments of the Madras Army plus four companies of an English regiment. The British Commander in chief of the Madras Army had prescribed a new round hat for the Madras sepoys to replace their turbans, plus the removal of beards, caste markings and jewelry. These measures were intended merely to improve the appearance of the Madras soldiers on parade but the sepoys considered them to be an offensive meddling with their religious beliefs. The situation was worsened by the fact that the hat included a leather cockade, made from cow hide.
On July 10, 1806, before sunrise, the Indian sepoys stationed in the fort attacked the European barracks there, and by late morning had killed about 15 Officers and 100 English soldiers and ransacked their houses. Some of the rebelling soldiers also urged the sons of Tipu Sultan to lead the campaign. The news quickly reached the colonel commanding the Cavalry Cantonment in Arcot, who reached the Fort with several squadrons of British and Indian cavalry. The mutineers, numbering more than 800, were scattered with heavy losses. By noon the mutiny was put down. The events lead to a court of inquiry by the British, who decided to shift the Tipu Sultan's family from Vellore to faraway Calcutta, in isolation.
The news of the Vellore Rebellion sent shockwaves to England. The Governor, Lord William Bentinck, and Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army, Sir John Cradock both were recalled on this count. This was the first rebellion experienced in the fort by the British.
ARCHITECTURE
It is mentioned that "there is no such fort on the face of earth like the one in Vellore. It had a deep wet ditch (moat) where once 10,000 crocodiles swarmed, waiting to grab every intruder into this impregnable fort. It has huge double walls with bastions projecting irregularly, where two carts can be driven abreast". The fort was constructed in granite from the nearby quarries in Arcot and Chittor districts. It spreads over an area of 0.54 km2 and is located at an altitude of 220 m within a broken mountain range. The fort is surrounded by a moat which was once used as an additional line of defence in the case of an invasion. It includes an escape tunnel leading to Virinjipuram about 12 km away, which could be used by the king and other royals in the event of an attack, later disputed by Researchers of the ASI who found no evidence of existence of such passage. The fort is considered to be among the best of military architecture in Southern India and is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.
The fort houses a Temple, a Mosque and a Church, the renowned Vellore Christian Hospital, and many other buildings that are now used as public offices. The Jalagandeeswarar Temple, dedicated to Jalagandeeswar, is noted for its sculptures, and speaks volumes of the exquisite craftsmanship of the highly skilled artisans of that period. The sculpture in the porch on the left of the entrance is a masterpiece appreciated by the connoisseurs of art and architecture. The temple was long used as an arsenal, and remained without a deity, although several years ago it was sanctified with an idol of Lord Shiva.
The Mosque inside the fort was constructed during the last Arcot Nawab's period. Presently, Muslims are not allowed to pray inside the fort mosque despite protest by several thousand people living in Vellore. Vellore's inhabitants believe that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is being discriminatory by stopping Muslims from Mosque while Hindus and Christians are not stopped from entering temple and church respectively. However, some refute the claims of the Muslims, as in the late 1980s, Muslims late by the Late Abdul Samad had given a commitment that the Muslims did not want to worship inside the Fort structure, in support of re-opening of the Jalagandeeswarar Temple. The local jamaath leadership was also against this move, and blamed fringe political organisations of whipping up communal dis-harmony. The Church inside the fort was constructed during the early British period (Robert Clive, East Indian Company). Muthu Mandapam is a memorial built around the tombstone of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last ruler of Sri Lanka.
ST. JOHN´S CHURCH, VELLORE FORT
St. John's Church, Vellore located inside the Vellore Fort was raised in 1846 by the Government of Madras for the officers and men of the East India Company military station. The church is named afer St. John the Evangelist. However, the church was never officially consecrated and hence not officially named as St. John’s Church. St. John's Church is the oldest standing church in the Vellore Diocese.
ROYAL PRISONERS
Vellore Fort has housed several royal captives over its history. After the fall of Srirangapatnam in 1799 and the death of Tipu Sultan, his family, including his sons, daughters, wife and mother (who was the wife of Hyder Ali), was detained in the fort. After the 1806 Sepoy Mutiny, the British transferred Tipu's sons and daughters to Calcutta. The Tombs of Bakshi Begum (died 1806), widow of Hyder Ali and Padshah Begum, Tipu's wife & sons, who died in 1834 are located with a kilometre to the eastern side of the Fort.
Vellore Fort also became the final destination for the last ruling monarch of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1798–1815). The king and his family were kept as prisoners of war at this fort for 17 years with his family. His grave can be found in the fort along with last raya kings of Vijayanagara Empire.
CULTURE
The Fort is situated in the centre of Vellore town opposite to the Old Bus stand. Vellore is on the Chennai-Bangalore highway and is 120 km from Chennai and 210 km from Bangalore. The nearest rail station is Vellore-Katpadi Junction, where all super fast trains stop. The nearest airports are Tirupati Airport, Chennai International Airport and Bengaluru International Airport. In 1981 the Post and Telegraph Department of India released a stamp commemorating the Fort, and in July 2006 a stamp marking the 200th anniversary of the Mutiny was released by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. This 13th-century fort was opened up to tourists and is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Government Museum is a multi purpose museum maintained by the Department of Museum Government of Tamil Nadu. Its treasures include ancient- and present-day curiosities relating to subjects such as anthropology, botany, geology, numismatics, pre-history, and zoology. Historical monuments of the erstwhile composite North Arcot district are gracefully depicted in the gallery. This museum is kept open on all days between 9.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m and 5.00 p.m. except on holidays, and admission fee is INR 5/- - Tourists INR 100.
WIKIPEDIA
Lesnes Abbey (pronounced /ˈlɛsnɨs/) is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a scheduled ancient monument and the adjacent park and heath are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The ruins are adjacent to Lesnes Abbey Woods.
After the Norman Conquest in 1066 the area of Lesnes, close to the town of Erith passed into the possession of Bishop Odo and is mentioned in the Domesday Survey. The year 1178 saw the foundation of the Abbey of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr at Lesnes.
Lesnes Abbey, as it is known, was founded by Richard de Luci, Chief Justiciar of England, in 1178. It is speculated, this may have been in penance for the murder of Thomas Becket, in which he was involved. In 1179, de Luci resigned his office and retired to the Abbey, where he died three months later. He was buried in the chapter house.
The abbey is situated in the suburbs of south east London, in the north of an ancient but long-managed Lesnes Abbey Woods that are named after it, where the land rises above what would originally have been marshland.
In 1381 Abel Ker of Erith led a local uprising linked to the famous Peasants' Revolt. It actually began in Essex but a mob from Erith burst in to nearby Lesnes Abbey and forced the abbot to swear an oath to support them. After this they marched to Maidstone to join the main body of men led by Wat Tyler.
The Abbott of Lesnes Abbey was an important local landlord, and took a leading part in draining the marshland. However, this and the cost of maintaining river embankments was one of the reasons given for the Abbey's chronic financial difficulties. It never became a large community, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525, under a licence to suppress monasteries of less than seven inmates. It was one of the first monasteries to be closed after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1524, and the monastic buildings were all pulled down, except for the Abbott's Lodging. Henry Cooke acquired the site in 1541 and it eventually passed to Sir John Hippersley who salvaged building materials, before selling the property to Thomas Hawes of London in 1632. It was then bequeathed to Christ's Hospital in 1633. Some of the stone is said to have been used in the construction of Hall Place in nearby Bexley.
The abbey was effectively lost and the area became farmland with the abbots house forming part of a farmhouse. It has been restored to show some of the walls and the entire outline of the abbey is visible giving a good idea of the size and atmosphere of the original place. It is on the Green Chain Walk and well worth a visit as it is surrounded by good parkland and an ornamental garden. There is a cafe and a small exhibition of the abbey and also toilet facilities for visitors. The is a low, leaning tree at the Northern side of the abbey, and this is reputed to be a mulberry tree.
The site was excavated by Woolwich & District Antiquarian Society in 1909-1910 approx. . Some archaeological finds from the Abbey's site are displayed in Plumstead Museum at 232 Plumstead High Street, others are further east in the museum above Erith Library in Walnut Tree Road. The "Missale de Lesnes" is in the library of the Victoria & Albert Museum in Exhibition Road, London.
The former London County Council purchased the site of the ruins in 1930, which were opened to the public as a park in 1931. Since 1986, the site has been the property of the London Borough of Bexley. A branch of the Green Chain Walk passes the ruins on its way from Oxleas Wood to Thamesmead riverside.