View allAll Photos Tagged morphe
Strange invention. It has the Jeepney passenger section body, but with an automobile front. I don't get it!
Morphed view of the Gothic-style bank building, erected in 1808 after the designs of Benjamin Henry Latrobe at the southwest corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets. Shows the building projecting upward from the plane of the paper causing a cathedral like effect to the architecture. A gate, lawn, and trees surround the building. An outbuilding is visible on the property. Couples and a lady with a parasol stroll on the sidewalk. The Philadelphia Bank or Bank of Philadelphia (predecessor of the Philadelphia National Bank), formed in 1803, and was incorporated in 1804 as the unofficial bank of the commonwealth. The building was razed in 1836. Print is the only recognized American "Horizontorium" image and one of two known views of the bank.
Once tasked with defending the temples of an order of powerful magic users, these vast golden automata continue in their duties, though the dynasty they once served has long since fallen and passed into memory.
The magic that powers their clockwork innards lingers still, so they work tirelessly, serving as gatekeepers and a challenge to anyone wishing to gain entry to the sacred temples of light.
-------------------------------------------
Here's a dude I started a while ago, but only just got round to finishing. Inspired by Dark Souls and Zelda, I think this actually started as an idea for a Toa of Light, but then morphed into more of a guardian robot thing. I'm happy with how it turned out, and I hope you like it too.
You met her in a chat room as Kate 26
Laughed and confided, you even shared pics.
This message is posted to tell Kate is away,
She has morphed into someone quite different today !!!
You will find her in chat rooms as wildgentlebreeze
Her hormones are raging, quite hard to please
She's cutting, sarcastic and sometimes quite lewd,
Not at all like the Kate 26 that you knew !!!
The seasons change less than Kate 26 moods
Sometimes she's a cartoon, at others a nude.
With each different picture she changes her name,
Don't take it personal, it is part of her game.
Sometimes she is funny, flirtatious and fat,
At others real lonely and missing her cat.
She is friendly or furious, on Mondays she's meek,
At least five different people by the end of the week !!
On Tuesday she has kids, on Wednesday there's none,
Cause this is the night Kate 26 has her fun.
She is hetro and mono, bi and is gay,
This isn't confusing, it just depends on the day !!!!
On Fridays real sporty, off with the crowd,
On Saturdays dancing, with music played loud.
She climbed mountains and sailed, loved and she lost,
Went riding on horseback, took drugs and smoked pot !!
Lived in Perth and Kentucky, sometimes as a bot,
Lived in cold snowy places, others quite hot.
But the truth to be known; ask if you dare,
Kate 26 never moved from her chair !!!!!!!!
And I guess that's the magic of internet chat,
Some people are honest, some wear different hats.
So remember behind clever names on the screen,
There are people there typing, who are not what they seem !!
And as for your new friend, young Kate 26,
She looks nothing like that sexy young chic.
Though her mind is still sharp, her fingers move quick,
She probably thinks you're a bit of a Dick !!!
She has four grown children, she's old and is grey,
Re- living her youth in a 'virtual' way.
To find the real person, I'm sorry to say,
It's a pity but matey ____ You picked the WRONG DAY !!!!
~Ken Hodgkinson
Julie - 8Apr11
The long running Ralston Type-8 morphed into the 'Tigre' line in 1938, running late, as the promised V8 from Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Cord line failed with that company, and the inline-8 which had similarly been bought it from A-C-D (used in the Auburn), was also no longer in series production from the engine works.
No matter. There was a modest stockpile of inline-8 engines which was gradually depleted in the manufacture of the Rhino model. Meanwhile 1938 brought with it a V8 engine from Cadillac, fitted to a chassis frame of Ralston's own design. The shorter engine allowed a greater allocation of overall length to the passenger area - though truth be told, more of if went to providing greater luggage capacity, and a more cab-forward look to the cars.
The Tigre MkI, still know as the Type-8 Tigre was replaced after WWII, with a MkII design, losing this Type-8 appellation. The new model appeared at the end of 1953, the car based on the new post WWII Cadillac frame, engine and underbody of the 1948-53 Series 60 (in particular the slightly longer 60 Special). The tooling was transferred to Ralston upon completion of the 1953 model year. By this stage the preceding MkI was now 15 years old, though this included the period through the war years.
The adoption of Cadillac underpinnings provided the Ralston Tigre MkII with the calibre of running gear demanded by the marque's premium position, though with a much reduced outlay, particularly compared to their premium US-based builders such as Packard. Key differentiation with the originating Cadillac was the Ralston themed 'X' radiator grille, unique bumper treatment, and completely reprofiled rear fender tops, truncating in a rocket-pod tail lamp cluster, instead of the Cadillac 'fin'. Not elements sat completely at ease with the carryover Cadillac based structure.
An update to the Tigre MkII in 1956 led to the MkII-B. a few of the elements were cleared up in the styling, plus the addition of a number of 'flourishes' that had emerged during the 1952-55 model years. Chief among these were 'tailfins' no longer the preserve of Cadillac, but sprouting taller and wilder each year on all US domestic brands. Compared to the 1954 model, the MkII-B had slightly taller fins, but they were much more prominent in the styling, as they were accentuated by both chrome trim separating them from the fender bulge, and also incorporating one of the zones for the bi-colour and tri-colour themes.
In 1958 the car was upgraded further with the advent of the MkII-C. This model again received changes to the fender, front and rear. At the front, the fender height was increased, making the car look both more modern, and also tying the top ridge into the unmodified doors and sides. The rear fender was modified to include a tapering fin, which then led to a tail lamp treatment which was to evolve further into a 'rocket pod' on subsequent models. The 'X' theme was continued to include a 'X' rocket, mounted centrally in the trunk lid. This could alternatively be swapped out for a conventionally styled horizontal trim, if the Continental spare wheel option was included (though this had also phased out of popularity over a short time period). The new trunk lid also shared the tapering profile of the fins. Although this look less modern compared to the newly squared up trunk lids from GM and Ford's divisions, it suited the 'classic' lines of the Ralston Tigre model, leading many to state that the MkII-C was perhaps the most conservatively handsome of mid-century Ralston models, particularly on the SWB closed models.
Additional styling changes included a modest reinterpretation of the grille, including the addition of 'Dagmars' at its extremities, and a new front bumper including marker lights.
The 1954 car launched with the same tune 331 CID (5.4 litre) V8, producing 230 bhp (175 kW), for 1956 this was raised to 285 bhp (213 kW) with an increase in capacity to 365 CID (6.0 litres). The 1958 MkII-C retained the 365 CID V8, but power increased to 310 bhp (230 kW).
Shown here is the 1958 MkII-C 6-Window Limousine in single-colour midnight black. This was a commonly ordered model using the long wheelbase chassis (along with the 4-window Limousine and Phaetons). The LWB chassis featured the 147 in (3,729 mm) chassis from the 1950-53 Cadillac 75 Series.
This Ralston Tigre MkII-C 6-Window Limousine (1958) has be built on Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts 95th Build Challenge, - 'Designing the Ralston Legacy' - a challenge to design the fictitious Dragon 'Motorcycle' model for the fictitious Ralston company, though any of the previous Ralston challenge vehicles, the Tiger or the Rhino are also eligible to be submitted. The chief stipulation is that the model must feature a 'X' in the styling.
By 1992, my tastes in railroad photography had morphed from quantity to quality. The Amador Central hit my radar, as it was dependent on the beleaguered timber industry, and its motive power was a pair of 40+ year old Baldwin S-12s. Just 55 miles to the south of AMC's base at Martell, California, the Sierra Railroad had a trio of Baldwin S-12s at its enginehouse in Oakdale. If you had an affinity for photogenic shortlines - especially those with elderly locomotives constructed by minority builders - the Sierra foothills in Central California were the place to be.
These photos were taken the first time I visited the Amador Central Railroad in July 1992. My wife and I had chased the SP 4449 south from Portland the previous weekend, and we were visiting our friend Tom Messer in Fair Oaks. He took me to Martell so we could chase AMC. Unfortunately, the day we chose for a visit was a day that the railroad only switched out the Georgia Pacific mill, and did not run down the hill to the Southern Pacific interchange at Ione. These are the images I recorded on Kodachrome that day.
Here, AMC 9 fouls the California Lane grade crossing as the brakeman throws a switch.
Dimorphotheca is a genus of plants in the sunflower family, native to Africa and Australia. is one of eight genera of the Calenduleae, with a centre of diversity in Southern Africa. Some species can hybridize with Osteospermum, and crosses are sold as cultivated ornamentals. The name "Dimorphotheca" comes from the Greek "Dis" "Morphe" and "Theka", meaning "two shaped fruit", referring to the dimorphic cypselae, a trait inherent to members of the Calenduleae. Plants of this genus usually have bisexual flowers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimorphotheca
Following a rehab by the Durango and Silverton's roundhouse, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad 41 takes a jaunt on the historic branch of the Denver and Rio Grande. The locomotive, originally built for the D&RG was conveyed to the Rio Grande Southern before the 'Western' was added to the create the Denver and Rio Grande Western. It's unknown if this locomotive ever made it up this branch, but some of its brethren did, most famously when two of its class were destroyed for the movie "Denver and Rio Grande".
The 41 left the RGS after abandonment and ended up making right turns at the farm of one Walter Knott to entertain guests waiting to eat at his wife's chicken dinner restaurant. Today, the whole opperation has morphed into the world famous Knott's Berry Farm. The 41 is now back at the farm ready to haul passengers as it has, lovely cared for there for the last 70 years.
morphed from a crocus flower and a glass of water! ;~) Mardi Gras is on my Bday this year so I've gotten into it a little more than usual...
Morphée remontre le bout de ses bois un peu plus loin, traversant calmement l'allée enherbée avec femme et enfant.
Cerf élaphe en forêt de Mormal
"liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time" 光復香港 時代革命
**************************
Two plain-clothes policemen were surrounded and twice beaten up by protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday as officers tried to call an early end to a rally in the business district, resulting in several rounds of tear gas being fired and the arrest of the organiser of the demonstration.
Thousands took part in the police-approved protest in Chater Garden, Central, at 3pm, to demand electoral reforms for September’s legislative elections and urge the international community to impose sanctions on the Hong Kong government if their calls were snubbed.
But the day descended into mayhem when police declared the rally over after skirmishes between protesters and officers nearby.
The first scuffles broke out when police held a man to the ground in Des Voeux Road Central, drawing an angry response from protesters who then surrounded the officers.
Eight people were arrested in the area for possession of extendable batons, hammers and spanners. The force said it believed those detained had plans to create chaos.
A group of radical black-clad protesters first set upon a police liaison officer about an hour after the rally started after he spoke to the organiser, Ventus Lau Wing-hong. He fell to the ground as heavy blows rained down on him, including from a protester’s metal baton. A colleague who came to his aid was also beaten. The pair managed to flee across the road but were again attacked as they tried to get into a nearby office tower.
“At around 4pm today, while two officers of the police community liaison office were liaising with the organiser of a public event in Chater Garden, Central, they were suddenly surrounded and beaten up brutally by a large group of rioters with wooden sticks and other weapons,” police said in a statement.
“They were left with bloody injuries to the head. Such appalling acts are not to be condoned. The police will endeavour to bring the assailants to justice.”
In another statement, the force said protesters threw water bottles at them when they were intercepting people in the area.
Hard-core protesters set up barricades on roads and dug up paving bricks, police said in explanation of their decision to shut down the rally.
Officers used pepper spray on protesters and several rounds of tear gas were fired. A police water cannon and armoured vehicle were moved into Central amid the chaos. But they were not used.
Lau, a spokesman for Hong Kong Civil Assembly Team, which organised the rally, was arrested immediately after speaking to reporters in the evening. Police accused him of inciting the crowd and violating one of the rules in the force’s letter of no objection for the rally, that protesters could not overcrowd Chater Garden, Lau’s group said.
Zion Lam, another spokesman from the group, denied the accusations and said there was still space in Chater Garden. The organiser had even asked those at the rally to leave to make room for other protesters to get in, Lam added.
Before his arrest, Lau said police should bear full responsibility for the day’s chaos.
He said a man in plain clothes who identified himself as an officer asked him to cut short the rally because there were clashes nearby. Lau demanded he show his warrant card.
“The officer refused to display his warrant card until the crowd became too emotional. By then, the situation had become too hard to control,” Lau said. “I told him that as long as he showed me his warrant card, I would end the rally.”
A large crowd of protesters surrounded the officer, who then showed his warrant card. He and another plain-clothes officer were then beaten up by radicals.
Lau claimed that at least 150,000 people took part in the rally, while police put the turnout at 11,680 at its peak. After the rally was brought to an end, police ordered those in the area to leave immediately or be arrested. Some were rounded up.
In a police briefing on Sunday night, Senior Superintendent Ng Lok-chun said the two assaulted officers were left with “serious and bloody injuries”.
“This happened in broad daylight, right in front of the event organiser himself. We once again strongly condemn rioters for launching such violent attacks on our officers,” he said.
He added that the rally organiser was acquainted with the officers, and so it was “ridiculous” that Lau claimed he did not know them. Lau was arrested for contravening the conditions on the police’s letter of no objection and for repeatedly obstructing the officers in carrying out their duties.
A total of four officers were injured on Sunday, Ng said. He did not elaborate on the other two officers.
Asked why officers held up the identity card of a Stand News reporter in front of his camera while he was doing a live broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Ng said he did not have information on the incident.
But Privacy Commissioner Stephen Wong Kai-yi said his office was looking into the incident in a fair manner along with a similar case in Tai Po earlier.
In a late-night statement, a government spokesman said it strongly condemned protesters’ “outrageous” attacks on officers with no anti-riot equipment.
Separately, the force said four petrol bombs were hurled at the reporting room and car park of Tai Po Police Station at about 8pm. No one was hurt but services at the reporting room were suspended.
Later on Sunday night, riot police were back on the streets, this time in Mong Kok, a popular shopping and entertainment area in Kowloon. In a game of cat and mouse, protesters tried to block traffic, throwing bags of rubbish and other items close at hand onto roads, as police raced through the streets after them.
Police raised a blue flag, warning protesters they were taking part in an illegal assembly, a number of times. Officers also used pepper spray, at one point firing on a group of people, including reporters, gathered on the pavement.
Sunday afternoon’s demonstration, the second in a row pushing for more democracy, was held as protests, sparked in June by the now-withdrawn extradition bill, entered their eighth month.
The movement has morphed into a wider anti-government campaign, with protesters issuing five demands, including the establishment of a judge-led independent inquiry into the police’s use of force.
Lau said the government must scrap the functional constituencies of the Legislative Council, which return 35 lawmakers to the 70-seat legislature and have long been criticised. Voting for the functional constituencies, except for five “super seats”, is restricted to those from certain trades and professional sectors.
“The first time I heard about the calls for universal suffrage, that was in 2007 and 2008. People have then been calling for it in 2012, 2017, and we’re now already in 2020,” Lau, 26, told the crowd.
“We have had a lot of peaceful demonstrations … but has the government ever listened?” The protesters responded with a resounding “no”.
Lau added: “We’re not just here to protest today. We’re here to revolt, to exact revenge [for government inaction].”
Some rally-goers waved US national flags and banners calling for Hong Kong independence.
In November, US President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that could bring diplomatic action and economic sanctions against Hong Kong, waving off multiple warnings by China against such a move.
Protester Serah Kwong, a retired secondary school teacher in her late 50s, said she knew of teachers who were worried about retribution from their schools for supporting the protest movement.
“This oppression may happen to all professions. That’s why we hope there will be more interventions from foreign countries,” Kwong said, referring to sanctions from foreign governments.
“This is the only way to keep up with the pressure.”
Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s education minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung warned that teachers’ personal remarks on social media were regulated by the law and a professional code of conduct and those who behaved inappropriately should face consequences.
Another protester, office worker Andy Chan, joined the rally because he was angry at police’s use of force at previous protests.
“We have to make sure the five demands are fulfilled, in particular the demand to investigate police brutality,” the 25-year-old said, adding that international sanctions were the only solution left when the Hong Kong government had failed to respond.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department said repairs and testing of the e-payment facilities for all nine manual toll lanes of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel had been completed and would resume operation from 7am on Monday. The facilities were damaged two months ago amid violent protests.
www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3046726/hong...
【明報專訊】民間集會團隊昨發起中環集會，呼籲各國實施制裁法案，其間警方稱有示威者在中環一帶堵路和縱火，約下午4時派出便衣警員向主辦方要求終止集會，其間被示威者襲擊，負傷走至長江中心暫避，再被多名黑衣人圍毆，被人用棍及磚頭擊打，頭部流血，警方施放催淚彈驅散。警方昨午清場時，有市民亦被防暴警打穿頭，同樣血流披面。警方重案組昨晚拘捕活動發起人劉頴匡，指他違反集會不反對通知書條款，若有足夠證據會檢控。
主辦方稱15萬人 警：最高峰1.1萬
主辦單位稱有15萬人參加集會，警方稱最高峰時約有1.1萬人。政府昨發聲明回應對有集會者要求外國政府干涉香港事務及實施「制裁」表示極度遺憾，對於普選訴求，聲明又以1100多字重申政府明白市民爭取普選的訴求的立場。
警歸咎示威者堵路縱火 稱劉故意刁難
近期多次集會及遊行被腰斬，昨亦不例外，港島總區高級警司（行動）吳樂俊昨晚歸咎示威者剝奪市民集會權利，對此表示遺憾。他稱昨午集會場外有示威者堵路和縱火，警方安排多名便衣警員向劉頴匡要求終止集會，在場便衣警員一直與主辦方保持溝通，與劉頴匡互相認識，惟仍被劉質疑警員身分，認為遭故意刁難，後來更有警員被示威者襲擊至頭破血流，對此表示非常憤怒。他說，事件中最少有4名警員受傷，當中一人昨晚需留院治理。
警重兵截「流水」 集會前檢伸縮棍槌仔拘8人
吳樂俊又稱，警方未有使用催淚彈多時，惟昨防暴警員護送受襲便衣警員離去時，在長江中心外仍遭多名示威者追打，迫於無奈施放催淚彈驅散。他又稱集會前截查市民，結果拘捕8人，在他們身上搜出伸縮棍、士巴拿及槌仔，若不採取行動，可能會危害公眾安全，後果不堪設想。
警方對上一次施放催淚彈是今年1月5日，當日上水廣場舉行反水貨遊行。
民間集會團隊原定昨舉辦「天下制裁」遊行，由中環遊行至銅鑼灣，惟遭警方反對，警方只向遮打花園集會發出不反對通知書。昨午1時許，警方已於港島多處重兵佈防，並安排水炮車戒備，阻止集會者「流水式」離開中環遊行（見圖）。
昨午3時許遮打花園已站滿人，部分市民在場外站立。集會期間，警方在場外截查一名男子，指有人向警員掟水樽及疑似漆彈，一批防暴警衝前制服一名男子，其間向圍觀者施放胡椒噴霧。有示威者在中國建設銀行大廈外噴漆，以及在德輔道中及雪廠街交界設傘陣堵路及縱火焚燒雜物。
一名自稱警民關係科、無戴委任證的便衣警員，4時許在集會現場向劉頴匡公開要求劉終止集會，該警員在劉多次要求下才出示委任證，擾攘及理論一番後，警民關係科便衣警員及旁邊無表明身分、一直保護便衣警員的人遭示威者襲擊，其後這批人被揭發也是便衣警。現場場面混亂，他們跑至附近長江中心外，再遭一批黑衣人以棍及手持磚頭擊打身體，及後防暴警趕至。警方後來施放催淚彈驅散在場者。
劉：便衣遲遲不展證 應負責
民間集會團隊發言人劉頴匡之後見記者，宣布集會有15萬人參加，他稱若非警方無故腰斬集會，相信集會人數會更多。他又說，昨日警民衝突主要源於有便衣警遲遲不出示委任證，便要求他腰斬集會，激發群眾不滿，認為警方需為衝突負責。警方在劉見傳媒後，即以主辦單位違反「不反對通知書」的協定，沒有協助維持秩序，拘捕劉頴匡。
明報記者
news.mingpao.com/pns/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20200120/...
I can't believe that the Whole Foods that I cherished in my youth growing up in Austin, Texas - the one that vigorously promoted healthy eating and where hippies roamed barefoot in the aisles while savoring the scent of patchouli incense - has morphed into an institution bolstering neo-con "values."
Tonight, I will purchase from WF for the last time (at least until they change their policies). Franc and I had already planned to have dinner from there, so I will go through with that - but when I go there to buy the meal, I will tell them why I am boycotting them hereafter. And later I will make flyers and distribute them at WF.
I go to my local Farmer's Market more often anyway, but occassionally I do go to WF, as they have some good stuff (their organic cooked chickens are SKRUM). But it's pricey and the store has such an elitist atmosphere - it's teeming with liberal bourgeois, or just outright bourgeois. Our Farmer's Market fucking ROCKS and is AFFORDABLE and peeps from all cultures and income levels swarm the place.
----------
Why You Should Boycott Whole Foods
By Russell Mokhiber , CounterPunch. Posted August 14, 2009.
The company's CEO has just launched a major campaign to defeat a single payer national health insurance,
John Mackey is a right wing libertarian.
He’s a union buster.
He believes that corporations should not be criminally prosecuted for their crimes.
He has just launched a campaign to defeat a single payer national health insurance system.
And he’s the CEO of Whole Foods.
Primo hangout of liberal Democratic yuppies.
“We are all responsible for our own lives and our own health,” Mackey wrote yesterday in the Wall Street Journal. “We should take that responsibility very seriously and use our freedom to make wise lifestyle choices that will protect our health. Doing so will enrich our lives and will help create a vibrant and sustainable American society.”
Yes it will, John Mackey.
Yes it will.
I do take that responsibility very seriously.
I try to eat well.
And exercise regularly.
I also take my responsibility as a citizen seriously.
After all, Mr. Mackey, we are all responsible for our own civic lives and our own civic health.
We should take that responsibility very seriously and use our freedom and make wise civic and consumer choices that will protect our nation’s health.
Doing so will enrich our civic lives and help create a vibrant and sustainable American society.
That’s why, today, we are calling on all American citizens to boycott Whole Foods.
Why?
Because Mackey has launched a public campaign to defeat single payer national health insurance.
This despite the bottom line reality that single payer is the only way to both control health care costs and cover everyone.
As Dr. Marcia Angell says in today’s New York Times, “if you keep health care in the hands of for-profit companies, you can increase coverage by putting more money into the system, or control costs by decreasing coverage. But you cannot do both unless you change the basic structure of the system.”
Mackey leads his Wall Street Journal diatribe against national health insurance with a quote from one of his heroines – Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
And the problem with Mackey’s campaign is that it results in the deaths of 60 Americans every day due to lack of health insurance.
Mackey is responsible for these deaths as much as anyone.
And we are responsible for putting money into his Whole Food bank account so that he can continue his campaign without resistance.
I know that this boycott of Whole Foods will upset many liberal Democrats.
Where will they buy their organic wines?
And cheeses?
And tofu?
There are options.
Your local health food co-op.
Farmers’ markets.
Community supported agriculture.
Other corporate chains like Trader Joe’s.
So, please, join the Single Payer Action Boycott of Whole Foods.
Don’t cross the picket lines.
Don’t spend another penny at Whole Foods until John Mackey and his right wing friends are defeated.
And single payer is enacted.
Onward to single payer.
Michaela Gaborova morphed as Mona Lisa by Scott Lund
#MonaLisaCode #ScottLund #LeonardoDaVinci #MonaLisa #LaJoconde #LaGioconda #Bramante #Tempietto #Janiculum #LisaGherardini #Leonardo #DaVinci #DaVinciCode #ArtHistory #History #Art #Painting
Foto was rotated: Its bottom is bushes, its pink is sunset after-glow, its clouds have morphed into smoke signals. Is it only in history books and movies were our children will learn of the smoke signal languages? Such smoke some of our ancestors used before telegraphs, telephones, or iphones took much of disorganized Humanity on this wild goose chase. Many allow their lives to be so entrapped materially.
Lets resolve and work so life's Rat-race, Almighty Money Chase, and Greed will control less of each of our lives>
Have you also heard the banks in Paradise do not accept cash, checks, or credit cards? Now are you collecting up acceptable tender for that last bank in the sky? How long is eternity?
"My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn justice."
Isaiah 26:9
EXPLORE # 269 & 442 & 487 on Saturday, January 26, 2008
Le palais de Dioclétien est l'attraction la plus célèbre de Split et un site classé au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO. Même si l'histoire n'est pas votre tasse de thé (ce n'est sûrement pas mon cas), vous serez époustouflé par cet endroit !
Cet impressionnant vestige de l'architecture romaine remonte au IVe siècle. Si certaines parties des anciens murs subsistent encore aujourd'hui, le palais n'a pas de frontières claires et ses vestiges occupent une grande partie de la vieille ville de Split, avec des bâtiments plus récents, des bars et des boutiques disséminés entre eux et autour d'eux.
Le palais de Dioclétien n'est donc pas un palais au sens habituel du terme, mais plutôt une ville fortifiée qui a été habitée et transformée en ce qui est aujourd'hui le centre-ville de Split. Il n'y a pas d'entrée, ce qui signifie qu'il n'y a pas de droits d'entrée ni d'heures d'ouverture. Le palais fait partie de la ville et la ville fait partie du palais.
À la base, le palais de Dioclétien était un complexe résidentiel et militaire. Vous pourrez y découvrir les vestiges de plus de 200 bâtiments romains encore debout aujourd'hui. Le péristyle (cour centrale), le vestibule (antichambre circulaire) et les caves (Podrumi) comptent parmi les curiosités les plus époustouflantes du palais de Dioclétien. Nous allons nous pencher un peu plus sur chacun d'entre eux !
/The Diocletian’s Palace is the most famous attraction in Split and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even if history isn’t really your cup of tea (it surely isn’t mine), you’ll be blown away by this place!
This impressive Roman architectural remain dates back to the 4th century. While parts of the old walls still stand today, the palace has no clear borders and its remains take up much of Split’s old city, with newer buildings, bars and shops scattered in between and around it.
So the Diocletian’s Palace isn’t a palace in the usual sense of the word, but more like a fortified town that’s been lived into and morphed into what is the city center of Split today. There is no entrance, meaning there aren’t any entrance fees nor are there any opening hours. The palace is part of the city and the city is part of the palace.
At it’s core, the Diocletian’s Palace used to be a residential and military complex. Here you’ll be able to explore the remains of over 200 Roman buildings that are still standing today. Among the more breathtaking sights in the Diocletian Palace are the Peristyle (central courtyard), the Vestibule (a circular anteroom) and the Podrumi (the cellars). Let’s dig a little bit deeper into each of these!
By 1992, my tastes in railroad photography had morphed from quantity to quality. The Amador Central hit my radar, as it was dependent on the beleaguered timber industry, and its motive power was a pair of 40+ year old Baldwin S-12s. Just 55 miles to the south of AMC's base at Martell, California, the Sierra Railroad had a trio of Baldwin S-12s at its enginehouse in Oakdale. If you had an affinity for photogenic shortlines - especially those with elderly locomotives constructed by minority builders - the Sierra foothills in Central California were the place to be.
These photos were taken the first time I visited the Amador Central Railroad in July 1992. My wife and I had chased the SP 4449 south from Portland the previous weekend, and we were visiting our friend Tom Messer in Fair Oaks. He took me to Martell so we could chase AMC. Unfortunately, the day we chose for a visit was a day that the railroad only switched out the Georgia Pacific mill, and did not run down the hill to the Southern Pacific interchange at Ione. These are the images I recorded on Kodachrome that day.
In this image, the Baldwin locomotive shoves two loads into AMC's modest yard at Martell.
The benefits of living @ Morphe, Inc. Castles... cathedrals.. heaven.
Dress ImmateriA "Sanguisuga"
Skin JOLI "Lucretia" / Alabaster
Tattoo Goth1co "Whatever Tomorrow Brings" from Creepy Cutie Carnival
FK! "Cthulhu collar
Music:
Song 1 and 2
Artist: El Twanguero
Album: Carreteras Secundarias Vol. 1
Songs: Ciego Solitario, Green Eyed Girl
Song 3
Artist: Mark Orton
Album: Nebraska - OST
Song: Their Pie
Day 29-30 of 40
Day 29
Once we reached the far end of Cecile Lake (10239) and where the route down was, I was finally able to gaze down onto the dark blue waters of Iceberg Lake (9774), 465 ft below me. Iceberg Lake has a large wedge of granite that juts out into it forming a peninsula, which I'm assuming gives the lake it's name, since it has a grayish white color and kind of resembles the appearance an iceberg.
From here we began our decent to Iceberg Lake. At first the climb down was steep, over hard packed dirt covered by loose, slippery pebbles, with rock out croppings on our right side that worked well as hand holds. In this particular section we were guided by a primitive trail. As we worked our way down, Logan and Todd blazed on ahead, while Clare and Marissa took their time, followed by myself. After we climbed down that steepest section we could level out our routes and the primitive trail became broken and not easily followed as it appeared in multiple places at once as a kind of “choose your own path” and eventually disappearing altogether and turning into cairns every dozen feet or so. The hard packed dirt of the decent morphed into talus that dominated the steep terrain for the rest of the way until we reached the far side of Iceberg Lake, where we were greeted and relieved of our struggles by soft grass and a few small trees.
Here the terrain leveled out and a well worn path appeared as a deeply cut rut in the grasses, we stopped here and rested. I told them that the trail from here to Lake Ediza was easy and I felt comfortable leaving them to travel it without me. Clare returned my hiking pole and Logan gave me two of the fish they had caught earlier at Cecile Lake. I thanked them for the fish, and they thanked me for staying with them and making sure they made it safely to where we were now. I wished them Happy Trails, then I began to hike away as Logan and Todd once again headed down to the lake shore to try their luck at fishing.
I was once again on my own. I crossed over the outflow creek that flowed from Iceberg Lake to cascade down into Lake Ediza. I followed that as long as I could until it carved a deep gully into the terrain. Here I veered off to the west and made my way over slabby mounds of rock. Working my way up, over, around, and down them and in places clinging closely to them with my hands and feet, on my way to the meadowlands that stretch westward, up from the shores of lake Ediza.
My plan today was to reach Nydiver Lakes, but as I entered the meadowlands the sun was setting behind the Ritter Range, casting *crepuscular rays through the atmospheric haze and since I did not want to hike cross country in the dark I decided to spend the night here.
*(Sometimes English is not a very elegant language, for example crepuscular rays. Crepuscular sounds like a horrible skin condition. In Icelandic the word for it is solstafir, which has a very beautiful soulful sound. Even Japanese has a better name for it, komorebi, which is more appropriately used for sunlight filtering through the forest canopy, which is created by a similar atmospheric condition. I suppose I could use sunbeams or sun rays, but those just don't properly convey the sight.)
I found a place by a creek to take some quick photos of the beautiful solstafir, then I looked for a place to set up my tent. I found a nice spot beneath a large, old juniper.
Now the sun had completely set behind the mountains and their shadows fully embraced me I took some time to photograph all the little intricate details of the foliage and rocks that surrounded me. After the light of day faded from the sky and there was not enough light left to take any more photos, I headed back to my tent beneath the sheltering branches of the wise old juniper for the night. Just before I crawled into my sleeping bag, I remembered the fish that had been given to me. I didn't want them to spoil, so I grabbed the bag that held them and took it down to the stream to keep them cold until breakfast tomorrow.
Day 30
There was not the slightest breath of breeze this morning and the still air was crisp and cold. Grabbing my camera gear I headed down to the creek where I had stored the fish last night to make sure no critters had wandered off with them as I slept. Frost embraced the grasses that crunched beneath my feet and my breath condensed into clouds. When I reached the creek my fish were undisturbed and thin layers of ice had formed in the slower moving sections of the creek.
I had no idea how the light of sunrise was going to paint the landscape this morning so I just sat down on a rock near the creek and waited. I did not plan ahead for any photos this time, so as the earth's purple shadow crawled nearer to the tops Mt. Banner (12143) and Mt. Ritter (13143) I just returned to the same spot as yesterday and hoped for the best. Shortly after the shadow sunk behind the peaks, Banner and Ritter glowed in the most subtle, yet beautiful pink I have seen so far on this journey.
After I got the sunrise photos I wanted I went back to get the fish. The icy water was so cold it was almost painful as I stuck my hand in it to pull out the bag of fish. The fish themselves were frozen and stuck in the position that the bag had stored them in. I took them back to camp. Before preparing them, I thanked the fish for their nourishment and sacrifice. Then I cut them into chunks and put them into my small jet boil pot, heads and all, covered them with water and boiled them up. Once they were done I pulled them out and used the already boiled water full of fish oils and fats to rehydrate one of my dehydrated meals. As that was rehydrating I pulled the bones easily out of the fish and ate. I left the heads and bones on a rock so any critters could have themselves a meal. Then I ate the rehydrated food.
I headed back down to the creek to wash the fish from my hands in the painfully cold water. By this time the sun had risen enough to cast light on the area and I spent some time taking more photos. The frozen grasses were now steaming, as the warm rays of sun melted and evaporated the frost into a mist that swirled like spirits ascending skyward. Once the interesting light conditions faded as the sun climbed higher I headed back to my campsite and packed up my stuff.
I then started on my way to Nydiver Lakes (10095). I followed the creek, that I had stored the fish in last night and photographed this morning, up stream in a northwesterly direction towards a little tarn at the foot of Mt. Ritter. At first the going was easy, but it soon grew more difficult as the terrain began to slope steeply up. I contoured my way up gradually, hugging the mountain slope instead of going straight up. The meadowlands where ringed by a patchy forest of pine, hemlock and willow, which I had to make my way through. When I emerged on the other side the steepness of the terrain relaxed and became more gradual. I crossed over the creek and followed its babbling cascades towards it's source.
Looking back I could see Lake Ediza (9265), shrinking away below me. I could also see the summit of Mammoth Mountain and the ski lift that was was build on her. Since I could see the ski lift I wondered if I might have cell service. So I pulled out my cell phone and turned it on. I had one bar, so I tried to send a text message, but it was not able to send, so I held my phone higher to get a better signal. As I was doing this two backpackers where descending and seeing me with my phone out, one of them asked, “Would you like me to take it?”
“Take what?” I asked.
“Your picture,” He replied.
I was at first confused by the seemingly weird, out of the blue question, but I then realized that he thought I was trying to take a selfie.
“No”, I answered, “I was trying to get a better signal, but thanks for the offer.”
“No problem,” he said as he turned to leave, “Have a great day.”
“You too, happy trails.” I said as the two of the wandered off.
The other one that hadn't said anything then flashed the peace sign as they continued downhill away from me.
A short distance later I reached the small tarn that I was aiming for. Mt Banner's and Ritter's towering summits looming over it's still, shallow, clear waters. This is a beautiful tarn (10000) that would have made for some excellent morning photography. Had I continued further last night instead of stopping I would have spent the night here. I took my pack off as well as my shoes and socks. I switched to my wide angle lens and after soaking my feet in the cold snow melt I took some photos.
Then I took out my map to figure out what I was going to do. There is a beautiful tarn above Garnet Lake that I have been to once before, but I did not have the proper wide angle lens to photograph it with, nor did I have the time to spend the night there so I could photograph it at sunrise because I was with a group that wanted to keep moving, so I made a promise to myself that I would return there. In planing this journey, I made sure that my route would take me by that particular tarn and that was one of the two, now three, for sure stops I had planed, every other place I have stopped for the night was determined by one thing: what kind of photos can I get there at either sunrise or set. I had a general idea of where I would stay each night but it was all open. The second was Vogelsang High Sierra Camp because Mark, my old scout master wanted some photos of it. The third for sure stop was the place that Carl had told me about that was a favorite spot of Ansel Adams. Anyways, I now had to decide if I was going to go to Nydiver Lakes or go to the tarn above Garnet Lake. After calculating my food and the other areas I wanted to check out for photography opportunities I decided to skip Nydiver Lakes this time and head over to the tarn that I promised myself I would return to.
I put my shoes and socks back on and continued on up hill to Whitebark Pass (10740) between Nydiver Lakes and Garnet Lake (9678). As I climbed higher the small tarn faded away behind the rolling landscape and the multiple Nydiver lakes appeared below and to my right. I made my way over some steeply sloping mountainside strewn with lots of loose rocks, not big enough to be considered talus but still dangerous. Eventually I reached the top of the ridge line. I walked along it until I reached the pass. Here I stopped for another break, and to take in the view. From here I could see Mammoth Mountain (11030) far off in the distance in front of me to the east and Donahue Pass (11056) on the PCT/JMT to the north, behind me to the west Banner and Ritter towered into the clear sky. To the south where the Minarets and the tiniest speck of Cecile Lake nestled beneath them. Below me on my right where the Nydiver Lakes and immediately below me to my left was Garnet Lake (9678) with it's many islands scattered throughout her deep blue waters. At the western tip of Garnet Lake where two jeweled tarns, one of which was my destination for today and the place that I had promised myself I would return to. On the far northern most shore of Garnet Lake rose a rounded ridge beyond which lay Thousand Island Lake (9833), that I would be passing by tomorrow on my way to North Glacier Pass.
As I rested, I heard, and then saw two backpackers ascending the pass where I would soon be descending. Before they even reached the top one of them waved and called out to me. I waved back and responded. Once they reached the top I noticed one of them had a pair of oars sticking out of the top of his pack.
After inquiring about the oars I found out that they have a lightweight, custom made raft with them and that they had spent the night on the largest island in the middle of Garnet Lake. We talked a bit longer and then they asked if I could take their photo with the lake below them. Once I took theirs, they took mine. After that I wished them happy trails and the two of them continued on to Nydiver Lakes.
I began my decent down to the western shore of Garnet Lake to a grassy meadow with a meandering creek flowing through it. As I navigated my way down the the steeply sloping talus marmots scurried away from me. Eventually I came to a unkempt trail winding it's way downward. The rocks in places were loose and shifted under my weight, but all in all they were pretty stable. The trail appeared sandy and gravely, which means it would be slippery. I decided to try the trail. After fifteen feet or so of slipping and sliding I went back to rock hopping over talus. Soon clumps of grass poked their way through the boulders and beyond that I saw a large patch of grass. I aimed for that. When I reached it I got a short reprieve from the arduous rock hopping and I was relieved to be on solid earth once again.
After a short break I continued downhill towards the grassy meadow. Once I left the patch of grass more talus awaited me, but much less than before. After not much time at all I was at the bottom and making my way across the meadow, over the creek and around a small hill. Once that was behind me the tarn I promised myself I would return to lay before me, it's waters sparkling in the sunlight. I knelt down on it's bank, took my hat off, dunked it into the refreshing water then put it back on my head and let the cool water trickle down my face and neck.
I followed the shoreline to the tarn's eastern edge and dropped my pack in the shade beneath a stunted pine tree. I then searched for a flat spot to set up camp. As I was searching I noticed that all of the small bushes that lined the tarn were full of blue berries. Once I found a good spot for camp I spent the next few hours filling up a one liter water bottle half full of the delicious berries, though it would have been fuller had I not eaten handfuls of them as I picked them. I decided I would save the rest for breakfast tomorrow.
After I finished gathering what I could I went back to where my stuff was and I lied down to take a nap. A while later I was awoken to the sound of hoof beats rushing by. Sitting up as quickly as I could I saw the tail end of a deer as it dashed away over a hill in the direction of the lake. At first I was startled then I was in awe of the close encounter, but then nervousness and fear crept in as I wondered what had scared it. I remembered back to when I had heard the mountain lion near Duck Lake days earlier. I grabbed my knife and scanned my surroundings for movement. Then I saw two figures moving along the ridge line of the pass I would be going over tomorrow. The two of them slowly made their way down from the ridge towards the tarn. As they got closer I waved to them. Seeing me, they diverted their course and headed in my direction. As they got closer I began to hear music playing, I recognized it as Jimi Hendrix's “Purple Haze”. How any one could ruin the wonderful silence of the mountains with music is beyond my comprehension, but to each their own.
When they reached me I said, “How's it going, would you two like some blueberries?”
“Blueberries?” They asked.
“Yeah,” I repeated, “Blueberries.” Then I explained, “This tarn is lined with them.” As I pointed to a bush.
“Sure.” They said.
I handed them the bottle and they each poured a small amount out into their hands.
“Purple Haze” faded into Cream's “Sunshine of Your Love”, and one of the guys said, “ We don't have much to trade but if you'd like some whiskey we got some Jameson.”
“I don't need anything, but thanks for the offer.” I replied.
He then said, “It wouldn't feel right if I didn't give you something in return.”
Then he asked his hiking partner to reach in his pack for the whiskey. He handed me the flask. Not wanting to be rude I took it and took a swig, then I handed it back and thanked him. We talk for a bit longer then they continued on their way.
As they walked away the sun sank behind Banner Peak and I headed over to where the deer had disappeared over the hill. Here I had a beautiful view of the sapphire blue waters of Garnet Lake dotted with islands. I sat down on a large rock and watched Mt. Banner's shadow slowly creep across the lake until the hill on the far side glowed pink in the alpine glow. Once the light faded and the sky grew dark I headed back to my campsite, climbed in my tent, crawled in my sleeping bag and fell asleep.
By 1992, my tastes in railroad photography had morphed from quantity to quality. The Amador Central hit my radar, as it was dependent on the beleaguered timber industry, and its motive power was a pair of 40+ year old Baldwin S-12s. Just 55 miles to the south of AMC's base at Martell, California, the Sierra Railroad had a trio of Baldwin S-12s at its enginehouse in Oakdale. If you had an affinity for photogenic shortlines - especially those with elderly locomotives constructed by minority builders - the Sierra foothills in Central California were the place to be.
These photos were taken the first time I visited the Amador Central Railroad in July 1992. My wife and I had chased the SP 4449 south from Portland the previous weekend, and we were visiting our friend Tom Messer in Fair Oaks. He took me to Martell so we could chase AMC. Unfortunately, the day we chose for a visit was a day that the railroad only switched out the Georgia Pacific mill, and did not run down the hill to the Southern Pacific interchange at Ione. These are the images I recorded on Kodachrome that day.
This was the builders plate on AMC 9. At the time, the locomotive was 41 years old. Ironically, 53 years to the day after AMC 9 was constructed, our daughter was born.
The long running Ralston Type-8 morphed into the 'Tigre' line in 1938, running late, as the promised V8 from Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Cord line failed with that company, and the inline-8 which had similarly been bought it from A-C-D (used in the Auburn), was also no longer in series production from the engine works.
No matter. There was a modest stockpile of inline-8 engines which was gradually depleted in the manufacture of the Rhino model. Meanwhile 1938 brought with it a V8 engine from Cadillac, fitted to a chassis frame of Ralston's own design. The shorter engine allowed a greater allocation of overall length to the passenger area - though truth be told, more of if went to providing greater luggage capacity, and a more cab-forward look to the cars.
The Tigre MkI, still know as the Type-8 Tigre was replaced after WWII, with a MkII design, losing this Type-8 appellation. The new model appeared at the end of 1953, the car based on the new post WWII Cadillac frame, engine and underbody of the 1948-53 Series 60 (in particular the slightly longer 60 Special). The tooling was transferred to Ralston upon completion of the 1953 model year. By this stage the preceding MkI was now 15 years old, though this included the period through the war years.
The adoption of Cadillac underpinnings provided the Ralston Tigre MkII with the calibre of running gear demanded by the marque's premium position, though with a much reduced outlay, particularly compared to their premium US-based builders such as Packard. Key differentiation with the originating Cadillac was the Ralston themed 'X' radiator grille, unique bumper treatment, and completely reprofiled rear fender tops, truncating in a rocket-pod tail lamp cluster, instead of the Cadillac 'fin'. Not elements sat completely at ease with the carryover Cadillac based structure.
An update to the Tigre MkII in 1956 led to the MkII-B. a few of the elements were cleared up in the styling, plus the addition of a number of 'flourishes' that had emerged during the 1952-55 model years. Chief among these were 'tailfins' no longer the preserve of Cadillac, but sprouting taller and wilder each year on all US domestic brands. Compared to the 1954 model, the MkII-B had slightly taller fins, but they were much more prominent in the styling, as they were accentuated by both chrome trim separating them from the fender bulge, and also incorporating one of the zones for the bi-colour and tri-colour themes.
In 1958 the car was upgraded further with the advent of the MkII-C. This model again received changes to the fender, front and rear. At the front, the fender height was increased, making the car look both more modern, and also tying the top ridge into the unmodified doors and sides. The rear fender was modified to include a tapering fin, which then led to a tail lamp treatment which was to evolve further into a 'rocket pod' on subsequent models. The 'X' theme was continued to include a 'X' rocket, mounted centrally in the trunk lid. This could alternatively be swapped out for a conventionally styled horizontal trim, if the Continental spare wheel option was included (though this had also phased out of popularity over a short time period). The new trunk lid also shared the tapering profile of the fins. Although this look less modern compared to the newly squared up trunk lids from GM and Ford's divisions, it suited the 'classic' lines of the Ralston Tigre model, leading many to state that the MkII-C was perhaps the most conservatively handsome of mid-century Ralston models, particularly on the SWB closed models.
Additional styling changes included a modest reinterpretation of the grille, including the addition of 'Dagmars' at its extremities, and a new front bumper including marker lights.
The 1954 car launched with the same tune 331 CID (5.4 litre) V8, producing 230 bhp (175 kW), for 1956 this was raised to 285 bhp (213 kW) with an increase in capacity to 365 CID (6.0 litres). The 1958 MkII-C retained the 365 CID V8, but power increased to 310 bhp (230 kW).
Shown here is the 1958 MkII-C 6-Window Limousine in single-colour midnight black. This was a commonly ordered model using the long wheelbase chassis (along with the 4-window Limousine and Phaetons). The LWB chassis featured the 147 in (3,729 mm) chassis from the 1950-53 Cadillac 75 Series.
This Ralston Tigre MkII-C 6-Window Limousine (1958) has be built on Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts 95th Build Challenge, - 'Designing the Ralston Legacy' - a challenge to design the fictitious Dragon 'Motorcycle' model for the fictitious Ralston company, though any of the previous Ralston challenge vehicles, the Tiger or the Rhino are also eligible to be submitted. The chief stipulation is that the model must feature a 'X' in the styling.
The long running Ralston Type-8 morphed into the 'Tigre' line in 1938, running late, as the promised V8 from Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Cord line failed with that company, and the inline-8 which had similarly been bought it from A-C-D (used in the Auburn), was also no longer in series production from the engine works.
No matter. There was a modest stockpile of inline-8 engines which was gradually depleted in the manufacture of the Rhino model. Meanwhile 1938 brought with it a V8 engine from Cadillac, fitted to a chassis frame of Ralston's own design. The shorter engine allowed a greater allocation of overall length to the passenger area - though truth be told, more of if went to providing greater luggage capacity, and a more cab-forward look to the cars.
The Tigre MkI, still know as the Type-8 Tigre was replaced after WWII, with a MkII design, losing this Type-8 appellation. The new model appeared at the end of 1953, the car based on the new post WWII Cadillac frame, engine and underbody of the 1948-53 Series 60 (in particular the slightly longer 60 Special). The tooling was transferred to Ralston upon completion of the 1953 model year. By this stage the preceding MkI was now 15 years old, though this included the period through the war years.
The adoption of Cadillac underpinnings provided the Ralston Tigre MkII with the calibre of running gear demanded by the marque's premium position, though with a much reduced outlay, particularly compared to their premium US-based builders such as Packard. Key differentiation with the originating Cadillac was the Ralston themed 'X' radiator grille, unique bumper treatment, and completely reprofiled rear fender tops, truncating in a rocket-pod tail lamp cluster, instead of the Cadillac 'fin'. Not elements sat completely at ease with the carryover Cadillac based structure.
An update to the Tigre MkII in 1956 led to the MkII-B. a few of the elements were cleared up in the styling, plus the addition of a number of 'flourishes' that had emerged during the 1952-55 model years. Chief among these were 'tailfins' no longer the preserve of Cadillac, but sprouting taller and wilder each year on all US domestic brands. Compared to the 1954 model, the MkII-B had slightly taller fins, but they were much more prominent in the styling, as they were accentuated by both chrome trim separating them from the fender bulge, and also incorporating one of the zones for the bi-colour and tri-colour themes.
In 1958 the car was upgraded further with the advent of the MkII-C. This model again received changes to the fender, front and rear. At the front, the fender height was increased, making the car look both more modern, and also tying the top ridge into the unmodified doors and sides. The rear fender was modified to include a tapering fin, which then led to a tail lamp treatment which was to evolve further into a 'rocket pod' on subsequent models. The 'X' theme was continued to include a 'X' rocket, mounted centrally in the trunk lid. This could alternatively be swapped out for a conventionally styled horizontal trim, if the Continental spare wheel option was included (though this had also phased out of popularity over a short time period). The new trunk lid also shared the tapering profile of the fins. Although this look less modern compared to the newly squared up trunk lids from GM and Ford's divisions, it suited the 'classic' lines of the Ralston Tigre model, leading many to state that the MkII-C was perhaps the most conservatively handsome of mid-century Ralston models, particularly on the SWB closed models.
Additional styling changes included a modest reinterpretation of the grille, including the addition of 'Dagmars' at its extremities, and a new front bumper including marker lights.
The 1954 car launched with the same tune 331 CID (5.4 litre) V8, producing 230 bhp (175 kW), for 1956 this was raised to 285 bhp (213 kW) with an increase in capacity to 365 CID (6.0 litres). The 1958 MkII-C retained the 365 CID V8, but power increased to 310 bhp (230 kW).
Shown here is the 1958 MkII-C SWB Saloon in two-colour treatment gun-metal brown, and midnight black. This is a somewhat rare model, as most four-door cars used the long wheelbase chassis (4-window and 6-window Limousines) - though as mentioned, it is well regarded. The customers of the SWB Saloon tended to drive the cars themselves with their families.
This Ralston Tigre MkII-C SWB Saloon (1958) has be built on Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts 95th Build Challenge, - 'Designing the Ralston Legacy' - a challenge to design the fictitious Dragon 'Motorcycle' model for the fictitious Ralston company, though any of the previous Ralston challenge vehicles, the Tiger or the Rhino are also eligible to be submitted. The chief stipulation is that the model must feature a 'X' in the styling.