oscillator photos on Flickr

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My Electronics Workbench includes computer Analysis and Diagnostic capabilities, working alongside a collection of Vintage

1950's - 70's reconditioned testing and evaluation equipment. My so called obsolete equipment includes a (factory built) HeathKit

Model 0-12 oscilloscope which has been around for over fifty years, However this device has been modified and serves me well.

I also use a Tektronix 465 scope and a computer scope for comparative purposes.

My Hewlett Packard collection includes the 410B, 400D voltmeters, a 5512A electronic frequency counter and a 202C low

frequency oscillator.

I have several vacuum tube testers. My primary unit is a Sencore MU140, which has been painstakingly reconditioned.

The unit was removed from it's original briefcase enclosure and was mounted into a slide out drawer under my workbench.

My secondary unit is a custom built computer assisted tube analyzer and the third unit is a B&K 747 for continuity and

comparison, providing me with backup in the event of a failure.

A note of possible interest: when I removed the Sencore's control panel from it's case, I found a Lawrence Livermore National

Laboratory (NASA) Service Technician's punch list sheet with notes, plus additional Sencore documents in a plastic envelope

glued to the inside bottom of the briefcase enclosure which was a fascinating find.

I also have a few other interesting devices tucked away. Some other essential pieces of equipment I have besides a few extra

multimeters is a hand built multi outlet isolated & regulated power supply, several variable DC power supplies and a variable

metered autotransformer.

This equipment is just a chain of readily available components on the power supply end of an electronics workstation, assuring

an outcome that results in the best possible performance from your equipment and the tasks at hand. However a typical power

supply and protection setup like this is not fool proof and can be vulnerable and unreliable under certain conditions, making it

necessary at times to use battery operated (standalone) equipment in conjunction with your AC equipment while performing

certain multi point tests to avoid misleading readings.

All and all, I have enough confidence to use my vintage test equipment without computer assistance, weather it's a checkup,

test and repair job or even on a new build.

Some of the devices mentioned but not seen in this photo are kept in an easily movable autonomous roll out equipment

rack under my workbench.

Recent equipment includes an additional Sencore MU140 tube tester, a Hewlett Packard 339A Distortion Analyzer, a UDB /

DDS multi-function signal generator, a handheld Owon 60Mhz dual oscilloscope with advanced multi-functions and a Heath

Zenith variable isolated AC Power Supply, plus the lion's share of assorted specialty hand tools.

Dan Sandin IP Processor by Roͬͬ͠͠͡͠͠͠͠͠͠͠͠sͬͬ͠͠͠͠͠͠͠͠͠aͬͬ͠͠͠͠͠͠͠ Menkman

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w/ complex oscillators patch as written up by James Connolly

Music Is Electronic Again by Brandon Pieplow

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My Eurorack modular synthesizer, five months in the 'making'.

CONTAINING:

- Oscillators from Pittsburgh Modular and Verbos Electronics.

- Noise from Steady State Fate.

- Filters from Aion Modular and Manhattan Analog.

- Amplifiers from Pittsburgh Modular, Manhattan Analog and Make Noise.

- Envelopes from Doepfer, Intellijel and Make Noise.

- Various CV Processors from Manhattan Analog and ALM.

- Multiples and MIDI from Doepfer.

- Power and case from Synthrotek.

Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L

VSCO 05 Preset: Kodak Gold 100 Warm +

by Andrea de Franco

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goo.gl/maps/81hjv

"An oscillator can be designed so that the oscillation frequency can be varied over some range by an input voltage or current"

Moog Claravox Centennial Professional Theremin. by Adrian. J. Walker

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The theremin (/ˈθɛrəmɪn/; originally known as the ætherphone, etherphone, thereminophone[2] or termenvox/thereminvox) is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer (who is known as a thereminist). It is named after its inventor, Leon Theremin, who patented the device in 1928.

The instrument's controlling section usually consists of two metal antennas which function not as radio antennas but rather as position sensors. Each antenna forms one half of a capacitor with each of the thereminist's hands as the other half of the capacitor. These antennas capacitively sense the relative position of the hands and control oscillators for frequency with one hand, and amplitude (volume) with the other. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.

Dominion Observatory, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by Billy Wilson

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"The Dominion Observatory was an astronomical observatory in Ottawa, Ontario that operated from 1902 to 1970. The Observatory was also an institution within the Canadian Federal Government. The observatory grew out of the Department of the Interior's need for the precise coordinates and timekeeping that at that time could only come from an observatory. For several years they had used a small observatory on the Ottawa River for this purpose. In 1902, it was decided that Canada needed a larger national observatory similar to the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Britain.

Chief Dominion Architect David Ewart designed the Dominion Observatory in 1902.

The new building was then erected near Dow's Lake on the Agriculture Department's Central Experimental Farm land. This Romanesque Revival building was completed in 1905. Its main instrument was a 15-inch refracting telescope, the largest refracting telescope ever installed in Canada, although it was not a particularly large telescope for this period. While the building and institution were primarily dedicated to astronomical timekeeping in support of surveying, a number of other activities took place here. The Dominion Observatory was Canada's leading institution in Geophysics for many decades, which included the operation of Canada's national seismometer network. The facility did important work, but with this bridgehead into the world of astronomy and the growth of the field of astrophysics, Canadian astronomers quickly demanded a facility designed for the new scientific age. In 1917, the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory was opened in Victoria, B.C. and it supplanted the Dominion Observatory as Canada's foremost astronomical observatory. For many years, the Dominion Observatory was best known to Canadians as the source of Canada's official time signal.

The observatory continued in operation until 1970 at which time Canada's science institutions were reorganized. The national time-keeping and astronomical activities were transferred to the National Research Council of Canada, while the geophysics, surveying and mapping were transferred to the Department of Energy Mines and Resources. The Geophysics work was later merged into the Geological Survey of Canada, now part of Natural Resources Canada. Astronomical timekeeping observations at the Dominion Observatory had ceased many years prior to this, when crystal oscillator clocks and, later, atomic clocks were found to be superior to astronomical timekeeping. The building became home to NRCan offices. The telescope had been open for public viewing from 1905 until 1970. In 1974, the telescope was moved from the Dominion Observatory to the Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory at the Canada Science and Technology Museum where it remained until 2016.

As of 2008, the building is the home to the Office of Energy Efficiency, a part of the Energy Branch, Natural Resources Canada.

The Central Experimental Farm (CEF), commonly known as the Experimental Farm, is an agricultural facility, working farm, and research centre of the Science and Technology Branch, formerly the Research Branch, of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As the name indicates, this farm is centrally located in and now surrounded by the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Located on 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) of land, the farm is a National Historic Site of Canada and most buildings are protected and preserved as heritage buildings.

The CEF's original intent was to perform scientific research for improvement in agricultural methods and crops. While such research is still being conducted, the park-like atmosphere of the CEF has become an important place of recreation and education for the residents of Ottawa. Furthermore, over the years several other departments and agencies have encroached onto the CEF property, such as Natural Resources Canada, National Defence (HMCS Carleton on Dow's Lake), and the Ottawa Civic Hospital (helicopter pad).

The CEF is bordered by the Rideau Canal (a National Historic Site as well) to the east, Prince of Wales Drive to the South-East, Baseline Road to the south, and Merivale and Fisher Roads to the west, and Carling Avenue to the north.

Ottawa (/ˈɒtəwə/, /ˈɒtəwɑː/; Canadian French: [ɔtawɑ]) is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core of the Ottawa–Gatineau census metropolitan area (CMA) and the National Capital Region (NCR). As of 2021, Ottawa had a city population of 1,017,449 and a metropolitan population of 1,488,307, making it the fourth-largest city and fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.

Ottawa is the political centre of Canada and the headquarters of the federal government. The city houses numerous foreign embassies, key buildings, organizations, and institutions of Canada's government; these include the Parliament of Canada, the Supreme Court, the residence of Canada's viceroy, and Office of the Prime Minister.

Founded in 1826 as Bytown, and incorporated as Ottawa in 1855, its original boundaries were expanded through numerous annexations and were ultimately replaced by a new city incorporation and amalgamation in 2001. The municipal government of Ottawa is established and governed by the City of Ottawa Act of the Government of Ontario. It has an elected city council across 24 wards and a mayor elected city-wide.

Ottawa has the highest proportion of university-educated residents among Canadian cities and is home to several colleges and universities, research and cultural institutions, including the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, Collège La Cité, the National Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Canada; and numerous national museums, monuments, and historic sites. It is one of the most visited cities in Canada, with over 11 million visitors annually contributing more than $2.2B to the city's economy." - info from Wikipedia.

Late June to early July, 2024 I did my 4th major cycling tour. I cycled from Ottawa to London, Ontario on a convoluted route that passed by Niagara Falls. during this journey I cycled 1,876.26 km and took 21,413 photos. As with my other tours a major focus was old architecture.

Find me on Instagram.

Feel free to make a donation if you appreciate my photos.

Nikon F-501 by Raúl Sá Dantas

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Nikon F-501/N2020

Integral-motor autofocus 35mm single lens reflex.

Picture Format 24 x 36mm DX coded 35mm (135) film format

Dual autofocus modes (Single servo and Continuous servo) focus assist and manual focusing.

Autofocus Lock Single Servo AF

Focus Assist Available in manual focus mode with an AF Nikkor, Nikkor or Series E lens with a maximum aperture of f:4.5 or faster

Exposure Metering Light intensity feedback measurement (for P DUAL, P HI and A), TTL full aperture centerweighted measurement (for manual exposure) employs one silicone photo diode (SPD).

Metering Range (at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens) EV 1 to EV19

Exposure Modes Three Programs (dual, normal and high speed) auto exposure modes, Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto and Manual

Shutter Electromagnetically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter

Electromagnetic shutter Release.

Shutter Speeds Stepless from 1/2000 to 1 sec. in P DUAL, P, P HI and A auto exposure modes. Lithium niobate oscillator-controlled speeds from 1/2000 to 1 sec on manual; electromagnetically controlled Bulb setting is provided

Viewfinder Fixed eyelevel pentaprism high-eyepoint type; 0.85X magnification with 50mm lens set at infinity; approx. 92% frame coverage

Focusing Screen Nikon type B clear matte with central focus brackets, 12 mm circle denotes centre weighted metering area; changeable with type E or J focusing screens.

Film Speed Range ISO 25 to 5000 for DX-coded film; ISO 12 to 3200 can be manually set for non-DX coded film.

Motorised film advance, with automatic film loading and rewind

Frame Counter Additive type; counts back while film is being rewound

Self-timer Electronically controlled 10 sec. delay.

Reflex Mirror Automatic, instant-return type

Data Back MF-19.

Flash Synchronization Up to 1/125 sec.

Power source: Nikon AA battery holder MB-3, f4 1.5V AA batteries

Dimensions (W x H x D) 15 x 10 x 5 cm.

Weight (without batteries) Approx. 600g

I invite you to visit my camera site at Classic Cameras in english.

Convido-os a visitar o minha página Câmaras & Cia. em português

発振子 (oscillator) by Dinasty Oomae

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Rollei 35, Ferrania P30, F16+1/2, 1/30sec, 神奈川県, 横浜市

Nikon F501 + AF Nikkor 35-70 f3.3-4.5. + MF19 Date Back. Made in Japan. 1986 by C.A. Collections

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Type of Camera Integral-motor autofocus 35mm single lens reflex.

Picture Format 24 x 36mm [standard 35mm (135) film format]

Lens Mount Nikon F mount

Lens More than 70 Nikkor and Series E lenses available.

Focus Modes Dual autofocus modes (Single servo and Continuous servo) focus assist and manual focusing.

Autofocus Detection System TTL phase detection system using 96 CCD's.

Autofocus Detection Range Approx. EV 4 to EV 17 using lenses f:2.8 or faster; EV 5 to EV 18 using lenses f:4.5 or faster but slower than f:2.8.

Autofocus Lock Single Servo AF - Possible once focus LED is lit and shutter release remains slightly depressed; Continuous Servo AF - focus detection continues as long as shutter release remains partially depressed.

Focus Assist Available in manual focus mode with an AF Nikkor, Nikkor or Series E lens with a maximum aperture of f:4.5 or faster

Exposure Metering Light intensity feedback measurement (for P DUAL, P HI and A), TTL full aperture centerweighted measurement (for manual exposure) employs one silicone photo diode (SPD).

Exposure Meter Switch Activated by setting film advance mode selector at S or C and lightly pressing shutter release button, remains on for approx. 8 sec. after releasing shutter release button.

Metering Range (at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens)EV 1 to EV19

Exposure Modes Three Program (dual, normal and high speed) auto exposure modes, Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto and Manual

Programmed Auto Exposure ControlChoose from 3 modes. Camera sets both shutter speed and lens aperture automatically.

Aperture-Priority Auto Exposure ControlShutter speed automatically selected to match manually set aperture

Manual Exposure Control Both aperture and shutter speed are set manually

Shutter Electromagnetically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter

Shutter Speeds Stepless from 1/2000 to 1 sec. in P DUAL, P, P HI and A auto exposure modes. Lithium niobate oscillator-controlled speeds from 1/2000 to 1 sec on manual; electromagnetically controlled Bulb setting is provided

Viewfinder Fixed eyelevel pentaprism high-eyepoint type; 0.85X magnification with 50mm lens set at infinity; approx. 92% frame coverage

Eyepiece cover Model DK-5 prevents stray light from entering eyepiece

Focusing Screen Nikon type B clear matte with central focus brackets, 12 mm circle denotes center weighted metering area; changeable with type E or J focusing screens.

Viewfinder Information Focus indicator LEDs include focus not possible warning, in-focus indication, focus-to-right and focus-to-left arrows; exposure indicator LEDs include shutter speed LEDs, over and under-exposure warning LED's; ready light comes on when Nikon dedicated flash is used.

P DUAL, P and P HI modes LED shows shutter speed selected by camera; top warning light blinks for overexposure, bottom warning LED indicates underexposure, top and bottom LEDs blink to indicate proper exposure.

A mode LED shows shutter speed automatically selected by camera, top or bottom warning LEDs blink to inducate over or under - exposure.

Manual mode Non-blinking LED shows shutter speed set on dial, blinking LED shows shutter speed for correct exposure; 2 blinking LEDs show intermediate shutter speed; no LED in B.

Auto Exposure Lock Operates in P DUAL, P, P HI, and A modes, holding button in locks exposure.

Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV compensation (in 1/3 increments) possible with compensation dial; when film speed ring is set at DX with ISO 5000 DX coded film, exposure compensation is possible from - 1 1/3 to +2; with film speed ring set to ISO 1600, -1 to +2 is possible; at ISO 3200 only + compensation is possible; at ISO 25, -2 to +1 is possible; at ISO 12, only - compensation is possible.

Film Speed Range ISO 25 to 5000 for DX-coded film; ISO 12 to 3200 can be manually set for non-DX coded film.

Film Speed Setting At DX position, automatically set to ISO speed of DX-coded film used; manual setting possible

Film Loading Film automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once

Film Advance In single-frame mode, film automatically advances one frame when shutter is released; in continuous shooting mode, shots are taken as long as shutter release button is depressed; shooting speed is approx. 1.7 fps to approx. 2.5 fps depending on focus mode in use.

Remote Film Rewind Use optional MC-12A.

Audible Warning Alarm With switch on, beeps; (1) when non-DX coded film is used with film speed dial set at DX;(2) when DX contacts require cleaning; (3) for under and over-exposure and possible picture blur in auto exposure modes; (4) at end of film roll; (5) during self timer operation.

Red indicator Lamp Blinks; (1) when non-DX coded film is used with film speed dial set at DX;(2) when DX contacts require cleaning; (3) for under and over-exposure and possible picture blur in auto exposure modes; (4) when shutter is released.

Frame Counter Additive type; counts back while film is being rewound

Self-timer Electronically controlled 10 sec. delay; blinking LED and beep sound indicates self-timer operation; cancellable

Reflex Mirror Automatic, instant-return type

Camera Back Hinged back with film cartridge confirmation and film advance indicator; changeable with Data Back MF-19.

Accessory Shoe Standard ISO-type hot-shoe contact; ready-light contact, TTL flash contact, monitor contact

Flash Synchronization Up to 1/125 sec. with electronic flash.

Flash Ready Light Lights up when Nikon dedicated flash is ready

Autofocus Flash Photography Possible only with Nikon SB-20.

Power Source Four 1.5V AAA batteries; with Nikon AA battery holder MB-3, four 1.5V AA batteries can be used.

Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 5.8 x 3.8 x 2.1 in.

Weight (without batteries) Approx. 21.3 oz.

Nikon F4 by Süleyman (Deceased 04.2012)

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Manufactured by Nikon Corporation, Japan

Model: c.1995 (produced between 1988-1997)

F4s version: with High Speed Battery Pack MB-21

35mm film Integral-motor SLR system camera

BODY

Lens release: button on the left side of the lens flange

Lens mount: Nikon F mount Lenses usable: AF Nikkor lenses and Nikon MF F-mount lenses

Focus modes: Manual focus with electronic rangefinder and Autofocus

Autofocus:

Autofocus detection system: TTL phase detection system using Nikon advanced AM200 autofocus module

Autofocus detection range: Approx. EV minus 1 to EV 18 at ISO 100 (under Nikon inspection conditions)

Autofocus actuation method: Single Servo or Continuous Servo

Autofocus lock: Possible by lightly pressing shutter release button in Single Servo AF mode or by using AF-L button; simultaneous use with AE-L button possible

Electronic rangefinder: Available in Manual focus mode with AF Nikkor lenses, Ai-type Nikkor lenses including Ai-modified Nikkor lenses and non-Ai-type Nikkor lenses with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster

Exposure metering: Matrix Metering (with Multi-Meter Finder DP-20); Center-Weighted Metering (with Multi-Meter Finder DP-20 or AE Action Finder DA-20); Spot Metering (with any finder)

Exposure meter switch: Activated by lightly pressing shutter release button; stays on for approx. 16 sec. after lifting finger from button

Metering range: EV 0 to EV 21 at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens; EV 2 to EV 21 with Spot Metering

Exposure control: Manual (M), and Programmed (PH, P), Shutter-Priority (S) and Aperture Priority (A) Auto Exposure

Auto exposure lock: Available by pressing AE-L button while meter is on

Exposure compensation: Possible using exposure compensation dial within ±2 EV range in 1/3 EV steps

Multiple exposure: Via a leveron the right back side of the top plate; setting: 1. Pull the multiple exposure lever toward you and release the shutter. The film will not advance. Multiple exposure lever is automatically reset to the original position. 2. Depress the shutter release button again to take the second shot. Film will advance to the next frame. For more than two shots on the same frame, pull the lever before each additional exposure.

Depth-of-field preview button: Provides visual verification of depth of field; can be previewed in Manual (M) or Aperture Priority (A) mode; coaxial with mirror lockup lever

Reflex mirror: Automatic instant-return type with lockup facility; to lock the reflex viewing mirror in the "up" position, push in the depth-of-field preview button and rotate the mirror lockup lever counterclockwise until it stops. (In this case, exposure meter cannot be used.)

This means that you cannot operate the camera in any auto exposure and/or autofocus mode anymore (even if the viewfinder LCD may indicate information). Any indication of light by the LCD is a result of spurious light entering through the view finder eyepiece. However, you can make use of the camera's suggested metering and use it in Manual mode.

Shutter: Electro-magnetically controlled vertical-travel titanium focal plane shutter; dial on the top plate, Manual and Shutter-Priority Auto Exposure modes

Shutter release: Electromagnetic shutter by magnet trigger, on the top plate

Alternate shutter release button: there is a shutter release button is provided at the bottom of the High Speed Battery Pack MB-21 as well as the Multiple Power High Speed Power Pack MB-23. This is convenient for vertical format shooting. The button can be locked to prevent inadvertent shutter release. Note: all F4 has another release terminal at the bottom rear section.

Shutter speeds: Lithium niobate oscillator-controlled; controlled from 1/8800 to 30 sec. steplessly in PH, P or A mode; set from 1/8800 to 4 sec. in one EV steps in M or S mode; B, T and X (1/250 sec.)

Viewfinder: Nikon Multi-Meter Finder DP-20 provided as standard; SLR pentaprism, High-Eyepoint type; metering system selector, diopter adjustment knob, hot-shoe, compensation dial for focusing screens and eyepiece shutter lever provided; interchangeable with Nikon AE Action Finder DA-20, Nikon 6X High-Magnification Finder DW-21 and Nikon Waist-Level Finder DW-20

Viewfinder information: By LCD - exposure compensation value, frame counter (additive type), metering system in use, shutter speed, aperture, exposure mode, electronic analog display, AE Lock indicator; by ADR window - lens aperture; by LED display - focus indicators, exposure compensation mark and flash ready-light. Illuminator switch provided for dim-light viewing

Viewfinder illuminator switch: When it's dark, use the viewfinder illuminator to light up all viewfinder information. Turn the switch on, and lightly press the shutter release button to illuminate the display. The illuminator automatically switches off as the viewfinder display disappears; it also momentarily switches off during exposure. Beneath the shutter speeds dial

Eyepoint: Approx. 22mm

Focusing screen: Nikon advanced B-type BriteView screen with central focus brackets for autofocus operation; interchangeable with 12 optional screens

Film speed range: ISO 25 to 5000 for DX-coded film; ISO 6 to 6400 in 1/3 EV steps for manual setting Film speed setting: At DX position, automatically set to ISO speed of DX-coded film used; manual override possible

Film loading: Film automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once

Auto film loading: The user simply pulls the film leader to the mark closes the camera back then presses the shutter release button - and the camera automatically advances the film to frame #1.A bright LED will lit and stays on for approx. 16 sec. in such case, the film advance operation will halt as well.

Winding: In S (single frame) shooting mode, film automatically advances one frame when shutter is released; in CH (Continuous high speed), CL (Continuous low speed) or Cs (Continuous silent) shooting mode, shots are taken as long as shutter release button is depressed; shooting speed is approx. 5.7 fps (CH), 3.4 fps (CL) or 1.0 fps (Cs) - for Continuous Servo Autofocus, test done with an AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-80mm f/4-5.6D lense, new six AA-type alkaline batteries, shutter speed of 1/250 sec. or faster, at normal temperature.

Frame counter: Two additive types provided - on top of camera and inside viewfinder (LCD)

Re-winding: Choice of automatic or manual; automatically rewinds when film rewind levers (R1) and (R2) are used; takes approx. 8 sec. per 36-exposure roll (with six AA-type batteries); (with six AA-type batteries); stops automatically when film is rewound; manual rewind when R1 lever is used

Self-timer: Electronically controlled 10 sec. exposure delay; blinking LED indicates self timer operation; cancelable; setting: via the last setting on the film advance mode

Hot-shoe: Standard ISO-type hotshoe contact; ready light contact, TTL flash contact, monitor contact

Flash sync:1/60 to 1/250 sec. in PH, P or A mode; in M or S mode, shutter fires at speed set and when set from 1/250 to 1/8800 sec., shutter is automatically set to 1/250 sec.; down to 30 sec. shutter is available by using SB-24, SB-26 or other equivalent Nikon speedlights etc. in rear curtain sync in PH, P or A mode Flash ready-light: Viewfinder LED lights up when Nikon dedicated Speedlight is ready to fire; blinks to warn of poor camera/ Speedlight connection or insufficient light for correct exposure

Flash PC socket: A separate sync terminal is provided on the Nikon F4. Use this terminal to attach flash units which do not have the standard ISO hot shoe.

Batteries: six AA-type alkaline or NiCd batteries

Battery chambers: two, on the High Speed Battery Pack MB-21

Body:metal; Weight:

Serial no. 2.499.403

LENS

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D

Aperture: f/1.8-f/22

Focus range: 0.45-3m +inf

Serial no. 636334, Made in China

More info: Dating, Ken Rocwell com,

Technical Specifications in Mir com, in Nikon com

krohn-hite_4300a_decade_oscillator by Rense Posthumus

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History of Electricity by bigboy99899

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Episodes from the History of Electricity.

If you like it, please support it at Ideas! Thank you!

Benjamin Franklin (1750 - Lightning is electrical)

Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician (was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States), postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions.

In 1750 he published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. On May 10, 1752, Thomas-François Dalibard of France conducted Franklin's experiment using a 40-foot-tall (12 m) iron rod instead of a kite, and he extracted electrical sparks from a cloud. On June 15 Franklin may possibly have conducted his well known kite experiment in Philadelphia, successfully extracting sparks from a cloud.

Franklin's electrical experiments led to his invention of the lightning rod.

Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1781 - "Animal Electricity")

Galvani was an Italian physician, physicist and philosopher who lived in Bologna.

With his experiment he discovered that the body of animals is powered by electrical impulses. Galvani named this newly discovered force “animal electricity,” and thus laid foundations for the modern fields of electrophysiology and neuroscience.

Galvani’s contemporaries - including Benjamin Franklin, whose work helped prove the existence of atmospheric electricity - had made great strides in understanding the nature of electricity and how to produce it. Inspired by Galvani’s discoveries, fellow Italian scientist Alessandro Volta would go on to invent, in 1800, the first electrical battery - the voltaic pile - which consisted of brine-soaked pieces of cardboard or cloth sandwiched between disks of different metals.

Thomas Alva Edison (1882 - First Power Station)

Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park", he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

In 1878, Edison formed the Edison Electric Light Company (today as General Electric) in New York City with several financiers, including J. P. Morgan and the members of the Vanderbilt family. Edison made the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb on December 31, 1879, in Menlo Park. It was during this time that he said: "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles."

After devising a commercially viable electric light bulb on October 21, 1879, Edison patented a system for electricity distribution in 1880, which was essential to capitalize on the invention of the electric lamp.

The company established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882 on Pearl Street Station, New York City. It was on September 4, 1882, that Edison switched on his Pearl Street generating station's electrical power distribution system, which provided 110 volts direct current (DC) to 59 customers in lower Manhattan. Earlier in the year, in January 1882, he had switched on the first steam-generating power station at Holborn Viaduct in London. The DC supply system provided electricity supplies to street lamps and several private dwellings within a short distance of the station.

Edison was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name. More significant than the number of Edison's patents was the widespread impact of his inventions: electric light and power utilities, sound recording, and motion pictures all established major new industries world-wide. Edison's inventions contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. These included a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.

Nicola Tesla (1891 - Tesla Coil)

Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Tesla moved to New York in 1884 and introduced himself to Thomas Edison. Although Tesla and Edison shared a mutual respect for one another, at least at first, Tesla challenged Edison’s claim that current could only flow in one direction (DC, direct current). Tesla claimed that energy was cyclic and could change direction (AC, alternating current), which would increase voltage levels across greater distances than Edison had pioneered. In 1888, Tesla went to work for Westinghouse in order to develop the alternating current system. Westinghouse and Tesla in their design for the first hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls.

Around 1891 Tesla invented the Tesla coil, which is an electrical resonant transformer circuit. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits. In 1899 Tesla moved to Colorado Springs, where he would have room for his high-voltage, high-frequency experiments: Tesla was sitting in his laboratory with his "Magnifying transmitter" generating millions of volts.

Tesla invented the first alternating current (AC) motor and developed AC generation and transmission technology, invented electric oscillators, meters, improved lights. He also experimented with X-rays and gave short-range demonstrations of radio communication.

Oscillator by Bruce Riley

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41 cm x 41 cm

16" x 16"

2018 - 2020

Urethane binders with carbon black pigment in dispersal water, and resin on panel

Cape Henry (Second Tower) Light Station, Virginia Beach, VA by Tim Stewart

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**Cape Henry (Second Tower) Light Station** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 02001439, date listed 2002-12-02

Atlantic Ave.

Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach (Independent City)

The Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay served as a major transportation corridor for commercial traffic from the early 18th through 20th centuries. Cape Henry Lighthouse marks the south side of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and is considered one ofthe most important lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. The Lighthouse is the earliest cast-iron-cylinder light tower in the state of Virginia; at 163 feet, it is the tallest cast-iron-plate light tower in the United States. The world's first synchronized radio beacon and electric oscillator air fog signal was put into commission at Cape Henry Lighthouse in May of 1929.

The second tower for the Cape Henry Light Station was built in 1881. A granite foundation supports a 163-foot-tall tower shaped in the form of a truncated frustrum of an octagon surmounted by a one-story black iron lantern that contains a first-order Fresnel lens. Associated station structures include three modified keeper's dwellings -two are circa 1881 and the other dates to the 1940's; a modified 1881 brick fog signal building; a 1892 brick oil house; a 1905 coal house; a modified 1935 fog signal testing laboratory; and two wooden sheds. The light station is located on Cape Henry on the south side of the Chesapeake Bay entrance. Access to the property is through Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia. (1)

References (1) NRHP Nomination Form www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/134-0079_...

Argiope bruennichi by elio de stefani

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Il ragno vespa è una specie di ragno, così denominato per la colorazione dell'addome giallo e nera simile alla colorazione delle vespe. Viene anche chiamato comunemente ragno tigre, epeira fasciata, ragno zebra o argiope fasciata.

Il ragno vespa non è aggressivo, se disturbato mette in atto una strategia difensiva molto particolare: rimanendo al centro della tela, le imprime un movimento oscillatorio molto rapido, per un tempo che può variare dai 15 ai 30 secondi. Se questa tattica di "dissuasione" non ha effetto sceglie la fuga pur rimanendo nei paraggi fino a minaccia cessata. In caso di eventuale morso, gli effetti del veleno sono blandi; si avverte il dolore causato dall’azione meccanica dei cheliceri e un arrossamento della parte interessata. I sintomi scompaiono nell’arco di alcune ore

Una curiosità si ha nell'accoppiamento di tali aracnidi, infatti quasi sempre le femmine di questi ragni uccidono i loro pretendenti maschi, a meno che questi ultimi non riescano a fuggire prima; spesso nel tentativo di fuga il pene degli individui maschi si spezza all'interno delle femmine, non permettendo che altri ragni fecondino la stessa, e assicurandosi così il successo

notizie da wikipedia.

751.001 Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, 07/07/17 by Richard Jones

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751.001 (T478.1001) at Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou Oslavany, Grumpy Railtours "The Oslavany Oscillator", Zvl R 10064 1234 Rakšice - Hevlín, 07/07/17

double-well chaos by rabinal

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chaos in a driven double-well electronic resonator, showing a near

symmetric solution. This is a phase plane portrait, velocity vertical

axis, and displacement horizontal axis.

Toyota Land Cruiser by PleaseYesPlease

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Longtime customer Herr Kringle came a knockin’ again this year with another epic custom build request. To address a new level of intercontinental delivery challenges this season, we sourced a clean J80 Land Cruiser and upgraded everything, starting with the powertrain.

Kringle Spec features a raucous 600 HP delivered to all four wheels through a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 coupled with a 16KW plug in hybrid dual motor setup configured to pwn even the biggest obstacles terra firma can conjure.

The package is completed by a Portable roof-mounted SatNav Unit working in tandem with our custom Compact Trans-Dimensional Oscillator, enabling Herr Kringle to deliver even the most difficult packages in little more than the space of a wink.

I hope you enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

History of Electricity by bigboy99899

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Episodes from the History of Electricity.

If you like it, please support it at Ideas! Thank you!

Benjamin Franklin (1750 - Lightning is electrical)

Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician (was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States), postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions.

In 1750 he published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. On May 10, 1752, Thomas-François Dalibard of France conducted Franklin's experiment using a 40-foot-tall (12 m) iron rod instead of a kite, and he extracted electrical sparks from a cloud. On June 15 Franklin may possibly have conducted his well known kite experiment in Philadelphia, successfully extracting sparks from a cloud.

Franklin's electrical experiments led to his invention of the lightning rod.

Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1781 - "Animal Electricity")

Galvani was an Italian physician, physicist and philosopher who lived in Bologna.

With his experiment he discovered that the body of animals is powered by electrical impulses. Galvani named this newly discovered force “animal electricity,” and thus laid foundations for the modern fields of electrophysiology and neuroscience.

Galvani’s contemporaries - including Benjamin Franklin, whose work helped prove the existence of atmospheric electricity - had made great strides in understanding the nature of electricity and how to produce it. Inspired by Galvani’s discoveries, fellow Italian scientist Alessandro Volta would go on to invent, in 1800, the first electrical battery - the voltaic pile - which consisted of brine-soaked pieces of cardboard or cloth sandwiched between disks of different metals.

Thomas Alva Edison (1882 - First Power Station)

Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park", he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

In 1878, Edison formed the Edison Electric Light Company (today as General Electric) in New York City with several financiers, including J. P. Morgan and the members of the Vanderbilt family. Edison made the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb on December 31, 1879, in Menlo Park. It was during this time that he said: "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles."

After devising a commercially viable electric light bulb on October 21, 1879, Edison patented a system for electricity distribution in 1880, which was essential to capitalize on the invention of the electric lamp.

The company established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882 on Pearl Street Station, New York City. It was on September 4, 1882, that Edison switched on his Pearl Street generating station's electrical power distribution system, which provided 110 volts direct current (DC) to 59 customers in lower Manhattan. Earlier in the year, in January 1882, he had switched on the first steam-generating power station at Holborn Viaduct in London. The DC supply system provided electricity supplies to street lamps and several private dwellings within a short distance of the station.

Edison was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name. More significant than the number of Edison's patents was the widespread impact of his inventions: electric light and power utilities, sound recording, and motion pictures all established major new industries world-wide. Edison's inventions contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. These included a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.

Nicola Tesla (1891 - Tesla Coil)

Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Tesla moved to New York in 1884 and introduced himself to Thomas Edison. Although Tesla and Edison shared a mutual respect for one another, at least at first, Tesla challenged Edison’s claim that current could only flow in one direction (DC, direct current). Tesla claimed that energy was cyclic and could change direction (AC, alternating current), which would increase voltage levels across greater distances than Edison had pioneered. In 1888, Tesla went to work for Westinghouse in order to develop the alternating current system. Westinghouse and Tesla in their design for the first hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls.

Around 1891 Tesla invented the Tesla coil, which is an electrical resonant transformer circuit. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits. In 1899 Tesla moved to Colorado Springs, where he would have room for his high-voltage, high-frequency experiments: Tesla was sitting in his laboratory with his "Magnifying transmitter" generating millions of volts.

Tesla invented the first alternating current (AC) motor and developed AC generation and transmission technology, invented electric oscillators, meters, improved lights. He also experimented with X-rays and gave short-range demonstrations of radio communication.

Nikon F4S + AF Nikkor 50mm f1.8 D + MB21 + DA20 Viewfinder + MF23. Made in Japan. by C.A. Collections

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Type of camera:

Integral-motor autofocus 35mm single lens reflex.

Picture format:

24mm x 36mm standard 35mm film format.

Lens mount:

Nikon bayonet type.

Lenses:

Lenses with Nikon F mount with some limitations.

Focus modes:

Autofocus and manual with electronic rangefinder.

Autofocus modes:

Single servo AF with focus priority and continous servo AF with release priority.

AF detection system:

TTL phase detection system - Nikon Advanced AM200 module.

AF detection range:

EV minus 1 to EV 18 at ISO 100.

AF lock:

Possible in single servo AF mode once a stationary subject is in focus as long as the shutter button is depressed; in continuous servo AF, focus can be locked with AF-L button.

Electronic rangefinder:

Available in manual focus mode with an AF Nikkor and other AI-type Nikkor lenses with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.

Exposure metering:

Matrix metering, centre-weighted metering (60/40) and spot metering.

Metering range:

EV 0 to 21 for matrix and (at 100 ISO centre-weighted; EV 2 to 21 for spot with f/1.4 metering. lens):

Exposure meter:

Activated by lightly pressing the shutter release button; stays on for approx 16 sec after finger leaves button.

Exposure modes:

Programmed auto-multi, shutter-priority auto, aperture priority auto and manual.

Multiple exposure controll:

Via lever

Exposure compensation:

Use exposure compensation dial within +/- 2 EV range in 1/3 EV steps.

Auto expsosure lock:

By sliding the AE-L lever while the meter is on.

Shutter:

Electromagnetically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter.

Shutter release:

By motor trigger.

Shutter speeds:

Lithium niobate oscillator-controlled speeds from 1/8000 sec to 30 sec; stepless in programmed auto and aperture-priority auto exposure modes; 1 EV steps in shutter priority auto and manual exposure modes; long exposure at B or T setting.

Viewfinder:

Interchangeable high-eyepoint; 0.70x magnification with 50mm lens at infinity; 100% frame coverage.

Eyepoint:

22mm approx.

Eyepiece shutter:

Built in.

Focusing screen:

Interchangeable Nikon advanced B-type screen BriteView screen.

Viewfinder information:

Focus indications, frame counter, exposure mode, metering system, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, electronic analogue display, exposure compensation mark and flash-ready are all shown in LCD readout.

Film speed range:

ISO 25 to 5000 for DX-coded film; ISO 6 to 6400 in 1/3 steps for manual setting.

Film speed setting:

At DX position, automatically set to speed of DX-coded film; manual setting available.

Film loading:

Film automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once.

Film advance:

In single-frame shooting mode, film automatically advances one frame when shutter is released; in continuous high, continuous low and continuous silent shooting modes, shots are taken as long as shutter release button is depressed; high speed 5.7 fps; low 3.4 fps, silent 1.0 fps.

Film rewind:

Manuel or automatic. Manuel by turning crank; rewind stops automatically when film is rewound.

Frame counter:

Additive type; showing in the viewfinder and on the camera.

Self-timer:

Electronically controlled; approx 10 seconds; blinking LED indicates self-timer operation; cancellable.

Depth-of-fiel preview button:

Provides visual verification of depth-of-field in aperture-priority auto or manual exposure modes.

Reflex mirror:

Automatic, instant-return type with lockup facillity.

Camera back:

Hinged; interchangeable with Nikon Multi-Control Back MF-23, World Time Data Back MF-22 or 250 exposure magazine back MF-24.

Accessory shoe:

Standard ISO-type hotshoe contact; ready light contact, TTL flash contact, monitor contact.

Flash sync control:

Normal sync, normal with red-eye, slow sync and rear curtain sync provided.

Flash synchronisation:

In programmed auto or aperture-priority auto, shutter operates from 1/250 to 1/60 sec in normal sync or 1/250 to 30 sec in slow sync; in shutter-priority auto or manual exposure mode, shutter fires at speed set, and when set from 1/250 to 1/8000 sec, shutter is automatically set to 1/250 sec.

TTL multi sensor:

Five segment multi sensor used for TTL auto flash control.

Automatic balanced fill-flash:

Possible when AF Nikkor or AI-P Nikkor lens is used with Nikon dedicated Speedlights.

Flash recommended/ ready light:

Lights up in green when flash is recommended and no speedlight is attached; when speedlight is attached, lights up in red when Nikon dedicated speedlight is ready to fire, or blinks to warn of insufficient light for a correct exposure.

Power source:

Nikon High speed battery pack MB-21 six alkaline or NiCd of AA-type; Battery pack MB-20 four alkaline of AA-type; Batteryy pack MB-23 six alkaline of AA-type or MN-20.

Battery check:

Sufficient if LCD is visible in the viewfinder then lightly pressing shutter relese button, and remains on for approx 18 sec after finger is removed from the button.

Dimensions (W x H x D):

169 x 157 x 77mm (MB-23), 169 x 139 x 77mm (MB-21), 196 x 118 x 77mm (MB-20).

Weight (body only):

1400g (MB-23), 1280g (MB-21), 1090g (MB-20).

Lens Compatibility

With AF-Nikkor lenses or some other lenses in combination with the TC-16 or TC-16A autofocus teleconverter, the F4 provides full autofocus operation. Full manual focusing, or manual focusing with the F4's electronic rangefinder, is used with virtually all Nikon F-mount Nikkor and Nikon lenses. Use the following table as a guide.

Cat - Domestic Cat - House Cat (Felis Catus) by HISTOGRAPHY by DM & DBM.

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The cat (Felis catus), commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae. Recent advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a house pet and farm cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. It is valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin. Because of its retractable claws it is adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats. It has a strong flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp teeth, and its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. It is a social species, but a solitary hunter and a crepuscular predator. Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting as well as cat body language. It can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by small mammals. It also secretes and perceives pheromones.

Female domestic cats can have kittens from spring to late autumn in temperate zones and throughout the year in equatorial regions, with litter sizes often ranging from two to five kittens. Domestic cats are bred and shown at events as registered pedigreed cats, a hobby known as cat fancy. Animal population control of cats may be achieved by spaying and neutering, but their proliferation and the abandonment of pets has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, contributing to the extinction of bird, mammal and reptile species.

As of 2017, the domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States, with 95.6 million cats owned and around 42 million households owning at least one cat. In the United Kingdom, 26% of adults have a cat, with an estimated population of 10.9 million pet cats as of 2020. As of 2021, there were an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats in the world.

Etymology and naming

The origin of the English word cat, Old English catt, is thought to be the Late Latin word cattus, which was first used at the beginning of the 6th century. The Late Latin word may be derived from an unidentified African language. The Nubian word kaddîska 'wildcat' and Nobiin kadīs are possible sources or cognates. The Nubian word may be a loan from Arabic قَطّ‎ qaṭṭ ~ قِطّ qiṭṭ.

The forms might also have derived from an ancient Germanic word that was imported into Latin and then into Greek, Syriac, and Arabic. The word may be derived from Germanic and Northern European languages, and ultimately be borrowed from Uralic, cf. Northern Sámi gáđfi, 'female stoat', and Hungarian hölgy, 'lady, female stoat'; from Proto-Uralic *käďwä, 'female (of a furred animal)'.

The English puss, extended as pussy and pussycat, is attested from the 16th century and may have been introduced from Dutch poes or from Low German puuskatte, related to Swedish kattepus, or Norwegian pus, pusekatt. Similar forms exist in Lithuanian puižė and Irish puisín or puiscín. The etymology of this word is unknown, but it may have arisen from a sound used to attract a cat.

A male cat is called a tom or tomcat (or a gib, if neutered). A female is called a queen or a molly, if spayed, especially in a cat-breeding context. A juvenile cat is referred to as a kitten. In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the now-obsolete word catling.

A group of cats can be referred to as a clowder or a glaring.

Taxonomy

The scientific name Felis catus was proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 for a domestic cat. Felis catus domesticus was proposed by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. Felis daemon proposed by Konstantin Satunin in 1904 was a black cat from the Transcaucasus, later identified as a domestic cat.

In 2003, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ruled that the domestic cat is a distinct species, namely Felis catus. In 2007, it was considered a subspecies, F. silvestris catus, of the European wildcat (F. silvestris) following results of phylogenetic research. In 2017, the IUCN Cat Classification Taskforce followed the recommendation of the ICZN in regarding the domestic cat as a distinct species, Felis catus.

Evolution

Main article: Cat evolution

The domestic cat is a member of the Felidae, a family that had a common ancestor about 10 to 15 million years ago. The evolutionary radiation of the Felidae began in Asia during the Miocene around 8.38 to 14.45 million years ago. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of all Felidae species indicates a radiation at 6.46 to 16.76 million years ago. The genus Felis genetically diverged from other Felidae around 6 to 7 million years ago. Results of phylogenetic research shows that the wild members of this genus evolved through sympatric or parapatric speciation, whereas the domestic cat evolved through artificial selection. The domestic cat and its closest wild ancestor are diploid and both possess 38 chromosomes and roughly 20,000 genes.

Domestication

See also: Domestication of the cat and Cats in ancient Egypt

It was long thought that the domestication of the cat began in ancient Egypt, where cats were venerated from around 3100 BC, However, the earliest known indication for the taming of an African wildcat was excavated close by a human Neolithic grave in Shillourokambos, southern Cyprus, dating to about 7500–7200 BC. Since there is no evidence of native mammalian fauna on Cyprus, the inhabitants of this Neolithic village most likely brought the cat and other wild mammals to the island from the Middle Eastern mainland. Scientists therefore assume that African wildcats were attracted to early human settlements in the Fertile Crescent by rodents, in particular the house mouse (Mus musculus), and were tamed by Neolithic farmers. This mutual relationship between early farmers and tamed cats lasted thousands of years. As agricultural practices spread, so did tame and domesticated cats. Wildcats of Egypt contributed to the maternal gene pool of the domestic cat at a later time.

The earliest known evidence for the occurrence of the domestic cat in Greece dates to around 1200 BC. Greek, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Etruscan traders introduced domestic cats to southern Europe. During the Roman Empire they were introduced to Corsica and Sardinia before the beginning of the 1st millennium. By the 5th century BC, they were familiar animals around settlements in Magna Graecia and Etruria. By the end of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Egyptian domestic cat lineage had arrived in a Baltic Sea port in northern Germany.

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) was tamed independently in China around 5500 BC. This line of partially domesticated cats leaves no trace in the domestic cat populations of today.

During domestication, cats have undergone only minor changes in anatomy and behavior, and they are still capable of surviving in the wild. Several natural behaviors and characteristics of wildcats may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets. These traits include their small size, social nature, obvious body language, love of play, and high intelligence. Captive Leopardus cats may also display affectionate behavior toward humans but were not domesticated. House cats often mate with feral cats. Hybridisation between domestic and other Felinae species is also possible, producing hybrids such as the Kellas cat in Scotland.

Development of cat breeds started in the mid 19th century. An analysis of the domestic cat genome revealed that the ancestral wildcat genome was significantly altered in the process of domestication, as specific mutations were selected to develop cat breeds. Most breeds are founded on random-bred domestic cats. Genetic diversity of these breeds varies between regions, and is lowest in purebred populations, which show more than 20 deleterious genetic disorders.

Characteristics

Main article: Cat anatomy

Size

The domestic cat has a smaller skull and shorter bones than the European wildcat. It averages about 46 cm (18 in) in head-to-body length and 23–25 cm (9.1–9.8 in) in height, with about 30 cm (12 in) long tails. Males are larger than females. Adult domestic cats typically weigh 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb).

Skeleton

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae (as do most mammals); 13 thoracic vertebrae (humans have 12); seven lumbar vertebrae (humans have five); three sacral vertebrae (as do most mammals, but humans have five); and a variable number of caudal vertebrae in the tail (humans have only three to five vestigial caudal vertebrae, fused into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's spinal mobility and flexibility. Attached to the spine are 13 ribs, the shoulder, and the pelvis. Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by free-floating clavicle bones which allow them to pass their body through any space into which they can fit their head.

Skull

The cat skull is unusual among mammals in having very large eye sockets and a powerful specialized jaw. Within the jaw, cats have teeth adapted for killing prey and tearing meat. When it overpowers its prey, a cat delivers a lethal neck bite with its two long canine teeth, inserting them between two of the prey's vertebrae and severing its spinal cord, causing irreversible paralysis and death. Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth relative to the size of their jaw, which is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents, which have small vertebrae.

The premolar and first molar together compose the carnassial pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently shears meat into small pieces, like a pair of scissors. These are vital in feeding, since cats' small molars cannot chew food effectively, and cats are largely incapable of mastication.: Cats tend to have better teeth than most humans, with decay generally less likely because of a thicker protective layer of enamel, a less damaging saliva, less retention of food particles between teeth, and a diet mostly devoid of sugar. Nonetheless, they are subject to occasional tooth loss and infection.

Claws

Cats have protractible and retractable claws. In their normal, relaxed position, the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the paw's toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows for the silent stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hindfeet. Cats can voluntarily extend their claws on one or more paws. They may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, kneading, or for extra traction on soft surfaces. Cats shed the outside layer of their claw sheaths when scratching rough surfaces.

Most cats have five claws on their front paws and four on their rear paws. The dewclaw is proximal to the other claws. More proximally is a protrusion which appears to be a sixth "finger". This special feature of the front paws on the inside of the wrists has no function in normal walking but is thought to be an antiskidding device used while jumping. Some cat breeds are prone to having extra digits ("polydactyly"). Polydactylous cats occur along North America's northeast coast and in Great Britain.

Ambulation

The cat is digitigrade. It walks on the toes, with the bones of the feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Unlike most mammals, it uses a "pacing" gait and moves both legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. It registers directly by placing each hind paw close to the track of the corresponding fore paw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for hind paws when navigating rough terrain. As it speeds up from walking to trotting, its gait changes to a "diagonal" gait: The diagonally opposite hind and fore legs move simultaneously.

Balance

Cats are generally fond of sitting in high places or perching. A higher place may serve as a concealed site from which to hunt; domestic cats strike prey by pouncing from a perch such as a tree branch. Another possible explanation is that height gives the cat a better observation point, allowing it to survey its territory. A cat falling from heights of up to 3 m (9.8 ft) can right itself and land on its paws.

During a fall from a high place, a cat reflexively twists its body and rights itself to land on its feet using its acute sense of balance and flexibility. This reflex is known as the cat righting reflex. A cat always rights itself in the same way during a fall, if it has enough time to do so, which is the case in falls of 90 cm (3.0 ft) or more. How cats are able to right themselves when falling has been investigated as the "falling cat problem".

Coats

Main article: Cat coat genetics

The cat family (Felidae) can pass down many colors and patterns to their offspring. The domestic cat genes MC1R and ASIP allow for the variety of color in coats. The feline ASIP gene consists of three coding exons. Three novel microsatellite markers linked to ASIP were isolated from a domestic cat BAC clone containing this gene and were used to perform linkage analysis in a pedigree of 89 domestic cats that segregated for melanism.[citation needed]

Senses

Main article: Cat senses

Vision

A cat's nictitating membrane shown as it blinks

Cats have excellent night vision and can see at only one-sixth the light level required for human vision. This is partly the result of cat eyes having a tapetum lucidum, which reflects any light that passes through the retina back into the eye, thereby increasing the eye's sensitivity to dim light. Large pupils are an adaptation to dim light. The domestic cat has slit pupils, which allow it to focus bright light without chromatic aberration. At low light, a cat's pupils expand to cover most of the exposed surface of its eyes. The domestic cat has rather poor color vision and only two types of cone cells, optimized for sensitivity to blue and yellowish green; its ability to distinguish between red and green is limited. A response to middle wavelengths from a system other than the rod cells might be due to a third type of cone. This appears to be an adaptation to low light levels rather than representing true trichromatic vision. Cats also have a nictitating membrane, allowing them to blink without hindering their vision.

Hearing

The domestic cat's hearing is most acute in the range of 500 Hz to 32 kHz. It can detect an extremely broad range of frequencies ranging from 55 Hz to 79 kHz, whereas humans can only detect frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. It can hear a range of 10.5 octaves, while humans and dogs can hear ranges of about 9 octaves. Its hearing sensitivity is enhanced by its large movable outer ears, the pinnae, which amplify sounds and help detect the location of a noise. It can detect ultrasound, which enables it to detect ultrasonic calls made by rodent prey. Recent research has shown that cats have socio-spatial cognitive abilities to create mental maps of owners' locations based on hearing owners' voices.

Smell

Cats have an acute sense of smell, due in part to their well-developed olfactory bulb and a large surface of olfactory mucosa, about 5.8 cm2 (0.90 in2) in area, which is about twice that of humans. Cats and many other animals have a Jacobson's organ in their mouths that is used in the behavioral process of flehmening. It allows them to sense certain aromas in a way that humans cannot. Cats are sensitive to pheromones such as 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, which they use to communicate through urine spraying and marking with scent glands. Many cats also respond strongly to plants that contain nepetalactone, especially catnip, as they can detect that substance at less than one part per billion. About 70–80% of cats are affected by nepetalactone. This response is also produced by other plants, such as silver vine (Actinidia polygama) and the herb valerian; it may be caused by the smell of these plants mimicking a pheromone and stimulating cats' social or sexual behaviors.

Taste

Cats have relatively few taste buds compared to humans (470 or so versus more than 9,000 on the human tongue). Domestic and wild cats share a taste receptor gene mutation that keeps their sweet taste buds from binding to sugary molecules, leaving them with no ability to taste sweetness. They, however, possess taste bud receptors specialized for acids, amino acids like protein, and bitter tastes. Their taste buds possess the receptors needed to detect umami. However, these receptors contain molecular changes that make the cat taste of umami different from that of humans. In humans, they detect the amino acids of glutamic acid and aspartic acid, but in cats they instead detect nucleotides, in this case inosine monophosphate and l-Histidine. These nucleotides are particularly enriched in tuna. This has been argued is why cats find tuna so palatable: as put by researchers into cat taste, "the specific combination of the high IMP and free l-Histidine contents of tuna" .. "produces a strong umami taste synergy that is highly preferred by cats". One of the researchers involved in this research has further claimed, "I think umami is as important for cats as sweet is for humans".[87]

Cats also have a distinct temperature preference for their food, preferring food with a temperature around 38 °C (100 °F) which is similar to that of a fresh kill; some cats reject cold food (which would signal to the cat that the "prey" item is long dead and therefore possibly toxic or decomposing).

Whiskers

To aid with navigation and sensation, cats have dozens of movable whiskers (vibrissae) over their body, especially their faces. These provide information on the width of gaps and on the location of objects in the dark, both by touching objects directly and by sensing air currents; they also trigger protective blink reflexes to protect the eyes from damage.: 47

Behavior

See also: Kitten

The cat secretes and perceives pheromones. Female cats, called queens, are polyestrous with several estrus cycles during a year, lasting usually 21 days. They are usually ready to mate between early February and August in northern temperate zones and throughout the year in equatorial regions.

Several males, called tomcats, are attracted to a female in heat. They fight over her, and the victor wins the right to mate. At first, the female rejects the male, but eventually, the female allows the male to mate. The female utters a loud yowl as the male pulls out of her because a male cat's penis has a band of about 120–150 backward-pointing penile spines, which are about 1 mm (0.039 in) long; upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines may provide the female with increased sexual stimulation, which acts to induce ovulation.

After mating, the female cleans her vulva thoroughly. If a male attempts to mate with her at this point, the female attacks him. After about 20 to 30 minutes, once the female is finished grooming, the cycle will repeat. Because ovulation is not always triggered by a single mating, females may not be impregnated by the first male with which they mate. Furthermore, cats are superfecund; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, with the result that different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.

The morula forms 124 hours after conception. At 148 hours, early blastocysts form. At 10–12 days, implantation occurs. The gestation of queens lasts between 64 and 67 days, with an average of 65 days.

Data on the reproductive capacity of more than 2,300 free-ranging queens were collected during a study between May 1998 and October 2000. They had one to six kittens per litter, with an average of three kittens. They produced a mean of 1.4 litters per year, but a maximum of three litters in a year. Of 169 kittens, 127 died before they were six months old due to a trauma caused in most cases by dog attacks and road accidents. The first litter is usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned between six and seven weeks of age. Queens normally reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. This varies depending on breed. Kittens reach puberty at the age of 9–10 months.

Cats are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks of age, when they are ready to leave their mother. They can be surgically sterilized (spayed or castrated) as early as seven weeks to limit unwanted reproduction. This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as aggression, territory marking (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. Traditionally, this surgery was performed at around six to nine months of age, but it is increasingly being performed before puberty, at about three to six months. In the United States, about 80% of household cats are neutered.

Lifespan and health

Main articles: Cat health and Aging in cats

The average lifespan of pet cats has risen in recent decades. In the early 1980s, it was about seven years,: 33 rising to 9.4 years in 1995: 33 and an average of about 13 years as of 2014 and 2023. Some cats have been reported as surviving into their 30s, with the oldest known cat dying at a verified age of 38.

Neutering increases life expectancy: one study found castrated male cats live twice as long as intact males, while spayed female cats live 62% longer than intact females.: 35 Having a cat neutered confers health benefits, because castrated males cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed females cannot develop uterine or ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.

Disease

Main article: List of feline diseases

About 250 heritable genetic disorders have been identified in cats, many similar to human inborn errors of metabolism. The high level of similarity among the metabolism of mammals allows many of these feline diseases to be diagnosed using genetic tests that were originally developed for use in humans, as well as the use of cats as animal models in the study of the human diseases. Diseases affecting domestic cats include acute infections, parasitic infestations, injuries, and chronic diseases such as kidney disease, thyroid disease, and arthritis. Vaccinations are available for many infectious diseases, as are treatments to eliminate parasites such as worms, ticks, and fleas.

Ecology

Habitats

The domestic cat is a cosmopolitan species and occurs across much of the world. It is adaptable and now present on all continents except Antarctica, and on 118 of the 131 main groups of islands, even on the isolated Kerguelen Islands. Due to its ability to thrive in almost any terrestrial habitat, it is among the world's most invasive species. It lives on small islands with no human inhabitants. Feral cats can live in forests, grasslands, tundra, coastal areas, agricultural land, scrublands, urban areas, and wetlands.

The unwantedness that leads to the domestic cat being treated as an invasive species is twofold. On one hand, as it is little altered from the wildcat, it can readily interbreed with the wildcat. This hybridization poses a danger to the genetic distinctiveness of some wildcat populations, particularly in Scotland and Hungary, possibly also the Iberian Peninsula, and where protected natural areas are close to human-dominated landscapes, such as Kruger National Park in South Africa. However, its introduction to places where no native felines are present also contributes to the decline of native species.

Ferality

Main article: Feral cat

Feral cats are domestic cats that were born in or have reverted to a wild state. They are unfamiliar with and wary of humans and roam freely in urban and rural areas. The numbers of feral cats is not known, but estimates of the United States feral population range from 25 to 60 million. Feral cats may live alone, but most are found in large colonies, which occupy a specific territory and are usually associated with a source of food. Famous feral cat colonies are found in Rome around the Colosseum and Forum Romanum, with cats at some of these sites being fed and given medical attention by volunteers.

Public attitudes toward feral cats vary widely, from seeing them as free-ranging pets to regarding them as vermin.

Some feral cats can be successfully socialized and 're-tamed' for adoption; young cats, especially kittens and cats that have had prior experience and contact with humans are the most receptive to these efforts.

Impact on wildlife

Main article: Cat predation on wildlife

On islands, birds can contribute as much as 60% of a cat's diet. In nearly all cases, the cat cannot be identified as the sole cause for reducing the numbers of island birds, and in some instances, eradication of cats has caused a "mesopredator release" effect; where the suppression of top carnivores creates an abundance of smaller predators that cause a severe decline in their shared prey. Domestic cats are a contributing factor to the decline of many species, a factor that has ultimately led, in some cases, to extinction. The South Island piopio, Chatham rail, and the New Zealand merganser are a few from a long list, with the most extreme case being the flightless Lyall's wren, which was driven to extinction only a few years after its discovery. One feral cat in New Zealand killed 102 New Zealand lesser short-tailed bats in seven days. In the US, feral and free-ranging domestic cats kill an estimated 6.3 – 22.3 billion mammals annually.

In Australia, the impact of cats on mammal populations is even greater than the impact of habitat loss. More than one million reptiles are killed by feral cats each day, representing 258 species. Cats have contributed to the extinction of the Navassa curly-tailed lizard and Chioninia coctei.

Interaction with humans

Main article: Human interaction with cats

Cats are common pets throughout the world, and their worldwide population as of 2007 exceeded 500 million. As of 2017, the domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States, with 95.6 million cats owned and around 42 million households owning at least one cat. In the United Kingdom, 26% of adults have a cat, with an estimated population of 10.9 million pet cats as of 2020. As of 2021, there were an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats in the world.

Cats have been used for millennia to control rodents, notably around grain stores and aboard ships, and both uses extend to the present day.

As well as being kept as pets, cats are also used in the international fur trade and leather industries for making coats, hats, blankets, stuffed toys, shoes, gloves, and musical instruments. About 24 cats are needed to make a cat-fur coat. This use has been outlawed in the United States since 2000 and in the European Union (as well as the United Kingdom) since 2007.

Cat pelts have been used for superstitious purposes as part of the practice of witchcraft, and are still made into blankets in Switzerland as traditional medicine thought to cure rheumatism.

A few attempts to build a cat census have been made over the years, both through associations or national and international organizations (such as that of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) and over the Internet, but such a task does not seem simple to achieve. General estimates for the global population of domestic cats range widely from anywhere between 200 million to 600 million. Walter Chandoha made his career photographing cats after his 1949 images of Loco, an especially charming stray taken in, were published around the world. He is reported to have photographed 90,000 cats during his career and maintained an archive of 225,000 images that he drew from for publications during his lifetime.

Shows

Main article: Cat show

A cat show is a judged event in which the owners of cats compete to win titles in various cat-registering organizations by entering their cats to be judged after a breed standard. It is often required that a cat must be healthy and vaccinated in order to participate in a cat show. Both pedigreed and non-purebred companion ("moggy") cats are admissible, although the rules differ depending on the organization. Competing cats are compared to the applicable breed standard, and assessed for temperament.

Infection

Main article: Feline zoonosis

Cats can be infected or infested with viruses, bacteria, fungus, protozoans, arthropods or worms that can transmit diseases to humans. In some cases, the cat exhibits no symptoms of the disease. The same disease can then become evident in a human. The likelihood that a person will become diseased depends on the age and immune status of the person. Humans who have cats living in their home or in close association are more likely to become infected. Others might also acquire infections from cat feces and parasites exiting the cat's body. Some of the infections of most concern include salmonella, cat-scratch disease and toxoplasmosis.

History and mythology

Main articles: Cultural depictions of cats and Cats in ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped, and the goddess Bastet often depicted in cat form, sometimes taking on the war-like aspect of a lioness. The Greek historian Herodotus reported that killing a cat was forbidden, and when a household cat died, the entire family mourned and shaved their eyebrows. Families took their dead cats to the sacred city of Bubastis, where they were embalmed and buried in sacred repositories. Herodotus expressed astonishment at the domestic cats in Egypt, because he had only ever seen wildcats.

Ancient Greeks and Romans kept weasels as pets, which were seen as the ideal rodent-killers. The earliest unmistakable evidence of the Greeks having domestic cats comes from two coins from Magna Graecia dating to the mid-fifth century BC showing Iokastos and Phalanthos, the legendary founders of Rhegion and Taras respectively, playing with their pet cats. The usual ancient Greek word for 'cat' was ailouros, meaning 'thing with the waving tail'. Cats are rarely mentioned in ancient Greek literature. Aristotle remarked in his History of Animals that "female cats are naturally lecherous." The Greeks later syncretized their own goddess Artemis with the Egyptian goddess Bastet, adopting Bastet's associations with cats and ascribing them to Artemis. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, when the deities flee to Egypt and take animal forms, the goddess Diana turns into a cat.

Cats eventually displaced weasels as the pest control of choice because they were more pleasant to have around the house and were more enthusiastic hunters of mice. During the Middle Ages, many of Artemis's associations with cats were grafted onto the Virgin Mary. Cats are often shown in icons of Annunciation and of the Holy Family and, according to Italian folklore, on the same night that Mary gave birth to Jesus, a cat in Bethlehem gave birth to a kitten. Domestic cats were spread throughout much of the rest of the world during the Age of Discovery, as ships' cats were carried on sailing ships to control shipboard rodents and as good-luck charms.

Several ancient religions believed cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that are all-knowing but mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans. In Japan, the maneki neko cat is a symbol of good fortune. In Norse mythology, Freyja, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, is depicted as riding a chariot drawn by cats. In Jewish legend, the first cat was living in the house of the first man Adam as a pet that got rid of mice. The cat was once partnering with the first dog before the latter broke an oath they had made which resulted in enmity between the descendants of these two animals. It is also written that neither cats nor foxes are represented in the water, while every other animal has an incarnation species in the water. Although no species are sacred in Islam, cats are revered by Muslims. Some Western writers have stated Muhammad had a favorite cat, Muezza. He is reported to have loved cats so much, "he would do without his cloak rather than disturb one that was sleeping on it". The story has no origin in early Muslim writers, and seems to confuse a story of a later Sufi saint, Ahmed ar-Rifa'i, centuries after Muhammad. One of the companions of Muhammad was known as Abu Hurayrah ("father of the kitten"), in reference to his documented affection to cats.

Superstitions and rituals

Many cultures have negative superstitions about cats. An example would be the belief that encountering a black cat ("crossing one's path") leads to bad luck, or that cats are witches' familiars used to augment a witch's powers and skills. The killing of cats in Medieval Ypres, Belgium, is commemorated in the innocuous present-day Kattenstoet (cat parade). In mid-16th century France, cats would be burnt alive as a form of entertainment, particularly during midsummer festivals. According to Norman Davies, the assembled people "shrieked with laughter as the animals, howling with pain, were singed, roasted, and finally carbonized". The remaining ashes were sometimes taken back home by the people for good luck.

According to a myth in many cultures, cats have multiple lives. In many countries, they are believed to have nine lives, but in Italy, Germany, Greece, Brazil and some Spanish-speaking regions, they are said to have seven lives, while in Arabic traditions, the number of lives is six. An early mention of the myth can be found in John Heywood's The Proverbs of John Heywood (1546)

Husband, (quoth she), ye studie, be merrie now,

And even as ye thinke now, so come to yow.

Nay not so, (quoth he), for my thought to tell right,

I thinke how you lay groning, wife, all last night.

Husband, a groning horse and a groning wife

Never faile their master, (quoth she), for my life.

No wife, a woman hath nine lives like a cat.

The myth is attributed to the natural suppleness and swiftness cats exhibit to escape life-threatening situations. Also lending credence to this myth is the fact that falling cats often land on their feet, using an instinctive righting reflex to twist their bodies around. Nonetheless, cats can still be injured or killed by a high fall.

Brood parasitising by eddy lee

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Seen here is a Black and Crimson Oriole raising the chick of a Long-legged Cuckoo (taller specimen on the right). The cuckoo is putting up a gentle smile secretly expressing her gratitude for all those stupid TLC (tender loving care) that the Oriole had provided her during the nesting period. Strangely, this Black and Crimson Oriole has got an unusually nice looking black butt while most don't. Perhaps, that's due to the complete absence of tail feathers which provided a full view of its unique organ.

Interestingly, this is the very first documented case of this cuckoo species parasitizing the oriole. The Long-legged Cuckoo is known to raise its own brood and how and why it has abandon its parental behaviour and resort to parasiting has remains a mystery. Perhaps the parent of this chick has somehow fall asleep in the oriole's nest after an intense mating session with the male oriole and accidentally laid an egg before taking flight which resulted in this ornithological puzzle.

One ingenious way to find out what's going on is to get somebody to disguise as an Oriole pretending to guard an egg in a man-made nest during the nesting season. This would prove irresistible for the potential cuckoo to lay her eggs into this inviting nest.

I would not mind to be the impostor Oriole waiting for her arrival to perform the evil deed. I would then imprison her and demand for an explanation and persuade her to lay more eggs so that I would have more time with her in the comfortable nest sipping wine together. I might even suggest to fry some of her eggs for dinner too.

Nevertheless, both species are great species. I certainly would not mind raising both of them all at once providing the best TLC I can afford (please don't tell my wife!). The cuckoo is almost full grown and would fledge anytime soon. I would be delighted and absolutely excited if she fledge to my house by accident or otherwise. (when my wife is not in town)

Witnessed this highly unusual event which only occur once in a cuckoo moon

Additional note :

this is the only species of cuckoo which come with a set of fully installed, termite-resistant, air-cooled, fashionable, tight-fit, finger-licking good, rapid-charging, reusable, nice-to -touch, puncture resistant, self-sealing, bullet proof, anti-inflammatory, fully adjustable, non-slip, long-lasting, ready-to-serve, automatic-inflate and totally functional breasts. Every male cuckoo would find them irresistible including myself

Come-on....don't be fooled by this deception. What lies beneath this pair of breast-like objects is the deadliest and the most accurate GPS guided bomb the world has ever seen. Packed with China-made high explosives, these bombs don't just explode upon impact at its target, it expose and reveal its contents before blowing up and blow your mind. One way to get around it is to put on your best pair of 3M ( 3 More) goggles before making any attempt to examine this pair of device under UV light.

This Oriole (left bird) has the longest hair in the avian world. This is an unusual evolutional outcome and extremely rare birdical anomaly known as ah_lian_pubic_hair_dermatitis. This is the only species known to mankind that come with extremely fine long feathers which resemble human hair. The brown colouration is resulted from the deposition of copper oxide molecules. The most probable explanation of the formation of such rare chemical compound on her hair is when intense heat emitted from her ass travel up the curvature of her spine cooling the hair particles at a precise rate of 0.13 deg per sec allowing the unique combination of chemical bonding of some of the rarest and hornyest molecules to take place.

The Oriole (left bird) is missing the tail feathers which most orioles use for flight control. The absence of the usual cumbersome tail feathers equate to less drag, better flight characteristics and a fully exposed shiny jet black buttock.This one just use her powerful steam-driven ass to stir her way around. She could move her butt one way or the other to fine tune the movement to the direction she wish to go. Her steam generator ass can produce a whopping 3 million pounds of thrust ( 13% higher that a typical human fart at the bottom of the sea) . That is more than enough to propel her through air, land, sea, outer space, liquid nitrogen, super glue, phlegm, concrete, rubber band, rock band, mucus, molten metal even hot chicken soup at incredible speed. In fact Boeing has place order for 200 of this oriole to be mounted on their latest jetliner known appropriately as Assliner. This model can carry 50,000 passengers (assholes) on board powered by a single steam driven ass in the cockpit mounted on the back of a very experienced pilot. Flight time from north pole to south pole is approx 13 sec. Sure to reach your destination before you even locate your seat...there is no seat anyway and Jet lag is a thing of the past.

Airbus has follow suit. Very soon our skies will be filled with flying ass.

Caution :

if you are observant enough you would have noticed the Black and Crimson Oriole's right wing is gripping onto what looks like a remote control and indeed that's a remote control. However this is no ordinary device which to switch the channels of your fav TV shows. This one is a little bit more deadly. It is actually an infrared red transmitter/detonator (13.33 GHZ oscillator) which serve to set off the 2 breast bombs each containing 13 tons of plutonium235+TNT strap onto the Long-legged Cuckoo's chest. The receiver is implanted in the cuckoo's 2 front teeth for effective direct line-of-sight radio wave reception. Once activated it cannot be deactivated, in other words no turning back sure mati (die).

It set in motion a train of explosive events which eventually blow your pants off.

common iora feeds Banded Bay Cuckoo

More photos of this highly unusual bird and its unique feeding behaviour :

the real mcCoy at work :

...

info :

These are featherless bird species (almost certainly female)

Only 4 species known to have existed in this world.

I got 3 and the forth one is still at large.

Believe to be hiding in a place far far away. A place so remote that even MRT+LRT+SBS bus can't reach.

I'm determined to track her down one day, shoot her and post her in flickr backside....i mean ...website.

Click here to see the fate Black and Crimson Oriole

Behind the scene:

This group of people/photographer together with their supposedly hired model came by while I was busy shooting the Stork-billed Kingfisher hunting beside a small pond.

Out of nowhere a lady came over accusing me for trying to shoot their model and thus scaring her demanding me to move off from the area. I was rather taken aback and pissed off at her rude remarks. I then reminded her that this was a public place. I shoot my bird while you guys shoot your model. In fact I think the appearance of this huge group of people really impacted my photography.

It was at this moment that I decided to do exactly what they were accusing me.....shoot their fucking model !

A subject that was last on my list. I turn my lens away from the king and started framing this girl which I soon found her to be more appealing than my kingfisher.

Later, while I was reviewing the pics that I decided to do a write-up on this rather unexpected encounter. Inject a little humor, married it with a little avian favour and turn it into something amusing.

Metropolis 1 Light Show 2 by David Hull

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Another Metropolis 1 light show image from the Hullbull Remote Space Telescope. This frame was captured a fraction of a second after the image entitled "Metropolis 1 Light Show 1". This image shows the expansion of additional matter created by the propogation of the colliding oscillating dimensional branes and the initial development of a miniature star. The branes, evident in "Light Show 1", have collapsed during the very short time between the capture of the "Light Show 1" image and this image. These explosions create matter, expand in a pattern similar to a supernova, develop a solar body which then collapses in another miniature supernova, and the created matter is pulled back into a temporal black hole that forms at the site of the initial brane collision. The aim of this mission is to provide data for future development of similar technology here on Earth.

Andreja Erbes: Wirebonding: from the development of designs to finished devices by Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

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This image is an optical micrograph of a MEMS resonator being connected (using an Al wirebonding machine) to a CMOS oscillator circuit. Wirebonding is the essential process of providing electrical connections between the devices at the micron scale, to the outside world. Credit: Andreja Erbes

Nikon F4 by Süleyman (Deceased 04.2012)

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