Thomas Russell ("the Man from God knows where") was among the founders and a leading member of the United Irishmen. He was born in Drumahane, County Cork on 21 November 1767 and, following his family tradition of military service, joined the army in 1973 and was posted to India. He returned to Ireland in 1776, on half pay and continued his studies in science, philosophy and politics. In July 1790 he met Theobald Wolfe Tone in the visitor's gallery in the Irish House of Commons and they became firm friends.

In 1790 Russell resumed his military career as a junior officer in the 64th Regiment of Foot and was posted to Belfast. As an officer of the garrison, Russell entered socially into the circles of the emerging professionals and businessmen. With his keen mind and radical ideas, Russell was soon drawn to the McCrackens, Simms, Templetons, Nielsons and other families who were to play a prominent role in the United Irish movement. With them he developed ideas of parliamentary reform, to include the bulk of the people, and Catholic emancipation.

By July 1791 Russell was out of the army and attending a convention of the Whig Club in Belfast to mark Bastille Day. The convention was addressed by William Drennan, who proposed a brotherhood that would "go further than speculate or debate … and come to grips with practicalities." He advocated co-operation with the increasingly radical Catholic Committee, in Dublin, in the pursuit of political and social reforms. Russell told Tone of the Belfast developments, and within weeks Tone published his Argument on Behalf of the Catholics of Ireland. Aimed principally at the Ulster Dissenters, Tone's pamphlet called for unity, fraternity, and tolerance, without which the government would "play upon terrors of Protestants, the hopes of Catholics and, balancing the one party by the other, plunder and laugh at the defeat of both." The Argument had a profound effect on its intended audience. Tone and Russell were invited by the Belfast radicals to assist in the task of establishing the proposed brotherhood, and on 18 October 1791 the inaugural meeting of the Society of United Irishmen took place, with twenty-eight people present. The society's three main aims were constitutional reform, union among the Irish people and the removal of all religious disqualification. Dublin quickly followed suit, and on 9 November, in the Eagle Tavern, Eustace Street the Dublin Society of United Irishmen was formed. The movement quickly developed a strategy of spreading its ideals by means of leaflets, newspapers, ballads, "catechisms," and travelling emissaries. The Northern Star of Belfast was especially successful, both commercially and politically.

The aim of Irish independence from Great Britain was a later development, when it became clear, through the Irish government's brutal repressive measures, that reform was not possible. That momentous decision (often taken to herald the birth of modern Irish republicanism) was taken in June 1795 on Cave Hill above Belfast by Wolfe Tone, Henry Joy McCracken, Thomas Russell, Samuel Neilsen and a number of other United Irishmen.

Russell's liberal views were tested to the full when, having retired from the army (he had to sell his commission to repay a debt for which he had been guarantor), he was appointed Seneschal (magistrate) of the Manor Court of Dungannon in December 1791. He only lasted nine months. R.R. Madden's 'Memoire of Thomas Russell' in his work United Irishmen 1846 records a letter to Tone in which he says that "he could not reconcile it to his conscience to sit as magistrate on a bench where the practice prevailed of enquiring what a man's religion was before inquiring into the crime with which a prisoner was charged."

An impressive feature of Russell's stance on freedom was its universal sweep. He made clear his anti-slavery views on more that one occasion. While at Dungannon he drew impassioned attention to the abuse in the Northern Star on March 17, 1792. An editorial comment took the less generous view - agreeing with Russell but pointing out the immediate necessity to liberate three million slaves in Ireland. Russell did not make that distinction.

From his position as librarian to the Society for the Promotion of Knowledge (later to become the Linen Hall Library), to which he was appointed in February 1794, Russell took an active part in organising the United Irishmen and by 1796 he was their commander in County Down. He was arrested in that year and lodged in Dublin's Newgate prison and as a consequence he took no part in the Rising of 1798. In March 1799 he and the other state prisoners were transferred to Fort George in Scotland, an extensive fortress some miles north of Inverness. During his imprisonment he was never charged with any crime, being, in effect, a political prisoner. He was released in June 1802 and transported to Hamburg.

From Hamburg Russell made his way to Paris where he met Robert Emmet who was planning another insurrection. Russell returned to Ireland in March 1803 to organise the North. He soon realised the hopelessness of the cause when he failed to raise forces in the subdued County Down. When Emmet was arrested in Dublin, Russell went to his rescue but was captured and arrested.

Russell was brought to Downpatrick Gaol and tried for high treason with three local men, James Drake, James Corry and Michael Maguire. Found guilty on the evidence of many local witnesses, he was hanged and then beheaded at the gate of the gaol on 21 October 1803, one month short of his 37th birthday.

Following his execution he was buried in Down Parish Churchyard where Mary Ann McCracken, sister of Henry Joy McCracken (executed in 1798) and friend of Russell, arranged for a simple memorial that still remains. All it says is "The Grave of Russell"

Not necessarily a rare car, but I thought this one was worth a shot due to the unusual colour. Mk1 Jazz's are still commanding high prices on the used market as they are in quite high demand even now due to their small size and big practicality. This 'red' Jazz seems to be still going strong covering 12k miles a year, it was last MOT'd at the beginning of July showing just under 126,000 miles.

“I developed an interest in film when I was young. My parents had a camera which I used. I make films for a living now, but my interests lie in anything horror or true crime. About two years ago I had just found out that my wife was pregnant. I was overjoyed. I wanted to tell the world. But making an announcement online, no one is really bothered. It’s not new or relevant for people. So I thought of doing something more interesting and creative. At first I wanted to do a parody of The Shining. The scene where Jack comes through the door shouting, ‘Here’s Johnny!’ But the practicality of getting hold of an axe and a broken door meant that I couldn’t make that one. I went with Psycho and the infamous shower scene. Instead of a knife, my wife was holding a pregnancy stick. It was pretty fun to make. Everyone loved it and it even got picked up on several news channels. When my daughter gets older she’ll get to see that. One of the main reasons for making it was to inspire her. I’ve also got two nieces. I want them to be able to be creative like that. It’s important for their future.”

Concert and exhibition opening in the evangelical Lutheran church of Augusta Victoria on The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, on Friday the 16th of December at 6 a clock pm. The exhibition is a complete Biblical cycle of both The Old- and The New Testament developed by the Norwegian, surrealist painter Håkon Gullvåg. The exhibition was in 2005 made as a temporary decoration for Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, which is the national sanctuary of Norway. The motifs will through this show “come home” to their historical context, and will be displayed in the church during both Christmas 2011 and Easter 2012.

Opening speeches will be held by H. E. the Norwegian Minister of Government Administration, Reform and Church affairs Rigmor Aasrud, and by the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land the Rt. Rev. Dr. Munib A. Younan.

The concert that follows the exhibition opening will be held by the Norwegian chamber ensemble The Trondheim Soloists, the Norwegian musician and composer Henning Sommeroe, together with the Palestinian artist and composer Rim Banna.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

The Church of the Ascension at the "Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation" on the Mount of Olives - together with our Center for Pilgrims and Tourists and the famous "Café Auguste Victoria".

It was built in 1907-1910, and named after Empress Augusta Victoria, the wife of German Kaiser Wilhelm II. Today it is an Arab Hospital.

The Christian community of Jerusalem has always been multi-ethnic, diverse and multi-lingual. Here, you will find Greeks and Armenians, Syrians, Coptic Christians from Egypt, Ethiopians, Maronites with Lebanese background, Orthodox Russians, Palestinians, and Hebrew Christians praying side by side. As a German speaking Protestant Church, we are a vital part of the ecumenical landscape of Christian churches in Jerusalem.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

PS2 HAEVY DUTY can diagnose VOLVO, SCANIA, MAN, IVECO,MERCEDES BENZ,ISUZU,MACK, COMMINS,HINO,FUSO at present, and will add DAF, Renault , ERF,SINOTRUCK,NISSAN UD etc in the near future!

PS2 Heavy automobile computer diagnostic tool is a major product which our company developed recently. Our technicians in programming and R&D section play a technical leading role in this business. Most engineers have rich experiences for designing platform and software. Therefore, our custom will feel the outstanding and powerful performance of the product.

As for the design of PS2, our technicians perfectly mix appearances with practicality. With jumbo size, true-color, full touching screen and simple body, customers will operate PS2 more intuitively and easily. The capability of the built-in highly processing chip could reach 400MHZ. Its ability is superior to the common used ARM7 chip. Such excellent performance of the chip and the superior diagnostic module will guarantee the accuracy and real-time function. The demonstration for data stream of PS2 shows its accuracy and rapidity which will enhance the convenience of our guests.

In the compatible aspect of data agreement, PS2 comprehensively supports all protocols and all modes for the OBD II. The built-in CAN BUS chip supports all CAN BUS agreements. The forward-looking design of PS2 meets the need not only for the present but also for the future automobile main-line examination. The drivers of diagnostic module can be updated through the internet. The formidable compatibility reduces the equipped adapter. PS2 is easy to handle and users will experience the unique design from our R&D team.

We also provides wireless communication version of PS2. The servicemen can sits in the office to carry on the functional test. The VAG connector could meet the various requests from customers. All test procedures places on a high-capacity SD card which facilitates the updating procedure. The mulit-language edition will satisfy the demands from our customer around the world.

As a result of massive field test, PS2 becomes a matured and integrated product. Excellence is our motto. We make every effort to develop and to innovate our product which enables PS2 to become an reliable automobile diagnostic equipment. The speedy test, the accuracy and the user-friendly design of SP2 help us to enjoy the support of all customers!

PS2 is a high-tech and professional automobile diagnostic tool. Please follow the instruction to use the product. If you have any problems or questions related to the operation, please contact post-sale Technical service department for further instruction.

Power switch: Uses for starting and closing of main engine

USB connection: Uses this connection to carry on the data synchronization with PC.

VGA connection: Uses this connection to link the external monitor (800×600 pixels)

Main test connection: Uses the testing line to carry on the vehicles diagnosis.

power connection: Uses for the exterior power supply

touching pen: Uses in clicking on the touching-screen.

4. functions of VCI diagnostic box:

The box is bridging the PS2 mainframe and the automobile diagnostic base. It is called lower position machine. This diagnostic box has two connections, the DB15 connection and the OBD II connection. The main testing line connects the PS2 mainframe with the DB15 adapter. The OBDII connection could link with the testing adapter (PS2 with OBDII diagnostic base could directly link with automobile connection base)

Because the blue-teeth communication module is installed in the VCI diagnosis box, the PS2 mainframe could proceed the diagnosis without the main testing line. The on-line diagnosis should be changed to the wireless diagnosis mode on the menu.serial port: Uses in the main body debugging.

SD card slot: uses for SD cardPower switch: Uses for starting and closing of main engine

USB connection: Uses this connection to carry on the data synchronization with PC.

VGA connection: Uses this connection to link the external monitor (800×600 pixels)

Main test connection: Uses the testing line to carry on the vehicles diagnosis.

power connection: Uses for the exterior power supply

touching pen: Uses in clicking on the touching-screen.

5. PS2 technical parameters:

operating system: WINCE 5.0 operating platforms

CPU: SAMSUNG 32 bits processors, basic frequency is 400MHZ random memory: SDRAM 64M

programming memory: FLASH 64M

exterior memory: supports SD card slot-in and slot-out

mainframe power supply: DC12V/24V

mainframe power: 25W

printer: Mini high-speed thermal sensitive printer

screen: 8 inches real-color touch-screens, 800×600 with LED back-light

machine composition: mainframe, testing adapter, group of lines, manual and outside box

temperature: -20-50

relative humidity: <90%

mainframe battery: rechargeable battery 3500m/Ah

wireless communication: blue-teeth

overall size: 305.2×215.2×85mm

weight: 10KG

www.auto-ecu-tool.com

Anywhere in Dubai, it's not hard to find over-the-top displays of opulence. But here in the world's only (allegedly) self-proclaimed 7-star hotel, built on its own island in the Arabian Gulf, the Burj al Arab stands out among the crowd. Amid the Disneyland-like resorts, malls and other attractions popping up around Dubai, designed to woo tourists with the appearance of wealth and luxury, the Burj al Arab is one place where this appearance is more than just a facade. Here, what appears golden is... actually gold. This is the real deal.

I enjoyed a breakfast here on my last full day of almost two months of travelling - and realized that exception service is not so much a factor of what is offered, but is about anticipation - being one step ahead of your guests to respond to their needs before they even realize it's what they want.

Without a doubt, the hotel's reputation owes a great deal to the exclusive environment it propagates. Accessible only for guests or visitors with a reservation, a group of tourists can often be found at the foot of the pier, craning heads for a glimpse and snapshot of the hotel from outside the gate. The almost unbelievable myths help too... yes, you can arrive here by helicopter, and yes some guests are provided with a Rolls Royce and driver to shop and see the city.

Some comments and critiques (from wikipedia):

"both the hotel and the city, after all, are monuments to the triumph of money over practicality. Both elevate style over substance."

"Emulating the quality of palatial interiors, in an expression of wealth for the mainstream, a theater of opulence is created in Burj Al Arab … The result is a baroque effect"

There's not much I can say about the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow that hasn't already been said, a car that was styled and homed to perfection, a vehicle that took 3 months to build, comprised of 3 cow hides, 12 square feet of wood and laden with the finest Wilton carpets. If you owned a brand new one of these back in the 1960's and 70's, then you truly were someone special.

The Silver Shadow however, unlike its predecessors, was the most radical Rolls ever built, primarily due to the fact that unlike previous cars such as the Phantom and Silver Cloud, the car was built on a monocoque, with the body being built with the chassis, rather than in earlier instances where Rolls would provide the chassis, and then it was up to the owner to hire a coachbuilder such as Hoopers or HJ Muliner Park Ward, to build the body.

The Silver Shadow was also the first Rolls to be built with the idea of the owner being sat in the front rather than the back. The Silver Cloud was very much a passenger's car, being ferried from stately banquet to stately banquet by a chauffeur. This Silver Shadow on the other hand was a driver's car, powered by Rolls Royce's magnificent V8 engine it smoothly glided across the countryside with the grace and elegance of a stately home on wheels, and so popular was this chemistry of luxury and practicality, that they sold by the thousand. In total, 25,000 examples were built, and the design was incorporated into many other variations, including the Rolls Royce Corniche (a direct descendant of the Silver Shadow 2-door Coupe built by HJ Muliner Park Ward), the controversial Camargue (which was built on the same chassis as a Shadow), and the Bentley T series (basically a Shadow with Bentley badging and radiator grille).

Eventually, the Shadow ended production in 1980, being replaced by the simpler Silver Spirit and Silver Spur range, but the magnificent design of this classic British pedigree has kept it one of the most popular owner's cars in the world, now available for ownership at less that £10,000 in some instances!

Built in the final year of the Silver Shadow I, I consider Shadows such as this to be the last of the truly great Rolls Royces as following this the cars became much more run-of-the-mill.

For starters, the magnificent chrome bumpers that line this one were replaced on the Silver Shadow II by compound bumpers to address American safety legislation, and the two ditch lights seen under the headlamps were placed below the bumper on a rather vulgar looking chin spoiler. Although done in the best interests of road safety, it certainly made these cars look less than stellar.

But this wonderful little roadside gem though shows what the Silver Shadow was all about, chrome everywhere!

Outside, the Avantime looks like nothing else. The front is almost normal, but the back reminds me of the front of a tugboat, with its wrap-around glass.

You can't be a wallflower in an Avantime, and that's just what Renault counts on.

Future classic for less than £10,000

The Matra-built Avantime was an interesting concept - combining MPV accommodation with coupe-like interior and frameless two-door construction. It was built for two years, and a mere 8557 were made, making it something of a commercial failure, and that makes the Avantime perfect candidate for future classic.

Actually, most enthusiasts have already cottoned on to the Avantime, with a small and appreciative cult following building up around it. Ironically, the Avantime's values are already strong compared with contemporary Renaults - you only need to see the number of sub-£1000 Vel Satis cars out there for sale to see why.

The Avantime was introduced for 2001 alongside the aforementioned Vel Satis. Supposedly combining the styling of a 2+2 coupe with the space of minivan, the Avantime concept was conceived by former Renault co-operative Matra, who dabbled in Formula 1 racing while building computers, bicycles, missles, and the Espace van. Matra intended the coupe-van-thing to cater to a younger generation of buyers who, as they saw it, grew up with the Espace and didn't want to grow too far apart from it.

Le Quement handled the styling and came up with a large-butted one-box shape with a pillarless daylight opening, a massive retractable glass roof, and huge doors. It was something that was truly unlike anything ever built before by an automaker, a huge two-door van that was guaranteed to leave onlookers with the most confused look on their faces. No one could figure out if they were looking at a car, a small land-fairing cruise liner, or something sculpted by Picasso turned into a parade float.

Though the design wasn’t without its engineering issues, Renault bested the better part of them with some interesting solutions. For example, the Avantime used a space frame made of strengthened aluminum to retain structural integrity in a side impact collision in spite of the fact there weren’t b-pillars. The huge doors used a clever double-hinged design to keep them manageable in tight parking situations. To keep weight down, the lower body panels were all composite.

Aside from the neat engineering details, the best part of the Avantime was it’s so called “grand air” mode in which all of the windows and the big sunroof were retracted for a very convertible-like experience. The feature was activated with the simple push of a button on the headliner. It was this particular experience that Avantime owners would come to treasure most in their cars.

The entire package came at a hefty cost though. Engineering costs for the Avantime’s double hinged doors and semi-convertible design racked up at a whopping 224€ million back at the turn of the century (about $286 million US dollars then and $358 million today). Those engineering costs would also be passed on to the buyer with the base sticker price starting at 29,000€. With a sticker price like that, those young, Espace-loving buyers that the Avantime was supposed to attract couldn’t afford it. Their parents, which could, weren’t interested because of the odd styling and general lack of practicality. The Avantime also faced in-house competition from the Vel Satis, whose appearance looked more conventional in comparison.

Sales of the Avantime totaled up to just 8,557 cars in May 2003, at which point the plug was pulled due to Matra’s decision to leave the automotive market partially due to the money lost developing and building the Avantime and Renault’s growing disinterest for the model. In contrast, sales of the Vel Satis equaled up to 62,201 cars during it's production run from 2001 - 2009 (an average of about 7,000 cars a year).

The Avantime’s polarizing styling and concept coupled with its very costly but clever engineering and poor sales definitely make this one of the most jaw-dropping failures ever in the automotive industry.

Investment rating £££

We’ve all read those stories of barn finds, those dusty hunks of metal that are unearthed from some ramshackle barn and then sold at auction for tens of thousands. And if like me you’ve ever found yourself saying, ‘I used to have one of those, now look what they are worth, I should never have sold it!’ Then maybe you’ve also caught yourself wondering if there are any cars today that will be worth more, not less, money in the future?

The big question is; now that we are in an age of global mass production and platform technology, will any car ever appreciate in value again?

Well I think the answer is yes and whilst I’m not guaranteeing unlimited wealth and fortune in the future, if you have some cash to spend then maybe you should be investing in the Renault Avantime.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a tugboat? The Avantime had an identity crisis from day one and that’s what killed it off, it should only ever have been a concept car. With just two doors its life as a people carrier was always limited, whilst its lack of ground breaking technology meant it never matched up to its futuristic styling. But a decade after its launch the Avantime is getting a new lease of life. Well-kept examples are now pretty sought after.

The Piaggio Ape (pronounced "ah-peh" - Italian for bee ) is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle first produced in 1948 by Piaggio.

At the end of WWII, most Italians, badly affected by the war, lacked modes of transport, and more importantly, the financial means to acquire full-sized four-wheeled vehicles. In 1947 the inventor of the Vespa, aircraft designer Corradino D'Ascanio, came up with the idea of building a light three wheeled commercial vehicle to power Italy's economical reconstruction, an idea which found favour with Enrico Piaggio, the son of the firm's founder, Rinaldo. The very first Ape model and the mark immediately following it were mechanically a Vespa with two wheels added to the rear, with a flat-bed structure on top of the rear axle. In the early sale brochures and adverts the vehicle was referred to as the VespaCar or TriVespa and cost 170.000 liras. The first Apes featured 50cc, 125cc or 150cc and more recently 175cc engines. By the time of the 1964 Ape D a cab was added to protect the driver from the elements. The Ape has been in continuous production since its inception and has been produced in a variety of different body styles in Italy and India.

Controlled with scooter style handlebars, the original Ape was designed to sit one, but can accommodate a passenger (with a tight fit) in its cab. A door on each side is provided, making it quicker to get out of the vehicle when making deliveries to different sides of the road. Performance is suited to the job of light delivery, with good torque for hills but a low top speed, which is irrelevant in the urban settings for it was designed. Outside of towns Apes are customarily driven as close as possible to the curb to allow traffic to pass.

The vehicles comes in various configurations such as vans and pickups for load carrying and autorickshaw (Tuk-tuk) for human transportation. More recently Piaggio have made lifestyle models such as the Ape Cross Country and the Ape Web aimed at the young.

Ape Calessino Electric Lithium Values of environmental awareness and respect, which are key in the strategy of the Piaggio Group and in its research and development activities, have now led to the creation of a new zero environmental impact version of the Ape Calessino.The idea of being in touch with nature and with the surrounding environment inspired an evolution in the concept of mobility embodied by Ape Calessino better than any other vehicle. Introducing the electric Ape Calessino Electric Lithium.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium offers the same features and elegance as the conventional engine version. The electric version gains its own unique livery, with an elegant blue and white two-tone color scheme for the bodywork and canvas elements. The same two-tone scheme is echoed in the interior, with cream colored upholstery trimmed with blue piping.Since its launch, Ape Calessino has been met with a genuine fondness and a reputation as a mobility solution that breaks free of the frenetic rhythms of modern life to rediscover values of friendship and conviviality. Exclusive and elegant, yet practical and sturdy just like every other Ape; the bodywork of the new Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is given a double cataphoresis painting treatment, making it even more resistant to the corrosive action typical of the humid, saline conditions of a seaside environment.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is the perfect vehicle for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd with original elegance and in complete harmony with the surrounding environment.The new electric Ape Calessino combines the practicality, elegance and agility that have made the Ape Calessino such a hit with capability of accessing zones usually prohibited to vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines, such as areas of particular natural and environmental importance, historical town centers and restricted traffic areas.This makes Ape Calessino Electric Lithium an indispensable tool, for instance, for resorts, hotels and tourism operators intending to offer their guests a fun and distinctive shuttle service that can reach the centre of a cultural city, fend for itself in the hustle and bustle of a medieval town centre or wind its way along the panoramic routes of a beautiful Mediterranean island with equal ease. With a range of 75 Km, all of these destinations and more are easily within reach of the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium, in total respect for the environment and cocooned in silence: electric drive means that Ape Calessino is not just a zero emissions vehicle, it is also completely silent, so that its occupants can enjoy the beauty of a nature to the full or travel through densely populated centers without causing even the slightest disturbance.The Aenerbox system also offers another advantage: the battery does not discharge while the vehicle is not in use, even if left for prolonged periods. This is a significant benefit, especially considering the typically seasonal nature of the tourism industry, for example, and goes hand in hand with remarkable longevity. The life cycle of these batteries is an incredible 15 years (or more than 800 recharge cycles for a total of approximately 60,000 Km), compared with the 7-10 years of a conventional battery system.Built in a series of just 100 examples, the most exclusive Ape of all time is destined for a design-conscious clientele that appreciates Italian style. But this is not just an extremely functional vehicle; it is also a true collector's piece, as highlighted by the numbered plate making it even more exclusive. Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is on sale, on Italian market, at € 19,900 (VAT not included).

Australia, Adelaide, 24-10-2015.

Stella Lux, de energie-positieve familie zonnewagen van Solar Team Eindhoven wordt op praktische eigenschappen gejureerd tijdens de 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Veel zonne-auto's in verschillende klassen reden 3000 km. van Darwin naar Adelaide. De Cruiser klasse met Stella Lux en het Japanse Kogakuin namen een ruime voorsprong en zorgen voor een spannende finale. In de Cruiser klasse is snelheid niet de enige factor, ook aantal passagiers gereden en jury-oordeel voor het echte auto-gevoel tellen mee. Ondanks de voorsprong van Kogakuin lijkt Stella Lux daarom een goede kandidaat voor de eerste plaats.De jurering bestaat uit onderdelen als zitcomfort, ruimte, besturingsgemak, aantrekkelijkheid, innovatie, achteruit inparkeren, bagageruimte, etc. De Challenger klasse is eerder gefinished met Nuon Solar Team (Delft) als winnaar en Solar Team Twente als 2e. /

photo: TU Eindhoven, Bart van Overbeeke /

Stella Lux, the energy-positive family solar car from Dutch Solar Team Eindhoven during practicality judging at the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Lots of solar cars in different classes competed during a 3000 km. trip from Darwin to Adelaide.The Cruiser class with Stella Lux and Japanese Kogakuin took the lead and make for an exciting finale. In Cruiser Class speed is not the only aspect, number of passengers and practical judgement also count. Despite the lead of Kogakuin Stella Lux seems to have a good chance on winning. Judges look at aspects like cabin space and comfort; features; ease of operation; desirability and innovation, reverse parking, room for luggage, etc. The Challenger Class has finished with Nuon Solar Team as winner and Solar Team Twente second.

Armenian Orthodox Christmas mass and procession inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 18, 2011. Church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

The Church of the Ascension at the "Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation" on the Mount of Olives - together with our Center for Pilgrims and Tourists and the famous "Café Auguste Victoria".

It was built in 1907-1910, and named after Empress Augusta Victoria, the wife of German Kaiser Wilhelm II. Today it is an Arab Hospital.

The Christian community of Jerusalem has always been multi-ethnic, diverse and multi-lingual. Here, you will find Greeks and Armenians, Syrians, Coptic Christians from Egypt, Ethiopians, Maronites with Lebanese background, Orthodox Russians, Palestinians, and Hebrew Christians praying side by side. As a German speaking Protestant Church, we are a vital part of the ecumenical landscape of Christian churches in Jerusalem.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Coachwork by Graber (n° 350)

Chassis n° 57443

One-off

3.257 cc

8 in-line

130 ch @ 5.000 rpm

Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais

Bonhams

Estimated : € 280.000 - 340.000

Sold for € 293.250

Parijs - Paris

Frankrijk - France

February 2018

The extremely handsome, one off coachbuilt Bugatti presented here is accredited by Bugatti experts to be a collaboration of its original owner with the Swiss coachbuilder Graber who were one of the leading Swiss coachbuilders of their day.

Most of Graber's 50 workers were skilled specialists, and the firm regularly displayed their latest creations on their stand at the Geneva Salon. It could be said that they were less flashy than some of the French coachbuilders, less advanced than certain Italian efforts but they were definitely of higher quality than most and displaying the well-balanced design preferred by their wealthy clientele. The success of Hermann Graber's company may be judged by the fact that it perpetuated comfortably into the 1970s, long after many of its pre-war contemporaries had ceased.

According to information supplied by Bugattiste Kees Jansen, 57443 was completed by the Bugatti Works in September 1936 and was sold in chassis form to the Bucar Bugatti agency, who had operations in both Berlin and Zurich. This particular order was for the Grob Agency in the Zurich Canton of Horgen. 57443 is one of a handful of Type 57s that were supplied at this time all with chassis numbers in close proximity of each other, notably, 57444, 57446 and 57447. 57443, 57444 and 57447 were all to be equipped with coachwork by Graber. Jansen's records state that the rolling chassis was driven over 150km to Hermann Graber's coachbuilding works on September 21, 1936.

The car's original owner is said to have been an architect and was therefore responsible for the design, while the coachbuilder was for its construction. A number of its features including the hood louver treatment are common with other Graber bodies.

The result was a dramatically different automobile to the factory offered Pillarless sedan, which was arguably a victim of practicality over style. The car here is a clever, set-back, close-coupled design retaining the popular scalloped side panels synonymous with Bugattis, and dispensing with running boards to accentuate separate 'teardrop' or pontoon fenders. It is unquestionably a success, and it is perhaps only at second glance that one notices the presence of the secondary door. With the spare tire set at the back of the car, the full design of its side from its quarter-batched hood louvers backward is uncompromised, always a sporting styling touch. Another particular feature which is rather interesting are the long 'eared' wheel hub spinners, which it is said were to make wheel removal easier for a lady owner early in its career.

By 1960, the Type 57 was the property of Dieter Marx of Basel, and it was there that it was spotted by well known Dutch Bugatti dealer Bart Loyens, using one of the many connections he had forged as a student in Switzerland. The car had apparently been laid up following an engine failure, allowing Loyens to acquire it for a relatively favorable SWF500. He would bring it to the Netherlands and it would remain in Dutch ownership for the next 48 years.

Arriving in Holland 57443 was stored in warehouse space he used of the America-Holland Shipping Line, but it was not long before it passed onto the Dutch Bugatti Agent Albatros, owned by the van Ramhorst brothers. At this point, the 'broken' engine was replaced by another correct contemporary Type 57 unit, being over-stamped with the car's chassis number. (Today its original engine is in America having been fitted to Jim Hull's remarkable recreation of the 'Torpedo Competition' completed and debuted in the last few years.)

After brief sojourn out of the country, while in the custody of Dutchman Gies Pluim came to an end when his wife decided that they didn't need more than one Bugatti (already owning #43198) the car then passed to Hans Sauerbrier in November 1962 where it would remain until 2008. In Sauerbrier's custody the Bugatti was well maintained, and received an engine rebuild with new block in the 1980s, with the work being carried out by Fa Keizer of Doetinchem. Perhaps also at this time it was upgraded to have the hydraulic brake system as on the later models. With that addition and while retaining correct rubber engine dampers of its series, it is today to the definitive specification of the Type 57.

After more than 4 decades of ownership in this family the Bugatti migrated to the U.K. being sold publicly. Its buyer subsequently refurbished the car mechanically before passing it to the current owner.

In its present custody, the decision was made to repaint the car in a style more in keeping with others of its brethren accenting the body moldings in a two tone scheme. At the same time, the interior was sympathetically attended to, repairing the original leather. The details of the cabin are particularly attractive and extend to aspects such as the rarely seen accessory of the original leather cover for the steering column.

On close inspection, this is a rewarding Bugatti to look at today, its distinct body styling is particularly appealing and the preservation of its interior has ensured that the soul and charm of the car can still be experienced. Bonhams has a great tradition of offering special Bugattis, the latest, this unique example follows firmly in those footsteps and will no doubt be appreciated for its usability in events such as those of the American Bugatti Club or indeed to be shown.

Ah, the haggis migration season, a time when Scotland's most elusive creature embarks on its secretive journey across the highlands. It's a spectacle so rare that some say it's as mythical as the creatures themselves! But let's not forget the practicalities amidst the legend – those road sign warnings are no joke. Imagine driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly, a wild haggis herd appears, scurrying across the road with their uneven legs, perfectly adapted for the rolling Scottish hills. It's enough to make you spill your Irn-Bru! So, while some may chuckle at the "Haggis Xing" signs, they serve a noble purpose: protecting drivers from unexpected haggis encounters and ensuring the safe passage of these legendary creatures during their secretive autumnal trek.

Surround yourself with tranquility and comfort in the Sunstruck freestanding bath. Combining luxury with practicality, the oval, ergonomic design conforms to and supports your body as you stretch out and enjoy a deep, relaxing soak. With its gracefully shaped lines and straight shroud, this versatile bath complements a wide range of bathroom styles and offers easy three-step installation.

Parts & Support

FEATURES

Freestanding design creates a striking focal point in your bathing area.

Oval-shaped basin offers a graceful and spacious bathing experience.

Sloped lumbar support on both ends.

16-inch bathing depth offers a deep soaking experience.

Wide deck along one side simplifies installation and provides support for getting in and out of bath.

Straight shroud.

Textured bottom surface.

Center drain.

Material

Acrylic.

Installation

Freestanding.

Visit: www.africa.kohler.com/

This is one of the Garwoods used by Northern Beaches Council for the litter bin service seen collecting over a beautiful sunrise on an early Saturday morning at Deewhy Beach. The truck featured is a 2019 Hino fitted with a 8m Garwood Compact. A few of the Garwood Compacts run by NBC Council have had adjustments made to there hopper covers to allow for a 240L Bin to be carried around. NBC runs a fleet of both Garwood Compacts and Bantams for the litter bins aswell as a Mercedes Econic / Garwood Maxipact for illegal dumps and 2 Hino / Garwood litterpacts as spare litter bin trucks but I understand these aren’t favoured by the drivers due to practicality so they spend most of there time as spares. Also rumored that the 2 Littterpacts would be sold off and replaced with 3 newer Bantams

Cinemateum Victoria - Men on the Edge - Fishermen’s Diary, a film by Avner Faingulernt & Macabit Abramson, 2005, 90 Min., Hebrew/Arabic (English sub.)

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Armenian Orthodox Christmas mass and procession inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 18, 2011. Church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

The Piaggio Ape (pronounced "ah-peh" - Italian for bee ) is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle first produced in 1948 by Piaggio.

At the end of WWII, most Italians, badly affected by the war, lacked modes of transport, and more importantly, the financial means to acquire full-sized four-wheeled vehicles. In 1947 the inventor of the Vespa, aircraft designer Corradino D'Ascanio, came up with the idea of building a light three wheeled commercial vehicle to power Italy's economical reconstruction, an idea which found favour with Enrico Piaggio, the son of the firm's founder, Rinaldo. The very first Ape model and the mark immediately following it were mechanically a Vespa with two wheels added to the rear, with a flat-bed structure on top of the rear axle. In the early sale brochures and adverts the vehicle was referred to as the VespaCar or TriVespa and cost 170.000 liras. The first Apes featured 50cc, 125cc or 150cc and more recently 175cc engines. By the time of the 1964 Ape D a cab was added to protect the driver from the elements. The Ape has been in continuous production since its inception and has been produced in a variety of different body styles in Italy and India.

Controlled with scooter style handlebars, the original Ape was designed to sit one, but can accommodate a passenger (with a tight fit) in its cab. A door on each side is provided, making it quicker to get out of the vehicle when making deliveries to different sides of the road. Performance is suited to the job of light delivery, with good torque for hills but a low top speed, which is irrelevant in the urban settings for it was designed. Outside of towns Apes are customarily driven as close as possible to the curb to allow traffic to pass.

The vehicles comes in various configurations such as vans and pickups for load carrying and autorickshaw (Tuk-tuk) for human transportation. More recently Piaggio have made lifestyle models such as the Ape Cross Country and the Ape Web aimed at the young.

Ape Calessino Electric Lithium Values of environmental awareness and respect, which are key in the strategy of the Piaggio Group and in its research and development activities, have now led to the creation of a new zero environmental impact version of the Ape Calessino.The idea of being in touch with nature and with the surrounding environment inspired an evolution in the concept of mobility embodied by Ape Calessino better than any other vehicle. Introducing the electric Ape Calessino Electric Lithium.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium offers the same features and elegance as the conventional engine version. The electric version gains its own unique livery, with an elegant blue and white two-tone color scheme for the bodywork and canvas elements. The same two-tone scheme is echoed in the interior, with cream colored upholstery trimmed with blue piping.Since its launch, Ape Calessino has been met with a genuine fondness and a reputation as a mobility solution that breaks free of the frenetic rhythms of modern life to rediscover values of friendship and conviviality. Exclusive and elegant, yet practical and sturdy just like every other Ape; the bodywork of the new Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is given a double cataphoresis painting treatment, making it even more resistant to the corrosive action typical of the humid, saline conditions of a seaside environment.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is the perfect vehicle for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd with original elegance and in complete harmony with the surrounding environment.The new electric Ape Calessino combines the practicality, elegance and agility that have made the Ape Calessino such a hit with capability of accessing zones usually prohibited to vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines, such as areas of particular natural and environmental importance, historical town centers and restricted traffic areas.This makes Ape Calessino Electric Lithium an indispensable tool, for instance, for resorts, hotels and tourism operators intending to offer their guests a fun and distinctive shuttle service that can reach the centre of a cultural city, fend for itself in the hustle and bustle of a medieval town centre or wind its way along the panoramic routes of a beautiful Mediterranean island with equal ease. With a range of 75 Km, all of these destinations and more are easily within reach of the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium, in total respect for the environment and cocooned in silence: electric drive means that Ape Calessino is not just a zero emissions vehicle, it is also completely silent, so that its occupants can enjoy the beauty of a nature to the full or travel through densely populated centers without causing even the slightest disturbance.The Aenerbox system also offers another advantage: the battery does not discharge while the vehicle is not in use, even if left for prolonged periods. This is a significant benefit, especially considering the typically seasonal nature of the tourism industry, for example, and goes hand in hand with remarkable longevity. The life cycle of these batteries is an incredible 15 years (or more than 800 recharge cycles for a total of approximately 60,000 Km), compared with the 7-10 years of a conventional battery system.Built in a series of just 100 examples, the most exclusive Ape of all time is destined for a design-conscious clientele that appreciates Italian style. But this is not just an extremely functional vehicle; it is also a true collector's piece, as highlighted by the numbered plate making it even more exclusive. Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is on sale, on Italian market, at € 19,900 (VAT not included).

Australia, Adelaide, 24-10-2015.

Stella Lux, de energie-positieve familie zonnewagen van Solar Team Eindhoven tijdens de 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Veel zonne-auto's in verschillende klassen reden 3000 km. van Darwin naar Adelaide. De Cruiser klasse met Stella Lux en het Japanse Kogakuin namen een ruime voorsprong en zorgen voor een spannende finale. In de Cruiser klasse is snelheid niet de enige factor, ook aantal passagiers gereden en jury-oordeel voor het echte auto-gevoel tellen mee. Ondanks de voorsprong van Kogakuin lijkt Stella Lux daarom een goede kandidaat voor de eerste plaats.De jurering bestaat uit onderdelen als zitcomfort, ruimte, besturingsgemak, aantrekkelijkheid, innovatie, achteruit inparkeren, bagageruimte, etc. De Challenger klasse is eerder gefinished met Nuon Solar Team (Delft) als winnaar en Solar Team Twente als 2e. /

photo: TU Eindhoven, Bart van Overbeeke /

Stella Lux, the energy-positive family solar car from Dutch Solar Team Eindhoven at the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Lots of solar cars in different classes competed during a 3000 km. trip from Darwin to Adelaide.The Cruiser class with Stella Lux and Japanese Kogakuin took the lead and make for an exciting finale. In Cruiser Class speed is not the only aspect, number of passengers and practical judgement also count. Despite the lead of Kogakuin Stella Lux seems to have a good chance on winning. Judges look at aspects like cabin space and comfort; features; ease of operation; desirability and innovation, reverse parking, room for luggage, etc. The Challenger Class has finished with Nuon Solar Team as winner and Solar Team Twente second.

Australie, Adelaide, 14 okt 2017.

Practicality judging van Stella Vie,, de waarschijnlijke winnaar in de Cruiser Klasse van de Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Juryleden beoordelen de zonnewagens op comfort, praktische zaken, kofferinhoud, etcetera. Stella Vie is de 3e familie zonnewagen van Solar Team Eindhoven (studententeam van de Technische Universiteit Eindhoven). Voor het winnen van de Challenge wordt een efficiency-score bijgehouden op basis van persoonskilometers en 's nachts bijladen, plus een jury beoordeeld de wagens morgen op praktische en esthetische punten. De vijfzitter Stella Vie staat echter al zover voor in het puntenklassement dat op tijd finishen ruim genoeg moet zijn om te winnen. Daarmee zullen zij voor de derde keer winnen in deze klasse.

foto: TU Eindhoven / Bart van Overbeeke

Raggedy Annxiety is a deconstructed pullover dress that balances sweetness with a darker, jittery edge. If I had to guess I would say this could have only been made at the same time I was finishing my tax forms — in this case there is indeed no such thing as a coincidence. Improvisationally hand made by me in my studio. One of a kind.

It's built from an array of red and white checked cotton. It has a few different collars (see the back) and a lot of button holes that go nowhere and some big X's that may or may not mean something. There's also a collar on the side. And on the other side, just for a touch of practicality, there sits a pocket. It's sewn with a mix of exposed and traditional stitching

Rolls Royce 102EX (2011)

Registration Number 276 XUW

Proable VIN number VIN SCA1S68426UX08123.

ROLLS ROYCE SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690651737...

Rolls Royce 102EX (also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE)); is an experimental Rolls Royce. Built as a rolling test bed as to the practicalities of alternative energy.

Powered by two 145-kilowatt motors, one at each rear wheel, for a total of 590 pound-feet of torque, the 102EX has a range of about 125 miles per charge. This battery system is used in conjunction with two water-cooled motors and 3-phase battery chargers.

Rolls Royce claims the 102EX has the largest passenger car battery in the world, with a peak current of 850A and overall capacity of 71kWh. Rolls Royce put the whole kit into the original engine and gearbox compartments of the Phantom, so there was no massive re-engineering of the vehicle's floorboards or chassis.

In contrast, the interior design is largely the same as that used in the current Phantom model. A twelve month world tour to show off the car and test it in different conditions, around the world, was due to terminate in 2012

It is reputed to have a top speed of around 100mph and a 0-60mph quicker than the 6.75ltr Phantom Coupe.

The plan to produce 102 EX was reported to be cancelled due to compromises in charging time and driving range

Shot at The Goodwood Festival of Speed 01:07:2011 Ref: 76-543

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Please do not forget to visit the Flag Counter on the link above to record a visit from your country. So far 53 countries (last new country Luxembourg and 32 US states last new State Michigan) Last new overseas visitor USA last new US state visitor Michagan

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Another major European introduction for 1982 was the all-new 700 series from Volvo. Designed to replace the 200 series (itself derived from the 100 series of 1966), the 700 was produced alongside for 12 years. The two models are very close in exterior dimension.

The 700 underwent minor exterior changes to become the 900 series in 1991, notably a smoother front end treatment and revised rear treatment on the sedan. The sedan also received an independent rear suspension, with the estate car retaining a live rear axle. The 900 series was futher revised and named the S90/V90 in 1997 in line with Volvo's new naming convention. The model finally went out of production in 1998. The sedan models were subsequently replaced by the front-wheel-drive Volvo S80.

The engine line up included 4-cylinder, 4-cylinder turbocharged (one of the first major turbocharged passenger car ranges) and carryover vee-six cylinder engines shared with PSA and Renault. The 900 series later replaced the V6 with an inline six developed as part of a modular engine design of inline 4, 5 and 6-cylinder engines.

At launch the car was strongly criticised for its overtly rectilinear styling. The car matched the style that was popular in North America at the time, including a near vertical rear window. Unfortunately for Volvo this was the model year introduction of a key competitor, the Audi 100, which was notably aerodynamic in form.

This styling theme does have its advantages, with large windows and good visibility. It also provides ample space as an estate car. The model was popular with middle-class families with children, dogs etc, and are now considered 'Lifestyle' families.

Volvo's success in this market segment was later eroded by SUV and 'crossover' vehicles which emphasised the adventure part of the lifestyle image without being any more practical as a family car. Volvo went on to launch a vehicle in the crossover segment in place of the 900 wagon, the XC90. This model was very well recieved for its family practicality relative to other vehicles in the luxury crossover segment.

This miniland scale model has been created using Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 43rd build challenge - 'Plus or Mius Ten' - celebraing vehilces produced ten years before or after the birth year of the modeller. In this case 1982.

Outside, the Avantime looks like nothing else. The front is almost normal, but the back reminds me of the front of a tugboat, with its wrap-around glass.

You can't be a wallflower in an Avantime, and that's just what Renault counts on.

Future classic for less than £10,000

The Matra-built Avantime was an interesting concept - combining MPV accommodation with coupe-like interior and frameless two-door construction. It was built for two years, and a mere 8557 were made, making it something of a commercial failure, and that makes the Avantime perfect candidate for future classic.

Actually, most enthusiasts have already cottoned on to the Avantime, with a small and appreciative cult following building up around it. Ironically, the Avantime's values are already strong compared with contemporary Renaults - you only need to see the number of sub-£1000 Vel Satis cars out there for sale to see why.

The Avantime was introduced for 2001 alongside the aforementioned Vel Satis. Supposedly combining the styling of a 2+2 coupe with the space of minivan, the Avantime concept was conceived by former Renault co-operative Matra, who dabbled in Formula 1 racing while building computers, bicycles, missles, and the Espace van. Matra intended the coupe-van-thing to cater to a younger generation of buyers who, as they saw it, grew up with the Espace and didn't want to grow too far apart from it.

Le Quement handled the styling and came up with a large-butted one-box shape with a pillarless daylight opening, a massive retractable glass roof, and huge doors. It was something that was truly unlike anything ever built before by an automaker, a huge two-door van that was guaranteed to leave onlookers with the most confused look on their faces. No one could figure out if they were looking at a car, a small land-fairing cruise liner, or something sculpted by Picasso turned into a parade float.

Though the design wasn’t without its engineering issues, Renault bested the better part of them with some interesting solutions. For example, the Avantime used a space frame made of strengthened aluminum to retain structural integrity in a side impact collision in spite of the fact there weren’t b-pillars. The huge doors used a clever double-hinged design to keep them manageable in tight parking situations. To keep weight down, the lower body panels were all composite.

Aside from the neat engineering details, the best part of the Avantime was it’s so called “grand air” mode in which all of the windows and the big sunroof were retracted for a very convertible-like experience. The feature was activated with the simple push of a button on the headliner. It was this particular experience that Avantime owners would come to treasure most in their cars.

The entire package came at a hefty cost though. Engineering costs for the Avantime’s double hinged doors and semi-convertible design racked up at a whopping 224€ million back at the turn of the century (about $286 million US dollars then and $358 million today). Those engineering costs would also be passed on to the buyer with the base sticker price starting at 29,000€ (about $37,000 USD then, $46,000 USD today). With a sticker price like that, those young, Espace-loving buyers that the Avantime was supposed to attract couldn’t afford it. Their parents, which could, weren’t interested because of the odd styling and general lack of practicality. The Avantime also faced in-house competition from the Vel Satis, whose appearance looked more conventional in comparison.

Sales of the Avantime totaled up to just 8,557 cars in May 2003, at which point the plug was pulled due to Matra’s decision to leave the automotive market partially due to the money lost developing and building the Avantime and Renault’s growing disinterest for the model. In contrast, sales of the Vel Satis equaled up to 62,201 cars during it's production run from 2001 - 2009 (an average of about 7,000 cars a year).

The Avantime’s polarizing styling and concept coupled with its very costly but clever engineering and poor sales definitely make this one of the most jaw-dropping failures ever in the automotive industry.

Investment rating £££

We’ve all read those stories of barn finds, those dusty hunks of metal that are unearthed from some ramshackle barn and then sold at auction for tens of thousands. And if like me you’ve ever found yourself saying, ‘I used to have one of those, now look what they are worth, I should never have sold it!’ Then maybe you’ve also caught yourself wondering if there are any cars today that will be worth more, not less, money in the future?

The big question is; now that we are in an age of global mass production and platform technology, will any car ever appreciate in value again?

Well I think the answer is yes and whilst I’m not guaranteeing unlimited wealth and fortune in the future, if you have some cash to spend then maybe you should be investing in the Renault Avantime.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a tugboat? The Avantime had an identity crisis from day one and that’s what killed it off, it should only ever have been a concept car. With just two doors its life as a people carrier was always limited, whilst its lack of ground breaking technology meant it never matched up to its futuristic styling. But a decade after its launch the Avantime is getting a new lease of life. Well-kept examples are now pretty sought after.

A field test of vintage and vintage-styled equipment for an upcoming "expedition" planned for the summer.

Unlike the first field test, this second outing resulted in no equipment failures. I did, however, again have a problem with heel blisters, although less severe than during the initial hike in the "big boots." The second outing was of longer distance and duration -- about three miles in total -- with considerably more scrambling up and down slopes.

I have not yet repaired my leather whip holder, so for practicality I secured the whip with plastic zip ties. Not "period authentic," I know, but it worked.

I'm debating over "the look," or specifically, "the hat" to wear during the actual expedition: this safari-style fedora, or the pith helmet. Either one is appropriate circa-1910 style, so it really comes down to which hat the chicks think makes me look dreamier.

;-p

A field test of vintage and vintage-styled equipment for an upcoming "expedition" planned for the summer.

Unlike the first field test, this second outing resulted in no equipment failures. I did, however, again have a problem with heel blisters, although less severe than during the initial hike in the "big boots." The second outing was of longer distance and duration -- about three miles in total -- with considerably more scrambling up and down slopes.

I have not yet repaired my leather whip holder, so for practicality I secured the whip with plastic zip ties. Not "period authentic," I know, but it worked.

I'm debating over "the look," or specifically, "the hat" to wear during the actual expedition: this safari-style fedora, or the pith helmet. Either one is appropriate circa-1910 style, so it really comes down to which hat the chicks think makes me look dreamier.

;-p

Armenian Orthodox Christmas mass and procession inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 18, 2011. Church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas Celebration at the Church of the Nativity, West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2011. Ethiopia (and especially the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) still use the old Julian calendar, so the celebrate Christmas on January 7th. The Christmas celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is called Ganna. Most people go to Church on Christmas day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Another major European introduction for 1982 was the all-new 700 series from Volvo. Designed to replace the 200 series (itself derived from the 100 series of 1966), the 700 was produced alongside for 12 years. The two models are very close in exterior dimension.

The 700 underwent minor exterior changes to become the 900 series in 1991, notably a smoother front end treatment and revised rear treatment on the sedan. The sedan also received an independent rear suspension, with the estate car retaining a live rear axle. The 900 series was futher revised and named the S90/V90 in 1997 in line with Volvo's new naming convention. The model finally went out of production in 1998. The sedan models were subsequently replaced by the front-wheel-drive Volvo S80.

The engine line up included 4-cylinder, 4-cylinder turbocharged (one of the first major turbocharged passenger car ranges) and carryover vee-six cylinder engines shared with PSA and Renault. The 900 series later replaced the V6 with an inline six developed as part of a modular engine design of inline 4, 5 and 6-cylinder engines.

At launch the car was strongly criticised for its overtly rectilinear styling. The car matched the style that was popular in North America at the time, including a near vertical rear window. Unfortunately for Volvo this was the model year introduction of a key competitor, the Audi 100, which was notably aerodynamic in form.

This styling theme does have its advantages, with large windows and good visibility. It also provides ample space as an estate car. The model was popular with middle-class families with children, dogs etc, and are now considered 'Lifestyle' families.

Volvo's success in this market segment was later eroded by SUV and 'crossover' vehicles which emphasised the adventure part of the lifestyle image without being any more practical as a family car. Volvo went on to launch a vehicle in the crossover segment in place of the 900 wagon, the XC90. This model was very well recieved for its family practicality relative to other vehicles in the luxury crossover segment.

This miniland scale model has been created using Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 43rd build challenge - 'Plus or Mius Ten' - celebraing vehilces produced ten years before or after the birth year of the modeller. In this case 1982.

The Piaggio Ape (pronounced "ah-peh" - Italian for bee ) is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle first produced in 1948 by Piaggio.

At the end of WWII, most Italians, badly affected by the war, lacked modes of transport, and more importantly, the financial means to acquire full-sized four-wheeled vehicles. In 1947 the inventor of the Vespa, aircraft designer Corradino D'Ascanio, came up with the idea of building a light three wheeled commercial vehicle to power Italy's economical reconstruction, an idea which found favour with Enrico Piaggio, the son of the firm's founder, Rinaldo. The very first Ape model and the mark immediately following it were mechanically a Vespa with two wheels added to the rear, with a flat-bed structure on top of the rear axle. In the early sale brochures and adverts the vehicle was referred to as the VespaCar or TriVespa and cost 170.000 liras. The first Apes featured 50cc, 125cc or 150cc and more recently 175cc engines. By the time of the 1964 Ape D a cab was added to protect the driver from the elements. The Ape has been in continuous production since its inception and has been produced in a variety of different body styles in Italy and India.

Controlled with scooter style handlebars, the original Ape was designed to sit one, but can accommodate a passenger (with a tight fit) in its cab. A door on each side is provided, making it quicker to get out of the vehicle when making deliveries to different sides of the road. Performance is suited to the job of light delivery, with good torque for hills but a low top speed, which is irrelevant in the urban settings for it was designed. Outside of towns Apes are customarily driven as close as possible to the curb to allow traffic to pass.

The vehicles comes in various configurations such as vans and pickups for load carrying and autorickshaw (Tuk-tuk) for human transportation. More recently Piaggio have made lifestyle models such as the Ape Cross Country and the Ape Web aimed at the young.

Ape Calessino Electric Lithium Values of environmental awareness and respect, which are key in the strategy of the Piaggio Group and in its research and development activities, have now led to the creation of a new zero environmental impact version of the Ape Calessino.The idea of being in touch with nature and with the surrounding environment inspired an evolution in the concept of mobility embodied by Ape Calessino better than any other vehicle. Introducing the electric Ape Calessino Electric Lithium.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium offers the same features and elegance as the conventional engine version. The electric version gains its own unique livery, with an elegant blue and white two-tone color scheme for the bodywork and canvas elements. The same two-tone scheme is echoed in the interior, with cream colored upholstery trimmed with blue piping.Since its launch, Ape Calessino has been met with a genuine fondness and a reputation as a mobility solution that breaks free of the frenetic rhythms of modern life to rediscover values of friendship and conviviality. Exclusive and elegant, yet practical and sturdy just like every other Ape; the bodywork of the new Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is given a double cataphoresis painting treatment, making it even more resistant to the corrosive action typical of the humid, saline conditions of a seaside environment.Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is the perfect vehicle for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd with original elegance and in complete harmony with the surrounding environment.The new electric Ape Calessino combines the practicality, elegance and agility that have made the Ape Calessino such a hit with capability of accessing zones usually prohibited to vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines, such as areas of particular natural and environmental importance, historical town centers and restricted traffic areas.This makes Ape Calessino Electric Lithium an indispensable tool, for instance, for resorts, hotels and tourism operators intending to offer their guests a fun and distinctive shuttle service that can reach the centre of a cultural city, fend for itself in the hustle and bustle of a medieval town centre or wind its way along the panoramic routes of a beautiful Mediterranean island with equal ease. With a range of 75 Km, all of these destinations and more are easily within reach of the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium, in total respect for the environment and cocooned in silence: electric drive means that Ape Calessino is not just a zero emissions vehicle, it is also completely silent, so that its occupants can enjoy the beauty of a nature to the full or travel through densely populated centers without causing even the slightest disturbance.The Aenerbox system also offers another advantage: the battery does not discharge while the vehicle is not in use, even if left for prolonged periods. This is a significant benefit, especially considering the typically seasonal nature of the tourism industry, for example, and goes hand in hand with remarkable longevity. The life cycle of these batteries is an incredible 15 years (or more than 800 recharge cycles for a total of approximately 60,000 Km), compared with the 7-10 years of a conventional battery system.Built in a series of just 100 examples, the most exclusive Ape of all time is destined for a design-conscious clientele that appreciates Italian style. But this is not just an extremely functional vehicle; it is also a true collector's piece, as highlighted by the numbered plate making it even more exclusive. Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is on sale, on Italian market, at € 19,900 (VAT not included).

Insanity level - 10/10 Practicality - lets-not-talk-about-it/10

by meandmybentley ift.tt/1QomjuR

Bundesaußenminister Guido Westerwelle auf dem Ölberg in Jerusalem. Westerwelle warnt vor Eskalation im Nahost-Konflikt.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Found this cherub in a dark alleyway near Waterloo Station. Not my first choice of parking spot for a Rolls Royce, but it seems to be doing well considering how immaculate it looks!

...or it hadn't been there very long...

...and I wouldn't recommend it stay much longer...

There's not much I can say about the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow that hasn't already been said, a car that was styled and homed to perfection, a vehicle that took 3 months to build, comprised of 3 cow hides, 12 square feet of wood and laden with the finest Wilton carpets. If you owned a brand new one of these back in the 1960's and 70's, then you truly were someone special.

The Silver Shadow however, unlike its predecessors, was the most radical Rolls ever built, primarily due to the fact that unlike previous cars such as the Phantom and Silver Cloud, the car was built on a monocoque, with the body being built with the chassis, rather than in earlier instances where Rolls would provide the chassis, and then it was up to the owner to hire a coachbuilder such as Hoopers or HJ Muliner Park Ward, to build the body.

The Silver Shadow was also the first Rolls to be built with the idea of the owner being sat in the front rather than the back. The Silver Cloud was very much a passenger's car, being ferried from stately banquet to stately banquet by a chauffeur. This Silver Shadow on the other hand was a driver's car, powered by Rolls Royce's magnificent V8 engine it smoothly glided across the countryside with the grace and elegance of a stately home on wheels, and so popular was this chemistry of luxury and practicality, that they sold by the thousand. In total, 25,000 examples were built, and the design was incorporated into many other variations, including the Rolls Royce Corniche (a direct descendant of the Silver Shadow 2-door Coupe built by HJ Muliner Park Ward), the controversial Camargue (which was built on the same chassis as a Shadow), and the Bentley T series (basically a Shadow with Bentley badging and radiator grille).

Eventually, the Shadow ended production in 1980, being replaced by the simpler Silver Spirit and Silver Spur range, but the magnificent design of this classic British pedigree has kept it one of the most popular owner's cars in the world, now available for ownership at less that £10,000 in some instances!

310 Claydon Way is located in one of the finer neighborhoods of Sacramento. Having the advantage of being almost riverside, access to the American River Parkway and bicycle path is just one block from the home, providing lovely walks through incredible natural scenery and wildlife.

Year round, this beautiful neighborhood known as Wilhaggin, shows off its aesthetic pride with floral blossoms and blooms. Unlike other fine neighborhoods in the Sacramento area, Wilhaggin is mostly composed of sprawling single story dwellings. with wide streets, sidewalks and street lights.

The "ambiance" of this kind of neighborhood intention is palpable -- quietude, modest elegance, comfortable curb appeal, an abundance of mature and establish landscaping and shade trees.

Back when these houses were made in the sixties -- before magazine living lifestyle took over and replaced practicality with the discomforts of looking sharp -- strong bones and durability were time-honored architectural concepts. Pleasing oneself was more important than pleasing the neighbors, so the focus of the aesthetic addressed things like "hot summers", "colder winters" and the need for shade and light.

There were many independent builders at that time who became famous for their designs and also for their creative concepts for creating ideal settings for a river-living climate.

Among those that rose to fame, Lewis & Bristow are known for their comfortable living designs that centered around poolside appreciation. Shaped like a "U", 310 Claydon Way has three giant sliders that open up onto a giant back yard patio. The patio has roll-down awnings for late afternoon sun shade but also lends itself to an outside office or enclosed dinner-time eating.

The automated irrigation system has just been completely restored and upgraded. Other changes that have been done recently include brand new carpet, new paint and a remodeled entry way.

The grounds are fully established and mature. There are an abundance of roses and azaleas which bloom seasonally. The redwood trees on the property and surrounding the property in the backyard are invaluable for shade and beauty.

And 310 Claydon Way is loaded with all manner of little details of this nature which make it easy to maintain with a minimal amount of work. A truly beautiful home with over 3100 square feet, 310 Claydon way has been called "Shangri La" and has particularly great appeal to a buyer who loves outdoor living as much as indoor living.

BASIC DETAILS:

2 car garage

It's a four bedroom home with the following breakdown:

2 bedrooms

Gigantic master suite with walk in closet

a fully functioning 15' x 22' sky-lighted with bay windows live/work studio suite or playroom nursery (wet bar sink in studio and giant bathroom with shower).

Pool

Established landscaping and strategically placed and invaluable Sequoia trees.

House-wide vacuuming system.

Attic exhaust fan system and shade awnings.

Built in cabinetry throughout.

*Returning to the new, pest-free Macquarie Island after five years*

(from www.expeditioncruising.com)

It's a bit like preparing for a military operation as we are plucked by the beleaguered deckhands from the stern transom into the lurching Zodiac.

Trussed up in numerous layers of Gortex and looking almost like space explorers, we endure the biting sea spray whipped up by 30kt gusts as we seat our clumsy bottoms around the inflatable tender.

We push off and head to shore and are immediately hit by a brutal wave over the bow, drenching the first row of passengers. The enemy is not entrenched in bunkers on the beach awaiting our arrival, but rather blowing all around us like an angry bellows, whipping stinging spray into our faces and buffeting our Zodiac as if at the hand of a child's tantrum.

Landing on the cobble beach at Buckles Bay is notoriously treacherous, but one of the few locations near the ANARE base where one is possible. In 1948 when the modern base was established, it was more out of respect for history than practicality. The site of Sir Douglas Mawson's original 1911 site was used and expanded rather than a more accessible one found with a safe harbour and solid foundation.

Silversea staff are waist deep in frothing surf as our Zodiac is quickly backed up against the stony shore. One by one, between sets of breakers, we are hauled out of the rubber craft and deposited on the beach with some relief but also a sense of excitement at having completed the tricky job of getting ashore.

Apart from meteorology, biology and the reception of up to 1000 visitors per year, the base hosts Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service staff who recently celebrated the total

eradication of introduced pests from Macquarie Island. No mean feat in itself, the eight year project involved the team of 12 hunters and 11 dogs walking 92,000km in search of surviving pests after the end of the aerial baiting program in 2011.

Alien species like horses, donkeys, pigs, cattle, goats, dogs and sheep were relatively easy to deal with. Cats took bit longer, with the last feline removed in 2000 after a decade-long campaign, but the rabbits, rats and mice proved the toughest task, requiring a combination of poisoning and hunting to reach total success. Even now, vermin patrols will be maintained for the time being to be absolutely certain.

After my first visit in 2010, the islands enthusiastic regeneration was evident with renewed vegetation regrowth covering the previously barren sections on hillsides and slopes. The four species of breeding penguin and albatross, as well as numerous other migratory seabirds can now nest unmolested on this southern paradise once brought to the brink by the careless and greedy hand of man.

Visit us online at www.euromotorcars.com for more information and to test drive the 2011 E-Class Wagon!

Power, agility, protection and practicality can now all be found in the Mercedes-Benz 2011 E-Class Wagon, available at EuroMotorcars. The E-Class Wagon is set to play a leading role where enjoyable driving doesn't have to be sacrificed for class-leading practicality.

The 2011 E-Class Wagon comes standard with great safety features, classic Mercedes-Benz body design, an elegant interior, third-row rear facing seats, and plenty of cargo space in the rear of the vehicle. With Mercedes-Benz, the standard equipment is impressive with its high-quality, classic E-Class design and exceptional operating and driving comfort. Mercedes-Benz does not disappoint in all that it does, including the MSRP, which starts at $56,850.

The 3.5 Liter V6 engine promises excellent performance with impressive fuel economy. With 268 standard horsepower, the Wagon gets you to 60 mph in just 7 seconds. With a great offering of standard equipment and extra package options, the E-Class wagon can be fully customized to your desire. And it is available either as a Luxury or Sport model, which has a lowered body style and increased performance.

As with all Mercedes-Benz vehicles, customer safety is their primary concern. The wagon comes with exciting new assistance systems and safety features. The entire cabin is reinforced steel with front and rear crumple zones to protect all of your passengers. Innovative ATTENTION ASSIST monitors your driving behavior and can alert you with visible and audible warnings if the Wagon thinks you might be falling asleep at the wheel.

The PRE-SAFE system protects you when a front impact is imminent. The vehicle will tighten the front seat belts, adjust the front head restraints and passenger seat, and close all windows along with the sunroof. And the Wagon also comes standard with NECK-PRO head restraints, Electronic Stability Control, ABS, Brake Assist (BAS), 9 airbags, and more. The airbags fully protect you and your passengers with front dual stage airbags, front and rear side window airbags, front side airbags, driver and front passenger pelvic airbags and a driver knee airbag.

The style of the E-Class wagon was designed to optimize cargo and storage space. The wide tailgate, situated between the strong D-Pillars, makes it easy to load cargo into and out of the vehicle and is located at a comfortable height for lifting. The dynamic and sleek roof racks on a lowered body make it easier to load cargo to the top of the roof.

The interior storage compartment in the rear of the vehicle features a high-class, elegant design with a large 68.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The rear-facing seats in the third row are suitable for children up to 4’7” tall and 110 lbs. And the seats can be neatly folded away into the compartment floor when not in use. No other comparable vehicle in this segment offers this unique feature, giving you the most useable space.

The interior of the E-Class Wagon blends both elegance and technology in the ergonomic cockpit with Burl Walnut Trim and elegant leather. A multifunction steering wheel and the COMAND system put the controls within easy reach. The instrument cluster and elegant display produce a harmonious and luxurious driving experience, offering the driver maximum clarity and comfort. When driving at night, the interior compartments of the vehicle are elegantly lit with dashboard trim strips and lighting in the four door panels.

With its wild wings, futuristic curves, and total lack of practicality, the Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione was the quintessential concept car. A radically designed prototype, the Competizione combined typical Ferrari values of charm, charisma, and technically advanced engineering prowess.

The Dino name in the Competizione's title is in reference to Enzo Ferrari's son, Dino. When Ferrari first developed a V6 engine for the 1957 Formula 2 series, he named it Dino. After that, the name of Enzo's son was used to designate six-cylinder and lower-cost Ferraris. The 206 nomenclature used on Ferrari's 1967 prototype indicates that it was built on a 206 S chassis. The 206 S was a capable racing car, with a body that resembled that of the V12-powered 330 P3. Using 206 S chassis #10523 to underpin the Competizione gave the car racer roots that were rarely seen on concept cars. The Dino 206 Competizione distinguished itself as a concept that was not just functional, but built on a thoroughly race-proven chassis.

That proven chassis was endowed with four wheel disc brakes, front and rear independent suspension, and an advanced steel space frame design that gave high strength in a lightweight package. The total weight of the 206 Competizione was just 1,400lbs, making even its small engine more than enough to create an unquestionably fast car.

The Dino V6 used in the Competizione displaced just 2.0-liters, but was able to generate 218bhp. Peak power was reached at redline, which was 9,000rpm. The lower rotational inertial of the small V6 gave an even higher redline than the V12 mounted in the 330 P series. The V6 was constructed of aluminum and mounted amidships within the space frame of the prototype, as it was in the standard 206 S. A 5-speed transaxle directed the engine's power to the rear wheels.

Despite its racing car foundation, the Dino 206 Competizione was not created to compete. As a dedicated concept car, it was created to showcase excellent design and possible styling cues for Ferrari's future. The Competizione had an advanced appearance that flaunted the talents of a young designer named Paolo Martin. Only 23 when he designed the car, the Competizione came very early in Martin's career. He later would admit he felt 'a very strong emotion' as he watched his project unfold into a true supercar.

Paolo Martin was working under Pininfarina when he developed the Competizione's styling, so the car wears Pininfarina 'f' badges. Pininfarina was also responsible for the construction of the prototype's body. Martin's shape was free of hard edges, with abundant curves and a large glass area with a circular cross-section. Viewed from some angles, the odd shape of the car's glass lends the greenhouse a bubble-like appearance. This is particularly evident from the front, where the vast windshield sweeps up and to the sides like a bulbous take on a jetfighter's canopy.

The Competizione had exaggerated mid-engined proportions, with a short, low nose and a long, high tail. The front lighting fit the shape perfectly, with transparent, aerodynamic coverings over clusters of three lights. The light clusters were angled down towards the center of the car's nose. The lighting's covers blended seamlessly with the unusually round curve at the front of the car, and combined with front vents ahead of the large windshield to create a design that looked organic, but not earthly. From the front, the design had a cartoonish look that was exotic and alien, as if the Competizione was designed on a different planet to resemble some distant species.

Distinctive spoilers added to the effect. Though the strange spoilers didn't seem out of place on the car, they almost looked as if they were tacked on as an afterthought. This was not surprising, as Paolo Martin himself admitted that the spoilers 'were added only at the last minute, since the Management thought the design had to be enriched.' The spoilers used black wings attached to the body by metal arms that looked too much like pieces from an Erector Set to match the rest of the design.

All of the vents and air intakes found on the Dino 206 Competizione—and there were plenty—blended gracefully with the smooth curves on which they were placed. They looked like gills, and they enhanced the car's alien image. A single windshield wiper protruded like a tentacle reaching towards the windshield. Gullwing doors with a huge glass area contributed to the otherworldly effect, as did the jarring, bright yellow paint that covered the prototype's aluminum skin.

James Glickenhaus, a wealthy car collector with a special interest in Ferraris, recently became the first private owner of the Dino 206 Competizione. The car had been kept in Pininfarina's museum for over thirty years until a purchase was agreed upon in 2007 and Glickenhaus bought the stunning vehicle. Since Glickenhaus purchased the car, it has been shown with success and driven regularly.

[Text from Conceptcarz.com]

www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z17222/Ferrari-Dino-206-Compe...

This Lego miniland-scale Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione (s/n 10523 - Carrozzeria Pininfarina - 1967) has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 94th Build Challenge, - "Appease the Elves Summer Automobile Build-off (Part 2)", - a design challenge combining the resources of LUGNuts, TheLegoCarBlog (TLCB) and Head Turnerz.

An odd little thing, I must admit I'd never seen or heard of this model until seeing three in one day. It turns out it's essentially a Suzuki Alto with a splash of South Korean flair and the predecessor to the popular Matiz.

The boxy but inoffensive shape probably stirs up a lot of practicality, although with less than 50bhp from its 800cc engine it won't set the world alight.

A field test of vintage and vintage-styled equipment for an upcoming "expedition" planned for the summer.

Unlike the first field test, this second outing resulted in no equipment failures. I did, however, again have a problem with heel blisters, although less severe than during the initial hike in the "big boots." The second outing was of longer distance and duration -- about three miles in total -- with considerably more scrambling up and down slopes.

I have not yet repaired my leather whip holder, so for practicality I secured the whip with plastic zip ties. Not "period authentic," I know, but it worked.

I'm debating over "the look," or specifically, "the hat" to wear during the actual expedition: this safari-style fedora, or the pith helmet. Either one is appropriate circa-1910 style, so it really comes down to which hat the chicks think makes me look dreamier.

;-p

Wardop's Court: Situated to the east of Lady Stair’s Court formed in the 1890’s by the demolition of two small closes ( (Wardrop's to the NW and Paterson's to the SE) by Patrick Geddes (1892) is a clever evocation of its timber framed predecessor. The carved dragon brackets at the entrance and exit of the Court were restored in 2013. Two of the dragons were carved by Geddes’ 16 year old son Arthur, guided by the sculptor Alec Miller, who was with the Guild of Handicrafts, a key part of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Sir Patrick Geddes FRSE (2 October 1854 – 17 April 1932) was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and sociology. He introduced the concept of "region" to architecture and planning and coined the term "conurbation".

Very early on in his career Geddes demonstrated the practicality of his ideas and approach. In 1886 Geddes and his newly married wife purchased a row of slum tenements in James Court, Edinburgh, making it into a single dwelling. In and around this area Geddes commenced upon a project of "conservative surgery": "weeding out the worst of the houses that surrounded them…widening the narrow closes into courtyards" and thus improving sunlight and airflow. The best of the houses were kept and restored. Geddes believed that this approach was both more economical and more humane.

Educational Bookshop, 19 Salah Eddin Street Jerusalem.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

French-German Cultural Center, Ramallahkshop, 19 Salah Eddin Street Jerusalem

Kop Hill Climb centenary 2010

The Jaguar D-Type, like its predecessor the C-Type, was a factory-built race car. Although it shared the basic straight-6 XK engine design (initially 3.4L and eventually uprated to 3.8 litres in the late fifties) with the C-Type, the majority of the car was radically different. Perhaps its most ground-breaking innovation was the introduction of a monocoque chassis, which not only introduced aircraft-style engineering to competition car design, but also an aeronautical understanding of aerodynamic efficiency. The D-Type was introduced purely for competition, but after Jaguar withdrew from racing, the company offered the remaining, unfinished chassis as the roadgoing Jaguar XKSS, by making changes to the racers: adding an extra seat, another door, a full-width windshield and primitive folding top, as concessions to practicality. However, on the evening of 12 February 1957, a fire broke out at the Browns Lane plant destroying nine of the twenty five cars that had already been completed or in semi-completion. Production is thought to have included 53 customer D-Types, 18 factory team cars, and 16 XKSS versions.

Prices

The first factory production D-Type (XKD-509) was sold at Bonhams auction for £2,201,500 in July 2008. The previous highest confirmed price was £1,706,000, set in 1999.

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These images CANNOT BE COPIED, DISTRIBUITED or PUBLISHED for any media, electronic or otherwise unless permission is granted by the owner of the original image.

The utilization in other web pages without the express written consent is prohibited, but permission will most likely be given if you ask.

Please respect copyrights.

Benjamin Stein, Die Leinwand (The Canvas)

An Event of the DAAD

Reading

Wed, 29.12.2010, 19:00

Goethe-Institut Jerusalem

in German

Based on the scandal of Benjamin Wilkomirski's falsified Holocaust memoir, this novel deals with the unreliability of memory and the struggle for identity. Two stories are told from both ends of the book. In one of the stories Amnon Zichroni, an Orthodox Jew who grew up in Israel and becomes a psychoanalyst in Zürich, encourages Minsky, a supposed Holocaust survivor, to write down his memories. The other story is about East German journalist Jan Wechsler who tries to expose Minsky's memoirs as false. In the centre of the book a confrontation takes place when the two narrators, Amnon Zichroni and Jan Wechsler, meet one another.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Bolzano, Alto Adige, Streets and Detail

Armenian Orthodox Christmas mass and procession inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 18, 2011. Church services and ceremonies are conducted in the Cathedral of Nativity all night long and until the next day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas Celebration at the Church of the Nativity, West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2011. Ethiopia (and especially the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) still use the old Julian calendar, so the celebrate Christmas on January 7th. The Christmas celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is called Ganna. Most people go to Church on Christmas day.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

The exhibition “Beautiful Faces of Balata” currently on show at the Church of the Ascension at the “Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Foundation” on the Mount of Olive's can be visited on a virtual tour on my website. Virtual tour of the Exhibition »

The exhibition is a project of Public Culture - Palpics, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Yafa Cultural Center (YCC) .

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.

Concert and exhibition opening in the evangelical Lutheran church of Augusta Victoria on The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, on Friday the 16th of December at 6 a clock pm. The exhibition is a complete Biblical cycle of both The Old- and The New Testament developed by the Norwegian, surrealist painter Håkon Gullvåg. The exhibition was in 2005 made as a temporary decoration for Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, which is the national sanctuary of Norway. The motifs will through this show “come home” to their historical context, and will be displayed in the church during both Christmas 2011 and Easter 2012.

Opening speeches will be held by H. E. the Norwegian Minister of Government Administration, Reform and Church affairs Rigmor Aasrud, and by the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land the Rt. Rev. Dr. Munib A. Younan.

The concert that follows the exhibition opening will be held by the Norwegian chamber ensemble The Trondheim Soloists, the Norwegian musician and composer Henning Sommeroe, together with the Palestinian artist and composer Rim Banna.

Shortly about me:

It’s my passion to create stories and bring back pictures of events, people and places that are rarely seen. It’s a combination of exploration, exposition and artistry that together create a life of adventure and excitement.

In my work it is imperative for me that information be accurate and the images must be respectful of the subject and viewer. My goal is to combine creativity with practicality to capture the best possible images to document events, tell a story, meet the picture editor's deadlines.

If you would like to know more, or even just pick my brains to discuss your project with me, please visit my homepage documentary photography or send me an Email.