For ODC-Even. Getting a bunch of images ready for my gallery show. Hurry up, it starts Tuesday.

The Church of St Thomas the Martyr (known as St Thomas' Newcastle) in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. It is a prominent city centre landmarks, located close to both universities, the city hall and main shopping district in the Haymarket.

 

It is a 19th-century Anglican re-foundation of a medieval chapel, traditionally said to have been created by one of the assassins of Thomas Becket. Revitalised and appointed as Resource Church for the Diocese of Newcastle in 2019, with a new minister and staff team, it has now become a popular church for students and young adults.

 

History

Dedication and foundation

The church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170 by a group of four English knights acting – so they mistakenly believed – on the orders of Henry II. Since Becket had defended the privileges of the Church against Henry, he was regarded as a martyr and canonized in 1173. The four murderers were instructed, in order to atone for their sins, to serve a period as confreres (associate brothers) of the Knights Templar, but it is believed that one of them, Hugh de Morville, also elected to found a chapel dedicated to the saint as a private penance. It was this chapel which would eventually become the Church of St Thomas the Martyr. The precise foundation date is uncertain, but probably in the 1170s, and certainly by the early 13th century.

 

De Morville’s chapel

De Morville – if indeed he was responsible (there is no absolute proof) – set up his chapel at a riverside location, next to what is now the Swing Bridge but what was then a wooden affair and the only bridge across the Tyne at Newcastle. By 1248 both bridge and chapel were in the care of a Keeper, known only as Lawrence. In that year much of the town was destroyed by fire; the chapel escaped, but the bridge was badly damaged and Lawrence was given responsibility for raising money for rebuilding, which included the reconstruction of the bridge in stone.

 

In 1329 one William Heron founded a Chantry within St Thomas’, dedicated to St Anne and endowed with £4 17s per annum; a second Chantry, dedicated to St Mary, had £4 3s 6d a year. In 1339 the chapel bridge was once more severely damaged, this time by flood, and it remained ruinous for much of the 14th century.

 

The chapel possessed three cellars, one of which was rented out by William Spyn, the then chaplain, at 14 shillings a year in 1347. Further income was raised through a windmill below Jesmond (confirmed as the chapel's property in 1408) and more land, in Whickham, left to the chapel in the will of Roger Thornton in 1429.

 

St Mary Magdalene’s Hospital and the move to the new site

The Hospital of St Mary Magdalene was founded just outside Newcastle by Henry I to cater for those afflicted with leprosy, a disease brought to the Country by returning Crusaders. The hospital was located near what is now the northern end of Northumberland Street. Although a religious house, the hospital was overlooked in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century English Reformation, and the Hospital continues to operate into the present day, though evolving into a charity rather than a working hospital by the early 19th century. James I incorporated the hospital and the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr into a single institution under the government of a Master, the first of these being a Mr Jennison.

 

In 1732 the Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle, who acted as patrons of the united hospital and chapel and who were empowered to alter the statutes, beautified the chapel and made it a Chapel of ease for St Nicholas Church. At that time it seated 300 people.

 

Alterations were made to the chapel in 1770 and subsequently, but it was damaged in a great flood in 1771. Although the building was not substantially affected, by 1827 it was felt the old chapel needed replacing and it was closed in March that year, with a replacement built on the site of St Mary Magdalene's Hospital.

 

1830 new church

The Newcastle architect John Dobson was hired to design the new church, and he produced an elegant Gothic-style building at a cost of £6000. The present church was built by John Dobson, between 1827 and 1830. Galleries were added in 1837 and the seating was replaced in 1881. In 1972 the level of the High Altar was lowered, the chancel screen removed and the chancel extended into the nave, with a nave altar. The present church is a Grade II* Listed Building.

 

Exodus to Jesmond

1856 saw the untimely death of Rev Richard Clayton, Master of St Thomas's, and a local evangelical light. In his place the city authorities decided to appoint Clement Moody, vicar of Newcastle and a high churchman opposed to evangelicalism. A large number of the congregation of St Thomas's were deeply unhappy. A committee was formed with the intention of planting a new church nearby, which "will form a central point for the maintenance and promulgation of sound scriptural and evangelical truth in a large and populous town."[citation needed] A new church building, Jesmond Parish Church, was designed by the architect John Dobson and consecrated by 1861.

 

The modern church

Legal status

The modern St Thomas the Martyr has no parish, but neither is it a Peculiar (ecclesiastical enclave), making it unique in the Church of England. It is governed by the Body Corporate (comprising the senior priest and Churchwardens) and ultimately through Acts of Parliament. It lies within the Diocese of Newcastle, the Archdeaconry of Northumberland and the Deanery of Newcastle. It was formally separated from the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene in 1978, but the senior priest of the church is still referred to as the Master.

 

Services and civic function

Despite having no parish, the church maintains a normal routine of regular weekly services. Currently, these consist of 10.30am Communion service (Eucharist) and a 6.30pm communion service on Sundays and a service of Holy Communion at 12.30pm on Wednesdays.

 

However, the church is regarded as serving the whole city, the universities and various organisations and communities. Consequently, it serves as the venue for a busy programme of civic and private services. Its proximity to the City Hall and to both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities mean it acts as semi-official church to these institutions, but it also provides regular services for the Royal British Legion, various Regimental Associations and the Mothers’ Union, amongst other groups. In recent years, conductor and organist Miles Cragg has presided at the organ for a number of carol services. A choir comprising members of King's College, later Newcastle University, always sang at the University Carol Service in December and occasionally for funerals of members of staff of the University.

 

St Thomas' launched in October 2019 as the Resource Church for the Diocese of Newcastle. A new staff team were employed and a team from St Michael le Belfrey in York was sent to relaunch the church. The congregation very quickly grew and the church now attracts large numbers of young people each week.

 

Ethos

St Thomas's has a reputation for involvement in social issues, most notably trade justice, developing countries' debt and related subjects. This has been expressed through major campaigns, such as involvement in the Jubilee 2000 and Make Poverty History movements, and also on a smaller scale, such as support for Fair Trade and sale of fairly traded goods in the church's One World Shop. In addition a variety of national, international and local charitable causes are supported through a range of methods.

 

2019 building project

Starting in 2019, plans were drawn up for a major renovation and reordering of the Church building, and was completed in 2022. As part of the work, the floors were removed and rebuilt, new partitions were inserted in order to create meeting rooms and other spaces in the former aisles of the church, and the 19th century bench seating was removed and replaced with standard stackable chairs. The galleries of 1837 have been enclosed in glass, and the raked seating has been floored over in order to create additional rooms. A full-immersion font was installed in the nave of the church.

 

List of Masters

Laurence, in 1269.

William of Stanhope occurs in 1289 and 1297.

Nicholas de Stockton occurs in 1341.

William Spynn was master and keeper of Tyne Bridge in 1347 and 1352.

John Wernmouth occurs in 1411 and 1413.

John Crofte appointed by the corporation in 1426.

Thomas Scott occurs in 1498.

John Brandlyng, clerk, appointed 30 August 1538.

Cuthbert Ellison held this office before 13 March 1556.

Sir George Carr, priest, appointed 24 July 1565.

Robert Jennison 1611 - 1652

Cuthbert Sydenham 1652 - 1653

Samuel Hammond 1653 - ????

Robert Bonner 1662 - 1676

Thomas Davison 1676 - 1716

John Chilton 1716 - 1717

Robert Thomlinson 1717 - 1748

Henry Featherstonehalgh 1748 - 1779

Nathanael Clayton 1779 - 1786

Henry Ridley 1786 - 1825

John Smith 1825 - 1826

Richard Clayton 1826 - 1856

Clement Moody 1856 - 1871

Marsden Gibson 1872 - 1894

Alexander James Harrison 1894 - 1914

Jesse Hickling Ison 1914 - 1940

George Edwin Jenkins 1941 - 1947

Albert John Bennitt 1948 - 1969

John Lloyd Rochfort Crawley 1969 - 1974[3]

Ian Harker 1975 - 1983

David John Parker 1984 - 1989

Ian David Houghton 1990 - 1995

John Christopher (Kit) Widdows 1995 - 2007

Catherine Mary Lack 2009 - 2018

Ben Doolan 2019–Present

 

Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle is a cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the River Tyne's northern bank, opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.

 

Newcastle developed around a Roman settlement called Pons Aelius, the settlement became known as Monkchester before taking on the name of a castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert Curthose. It was one of the world's largest ship building and repair centres during the industrial revolution. Newcastle was part of the county of Northumberland until 1400, when it separated and formed a county of itself. In 1974, Newcastle became part of Tyne and Wear. Since 2018, the city council has been part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

 

The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Newcastle upon Tyne was originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.

 

Roman settlement

The history of Newcastle dates from AD 122, when the Romans built the first bridge to cross the River Tyne at that point. The bridge was called Pons Aelius or 'Bridge of Aelius', Aelius being the family name of Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was responsible for the Roman wall built across northern England along the Tyne–Solway gap. Hadrian's Wall ran through present-day Newcastle, with stretches of wall and turrets visible along the West Road, and at a temple in Benwell. Traces of a milecastle were found on Westgate Road, midway between Clayton Street and Grainger Street, and it is likely that the course of the wall corresponded to present-day Westgate Road. The course of the wall can be traced eastwards to the Segedunum Roman fort at Wallsend, with the fort of Arbeia down-river at the mouth of the Tyne, on the south bank in what is now South Shields. The Tyne was then a wider, shallower river at this point and it is thought that the bridge was probably about 700 feet (210 m) long, made of wood and supported on stone piers. It is probable that it was sited near the current Swing Bridge, due to the fact that Roman artefacts were found there during the building of the latter bridge. Hadrian himself probably visited the site in 122. A shrine was set up on the completed bridge in 123 by the 6th Legion, with two altars to Neptune and Oceanus respectively. The two altars were subsequently found in the river and are on display in the Great North Museum in Newcastle.

 

The Romans built a stone-walled fort in 150 to protect the river crossing which was at the foot of the Tyne Gorge, and this took the name of the bridge so that the whole settlement was known as Pons Aelius. The fort was situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the new bridge, on the site of the present Castle Keep. Pons Aelius is last mentioned in 400, in a Roman document listing all of the Roman military outposts. It is likely that nestling in the shadow of the fort would have been a small vicus, or village. Unfortunately, no buildings have been detected; only a few pieces of flagging. It is clear that there was a Roman cemetery near Clavering Place, behind the Central station, as a number of Roman coffins and sarcophagi have been unearthed there.

 

Despite the presence of the bridge, the settlement of Pons Aelius was not particularly important among the northern Roman settlements. The most important stations were those on the highway of Dere Street running from Eboracum (York) through Corstopitum (Corbridge) and to the lands north of the Wall. Corstopitum, being a major arsenal and supply centre, was much larger and more populous than Pons Aelius.

 

Anglo-Saxon development

The Angles arrived in the North-East of England in about 500 and may have landed on the Tyne. There is no evidence of an Anglo-Saxon settlement on or near the site of Pons Aelius during the Anglo-Saxon age. The bridge probably survived and there may well have been a small village at the northern end, but no evidence survives. At that time the region was dominated by two kingdoms, Bernicia, north of the Tees and ruled from Bamburgh, and Deira, south of the Tees and ruled from York. Bernicia and Deira combined to form the kingdom of Northanhymbra (Northumbria) early in the 7th century. There were three local kings who held the title of Bretwalda – 'Lord of Britain', Edwin of Deira (627–632), Oswald of Bernicia (633–641) and Oswy of Northumbria (641–658). The 7th century became known as the 'Golden Age of Northumbria', when the area was a beacon of culture and learning in Europe. The greatness of this period was based on its generally Christian culture and resulted in the Lindisfarne Gospels amongst other treasures. The Tyne valley was dotted with monasteries, with those at Monkwearmouth, Hexham and Jarrow being the most famous. Bede, who was based at Jarrow, wrote of a royal estate, known as Ad Murum, 'at the Wall', 12 miles (19 km) from the sea. It is thought that this estate may have been in what is now Newcastle. At some unknown time, the site of Newcastle came to be known as Monkchester. The reason for this title is unknown, as we are unaware of any specific monasteries at the site, and Bede made no reference to it. In 875 Halfdan Ragnarsson, the Danish Viking conqueror of York, led an army that attacked and pillaged various monasteries in the area, and it is thought that Monkchester was also pillaged at this time. Little more was heard of it until the coming of the Normans.

 

Norman period

After the arrival of William the Conqueror in England in 1066, the whole of England was quickly subjected to Norman rule. However, in Northumbria there was great resistance to the Normans, and in 1069 the newly appointed Norman Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Comines and 700 of his men were killed by the local population at Durham. The Northumbrians then marched on York, but William was able to suppress the uprising. That same year, a second uprising occurred when a Danish fleet landed in the Humber. The Northumbrians again attacked York and destroyed the garrison there. William was again able to suppress the uprising, but this time he took revenge. He laid waste to the whole of the Midlands and the land from York to the Tees. In 1080, William Walcher, the Norman bishop of Durham and his followers were brutally murdered at Gateshead. This time Odo, bishop of Bayeux, William's half brother, devastated the land between the Tees and the Tweed. This was known as the 'Harrying of the North'. This devastation is reflected in the Domesday Book. The destruction had such an effect that the North remained poor and backward at least until Tudor times and perhaps until the Industrial Revolution. Newcastle suffered in this respect with the rest of the North.

 

In 1080 William sent his eldest son, Robert Curthose, north to defend the kingdom against the Scots. After his campaign, he moved to Monkchester and began the building of a 'New Castle'. This was of the "motte-and-bailey" type of construction, a wooden tower on top of an earthen mound (motte), surrounded by a moat and wooden stockade (bailey). It was this castle that gave Newcastle its name. In 1095 the Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Mowbray, rose up against the king, William Rufus, and Rufus sent an army north to recapture the castle. From then on the castle became crown property and was an important base from which the king could control the northern barons. The Northumbrian earldom was abolished and a Sheriff of Northumberland was appointed to administer the region. In 1091 the parish church of St Nicholas was consecrated on the site of the present Anglican cathedral, close by the bailey of the new castle. The church is believed to have been a wooden building on stone footings.

 

Not a trace of the tower or mound of the motte and bailey castle remains now. Henry II replaced it with a rectangular stone keep, which was built between 1172 and 1177 at a cost of £1,444. A stone bailey, in the form of a triangle, replaced the previous wooden one. The great outer gateway to the castle, called 'the Black Gate', was built later, between 1247 and 1250, in the reign of Henry III. There were at that time no town walls and when attacked by the Scots, the townspeople had to crowd into the bailey for safety. It is probable that the new castle acted as a magnet for local merchants because of the safety it provided. This in turn would help to expand trade in the town. At this time wool, skins and lead were being exported, whilst alum, pepper and ginger were being imported from France and Flanders.

 

Middle Ages

Throughout the Middle Ages, Newcastle was England's northern fortress, the centre for assembled armies. The Border war against Scotland lasted intermittently for several centuries – possibly the longest border war ever waged. During the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, David 1st of Scotland and his son were granted Cumbria and Northumberland respectively, so that for a period from 1139 to 1157, Newcastle was effectively in Scottish hands. It is believed that during this period, King David may have built the church of St Andrew and the Benedictine nunnery in Newcastle. However, King Stephen's successor, Henry II was strong enough to take back the Earldom of Northumbria from Malcolm IV.

 

The Scots king William the Lion was imprisoned in Newcastle, in 1174, after being captured at the Battle of Alnwick. Edward I brought the Stone of Scone and William Wallace south through the town and Newcastle was successfully defended against the Scots three times during the 14th century.

 

Around 1200, stone-faced, clay-filled jetties were starting to project into the river, an indication that trade was increasing in Newcastle. As the Roman roads continued to deteriorate, sea travel was gaining in importance. By 1275 Newcastle was the sixth largest wool exporting port in England. The principal exports at this time were wool, timber, coal, millstones, dairy produce, fish, salt and hides. Much of the developing trade was with the Baltic countries and Germany. Most of the Newcastle merchants were situated near the river, below the Castle. The earliest known charter was dated 1175 in the reign of Henry II, giving the townspeople some control over their town. In 1216 King John granted Newcastle a mayor[8] and also allowed the formation of guilds (known as Mysteries). These were cartels formed within different trades, which restricted trade to guild members. There were initially twelve guilds. Coal was being exported from Newcastle by 1250, and by 1350 the burgesses received a royal licence to export coal. This licence to export coal was jealously guarded by the Newcastle burgesses, and they tried to prevent any one else on the Tyne from exporting coal except through Newcastle. The burgesses similarly tried to prevent fish from being sold anywhere else on the Tyne except Newcastle. This led to conflicts with Gateshead and South Shields.

 

In 1265, the town was granted permission to impose a 'Wall Tax' or Murage, to pay for the construction of a fortified wall to enclose the town and protect it from Scottish invaders. The town walls were not completed until early in the 14th century. They were two miles (3 km) long, 9 feet (2.7 m) thick and 25 feet (7.6 m) high. They had six main gates, as well as some smaller gates, and had 17 towers. The land within the walls was divided almost equally by the Lort Burn, which flowed southwards and joined the Tyne to the east of the Castle. The town began to expand north of the Castle and west of the Lort Burn with various markets being set up within the walls.

 

In 1400 Henry IV granted a new charter, creating a County corporate which separated the town, but not the Castle, from the county of Northumberland and recognised it as a "county of itself" with a right to have a sheriff of its own. The burgesses were now allowed to choose six aldermen who, with the mayor would be justices of the peace. The mayor and sheriff were allowed to hold borough courts in the Guildhall.

 

Religious houses

During the Middle Ages a number of religious houses were established within the walls: the first of these was the Benedictine nunnery of St Bartholomew founded in 1086 near the present-day Nun Street. Both David I of Scotland and Henry I of England were benefactors of the religious house. Nothing of the nunnery remains now.

 

The friary of Blackfriars, Newcastle (Dominican) was established in 1239. These were also known as the Preaching Friars or Shod Friars, because they wore sandals, as opposed to other orders. The friary was situated in the present-day Friars Street. In 1280 the order was granted royal permission to make a postern in the town walls to communicate with their gardens outside the walls. On 19 June 1334, Edward Balliol, claimant to be King of Scotland, did homage to King Edward III, on behalf of the kingdom of Scotland, in the church of the friary. Much of the original buildings of the friary still exist, mainly because, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries the friary of Blackfriars was rented out by the corporation to nine of the local trade guilds.

 

The friary of Whitefriars (Carmelite) was established in 1262. The order was originally housed on the Wall Knoll in Pandon, but in 1307 it took over the buildings of another order, which went out of existence, the Friars of the Sac. The land, which had originally been given by Robert the Bruce, was situated in the present-day Hanover Square, behind the Central station. Nothing of the friary remains now.

 

The friary of Austinfriars (Augustinian) was established in 1290. The friary was on the site where the Holy Jesus Hospital was built in 1682. The friary was traditionally the lodging place of English kings whenever they visited or passed through Newcastle. In 1503 Princess Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England, stayed two days at the friary on her way to join her new husband James IV of Scotland.

 

The friary of Greyfriars (Franciscans) was established in 1274. The friary was in the present-day area between Pilgrim Street, Grey Street, Market Street and High Chare. Nothing of the original buildings remains.

 

The friary of the Order of the Holy Trinity, also known as the Trinitarians, was established in 1360. The order devoted a third of its income to buying back captives of the Saracens, during the Crusades. Their house was on the Wall Knoll, in Pandon, to the east of the city, but within the walls. Wall Knoll had previously been occupied by the White Friars until they moved to new premises in 1307.

 

All of the above religious houses were closed in about 1540, when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries.

 

An important street running through Newcastle at the time was Pilgrim Street, running northwards inside the walls and leading to the Pilgrim Gate on the north wall. The street still exists today as arguably Newcastle's main shopping street.

 

Tudor period

The Scottish border wars continued for much of the 16th century, so that during that time, Newcastle was often threatened with invasion by the Scots, but also remained important as a border stronghold against them.

 

During the Reformation begun by Henry VIII in 1536, the five Newcastle friaries and the single nunnery were dissolved and the land was sold to the Corporation and to rich merchants. At this time there were fewer than 60 inmates of the religious houses in Newcastle. The convent of Blackfriars was leased to nine craft guilds to be used as their headquarters. This probably explains why it is the only one of the religious houses whose building survives to the present day. The priories at Tynemouth and Durham were also dissolved, thus ending the long-running rivalry between Newcastle and the church for control of trade on the Tyne. A little later, the property of the nunnery of St Bartholomew and of Grey Friars were bought by Robert Anderson, who had the buildings demolished to build his grand Newe House (also known as Anderson Place).

 

With the gradual decline of the Scottish border wars the town walls were allowed to decline as well as the castle. By 1547, about 10,000 people were living in Newcastle. At the beginning of the 16th century exports of wool from Newcastle were more than twice the value of exports of coal, but during the century coal exports continued to increase.

 

Under Edward VI, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, sponsored an act allowing Newcastle to annexe Gateshead as its suburb. The main reason for this was to allow the Newcastle Hostmen, who controlled the export of Tyne coal, to get their hands on the Gateshead coal mines, previously controlled by the Bishop of Durham. However, when Mary I came to power, Dudley met his downfall and the decision was reversed. The Reformation allowed private access to coal mines previously owned by Tynemouth and Durham priories and as a result coal exports increase dramatically, from 15,000 tons in 1500 to 35,000 tons in 1565, and to 400,000 tons in 1625.

 

The plague visited Newcastle four times during the 16th century, in 1579 when 2,000 people died, in 1589 when 1700 died, in 1595 and finally in 1597.

 

In 1600 Elizabeth I granted Newcastle a charter for an exclusive body of electors, the right to elect the mayor and burgesses. The charter also gave the Hostmen exclusive rights to load coal at any point on the Tyne. The Hostmen developed as an exclusive group within the Merchant Adventurers who had been incorporated by a charter in 1547.

 

Stuart period

In 1636 there was a serious outbreak of bubonic plague in Newcastle. There had been several previous outbreaks of the disease over the years, but this was the most serious. It is thought to have arrived from the Netherlands via ships that were trading between the Tyne and that country. It first appeared in the lower part of the town near the docks but gradually spread to all parts of the town. As the disease gained hold the authorities took measures to control it by boarding up any properties that contained infected persons, meaning that whole families were locked up together with the infected family members. Other infected persons were put in huts outside the town walls and left to die. Plague pits were dug next to the town's four churches and outside the town walls to receive the bodies in mass burials. Over the course of the outbreak 5,631 deaths were recorded out of an estimated population of 12,000, a death rate of 47%.

 

In 1637 Charles I tried to raise money by doubling the 'voluntary' tax on coal in return for allowing the Newcastle Hostmen to regulate production and fix prices. This caused outrage amongst the London importers and the East Anglian shippers. Both groups decided to boycott Tyne coal and as a result forced Charles to reverse his decision in 1638.

 

In 1640 during the Second Bishops' War, the Scots successfully invaded Newcastle. The occupying army demanded £850 per day from the Corporation to billet the Scottish troops. Trade from the Tyne ground to a halt during the occupation. The Scots left in 1641 after receiving a Parliamentary pardon and a £4,000,000 loan from the town.

 

In 1642 the English Civil War began. King Charles realised the value of the Tyne coal trade and therefore garrisoned Newcastle. A Royalist was appointed as governor. At that time, Newcastle and King's Lynn were the only important seaports to support the crown. In 1644 Parliament blockaded the Tyne to prevent the king from receiving revenue from the Tyne coal trade. Coal exports fell from 450,000 to 3,000 tons and London suffered a hard winter without fuel. Parliament encouraged the coal trade from the Wear to try to replace that lost from Newcastle but that was not enough to make up for the lost Tyneside tonnage.

 

In 1644 the Scots crossed the border. Newcastle strengthened its defences in preparation. The Scottish army, with 40,000 troops, besieged Newcastle for three months until the garrison of 1,500 surrendered. During the siege, the Scots bombarded the walls with their artillery, situated in Gateshead and Castle Leazes. The Scottish commander threatened to destroy the steeple of St Nicholas's Church by gunfire if the mayor, Sir John Marley, did not surrender the town. The mayor responded by placing Scottish prisoners that they had captured in the steeple, so saving it from destruction. The town walls were finally breached by a combination of artillery and sapping. In gratitude for this defence, Charles gave Newcastle the motto 'Fortiter Defendit Triumphans' to be added to its coat of arms. The Scottish army occupied Northumberland and Durham for two years. The coal taxes had to pay for the Scottish occupation. In 1645 Charles surrendered to the Scots and was imprisoned in Newcastle for nine months. After the Civil War the coal trade on the Tyne soon picked up and exceeded its pre-war levels.

 

A new Guildhall was completed on the Sandhill next to the river in 1655, replacing an earlier facility damaged by fire in 1639, and became the meeting place of Newcastle Town Council. In 1681 the Hospital of the Holy Jesus was built partly on the site of the Austin Friars. The Guildhall and Holy Jesus Hospital still exist.

 

Charles II tried to impose a charter on Newcastle to give the king the right to appoint the mayor, sheriff, recorder and town clerk. Charles died before the charter came into effect. In 1685, James II tried to replace Corporation members with named Catholics. However, James' mandate was suspended in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution welcoming William of Orange. In 1689, after the fall of James II, the people of Newcastle tore down his bronze equestrian statue in Sandhill and tossed it into the Tyne. The bronze was later used to make bells for All Saints Church.

 

In 1689 the Lort Burn was covered over. At this time it was an open sewer. The channel followed by the Lort Burn became the present day Dean Street. At that time, the centre of Newcastle was still the Sandhill area, with many merchants living along the Close or on the Side. The path of the main road through Newcastle ran from the single Tyne bridge, through Sandhill to the Side, a narrow street which climbed steeply on the north-east side of the castle hill until it reached the higher ground alongside St Nicholas' Church. As Newcastle developed, the Side became lined with buildings with projecting upper stories, so that the main street through Newcastle was a narrow, congested, steep thoroughfare.

 

In 1701 the Keelmen's Hospital was built in the Sandgate area of the city, using funds provided by the keelmen. The building still stands today.

 

Eighteenth century

In the 18th century, Newcastle was the country's largest print centre after London, Oxford and Cambridge, and the Literary and Philosophical Society of 1793, with its erudite debates and large stock of books in several languages predated the London Library by half a century.

 

In 1715, during the Jacobite rising in favour of the Old Pretender, an army of Jacobite supporters marched on Newcastle. Many of the Northumbrian gentry joined the rebels. The citizens prepared for its arrival by arresting Jacobite supporters and accepting 700 extra recruits into the local militia. The gates of the city were closed against the rebels. This proved enough to delay an attack until reinforcements arrived forcing the rebel army to move across to the west coast. The rebels finally surrendered at Preston.

 

In 1745, during a second Jacobite rising in favour of the Young Pretender, a Scottish army crossed the border led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Once again Newcastle prepared by arresting Jacobite supporters and inducting 800 volunteers into the local militia. The town walls were strengthened, most of the gates were blocked up and some 200 cannon were deployed. 20,000 regulars were billeted on the Town Moor. These preparations were enough to force the rebel army to travel south via the west coast. They were eventually defeated at Culloden in 1746.

 

Newcastle's actions during the 1715 rising in resisting the rebels and declaring for George I, in contrast to the rest of the region, is the most likely source of the nickname 'Geordie', applied to people from Tyneside, or more accurately Newcastle. Another theory, however, is that the name 'Geordie' came from the inventor of the Geordie lamp, George Stephenson. It was a type of safety lamp used in mining, but was not invented until 1815. Apparently the term 'German Geordie' was in common use during the 18th century.

 

The city's first hospital, Newcastle Infirmary opened in 1753; it was funded by public subscription. A lying-in hospital was established in Newcastle in 1760. The city's first public hospital for mentally ill patients, Wardens Close Lunatic Hospital was opened in October 1767.

 

In 1771 a flood swept away much of the bridge at Newcastle. The bridge had been built in 1250 and repaired after a flood in 1339. The bridge supported various houses and three towers and an old chapel. A blue stone was placed in the middle of the bridge to mark the boundary between Newcastle and the Palatinate of Durham. A temporary wooden bridge had to be built, and this remained in use until 1781, when a new stone bridge was completed. The new bridge consisted of nine arches. In 1801, because of the pressure of traffic, the bridge had to be widened.

 

A permanent military presence was established in the city with the completion of Fenham Barracks in 1806. The facilities at the Castle for holding assizes, which had been condemned for their inconvenience and unhealthiness, were replaced when the Moot Hall opened in August 1812.

 

Victorian period

Present-day Newcastle owes much of its architecture to the work of the builder Richard Grainger, aided by architects John Dobson, Thomas Oliver, John and Benjamin Green and others. In 1834 Grainger won a competition to produce a new plan for central Newcastle. He put this plan into effect using the above architects as well as architects employed in his own office. Grainger and Oliver had already built Leazes Terrace, Leazes Crescent and Leazes Place between 1829 and 1834. Grainger and Dobson had also built the Royal Arcade at the foot of Pilgrim Street between 1830 and 1832. The most ambitious project covered 12 acres 12 acres (49,000 m2) in central Newcastle, on the site of Newe House (also called Anderson Place). Grainger built three new thoroughfares, Grey Street, Grainger Street and Clayton Street with many connecting streets, as well as the Central Exchange and the Grainger Market. John Wardle and George Walker, working in Grainger's office, designed Clayton Street, Grainger Street and most of Grey Street. Dobson designed the Grainger Market and much of the east side of Grey Street. John and Benjamin Green designed the Theatre Royal at the top of Grey Street, where Grainger placed the column of Grey's Monument as a focus for the whole scheme. Grey Street is considered to be one of the finest streets in the country, with its elegant curve. Unfortunately most of old Eldon Square was demolished in the 1960s in the name of progress. The Royal Arcade met a similar fate.

 

In 1849 a new bridge was built across the river at Newcastle. This was the High Level Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson, and slightly up river from the existing bridge. The bridge was designed to carry road and rail traffic across the Tyne Gorge on two decks with rail traffic on the upper deck and road traffic on the lower. The new bridge meant that traffic could pass through Newcastle without having to negotiate the steep, narrow Side, as had been necessary for centuries. The bridge was opened by Queen Victoria, who one year later opened the new Central Station, designed by John Dobson. Trains were now able to cross the river, directly into the centre of Newcastle and carry on up to Scotland. The Army Riding School was also completed in 1849.

 

In 1854 a large fire started on the Gateshead quayside and an explosion caused it to spread across the river to the Newcastle quayside. A huge conflagration amongst the narrow alleys, or 'chares', destroyed the homes of 800 families as well as many business premises. The narrow alleys that had been destroyed were replaced by streets containing blocks of modern offices.

 

In 1863 the Town Hall in St Nicholas Square replaced the Guildhall as the meeting place of Newcastle Town Council.

 

In 1876 the low level bridge was replaced by a new bridge known as the Swing Bridge, so called because the bridge was able to swing horizontally on a central axis and allow ships to pass on either side. This meant that for the first time sizeable ships could pass up-river beyond Newcastle. The bridge was built and paid for by William Armstrong, a local arms manufacturer, who needed to have warships access his Elswick arms factory to fit armaments to them. The Swing Bridge's rotating mechanism is adapted from the cannon mounts developed in Armstrong's arms works. In 1882 the Elswick works began to build ships as well as to arm them. The Barrack Road drill hall was completed in 1890.

 

Industrialisation

In the 19th century, shipbuilding and heavy engineering were central to the city's prosperity; and the city was a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Newcastle's development as a major city owed most to its central role in the production and export of coal. The phrase "taking coals to Newcastle" was first recorded in 1538; it proverbially denotes bringing a particular commodity to a place that has more than enough of it already.

 

Innovation in Newcastle and surrounding areas included the following:

 

George Stephenson developed a miner's safety lamp at the same time that Humphry Davy developed a rival design. The lamp made possible the opening up of ever deeper mines to provide the coal that powered the industrial revolution.

George and his son Robert Stephenson were hugely influential figures in the development of the early railways. George developed Blücher, a locomotive working at Killingworth colliery in 1814, whilst Robert was instrumental in the design of Rocket, a revolutionary design that was the forerunner of modern locomotives. Both men were involved in planning and building railway lines, all over this country and abroad.

 

Joseph Swan demonstrated a working electric light bulb about a year before Thomas Edison did the same in the USA. This led to a dispute as to who had actually invented the light bulb. Eventually the two rivals agreed to form a mutual company between them, the Edison and Swan Electric Light Company, known as Ediswan.

 

Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine, for marine use and for power generation. He used Turbinia, a small, turbine-powered ship, to demonstrate the speed that a steam turbine could generate. Turbinia literally ran rings around the British Fleet at a review at Spithead in 1897.

 

William Armstrong invented a hydraulic crane that was installed in dockyards up and down the country. He then began to design light, accurate field guns for the British army. These were a vast improvement on the existing guns that were then in use.

 

The following major industries developed in Newcastle or its surrounding area:

 

Glassmaking

A small glass industry existed in Newcastle from the mid-15th century. In 1615 restrictions were put on the use of wood for manufacturing glass. It was found that glass could be manufactured using the local coal, and so a glassmaking industry grew up on Tyneside. Huguenot glassmakers came over from France as refugees from persecution and set up glasshouses in the Skinnerburn area of Newcastle. Eventually, glass production moved to the Ouseburn area of Newcastle. In 1684 the Dagnia family, Sephardic Jewish emigrants from Altare, arrived in Newcastle from Stourbridge and established glasshouses along the Close, to manufacture high quality flint glass. The glass manufacturers used sand ballast from the boats arriving in the river as the main raw material. The glassware was then exported in collier brigs. The period from 1730 to 1785 was the highpoint of Newcastle glass manufacture, when the local glassmakers produced the 'Newcastle Light Baluster'. The glassmaking industry still exists in the west end of the city with local Artist and Glassmaker Jane Charles carrying on over four hundred years of hot glass blowing in Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

Locomotive manufacture

In 1823 George Stephenson and his son Robert established the world's first locomotive factory near Forth Street in Newcastle. Here they built locomotives for the Stockton and Darlington Railway and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, as well as many others. It was here that the famous locomotive Rocket was designed and manufactured in preparation for the Rainhill Trials. Apart from building locomotives for the British market, the Newcastle works also produced locomotives for Europe and America. The Forth Street works continued to build locomotives until 1960.

 

Shipbuilding

In 1296 a wooden, 135 ft (41 m) long galley was constructed at the mouth of the Lort Burn in Newcastle, as part of a twenty-ship order from the king. The ship cost £205, and is the earliest record of shipbuilding in Newcastle. However the rise of the Tyne as a shipbuilding area was due to the need for collier brigs for the coal export trade. These wooden sailing ships were usually built locally, establishing local expertise in building ships. As ships changed from wood to steel, and from sail to steam, the local shipbuilding industry changed to build the new ships. Although shipbuilding was carried out up and down both sides of the river, the two main areas for building ships in Newcastle were Elswick, to the west, and Walker, to the east. By 1800 Tyneside was the third largest producer of ships in Britain. Unfortunately, after the Second World War, lack of modernisation and competition from abroad gradually caused the local industry to decline and die.

 

Armaments

In 1847 William Armstrong established a huge factory in Elswick, west of Newcastle. This was initially used to produce hydraulic cranes but subsequently began also to produce guns for both the army and the navy. After the Swing Bridge was built in 1876 allowing ships to pass up river, warships could have their armaments fitted alongside the Elswick works. Armstrong's company took over its industrial rival, Joseph Whitworth of Manchester in 1897.

 

Steam turbines

Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine and, in 1889, founded his own company C. A. Parsons and Company in Heaton, Newcastle to make steam turbines. Shortly after this, he realised that steam turbines could be used to propel ships and, in 1897, he founded a second company, Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company in Wallsend. It is there that he designed and manufactured Turbinia. Parsons turbines were initially used in warships but soon came to be used in merchant and passenger vessels, including the liner Mauretania which held the blue riband for the Atlantic crossing until 1929. Parsons' company in Heaton began to make turbo-generators for power stations and supplied power stations all over the world. The Heaton works, reduced in size, remains as part of the Siemens AG industrial giant.

 

Pottery

In 1762 the Maling pottery was founded in Sunderland by French Huguenots, but transferred to Newcastle in 1817. A factory was built in the Ouseburn area of the city. The factory was rebuilt twice, finally occupying a 14-acre (57,000 m2) site that was claimed to be the biggest pottery in the world and which had its own railway station. The pottery pioneered use of machines in making potteries as opposed to hand production. In the 1890s the company went up-market and employed in-house designers. The period up to the Second World War was the most profitable with a constant stream of new designs being introduced. However, after the war, production gradually declined and the company closed in 1963.

 

Expansion of the city

Newcastle was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835: the reformed municipal borough included the parishes of Byker, Elswick, Heaton, Jesmond, Newcastle All Saints, Newcastle St Andrew, Newcastle St John, Newcastle St Nicholas, and Westgate. The urban districts of Benwell and Fenham and Walker were added in 1904. In 1935, Newcastle gained Kenton and parts of the parishes of West Brunton, East Denton, Fawdon, Longbenton. The most recent expansion in Newcastle's boundaries took place under the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974, when Newcastle became a metropolitan borough, also including the urban districts of Gosforth and Newburn, and the parishes of Brunswick, Dinnington, Hazlerigg, North Gosforth and Woolsington from the Castle Ward Rural District, and the village of Westerhope.

 

Meanwhile Northumberland County Council was formed under the Local Government Act 1888 and benefited from a dedicated meeting place when County Hall was completed in the Castle Garth area of Newcastle in 1910. Following the Local Government Act 1972 County Hall relocated to Morpeth in April 1981.

 

Twentieth century

In 1925 work began on a new high-level road bridge to span the Tyne Gorge between Newcastle and Gateshead. The capacity of the existing High-Level Bridge and Swing Bridge were being strained to the limit, and an additional bridge had been discussed for a long time. The contract was awarded to the Dorman Long Company and the bridge was finally opened by King George V in 1928. The road deck was 84 feet (26 m) above the river and was supported by a 531 feet (162 m) steel arch. The new Tyne Bridge quickly became a symbol for Newcastle and Tyneside, and remains so today.

 

During the Second World War, Newcastle was largely spared the horrors inflicted upon other British cities bombed during the Blitz. Although the armaments factories and shipyards along the River Tyne were targeted by the Luftwaffe, they largely escaped unscathed. Manors goods yard and railway terminal, to the east of the city centre, and the suburbs of Jesmond and Heaton suffered bombing during 1941. There were 141 deaths and 587 injuries, a relatively small figure compared to the casualties in other industrial centres of Britain.

 

In 1963 the city gained its own university, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, by act of parliament. A School of Medicine and Surgery had been established in Newcastle in 1834. This eventually developed into a college of medicine attached to Durham University. A college of physical science was also founded and became Armstrong College in 1904. In 1934 the two colleges merged to become King's College, Durham. This remained as part of Durham University until the new university was created in 1963. In 1992 the city gained its second university when Newcastle Polytechnic was granted university status as Northumbria University.

 

Newcastle City Council moved to the new Newcastle Civic Centre in 1968.

 

As heavy industries declined in the second half of the 20th century, large sections of the city centre were demolished along with many areas of slum housing. The leading political figure in the city during the 1960s was T. Dan Smith who oversaw a massive building programme of highrise housing estates and authorised the demolition of a quarter of the Georgian Grainger Town to make way for Eldon Square Shopping Centre. Smith's control in Newcastle collapsed when it was exposed that he had used public contracts to advantage himself and his business associates and for a time Newcastle became a byword for civic corruption as depicted in the films Get Carter and Stormy Monday and in the television series Our Friends in the North. However, much of the historic Grainger Town area survived and was, for the most part, fully restored in the late 1990s. Northumberland Street, initially the A1, was gradually closed to traffic from the 1970s and completely pedestrianised by 1998.

 

In 1978 a new rapid transport system, the Metro, was built, linking the Tyneside area. The system opened in August 1980. A new bridge was built to carry the Metro across the river between Gateshead and Newcastle. This was the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, commonly known as the Metro Bridge. Eventually the Metro system was extended to reach Newcastle Airport in 1991, and in 2002 the Metro system was extended to the nearby city of Sunderland.

 

As the 20th century progressed, trade on the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides gradually declined, until by the 1980s both sides of the river were looking rather derelict. Shipping company offices had closed along with offices of firms related to shipping. There were also derelict warehouses lining the riverbank. Local government produced a master plan to re-develop the Newcastle quayside and this was begun in the 1990s. New offices, restaurants, bars and residential accommodation were built and the area has changed in the space of a few years into a vibrant area, partially returning the focus of Newcastle to the riverside, where it was in medieval times.

 

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a foot and cycle bridge, 26 feet (7.9 m) wide and 413 feet (126 m) long, was completed in 2001. The road deck is in the form of a curve and is supported by a steel arch. To allow ships to pass, the whole structure, both arch and road-deck, rotates on huge bearings at either end so that the road deck is lifted. The bridge can be said to open and shut like a human eye. It is an important addition to the re-developed quayside area, providing a vital link between the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.

 

Recent developments

Today the city is a vibrant centre for office and retail employment, but just a short distance away there are impoverished inner-city housing estates, in areas originally built to provide affordable housing for employees of the shipyards and other heavy industries that lined the River Tyne. In the 2010s Newcastle City Council began implementing plans to regenerate these depressed areas, such as those along the Ouseburn Valley.

My New Novel:

 

B♭ (B-flat)

 

This is the third time I'm sharing it. (^^;;

  

It's a rough sketch from the beginning, more like notes.

Hope you enjoy reading it. :)

I've added quite a bit.

I won’t be uploading any more. (^_^;)

 

Note: I gave a brief explanation of this novel in the following video:

youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV

 

Set in New York City.

www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...

  

Red, yellow, blue—

Light rain began to fall on East 52nd Street just after 7 p.m.

Anaya Patel leaned against the wall of the building next to Tot Ramen, where she was supposed to meet someone, and absentmindedly stared at the traffic light at the intersection to her right. Though it was already July, it felt like a cooler summer than last year, and she regretted stepping out in just a T-shirt.

When the light turned green, Anaya squinted and stared intently. Kana, her former classmate, was smiling and waving as she ran toward her—

 

The flat ceiling of Madison Square Garden looked as if it were swelling from the heat of the crowd to Jack. Cheers welcoming the presidential candidate mingled with angry shouts, shaking the air like a wave.

Jack surveyed the arena briefly before returning his gaze to his iPhone. Several social media feeds scrolled simultaneously on the screen, overflowing with rapid posts.

One post in the Meta feed caught his eye. A death threat.

Republican presidential candidate Justin Bradford was about to take the stage with his fiancée, Eleanor Blake.

As the red lights symbolizing the Republican Party lit up the center stage, the two appeared together.

Then came the gunshots.

Jack recognized it instantly—two shots.

While chaos erupted inside the arena, Jack calmly closed his eyes and visualized the scene. He traced the sound of each shot to its possible source.

The first shot had likely come from the PA area near his right side. But Secret Service agents were stationed there.

He recalculated the second shot—probably fired from the left side of the stage. The assailant must have known the couple's precise positions. A security leak, perhaps.

Then came the second report. Ben Holloway, his colleague, delivered it with practiced calm. The bullets had grazed Justin’s left shoulder and abdomen. No arteries were hit, but the bleeding was severe.

Jack replied with steady resolve:

"Justin has Bombay blood. I confirmed it three days ago with Bellevue Hospital. They have a reserve."

Ben acknowledged it calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Justin was rushed to Bellevue, the nearest hospital. Jack called Elijah Kane, who was already waiting there. Secret Service agents, of course, never used apps like WhatsApp.

Before the first ring ended, Elijah picked up.

"Jack, it’s bad. We don’t have the blood. The Bombay blood is gone."

Jack couldn’t believe it.

"I confirmed it personally three days ago with the staff. Saw the blood bags myself."

After a brief pause, Elijah answered:

"The person in charge of those bags died in a car accident yesterday."

 

Anaya waited for her husband Arjun at Tot Ramen. Her college friend Mika (Sato), a Japanese artist, was with her.

As the waiter placed her bowl in front of her, her phone rang.

It was Bellevue Hospital.

Without hesitation, Anaya answered. Mika watched her with concern.

"Ms. Anaya Patel? This is Sasha Wilson from the ER. You may have heard, but the Republican presidential candidate was shot. We need your blood immediately. A Secret Service vehicle will pick you up. Please do not move."

Anaya turned toward the display hanging over the counter. A male reporter was broadcasting live from MSG.

At the entrance, a well-dressed man in a blue suit approached quickly.

"I’m Rohan Shah with the Secret Service. Please come with me. The car is outside."

Just as he reached for her, Anaya's phone buzzed again. The caller ID was unknown.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Anaya Patel?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Jack Vance, Secret Service. I'm almost there."

"How do you know my location?"

"We’re professionals. We have ways."

"But the agent is already here."

Jack’s urgent shout rang through the phone: "NO!"

The man before her drew a rifle from inside his suit and aimed it at her forehead.

A soft gunshot echoed inside the restaurant.

Anaya froze in shock, unable to speak. The man collapsed to the floor.

Then Arjun appeared—her husband, pointing a gun at her.

"Freeze! FBI!"

Several NYPD officers and suited FBI agents stormed in.

"Everyone down! Hands behind your heads!"

Classic movie dialogue. Anaya was trembling. So was Mika. But probably no one was shaking more than Arjun.

Moments later, Jack burst into the restaurant.

"Anaya Patel!"

Without looking up, she answered:

"Yes, that’s me."

Jack wiped sweat from his brow, lifted her up, and said:

"We’re going to the hospital."

 

At the hospital, Elijah sent Jack a message with a link.

Jack tossed his phone to Anaya in the passenger seat:

"Open the link!"

It was a live broadcast.

"Good evening, New York. And Los Angeles. My name is Zakaria Haddad. That’s my real name.

I used to live in Gaza. Now, I'm in a room modeled exactly after your President’s office."

Zakaria, a brown-skinned man with a beard, sat calmly in a chair identical to the Oval Office's.

He glanced at his watch, then back to the camera.

"There’s about to be breaking news. Watch your smartphone alerts."

Seconds later:

BREAKING: Former Democratic President Owen Reid shot at Los Angeles Convention Center.

Zakaria smirked and said:

"A sad alert, isn’t it, America? But don’t be too sad. What I went through in Gaza was 55,000 times worse. We lost more than 55,000 loved ones. And cried tears we couldn’t stop."

He bowed his head, clenched his fists, and pounded the desk.

When he looked up, his eyes were wet.

"We seek no money. No glory in death. We only ask that you cry as many tears as we did. Only tears can heal what we lost."

He placed his elbows on the desk, rested his chin on clasped hands, and closed his eyes.

His eyelids trembled slightly.

"I'm just one of the 55,000. If I vanish, 50,000 more remain. Our will cannot be silenced. I'm here to declare it."

From the drawer, he pulled out a Glock 17, chambered a round, and aimed it at his temple.

As a Sunni Muslim, he looked into the camera and said dryly:

"God bless you, America."

He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

The screen went black.

 

The corridor to the ICU was tightly guarded.

Jack handed Anaya to Sasha.

Sasha had her sign a consent form and led her to a bed.

The bed next to hers was enclosed in vinyl sheets, a man inside, barely recognizable as the candidate.

Sasha gave detailed instructions to the staff.

Vital monitors, oxygen equipment, ventilators—every machine had someone watching it.

A nurse wiped Anaya's arm with disinfectant and inserted a needle.

Blood flowed into the tube.

Direct transfusion is usually avoided due to infection risk, but Bombay blood is an exception.

Anaya had signed, understanding the danger.

She didn’t feel it yet—that her blood was saving a life.

She stared up at the ceiling and breathed deeply.

She had only come to eat ramen with Mika.

What would happen to Arjun? Who had he shot?

As these thoughts swirled, sleep took her.

 

Justin's father, Cyrus Rajan Bradford, emigrated from Mumbai in 1971 and served five terms as a Democratic congressman from New Jersey's 6th District.

He was shot while giving a speech in Union Square.

Justin, then a child, couldn't grasp what had happened.

The shooter was a young Democrat—a white-collar idealist who demanded immediate healthcare reform. Cyrus’ gradual approach wasn’t fast enough for him.

Cyrus, himself an immigrant, believed real change took time.

But little Justin just wanted to hug his father.

Even as he stopped breathing.

He believed the hug might bring him back.

Justin never forgave that man.

 

Cyrus Rajan Bradford:

"We must dream big, but move forward step by step. Sudden change only divides society. Democracy means lifting the voices of the unheard and walking together."

 

Anaya and Mika drove from Paramus, New Jersey, to Williamsburg for the Artists & Freeze weekend event.

Mika had come from Japan to study at Montclair State University and admired Anaya's black-and-white drawings.

Anaya used pencils, pens, and everyday stationery to draw portraits and scenes.

Mika, who painted vivid oil works, was drawn to the simplicity of Anaya's work.

In the campus cafeteria, Anaya once told Mika:

"The place I grew up was barren. No green. No rivers. Just dry wind and sand. But I didn’t hate it."

She poked at her ham and eggs.

"There was nothing but paper and pencils. That’s all I had."

She smiled gently at Mika.

"But I felt I had to treasure it. Everyone on social media seemed so wealthy. But I didn’t envy them. I wanted to show the world my own everyday life. Isn’t it beautiful to share the place you love?"

Mika nodded deeply.

She had grown up in Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya, where the streets were quiet, lined with traditional homes, even as the rest of the district transformed with flashy ads and modern towers. That contrast shaped her art.

 

"The darkest hour is just before dawn."

Manhattan's dawn recalled that phrase.

When America fell into darkness, a trader once said it.

Amir had heard it from Zakaria, his professor at the Islamic University of Gaza.

Amir and Rafi Ghanem were both his students. They studied electrical engineering, electronics, and programming.

Understanding America’s weak IT networks was easy for them.

Zakaria helped scatter families of Gaza's 55,000 dead across the U.S., waiting.

Rafi and Amir were among them.

They had lost wives, lovers, families.

Those in darkness find no light.

Only those who gather at the bottom of the abyss, resolved, can rival true power—even the U.S. presidency.

Rafi had begun building a pirate radio two years earlier.

Using Caribbean and Hispanic immigrant communities as cover, he revived ancient communication: one-way broadcast.

They carried smartphones but used them only for idle talk. Nothing sensitive.

Rafi pressed the switch.

A tiny click was swallowed by the night.

A red lamp glowed.

The voltage meter twitched.

At exactly 2 a.m., on FM 87.9, a woman’s voice read poetry:

"If the world ends,

I want to be singing,

Alone."

  

To be continued...

  

iTunes Playlist Link::

music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD

  

1 U2 Helter Skelter (Live) youtu.be/OBL-gVSJp2I?si=CuYs7HKsxCaVTQb3

2 Jimi Hendrix: The Star Spangled Banner (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM

3 Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJunCsrhJjg

4 Tyler, The Creator: Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & Latoya Williams...): youtu.be/tSd85SmghYs?si=-E-M6dhSdcYzBFjU

5 The Weeknd: Niagara Falls: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWx5UuznGI

6 Drake: Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFm7YDVlqnI

7 Linda Sikhakhane: Inkehli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHbPFAlrO4

8 Freja Lundgren - Finding Silence – : Not found.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo7F3P2ObeLyC8Fwp70NEQ

 

9 Mathias Eick: Loving: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYh_orn9ydA

10 The Beatles: If I Fell (2009 - Remaster): www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Xm4TNF00

11 21 Savage & Summer Walker: prove it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIJmlhgqGk

12 Tiana Major9: On God!: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wp1Q5V2eKI

13 Usher: Kissing Strangers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fepftsv6RA

14 JUNG KOOK: Never Let Go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_n4Ysi5iUM

15 Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-EF60neguk

16 Taylor Swift: This Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsL45rr3VU

17 Metallica: Disposable Heroes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIiXONFj6lM

18 The Beatles:Across The Universe (Remastered 2009):youtu.be/90M60PzmxEE?si=DvkYgRwEK_lha6CT

19 Ganavya: Land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRmU6z6v1cs

  

Notes

1. "Bombay Blood Type (hh type)"

•Characteristics: A rare blood type that lacks the usual ABO antigens — cannot be classified as A, B, or O.

•Discovery: First identified in 1952 in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay).

•Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 10,000 people in India; globally, about 1 in 2.5 million.

•Transfusion Compatibility: Only compatible with blood from other Bombay type donors.

2. 2024 Harvard University Valedictorian Speech – The Power of Not Knowing

youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K

3. Shots Fired at Trump Rally

youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT

 

Manhattan. New York. USA. 2007. (5 / 8)

Shot with a Nikon Coolpix 8700.

Today's photo has never been published before.

_________________________________

_________________________________

  

僕の新しい小説。

　B♭　（ビーフラット）

 

3回の公開です(^^;;

冒頭からの走り書きです。メモ程度です。

よかったら読んでください。:)

結構、加えましたよー^_^

もうアップしません。(^_^;)

 

舞台はニューヨークです。

 

追記　この小説を多少説明しました。

youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV

  

— 赤、黄色、青ーーー

イースト５２ndストリートに小雨が舞いはじめたのは、午後七時過ぎだった。

アナヤ・パテルは、待ち合わせたトットラーメンのとなりのビルの壁面にもたれ、右手に見える十字路の信号機をぼんやり眺めていた。もう７月だというのに、昨年よりも冷夏に感じ、Tシャツ一枚で出かけてきたことを後悔していた。

十字路の信号が青に変わると、アナは目を細め、凝視した。同級生のカナがこちらへ手を振りながら微笑み、駆け寄ってきていた——

  

マジソンスクエアガーデンの平坦な天井は、吐き出された人の熱気でいつもより膨らんでいるように、ジャックには見えた。大統領候補を歓迎する声とそれを罵倒する叫び声が錯綜し、鼓膜の奥を揺らしていた。

ジャックは、軽く場内の隅々まで目を凝らしてから、再びアイフォンに目を落とした。画面には、いくつかのSNSが同時に広がっており、それぞれが激しい書き込みによって文字が流れてゆく。

右下の、メタの書き込みに、ジャックは目を留めた。殺害予告だ。

大統領候補のジャスティン・ブラッドフォードは、フィアンセのエリノア・ブレイクとともに間も無くステージに立つ。

共和党を示す赤い光がステージ中央に差し込むと、二人は同時に現れた。

と、同時に、銃声が響いた。

一聴しただけでは気づかなかったがジャックの耳は聴き分けた。弾は二発だ。

騒然とした場内をよそに、ジャックは静かに目を閉じた。発射音から着弾までを想像した。

一発目の弾は、ジャックの右手、たぶん、PA近辺からだ。しかし、ジャックと同じ配属のシークレットサービスが張り込んでいたはずだ。もうひとつの弾丸をジャックは再び目を閉じて計算した。

弾は、たぶん、ステージ左手側からだ。ジャスティンとエリノアの二人の立ち位置を計算しているようだ。ひょっとしたら情報が漏れていたかもしれない。

ジャックの耳に第２報が入った。同僚のベン・ホロウェイの冷静な声だ。心臓ははずれたものの、弾は左肩と腹部をかすめていた。動脈には達していなかったが、出血がひどかった。

ジャックも冷静に、ベンへ伝えた。

「ジャスティンはボンベイブラッドだ。三日前にベルビュー病院に確認した。予備の血液は保管されている」

ベンは、何事もなかったかのように、わかったと静かにいった。

 

マジソンスクエアガーデンにもっとも近いベルビュー病院に、ジャスティンを運び込む。ジャックは、病院で控えているイライジャ・ケインにスマートフォンから直接電話した。シークレットサービスではもちろんワッツアップなどのSNSはご法度だ。

ワンコールが切れる前にすぐイライジャは反応した。

「ジャック、大変だ。血液がない。ボンベイブラッドがないんだ」

ジャックは、耳を疑った。

「三日前に、俺は直接担当の、名前は忘れたな。とにかく目の前でブラッドバッグを確認したぞ」

イライジャは、数秒の沈黙の後、応えた。

「その血液の管理者は、きのう、交通事故で亡くなったんだ」

 

アナヤ・パテルは、夫のアルジュンをトットラーメンで待った。

学生時代からの親友、ミカ（佐藤）（日本人）も一緒だ。

店員が、アナヤの目の前にラーメンを差し出したとき、スマートフォンが鳴った。

登録してあるベルビュー病院からだった。

アナヤは、躊躇わずに出た。着信を見たミカは不安げにアナヤを見守った。

「アナヤ・パテルさんですか？　私は救急部のサーシャウィルソンと言います。すでにご存知かもしれませんが、共和党大統領候補が撃たれました。あなたの血が必要です。すぐに病院へ来てください。シークレットサービスの車が迎えに行きます。動かないでください」

アナヤは、呆然としているミカの視線を追って、背後を振り返った。カウンターのちょうど左上に下がったディスプレイには、MSGの現在が男性レポーターによって放映されている。

アナは開いた入り口に目を移した。青い、洗練されたスーツをまとった褐色の肌の男性が、足早にアナに寄ってきた。

「シークレットサービスのロハン・シャーと言います。私と一緒に病院へ来てください。外に車を用意してあります」

彼は真剣な眼差しでアナへ伝え、手を引こうとした瞬間、アナのアイフォンが再び震えた。番号だけ浮かびあがっている。登録されていないようだ。アナは慌てて、タッチした。

「はい」

「アナヤ・パテルさん？」

「ええ、あなたは？」

「ジャック。ジャック・ヴァンス。シークレットサービスです。もうすぐそちらへ到着します」

「わたしの場所をどうやって？」

「わたしたちはプロだ。あらゆる手段を用意しています」

「もう、シークレットサービスの人が来てるわ」

ジャックの、違う！　という怒声が響いた瞬間、目の前の男性はスーツの内から小銃を引き抜き、アナの額に向けた。

店内に小さな銃声が響いた。

アナは、震えることすら忘れ、言葉を失い、放心していた。

目の前の男性がゆっくり床へ崩れると、夫のアルジュンが、やはりアナに銃を向けて現れた。

「フリーズ！FBI ！」

数人の制服を着たNYPDとグレイのスーツを纏ったFBIが叫んだ。

「全員、手を頭の後ろに回して床に伏せろ！」

映画のようなお決まりのセリフに、アナは震えていた。もちろん、ミカも。たぶん、アナの夫のアルジュンが最も震えていただろう。

遅れて、ジャックが店内に向け、叫んだ。

「アナヤ・パテル！」

アナは、見上げることなく、そのままに応えた。足がまだ震えている。

「わたしです」

額に汗を浮かべたジャックは、アナの身を起こすと、いった。

「すぐに病院へ行く」

 

病院にいるイライジャから、リンク付きのメッセージが届いた。

助手席に乗り込んだアナへジャックはアイフォンを放り投げると、リンク先を開け、と叫んだ。

慌てて、アナが触れると、どうやら生放送のようだった。

「こんばんは、ニューヨーク。そしてロサンゼルス。私の名前はザカリア・ハッダード。本名だ。

数年前、ガザに住んでいた。今は、みなさんがよく目にする部屋を真似た部屋に私はいる」

褐色の、顎髭をたくわえたザカリアは、アメリカ大統領執務室とほとんど同じ部屋の椅子に座っていた。

腕時計にゆっくり目を落としてから、再び、カメラに視線を向けた。

「そろそろブレイキングニュースだ。スマートフォンの速報に注目して欲しい」

ザカリアがそういった途端、速報が流れた。

【民主党前大統領のオーウェン・リードがロサンゼルス・コンベンション・センターで銃撃された模様です】

ザカリアは、一瞬俯いて笑いを堪えながらいった。

「悲しい速報じゃないか。アメリカのみなさん。でもどうか悲しまないで欲しい。私が経験したガザではこの55,000倍だ。55,000人以上の大切な人を失い、そして、涙を流した」

ザカリアは、再び俯いたまま、両手を固く握りしめ、力強く机を叩きつけた。

顔を上げたザカリアの目にはうっすらと涙が溢れていた。

「私たちは、お金を求めない。また、死による名誉も求めない。私たちが欲しいのは、55,000人が流した涙と同じだけの涙だ。流された涙と同じだけの涙だけが、私たちを癒す」

 

両肘を机につき、両手を組むと、ザカリアは静かに顎を乗せた。目を閉じて、しばらく沈黙が続いた。目尻が細かく震えているようだった。そのままゆっくり口を開いた。

「55,000人のうちの私はひとりに過ぎない。私が消えても５万人もの意思は決して消えず、引き継がれる。私は、私たちの意思をここに表明するためにいる」

ザカリアは、机の引き出しから、グロック１７を取り出すと、スライドしてチャンバーに弾を流した。そして、自分のこめかみに向けた。

スンニ派である彼は、まっすぐにカメラを見つめ、皮肉混じりにいった。

「神のご加護を。アメリカ」

ザカリアは、目を閉じると、トリガーを真っ直ぐに引いた。乾いた音が部屋に響いた。映像は、瞬時に黒へ切り替わった。

  

ICUまでの通路は、警官らによって厳重に確保されていた。ジャックは、サーシャにアナを引き渡した。

サーシャはアナに簡単な挨拶を済ますと、同意書にサインさせ、ベッドへ横たわるよう指示した。

となりに置かれたベッドは、薄いビニールシートに囲われ、男性らしい人が寝ているようだ。ネットで見た大統領候補とは到底結びつかない。

アナにはそこにいる男性が大統領候補だということにピンとこなかった。

サーシャがスタッフに細かい指示を出している。

バイタルモニター、酸素装置、人工呼吸器。それぞれにスタッフが張り付き、患者の血圧や心拍数が監視されているようだ。

スタッフのひとりが、アナの腕を消毒液で拭うと、静脈ラインに針を刺した。血液はビニールの管をすぐに見たした。

通常、ダイレクトトランスフュージョン、直接輸血は、感染症の危険が伴うので行われないが、ボンベイブラッドは別だ。

いままさに、となりにいるジャスティンに必要なのだ。その危険性について、アナはサーシャの説明を理解し、サインした。

アナには、実感がなかった。曇りガラスの向こう側にいる男性の命を、自分の血液が救っていることを。

アナは白い天井を見上げ、深い深呼吸をした。ミカとラーメンを食べにきただけだったのに。アルジュンは、男性を撃ったようだった。

いったい彼はどうなってしまうんだろう。撃たれた男性は何者だったのか。

アナは、今の自分を取り巻く状況に考えを張り巡らせているうちに、眠りに落ちていた。

  

ジャスティンの父、サイラス・ラージャン・ブラッドフォードは、7１年、ムンバイから渡米し、ニュージャージー州第6選挙区で下院議員を5期務めた民主党の重鎮だった。

ユニオンスクエアパークで、集まった労働者らに向け、演説中、聴衆の真正面にいた男に銃撃された。一瞬の出来事だった。

幼かったジャスティンは、呆気に取られ、何が起こったかを理解できなかった。父は、一瞬にしてその場に倒れ、病院へ運ばれたものの、即死だった。

犯人は、若い、民主党員のホワイトカラーだった。父の古い理想主義は彼に通じなかった。医療費の即時無料化を求めた彼は、父の段階を追った手法を受け入れることはできなかった。彼の母は、すぐにも医療費の無料化を必要としていたからだ。父は、早急な変化は退けた。医療だけでなく、あらゆるすべてが多くの人に浸透し、行き渡るためには、多くの時間を要するのだと、移民として、ムンバイからニュージャージーに移り住み、地域に溶け込むことに多大な時間が必要であることを身をもって知っていた。しかしーーーー

幼かったジャスティンは、父のそばに駆け寄って手を握り締めたかった。父の呼吸が止まっていても、そばに寄り添って、父を抱きしめたかった。

抱きしめることで、ひょっとしたら、父は目を覚ますかもしれないじゃないか、、、幼かったジャスティンは、そう信じていた。

ジャスティンは、ホワイトカラーを決して許すことはなかった。

  

サイラス・ラージャン・ブラッドフォード

「我々は大きな夢を見るべきだが、一歩ずつ確実に進まねばならない。急激な変化は社会の分断を深めるだけだ。民主主義とは、声なき者の声を拾い上げ、共に歩むことだ」

  

アナとミカは、週末に開催されるアーティスツ・アンド・フリーズに展示するため、（ニュージャージー州の）パラマスからウィリアムズバーグに向けて、車を走らせていた。だいたい５０分ほどで到着する。

モントクレア州立大学に日本からやってきたミカは、同じ美術学部に同籍していたアナの、白黒の作品に魅了された。アナは、鉛筆やシャープペンシル、ボールペン、万年筆など、日常に使われているステーショナリーで、人物や風景、静物を描いていた。多彩な油絵で表現するミカは、色らしい色のないアナの作品に関心を持った。

アナは、大学の食堂でミカに答えたことがある。

ーー　わたしが住んでいた街は、殺風景だった。緑や川はなく、乾いた砂が吹き荒ぶ。それが私を幼い頃から囲んでいた。でも、私はそこが嫌いではなかった　ーー

そこまで、静かににつぶやくと、プレートに乗ったハムエッグの真ん中を小さく突いた。続けて、いった。

ーー　風景だけでなく、実際、私の周りには何もなかった。あったのは、紙と鉛筆ぐらい　ーー

アナは軽くミカに微笑んだ。ミカも笑い返した。

ーー　でも、わたしはそれを大切にしなければならないと感じた。スマフォのSNSの人たちはとても豊かに見えた。でも、なぜか羨ましいとか、こうなりたいとか思えなかったの。むしろ、私は私の日常をもっとみんなに見せたいと思った。だって、自分が好きな場所を誰かに伝えることって、素敵だと思わない？　ーー

ミカは笑わずに深く頷いた。ミカも同感だった。渋谷の神山町で幼少時代を過ごしたミカは、ずっと渋谷の変遷を見てきた。渋谷の艶やかな広告やビルの外壁などの変化は彼女を魅了した。反面、自宅のあった神山町は穏やかで、古風な邸宅が並ぶ昔ながらの街並みだった。その対比が、彼女の内面を支えていた。

  

ーー　夜明け前が一番暗い　ーー

マンハッタンの夜明けは、そんな言葉を思い出させる。

この国が闇に堕ちた時、トレーダーがそう言ったと、アミールは、イスラム大学工学部の教授だったザカリアから生前聞いた言葉だ。

アミールと同じようにラフィ・ガンナムもザカリアの師弟だ。二人は、電気工学をザカリアから学んでいた。

電子機器だけでなく、プログラムから幅広いコンピュータ機器まで学んでいた。アメリカの脆弱なITネットワークを熟知することなど彼らにしてみたら容易いものだった。

当時、イスラエルによって圧倒されたガザ地区の５５，０００人の死者の家族の一部は、ザカリアによってアメリカへ不法に散らばって居住し、時を待った。

ラフィも、そしてアミールもそのうちのひとりだ。ザカリアも、ラフィも、アミールも、妻や恋人、そして家族を失い絶望した。生きる意味を見失ったものに光など与えられない。光を見出せなどという人間は偽善者だ。与えられたのは、深い闇だけだった。闇の底で、集い、意を決したものほど、力強いものはいないだろう。おそらく、世界最高の実質的な権力を掌握しているアメリカ大統領に匹敵できるのは彼らのような存在だけかもしれない。

 

ラフィは、２年前からパイレーツラジオを仕込み始めた。カリブ系やヒスパニック系の移民コミュニティの傘を利用して、伝令を一方的に伝える、そんな古いやり方に答えを見出していた。SNSはもちろん、スマートフォンのやりとり全てはアメリカの情報機関に掌握されている。まったくやりとりをしないことも不自然になるので、ラフィらもスマートフォンは持ち歩いているが、日常的な、他愛ないやり取りだけだ。

ラフィは、放送機のスイッチを押した。微かに発したスイッチ音は、夜の静けさに吸い込まれていった。

小さな赤いランプが灯り、沈黙の中で、近辺に居住する同胞らにつながった。電圧計の針がわずかに震えた。

午前2時ちょうど、FM87.9から音が流れた。砂嵐に混じって、女の声が詩を読んでいた。

「この世界が終わるなら、私はひとりで歌っていたい」

 

つづく。

  

iTunes Playlist Link::

music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD

  

1 U2 Helter Skelter (Live) youtu.be/OBL-gVSJp2I?si=CuYs7HKsxCaVTQb3

2 ジミ・ヘンドリックス: The Star Spangled Banner (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM

3 ジミ・ヘンドリックス: Purple Haze (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJunCsrhJjg

4 タイラー・ザ・クリエイター: Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & Latoya Williams...): youtu.be/tSd85SmghYs?si=-E-M6dhSdcYzBFjU

5 ザ・ウィークエンド: Niagara Falls: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWx5UuznGI

6 ドレイク: Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFm7YDVlqnI

7 Linda Sikhakhane: Inkehli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHbPFAlrO4

8 Freja Lundgren - Finding Silence : 見つかりませんでした。https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo7F3P2ObeLyC8Fwp70NEQ

 

9 マティアス・アイク: Loving: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYh_orn9ydA

10 ビートルズ: 恋におちたら (2009 - Remaster): www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Xm4TNF00

11 21サヴェージ & サマー・ウォーカー: prove it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIJmlhgqGk

12 ティアナ・メジャーナイン: On God!: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wp1Q5V2eKI

13 アッシャー: Kissing Strangers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fepftsv6RA

14 JUNG KOOK: Never Let Go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_n4Ysi5iUM

15 シニード・オコナー: Nothing Compares 2 U: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-EF60neguk

16 テイラー・スウィフト: This Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsL45rr3VU

17 メタリカ: Disposable Heroes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIiXONFj6lM

18 ビートルズ:Across The Universe (Remastered 2009):youtu.be/90M60PzmxEE?si=DvkYgRwEK_lha6CT

19 ガナヴヤ: Land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRmU6z6v1cs

  

メモ

 

1

「Bombay型（ボンベイ型、hh型）」

•特徴：通常のABO血液型を持たない（A、B、Oに分類されない）特殊な型。

•発見地：1952年、インド・ムンバイ（旧ボンベイ）で初めて確認。

•発生頻度：インドでは1万人に1人程度だが、世界的には約250万人に1人とも。

•輸血制限：同じBombay型しか輸血できない。

 

2

2024年ハーバード大学首席の卒業式スピーチ『知らないことの力』

youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K

 

3

Shots fired at Trump rally

youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT

  

マンハッタン。ニューヨーク。アメリカ。２００７年。( 5 / 8 )

Nikon coolpix 8700 shot

今日の写真は、未発表です。

 

_________________________________

_________________________________

 

Boston (to be more precise Cambridge) is a wonderful place to live. All kinds of great places around you to shoot photos. I wished I would have more time to do that. But hopefully in the future there is more freedom.

 

This photo was done at one of my last photo walks near Harvard Square. It was a warm and nice summertime evening and the lights were great. Don’t know exactly what building that is, but I liked the white shiny top of it.

 

For the technique behind this shot and more, please visit my website: bit.ly/wernersworld

 

!!! creative commons: Feel free to use photos with credits and links. No commercial use without permission. For commercial use, please contact me on my website and we will find an agreement for the permission!!!

dietro precise istruzioni di motostefano

qui le istruzioni: motostefano.blogspot.com/2010/08/polar-effect-panorama.ht...

 

All on Flickriver on White/Black

Toute aide pour une identification précise serait appréciée.

Any help for identification will be much appreciated.

 

▌    À voir en grand ici ! • Please view it large here!

 

▌    Retrouvez cette image sur mon blog • This picture is also visible on my blog

▌    Vous pouvez me suivre sur Twitter • You can follow-me on Twitter • @Tazintosh

Marco Bischof's widely acclaimed book has already sold some 30'000 German-language copies (9th printing) since its publication in March 1995, and the success is continuing. It is the first comprehensive book on the world market for the general and scientific public on one of the hottest fields of frontier science which is about to lead to major conceptual breakthroughs and many useful applications in biophysics, biomedical science, biology, biotechnology, environmental science and food technology. Thousands of medical doctors, scientists, and interested laypersons in Germany, Switzerland and Austria who from the many newspaper and magazine articles and from several TV features in the last couple of years were aware of this development of potential breakthroughs in a number of scientific disciplines and wanted to obtain more precise and broadly accessible information have been waiting for this book that will remain the definitive publication on the topic for many years to come. Russian and Chinese translations are in preparation. The book has been awarded the 1995 Book Price by the Scientific and Medical Network (U.K.) and the Swiss Award 1997 by the Swiss Parapsychological Foundation.

What are biophotons ?

Biophotons, or ultraweak photon emissions of biological systems, are weak electromagnetic waves in the optical range of the spectrum - in other words: light. All living cells of plants, animals and human beings emit biophotons which cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be measured by special equipment developed by German researchers.

This light emission is an expression of the functional state of the living organism and its measurement therefore can be used to assess this state. Cancer cells and healthy cells of the same type, for instance, can be discriminated by typical differences in biophoton emission. After an initial decade and a half of basic research on this discovery, biophysicists of various European and Asian countries are now exploring the many interesting applications which range across such diverse fields as cancer research, non-invasive early medical diagnosis, food and water quality testing, chemical and electromagnetic contamination testing, cell communication, and various applications in biotechnology.

 

According to the biophoton theory developed on the base of these discoveries the biophoton light is stored in the cells of the organism - more precisely, in the DNA molecules of their nuclei - and a dynamic web of light constantly released and absorbed by the DNA may connect cell organelles, cells, tissues, and organs within the body and serve as the organism's main communication network and as the principal regulating instance for all life processes. The processes of morphogenesis, growth, differentiation and regeneration are also explained by the structuring and regulating activity of the coherent biophoton field. The holographic biophoton field of the brain and the nervous system, and maybe even that of the whole organism, may also be basis of memory and other phenomena of consciousness, as postulated by neurophysiologist Karl Pribram an others. The consciousness-like coherence properties of the biophoton field are closely related to its base in the properties of the physical vacuum and indicate its possible role as an interface to the non-physical realms of mind, psyche and consciousness.

 

The discovery of biophoton emission also lends scientific support to some unconventional methods of healing based on concepts of homeostasis (self-regulation of the organism), such as various somatic therapies, homeopathy and acupuncture. The "ch'i" energy flowing in our bodies' energy channels (meridians) which according to Traditional Chinese Medicine regulates our body functions may be related to node lines of the organism's biophoton field. The "prana" of Indian Yoga physiology may be a similar regulating energy force that has a basis in weak, coherent electromagnetic biofields.

  

Background

 

First discovered in 1923 by Russian medical scientist Professor Alexander G.Gurvich (who named them "mitogenetic rays") and in the 1930s widely researched in Europe and the USA, biophotons have been rediscovered and backed since the 1970s by ample experimental and theoretical evidence by European scientists. In 1974 German biophysicist Fritz-Albert Popp has proved their existence, their origin from the DNA and later their coherence (laser-like nature), and has developed biophoton theory to explain their possible biological role and the ways in which they may control biochemical processes, growth, differentiation etc. Popp's biophoton theory leads to many startling insights into the life processes and may well provide one of the major elements of a future theory of life and holistic medical practice based on such an approach. The importance of the discovery has been confirmed by eminent scientists such as Herbert Froehlich and Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine. Since 1992, the International Institute of Biophysics, a network of research laboratories in more than 10 countries, based in Germany, is coordinating research in this field which promises rapid development in the next decade.

Aims of the book

To date the few books about biophotons have been highly technical and written mainly in German. Not even among these, there was any single book integrating all that is known today about this fascinating field of science which is likely to become soon a much discussed topic also in the English-speaking world. The author, who in 1994-95 has served as Managing Director of the International Institute of Biophysics at Neuss (Germany) and still is a member of the Board of Directors of this institute, has closely followed biophoton research since 1977 and so was predestined to write the first comprehensive account of the subject ever made. His aim was to reach a wider public among scientists, medical doctors and the scientifically aware. The book which embeds the more technical parts in a popular treatment of the historical antecedents of the concept of "energy bodies", "life energies" and biolectricity, and to the ages-old scientific controversy between vitalistic and mechanistic trends in biology and medicine, also appeals to a general readership interested in new developments in the biological and physical sciences and in medicine and in their interplay with consciousness research and new age ideas.

1. Elements of a physics of the living

What are photons ? / What are biophotons ? / What is the origin of biophoton emission ? / The coherence of biophotons / Regulation by the biophoton field / The network of light metabolism / The present state of the discussion / Biophoton theory and alternative medicine / Biophoton theory as a basis for a scientific theory of life appropriate to nature / The new concept of the cell / The big network / From the molecular to the field perspective / Significance of the new concept / Will biology turn out to be more fundamental than physics ? / Possibilities of misuse / Which philosophy will prevail ?

PART I. Prehistory

 

2. The Aura

 

The concept of nonmaterial "energy bodies" / Subtle bodies of light / "Mana" and "inner fire" / Indian, Tibetan and Chinese concepts / Visionary concept of the "essential light" of man / Paracelsus' "archaeus"

 

3.Electrobiology and vitalism

Bioelectricity / The vitalistic tradition / Romantic medicine: illness as a developmental crisis / Claude Bernard's homeostasis: self-regulation of the organism

4. Scientific Medicine

At the origin of modern electrophysiology: the injury current / The Berlin school of physiology: the "overcoming" of vitalism / The "Bernstein hypothesis" of the membrane potential: paradigm of the new "scientific medicine" / The link between electricity and life energy is severed / "Scientific medicine" conquers the US and the world / Ehrlich's "receptor theory"

5. From Mesmer to Reich

Mesmer's "animal magnetism" / Baron Reichenbach's "odic force" / Wilhelm Reich's "orgone"

6. The inconquerable aura

Kilner's aura screens / Albert Hofmann: the aura is subjective / A contemporary description of the aura / The biophysical basis of the aura

7. Electromagnetic man

Blondlot's "N-rays" / Hofmann finds "head and hand rays" / An early Swiss pioneer of electrobiology / The beginnings of modern electrobiology: Burr's "electrodynamic field" / Electromagnetic field structure at the beginning of embryonic development / Electrical determination of ovulation / The connection between electrodynamic field and the psyche / Electrical indications of illness / Robert O.Becker rehabilitates Matteucci's injury current / The body's own electrical regeneration system / Successful electrical stimulation of bone repair / The discovery of the "perineural DC system" / Brain and nervous system: a combination of analog and digital information coding ?

PART II: Beginnings

8. Alexander Gurvich and mitogenetic radiation

The onion root experiment of 1922 / Cells emit light at birth and at death / Cellular radiation and cancer / The theory of the biological field / The "unequilibrated molecular complexes" / Gurvich as a pioneer of modern biophysical concepts / The fate of mitogenetic research / The two schools of biophoton research / The reasons for the ending of Western mitogenetic research before World War II / After World War II

9. Fritz-Albert Popp: How a physicist came to the light

The riddle of cancer genesis / Light in the organism ? / The Kaznacheev experiment / The foundations for biophoton theory are laid

10. ....and there was light !

The first rigorous proof for the existence of the cell emission / Enormous enhancement of chemical reactivity / Experimental proof for Prigogine's theory

 

11. A stony way to knowledge

The "imperfection theory" / Lossless circulation of light in the cell / Is plant and animal tissue transparent for light ? / A challenge to laboratory physics / Recognition comes

 

12. From chaos to order : Prigogine's "dissipative structures" and Froehlich's "Bose-condensate"

The biochemical world picture / Dissipative structures / Coherent electromagnetic interactions

13. The bio-informatics of electromagnetic interactions

Our radiation environment / Ionizing radiation / Non-ionizing radiation / UV radiation / UV light and the immune system / The visible light / The role of the pineal / Antagonistic effects of colored light / How light enters into the body / Fundamental light sensitivity / High-frequency radiation / Electromagnetic pollution / Two opposite views on biological communication / ULF, ELF and VLF (low frequency) radiation / Weather radiation / The correspondence between weather radiation and brainwaves / On the search for a new explanation of radiation effects

14. A scientific revolution

Meaningful event or blind mechanism ? / The Berlin and the Goettingen schools of thought / An antipode of molecular biology: Georges Lakhovsky / A pioneer of the new thinking: Vladimir Vernadsky / Presman's revolutionary concept / New approaches come to prevail only very slowly / Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the principle of least effort / The two currents in science: mechanists vs. vitalists / Quantitative power thinking versus the wisdom of non-violence / The intelligence of nature

PART III . Fundamentals

15. The ecology and the physiology of light

The radiation of the sun and the self-regulation of "Gaia". Photosynthesis / Skin and eyes as "light valves" / The role of melanin in the transduction of light

16. Organisms as light stores

Coherent sunlight / The cavity model / Hyperbolic decay / Organisms are biological lasers

17. DNA: Light storage in spiral molecules

Replication / Repair / Transcription / Translation / DNA hyperstructures / The ethidium bromide experiment / DNA the most important source of biophoton emission / The exciplex model of DNA / DNA as lasering matter / The origin of Schroedinger's "order suction" (?) : Bose-condensation in DNA / Photon-phonon-interaction / DNA as a pulsating "light pump" / A hierarchy of light-active molecule systems / Molecular and cellular pulsations / Melanins as collaborators of DNA ? / DNA predestined to be the central control of the biophoton field / The antenna geometry of DNA

18. Coherent states: Organisms at the threshold between Yin and Yang

The bioplasma concept / The biological laser field: dynamic stability at the laser threshold / The peculiarity of biological coherence / The Dicke theory and "Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics" / Actual and potential information / Biological consequences

19. The genesis and development of life in the biophoton field

Matter consists of vibrations / Particles and fields originate from the "void" / Quantum physics treats reality according to acustical laws / Jenny's "cymatics" as a model of morphogenesis / The basic mechanism of morphogenesis: Interference / The importance of frequency / Light as the organizing principle of matter / Material structures as antennae for radiation / Evolution in the radiation field / The communication experiments / The residual light amplifier makes biophotons visible for the first time / When blood cells communicate / Evolution as the expansion of coherent states

20. The biophoton field as morphogenetic field: The development of the embryo

Field properties of organisms / The field description of the cleaving process shows harmonical laws / Holographic properties / Further stages of embryonic development: The dialectics of internal and surface cellular fields / The transition from cleavage to gastrulation: From point symmetry to axial symmetry / The genesis of partial fields / The phase of the genesis of germinal layers: a sensitive stage

21. The three germinal layers

Germinal layers as energy systems / Dissimilar degree of coherence of the three systems

22. The regulation of differentiation and growth by the biophoton field

Properties of organisms that are not determined by genetic activity / junk genes ? / The "c value paradoxon" / Non-genetic role of DNA ? / The exciplex model of DNA solves open problems in biology / The complementarity of growth and differentiation / The electromagnetic model of cell differentiation and growth confirmed experimentally

23. Biochemical regulation

Coordinated and ordered biochemical activity through the biophoton field / The biochemistry of the cell in a new light / The role of photon frequencies and of the particle geometry / Dynamical structuring of the regulating field / Are biological rhythms controlled by the biophoton field ? / Homeostasis through light-controlled entropy gradients / The entire metabolic work accomplished by biophotons ?

24. Harmonical structures

Mitotic spindle ordered by cavity waves ? / Microtubuli as optical waveguides ? / Cell skeleton built up by light ? / The role of water / Order and water metabolism in the cell are linked / Vibrating musculature / A complex resonance structure makes the organism react very sensitively / States of tension / Biophotons in the nervous system / Holographic biophoton fields in the brain / Altered states of consciousness / A coupling between the nervous system and other oscillators in the organism ? / Our odorous aura

PART IV. Applications

25. Illness and health

Health as a coherent state / Illness as a developmental crisis / Stages of illness / Immunological resistance and effectiveness of substances explainable through biophoton field

26. Regulation forms and types of illness

Polar ordering of regulation systems / Reactive types and the proneness towards certain illnesses / Yin and Yang illnesses / Pischinger's "Basic regulatory system" as a basis for all regulations

27. Cancer: Loss of coherence and of the ability to store light

Cancer tissue has different emission / The tumor is the symptom, not the illness / A fast and cheap tumor test

28. Homeopathic principles as a "guiding line" for modern medicine

Holistic regulation through vibrations / High potencies improve the coherence of the organism and are effective on the causal level / Homeopathic effects not explainable biochemically / Electromagnetic fields can substiute substances / The memory of water / Coherence therapy

29. Urine, blood, and breath tests; smoking test

The luminescence of urine indicates illnesses / Has blood radiation a diagnostic value ? / Blood and urine of smokers show stronger emission / Luminescent breath

30. A test for determining immunological resistance

Radiant phagocytes / A Tibetan drug under test / Biophoton measurements on the flu remedy Echinacine

31. Food quality analysis

In fact we eat sunlight / A concentration of the sunlight towards DNA / ATP as a light carrier / Not the caloric but the information content determines the quality of foodstuffs / The light storage capacity of the "living macromolecules" / Fats and sunlight / A test system for Popp's hypothesis / Free range eggs clearly distinguishable from battery eggs / Is it possible to discriminate biological from conventional foodstuffs ? / Different production and fertilization methods as well as contamination by pesticides and heavy metals engender different biophoton emissions / Bacterial contamination in beer can be detected at an early stage / Biophoton method is superior to biochemical analysis in some essential aspects / The result in the controversy about biological products / Detection of oxidative degradation of organic substances

32. Agriculture

Improvement of quality and yield through "resonance stimulation" by laser light / Bad quality and low resistance of glass-house products due to lack of UV light / Electromagnetic stimulation of growth (electroculture) / Acoustic stimulation of plant growth

33. Water research and "biological activity"

Water - an enigmatic substance / Water structures - facts and speculations / The memory of water / Are biological experiments and biophoton measurements more adequate than other methods of investigation ? / Is the structural aspect of water overemphasized ? / Different types of water can be differentiated / The discrimination of natural and synthetic substances based on their "biological activity"

34. Environmental pollution

Gaseous pollutants / Biophoton emission as a measure of the Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of ionizing radiation / Synergetic mechanisms of damage

35. Dying forests

Water lentils as bio-indicators / Nuclear plants and dying forests: is there a connection ? / Electrochemical smog and dying forests

36. Methods of bioelectronic diagnosis

1. The Bioelectronic Test according to Vincent / Bioelectronic measurements of body fluids to assess Claude Bernard's "terrain" / Cancer prognosis possible ?

2. Electroacupuncture / Electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) / Electroacupuncture according to Croon ("Electroneural diagnostics") / The "Ryodoraku method" of Nakatani / The AMI method of Motoyama

3. The bases of acupuncture / A possible participation of meridians in the formation of embryonic organs / Meridians may be not material channels but node lines of the biophoton field / Acupuncture points electrically distinguished / A new method shows if someone is healthy or ill / The stimulation of acupuncture points / Biophoton research furnishes bases for electrodiagnostics

4. Kirlian photography / Between bioelectrical measurement and biophoton measurement / Distribution of electrical charge on the skin is fundamental / Diagnostic evaluation still in its beginnings / New technical developments / Use for quality analysis of foodstuffs and liquids

5. Whole body biophoton diagnostics / The biophysical basis of the aura / The works of Gulyaev and Godik / Thermoregulation diagnostics / Biophoton measurements on humans / "Hand radiation" and healers / The whole-body biophoton diagnostics project

37. Methods of bioelectronic therapy

1. MORA and radionics

2. Electrotherapy / An old tradition / Electrotherapy in the 19th century / High-frequency AC therapy / ELF therapy

3. Chromotherapy (Therapy with colored light) / Ghadiali's chromotherapy / Beginnings of modern light therapy / The actual situation of chromotherapy

4. Laser therapy / Soft-laser applications with weak light / The work of Inyushin / Laser stimulation of tissue regeneration / Laser stimulation of acupuncture points / The mechanism of soft laser therapy / Resonance stimulation of the biophoton field

PART V. Outlook

38. The biophoton field - mediator between body and soul ?

Biophotons - to be analysed in the framework of current science / Is there an even more fundamental level of the organism "behind" the biophoton field ? / The rebirth of the "ether" / The zero-point energy of the vacuum / Bearden's "scalar fields" / Wheeler's "quantum foam" / Bohm's "implicate order" / Burkhard Heim's six-dimensional world model / Photons as mediators between matter and spirit ? / The consciousness-like aspects of matter / Coherence as a bridge to the realm of consciousness / Biophoton theory and the vacuum field / Organisms may control their own space structure and flow of time: Dubrov's theory of "biogravitation" / Pulsation between space and "counter-space": biological space and the ether in the anthroposophical doctrine / The polarity between levity and gravity / The pulse of life

 

Marco Bischof

522 pp., more than 160 illustrations, 5 color plates, extensive bibliography and index.

German publisher: Zweitausendeins, Frankfurt.

www.zweitausendeins.de/

Publication date: March 1995

Actual edition (May 1998): 9th printing

Total number of copies sold in German-language market: 27'000

ISBN 3-86150-095-7

World rights: Zweitausendeins.

showcase Exquisite...Vitrine Exquise: Avec la participation de Art Orienté Objet, James Lee Byars, Jimmie Durham, ExtraLucide, Olivier Mosset, Matt Mullican, Rebecca Purcell, Dana Sherwood, Morgane Tschiember, Robert Williams et Raphaël Zarka. Commissariat : Sarina Basta

It's the truth though. Normal Stormies seem to be horrible marksmen while Sandies seem to be very precise. I wonder how much money they'll get in the settlement.

Day 748 Y3D19

Admirers learned of its loss when they hoped to see the phenomenon at exactly 4:33 pm on Sunday, when the Earth's axis was directly perpendicular to the sun -- marking the first day of spring.

STRASBOURG : The stained glass at a cathedral in eastern France will no longer produce a distinctive green ray seen just twice a year, on the spring and autumn equinoxes, after the precise pane was replaced...

 

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The green equinoxial light of Strasbourg cathedral...The sun darkens its light from Chaldea to the base of the midnight mountain. But men do not notice it, they are blinded by the appearance of falsehood, by the Appearance of crept gold.

 

The light of the ray indicates a new time and certainly that the emperor Guillaume in 1871 wished to find a symbolych with the architect Klotz, and Knauth took again this Babylonian symbolism in the Egyptian writing. The bible blends with the book of Enoch and the Zohar, so the green ray is a bit like announcing a new time. The concave structure of the foot stems from a piece of kheops that was probably also used to illuminate the royal tomb in the heart of a stone mountain. we find the story of Goethe's Green Serpent. Many good people fall, many deceitful people rise up in their place. Damaged her horrible breath reverses most people's thoughts. What is pure will go down, what is unclean will go up. What was downstairs will be upstairs; the places swap evil and good. People will be drunk. Delusions will rule the world. to the land of the north.The light of the north is the star that guides us, it should be noted that the green ray comes from the east.(orient) From whose maltreated earth the deliverer ascends, the avenger: The Third Sargon! And from north to south, the lone righteous shall rise up and will be mighty, and will strike the fire like a storm and carry it forward, all of which burns badly everywhere, yes, everywhere. He would set the course that had to be set - on behalf of the Godhead - so that fulfil what is prophesied: the birth of the New Golden Age! The Germans had to do it. they who are divinely destined and called to do so, they had to establish the new kingdom - not but for the whole world! Presumably in August of 1917, four men and women met at the Viennese café "Schopenhauer" and a woman to set the course for the future of humanity. It was the German adventurers and esoteric Karl Haushofer and Rudolf von Sebottendorff, the medium Maria Orschitsch from Zagreb. the young engineer and pilot Lothar Waiz and the prelate Gernot von der Geheimnisen "Community of the Knights Templar Heirs" (Societas Templi Marcioni).Your spokesman was certainly Rudolf von Sebottendorff, and I think we can reconstruct quite well, what he may have first recited to the Templar - Prelate in order to present his and his friends to prove their skills:How our solar year is divided into twelve months according to the twelve moon orbits - i. e.

the twelve zodiacs of astrology - the orbit around the great central sun is the same of our Milky Way into twelve animal or Tyre districts; this is done in cooperation with the

precession, the conical inherent motion of the earth due to the inclination of the axis, which is different ages of the world. Such a "cosmic month" lasts about 2155 years, the

"cosmic year" is about 25,860 years.Now we are at the end of the Fish Age and the beginning of the Aquarian Age - the

New Golden Age, in which the Millennial Kingdom of Peace will also come, from in the twentieth chapter of John Revelation.However, there is not only a normal change of age ahead, but the end of a cosmic year and the start of a completely new one. We have completed the approximately 25,860-year-old precession and change from the darkest, weakest, darkest age, the age of fish, into the the age of Aquarius. At the same time as the age of fish, the "potash -

Yuga ", the age of sin according to the indo-Aryan definition.

 

The green ray is therefore a clock to measure the time that separates us from the golden age.

 

Due to the combined effect of precession and elliptical orbit around the large central sun, wich now stands a completely different divine - cosmic radiation and a dramatic of the circumstances on Earth. This is especially important because the large central sun - the Black Sun "of ancient myths - is to be seen as a source of power for the Godhead, whose

will soon exercise its influence undisturbed.All changes in the age have led to major changes in political, religious and social life.of this scale. This will now be the subject of a new cosmic year at the upcoming change of age. be much stronger. Anything that is not suitable for the new age of light will perish. A completely new order will take hold of the whole earth. We are now in the in the final stage of the final battle in the great intercosmic battle of the world. The Powers of Darkness re-grow up again to fight wildly. Just as consistently and with the weapons of light, we must face it.

  

In June 1984, Mr Maurice Rosart, an ENSAIS engineer, revealed in the course of his of a conference he gave, whom he had discovered in the Cathedral a phenomenon of exceptional luminous light and rare beauty, which could not a priori be the fruit of a coincidence.In fact, this exceptional green light is caused by the rays of the sun which pass through the green transparent glass of the left foot of Judah, ancestor of Christ, appearing in the second and third parts window of the fourth span at the southern triforium. It should be noted that similar luminous manifestations of light have been shown in the following ways especially during the solstices, in other cathedrals and in other cathedrals. especially at Notre-Dame de Chartes. To determine the instant of a phenomenon caused by the sun comes back to endo an astronomical analysis. Indeed, the interplay of shadows and light produced by the sun, through a painted stained glass window, is a function of the position and the motion of this star on the celestial vault. Astronomical analysis of the equinoxial luminous phenomenon has shown that that the green ray, contrary to what had been assumed to be a premium mentioned by the press, passes over the head of Christ about one hour before noon, i. e. before the moment when the the sun occupies the highest position during the day, and one or two days after the spring equinox and one or two days after the spring equinox days after the fall equinox. In addition, due to the presence of obstructions that obstruct the operation of the roof of the south sill and the triforium gallery, the green light is not visible, from the axis of the pulpit, around the equinoxes, that for a period of approximately one month, i. e. approximately 12 days before and 20 days after the spring equinox, as well as 20 days after the spring equinox before and 12 days after the fall equinox. From the results of the astronomical analysis, we can deduce various interpretations of the phenomenon according to the moment when it is considered to occur.

period of visibility of the light or architectural motif, and

the green ray. The mechanism that makes up the green plate on Judah's left foot,more transparent than the other parts of the stained glass, and the vertical axis of the cross with its center can be considered as a sundialquinoxial. It's a way to spot the time of the change of season: winter-spring passage around 20 March and summer passage fall around 22 September. The whole thus constitutes in some respects

sort of an astronomical clock. The green ray is only visible from the axis of the pulpit during a period of one month at each equinox. During this period, it scans the whole pulpit from top to bottom in spring and from bottom to top in

fall. The phenomenon can thus be interpreted as a general

value of the pulpit and jewel of flamboyant gothic art that it

constitutes. The ray of light passes over Christ's head in the vicinity of the spring equinox near the Easter feast. So we can to consider the green ray as illuminating and radiating Christ on the the cross of Golgotha on the eve of his resurrection on the morning of Easter morning at Easter.

new light of spring. Luminous effects caused by stained glass were observed in various cathedrals where medieval glass artists searched for express their mystical and religious feelings. What about the effect optics in the Cathedral of Strasbourg? Is the phenomenon the fruit of an intention on the part of the master glassmaker, creator of the stained-glass window of Judah, or is it just a coincidence whose effect is particularly significant happy?To try to answer these questions, we must look back to the time which created the stained glass window of Judah and the artist who designed the cardboard.In 1843, Louis Schneegans and Frédéric Klein drew up an inventory of stained glass windows. With regard to triforium, the southern triforium, they noted that in the first three eastern fenestrelles were the busts of Jesus Christ, Melchi and Semei. The warheads of other fenestrelles ornaments decorated with geometric, floral and foliated ornaments. The medallions contained busts, stars, clovers and other medallions motives. As for the window currently occupied by Jacob and Judah in the green ray phenomenon, they noted that in the a clover and in the warheads a leaf was found in a clover, and in the warheads a erased drawing, foreign pieces and blackened glasses. These canopies were remodeled from 1848 to 1850 by Ritter and Baptiste.

Petit-Gérard by applying the conservation principle. They have and supplemented by floral motifs such as those which

still exist today in the windows of the sixth bay of the

South triforium. The busts of Christ, Melchi and Semei were at this time in this church. opportunity taken and put in deposit at the shop of the Work of Notre-Dame

in the Impasse des Trois-Gâteaux. Of course the two lower panels of the canopies, which at the time were filled with white glass, were equipped with painted stained-glass windows. But as early as 1848, even before the restoration was undertaken, the abb. Gerber and others felt that the genealogy of the Christ according to St Luke, part of which was restored by Marshal and Gugnon from 1847 to 1848, was already present in the northern triforium. From 1873 to 1875

floral motifs made a quarter of a century ago have been

replaced by footed characters from the genealogy of Christ' s Melea to God according to the Gospel of St. Luke (3:31-38) according to the Gospel of St. Luke. Vulgate Clementine who was the authoritative Vulgate at that time. The work has

executed by Pierre, son of Baptiste Petit-Gérard and Ferdinand Huguelin on the basis of the cartons drawn by the painter "d' histoire". Louis Steinheil Parisian but born in Strasbourg.

 

The stained glass window of Judah which

was received by Gustave Klotz on August 8,1875.

In 1897, the Ott-Frères company was commissioned to restore these stained glass windows consisting of reusing the lead plating with reuse of all old glasses even broken and complemented by glass antique.

 

At the beginning of the last war, in September 1939, most of the stained-glass windows were placed under the direction of architect C. Czarnowsky Historic Monuments. Stained glass crates were sent the Prefecture of the Dordogne Department and finally put in security at the Château de Haute Fort. In the autumn of 1940, the stained-glass windows were claimed by the authorities German occupiers. They were brought back to Strasbourg, and put in storage

in the chapels of the Cathedral and in the cellars of the Lycée Fustel de Coulanges, the Grand Séminaire and the Maison de l' Oeuvre NotreDame. In the summer of 1941, the Interim Museums Directorate had an Archaeological and photographic survey of all the glass windows.Unfortunately, the collection of photographs has disappeared. However, it is

is possible that it still exists and may be stored somewhere

in Germany.After the bombardments by the American Air Force on August 11 and 25 On 1 September 1944, the German authorities responsible for safeguarding the

artistic treasures decided to transfer the stained-glass windows to a salt plant Heilbronn. For the pulpit whose centre of the cross is swept by the green equinoxial light, it was carved and installed from 1485 1487. It was removed in 1793 and restored in 1804 probably exactly at its old location. Since then, she hasn't had any not even during the last three wars. As for the roof of the southern sill, whose roof limits the duration of the roof. green light, it has been the subject of extensive work by 1843 to 1844, when it was covered with copper plates in Replacement of tile roofing. Since then, it has not been the subject of than repair and maintenance work. After the war, in September 1945, the boxes containing the glass windows were recovered and brought back to Strasbourg. In 1946, before their panels of each stained glass window, particularly those of the southern triforium, were photographed by the Taon company for the first time.

account of the central administration of the Monuments Service History. A collection of photographs is currently kept at the Photographic Archives of Historic Monuments at Fort Saint Saint Cyr 78390 Bois dArcy. The pictures of the three panels of the Judah stained glass window wear the M. H. number. 302,325 to 302,327. Some of the panels, including those in Judah's stained glass window, were a new

photographed by Riotte between 1947 and 1950 after their restoration by the Ott-Frères House. The unnumbered photos are currently kept at the Bas-Rhin Departmental Architecture Service. Around 1950, the exact year could not be determined, and the stained-glass windows of the

triforium were rested by Ott-Frères. During this operation, the interversions have occurred. A comparative study of the disposition with the continuation of the ancestors of Christ according to the Gospel of St Luke (3,23-38) in accordance with the Vulgate Clementine has made it possible to locate

these interversions. They affect more than a third of the stained-glass windows in both galleries of triforium, but fortunately they do not concern the stained-glass windows in the fourth bay of the southern triforium, and in particular

not the position of Judah who intervenes in the phenomenon of light equinoxial green.

 

Around 1972, Maurice Rosart observed for the first time that the equinoxial green light caused by the sun's rays.

sun rays passing through the glass plate representing the foot left of Judah. Now this piece of glass, which is tinted green in the the mass, kept its transparency. So she seems to have been treated different from the other parts of the stained glass.

 

This fact was confirmed, after an on-site examination in February 1985, by Mr. Hubert Werlé, glass painter in Haguenau. In addition, this glassmaker is of the opinion that the part in question is made of antique glass of manufacture and it appears to have been introduced into the stained glass window while it was in place, probably during a repair. Transparency measures carried out in September 1985 with the help of a luxmeter showed that the ratio between the transparency of the foot. The right foot and left foot is about 1 to 10. the same glass of the right foot is treated in such a way that it is possible to see the glass of the right foot. so that the formation of a light beam is impossible.In addition, a comparison of the current state of the stained glass window with its condition reveals by photographs taken between 1946 and 1950 shows the the left foot of Judah at that time wore the foot neck trace whereas at present there is no longer such a trace. The between 1950 and 1972 and it turns out that the repair was carried out in the period 1950-1972. date and 1st reason for the repair as well as the date of the repair. glass quality of the plate that the glassmaker replaced.

 

We therefore consulted with Fernand Guri, architect of the

Retired buildings in France and Messrs. Lucien Schaeffer,

master glassmaker, and Frédéric Bangratz, glass painter, two retirees from the Ott-Frères House. The three persons contacted were of the opinion that, given

the period of time during which the repair appears to have been carried out, the the glass replacement was certainly made by the Ott Frères company, but they don't remember. They believe that the employment of a untreated glass proves that the work performed was in the area of

the ongoing maintenance of stained glass windows and that it will therefore be difficult to find the date and reason for the repair. In fact, it will be as much more difficult than the archives of the Ott-Frères House concerning this

no longer exist. But we do think we should find out

details of the remedy and the date of the resting

of the triforium stained-glass windows after 1946 in the M. H. archives. conserved at the Bas-Rhin Departmental Architecture Service.

From this, a number of conclusions can be drawn

The stained glass window of Judah, which is at the origin of the equinoxial green ray, was created by the Holy Spirit.

around 1875. It was therefore posed after the restoration of the pulpit in the Cathedral in 1804 and after the last major works at the the roof of the southern sill, which was completed in 1843 1844. This stained glass window is therefore very recent and modern. In addition, its directors are well known.Therefore, if the equinoxial luminous phenomenon was really the not by chance, the authors could not be the result of an intentional that, on the one hand, the glass painters Pierre Petit-Gérard and Ferdinand Huguelin and, on the other hand, the history painter Louis Steinheil. He's got born in Strasbourg and author of the stained-glass cardboard could have be aware of an equinoxial optical effect caused by the probably before 1848, at the time when the sun's rays were first observed. The lower panels of the lancets were still made of white glass. Examination of Judah's cardboard could provide some clues in this regard. But this cardboard can't be found. The same applies to coloured drawings stained-glass windows of the southern triforium, which were to be executed after the completion of panels in accordance with Gustave's instructions Klotz.

 

On the other hand, the examination of the photographs of the lower stained-glass panel of Judah performed by Taon in 1946 and Riotte between 1947 and 1950 presumes that the treatment of the glass of the two feet of Judah was practically the same since each piece bears the trace of the elbow-foot

The transparency of the glass of Judah's left foot was therefore significantly increased as a result of the replacement of the original glass by a untreated glass, probably in case of repair, at least of the stained glass window that must have taken place at the around 1950. The phenomenon of green equinoxial light

seems to have been strengthened or perhaps even created during this period.repair.As a result, it can be concluded at first glance that the phenomenon of equinoxial green light is very likely to have a purely accidental nature.But there are still some doubts. First of all, we don't have found in the archives of the recent repair of the stained glass window of

Judah. Secondly, we have so far ignored the attitude of

of the character of Judah. According to Mr. Maurice's interpretation, this one Rosart, direct his gaze on the circular medallion, which could represent the solar disk, and shows the solar disk with the index finger of the right hand.

left foot of green color which, him, is at the origin of the green ray. What is the significance of this attitude? Should it attract attention? on the luminous phenomenon of the equinox? The current state of our knowledge doesn't allow you to say it!

In summary, if indeed the phenomenon of green light

quinoxial was due only to a combination of circumstances, chance would have done things really well and would have caused an effect particularly happy and wonderful, attracting each time a lot of more and more admirers.

 

Louis Tschaen

Bulletin de la Cathédrale de Strasbourg, XVII, 1986

 

michel.lalos.free.fr/cadrans_solaires/autres_depts/bas_rh...

Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally-elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. A self-disorder, also called ipseity disturbance, is a psychological phenomenon of disruption or diminishing of a person's sense of minimal (or basic) self-awareness. The precise mechanisms that cause bipolar disorder are not well understood. Bipolar disorder is thought to be associated with abnormalities in the structure and function of certain brain areas responsible for cognitive tasks and the processing of emotions. A neurologic model for bipolar disorder proposes that the emotional circuitry of the brain can be divided into two main parts. The ventral system (regulates emotional perception) includes brain structures such as the amygdala, insula, ventral striatum, ventral anterior cingulate cortex, and the prefrontal cortex. The dorsal system (responsible for emotional regulation) includes the hippocampus, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and other parts of the prefrontal cortex.The model hypothesizes that bipolar disorder may occur when the ventral system is overactivated and the dorsal system is underactivated.Other models suggest the ability to regulate emotions is disrupted in people with bipolar disorder and that dysfunction of the ventricular prefrontal cortex (vPFC) is crucial to this disruption.

 

If the elevated mood is severe or associated with psychosis, it is called mania; if it is less severe, it is called hypomania. During mania, an individual behaves or feels abnormally energetic, happy or irritable, and they often make impulsive decisions with little regard for the consequences.[5] There is usually also a reduced need for sleep during manic phases.[5] During periods of depression, the individual may experience crying and have a negative outlook on life and poor eye contact with others.[ The risk of suicide is high; over a period of 20 years, 6% of those with bipolar disorder died by suicide, while 30–40% engaged in self-harm. Other mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, are commonly associated with bipolar disorder. The sense of minimal self refers to the very basic sense of having experiences that are one's own; it has no properties, unlike the more extended sense of self, the narrative self, which is characterized by the person's reflections on themselves as a person, things they like, their identity, and other aspects that are the result of reflection on one's self. Disturbances in the sense of minimal self, as measured by the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE), aggregate in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders, to include schizotypal personality disorder, and distinguish them from other conditions such as psychotic bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. The minimal self has been likened to a "flame that enlightens its surroundings and thereby itself." Unlike the extended self, which is composed of properties such as the person's identity, the person's narrative, and other aspects that can be gleaned from reflection, the minimal self has no properties, but refers to the "mine-ness" "given-ness" of experience, that the experiences are that of the person having them in that person's stream of consciousness. These experiences that are part of the minimal self are normally "tacit" and implied, requiring no reflection on the part of the person experiencing to know that the experience is theirs. The minimal self cannot be further elaborated and normally one cannot grasp it upon reflection. The minimal self goes hand-in-hand with immersion in the shared social world, such that "[t]he world is always pregiven, ie, tacitly grasped as a self-evident background of all experiencing and meaning." This is the self-world structure. De Warren gives an example of the minimal self combined with immersion in the shared social world: "When looking at this tree in my backyard, my consciousness is directed toward the tree and not toward my own act of perception. I am, however, aware of myself as perceiving this tree, yet this self-awareness (or self-consciousness) is not itself thematic."[5] The focus is normally on the tree itself, not on the person's own act of seeing the tree: to know that one is seeing the tree does not require an act of reflection. In the schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the minimal self and the self-world structure are "constantly challenged, unstable, and oscillating," causing anomalous self-experiences known as self-disorders. These involve the person feeling as if they lack an identity, as if they are not really existing, that the sense of their experiences being their own (the "mine-ness" of their experiential world) is failing or diminishing, as if their inner experiences are no longer private, and that they don't really understand the world. These experiences lead to the person engaging in hyper-reflectivity, or abnormally prolonged and intense self-reflection, to attempt to gain a grasp on these experiences, but such intense reflection may further exacerbate the self-disorders. Self-disorders tend to be chronic, becoming incorporated into the person's way of being and affecting "how" they experience the world and not necessarily "what" they experience. This instability of the minimal self may provoke the onset of psychosis. Similar phenomena can occur in other conditions, such as bipolar disorder and depersonalization disorder, but Sass's (2014) review of the literature comparing accounts of self-experience in various mental disorders shows that serious self-other confusion and "severe erosion of minimal self-experience" only occur in schizophrenia; as an example of the latter, Sass cites the autobiographical account of Elyn Saks, who has schizophrenia, of her experience of "disorganization" in which she felt that thoughts, perceptions, sensations, and even the passage of time became incoherent, and that she had no longer "the solid center from which one experiences reality", which occurred when she was 7 or 8 years old. This disturbance tends to fluctuate over time based on emotions and motivation, accounting for the phenomenon of dialipsis in schizophrenia, where neurocognitive performance tends to be inconsistent over time. The disturbance of the minimal self may manifest in people in various ways, including as a tendency to inspect one's thoughts in order to know what they are thinking, like a person seeing an image, reading a message, or listening closely to someone talking (audible thoughts; or in German: Gedankenlautwerden). In normal thought, the "signifier" (the images or inner speech representing the thought) and the "meaning" are combined into the "expression", so that the person "inhabits" their thinking, or that both the signifier and the meaning implicitly come to mind together; the person does not need to reflect on their thoughts to understand what they are thinking. In people with self-disorder, however, it is frequently the case that many thoughts are experienced as more like external objects that are not implicitly comprehended. The person must turn their focus toward the thoughts to understand their thoughts because of that lack of implicit comprehension, a split of the signifier and the meaning from each other, where the signifier emerges automatically in the field of awareness but the meaning does not. This is an example of the failing "mine-ness" of the experiential field as the minimal self recedes from its own thoughts, which are consigned to an outer space. This is present chronically, both during and outside of psychosis, and may represent a middle point between normal inner speech and auditory hallucinations, as well as normal experience and first-rank symptoms. They may also experience uncontrolled multiple trains of thought with different themes simultaneously coursing through one's head interfering with concentration (thought pressure) or often feel they must attend to things with their full attention in order to get done what most people can do without giving it much thought (hyper-reflectivity), which can lead to fatigue.In a 2014 review, Postmes, et al., suggested that self-disorders and psychosis may arise from attempts to compensate for perceptual incoherence and proposed a hypothesis for how the interaction among these phenomena and the person's attempts to resolve the incoherence give rise to schizophrenia. The problems with the integration of sensory information create problems for the person in keeping a grip on the world, and since the self-world interaction is fundamentally linked to the basic sense of self, the latter is also disrupted as a result. Sass and Borda have studied the correlates of the dimensions of self-disorders, namely disturbed grip (perplexity, difficulty "getting" stuff most people can get), hyperreflexivity (where thoughts, feelings, sensations, and objects pop up uncontrollably in the field of awareness, as well dysfunctional reflecting on matters and the self), and diminished self-affection (where the person has difficulty being "affected" by aspects of the self, experiencing those aspects as if they existed in an outer space), and have proposed how both primary and secondary factors may arise from dysfunctions in perceptual organization and multisensory integration. In a 2013 review, Mishara, et al., criticized the concept of the minimal self as an explanation for self-disorder, saying that it is unfalsifiable, and that self-disorder arises primarily from difficulty integrating different aspects of the self as well as having difficulty distinguishing self and other, as proposed by Lysaker and Lysaker: Ichstörung or ego disorder, as they say, in schizophrenia arises from disturbed relationships not from the "solipsistic" concept of the self as proposed by Sass, Parnas, and others. In his review, Sass agrees that the focus of research into self-disorder has focused too much on the self, and mentions attempts to look at disturbances in the person's relationship with other people and the world, with work being done to create an Examination of Anomalous World Experience, which will look at the person's anomalous experiences regarding time, space, persons, language, and atmosphere; he suggests there are problems with both the self and the world in people with self-disorder, and that it may be better conceptualized as a "presence-disturbance".Parnas acknowledges the Lysaker model, but says that it is not incompatible with the concept of the minimal self, as they deal with different levels of self-hood.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-disorder

 

Late adolescence and early adulthood are peak years for the onset of bipolar disorder.The condition is characterized by intermittent episodes of mania and/or depression, with an absence of symptoms in between. During these episodes, people with bipolar disorder exhibit disruptions in normal mood, psychomotor activity (the level of physical activity that is influenced by mood)—e.g. constant fidgeting during mania or slowed movements during depression—circadian rhythm and cognition. Mania can present with varying levels of mood disturbance, ranging from euphoria, which is associated with "classic mania", to dysphoria and irritability. Psychotic symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations may occur in both manic and depressive episodes; their content and nature are consistent with the person's prevailing mood. According to the DSM-5 criteria, mania is distinguished from hypomania by length: hypomania is present if elevated mood symptoms persist for at least four consecutive days, while mania is present if such symptoms persist for more than a week. Unlike mania, hypomania is not always associated with impaired functioning. The biological mechanisms responsible for switching from a manic or hypomanic episode to a depressive episode, or vice versa, remain poorly understood.The causes of bipolar disorder are not clearly understood, both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. Many genes, each with small effects, may contribute to the development of the disorder. Genetic factors account for about 70–90% of the risk of developing bipolar disorder. Environmental risk factors include a history of childhood abuse and long-term stress. The condition is classified as bipolar I disorder if there has been at least one manic episode, with or without depressive episodes, and as bipolar II disorder if there has been at least one hypomanic episode (but no full manic episodes) and one major depressive episode. If these symptoms are due to drugs or medical problems, they are not diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Other conditions that have overlapping symptoms with bipolar disorder include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder as well as many other medical conditions. Medical testing is not required for a diagnosis, though blood tests or medical imaging can rule out other problems. Mood stabilizers—lithium and certain anticonvulsants such as valproate and carbamazepine—are the mainstay of long-term relapse prevention. Antipsychotics are given during acute manic episodes as well as in cases where mood stabilizers are poorly tolerated or ineffective or where compliance is poor. There is some evidence that psychotherapy improves the course of this disorder. The use of antidepressants in depressive episodes is controversial: they can be effective but have been implicated in triggering manic episodes. The treatment of depressive episodes, therefore, is often difficult. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective in acute manic and depressive episodes, especially with psychosis or catatonia. Admission to a psychiatric hospital may be required if a person is a risk to themselves or others; involuntary treatment is sometimes necessary if the affected person refuses treatment. Bipolar disorder occurs in approximately 1% of the global population. In the United States, about 3% are estimated to be affected at some point in their life; rates appear to be similar in females and males. Symptoms most commonly begin between the ages of 20 and 25 years old; an earlier onset in life is associated with a worse prognosis. Interest in functioning in the assessment of patients with bipolar disorder is growing, with an emphasis on specific domains such as work, education, social life, family, and cognition. Around one-quarter to one-third of people with bipolar disorder have financial, social or work-related problems due to the illness. Bipolar disorder is among the top 20 causes of disability worldwide and leads to substantial costs for society. Due to lifestyle choices and the side effects of medications, the risk of death from natural causes such as coronary heart disease in people with bipolar disorder is twice that of the general population. Also known as a manic episode, mania is a distinct period of at least one week of elevated or irritable mood, which can range from euphoria to delirium. The core symptom of mania involves an increase in energy of psychomotor activity. Mania can also present with increased self-esteem or grandiosity, racing thoughts, pressured speech that is difficult to interrupt, decreased need for sleep, disinhibited social behavior, increased goal-oriented activities and impaired judgement, which can lead to exhibition of behaviors characterized as impulsive or high-risk, such as hypersexuality or excessive spending.To fit the definition of a manic episode, these behaviors must impair the individual's ability to socialize or work.[ If untreated, a manic episode usually lasts three to six months.

In severe manic episodes, a person can experience psychotic symptoms, where thought content is affected along with mood. They may feel unstoppable, or as if they have a special relationship with God, a great mission to accomplish, or other grandiose or delusional ideas. This may lead to violent behavior and, sometimes, hospitalization in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. The severity of manic symptoms can be measured by rating scales such as the Young Mania Rating Scale, though questions remain about the reliability of these scales. The onset of a manic or depressive episode is often foreshadowed by sleep disturbance. Mood changes, psychomotor and appetite changes, and an increase in anxiety can also occur up to three weeks before a manic episode develops.[medical citation needed] Manic individuals often have a history of substance abuse developed over years as a form of "self-medication". Hypomania is the milder form of mania, defined as at least four days of the same criteria as mania, but which does not cause a significant decrease in the individual's ability to socialize or work, lacks psychotic features such as delusions or hallucinations, and does not require psychiatric hospitalization. Overall functioning may actually increase during episodes of hypomania and is thought to serve as a defense mechanism against depression by some. Hypomanic episodes rarely progress to full-blown manic episodes. Some people who experience hypomania show increased creativity, while others are irritable or demonstrate poor judgment. Hypomania may feel good to some individuals who experience it, though most people who experience hypomania state that the stress of the experience is very painful. People with bipolar disorder who experience hypomania tend to forget the effects of their actions on those around them. Even when family and friends recognize mood swings, the individual will often deny that anything is wrong. If not accompanied by depressive episodes, hypomanic episodes are often not deemed problematic unless the mood changes are uncontrollable or volatile.Most commonly, symptoms continue for time periods from a few weeks to a few months. People with bipolar disorder who are in a euthymic mood state show decreased activity in the lingual gyrus compared to people without bipolar disorder. In contrast, they demonstrate decreased activity in the inferior frontal cortex during manic episodes compared to people without the disorder. Similar studies examining the differences in brain activity between people with bipolar disorder and those without did not find a consistent area in the brain that was more or less active when comparing these two groups. People with bipolar have increased activation of left hemisphere ventral limbic areas—which mediate emotional experiences and generation of emotional responses—and decreased activation of right hemisphere cortical structures related to cognition—structures associated with the regulation of emotions. Neuroscientists have proposed additional models to try to explain the cause of bipolar disorder. One proposed model for bipolar disorder suggests that hypersensitivity of reward circuits consisting of frontostriatal circuits causes mania, and decreased sensitivity of these circuits causes depression. According to the "kindling" hypothesis, when people who are genetically predisposed toward bipolar disorder experience stressful events, the stress threshold at which mood changes occur becomes progressively lower, until the episodes eventually start (and recur) spontaneously. There is evidence supporting an association between early-life stress and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to its overactivation, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. Other brain components that have been proposed to play a role in bipolar disorder are the mitochondria and a sodium ATPase pump. Circadian rhythms and regulation of the hormone melatonin also seem to be altered. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood cycling, has increased transmission during the manic phase. The dopamine hypothesis states that the increase in dopamine results in secondary homeostatic downregulation of key system elements and receptors such as lower sensitivity of dopaminergic receptors. This results in decreased dopamine transmission characteristic of the depressive phase. The depressive phase ends with homeostatic upregulation potentially restarting the cycle over again. Glutamate is significantly increased within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the manic phase of bipolar disorder, and returns to normal levels once the phase is over. Medications used to treat bipolar may exert their effect by modulating intracellular signaling, such as through depleting myo-inositol levels, inhibition of cAMP signaling, and through altering subunits of the dopamine-associated G-protein.[81] Consistent with this, elevated levels of Gαi, Gαs, and Gαq/11 have been reported in brain and blood samples, along with increased protein kinase A (PKA) expression and sensitivity;[82] typically, PKA activates as part of the intracellular signalling cascade downstream from the detachment of Gαs subunit from the G protein complex. Decreased levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, a byproduct of serotonin, are present in the cerebrospinal fluid of persons with bipolar disorder during both the depressed and manic phases. Increased dopaminergic activity has been hypothesized in manic states due to the ability of dopamine agonists to stimulate mania in people with bipolar disorder. Decreased sensitivity of regulatory α2 adrenergic receptors as well as increased cell counts in the locus coeruleus indicated increased noradrenergic activity in manic people. Low plasma GABA levels on both sides of the mood spectrum have been found.[83] One review found no difference in monoamine levels, but found abnormal norepinephrine turnover in people with bipolar disorder. Tyrosine depletion was found to reduce the effects of methamphetamine in people with bipolar disorder as well as symptoms of mania, implicating dopamine in mania. VMAT2 binding was found to be increased in one study of people with bipolar mania.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

The precise nature of the assignment that brings them to San Bernardino is still a mystery to me and others, but this is now the fourth An-12 I've seen visit, inbound from Houston (IAH) and identified as CVK7152.

East Loddon woolshed is unique for its use of materials in that it is a precise, industrialised example of a building type not generally designed with such formality or consequence. The 28-stand shed is of English-bond exposed brickwork, buttressed on all sides with segmental brick arches over all openings. 184 feet long, the building has a saw tooth corrugated iron roof on bolted cast iron trusses with gabled ends distinguished by symmetrical buttressing about the arched entrances with oculus louvres over. The original glass in the clear-story has been replaced with iron, but otherwise the woolshed is in original condition.

TalkPhotography.co.uk 52 Photo Challenge 2022 Week 42 Precision

Yet another self portrait !

 

My final shift at Barnetby East was a Saturday night, Saturday 18th December 2015 to be precise.

 

The shift saw no trains as is the norm these last few Saturdays as the last trains have been cancelled to ensure the engineering possessions get taken on time.

 

The B.East has been the short straw on a Saturday night for quite some time now as it involves taking two back to back possessions. As a controlling box (times 2) there are a lot of phone calls to make and people to talk to.

 

The easterly possession was from New Barnetby to Stallingborough and Immingham West (but not the Barton branch) so just the 6 boxes involved there [Brock, Ulceby, Reception, West, Roxton & Stallingboro'].

The Westerly possession was to Scunny Foreign Ore Junction, Brigg & Holton le Moor so again 6 boxes to talk to [Wrawby, Elsham, Appleby, Scunny, Brigg & H le M]

 

In total 12 boxes to go through possession limits with, check that lines are clear, sigs at Danger / Most restrictive aspect, Block Indicators at Train on Line, etc then the same twelve to be rung again once the possession is granted to advise them of the details.

 

It normally takes an hour or more of continuous phone activity. This week a further irritant was the new 2 2 2 bell code required to be sent when going to Train on Line, a first for all of us when taking a T3 on this occasion.

 

That aside I'm getting pretty slick at taking these as I seem to draw that short straw I mentioned earlier on quite a regular basis !

 

05.51 Hours on Sunday morning and my relief is imminent, all levers in the frame save for New Barnetby crossing release.

Reminders on the blocks and levers.

 

As the numbers of home signals is significantly greater than the number of reminder appliances (lever collars) available I generally only place them on the controlling signals (in this case that's BE 22, 56 & 57) and a couple or more selected signals.

 

Barnetby East Signal Box, 05.51 Hrs, Sunday 19th December 2015.

Rare insignia of the 208 Infantry Division. The precise unit is the Infantry Regiment 25. It turns out that 4 badges are known for this division. 3 classics and one that only appears to be in Drakegoodmann's collection.

 

These insignia are visible since January 1917.

 

Purchase with a direct offer immediately after the sale, I absolutely wanted to have this insignia.

 

Text (xiphophilos):

"Lieber Bruder

Die besten Grüße und Küsse aus Flandern sendet dir dein Bruder Jakob. Wie geht es bei euch? Hast du Fritz noch bei dir?

Nochmals Grus(s)

dein Bruder Jakob

Auf Wiedersehn

 

Dieses Bild ist sehr schlecht getroffen.

Wenn sich Gelegenheit bietet, lasse ich mir neu machen.

 

In ink:

Andenken an meinen Bruder Jakob"

 

English translation:

Dear brother

The best regards and kisses from Flanders is sending you your brother Jakob. How are things with you? Do you still have Fritz with you?

Again regards

your brother Jakob

See you again!

 

This picture turned out very badly.

When I have the opportunity, I have a new one made for myself.

 

In ink:

Memento of my brother Jakob

 

REF: 20-20-7

It´s difficult to believe that in this precise moment we have everything we need to be satisfied with our lives but I am learning that it can be possible.

 

To be honest, being in agreement with what is, has never been the strongest point of my personality. On the contrary, I always want more, I always want to achieve better things, improve myself and mend my life but even so (or maybe because this has been a heavy burden on me), I am starting to realize that regardless of what happens there is nothing that prevent me from feeling joy if I want to.

 

In fact, I have the power to accept and feel they joy. (...)

 

read more on my blog: myhealingmoments.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/day-365126.html

“ALAN B. SHEPARD JR.

Astronaut

 

(wearing U.S. Navy uniform)”

 

As expected, the relaxed grooming standard of the USN, and I assume, especially as applied to a Rear Admiral - who also happened to be the free-world’s first human in space & fifth man to walk on the moon - is glaringly evident.

I mean, look at the near ‘Elvis’ sideburns, let alone the hair touching the ears. And holding the frivolous white gloves, hand lightly grasping the sword, combination cap at the immediate ready…even a poorly displayed Precise Models LM…facing to the rear. It’s like a J. C. Penney catalog shoot. 😉

 

A fairly pronounced impression of a fold, extending up from the bottom of the photo paper & terminating immediately to the left of Shepard’s awards is visible when viewed under oblique illumination. Fortunately, there are no breaks in the emulsion.

 

The blind squirrel finds an acorn:

 

images.nasa.gov/details-S71-52263.html

 

I had no idea Shepard’s wife (Louise) passed away only five weeks after his death.

Continue to Rest In Peace both:

 

veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=340

Credit: "Veteran Tributes" website

 

valor.militarytimes.com/hero/56428

Credit: "The Hall of Valor Project" website

Digital capture; still life. An advertising piece for my studio portfolio.

 

I have wanted to throw some creative lighting on these gorgeous knives for a long time. The concept here is clean and metallic; get out of the food prep shots and into the sexy metal.

Final image; of a fun day & night - three shows. They were

great! Precise and professional - Bravo - Little River Band

 

EPCOT ~ Spring 2018 ~ Orlando, Florida U.S.A.

2018 International Flower and Garden Festival

 

Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975. The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on

the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only Australia, but also in the United States. During its career, the band sold more than 25 million records and achieved 13 U.S. Top 40 hits - to add to many awards gained in Australia. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. They were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association's Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards in 2004. Great band!

 

***********************************************

Top 10 Little River Band Songs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrXThXQegsY

 

"Cool Change" - Little River Band

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKwRW0l-Qk

 

"Lady" - Little River Band (1978)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrnZv7fHGSE

 

"Take It Easy On Me" - Little River Band (1981)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFTzuWKR-qc

 

"Lonesome Loser" - Little River Band

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-AmedKfRc

 

"It's A Long Way There" - (all guitar licks)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDY4SvTKWJ4

 

*************************************************

*[The lead singer joked that you can walk into any

grocery-store and hear LRB music playing ... lol]

 

About LRB en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_River_Band

 

www.littleriverband.com/

 

(seven more photos 'from this day' in the comments)

Get precise with it! Tag your photo #Precision and submit it to the Flickr Friday group pool. We'll publish a selection of our favorites next week on the Flickr Blog and in a Flickr Gallery.

 

Original photo by Mario Donati.

This wan't yesterday - summer 1995 to be precise. I'd done three years piloting the big tango-coloured 'deckers around Glasgow and that was enough, much as I love my home city. So I thought I better get a snap of myself. Long before the days of 'selfies'; another driver took the snap; it's a bt blurry but serves the purpose. The High Possil terminus of busy service 48 (Liddesdale Sq) wasn't really the place to be jumping around with a camera, but it was worth the risk.

 

As for the bus, it's an Alexander bodied Metrobus, and this particular one was, for some unaccountable reason, such is the way of these things, an absolute peach of a bus. These ones had 4 speed Voith gearboxes so on the open-road (not that there was much of that, but sometimes we ran light on the M8 to Paisley etc), could do over 60mph.

 

It was a baptism of fire starting my bus career here, but the experience gained has served me well.

 

DO NOT COPY, SHARE OR POST MY PICTURES ON ANY OTHER WEBSITE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION PLEASE.

Unusual to find such a precise date on one of these little publicity or advertising recipe booklets but this has a date of 1929 and also has a gummed in slip showing the full range of Bird's 'Household Specialities' and a retail price list for 1930. Such booklets were commonplace marketing material for companies such as Bird's who were amongst the pioneers of 'ready made' or branded food products that were sold on the national market and that advertised heavily - a product of Victorian food technology, transport and newspapers.

 

Alfred Bird's origins were in invention of their still famous 'custard' powder that replaced the real thing with a dissolvable powder based on cornflour starch, colourings and vanilla flavours. They also made a wide range of similar baking and pudding 'specialities' as can be seen from the list. An old established Birmingham company now simply a brand of an international concern, their home city heritage is still to be found thanks to a re-use of the 'Custard Factory' and the survival of the railings that use the famous trilling bird motif seen here. This was first introduced in the 1920s by the company.

Similar to the University of Oxford itself, the precise date of establishment of St Edmund Hall is not certain; it is usually estimated at 1236, before any other college was formally established, though the founder from which The Hall takes its name, St Edmund of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, the first known Oxford Master of Arts and the first Oxford-educated Archbishop of Canterbury, lived and taught on the college site as early as the 1190s. The name St Edmund Hall (Aula Sancti Edmundi) first appears in a 1317 rental agreement.

In the centre of the quadrangle is a medieval well, which was uncovered in 1926 during the construction of a new lecture room and accommodation. This well is believed to be the original from which St Edmund himself drew water.

Another shot whose precise location has defeated me is this Mellor-bodied Mercedes Vario of Ringwood Coaches on the X67. I think it must be in the area of Great Hucklow, north of Tideswell, but I may be wrong.

 

This thing knew little else apart from the X67 for the first 9 years of its life, moving from Ringwood to TM Travel with the contract in 2003, staying there until 2007. It had a year with Vale's Coaches in Manchester, until that firm's closure, then went off on its travels, seeing service in Forfar, Bedford, Weymouth and Wincanton before being retired in 2015.

 

An infrared view of a laser-based test campaign – taking place at Redwire Space in Kruibeke, Belgium – which represents crucial preparation for ESA’s precision formation flying mission, Proba-3.

 

Later this year, two satellites will be launched together into orbit to maintain formation relative to each other down to a few millimetres, creating an artificial solar eclipse in space. Proba-3’s ‘Occulter’ spacecraft will cast a shadow onto the other ‘Coronagraph’ spacecraft to block out the fiery face of the Sun and make the ghostly solar corona available for sustained observation for up to six hours per 19.5 hour orbit.

 

However to maintain the position of a shadow just a few centimetres across on the Coronagraph satellite from the Occulter satellite around 150 m away, the two satellites rely on a suite of sensors, including intersatellite radio links, GNSS, visual imaging and – for the most precise positioning at closest range – a laser metrology (or ‘measurement of measurement’) system. This system will shoot a laser from the Occulter spacecraft toward a corner cube retroreflector placed on the face of the Coronagraph spacecraft for tracking of relative position and attitude (pointing direction), achieving millimetre precision.

 

“To calibrate Proba-3’s laser metrology system, its performance was tested within the 60-m long Redwire cleanroom,” explains Damien Galano, Proba-3’s mission manager. “The Coronagraph’s laser was reflected off a retroreflector and the resulting positioning measurements checked against absolute ‘ground truth’ using a separate laser tracking system.”

 

This mission is being put together for ESA by a consortium led by Spain’s Sener, with participation by more than 29 companies from 14 countries. The Proba-3 platforms have been designed by Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and satellite integration by Redwire in Belgium. GMV in Spain is responsible for Proba-3’s formation flying subsystem while its main coronagraph instrument comes from Belgium’s Centre Spatial de Liège, CSL. Proba-3 is due to be launched by PSLV-XL launcher from India in September.

 

Credits: ESA - M. Pédoussaut

Foto por Guilherme Grespan

 

Observações:

Todas as fotos aqui postadas estão livres para divulgação, desde que com minha assinatura na foto e com os devidos créditos, como segue abaixo:

 

Foto por Guilherme Grespan - www.flickr.com/photos/guilhermegrespan/

 

As fotos estão com tamanho reduzido para web, tenho todas em alta resolução, e sem a assinatura, caso alguem precise é só me enviar um email.

 

Qualquer utilização das fotos em meios comerciais, favor me contactar.

 

Contato:

email: gui_grespan@yahoo.com.br

 

Ao Publicar:

Caso você publique esta foto em algum local, favor me informar por email, para que eu possa manter o histórico.

 

Muito Obrigado.

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

Photo by Guilherme Grespan

 

Notes:

All photos posted here are free to disclosure, provided that with my signature on the photo and with the appropriate credits, as follows below:

 

Photo by Guilherme Grespan - www.flickr.com/photos/guilhermegrespan/

 

The photos are reduced in size for web, have all at high resolution, and without the signature, if someone needs just send me an email.

 

Any use of photos for media business, please contact me.

 

Contact:

email: gui_grespan@yahoo.com.br

 

By Post:

If you publish this picture in any place, please let me know by email, so I can keep the history.

 

Thank you very much.

Playing with black and white.

At that precise time, I was happy. That was my first photo session of fireworks. I was ideally positioned upstream of the Mirabeau Bridge. In front of me, the Grenelle bridge, and Statue of Liberty*.

I was surrounded by friendly people.

I can testify that nobody knew that blood had flown at Nice. The first report came on my smartphone about ten minutes after the fireworks.

I felt devastated.

These four pictures are dedicated to Nice victims.

 

A cette heure précise, j'étais heureux. C'était ma première session photo d'un feux d'artifice. J'étais idéalement positionné en amont du pont Mirabeau. En face de moi, le pont de Grenelle, et la statue de la liberté.

J'étais entouré de gens sympathiques.

Je peux témoigner qu'autour de moi, personne ne savait que le sang avait coulé à Nice. La première notification (le Figaro) est tombée sur mon smartphone environ 5 minutes après la fin du feux d'artifice.

J'ai été dévasté.

Ces quatre photos sont dédiées aux victimes de Nice.

 

* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replicas_of_the_Statue_of_Liberty#P...

 

Sony Alpha A7

RF Jupiter-9 2/85mm for Zorki camera (KMZ 1954) M/L39 adapter

Shown here

A snow roller is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by wind, picking up material along the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made.

 

Unlike snowballs made by people, snow rollers are typically cylindrical in shape, and are often hollow since the inner layers, which are the first layers to form, are weak and thin compared to the outer layers and can easily be blown away. Snow rollers can grow as large as a foot in diameter.

 

The following conditions are needed for snow rollers to form:

 

The ground must be covered by a layer of ice that snow will not stick to.

The layer of ice must be covered by wet, loose snow with a temperature near the melting point of ice.

The wind must be strong enough to move the snow rollers, but not strong enough to blow them too fast.

The ground must have a slope, at least where the snow rollers start rolling.

Because of this last condition, snow rollers are more common in hilly areas. However, the precise nature of the conditions required makes them a very rare phenomenon.

Senior Master Sgt. Walt Markwas, 91st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, focuses on controlling the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker to refuel a C-17 Globemaster during a pilot training mission off the coast of North Carolina Feb. 3, 2015. The C-17 crew was accomplishing refuel contact qualifications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Vernon L. Fowler Jr./Released)

   

Traveling the beautiful country along the dreadful Norseman-Hyden Track in Western Australia. © Su Schaefer 2015

 

Signage at the (Norseman-side) start of the track. I love this sign and whoever made it and installed it. It is everything a sign should be: functional, accurate, precise.

Given objects

Similar causes

Stimulate vision

 

A nice photo-mosaic of lunar images taken by Mariner 10 shortly after launch.

 

~8.5” x ~11”. From the estate of Eric Burgess.

 

From the following extract of the online version of NASA SP-424, “The Voyage of Mariner 10”. Additionally, the image, linked to below, was used in Figure 5-9:

 

“…Very soon after launch, the planet-viewing experiments were turned on, a first time for planetary missions. The aim was to calibrate the instruments in the well-known environment of the Earth-Moon system. The charged particle telescope was turned on within 3 hours of liftoff, the ultraviolet experiment within 7 hours, and the TV cameras shortly thereafter. First TV pictures of Earth were obtained 16 hours and 15 minutes after liftoff.

 

There were some problems. The two thermal strap-heaters surrounding the aluminum lens barrels of the cameras were designed to hold the camera system at a temperature of 4 to 15°C (40 to 60°F). But they failed to operate as programmed following launch. Mission controllers, watching the engineering data coming back to the Mission Operations Center, saw that the heaters were not activated. Quickly a command was sent to the spacecraft to deactivate the heaters and then to activate them by triggering the relay switch, which seemed to have stuck. Nothing happened. The telescopes continued to cool down.

 

There was concern that without the heaters operating the television cameras would cool down too much and affect sensitive optics so as to distort pictures of the planets and cause a degradation of camera focus. Part of the problem was caused by the screening of the spacecraft against solar heating. It was so protected by a sunshade and by surface coatings and thermal blankets that when the camera heaters failed to come on, the cameras began to cool. Engineers from JPL and Boeing studied the problem to determine how heat might pass from the rest of the spacecraft in place of that missing from the heaters. They found that the thermal insulation of the spacecraft was so good that there was no way to heat the cameras from the spacecraft itself. The fall in temperature had to be lived with. They also checked the backup spacecraft poised at Cape Kennedy in an attempt to determine what might have caused the relay to stick. Had this problem degraded the spacecraft capability to an unaccepted degree, it would have been necessary to launch the backup.

 

Fortunately, the cooling stabilized at an acceptable level, and the cameras did maintain their sharp focus. The lens elements and the optical tube elements were self-compensating to changes in temperature. But an ever-present danger was that the Invar rods might contract, fracturing the vidicon potting compound if the temperature fell below -40°C ( - 40°F). Project scientists halted this temperature drop by keeping the vidicons switched on to maintain some heat within the cameras. Normally the vidicons would have been rested in the cruise between the planets, but it was considered prudent to change this mode of operation and take the chance that the lifetime of the vidicons might be shortened somewhat rather than risk the cameras' becoming too cold. This [47] being done, the temperature of the cameras stabilized, at low but livable values-the vidicons were about -10°C ( + 14°F), the backs of the optics were -20°C ( - 4°F ), and the telescope fronts were about -30°C ( - 22°F).

 

Mariner's cameras transmitted good pictures of the Earth and the Moon despite the temperature problem. The pictures of Earth (Fig. 5-2) provided stereo photographs of clouds with revealing depth and structure. They appeared to be the clearest pictures yet received from a television camera in space. If the spacecraft returned similar-quality pictures from Venus, the project could obtain a completely unprecedented look at the brilliant clouds of that mysterious planet.

 

In all, Mariner 10's cameras provided a series of five Earth mosaics (Fig. 5-3) within the first few days of flight. These mosaics revealed intricate cloud patterns at about the same resolution expected during the Venus flyby. The Earth pictures could provide valuable comparisons with the Venus clouds. Earth observations also provided in-flight verification of the cameras' "veiling glare" performance, thus confirming that the preflight calculations of settings of camera exposures for Venus were correct. This was important, since Venus encounter geometry did not allow an incoming far-encounter sequence to check the exposures.

 

Another problem arose almost at the beginning of the flight when, on November 5, the plasma science experiment was turned on. Scientists were surprised to find that no solar wind particles were being observed. There appeared to be a good vacuum in the detectors, and the device was scanning back and forth as it should. Engineers performed a series of tests and sequences of switching commands without positive results. One possibility was that the instrument door had failed to open so that plasma could not enter the detector. Another was that the high-voltage sweep was stuck at the high end, thus permitting only a few high-energy particles to register. The operation of this experiment was, unfortunately, restricted throughout the mission, and it was concluded that the protective door had failed to open fully. However, plasma data were obtained by the scanning electron spectrometer part of the instrument, which was unaffected by the failure of the door.

 

As the spacecraft left Earth, the ultraviolet air glow instrument looked back at the home planet, observing the same emission regions that it expected to check later at Venus and Mercury. Lyman-alpha hydrogen emission was recorded, together with helium emission at 584 angstroms.

 

All subsystems of the spacecraft were performing exactly as expected. The trajectory was also very good; less than 8 m/see (27 ft/sec) of the spacecraft's total maneuvering capacity of 120 m/sec (396 ft/sec) was expected to be needed to move the Venus aiming point of the spacecraft and change the arrival time about 3 hours to bring Mariner 10 to its later pass within 1000 km (600 mi) of Mercury's surface.

 

Mariner 10's series of five Earth mosaics was intermixed with six mosaics of the Moon (Fig. 5-4) within the first week of flight as calibration tests for the Mercury encounter. The path of Mariner allowed images to be obtained of the north polar region of the Moon (Fig. 5-5), which, because of constraints on paths of other space vehicles, had previously been covered only obliquely. The Mariner 10 photographs provided a basis for cartographers to improve the lunar control net, the relationship of points on the lunar surface one to another in precise definitions of lunar latitude and longitude of craters and other features. The exercise in lunar cartography provided a useful prelude to applying the same techniques to map Mercury using the images to be obtained during the flyby.

 

Diagnostic tests were conducted on November 6, including photography of stars (Fig. 5-6) and additional tests on the Moon (Fig. 5-7). The Moon tests, as well as providing better information about how the TV system was performing, allowed scientists to evaluate the practicality of proposed measurements of the diameter of Mercury. At this stage of the mission, optical performance of the television system continued to be good even though the TV optics had not yet stabilized in temperature. As of November 7, Mariner 10 had returned almost 900 pictures to Earth. Experimenters were enthusiastic about the excellent quality. The Moon pictures recorded objects a mere 3 km (2 mi) across (Figs 5-8 and 5-9 ).

 

history.nasa.gov/SP-424/p53.jpg

 

Since the pictures to be returned from Mercury were expected to be of three times higher resolution than those of the Moon, there was good reason for excitement. At last, it seemed, mankind would have a chance to resolve those dusky markings on the innermost planet, those indistinct features that earlier astronomers had interpreted as Marslike, even erroneously with linear "canal" type features. Another test conducted was photographing the Pleiades cluster in the constellation of Taurus: a galactic cluster in the Milky Way which is visible to the unaided human eye as seven faint stars and is often called the "Seven Sisters". These stars are about 20,000 light years from the Sun and are immersed in nebulosity. A total of 84 pictures were taken, verifying the focus of the television system.”

 

Above at:

 

history.nasa.gov/SP-424/ch5.htm

My sworn nemesis* Patchworkbunny finished her 365 today, and as she has a fondness for covering her face in stuff, I thought a little tribute was in order.

 

Well done Ellie.

 

*Programmers are always at war with software testers.

Check out this super detailed artwork printed in engraving (intaglio) technique. Intaglio is really beautiful, one of the oldest and most precise printing technology that is used for passports or money printing. We will use this technology to print your stationery and business cards. #businesscard #printmaking #stationery #engraving #illustration #intaglio

Spiritual crises as the cause of paranormal phenomena, Paranormal phenomena seen in connection with clairvoyance, and Paranormal phenomena seen in connection with channeling).Symbols from the universal images are of a completely different character. They reproduce a much clearer, more precise and superior astral wholeness. It is from these symbols you can receive direct teachings about your spiritual development process.

 

When you have trained meditation and dream yoga in many years, a so-called divine being can visit you through a symbol from the universal images: Christ, Buddha, masters, teachers, angels. Note that these of course also can from the collective images – the difference is explained below:

 

Such a symbol is, as mentioned, a telescopying, a representing quintessence of the informationquantities, which the wholeness in a universal image contains. The divine being will in that way canalize information to you from the universal image, which, together with the whole of the universal vision, constitutes the dream-tracks and the songlines in the artwork of your life. The divine being (or other symbols from the universal images) will in that way help you to compose, to synthesize and interlock, what your inner thinker in the waking state has divided. But it is very important to understand that this nothing has to do with the channeling phenomenon, which belongs to the collective images. In order to receive help from a divine being you must be very close to enlightenment yourself. Our suffering, our painbody is, through the inner evaluating ego, which the painbody is constructed around, connected with the more dangerous dephts of the astral plane´s collective history, which also are a kind of dark, ancient inertia, which opposes any change of the ego (see my article The emotional painbody and why psychotherapy can´t heal it). That is also the reason why you, through therapy, can´t heal Man from the ground. In order to heal Man from the ground you need to go into a spiritual practice. It is only within the religions and their spiritual traditions they have knowledge and names for the more dark sides of the astral plane´s collective history. The West has very precisely called this factor the original sin. The East has called it negative karma. The concepts indicate, that the inertia projects beyond the personal history (growing up conditions, traumatic bindings, painful experiences etc.) and far down into the collective inherit-backgrounds of history (genes, environment, society-ideals, the archetypes and the primordial images of the dreams, fantasies, fairy-tales, myths, and finally: instincts inherited from the animals). It is a factor, which lies in the evolution itself, in the genes, in the collective subconcious, in the collectice history.

A mystical experience is happening when astral energies and content arrive to the consciousness, either from the collective images, or from the universal images. When energy and content arrive to the consciousness from the collective images, then this energy, and this content, will symbolize itself. This is due to, that the collective images are in a condition of vague, diffuse, astral oneness. What is coming from the collective images therefore contains a much greater width and depth than the limitary, relatively narrow and clear concepts and classes of the ordinary consciousness. The vague, wide contents and energies from the collective images are therefore growing narrower in the meeting with the consciousness. The symbol is this quintessence, this shortened, condensed form of expression of the vague, wide collective material. The other types of symbols are coming from the universal images, and therewith from reality and truth itself. All reality, which shall mirror itself in the superficial mind, will automatically symbolize itself. Again the symbol is a telescopying, a representing quintessence of the informationquantities, and the greater clarity, which are connected with reality. Symbols from the collective images reproduce a more vague, more imprecisely, but richer organic astral oneness. Symbols from the universal images reproduce a clearer, more precise and superior astral oneness. The more vague astral oneness, or the more precise astral oneness, shows itself in symbolic form in the dividing, separating structure of consciousness. This refers to the three forms of states the wholeness can be in: sleep, dream, awake. When the wholeness is sleeping, mountains are mountains and woods are woods. This is the reality of the ordinary consciousness (the Ego-consciousness). The ordinary consciousness can sleep in three ways: 1) the dark sleep, which is the Ego´s deep nightly sleep; 2) the grey sleep, which is the Ego´s nightly dreams and other dreams; 3) the light sleep, where the Ego is awake. The three forms of states the wholeness can be in, can also be described as the personal time, the collective time and the universal time. Furthermore it can be described as the personal history, the collective history and the universal history. Time and history constitute the structure under your thinking. This structure is also called the astral plane, or the astral world. It is a plane of existence postulated both by classical (particular neo-Platonic), medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions. It is the world of the planetary spheres, crossed by the soul in its astral body, either through the dream state, or on the way to being born and after death, and generally said to be populated by angels, demons, spirits or other immaterial beings. The astral plane is connected with the so-called Akashic records. The Akashic records are a compendium of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence: the astral plane. These records are described as containing all knowledge of human experience and the history of the cosmos. They are holding a record of all events, actions, thoughts and feelings that have ever occurred or will ever occur. Since my teenage years, I have had relationships with Beings of Light such as Jeshua, Michael, Sanat Kumara, Lady Portia, Amira, Maitreya, Sananda, the Great Crystal Master, the Dragon and many others. They instructed me in their conceptions that allowed me to prune my beliefs, to experience new knowledge. Thanks to their attention, I was progressing in my inner study. Taking advantage of their advice and encouragement, I went through the adversity I had encountered. During all this time, I carefully integrated their teachings without disclosing them, I applied them consciously in my daily life. Several times they told me, through mediums, that it was time for me to work with my fellow human beings. I would say "I, who have so many obstacles" and I would continue my studies with them. More than twenty years ago, Awakeness told me that I had the opportunity to read Akashic annals, I didn't know what it was. It took me a long time to get acquainted with the library of Nature where everything is recorded in every detail, from Creation to infinity. Today, I confess that I used this database in ignorance. Facts arose without my knowledge, I met more and more people in great difficulty, I offered them, anonymously, what I had received. One day, I was offered a book on Akashic annals. I knew the time had come to expose myself. The opportunity to concretize this new experimentation presented itself to me, through one of my friends who was experiencing an important annoyance. I said to him:"If you want I ask Akasha for teachings to give you solutions to your context". The impact of the explanation and the akashic vibration collected by Martine was immediate and spread throughout her home. His entourage was surprised by this change and asked him what had happened. She received the necessary answers to her family situation and also all the understandings that allowed her to find joy in sincere and harmonious relationships, which are still in force and spread to her household. Everyone watched and looked at the sufferings he was carrying in order to transform them. An information was transmitted to her by her husband, who had crossed the bridge of earthly life for the afterlife, which confirmed her to act on the decisions.

The Sanskrit term akasha was introduced to the language of theosophy through H. P. Blavatsky (1831–1891), who characterized it as a sort of life force; she also referred to "indestructible tablets of the astral light" recording both the past and future of human thought and action, but she did not use the term "akashic". The notion of an akashic record is attributed to Alfred Percy Sinnett, who, in his book Esoteric Buddhism (1883), wrote of a Buddhist belief in "a permanency of records in the Akasa" and "the potential capacity of man to read the same."By C. W. Leadbeater's Clairvoyance (1899) the association of the term with the idea was complete, and he identified the akashic records by name as something a clairvoyant could read. In his 1913 Man: How, Whence, and Whither?, Leadbeater claims to record the history of Atlantis and other civilizations as well as the future society of Earth in the 28th century.The Akasha is an “astral light” containing occult records, which spiritual beings can perceive by their “astral senses” and “astral bodies”. Clairvoyance, spiritual insight, prophecy and many other metaphysical and religious notions are made possible by tapping into the Akashic reacords. They are metaphorically described as a library. They can be accessed through astral projection, meditation, near-death experience, lucid dreaming, or other means. The Akashic records are the wholeness, and as mentioned: the wholeness can be in three states of spiritual awakening - sleep, dream, awake – which again can be described as the personal, collective and universal time (or history).

The reactions to experience of the entire animal kingdom, the aggregation of the thought-forms of a karmic nature (based on desire) of every human unit throughout time. Herein lies the great deception of the records. Only a trained occultist can distinguish between actual experience and those astral pictures created by imagination and keen desire. Since Wilhelm Haidinger discovered the phenomenon of the ‘brush’ which is named after him in 1844, there can be no doubt that human vision comprises an additional sense for the orientation of a so called polarised luminance. In this paper the physical conditions under which Haidinger’s Brush is to be observed in transparent or reflective media are described in detail. Furthermore it will be shown how Goethe’s work on ‘entoptic colour’, Steiner’s concept of the U-Region and modern physiological and natural science touch on a mutual ground that is to be characterised by Haidinger’s Brush appearing.Seen from a spiritual perspective, this instinctive survival strategi (the Ego) appears as a resistance, an invincible inertia: original sin, negative karma. You can´t, by therapeutic strategies, free the consciousness for its attachment to this inertia. You can therefore not dissolve or dilute or convert the original sin through therapy. Only the intervention of the Source (God, Christ, the enlightened consciousness) can basically help Man with a trancendence of the negative karma of the original sin. But in order to, that a human being should be able to receive this help from the Source (gift of grace), then this requires an eminently precise and profound preparation. And as part of this preparation serve the true spiritual practice within the religions

 

mortentolboll.weebly.com/paranormal-phenomena-seen-in-con...

 

The whole extent of circumstances which have its observation in common, distinguish it as a higher phenomenon among others, that it is the primary phenomenon of polarisation.Haidinger-Büschel als Urphänomen der Polarisationserscheinungen Albert Pröbstl.f Goethe’s Urphänomen, the ferreting out of the simplest,

archetypal concept which exhibits the characteristics of the complex whole and proceeding from the simple to the more composite. At this point, the similarity of Hegel’s method to that of Goethe is evident, except of course that the relevant complex whole is not to be understoodas a natural phenomenon but rather manifestations of Spirit, specificallyformations of consciousness. , this stream of impressions has to be surmounted, and grasped as

a whole. This holistic view is not attained by contemplation of the name or the idea of Nature, but on the contrary by contemplation of Nature itself and determination of the archetypal phenomenon, the simplest unit of a complex natural process. This insight is only the outcome of patient, attentive and delicate observation. Likewise, if a citizen of any social formation, recognizes as Absolute the guiding principle of his own activity, Hegel does not suppose that they see in that form of practice a finite manifestation of Absolute Spirit. That is an insight which becomes available only to the philosopher who looks back from the end of the journey of Spirit. Goethe and Hegel shared a common concern, not just for Truth, but for the Spiritual Community. One of the driving forces of Goethe’s science was to work out a practice and concept of science which would be accessible to participation by the entire people,something of which Hegel despaired. But there are obvious differences in the conception of the Deity as well. For Goethe, God is Nature, and insofar as he is engaged with Nature, it is the principle of his relation to Nature. Man is part of Nature, but he cannot understand his literary and social activities Pantheistically. For Hegel on the other hand, Spirit produces Nature and the human world of finite spirit, and out of them produces itself, but it is above all to human affairs that Hegel looks for his glimpse of the Deity. In the human world, Hegel gains insight into the absolute Absolute which manifests in each shape of consciousness. For Goethe we have a reified God/Nature; for Hegel we have Spirit. The crucial innovation made by Hegel is his use of the Triune structure of the concept which transcends the various dichotomies inherited from Kant whilst investing the concept with internal resources for self-mediation

A central element of Hegel’s view of the relation of man

to the Absolute, he appropriated from Goethe’s Romantic

science. Goethe’s Pantheistic conception of Urphänomen

was the single archetypal phenomena exhibiting the

essential features of some natural phenomena.

Recognition of the Urphänomen constituted a glimpse of

the Deity. Although the Urphänomen is specific to some

given complex, Goethe came to see in it a general

principle. Hegel appropriated Goethe’s idea of

Urphänomen, not unlike Herder’s Schwerpunkt, in the

Phenomenology, and transformed the archetypal norm of

a Gestalt des Bewußtseins into the Begriff of the Logic, as

an archetype of the Absolute. Expressed more generally, Goethe’s problem was this: how can we understand a complex process as a whole, as a Gestalt? Goethe rejected a

number of approaches which are characteristic of what he called ‘Newtonian’ natural science. He rejected the method of hypothesising some force or vibration or principle which controlled the complex whole from beyond the horizon of phenomena. Blavatsky said the akasha forms the ANIMA MUNDI and constitutes the soul and astral spirit of man. It produces mesmeric, magnetic, and psychic phenomena and is a component in all magical operations of nature.

Hegel polemicised along the same lines in the Logic. To say that people come to the city because the

city exerts a force of attraction explains nothing. Newton’s idea of acceleration being caused by gravity simply shifts the problem from understanding a form of motion sensuously given to us, to understanding an invisible and baseless force, known only through its expression for which it is supposed to be the explanation.The Urphänomen was Goethe’s solution to the problem of how to conceive of the whole.“... the Divine, which reveals Itself in Urphänomene, physical and moral, behind which it dwells, and which proceed from It” (To Eckermann, February 13 1829, quoted in Heinemann 1934)“This spiritual breath – it is of this that I really wished to

speak and that alone is worth speaking of – is what has

necessarily given me such great delight in Your

Excellency’s exposition of the phenomena surrounding

entopic colours. What is simple and abstract, what you

strikingly call the Urphänomen, you place at the very

beginning. You then show how the intervention of further

spheres of influence and circumstances generates the

concrete phenomena, and you regulate the whole

progression so that the succession proceeds from simple

conditions to the more composite, and so that the

complex now appears in full clarity through this

decomposition. To ferret out the Urphänomen, to free it

from those further environs which are accidental to it, to

apprehend as we say abstractly – this I take to be a matter

of spiritual intelligence for nature, just as I take that

course generally to be the truly scientific knowledge in

this field” (Hegel 1984: 698).New York: akasha (akasa) Im Eastern mysticism and oeculism, the all-pervasive lile principle or all pervasive space of the cosmos. The term akasha is derived from the Sanskrit term for 'sky." The akasha is known by various other names in Western occultism and MAGIC. In Hinduism, the akasha is the substance ether, a fifth element and the subtlest of all elements. The akasha per meates everything in the universe and is the vehicle for all life and sound. In yoga, the akasha is one of three unit versal principles along with prana, the universal life force, and creative mind. These three principles are immanent in all things throughout the universe and are the sources of magical and psychic power. From the akasha comes will, an important component of magic, which enables all man ner of feats to be accomplished. In Buddhism, is not ether but space, ol which there are rwo kinds. One is space that is limited by the material, from which springs the manifestation of the elements of nature. The second is space that is unlimited, unbounded by the material and beyond description. The concept of the akasha was inaroduced to Weslern occultism in the early 20th century by hel ena p blavat sky, founder of the theosophical society. Blavatsky said the akasha forms the ANIMA MUNDI and constitutes the soul and astral spirit of man. It produces mesmerie, magnetic and psychic phenomena and is a component in all magi cal operations of nature. Blavatsky compared the akasha to lhe "sidereal lighi" ol rosic rucianism, he asi ral light of iphas levi, and the odyle or odic lorce of Baron Karl von uivalent of the llebrew ruah, the Reichenbach is th in motion, or moving spirit and is identi- wind, breath, air cal with the spirit of God moving on the tace ol the waters described the akasha as incomprehensible. non-created, and undefinable. Akasha creates everything and keeps everything in bal it is the all in all.

Five arts was Goethe's method of transmuting his observation of human nature into sharable form. Drawing from his novel, Elective Affinities (Wahlverwandschaften), Goethe discerned a geheime Verwandschaft (hidden relationship) of parts that explains how one form can transform into another form whilst being part of an underlying archetypal form (Ur-phänomen). It is this organizing idea or form that guides the consideration of the parts; it is a Bild or virtual image that "emerges and re-emerges from the interaction of experience and ideas"[3] This consideration is a special type of thinking (noetic ideation or denken) carried out with a different organ of cognizance to that of the brain (mentation or sinnen), one that involves an act of creative imagination, what Goethe terms "the living imaginal beholding of Nature" (das lebendige Anschauen der Natur). Goethe's nature (natura naturans, the activity of "nature naturing" – as distinguished from natura naturata, "nature natured", the domain of naturally formed objects) is one in constant flux and flow, but nonetheless governed by law, logic and intelligence above the mind. To approach vital nature requires a different cognitive capacity (denken) and cognitive organ (Gemüt) from that used to perceive inert nature (sinnen based on the Intellect or Sinn).

Hegel goes on to speak of his philosophical appropriation of the Urphänomen: “But may I now still speak to you of the special interest that an Urphänomen, thus cast in relief, has for us philosophers, namely that we can put such a preparation – with Your Excellency’s permission – directly to

philosophical use. But if we have at last worked our

initially oyster-like Absolute – whether it be grey or

entirely black, suit yourself – through towards air and

light to the point that the Absolute has itself come to

desire this air and light, we now need to throw open the

window so as to lead the Absolute fully out into the light

of day” (Hegel 1984: 699).Leaf operculum alone all others as a blessing creativity, vitality, hope and madness and more !!! Akasha is the aura of the Earth. physically. All trace continues to exist in the akasha of the Earth, which made the Egyptians say that we can survive through supports representing us (statuettes, photos, engravings, icons) and that gives the feeling to certain peoples that being photographed traps the soul ... it's partly true but not definitively. At each new galactic hour (every 25 600 years in human years), a reset of the akasha takes place. The next is scheduled for December 21, 2012. Getting back to work can be a good thing. Pilgrims of Heaven, we are! Good day. The Astral is another name to refer to the psyche (radiation of thoughts and human emotions) and the energetic aura (electromagnetic radiation) of the Earth for me. Etheric means spiritual energy of the higher consciousness planes tand qu 'energetic' refers to terrestrial and human radiation. The Paradise are the high parts of the astral, in these circles of purity are the teachings of the Ascended Masters. There are also portals to other dimensions of life here, on Earth in the 3rd dimension we are calibrated by a heart rate, a lunar rhythm, a terrestrial electro magnetic energy and the frequencies of human thoughts and emotions. All these frequencies reduce us condense us, lower us. We live at best on the frequency of our stomach (self-enhancement individualism and competition at worst on the frequency of our gut (withdrawal on the family, devaluation of self for the benefit of the local collective, war to defend its territory against invaders, aliens, energy racism) And when one is underdeveloped socially, one is based on the root chakra, connected to the spirit of survival, leads to mistrust vis-avis humans, with the need to live outside without social constraints like solitary wild animals (sdf and marginality chosen)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethean_science

  

Every exit is an entry somewhere else.

- Tom Stoppard

  

In the quiet woods, nature’s most efficient handyman gets to work. A determined woodpecker grips a heavy cordless drill like a seasoned carpenter, boring a perfect round entryway into the tree. Wood chips scatter, echoing his rhythm of precise craftsmanship. Today’s project: a custom luxury penthouse nest, complete with reinforced walls and impeccable design. With safety goggles unseen but spirit strong, the forest’s tiniest contractor proves—sometimes, power tools make nest-building a whole lot easier.

Almost every single component of the Flavel mansion seen here came from a carpenter's shop.

 

It would be a colossal job to build a precise replica of this building today even with our power tools.

 

In 1885 carpenters did have access to a variety of treadle tools, particularly saws and scroll saws. One wonders how much effort it would have taken to cut the many scrollwork designs seen here. The operators of treadle saws must have developed powerful muscles in one leg and, quite possibly, repetitive motion injuries.

 

However, a power tool was of little use unless the carpenter knew how to apply it to achieve the desired result. The crisp, repeating, and symmetrical designs have little or no margin for error.

 

I wish I knew how many carpenters were employed in creating the fancy wooden trim for the Flavel mansion, and how the carpentry shop was organized and managed. I hope for their sake that the carpenters had a fair amount of variety in their work. Imagine being the person responsible for every turned ornamental ball finial on the entire mansion!

 

Now that I think of it, I wonder where the carpentry shop was located. There was ample room for one on the ample lot. If that is where it was, I wonder whether any archaeological remains still exist that would be worth investigating.

========================================================

Flavel House History

 

The Flavel House Museum was the home of Captain George Flavel (1823-1893), one of Astoria’s most influential citizens in the late 1800s. Captain Flavel was a noted bar pilot on the Columbia River and a prominent businessman.

 

His Queen Anne style house was designed by German-born architect Carl W. Leick and was completed in the spring of 1886 as his retirement home.

 

The Captain lived here for seven years with his wife Mary Christina Boelling (1839-1928) and his two grown daughters, Nellie and Katie. The couple’s son, George Conrad Flavel, never lived in his parent’s new residence as he was already married and living in a house of his own.

 

The house remained in the family until 1934 when George and Mary’s great-granddaughter, Patricia Jean Flavel, gave the property to the city as a memorial to her family.

 

In 1936 there was talk of tearing the house down and establishing an outdoor community park on the property. However, the city had financial difficulties and decided to return the property to Patricia Flavel. That same year the residence and grounds were deeded to Clatsop County with the understanding that both would be kept in good repair and used for public purposes.

 

From 1937 through World War II, the Public Health Department, the Red Cross, and the local Welfare Commission all had offices in the house.

 

In 1951, there was once again the talk of tearing the house down, this time to make way for a parking lot for the County Courthouse.

 

Concerned citizens organized to save the home, and the Flavel House was made into a local history museum managed by the Clatsop County Historical Society while still under the ownership of the County.

 

Eventually, the County transferred full ownership of the property to the Historical Society.

 

About the Interior

 

The Flavel House is approximately 11,600 square feet and consists of two and a half stories, a single story rear kitchen, a four-story tower, and a full basement.

 

The interior woodwork around the doors, windows, and stair-cases are Eastlake-influenced in design. The Douglas Fir doors, moldings, and wainscoting were faux wood-grained by a master craftsman to look like exotic hardwoods such as mahogany and burl rosewood. The wood likely came from a mill in Portland or San Francisco and was shipped to Astoria by steamer.

 

Six fireplaces grace the home and feature different imported tiles from around the world, elaborate hand-carved mantels, and a patterned metal firebox designed to burn coal.

 

The fourteen-foot high ceilings on the first floor and the twelve-foot high ceilings on the second floor are embellished with plaster medallions and plaster crown moldings.

 

The house was very modern with wall-to-wall carpet-ing, gaslighting, indoor plumbing, and a central heating system.

 

The First Floor is comprised of the public rooms such as the grand entrance hall, the formal parlor, the music room (the scene of musical recitals by the Flavel daughters), the library (the heart of the house), the dining room, and the conservatory. The butler’s pantry, the kitchen, and the mudroom make up the housekeeping area.

 

The Second Floor features the main bathroom, five bedchambers, and a small room used as a sewing room or storage room.

 

The Attic Floor is a large, unfinished area with two small plain bedrooms used by the Flavel’s domestic help.

 

The tower gave the Captain a broad view of Astoria and the Columbia River to keep an eye on the local ship traffic.

 

The Basement of the house originally had a dirt floor and contained a large wood-burning furnace.

 

About the Exterior

 

The Flavel House rests on park-like grounds covering an entire city block. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1951.

 

The Queen Anne architectural style, popular from 1880 to 1910, can be seen in the house’s steeply pitched roof, patterned shingles, and cut-away bay windows.

 

Other characteristics of the Queen Anne style are the octagonal-shaped tower, the one-story wrap-around porch, and its asymmetrical facade.

 

Decorative elements of the Stick and Italianate styles are also apparent in the vertical stickwork, the bracketed eaves, and the hooded moldings above the windows and doors.

 

Outlining the roof and verandas of the house is the original wrought-iron cresting.

 

About the Carriage House

 

The Carriage House was built on the south-west corner of the property in 1887. It served as the place where the family kept their carriage, sleigh, and small buggies.

 

It also had three temporary holding stalls for their horses, a tack room, and a hayloft upstairs.

 

In the mid-1890s, the Carriage House was home to the family’s hired caretaker, Alex Murray.

 

In time, automobiles, including the Flavel’s Studebaker sedan, found a home in the Carriage House, and the family’s driver kept a room upstairs.

 

Today the Carriage House functions as the Visitor Center, museum store, and exhibit hall for the Flavel House Museum and the administrative offices of the Clatsop County Historical Society.

astoriamuseums.org/explore/flavel-house-museum/

Radiant by artist Nicky Assmann (1980, lives and works in Rotterdam), in TENT. Radiant is a dynamic ‘mobile’ sculpture in which optical patterns and colour effects appear, due to a precise balance between space, form, movement and light.

www.tentrotterdam.nl/en/show/nicky-assmann-radiant/

♪ Once upon a time or two

I think I lost my mind with you

Too many times to be precise

We take a toke and drink the wine

We got the users over there

We got the whores right here

Right here ♫

 

----

 

Featuring an excerpt by Syndel Markus and Hycanthian Zsigmond:

 

Silver Aberdene's frame was tucked against the building, the broken wing hadn't healed and had crusted blood down to the cement. The wet blood just rested in congealed pool, feathers moving ever so often into it and out of it with her shallow breathing. Burns spanned from her forehead on down to the tips of her toes, what little clothing she had was gunked with burnt skin that crackled and hissed with each passing breath, nothing had even come close to trying to heal. Shadowed dust was staying just inches above the skin, keeping her in this state but not all the burns had come from her encounter. Some of the burn was from the burnt brick, her back was resting against it and seeming to barbeque continually. A soft noise came out when her head tilted, curls having kinked to the burn and it was missing in some spots. The good wing seemed untouched, agitated and moving.

 

Ms. Syn finds the angel in bad shape, she walks towards her, studying her state and whispers, "What a fucking mess.... and the smell... so glad I'm not biological." She says to you, "Hey you there. Are you conscious? What do you have of value that someone would do this to you?"

 

----

Kryžių kalnas, or the Hill of Crosses, (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former hill fort after the 1831 Uprising in Poland, Lithuania, and other western regions of the Tsarist Empire. Over the generations, not only crosses and crucifixes, but statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by pilgrims. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100,000 at present.

 

Over the generations, the place has come to signify the peaceful endurance of Lithuanian Catholicism despite the threats it faced throughout history. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795, Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire. Poles and Lithuanians unsuccessfully rebelled against Russian authorities in 1831 and 1863. These two uprisings are connected with the beginnings of the hill: as families could not locate bodies of perished rebels, they started putting up symbolic crosses in their memory.

 

When the old political structure of Eastern Europe fell apart in 1918, Lithuania once again declared its independence. Throughout this time, the Hill of Crosses was used as a place for Lithuanians to pray for peace, for their country, and for the loved ones they had lost during the Wars of Independence.

 

The site took on a special significance during the years 1944–1990, when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. Continuing to travel to the hill and leave their tributes, Lithuanians used it to demonstrate their allegiance to their original identity, religion and heritage. It was a venue of peaceful resistance, although the Soviets worked hard to remove new crosses, and bulldozed the site at least three times (including attempts in 1963 and 1973). There were even rumors that the authorities planned to build a dam on the nearby Kulvė River, a tributary to Mūša, so that the hill would end up underwater.

 

On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love and sacrifice. In 2000 a Franciscan hermitage was opened nearby. The interior decoration draws links with La Verna, the mountain where St. Francis is said to have received his stigmata. The hill remains under nobody’s jurisdiction; therefore people are free to build crosses as they see fit.

 

Occasionally, significant parts of the site burn down in accidental fires. The site attracts pilgrims from across Europe, but especially Lithuania and Poland.

 

This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.

Unusual to find such a precise date on one of these little publicity or advertising recipe booklets but this has a date of 1929 and also has a gummed in slip showing the full range of Bird's 'Household Specialities' and a retail price list for 1930. Such booklets were commonplace marketing material for companies such as Bird's who were amongst the pioneers of 'ready made' or branded food products that were sold on the national market and that advertised heavily - a product of Victorian food technology, transport and newspapers.

 

Alfred Bird's origins were in invention of their still famous 'custard' powder that replaced the real thing with a dissolvable powder based on cornflour starch, colourings and vanilla flavours. They also made a wide range of similar baking and pudding 'specialities' as can be seen from the list. An old established Birmingham company now simply a brand of an international concern, their home city heritage is still to be found thanks to a re-use of the 'Custard Factory' and the survival of the railings that use the famous trilling bird motif seen here. This was first introduced in the 1920s by the company.

 

atelier ying, nyc

 

This is a wonderful accessory for this famed conductor known for his precise yet lyric and exciting interpretations. Here the metaphor seems to be that he works the orchestra as a race car, recalled in the 35ti's ultra-cool dashboard atop the camera, and it's high quality optics. It is very difficult to modify such a tiny camera as the machinery is packed so densely inside. However, this design proposes twin hydroponic gardens reminiscent of Sir Georg's countryside hut in Roccamere where he studied orchestral scores and prepared for his seasons as music director of the Chicago Symphony. The gardens are a living memento of his favorite retreat, containing moss from the site. The "Swarovski" styling mimics piano keys as Solti was a concert pianist and spent much of his early career as a repetiteur for the ballet. Solti as a street photographer is an interesting proposition. His conducting style is visually unforgettable; you were either addicted to it or nauseated by it. i have a photo of him horsing around with a singer both of them carrying water guns during a picnic. The idea of Solti on a busy corner shooting street might be a tad intimidating. I've been making plans for more Solti-inspired cameras, his legendary Ring cycle recording, etc. It's easier for me to say things across a few designs rather than clump it all together in one creation. And I'd really like one of these Nikons too. The Rollei 35 is also on my mind.

Those that follow my drawings might ask themselves, why the combination of these unsuitable ideas for a camera? Actually, cameras with fantasies allow me to work and think at a detached aesthetic distance; it frees my mind, like the element of chance did in the work of John Cage or Marcel Duchamp.

Note that this plan is only for the all-black Nikon 35TI. Also, the "oxidized copper" moss cladding will need a breathable plastic cover for short term storage to protect the optics of the camera.

 

This design drawing is copyright 2013 by David Lo,

  

..tigress to be precise.

This was one very close encounter with the tigress in wild.

This tigress keeping an eye on us moved few feets away.

And I was in an open jeep.

 

This is first time I felt the limitation of my prime 300mm lens. If I had a zoom, I could have got better composition.

 

But I am assuming this is that one off situation, all though I would like to see this beautiful animal closely, but only from a well sealed vehicle :)

 

This photo was taken at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.

Kryžių kalnas, or the Hill of Crosses, (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former hill fort after the 1831 Uprising in Poland, Lithuania, and other western regions of the Tsarist Empire. Over the generations, not only crosses and crucifixes, but statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by pilgrims. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100,000 at present.

 

Over the generations, the place has come to signify the peaceful endurance of Lithuanian Catholicism despite the threats it faced throughout history. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795, Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire. Poles and Lithuanians unsuccessfully rebelled against Russian authorities in 1831 and 1863. These two uprisings are connected with the beginnings of the hill: as families could not locate bodies of perished rebels, they started putting up symbolic crosses in their memory.

 

When the old political structure of Eastern Europe fell apart in 1918, Lithuania once again declared its independence. Throughout this time, the Hill of Crosses was used as a place for Lithuanians to pray for peace, for their country, and for the loved ones they had lost during the Wars of Independence.

 

The site took on a special significance during the years 1944–1990, when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. Continuing to travel to the hill and leave their tributes, Lithuanians used it to demonstrate their allegiance to their original identity, religion and heritage. It was a venue of peaceful resistance, although the Soviets worked hard to remove new crosses, and bulldozed the site at least three times (including attempts in 1963 and 1973). There were even rumors that the authorities planned to build a dam on the nearby Kulvė River, a tributary to Mūša, so that the hill would end up underwater.

 

On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love and sacrifice. In 2000 a Franciscan hermitage was opened nearby. The interior decoration draws links with La Verna, the mountain where St. Francis is said to have received his stigmata. The hill remains under nobody’s jurisdiction; therefore people are free to build crosses as they see fit.

 

Occasionally, significant parts of the site burn down in accidental fires. The site attracts pilgrims from across Europe, but especially Lithuania and Poland.

 

This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.

Une photo n'est pas toujours capable de montrer aussi précisément les détails que ce que nos yeux voient, encore moins de faire vivre les sensations percues dans un endroit ou á un moment donné, comme la chaleur, l'ambiance, la lumière, les odeurs etc. Les émotions ressenties rendent magiques ces instants, il est probable que personne ne puisse les apprécier á notre manière. Les photos qui nous font vibrer suite á ce vécu ne recoivent parfois pas l'attention que l'on croirait, ce n'est pas grave, elle font partie de notre jardin secret...

 

No siempre puede una foto mostrar precisamente los detalles que nuestros ojos ven, aún menos hacer vivir las sensaciones percibidas en un lugar o en un momento dado, como el calor, el ambiente, la luz, las fragancias, etc. Las emociones experimentadas hacen que estén mágicos estos instantes, es probable que nadie pueda apreciarlas a nuestra manera. A veces las fotos que nos hacen vibrar por lo vivido no reciben la atención que se pensaría, no esta grave, hacen parte de nuestro jardín secreto...