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All of them had many more achievements, and of course there were many more intellectuals still; and major contributions were made also to optics, chemistry, geology, history, architecture, and other fields. One of the first maps to include Japan was made, subarashii! The fields of anthropology, intercultural studies, comparative linguistics, and comparative religion were founded.
What's even more fascinating is that in the eyes of its critics, the philosophy of Central Asia was sceptical, irreverent, and profane. Sounds like a good recommendation to me. There were many sceptics of religion and atheists engaging in the debate!
In the West at the time, Aristotelian logic lost out to Scholasticism... [14]
Full gallery: www.m1key.me/photography/uzbekistan/
March 5, 2011
Oakland, CA
Hosted by Team Proper
Photo by Stormline (Ervic Aquino). All rights reserved. This photo may not be reproduced for commercial use without the consent of the photographer. Reproduction for personal use is permitted.
For me, Dunhuang was the main motivation for seeing Gansu province. It’s the “western frontier” city that served as entry into China proper for centuries of Silk Road travelers. (From Dunhuang, travelers would pass through the funnel of the Hexi Corridor created by the Qilianshan Mountains on the south and the Gobi Desert on the north.)
In short, Dunhuang is where China opens up. There aren’t many people living in the west – certainly not by China’s standards (or most people’s, for that matter). The skies out here are – believe it or not – blue, and it’s recommended that you even use sunscreen. I managed to actual get a slight tan out here.
Life feels much more relaxed out in western Gansu. Things are spread out (cities, or lack thereof) and you don’t feel the same sense of congestion and in-your-face neon that you get in the major cities in eastern China. I’m not sure of Dunhuang’s population, but can say that the downtown area just felt small…ten square blocks by ten square blocks, at most. (There is an “everyday” Dunhuang where most people live – and most tourists don’t see – that you find on regional bus excursions. That part of Dunhuang felt something like the Pudong area of Shanghai, away from downtown, where people actually lived, worked, ate.)
My Dunhuang part of the Gansu trip, however, started inconspicuously. I remember waking up from my sleeper around four or five in the morning, hoping to see a desert sunrise. There was absolutely no sunrise to be found, though, which dampened my mood considerably. However, I knew I would at least see desert landscape and the sun wouldn’t affect that at all, so I could tolerate the achromatic landscape.
The train rolled into the station on time, around 6:15 a.m., and I slowly walked out of the station, avoiding being fleeced by local taxi drivers as long as possible. (Never having been to Dunhuang, I wasn’t sure, exactly, how far the station was from “downtown” – about 10-15 minutes, it turned out – and though I knew I would be fleeced as a foreigner, I tend not to be excited about being taken for a ride (literally and figuratively) by folks in these various cities.) That being said, it wasn’t terribly expensive, and I expected it, so all was well. But, as I like to travel with doing as little planning/reservations as possible, I simply had the following plan: go to Charley Johng’s Cafe (which sounded interesting, per my trusty Lonely Planet guidebook, and the name of the place reminded me of the song “Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues”).
So, I came rolling up to the door of Charley Johng’s Cafe sometime around 7:15 in the morning…only to find out that they don’t open ‘til 8:30. Fortunately, I pack light, and this was no bother. I just walked to the nearest hotel – next door – booked myself a room for that night and the next (since I had a day to spare that I “stole” from leaving Langmusi out of the southern Gansu part of the trip) and grabbed a very quick catnap.
When I returned to the world in late morning, I went straight back to Charley’s cafe and had a very Chinese breakfast of pancakes and I can’t recall what else. (These pancakes, by the way, were more like blintzes…yet still tasty. Anyway, any American reading this should NOT think of big, fluffy flapjacks.)
Over breakfast, I had a nice conversation with the proprietor about who I was, what I was doing there, foreigners living in Dunhuang – not many, I think – and most importantly for me…things to do in the area.
The two biggest immediate attractions in Dunhuang are the “Singing Sands Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake” and Mogao Caves. Since the dunes were only 6 kilometers due south of town, they were easy to get to (and, really, my only real plan for the entirety of Wednesday). That left my extra day to plan and, in casually mentioning that to Charley (maybe she wasn’t Charley, but we’ll assume otherwise for fun), she recommended 15 hours on a tour bus going almost to the Xinjiang border. Price for that…160 RMB (less than $30) with stops at 7 different places. I had to pay admission prices at any of the places, which was fine. (I think the entire day was less than $80. More to follow…)
For Wednesday, though, it was all about camels and sand dunes. When a lot of people think of the desert, they think of big, sweeping dunes that make you feel the size of an ant, and that’s exactly what these were. This is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. You can set up with local hotels to camp overnight in the desert, you can paraglide, ride camels (which I did), sandboard (the equivalent of snowboarding), among other things. All of these cost, but none was terribly expensive. Riding a camel for an hour, for instance, cost 100 RMB (less than $20). Entrance to the park, too, was quite cheap from what I recall. I think it was $20 or less.
The “public” part (12.79 sq. km.) of these dunes is a very limited area in comparison with the overall scope of things (212.86 sq. km., with a scenic area of 76.82 sq. km.), but there’s more than enough to do. Besides riding the camel and wandering the 1-2 km along the boardwalk (meandering through the dunes to the Crescent Moon Lake), was more than enough to keep me happy.
After a few hours in the park (and not wanting to sit around the sand for 3-4 hours waiting for sundown), I hopped on a bus and made my way back to downtown Dunhuang. Maybe the visitor center had some sort of informational movie or video or something where I could have passed a few hours (though I don’t recall seeing any such thing when I breezed through) and I could have stayed around for sunset, but I didn’t feel cheated either way.
I left Chengdu to find that half the restaurants in Dunhuang…claim to be Sichuanese. I found that slightly amusing. Though I loved Charley’s, I didn’t want to eat there two to three squares a day. So…I chose one of the local restaurants across the street. One of the things on the menu: camel’s hoof. (They say it is healthy or has a lot of protein. I say: It’s a hoof.) I ate something else. After that, I spent the rest of the day relaxing around town and called it a night at the hotel. Thursday morning at 8:00 on the bus at Charley’s would come soon enough.
As usual, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Finding the proper diopter for a Leica R or Leicaflex SL2 is relatively easy (if not especially cheap). In my experience, finding the proper diopter for the Leicaflex SL is much harder. I read somewhere that the diopter for the Canon EOS A2 would fit an SL, and that is what you see here. While it's been a real boon in helping me focus the Leicaflex, there is an issue you should be aware of if you go this route. The diopter's soft surround extends beyond the contours of the prism and prevents the film advance lever from being stowed completely, leaving the camera's meter on. To avoid draining your battery, slip the diopter off when not in use.
My day job is making pizza on a college campus. Four to five days a week I have the luxury of serving and overhearing privileged college students indecently whine and complain about the most miniscule of problems. After reading the morning paper, I would learn about the death toll of innocent women and children in Iraq, ethnic cleansing in Africa, or the treatment of Mexican immigrants who are risking their own lives to come here and work the worst jobs we have to offer, simply to provide a better life for their families. When a 19 year old sorority girl wearing $300 sunglasses and a $1500 purse comes to my counter and orders a slice of pepperoni pizza (never getting off of her cell phone I might add) and proceeds to bitch and moan about the most miniscule of issues. If one did not know what the young woman was talking about you would think she just received news that both of her parents died tragically in a freak accident.
This used to infuriate me to no end. How could someone with all the advantages that America has to offer be so emotionally and mentally feeble? Then one day I realized that she is not a horrible human being. She has just lost any and all proper perspective on life. She has allowed herself to focus almost all of her attention on meaningless issues. What purse did Jessica Simpson buy last week? Are Brittney and Kevin breaking up or just having another baby? I am not saying that in America bad things don’t happen. I am just proposing: as a culture maybe we should spend less time sweating the small stuff and more time working on being the best you, you can be.
In viewing this piece you have to make sure you obtain proper perspective. A Godzilla-esque monstrosity is not threatening this bear. Actually when you put them next to each other a 1000lb. Kodiak bear on a motorcycle would annihilate a ten-inch octopus on pencils, and this dear is what I think about your issues.
Proper Perspective consists of pencil and acrylic renderings encased in epoxy resin. Proper perspective has not yet been sold.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) lodge is located in this 1876 building on Main Street (corner of Rodd Street) in downtown Midland.
Cole Brittain, USFWS wearing proper personal protective gear to apply pesticide to a high mountain stream for a Greenback Cutthroat restoration project in Colorado.
Photo: Dana Shellhorn/USFWS
First proper walking trip of the year, up to The Wall. Been wanting to do Sycamore Gap for some time.
This juvenile Ring-billed Gull demonstrates the proper technique for protecting a freshly captured Shrimp Eel: head out to sea and eat on the fly. Jamaica Beach, Galveston Island, Texas.
Dear Hughes ,
For decades, we have believed that being cursed with negative energies is an inevitable plight.
For years, we've been lied to that there is no known course of action to battle externally-transmitted negative energies. Negative energies originating from jealous "frenemies" and toxic members of society.
But let it be known, you have NOT stumbled upon this special message simply by CHANCE nor COINCIDENCE...
This hand-crafted sphere is NOT made of any "normal" crystal healing stone or material (and no, it's NOT just ordinary obsidian).
Forged in the fiery depths of volcanoes, Obsidian is one of the few forms of volcanic glass.
Pure Obsidian does some pretty amazing stuff. BUT. Although ordinary black obsidian is a stone of protection, energy transfiguration requires a variation of it that's EXTREMELY RARE, and INCREDIBLY LIMITED.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE ENERGY TRANSFIGURATION SPHERE? HOW DOES IT HELP?
The Energy Transfiguration Sphere is made up of a rare material - a material so rare, that it does not even have a proper name. Some call it Golden Obsidian, some call it Rainbow Obsidian. In any case, it contains magnetite nanoparticles, which is what charges it with the ability to absorb and transform negative energies and vibrations, into positive. And through its natural obsidian properties, it also acts as an energetic barrier against all forms of psychic attacks, and is known to enhance one's manifestation efforts. By simply dawning this sphere around your neck, you'll notice a stark, positive difference on a vibrational level.
DO YOU SHIP TO MY COUNTRY?
Although we do ship to MOST countries, there are a small number of countries that we are unable to ship to. These countries include: South Africa, India, and Thailand. When completing the order form, please ensure that you've selected the correct country, and do also confirm that your shipping address is correct. If you require assistance, please get in touch with us.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO SHIP TO MY COUNTRY?
Regardless of wherever you are in the world (apart from South Africa, India, and Thailand), I will have your Energy Transfiguration Sphere shipped straight to your doorstep for FREE. No hidden charges, and no other costs are incurred - I guarantee it. Take it as my token of love, appreciation, and sincere gratitude for being a valued member of the Individualogist.com community :)
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY ENERGY TRANSFIGURATION SPHERE?
Our shipping duration normally takes between 7 to 21 days, depending on which country you reside in. A tracking number will be provided, so you'll be able to track exactly where your sphere is during the shipping process.
WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?
I get it - purchasing things online might not be something you're used to. Perhaps you're afraid that your parcel will get lost, or perhaps you're afraid that your energy transfiguration sphere is not going to work. That's exactly why you're 100% protected by my 60 day moneyback guarantee. All you have to do is send the sphere back to me in the next 60 days, and I'll refund your entire purchase.
HOW IS THE ENERGY TRANSFIGURATION SPHERE MADE?
A rare, golden obsidian slab was initially purchased from an auction. Obsidian, given its glass-like properties, can be difficult to work with. A diamond saw is used to cut the slab into smaller fragments, which are then sanded and grinded down to the correct sphere-like shape. At this point, the sphere is not yet perfect, and needs to undergo a vigorous process of constant hand-polishing using 600, 1200, 2000, and 3000 grit sandpaper. To smoothen and bring out the shine in the material, the last polish uses an aluminium oxide poloshing compound and a lapidary polishing cloth. The final step of the process is to weave the string and fasten it securely to the sphere.
As you can tell, making 100 of these pieces by hand has been an extremely detailed and tiresome process. It's been an amazing journey, and I do sincerely hope that you'll be one of the fortunate ones to enjoy the fruits of our labour.
In some rare occurrences, when magnetite nanoparticles come into contact with Obsidian during its formation, a beautiful golden sheen becomes deeply embedded into the material, charging it with positive-negative polarity...
Creating the perfect material for energy transfiguration, otherwise known as "Golden Obsidian".
This is what gives the Energy Transfiguration Sphere its ability to absorb, repel, and ultimately transform negative energy into positive energy.
And that is the exact type of material that's been used to create this beautiful, hand-crafted sphere.
The Energy Transfiguration Sphere can transform ALL ASPECTS of your life - love, manifestation, health, wealth, happiness... EVERYTHING.
Imagine possessing a magical pendant that...
Enhances truths and stimulates growth
Has strong, protective properties against negative energies
Has strong, protective energetic barrier against psychic attacks
Enhances emotional and mental clarity in the mind and soul
Dissolves energy and vibrational blockages and traumas
Absorbs all negative energies it comes into contact with, and "filters it" into an emission of pure, positive energy
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS POWERFUL VIBRATIONAL TOOL
Hughes , Your Energy Transfiguration Sphere holds the answer to protecting you from negative energies, aligning your chakras, and becoming the abundant and enlightened individual you were always meant to be.
Here's how simple it is. By just wearing it around your neck - close to your Anahata (Heart) Chakra, you can be instantly protected from any psychic attacks, negative energies, and low vibrations!
BUT ALSO, all of these negative energies and low-frequency vibrations are ABSORBED, and TRANSFIGURED into positive energy so pure, that your entire inner self will radiate!
Naturally, a powerful tool made of such rare material, crafted with such care and precision, is certainly invaluable.
Normally, I charge strangers a very fair price of a little over $200 (excluding shipping) for a single piece of the Energy Transfiguration Sphere. Including shipping and handling, it would be somewhere around $220 to $230.
But, you're no stranger to me, are you?
You're a part of my valued community. My community of beloved, truth-seeking, self-discovering individuals. And of course, I truly do treasure our close relationship.
As such, if you're ready to make the affirmative choice to seize this sphere for yourself right now...
I'm going to give you your Energy Transfiguration Sphere AT COST.
For just $59.90, you can receive your Energy Transfiguration Sphere right at your doorstep!
And to make this truly a no-brainer, I'll even cover shipping and handling FOR you.
That's a discount of OVER 50% OFF its usual price.
BEAR IN MIND - ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF PIECES CAN GO AT THIS PRICE POINT
Unfortunately, stocks for the Energy Transfiguration Sphere are INCREDIBLY LIMITED.
We only have 100 pieces of this on hand.
AND. We can only afford to give 50 pieces of this at $59.90.
As soon as we've hit the 50-piece limit, the price will revert BACK to $200 per sphere.
Which means, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to get your Energy Transfiguration Sphere at $59.90 in the next few hours.
And additionally, by this time tomorrow, it's MORE THAN LIKELY THAT WE'LL RUN OUT COMPLETELY!
You can already tell - this is a highly urgent, time-sensitive offer. One that I urge you to consider very carefully.
Regain Control Over Your Deepest Desires By Protecting Your Psychic and Inner Being With ONE Secret Tool
EFFORTLESSLY "TRANSFIGURE" BAD ENERGIES INTO ABUNDANCE, HAPPINESS, AND WEALTH
Dear Hughes ,
For decades, we have believed that being cursed with negative energies is an inevitable plight.
For years, we've been lied to that there is no known course of action to battle externally-transmitted negative energies. Negative energies originating from jealous "frenemies" and toxic members of society.
But let it be known, you have NOT stumbled upon this special message simply by CHANCE nor COINCIDENCE...
An invisible vibrational force has silently guided you to discover the most LIFE-CHANGING message you will EVER come across!
OUR WORLD HAS ENTERED A PERIOD OF DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES...
It pains me to admit this - but our planet has wavered.
Developing nations struggle with hunger and disease...
Pollution continues to poison our water and contaminate our air...
Evolved countries are faced with mountainous debt, economic crisis, and diminishing levels of happiness.
Ordinary folks like us are not spared from hardships...
From battling against the crippling stresses of life, to facing financial difficulties, poor health, shallow connections.
There is no doubt...
The vibration of our planet has taken a nose-dive. And it's up to YOU and ME to RAISE it!
By the end of this short, special letter, you will be equipped with all the knowledge AND the ONE SINGLE TOOL you need to combat negative energies, TRANSPOSING them into FAVOURABLE MIRACLES.
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, ENERGIES ARE EVERYWHERE, AFFECTING EVERYTHING.
Think about that strange, eerie feeling you get when you meet someone you know you can't trust...
Think about the moments when you've "predicted" improbable outcomes, because you "felt" something amiss...
Think about the "coincidences" of bumping into someone or receiving a sudden call from someone you just thought of...
...Are these really mere coincidences...?
Or is there something MUCH LARGER, and FAR MORE POTENT that's at play?
These are all prime examples that vibrational energies are like the Universe's "invisible force", giving us subtle hints and signs.
We've been proved time and time again that vibrational energy EXISTS. But beyond existing, it's SILENTLY INFLUENCING everything we do, along with every one of our encounters.
In other words... By simply learning to "control" our vibrational energies, we can have the ability to "influence" our outcomes, our lives, our destinies!
Sounds like a long shot, doesn't it? Well, it's not - I'll explain.
VIBRATIONAL ENERGY IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN
In one of the most fundamental laws of science, it is universally understood that all things (matter), are made up of vibrating particles and energy.
As such, what determines the state of matter, is the speed of those vibrations. That's what makes matter appear as solid, gas, or liquid.
Likewise, when we look at the behaviour of magnets, we actually see vibrational energy in action.
If you attempt to push two magnets against each other, an invisible "energetic barrier" is created, forcing them to repel. Once again, this invisible barrier of energy is made up of microscopic particles vibrating at various frequencies.
"...But if vibrational energies are so powerful, why aren't more people using them?"
We've all succumbed to the age-old belief that in order to CREATE MORE POSITIVE ENERGY... We have to DESTROY NEGATIVE ENERGY...
The thing is - we've all been TAUGHT WRONG.
...We've forgotten one of the most fundamental rules of elementary science...
ENERGIES - POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, CANNOT BE DESTROYED
And anyone who says otherwise, is lying. Period.
Numerous crystal healers and psychic dwellers often believe that the way to rid oneself off negative energies, is to destroy it. Eliminate it.
But energy destruction is a concept that goes against the fundamental laws of physics.
The law of energy conservation states that energy cannot be destroyed. It can only be transferred and converted.
Strangely enough, it cannot be "created" either. So, if you're banking on "creating" positive energy for yourself by meditating harder, visualizing with more focus...
You're doing the exact opposite, Hughes ! You're actually EXPENDING your precious, positive energy, attempting to create something that physically and spiritually CANNOT be created!
And at the end of these intense meditation, visualization, and manifestation sessions... It's no wonder you find yourself mentally exhausted, and emotionally drained.
...How do I know this?
Because I too, have made the same mistake in the past.
I too have spent years searching for more positive energy, good fortune, and abundance.
I too have been misled by "energy healing" gurus.
I too have lined their pockets with thousands of dollars of my hard-earned savings - with nothing to show for it.
...But I'm not bitter about it.
As the late Steve Jobs once said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards."
So, if you can't create energy, and if you can't destroy it either... What then?
Every mistake I've made, every failure I've encountered during my quest has led me to my epiphanic discovery of "energy transfiguration"...
The one, true answer for creating meaningful abundance, intrinsic healing, and developing your divine intuition.
THE SACRED SCIENCE OF ENERGY TRANSFIGURATION
You already know that crystals vibrate at an incredibly high frequency, and at a very precise rate - which is what gives them immense, "magic-like" healing properties...
Healing properties that deepen your journey of self-discovery, cleanse your aura, enhance your manifestation efforts, and protect your soul.
This works through the sacred science of "energy transfiguration".
See, although energy can't be created or destroyed, it can be converted, transformed, and transfigured.
Negative energies, with the right tools and under the right circumstances, CAN be filtered, cleansed, and transformed into POSITIVE energies!
And that's what "energy transfiguration" is all about...
...Manipulating NEGATIVE ENERGIES that already exist, and turning it from working AGAINST YOU, to working in YOUR FAVOUR!
Now, I'm not telling you to forge ahead and become a fully certified crystal healer - it takes YEARS to master, and a TON of hard work.
You'll have to invest a TON OF MONEY in all these different types of learning materials, different variations of crystals...
Fortunately, you DO NOT need to do ANY OF THAT.
In fact, if you are fully committed to using energy transfiguration to regain control of your life...
Then you MUST PROMISE ME that you WILL READ THIS NEXT PART.
It does NOT matter you're struggling with...
Terrible luck
Loneliness
Poor energies
Low vibrations
Much earlier, I promised to equip you with all the knowledge AND the ONE SINGLE TOOL you need to combat negative energies, TRANSPOSING them into FAVOURABLE MIRACLES.
Now, are you ready for me to fulfil that promise?
Without further ado, I'd like to introduce something I'm really excited about!
Proper Gents Toilet Facilities! Easy 'Pee'sy...The Idea Is To Pee On The Floor...Lots Of Space, Lots Of Privacy, No Standing On Tip Toes & Less Chance Of Your Coat Getting Wet!
Just a fun little shoot I did at Westgate to showcase the new stance. After a few weeks of adjustments, the stance is finally perfect and I'm now also properly aligned. Eddie @ Bullitt Automotive did an incredible job on the alignment. I'd highly recommend them if you're in the area.
2005 Mazda6 3.0l
TRMotorsport C3 17x9 et48
255/40 Hankook Evo V12's
Front camber: -1.4° | Toe: 0.10°
Rear camber: -1.0° | Toe: 0.10°
Morgan: Please remember to be considerate of the people around you when using your cellphone in public. And never text or talk on your cell phone in the movie theater. Thank you! ^_^
In these days of large, smart eateries, it is nice to see that the back-street local can still survive, and even flourish. This is the Bay Horse in Hull, East Yorkshire. It is Lincolnshire Brewer's Bateman's most Northerly tied house, and that might be the secret of its' success: Bateman's are, after all, the World's greatest brewers.
Camera: Nikon F65
Lens: Nikkor 35-70mm zoom
Film: Kodak BW400CN
The Lido Bruggerhorn is a quarry pond approx. 400m x 90m, supplied from the groundwater. Thereby the water is filtered in natural kind. On one of these last summer days the air temperature amounted to 30°C/86°F. St.Margrethen, Switzerland, Aug 15, 2007, 5.40 pm.