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[Limited offer only for SUMMER 2011 : Mademoiselle Mint]
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Batur Lake, Bali - Indonesia
Offer Bali Photography Tour to discover the beauty of Bali with sharing our photography secret tips and post-processing technique to improve your photography skills.
For more information regarding Bali photography tour please contact me at pandu.adnyana@yahoo.com | whatsapp: +6281338511929
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All images are copyrighted by PANDU ADNYANA. Do NOT use my images on personal or professional websites, blogs or any other digital or printing media without my explicit permission.
I offer commercial and editorial pet photography on a commissioned basis. And with a pet picture database of more than 1400 images, I might already have what you are looking for. All pictures here can be licensed.
For licensing and commission requests: info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
Elke Vogelsang
Commercial and editorial pet photographer
info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
All pictures: © Elke Vogelsang
Steve Fulton Music Performing at Pine Fest Music Festival in Halfway Oregon
A spectacular Saturday on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway for day Pine Fest - Halfway, Oregon with the Boise based Steve Fulton Music
Billed as the tiniest music festival in the tiniest town, Pine fest is one of our favorite fall events along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. We had a great day hanging out with locals and visitors from Oregon Idaho and Washington listening to a great line up of bands and musicians from throughout the Northwest at the Baker County Fairgrounds in Halfway.
Pine Fest is the largest musical festival in Halfway but the community also hosts a number of other musical events including the summer concert series on the Main Street Stage. For more information about Pine Fest including next year’s dates and performers visit www.pinefest.org
The town of Halfway is just one of numerous small towns along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a loop that encircles the Wallowa Mountains, intersecting with Interstate 84 at Baker City and La Grande, and communities all along the byway host a variety of festivals and community events throughout the year providing visitors a chance to celebrate local culture and visit with locals while exploring this incredibly scenic region of North East Oregon.
The byway is a popular destination for group tours and offers visitors a chance to experience small town Americana in small towns like Halfway, as they explore the rugged and spectacular Northeast Oregon landscape along the way.
The entire route is on a paved highway. Plan ahead - you'll find stretches of more than eighty miles without gas and with few services. A segment of the Byway between Joseph and Halfway closes with snow in winter, but allows access to winter recreation areas, offering a whole other kind of Northeast Oregon Adventure.
For more information about the Hells Canyon Scenic byways or other Baker County, scenic drives, events and attractions, visit the Baker County tourism website at www.travelbakercounty.com
I offer commercial and editorial pet photography on a commissioned basis. And with a pet picture database of more than 200 images, I might already have what you are looking for. All pictures here can be licensed.
For licensing and commission requests: info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
Elke Vogelsang
Commercial and editorial pet photographer
info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
All pictures: © Elke Vogelsang
20191127_Kitten_WhosNext
Italien / Belluno - Marmolata
seen from Viel del Pan Path
gesehen vom Bindelweg
Hike on the Viel del Pan Path to Lake Fedaia
At the feet of the mighty Marmolada: the walking tour across the Viel del Pan near Canazei in the Val di Fassa offers spectacular views on the Dolomites.
Goal of our walking tour is the Lago di Fedaia on the same-named saddle across the Viel del Pan. This name is Ladin, it means “bread path” and is also marked in the Ladin version. It follows the 2,400 m high ridge between the Sella and Marmolada. We start at Canazei where we take the Belvedere-funicular which brings us up to Pecol. There it is possible to take another funicular up to the Col dei Rossi but this time we decide to walk up these last 400 meters. Here the landscape is characterized by Alpine meadows. The sweet marmots are not that shy, we can approach before they disappear in their holes.
Parallel the Downhill-Bike-Slope the path leads up quite steeply, across flower meadows and with the view on the Sella and Saslonch mountain groups. Arrived at the Col dei Rossi the panoramic view is awesome! Here the real Viel del Pan starts, it proceeds to the Viel del Pan mountain hut and further towards the Passo Fedaia. It is worth walking up to the Sass Capel for a short part, from the ridge you have a gorgeous view on the Sella and the peaks of the Fanes mountain group in Alta Badia.
Opposite we have the mighty glacier of the Marmolada with the blue lake of Fedaia below. There the Viel del Pan ends. The descent to the Passo Fedaia requires step security, the path is narrow and steep. Finally arrived at the bottom we take the local bus to come back to Canazei.
(trentino.com)
Marmolada (Ladin: Marmolèda; German: Marmolata, pronounced [maʁmoˈlaːta]) is a mountain in northeastern Italy and the highest mountain of the Dolomites (a section of the Alps). It lies between the borders of Trentino and Veneto. The Marmolada is an ultra-prominent peak (Ultra), known as the "Queen of the Dolomites".
Geography
The mountain is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north-northwest of Venice, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It consists of a ridge running west to east. Towards the south it breaks suddenly into sheer cliffs, forming a rock face several kilometres long. On the north side there is a comparatively flat glacier, the only large glacier in the Dolomites (the Marmolada Glacier, Ghiacciaio della Marmolada).
The ridge is composed of several summits, decreasing in altitude from west to east: Punta Penia 3,343 metres (10,968 ft), Punta Rocca 3,309 metres (10,856 ft), Punta Ombretta 3,230 metres (10,600 ft), Monte Serauta 3,069 metres (10,069 ft), and Pizzo Serauta 3,035 metres (9,957 ft). An aerial tramway goes to the top of Punta Rocca. During the ski season the Marmolada's main ski run is opened for skiers and snowboarders alike, making it possible to ski down into the valley.
History
Paul Grohmann made the first ascent in 1864, along the north route. The south face was climbed for the first time in 1901 by Beatrice Tomasson, Michele Bettega and Bartolo Zagonel.
Until the end of World War I the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy ran over Marmolada, so it formed part of the front line during that conflict. Austro-Hungarian soldiers were quartered in deep tunnels bored into the northern face's glacier, and Italian soldiers were quartered on the south face's rocky precipices. It was also the site of fierce mine warfare on the Italian Front. As glaciers retreat, soldiers' remains and belongings are occasionally discovered.
On July 3, 2022, a serac collapsed which led to the sliding downstream of over 200 000 m3 of ice and debris, killing eleven people and wounding eight more.
(Wikipedia)
Wanderung über den Bindelweg zum Fedaia See
Zu Füßen der mächtigen Marmolada: Die Wanderung über den Bindelweg bei Canazei im Fassatal ist Synonym für spektakuläre Ausblicke auf die Dolomiten.
Der Fedaia-See am gleichnamigen Passübergang ist das Ziel unserer Wanderung über den Bindelweg. Ladinisch auch unter dem Namen "Viel del Pan" (Brotweg) bekannt und so markiert, folgt er dem etwa 2.400 m hohen "kleinen" Kamm zwischen Sella und Marmolada. Wir starten in Canazei und nutzen die Belvedere-Kabinenbahn, die uns bis nach Pecol bringt. Von dort aus würde eine Seilbahn bis hoch zum Col dei Rossi fahren, aber diese letzten 400 m Steigung möchten wir lieber erwandern. Die Landschaft hier unter dem Pordoi-Joch ist von Almwiesen geprägt. Die süßen Murmeltiere, die hier ihre Gänge graben, scheinen Wanderer gewöhnt zu sein und lassen uns recht nahe heran kommen, bevor sie in ihrem Bau verschwinden.
Parallel zu Downhill-Bike-Piste geht es recht steil hoch, über Blumenwiesen und mit Sicht auf Sella und Langkofelgruppe. Dass die Wolken die Sonne immer wieder verdecken, ist ein Segen, der den Aufstieg weniger schweißtreibend macht. Am Col dei Rossi angekommen, ist die Aussicht wirklich der Hammer. Rosengarten, Platt- und Langkofel, Sella und natürlich die Marmolada mit dem Gran Vernel. Hier beginnt der eigentliche Bindelweg, der als Fahrweg zuerst bis zur Viel del Pan-Hütte führt. Von dort aus geht es dann über einen Wanderpfad weiter in Richtung Fedaiapass. Es lohnt sich, den Weg ein Stück zum Sass Capel hoch zu gehen, von der Kammhöhe aus kann man herrlich auf die Sellagruppe und die Gipfel von Alta Badia (Fanesgruppe) blicken.
Auf der anderen Seite steht der mächtige Marmolata-Gletscher und darunter der blaue Fedaia-See. Dort endet auch der Bindelweg. Der Abstieg zum Passo Fedaia verlangt doch ein wenig Trittsicherheit, um auf den engen Serpentinen durch die steilen Wiesenhänge nicht auszurutschen. Unten angekommen, nutzen wir den Linienbus, um nach Canazei zurück zu gelangen.
(trentino.com)
Die Marmolata (italienisch Marmolada, ladinisch Marmoleda, der Name soll von der Ähnlichkeit des Felsens mit Marmor herrühren) ist der höchste Berg der Dolomiten und Teil der Marmolatagruppe. Die Marmolata ist ein westöstlich verlaufender Gratrücken, der von der Punta Penia (3343 m s.l.m.) über die Punta Rocca (3309 m s.l.m.) und die Punta Ombretta (3230 m s.l.m.) zum Pizzo Serauta (3035 m s.l.m.) und der Punta Serauta (3069 m s.l.m.) führt. Dieser Gratrücken bricht nach Süden in einer geschlossenen, zwei Kilometer breiten und bis zu 800 Meter hohen Steilwand ins Ombrettatal ab. Die auf der Nordseite zum Passo Fedaia vergleichsweise sanft abfallende Flanke trägt den einzigen größeren Gletscher der Dolomiten (Ghiacciaio della Marmolada).
Zur Geschichte der Marmolata
Die Sage vom Marmolatagletscher
Eine Südtiroler Sage erklärt (ätiologisch) den Ursprung des Marmolatagletschers so: Ursprünglich gab es auf der Marmolata kein Eis und Schnee, sondern fruchtbare Almen und Wiesen. Vor einem Marienfeiertag im August unterbrachen die Bauern wie üblich die Heuernte und gingen ins Tal, um in die Kirche zu gehen. Doch zweien war die gebotene Feiertagsruhe gleichgültig, sie arbeiteten den ganzen Feiertag durch, um ihr Heu noch trocken in die Heuschober zu bringen. Tatsächlich fing es auch gleich an zu schneien. Doch es schneite immer weiter und hörte gar nicht mehr auf, bis schließlich die ganze Marmolata von einem Gletscher bedeckt war. Eine andere Version berichtet von einer gottlosen Gräfin, welche die Bauern zur Heuarbeit gezwungen hatte. Während sich die Bauern retten konnten, wurde die Gräfin samt Gesinde von den Schneemassen begraben.
Die Besteigungsgeschichte bis 1914
Am 3. August 1802 erreichen drei Priester (Don Giovanni Costadedòi, Don Giuseppe Terza, Don Tommaso Pezzei), ein Chirurg (Hauser) und ein bischöflicher Richter (Peristi) vom Passo Fedaia aus den Höhenkamm bei der Punta Rocca. Beim Abstieg verliert die Gruppe Don Giuseppe Terza vermutlich durch Spaltensturz. Es ist ein Unfall, der dem Aberglauben neue Nahrung gab, was dazu beigetragen haben mag, dass erst 50 Jahre später ein neuer Besteigungsversuch unternommen wurde. Diesmal waren es drei Priester aus dem Bereich Agordo (Don Pietro Munga, Don Alessio Marmolada, Don Lorenzo Nikolai) und der 17-jährige Adelsspross Gian Antonio De Manzoni. Als Führer der Gruppe wird der bergerfahrene „Führer“ Pellegrino Pellegrini engagiert, der den Gämsjäger Gasparo de Pian mitnimmt. Diese Sechsergruppe steigt am 25. August 1856 vom Passo Fedaia, mit einfachen Steigeisen ausgerüstet, über den Gletscher zum Grat an und bezeichnet sich als Erstbesteiger, obwohl ihr Bericht keinen Nachweis enthält, dass man die Punta Rocca tatsächlich bestiegen hat.
1860 bezeichnet sich John Ball (mit dem Führer Victor Tairraz und John Birkbeck) ebenfalls als Erstersteiger der Marmolata, was jedoch widerlegt wurde.
Tatsächlich wurde die Punta Rocca erst im Juli 1862 vom Wiener Bergsteiger und Gründungsmitglied des Österreichischen Alpenvereins Paul Grohmann auf der Nordroute bestiegen. Er fand weder auf dem kurzen, schwierigen Gipfelgrat, noch auf dem Gipfel Besteigungsspuren. Die um 35 Meter höhere Punta Penia wird am 28. September 1864 ebenfalls von Paul Grohmann gemeinsam mit den beiden Bergführern Angelo und Fulgenzio Dimai bestiegen. In den 1880er Jahren nimmt das Dolomitenbergsteigen einen gewaltigen Aufschwung, was zur Errichtung von Schutzhütten am Fedaiasattel (Alpenvereinssektion Bamberg) und beim Ombrettapass (Contrinhaus der Alpenvereinssektion Nürnberg) führt. Die Sektion Nürnberg bemühte sich auch um einen relativ einfach zu begehenden Weg auf die Punta Penia und finanziert die Versicherung des Westgrates, der von Hans Seyffert, Eugen Dittmann mit Führer Luigi Rizzi am 21. Juli 1898 erstbestiegen wurde. Der sehr beliebte, exponierte Klettersteig wurde am 5. August 1903 eröffnet.
Den ersten Weg durch die Südwand (Schwierigkeitsgrad II) fanden die Bergführer Cesare Tomè, Santo De Toni und ihr Begleiter Luigi Farenza am 21. August 1897 mit Hilfe einer Schlucht. Den Grat erreichten sie allerdings zwei Kilometer östlich des Hauptgipfels. Die erste Südwandroute auf die Punta Penia, die heute als „Via Classica“ (IV) bekannt ist, wurde am 1. Juni 1901 von den Bergführern Michele Bettega, Bortolo Zagonel und der Britin Beatrice Tomasson eröffnet.
Die Marmolata und der Erste Weltkrieg
Die Marmolata war im Ersten Weltkrieg als Grenzberg zwischen Österreich-Ungarn und Italien Frontgebiet. Die österreichischen Stellungen verliefen vom Passo Fedaia über den Sasso Undici zur Forcella Serauta und weiter entlang des Kammes nach Westen. Die italienischen Stellungen befanden sich ostwärts bzw. südlich davon. Die Italiener bemühten sich vor allem entlang des Grates Richtung Punta Rocca vorzudringen, was jedoch auch unter Einsatz von Sprengstollen nicht gelang. Um den Nachschub zu den Stellungen am Kamm sicherzustellen, gruben bzw. sprengten die Österreicher Stollen in den Gletscher, die neben der Versorgung auch Unterkunftszwecken dienten, was zur Errichtung einer regelrechten „Eisstadt“ führte. In Zusammenhang mit diesen Kampfhandlungen steht auch das größte Lawinenunglück der Alpingeschichte. Am 13. Dezember 1916 verschüttete eine Nassschneelawine das westlich des Fedaiapasses gelegene österreichische Reservelager Gran Poz, wobei an die 300 Soldaten ums Leben kamen (→ Lawinenkatastrophe vom 13. Dezember 1916).
Die Erschließung ab 1918
Nach dem Krieg schreiben vom 8. bis 9. September 1929 Luigi Micheluzzi, Roberto Perathoner und Demetrio Christomannos mit der Ersteigung des Südpfeilers der Punta Penia (VI) Alpingeschichte. Sie hatten lediglich ein Hanfseil mit und schlugen ganze sieben Haken. Bezüglich der korrekten Besteigung tauchten allerdings Zweifel auf. Jedenfalls bezeichneten einige Nachbegeher (Fritz Kasparek, Hans Steger) diesen Weg als den schwierigsten ihrer Kletterlaufbahn, vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wird er lediglich sieben Mal begangen. Mit der Südwestwand der Punta Penia (VI+) durch Gino Soldà und Umberto Conforto und vor allem mit der ebenfalls 1936 durch die von Batista Vinatzer und Ettore Castiglioni erstiegenen Südwand der Punta di Rocca (VI+) kamen noch vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg hervorragende Routen dazu. Die Vinatzerführe trug lange Zeit den Ruf der schwierigsten Dolomitenführe. Nach dem Krieg trugen sich mit Armando Aste, Toni Egger, Claudio Barbier, Walter Philipp und Georges Livanos Spitzen des Nachkriegsbergsteigens in die Liste der Erstbegeher ein. In den 1980er Jahren sollte sich zeigen, dass die schon beendet erschienene Erschließung durch die Freikletterbewegung neue Impulse erhielt. Eine neue Generation eroberte die Silberplatten, wobei vor allem Heinz Mariacher Pionierarbeit leistete. Bekannt wurde auch der Weg durch den Fisch (IX-), den tschechische Bergsteiger erstbegingen.
Tourismus heute
Über die Westseite des Gletschers verläuft der anspruchsvollste Teil des sogenannten Dolomiten-Höhenweges Nr. 2. Auf die Punta Penia führt ein Klettersteig mit der Schwierigkeits-Bewertung B vom Contrinhaus auf der Südseite via Marmolatascharte und Westgrat (daher der Name Westgrat-Klettersteig). Der Klettersteig trägt auch den Namen Hans-Seyffert-Weg. Eine sehr eindrucksvolle Bergtour führt am Fuß der Marmolata-Südwand von Malga Ciapela über den Passo Ombretta und das Contrinhaus nach Alba bei Canazei.
Auf die Marmolata führt auch eine Seilbahn; die in den Jahren 2004 und 2005 erneuerte Anlage führt in drei Abschnitten von Malga Ciapela (1467 m s.l.m.) über die Stationen Banc/Coston d'Antermoia (2350 m) und Serauta (2950 m) auf die Punta Rocca genannte Bergstation (3265 m), von der man den Marmolata-Nebengipfel Punta Rocca (3309 m) in einer halben Stunde erreichen kann. Das in die Seilbahnstation Serauta integrierte Gebirgskriegsmuseum in 2950 m Seehöhe ist das wohl höchstgelegene Museum Europas. Von der Bergstation Punta Rocca lässt sich durch einen Stollen unschwer das kleine Felsheiligtum Madonna della Neve erreichen, das Papst Johannes Paul II. bei einem Besuch persönlich konsekriert hat.
Eine der längsten Skiabfahrten der Alpen, die Bellunese, ist ca. 12 km lang. Sie führt von der Punta Rocca 1900 Höhenmeter bergab über den Passo Fedaia nach Malga Ciapela.
Bis etwa 2000 fand auf dem Marmolata-Gletscher Sommerskifahren mit einigen Schleppliften statt. Dieses Angebot wurde danach seltener und 2005 – auch auf Druck von Umweltschutzverbänden – komplett gestrichen. Bis zum Jahr 2008 gab es eine weitere Liftkette von der Passhöhe des Fedaiapasses zur Punta Serauta. 2008 wurde der Schlepplift stillgelegt; 2012 brannte die Talstation der Sesselbahn auf der Passhöhe nieder und wurde seitdem nicht wieder aufgebaut. Die hierdurch stark verminderte Kapazität und der große Andrang führen oft zu langen Wartezeiten (eine Stunde und mehr) bei der Talstation der nun einzigen Seilbahn auf die Marmolata in Malga Ciapela.
Gletschersturz 2022
Am 3. Juli 2022 kam es zu einem Gletschersturz am Gipfelgletscher der Punta Rocca. Wohl aufgrund außergewöhnlich hoher Temperaturen und eindringenden Wassers riss ein Eisblock auf etwa 200 Meter Breite ab, die Eis- und Gesteinsmassen stürzten auf die darunterliegende Normalroute zur Punta Penia, auf der zu diesem Zeitpunkt mehrere Seilschaften unterwegs waren. Zahlreiche Tote und Vermisste waren die Folge. Als Auslöser wurde der Klimawandel gesehen: Nach einem warmen und niederschlagsarmen Winter habe sich im folgenden Sommer Schmelzwasser unter dem Gletschereis gesammelt und dessen Haftung reduziert.
Schutzhütten im Marmolata-Gebiet
Rifugio Contrin (2016 m, A.N.A., traditionsreiches Haus südwestlich der Marmolata-Südwand)
Rifugio Falier (2074 m, CAI, am Fuß der Marmolata-Südwand im Val Ombretta)
Bivacco Marco Dal Bianco (2727 m, Biwakschachtel am Passo Ombretta)
Capanna Punta Penia (3340 m, privat, kleine Schutzhütte in Gipfelnähe)
(Wikipedia)
Space Science Image of the week:
It may look like a star, it may be called a star, but it does not yet generate energy like a normal star. This is because this star is still being formed.
It offers a fascinating glimpse into our own past because our Sun began its life as such a ‘T Tauri’ star some 4.6 billion years ago.
Located 1800 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, V1331 Cyg was originally nothing but a diffuse cloud of gas in space. Slowly over time, gravity has pulled it together, but the process is not yet over. V1331 is not yet fully formed and so is still larger than it will eventually be once gravity has done its job. It is shining because of the energy being released as it shrinks.
Eventually, it will be compact enough that the temperature in its centre will ignite nuclear fusion. Hydrogen will then be transformed into helium and this will release the torrents of energy that will make V1331 Cyg shine for billions of years as a bona fide star.
The swathes of dust that surround the star are the remnants of the cloud from which it condensed. Often, this circumstellar disc obscures our view of the young stellar object but, by chance, we happen be looking down on the rotational pole of the star, so it appears as a dazzling ‘searchlight’ beam.
This circumstellar disc is the site where planets may be forming, and in the case of V1331 Cyg time is running out. A T Tauri star produces a strong ‘wind’ of atomic particles that dissipates the disc, bringing planet formation to an end.
The image was taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and is a combination of three exposures taken at different wavelengths. These almost correspond to human eyesight: blue, green and, instead of red light that our eyes would see, Hubble used near-infrared.
Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, K. Stapelfeldt (GSFC), B. Stecklum & A. Choudhary (Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany)
This week offer "No way"--> L$60 / 48hs Turn off your ao and enjoy it!
(from 9AM SLT Thursday until Friday 23:59 SLT.)
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PIXEL BOX DESIGN x,Marian
Lisboa, or Lisbon offered many wonderful sites to see. Here are a few shots from around town. The Belem Tower was a great quick visit. It is amazing to me how much the remnants and signs of the Knights Templar are present around Portugal - the tower is no different. Captured about an hour prior to sundown, this side of the structure is greatly illuminated. The half moon makes an appearance in the sea of blue sky.
The main foyer grand staircase at Teatro Colón offers a hint of the opulence inside.
This building replaces the old Teatro Colón built in front of the Plaza de Mayo the site of stands the Banco Nación today.
Construction of the new building took approximately 20 years.
The foundation stone was placed 25 May, 1890, with the intention of opening the theatre before 12 October, 1892 coinciding with the fourth centenary of the discovery of America.
The initial project architect was Francesco Tamburini. Tamburini died in 1891 and work continued by his partner, Víctor Meano.
The work continued until 1894, then stagnated for financial reasons.
In 1904, after the death of Meano, the government commissioned Belgian Jules Dormal to complete the work.
Dormal introduced some structural modifications and definitely left his stamp on the French style decoration.
The theatre finally opened 25 May, 1908 with the opera Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.
May 25th is an important date in Argentina as it marks the annual celebration of the May Revolution.
May 25th is known as el Día de la Revolución de Mayo, or the Day of the May Revolution. The day marks the creation of the First Junta, a local authority that took over governance of Buenos Aires from the Spanish Viceroyalty on this date in 1810.
Crescent Beach in Surrey, BC, is widely considered one of the best vantage points in the region for watching the sunset. Its west-facing shoreline offers panoramic views that can include the silhouettes of Tsawwassen, Point Roberts, and Vancouver.
Services 5-9 offer a bus every 5 minutes combined between Nottingham and West Bridgford via Nottingham Railway Station and Trent Bridge, all branded buses boast free wifi and USB charging points.
403 represents the double deckers on offer on the 6 whilst 307 arrives behind to represent the midis which operate on the 5, 7, 8 and 9.
July 16, 2015 offered a fantastic early evening of astrophotography with a darker than normal view of the southern horizon from my location in Weatherly, PA. I used this opportunity to image some globular clusters in the low southern skies that I typically do not have good enough skies to image.
The first globular that was imaged is Messier 4 (M4 or NGC 6121) located very close to the star Antares in the constellation Scorpius.
This most recent observation was made using a Canon 6D attached at prime focus to my Celestron C6-A SCT. At the time of this writing, available for $399 from High Point Scientific. I used 30-second exposures at ISO 3200, 9-minutes total time. Also included twenty 30-second dark frames in the stacked images.
Burnham states this about M4, “Fine globular star cluster, one of the largest objects of its type, and also one of the nearest. It is probably the easiest of all the bright globulars to locate; merely point the telescope to Antares, and then move 1.3 degrees directly west, and there you are.” (Burnham’s Celestial Handbook, Robert Burnham Jr., Volume III)
"I've never been so pleased to see a ceiling," he said.
Virtually the first words out of his mouth when my step-mum and I went in to see him after his operation late on Thursday evening.
After the relative high of leaving hospital and getting home for his birthday last week, this week was all about the build up to his carotid endarterectomy. And as the week drifted by, dad drifted a little further within himself; the risks and understandable fears of what was quickly galloping towards him looming large.
The morning of the operation began early, the hospital taxi duly arrived. My step-mum apparently offered to carry his bag. He politely declined, picked it up himself, strode off down the path, into the waiting car and away. My step-mum, slightly shocked, waved at the back of his head. He didn't say goodbye. He didn't look back. It's astonishing to think that could've been their last moment together.
Later he shrugged the moment off, "I don't like goodbyes. Besides, I was being positive. I had every intention of coming back." He's an unusual character all right, my dad.
The scar and associated bruising, as you can see, make him look the victim of a particularly brutal werewolf attack. However, given the relative invasiveness and delicacy of the operation, his recovery, again, is quietly remarkable; also a wonderful testament to the skills of the surgeon, Mr Neary. [Who, the day before, was so calm before the operation, he sat on the edge of the desk talking to my parents swinging his legs back and forth like a small boy.] You've got a special place in the hearts of this family, Mr Neary. Now, pull your socks up, tuck your shirt in and go tidy your room!
Twitter: Anatomy Of A Stroke
Niagara USA offers a breathtaking view of one of nature’s marvels and an experience that will last a life time.
The Niagara Falls are the most powerful waterfalls in North America. These voluminous waterfalls are situated on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario and forms the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York and forms the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.
Four of the five Great Lakes drain into the Niagara River, (Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie) before emptying into Lake Ontario. These five Great Lakes make up almost one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply.
From here one can see all the three falls namely,American Falls,Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls .
View entire set on Niagara Falls : www.flickr.com/photos/29848963@N03/sets/72157627677785296/
In the midst of all the exotic riches that Guatemala has to offer it’s easy to over look the treasures in ‘our own backyard’. Just down river (at the Sweet River) from the bridge is Bird Island where during the day the tour boats pull in and the cameras click but it is at dusk when the tourists have left that it is at its best. Flights of egrets and cormorants skim across the waters to their night roost. There is a constant jostling for the best places, squabbles and wing flapping. Then as the pink from the sunset (if you’re lucky) makes the light perfect peace descends. Drift by in your dinghy it’s a real, if slightly smelly, treat. (Text: Julia Bartlett in the Internet)
Dulce River (Spanish: Río Dulce, or "Sweet River") is a river in Guatemala, completely contained within the department of Izabal. It is part of a lake and river system that has become a popular cruising sailboat destination.
The river begins at the point where it flows out of Lake Izabal. At the entrance to the river there is a small Spanish colonial fort, the Castillo de San Felipe de Lara, built to stop pirates entering the lake from the Caribbean when this part of Central America was an important shipping staging point.
Just after the river flows from Lake Izabal it is spanned by one of the biggest bridges in Central America. On one side of the bridge is the town of Fronteras, commonly referred to by the name Río Dulce, the local center of commerce for the area. Fronteras has a local vegetable market, attracting locals from the countryside who arrive in dugout canoes. Most of these boats are powered with Japanese outboard motors but many come to market day paddling these cayucos by hand. On the other side is the town of El Relleno. Nearby is the children's village of Casa Guatemala, an orphanage that houses roughly 250 children and provides them with education and nourishment.
Isla de los Pájaros, pequeña isla donde los pájaros duermen y tambien anidan en un lindo espetaculo, protegido por las autoridades ambientales. Está situada en el Rio Dulce, que liga el Lago de Izabal a la Bahia de Amatique, en Guatemala.
Ilhotas de pássaros no Rio Dulce. Este rio conecta o Lago de Izabal até a Bahia de Amatique no Caribe, area comum entre Guatemala, Belize e Honduras. Esta Ilha é um santuário de pássaros onde dormem e também se reproduzem -- area protegida.
Almost 28 minutes for this exposure. I was afraid my battery would give out if I gave it another 30 minutes. Bald Mountain is located in Craig County, VA and offers spectacular views and interesting rock formations.
The Ralston Company's automotive roots stretch right back to the 1910's, but it wasn't until the late 1920's that the low-volume products offered really shone.
Like all luxury automotive companies, however, the Wall Street Crash and ensuing Great Depression upset the grand plans that they had put into place. Prior to WWII the Ralston Group was still based in Finland, where the assembly of it's cars took place. Many of the systems, however, were sourced from other makers or suppliers.
The Ralston Type 6 was launched in 1919, featuring a six-cylinder inline engine produced by engine specialist firm Continental Motors.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Motors_Company
The Continental engine was used, at the time, by a large number of small, independent vehicle manufacturers who were not in a position to be able to design, tool and produce their own engines independently.
The Type 6 covered a variety of frame lengths and body styles which evolved through the 1920, all models built in modest numbers. Economic volatility through this period led to the dissolution of many competitors in the luxury field, but Ralston, through modest ambition, was able to ride out the storms, if not able to capitalise fully during the fair weather periods. It must be remembered that Ralston was still manufacturing vehicle frames and finishing most bodies in the native Finland, and this compounded the difficulty in being able to react to rapidly changing market conditions.
Nonetheless, 1927 had been deemed the breakout year. The Type 8 was to be launched in mid 1928, using an engine from luxury competitor Auburn, who were readying their own straight 8, under new ownership by E.L. Cord. The Type 8 chassis was planned to support the 'senior' Ralstons - those Imperials, Limousines and Phaetons demanded by the most exclusive of customers, while the new Type-6 for 1927 would be renamed 'Lynx' and act as the 'junior' Ralston, in support of Roadsters, Speedsters and Coupes, in other words, all the smaller body styles, and in particular those that could be made in series production to help lower the cost.
In the end, things didn't go quite to plan. Both the Type 6 'Lynx' and the grand new Type 8 were launched just in time for the Wall Street Crash and financial crisis. The crisis ultimately killed off even more of the facing competition, but the actions to use type-production bodies on the established Type 6 chassis, along with a 'generic' engine, provided about the safest pathway through this period of automotive history. The image of the marque was upheld by the (barely, if at all profitable) Type 8, this series receiving some of the grandest body designs of any vehicle at this time. All variants of both the senior and junior cars were trimmed and detailed to the highest standards, the additional standardisation and volume of the junior Type 6 Lynx helping to reduce the bespoke items (and cost) on all but the most exclusive of fittings.
The car shown here is the Type 6 Lynx MkI-B of 1929 in Boat-tail Speedster (a bodystyle popular at the time). This model, along with all other revise 'B' models can be identified primarily by the reclined radiator grille and flowing fender design. The Boat-tail speedster was not one of the series production body styles, so production numbers for this variant were quite low. All the chassis and powertrain were shared with volume types, and from the cowl forward, this model is near identical to the much more common 'series' Coupe, Coupe-Cabriolet (both with rumble seats), and the Coupe-Sport.
The Type-6 Lynx was subsequently updated every two to three years up until the outbreak of WWII. At that point, the factory was given over briefly to the production of military vehicles, though a final series 'F', a non-luxury trimmed version of the preceding 1938-'E', and built in Sedan, Cabriolet-Sedan and a limited number of Coupe-Sport vehicles.
After the war production of passenger vehicles was largely transferred to the US (the main customer market), via a head quarter transition to Costa Rica, with the Type-8 (renamed to Tigre in 1938) powered by Cadillac V8 engines, initially at very low volumes. Ralston's first new post-war car was the Tigre MkII of 1954, using a modified 1948-53 Cadillac 'C' Body, frame, engine and underbody (some special versions used the long-wheelbase 'D' Body systems). There was no 'junior' Ralston at this time, and even in the vibrant US-market, total sales remained modest, requiring the continued adoption of major systems from a donor manufacturer.
This Ralston Typ-6 Lynx MkI B Boat-tail Speedster (1929) 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.
Offered in Catawiki's Ceramic Auction (20th Century): Giuseppe Coffano - sculpture in polychrome terracotta of Caltagirone -.
See all the incredible aspects that the world has to offer! Don't spend your life, nervous to go out to explore! Take on the world, go to places others don't dare go, Hike just a mile further, and get off on the wrong train stop. Do it, because you may never get to again. I've learned this the hard way. Moments I should have siezed, only to flutter by me, to never be presented again.
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day.
Don't leave behind regrets of not doing something, so just do it :)
Enjoy :D
Artwork by Bhavana Brindivan
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/n/newportwetlands/index.as...
This nature reserve offers a haven for wildlife on the edge of the city, but is a great place for people too with a new RSPB visitor centre, a café, shop and children's play area.
Cetti's warblers and bearded tits can be seen and heard in the reedbeds, and ducks, geese and swans visit the reserve in large numbers during the winter. You'll enjoy spectacular views of the Severn estuary all year round.
Newport Wetlands is a partnership between Natural Resources Wales, Newport City Council and the RSPB.
Opening times
Open every day (closed Christmas Day), 9 am to 5 pm (Coffee Shop open 10 am to 4 pm). On Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the centre will be open from 10 am to 4 pm and the coffee shop will be open 10 am to 3.30 pm. Please note that the carpark also closes at 5:30pm.
Entrance charges
None
If you are new to birdwatching...
Autumn/winter is the best time of year for birdwatching at Newport Wetlands when migratory wildfowl and wading birds begin to arrive ready for their winter stay.
Information for families
Newport Wetlands visitor centre is ideal for children and families. Guided walks and children's activities are available on the reserve, drinks and a bite to eat can be enjoyed in the coffee shop afterwards, followed by a browse in the retail area. Children will find the outdoor children's activity area with its 4 m high simulation of the East Usk Lighthouse very entertaining. We can offer a variety of fun environmental activity and exploration days for a wide range of local interest groups.
Information for dog owners
Some access for dogs - marked footpaths on perimeter of reserve. For more information, please contact the NRW enquiry line.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Bearded tit
You will often hear bearded tits before you see them. Listen for their bell-like 'pinging' calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds. They perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.
Dunlin
Dunlins can be seen at Newport Wetlands at almost any time. They breed further north, including in the Arctic, but migrating birds pass through in spring and autumn and some also spend winter here. Watch for them probing their beaks into the mud as they feed.
Little egret
These dainty little white herons can be seen throughout the year at Newport. You can see them fishing, stirring up fish fry from the muddy bottom with their feet.
Little grebe
Listen for little grebes 'whinnying' in spring as part of their courtship displays. They are small, round birds, and remarkably buoyant despite their fluffy feathers.
Shoveler
Shovelers are commonest here in winter, but are also a regular breeding bird. Watch them using their beaks like sieves to sift out microscopic aquatic life from the water.
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Spring is the start of the breeding season and is an active and exciting time of year at Newport Wetlands, as birds set about finding their mates and building nests. Breeding waders at the reserve include lapwings and oystercatchers. Bearded tits begin to nest in the reedbeds. During late April and early May, swallows and swifts begin arriving from Africa, and can be seen flying overhead. This is a great time of year to listen out for the distinctive call of the cuckoo and many plants, including orchids, will begin to burst into colourful flower.
Summer
Grass snakes can sometimes be seen soaking up the sun or skimming expertly through the water among the reeds. Around sixteen species of dragonflies, twenty-three species of butterfly and two hundred species of moth are found at Newport Wetlands. After dark is the best time for moth spotting, but visitors are likely to see species like cinnabar moths and scarlet tiger moths during the daytime. The reserve is also home to badgers, moles and wood mice. Otters live here too, but are notoriously shy of humans and can be difficult to spot. Their droppings, or ‘spraint’, are the most commonly spotted clue to their presence.
Autumn
In autumn, the reeds turn from a vibrant lush green to yellowing brown. Groups of goldfinches can be seen flitting around the reserve and are particularly visible along Perry Lane, using their long beaks to extract seeds from the teasels. Autumn is another extremely active season at Newport Wetlands, as migratory wildfowl and wading birds begin to arrive ready for their winter stay. Curlews, redshanks, dunlins and oystercatchers feed on the estuary at low tide using their long, pointy beaks to sift through the nutritious mud for worms and grubs.
Winter
The starling roost at the reserve is a not-to-be-missed wildlife experience. From October onwards, large groups of starlings gather at dusk in great black clouds. At its peak, around 50,000 birds swoop and soar overhead, chattering noisily. After a breathtaking display, the birds drop dramatically into the reedbeds where they settle for the night. Another winter treat at Newport Wetlands is a single bittern, which has been seen here most winters since 2001. Bitterns are rare and extremely secretive, moving silently through the reeds looking for fish. Parts of the reserve provide a winter home for nationally important numbers of black-tailed godwits, shovelers and dunlins.
Facilities
Information centre
Car park
Toilets
Disabled toilets
Baby-changing facilities
Group bookings accepted
Guided walks available
Good for walking
Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Viewing screens are available.
Nature trails
There are a number of nature trails around the reserve of various lengths with easy accessibility for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Tearoom
Coffee shop serving triple-certified organic Fairtrade coffee, fairtrade tea, Fairtrade hot chocolate, and a selection of organic cold drinks, sandwiches, baguettes, locally-produced cakes and cookies.
Refreshments available
Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Snacks
Confectionery
Shop
A retail outlet for all your bird food and bird care accessories with a wide selection of binoculars and telescopes. There is also a fantastic selection of gifts and children's items.
The shop stocks:
Binoculars and telescopes
Bird food
Bird feeders
Gifts
Cafe
Our cafe in the visitor centre has large, panoramic windows overlooking the reserve and surrounding countryside. There is a large outdoor decking area providing additional seating with the same relaxing views. We provide organic Fairtrade tea and hot chocolate, and locally-produced cakes and ice cream.
We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!
We are proud to hold a Level 5 Food Hygiene rating enabling our customers to have full confidence in the food and service that we provide.
Opening hours
10 am to 4 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
Highlights from our menu
Triple-certified coffee including cappuccinos, lattes and Americanos, all freshly-made
We are known for our Bara Brith, Welsh cakes and hot toasted teacakes
From autumn through to spring we sell steaming tasty soups which are gluten-free
We provide a variety of sandwiches and rolls made with bread from a family baker
Pole-and-line-caught skipjack tuna is used to fill delicious sandwiches or rolls
Good variety of sandwiches and cakes. Coffee excellent
Access to the cafe
The coffee shop is in the visitor centre which has wheelchair-friendly ramps into the centre and out onto the reserve.
Children welcome
There are highchairs for babies and toddlers. We provide children's lunchboxes containing a sandwich, two-finger Kitkat, apple or orange juice and a choice of wildlife face mask.
We use local ingredients
We use Welsh meats, cheeses and free-range organic eggs.
Dietary requirements
We sell vegetarian and vegan food, some wheat-free snacks and soup, and some organic food.
Accessibility
8 August 2013
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page.
Before you visit
Clear print site leaflet available from reception
Visitor Centre open 9 am to 5 pm daily, except Christmas Day. coffee shop open 10 am to 4 pm
Entry to the reserve is free of charge
Car park open 8.30 am to 5.30 pm daily
Three mobility scooters and two wheelchairs available to hire out free of charge. Telephone for details
Registered assistance dogs welcome (please do not be offended if we ask for evidence of registration)
A dog walking route map is available from the visitor centre. Tethering rings and drinking bowl at the visitor centre entrance
Check events and activities for accessibility,
How to get here
Newport Railway Station (5 miles/8 km). Taxis usually available
Bus stop in the reserve car park, Number 63
Car parking
Free parking, 180 m/197 yds from the visitor centre
10 blue badge spaces
85 parking spaces
Drop-off at visitor centre arranged by telephone 01633 636363
Tarmac surface, path to visitor centre compacted limestone chippings and dust
Visitor centre and shop
Entrance by wooden walkway with a maximum gradient of 1:40. Manually operated doors. Non-slip tiled surface. Low section on service counter. Hearing loop system is installed at the service counter and in the education rooms. Good natural and artificial lighting. Staff can give assistance and read out any literature if required. Binoculars are available for hire (£3.50 for the day).
Nature trails
Four main trails. All level on compacted with one incline using a zig-zag. Floating walkways have been used by wheelchairs, scooters and pushchairs but caution should be taken due to buoyancy.
Viewing facilities
Natural viewing opportunities throughout the reserve. A wheelchair accessible viewing screens overlooking the reedbeds.
Toilets
Unisex accessible toilet along with separate ladies and gents available on ground floor of Visitor Centre. Level step free access. Baby changing table and a second baby facility in ladies toilets.
Catering
Step-free level access. Outside deck viewing area. Tables are well spaced apart. Good natural and overhead lighting. Non slip tiles. Accessible WC in the visitor centre.
Shop
Shop is located in the visitor centre. Level entry step free with no doors. There is step free, level access throughout. Non-slip tiled surface. Ample room. Well lit with daylight and fluorescent lighting. Promotional video usually playing with subtitles. Staff can provide assistance.
Classrooms
Two classrooms available as one room if required. Step-free, level access throughout. Non-slip flooring. Artificial even lighting. Portable hearing loop system available. Two raised ponds nearby.
Picnic area
Four picnic tables with wheelchair access outside visitor centre. Visitors free to bring their own refreshments for picnics.
Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.
For more information
Newport Wetlands
E-mail: newport-wetlands@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01633 636363
How to get here
By bicycle (Sustrans cycle route)
Sustrans National Cycle Network route 4 has a branch to Newport Wetlands using existing roads. The car park has a covered cycle stand. Please note that cycling on the reserve is restricted to a designated route.
By train
The nearest railway station is Newport - which is five miles from the reserve. There is a taxi rank at the station and Newport bus station is just a few minutes walk away. For train times to and from Newport visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or telephone 08457 484950.
By bus
From the Kingsway Bus Station in Newport, the Number 63 bus leaves at 7.30 am, 9 am, 11 am, 1.30 pm, 3 pm, 4.50 pm and 6 pm and stops at the bus stop in the reserve car park. Alternatively, contact Newport Bus 01633 670563.
By road
Join the A48 at either junction 24 or 28 of the M4. Follow the A48 until you come to the Spytty Retail Park roundabout. Exit onto the A4810 Queensway Meadows. At the first roundabout take the third exit onto Meadows Road and follow the brown tourist signs to the reserve.
Our partners
The Newport Wetlands project is funded by the European Union's Objective Two programme supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and secured via the Newport European Partnership, Newport City Council's allocation of the Welsh Assembly Government's Local Regeneration Fund, Newport City Council's Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, the Environment Agency Wales and Visit Wales – the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.
Natural Resources Wales, Newport City Council and the RSPB would like to thank the communities of Newport and the volunteers who have supported Newport Wetlands.
Newport Wetlands Conference and Meeting Rooms
Set in the tranquil surroundings of a peaceful nature reserve, our excellent conference facilities offer a superb location for a great getaway from the office and provide a wonderful setting for a variety of corporate events. You will receive a warm welcome from the staff at the Visitor Centre, providing a professional and efficient service.
We can provide facilities for the following
Conferences
Board Meetings
Seminars
Training Courses
Presentations
Away days
Rooms can be arranged in boardroom, theatre style or in any other format to suit your event. We also have a range of equipment for hire including a digital projector and smart board facilities.
Your booking fee includes free car parking, access to the Reserve as well as the Visitor Centre, Shop and Café. The Reserve comprises of a series of lagoons and reed beds from reclaimed industrial land, which is now home to a wealth of wildlife.
A tour of the Reserve can be arranged as an unusual and revitalising break during a meeting or away day.
Catering
Fairtrade coffee and tea, biscuits or homemade cakes can be served throughout the day, and we can provide a freshly prepared buffet to suit your dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Buffets include a selection of classic sandwiches, a selection of savoury items, fresh fruit and a selection of freshly baked homemade cakes.
Alternatively, delegates can stroll across to the café themselves and appreciate inspirational views of the reserve from the veranda.
The Lakeside Suite
A purpose built meeting room, which caters for 12 people boardroom style or 25 people theatre style.
The Education Facilities
Set in a tranquil environment, overlooking the waters edge the Education Rooms offers the perfect environment for larger events and conferences. The room can be organised in various styles and caters for up to 80 people theatre style.
For more information or to make a provisional booking, please contact Adrianne Jones using the details below.
For more information
Adrianne Jones
Centre Co-ordinator
E-mail: adrianne.jones@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01633 636355
Japan offers lots of flowers to enjoy in spring. Although Sakura season is over, the Shibazakura (Moss Pink or Phlox Subulata) season is at its peak. Hitsujiyama Park is one of the most popular Shibazakura viewing spots in Japan. For people who likes flowers, this area is a must see place.
Original article thumbnail-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/hitsujiyama-park-c...
On offer as a concert, “a blues group” I was told. The venue turned out to be La Rosalía De Castro close to the capitol Building. After climbing three floors in a grand old city mansion. We came out on a balcony overlong four sides of a central atrium
Funny Valentine's Heart - Weekend offer L$100
English Version
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Funny-Valentines/25662710
Version Française
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Drle-de-Valentine/25662333
Nederlandse Versie
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Grappig-Valentijns-Hartje/25...
For other products please visit:
Le Big Bazar
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bellflower%20Island/208/20...
Goblin Spider Riders offer a formidable cavalry option for a Greenskin army. Whereas Wolf Riders are quicker and Orc War Boars are stronger, Goblin Spider Riders can traverse any terrain and their mount's webbing can hold any troop in place with a mass of sticky strands. Underestimate them on the battlefield at your peril.
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If there's anything about this that you like then I would love it if you would take the time to click and support!
ideas.lego.com/projects/134888
Please help inspire TLG and the Lego community to release more castle / medieval / fantasy themed sets! Thank you :D
Under normal circumstances, Quay Sta’nn would have never thought of going back to his home planet Coruscant. Not after he got into quite some serious trouble with some crime gangs fairly soon after Order 66 got executed. But the job he was offered now was too big of an opportunity to miss. The Empire has initiated an assault on the mining world of Vanquo, and if this battle is lost the Empire will be vulnerable. Imperial forces have been called towards the center of Coruscant in case the Separatists attack the planet. This has left one of the biggest data vaults on Coruscant under low protection; a perfect opportunity to initiate a raid on the vault. The Red Hand, a crime syndicate Quay dealt with a few months ago, has hired all kinds of bounty hunters and smugglers to cause a distraction in the lower levels, and to raid the vault of its important information. Quay had taken the job to cause a distraction to draw Imperial troops away from the vault itself in exchange for a hefty sum of credits. The question floating around in his mind was, just how will he accomplish that?
After he had arrived at the planet on one of the spaceports, it immediately became clear to Quay how much the planet had changed in the few years he wasn't on Coruscant. As soon as Quay stepped out of the transport with the other passengers, a couple of heavily armed troopers walked towards them to see their IDs. Luckily, Quay brought a fake ID right before he left, otherwise he most likely would have gotten in trouble. The troopers took a look at his ID, gave it back to him, and nodded as a sign that he was free to walk through the gates. Quay walked through the gates and enjoyed the view of the skyline of this part of the planet. He took a taxi to the parts of the planet where he used to live, to see if his favorite places to go to were still there. After a bit of searching, Quay found one of the cantinas he’d frequented previously, down in level 4597.
On the outside, Gratt’s Tavern could just be described as one of the many, many bars down in the lower levels of this planet. But once you stepped inside, you could feel the warmth this place has. At every given point of the day, there was always some random smuggler or criminal enjoying a drink or playing a game of sabacc. The cantina had a variety of musicians who would play live music during the busy hours, and a reprogrammed protocol droid served as a waiter. And on top of that, the cantina was run by a kind old man named Terras Gratt, who could always provide a bit of advice and positive thinking when someone had some problems.
As Quay entered the tavern, memories of all the time he had spent in this place came flooding back. Here, he got his first mission, spent too many hours late in the night drinking all kinds of liquor, sharing stories with friends, and most of all, the apartment where Quay used to live was located right above the cantina. As soon as Gratt recognized who he was he walked towards Quay with a big smile on his face.
"Quay? You’re still alive? I thought those Imperials killed you years ago when you left here!” Terras said.
“I'm more surprised that you are still alive, you old barrel! With all the fights that break out in this part of the planet, it's a wonder that you haven't been killed yet,” Quay replied.
“The secret is just avoiding conflict at all costs. You can't be killed in a fight if you never are in a fight, to begin with!”
“Can’t argue with that logic,” Quay said. “So, how have you been holding up over these years? I could imagine the Empire changed a lot of stuff around here.”
“If you want, I have some time to catch up with each other. Apart from the occasional smuggler who stops by to get a drink, around this time of the day, it’s always quite calm here. And while we're at it, take a drink—on the house!”
After the two talked together for a while, they came on the subject of the apartment above the bar that Quay had lived in for quite some time before his departure from Coruscant. Terras owns the apartment and rents it out to people, but when Quay asked if someone came to live thereafter he left the planet, Gratt replied that the apartment had been vacant ever since he left.
“Would you mind it if I would stay there for a few days? Gotta finish this one mission I have, then I will probably leave again. And once I get paid for it, I will make sure to give you a share to cover the apartment.”
“Sure! It's quite a mess at the moment though. Since I couldn't get anyone to rent that place, I started using it to store left-over drinks and stuff I never use anymore. So unless you have a problem with sleeping in the mess, you are free to stay there.”
Because Quay would be gone in a few days anyway, he accepted the offer to stay in the mess for a couple of days. He packed the small amount of stuff he brought with him and headed to the apartment upstairs. As soon as he entered the room, Quay saw how much stuff was in there. Broken glasses, tables filled with blaster holes presumably from shootouts that happened there, tanks filled with fluids, and more junk was scattered all around the fairly big place. At least there was still a bed present in the room, and some other small furniture that Quay could still use. He dropped his luggage on the bed and opened the blinds to enjoy the view he used to see almost every day. Because it was almost night, Quay prepared to go to sleep. Just as he was about to go to sleep, the room was suddenly illuminated by a purple glow coming from the corner of the room.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you on the spot.” a female voice said. A figure emerged from the shadows, and Quay saw where the purple light came from. The woman was holding a lightsaber, meaning that this person was most likely a Jedi.
¨Look, there’s no need for a fight here, I can get you whatever you want if you help me on a mission. Food, credits, a ride to get off this planet, you name it.¨
The Jedi thought about the offer for a moment, before accepting it.
“If you can get me a stock of credits and a fake ID, I will aid you on your mission. I'm planning on leaving this planet since it’s filled with Imperialists, but that’s hard to do when those troops closely monitor everyone who enters and leaves this planet. So, what is that job of yours?”
Quay explained what was happening on Vanquo, and the job the Red Hand offered him.
“So that is why the city center was so filled with Imperial troops.” the Jedi said.
“Indeed. The Red Hand tasked me with causing a distraction somewhere in these levels, but I have no idea how I am going to do that. In about 3 hours, the raids are supposed to start, but without a solid plan, I am not sure if I will even finish this job.”
“Don't worry about it. While you get me that ID and credits, I will stay here to make us a plan. But if this is all a trick, and you’re planning to give me over to the Empire, the pain of this blade slicing through your body will be the last thing you feel.”
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. I am not planning to give you to the Empire. By the way, I never properly introduced myself to you. My name is Quay Sta’nn. If you don't want to tell me your name, I can understand that.” Quay said before walking out the door.
“Shaella. My name is Shaella Xalrich.” The Jedi said.
Quay went out on the streets, still worried about how he would ever be able to accomplish this job, but he did know where to get a false ID, so that’s where he would start; he went to an old friend who was able to make him a couple of fake IDs for the Jedi without divulging any info. When he returned to his apartment a few hours later with some food he grabbed from a food stand a few blocks away, Shaella was still busy making the plan for the raid.
¨This has been a lot harder than i expected. I made a few plans, but they are very risky.¨ Shaella said.
¨Ah, forget it. The raid will be starting in about an hour. I doubt we will be able to participate in them without a solid plan. I got us some food, so if you want some feel free to take it. Also got those credits and that false ID for you, but I first want a solid plan before you will get those.¨ Quay replied.
Shaella nodded that she understood it, and started eating a bowl with food. She and Quay started talking about some stuff while they were eating, and Quay told her all kinds of stories from his past on this planet. The two enjoyed sharing some of their experiences to each other. After a while, they got to the topic of Order 66.
¨I have a bit of a weird question, but...how did you survive the Purge? I thought Order 66 wiped out the entire Jedi Order.¨ Quay asked.
Shaella went silent for a moment, before telling him how she survived the Purge.
¨Me, my master, and our pack of Clone Troopers were stationed on Colla IV near the end of the Clone Wars. Here, they manufactured droidekas and more droids for the Separatists. We were waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike at one of the factories, when suddenly the commander got a call from Chancellor Palpatine himself. Although I wasn't paying attention to what was said to them, I did hear a few words: ¨Execute Order 66.¨ Before I knew it, the Clones had their weapons pointed at me and my master. We managed to get to the gunship to escape the planet, but my master got wounded to the point where no surgeon could save him anymore. I managed to take control of the gunship and eventually crashed on this planet, but my master died a slow and painful death on the way there. He left me his Lightsaber, but since using one Lightsaber is risky enough on its own, I usually carry it with me at all times. To this day, I can still feel the emotional and physical effects of that event. Everyone that i knew and could trust, have been killed or is now held in a prison somewhere by the Empire. And while that all is happening, i am stuck here, without being able to do anything to it.¨
Quay went silent after hearing this story. He himself went through some heavy stuff growing up, but he could imagine the kinds of consequences an event like this could leave to a person.
The silence was quickly ended by someone banging on the door. Shaella hid behind the trash in the room, while Quay walked towards the door to open it. An Stormtrooper was standing in the doorway, with several more troopers standing behind him.
¨We have reports of a Force-sensitive hiding around somewhere in this sector. Would you mind if we take a look around this apartment?¨ The trooper asked.
¨Of course not.¨ Quay replied. Although he was worried that the troopers would find Shaella, he knew that if that were to happen she would be able to take them all on. 5 troopers stepped through the doorway, and started searching the apartment. It didn't take long before one of the troopers shouted: ¨Hey, what is this woman doing behind all of this junk?¨ Shaella quickly ignited her lightsaber and fighted the Stormtroopers. While the troopers did their absolute best to try to take her down, Shaella doged and blocked all of their attacks, and took them down one by one. Just before she was about to take down the last trooper in the room, he shouted in his comms:
¨The Force-sensitive has been found! Requesting immediate backup on level 4597!¨
Shaella´s blade sliced through the trooper, but it was too late. All of the Empire was now alerted of their presence, and would be at this location in a matter of minutes.
¨Well, what should we do now?¨ Quay asked Shaella. She thought about it for a second, until coming up with an answer.
¨I'm done with hiding from the Empire. I would rather fight them for the greater cause and go down in glory, than to spend my remaining days rotting away here.¨
The two stepped outside the door, and immediately saw dozens of troopers running towards them. Quay and Shaella quickly stepped into Gratt´s tavern. The cantina was filled with people, but if they didn´t get out as soon as possible, they would get caught in the heat of the battle. Shaella ignited her lightsaber, and yelled: ¨Everyone, get out of here, now!¨ Nobody hesitated for a second, and in a matter of seconds the cantina was empty, with the exception of Terras who stood behind the bar, terrified.
¨What is this, Quay? Care to explain why you are with a Jedi, who just scared away all of my customers?¨ Gratt said, noticeably angry and scared.
¨No time to explain right now. Listen, the Empire is about to arrive here in seconds, and without any good intentions. It's better if you get out of here, right now.¨
¨There is no way i am leaving my own cantina behind! I´ll stay here. I have a blaster here, so I can protect myself if needed. I will just hide behind the counter, together with my protocol droid.¨ Gratt replied.
¨Well, prepare yourself for a heavy fight if you stay here. And Quay; I hope you can handle this. You´ll need it if you want to survive this battle.¨ Shaella said.
Shaella threw something towards Quay. He caught it, and looked at what he held in his hands; it was a Lightsaber. He ignited it, and a green blade emitted from the saber.
¨This saber used to belong to my master. I held onto it for years, but I never used it.¨
¨Wow, I don't know how to thank you. I am sure this will be helpful in the fight.¨
¨Thank me later. First, we have some Bucketheads to take down.¨
Right as she said that, the first Stormtroopers walked into the cantina. While Quay had some trouble getting used to using a Lightsaber at first, he was able to quickly take down the first troops. Shaella used the Force intensively, and used it to hold one of the troops in the air right before piercing him with her Lightsaber. Just as that happened, a couple of troopers equipped with heavy-repeating blasters entered the cantina. Although Quay was able to dodge most of the blaster fire, a few of the blaster bolts hit the Lightsaber, damaging it enough to make the blade retract.. In the corner of his eye, he could also see one of the blaster bolts hit the Protocol droid Gratt owns, probably damaging it beyond repair. The fight seemed to last forever, until Quay and Shaella delivered the final blow towards the Empire. 4 Reconnaissance Troop Transports arrived, each carrying about a dozen troopers. Gratt quickly tried to get Quays attention, and he revealed some explosives he took as a payment from some arms dealers who stopped by to get a drink there earlier that day. Quay took some of them, activated them, and threw them at the troop transports. The devices rolled under the transports and detonated, causing the transports to explode. The few Stormtroopers who survived the blast, quickly received orders to retreat; the fight was won. Quay received a message from the Red Hand; The vault was successfully raided, and mostly thanks to Quay and Shaella. Although the Red Hand didn't know how he pulled it off exactly, a big part of the troops were sent to their location while other smugglers and bounty hunters raided the vault.
¨Well, I guess we didn't really need a plan to get this job done.¨ Quay said. ¨Thank you Shaella, I couldn't have done it without you. Since you have aided me in my mission, I will stick to my promise; here are the fake ID and credits needed to get off this planet. And Gratt, for you, I can get you some of the best repairers to fix your droid, plus some more credits to cover the damage we made here.¨
¨Quay, I want you to take this. I am ready to let go of my past, and start a new life somewhere. Since that Lightsaber of yours got pretty damaged, you can use parts of mine to repair it. With it, I have instructions on how to safely repair it. Goodbye, Quay Sta'nn. It was a delight to work with you.¨ Shaella said, before she walked off to get off the planet.
A few days later, Quay was working to repair the Lightsaber using Shaella´s instructions. The damage in Gratt´s Tavern was now mostly repaired, and his protocol droid was as good as new. Quay emitted the saber, and a purple blade emitted. It used to belong to a skilled Jedi, but now he owned it. He took his time to make it truly his own, and it showed off. He took a moment to process the power of the weapon he had in his hands right now. Anyone could use a blaster, but to handle a weapon like this it required more skill to handle. It will take a lot of time to learn how to properly use it, but one thing was for sure; This weapon would change Quay's life.
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Well, this took me a bit too long to finsh. My last moc for 2020, enjoy! (deleted the last version of the pic, since that one kinda sucked)
This round @MANCAVE, we have a limited-time Event GIFT just for our loyal customers — the adorable Pom Puppy! 🐶💖
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Taxi @ SEmotion !
27.November 2020
Alb Dream Fashion & ShuShu
❤♥❤☆｡¸ ¸*•. * `•. *BLACK FRIDAY offer - 100L only by AnaLee Balut ✫ `•.❤ ★ ♫`¸.•* ¸｡☆
this generous outfit you can wear with Maitreya, SLink Physique & Hourglass, Belleza Isis & Freya & Classic M
...located here at the mainstore
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Millais/219/19/21/
...log into the Lamu Group if you like all items from the Advent Calendar...like every year the fee grown up to 250L from 1. - 24. December. - (around 10L each day)
...and if you don´t like the group tag...door 1, 6, 13, 20, 24 is FREE for ALL!
more of our designs at the MarketPlace...
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ALB MP:
marketplace.secondlife.com/de-DE/stores/22582
ShuShu MP:
marketplace.secondlife.com/de-DE/stores/123838
und für die Spaß an Bewegung haben...
♥❤☆｡¸ ¸*•♥. Ihr seid herzlich dazu eingeladen mit meinem Sohn oder mir Yoga online zu machen♥｡¸ ¸*•.♥
A fascinating journey through the history of cars and design: MAUTO houses over 200 original vehicles from 80 different brands, showcasing the evolution of the automobile from a means of transport to a cultural icon. Founded in 1960 and named after Giovanni Agnelli, the museum is located on Corso Unità d’Italia and offers an immersive experience through innovation, style, and sustainability—with futuristic prototypes and legendary models that marked entire eras and social revolutions.
Another day, another rainbow!
A wet day turned bright late in the afternoon leading to some fantastic rainbows over Drumnadrochit. We do get fantastic rainbows up here regularly, and fortunately our front garden seems to offer some spectacular views of them too.
LAST DAYS OFFERS!!! ENJOY! ;)
To celebrate the 4th Al'Ol Homes anniversary, we lowered the price of several Al'Ol Houses on Marketplace SL!
Take this season of great Al'Ol Homes special promotions and choose your new home!!
Get your gift at Al'Ol Homes Store in-world! ;)
Check out this Al'Ol House @Marketplace SL: marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/42444
On this day in 1780 the English prison reformer, social reformer & Quaker Elizabeth Fry was born.
Elizabeth Fry was one of Britain's most influential 19th century social reformers and is best known for her work on improving the conditions of Britain's gaols. Because of her work, first on the treatment of female prisoners at Newgate Prison and then more generally on the conditions in British and European gaols, she has often been referred to as the "angel of prisons".
Elizabeth was born on May 21st 1780 in Gurney Court, off Magdalen Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England into a prominent Quaker family, the Gurneys. Her father, John Gurney (1749–1809), was a partner in Gurney's Bank. Her mother, Catherine, was a member of the Barclay family who were among the founders of Barclays Bank. Her mother died when Elizabeth was twelve years old so as one of the oldest girls in the family, she was partly responsible for the care and education of the younger children.
She married Joseph Fry, who was also a Quaker, in August 1800 at the Norwich Goat Lane Friends Meeting House and moved to St Mildred's Court in the City of London. In 1811 she was recorded as a minister of the Religious Society of Friends.
Prompted by a family friend, Stephen Grellet, Fry visited Newgate Prison in 1813. The conditions she saw there horrified her. The women's section was overcrowded with women and children, some of whom had not even received a trial. The prisoners did their own cooking and washing in the small cells in which they slept on straw.
She returned the following day with food and clothes for some prisoners. She was unable to personally further her work for nearly four years because of difficulties within the Fry family, including financial difficulties in the Fry bank.
Fry returned in 1816 and was eventually able to fund a prison school for the children who were imprisoned with their mothers. Rather than attempt to impose discipline on the women, she suggested rules and then asked the prisoners to vote on them. In 1817 she helped found the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate. This association provided materials for women so that they could learn to sew patchwork which was calming and also allowed skills to develop, such as needlework and knitting which could offer employment when they were out of prison and then could earn money for themselves. This approach was copied elsewhere and led to the eventual creation of the British Ladies' Society for Promoting the Reformation of Female Prisoners in 1821. She also promoted the idea of rehabilitation instead of harsh punishment which was taken on by the city authorities in London as well as many other authorities and prisons.
Elizabeth Fry also campaigned for the rights and welfare of prisoners who were being transported. The women of Newgate Prison were taken through the streets of London in open carts, often in chains, huddled together with their few possessions. They were pelted with rotten food and filth by the people of the city. The fear was often enough to make women condemned to transportation riot on the evening before. Fry's first action was to persuade the Governor of Newgate prison to send the women in closed carriages and spare them this last indignity before transportation. She visited prison ships and persuaded captains to implement systems to ensure each woman and child would at least get a share of food and water on the long journey. Later she arranged each woman to be given scraps of material and sewing tools so that they could use the long journey to make quilts and have something to sell as well as useful skills when they reached their destination. She also included a bible and useful items such as string and knives and forks in this vital care package. Elizabeth Fry visited 106 transport ships and saw 12,000 convicts. Her work helped to start a movement for the abolition of transportation. Transportation was officially abolished in 1837, however Elizabeth Fry was still visiting transportation ships until 1843.
Fry wrote in her book Prisons in Scotland and the North of England that she stayed the night in some of the prisons and invited nobility to come and stay and see for themselves the conditions prisoners lived in. Her kindness helped her gain the friendship of the prisoners and they began to try to improve their conditions for themselves. Thomas Fowell Buxton, Fry's brother-in-law, was elected to Parliament for Weymouth and began to promote her work among his fellow MPs. In 1818 Fry gave evidence to a House of Commons committee on the conditions prevalent in British prisons, becoming the first woman to present evidence in Parliament.
Her humanitarian work didn’t stop at prisons. For example, she helped the homeless, establishing a "nightly shelter" in London after seeing the body of a young boy in the winter of 1819/1820. She also campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade and opened a training school for nurses. Her programme inspired Florence Nightingale, who took a team of Fry's nurses to assist wounded soldiers in the Crimean War.
Her work gained her admiration from people in high places. One such was Queen Victoria, who granted her an audience a few times before she was Queen and contributed money to her cause after she ascended to the throne. Another admirer was Robert Peel who passed several acts to further her cause including the Gaols Act 1823. The act was however largely ineffective, because there were no inspectors to make sure that it was being followed.
Fry died from a stroke in Ramsgate, England, on October 12th 1845. From 2001–2016, Fry was depicted on the reverse of £5 notes issued by the Bank of England.
This site offers a remarkable collection of sea stacks for viewing.
The village of Pistol River, population 84 in the last census, is the nearest town.
The river received it's name when a soldier in the Indian Wars of the 1850's lost his pistol in the river.
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Wikipedia offer some detailed details about this class:
"The Škoda Type 22E2 type locomotive is a multipurpose electric locomotive built for the North Korean State Railway by the Škoda Works of Czechoslovakia.
Although some lines had been electrified already in the colonial era, the large-scale electrification of North Korea's railways began in 1956 after the end of the Korean War and the subsequent reconstruction of North Korea's railway infrastructure. To work the newly electrified lines, an order was placed with the Škoda Works in Czechoslovakia for electric locomotives of works Type 22E2, based on the Type 12E locomotives built by Škoda for the Czechoslovak State Railways (ČSD class E 499.0).
The Type 12E was developed by Škoda Works based on the technology of the BLS Class Ae 4/4 built by SLM Winterthur. The first prototype was completed in 1953, and production of types 12E1—12E6 continued until 1958 for the ČSD and the Polish State Railways (as class ET13), along with the very similar derivative types - the Type 22E2 for North Korea, and Types 24E0, 41E0—41E2 and 29E0 for the Soviet Railways (as class ЧС1). All variants of the type were built to operate on the 3,000 V DC system.
These are dual-cab locomotives with welded-steel bodies and two two-axle bogies. Each bogie has two six-pole DC traction motors, one for each axle. Current collection is via pantograph from overhead lines; the on-board electrical system is 48 V.
The total number of Type 22E2 locomotives ordered by the Korean State Railways is not known, but at least three are still in service today. These have been rebuilt in various ways, such as the addition of 'bumpers' on the ends and other features unique to individual units. They are painted in the standard light blue over dark green or light green over dark green scheme used on most other electric locomotives; this scheme is very similar to the livery used on Czechoslovak and Soviet examples of this type."
I saw altogether 3 of these type. So maybe more of this set are still in use on the national railway system.
DPRK, Oct. 2015
Some subjects have a story that you'll never know. Best then, make do, and appreciate the beauty on offer.
Normally I like to offer new sets for my turn at Wanderlust Weekend. I am, unfortunately, having laptop issues. Sooo I am offering two of my older (not that old :P) sets for this round.
Both are 50L each through the weekend maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sulaco/160/218/1007
Please enjoy!