I had more or less decided that I was switching from expensive DSLRs to using the Sony NEX-7 [and whatever replaced it] as the camera that I would use for street photography. I was hoping to upgrade from the NEX-7 to the A7R but while I might be able to afford the body this side of Christmas there is no way that I could afford a set of suitable lenses within a reasonable time period.

At the end of May I got the opportunity to purchase a Sigma DP3 Merrill at €399.00 including delivery to Dublin so based on a number of reviews I decided to take a gamble and purchase one. I had to wait almost two months and I was about to cancel the order but it arrived a few days ago and I got a chance to test it today.

There is no doubting the fact that the DP3 Merrill is very different to anything that I have used to date [including the original DP1 or DP2] and while I am glad that I got it there are many issues. The main problem is battery life, there is no way that 45 photographs per charge is acceptable. The second problem is that Adobe Lightroom does not recognise the output from the DP3 Merrill [I only shoot in RAW] so one must use the software that is supplied by Sigma. Sigma Photo Pro is not as bad as some may have you believe but in my case I am not at all keen to add another stage to the process.

The third problem is that I am really limited to shooting at ISO100 so it is a waste of time shooting in poor light and there is plenty of that here in Dublin.

The Sigma DP3 uses an excellent 50mm f/2.8 prime lens which is the equivalent of a 75mm optic on a 35mm camera. The lens design features ten elements in eight groups, and there's a seven-bladed aperture diaphragm. Focusing is possible to as close as 8.9 inches (22.6cm), and maximum magnification is 1:3 (0.33x). There's no image stabilisation which may make the camera less suitable for street photography.

(for further information please click on the link at the end of page!)

Palais Daun-Kinsky

If the Freyung once has been one of the most prestigious residential addresses in town, so for it was next to the Palais Harrach especially the Grand Palais Kinsky responsible. In its place in the middle ages were two parcels, each with a small building. The front part of the Freyung was since the 16th Century always in aristocratic in hands (Bernhard Menesis Freiherr von Schwarzeneck, Countess Furstenberg, Counts Lamberg). 1686 acquired Karl Ferdinand Count Waldstein the house of Count Lamberg. His son bought also the adjacent house in Rose Street (Rosengasse) and united both plots to one parcel. He had three granddaughters, who sold the site in 1709 to Wirich Philipp Laurenz Graf Daun. This came from an old Rhenish nobility. His ancestors were mostly working for the Elector of Trier as officers. In the battle of the Habsburgs against the Turks, Spanish and Frenchmen, he acquired great military merit. He brought it to the General Feldzeugmeister (quartermaster) and Viceroy of Naples. In 1713 he had the house at the Freyung demolished and by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt built in its place until 1716 a palace, him serving as Vienna's city residence. Down may have been Antonio Beduzzi requested the creation of reconstruction plans, but was eventually Hildebrandt entrusted with the work. In 1719, the palace was largely completed. Daun lived there but rarely because he stayed a lot in Italy and in Austria preferred his country castles Ladendorf, Kirchstetten and Pellendorf. In 1746 acquired Johann Joseph Count von Khevenhüller the Palais from Leopold Joseph von Daun, the son of the owner, who happened to be in financial difficulty. The Reichsgraf (count of empire) was appointed in 1763 by the Empress Maria Theresa for his services to the Lord Steward and Lord Chamberlain, and raised to the hereditary imperial princes (princes of the Holy Roman Empire).

Door knocker

He sold the palace in 1764 to the Imperial Councilor President Ferdinand Bonaventura Harrach Count II. This worked as a diplomat, especially in Holland and Italy. At times of Maria Theresa, the building was inhabited by her Swiss Guards until they 1784 moved to their new quarters in Hofstallgebäude (court stable building). Ferdinand Bonaventura's daughter Rosa brought the palace in 1790 into her marriage to Josef Graf Kinsky. Whose family belonged to the Bohemian nobility. Its members appear at the beginning of the 13th Century documented. Wilhelm Freiherr von Kinsky was a colonel and friend of Wallenstein. He was murdered with this 1634 in Eger. His confiscated estates were divided among the assassins. Only two masteries (Chlumez and Bohemian Kamnitz ) remained through the timely change of front of his nephew, Johann Octavian with the family. The Kinsky but succeeded soon to rise again. They occupied again high positions in the administration and the military. 1798 the had modernized their Viennese palace by the architect Ernst Koch inside. Thus, the original Baroque interior was lost. As in 1809 the Frenchmen had occupied Vienna, a french Marshal and General were billeted in the palace. Prince Ferdinand Kinsky was a great patron of Beethoven, which he paid an annual salary of 4,000 florins for life along with two other nobles. In 1856, the Palace was refurbished in the interior by the architect Friedrich Stache. In the 19th Century lived the Princes Kinsky mostly on their Bohemian goods or in Prague. The building was therefore temporarily rented to some posh tenants. So lived here temporarily Field Marshal Radetzky and Archduke Albrecht. 1904 redecorated the French interior designer Armand Decour the piano nobile.

Staircase - second floor

With the end of World War II began a tough time for the Kinsky family. Almost all goods and industrial holdings, with the exception of the hunting lodge Rosenhof at Freistadt lay in Bohemia. By 1929, 50 % of the extensive Bohemian possessions were expropriated. There were still about 12,000 acres, a sugar factory and breweries. 1919 had to be a part of Vienna's Palais force-let. During World War II it was requisitioned by the German army. For fear of air raids the in the palace remaining objects of art were transferred to some Bohemian castles. The Palais Kinsky was not destroyed, its art treasures but remained in Bohemia. After the Second World War, the remaining Czech possessions were lost by nationalization for the family. In the Viennese palace were temporarily housed the embassies of China and Argentina. In 1986 it was sold by Franz Ulrich Prince Kinsky. After several short-term owners, the palace was acquired by the Karl Wlaschek private foundation in 1997. It was generously restored from 1998 to 2000 and adapted for offices and shops. The Grand Ballroom is often used because of its excellent acoustics as a concert hall. Since 1992, acclaimed art auctions are held at the Palais.

The Palais Kinsky is probably next to the Belvedere the most prominent secular work of the great Baroque architect and one of the best preserved baroque palaces in Vienna. Despite multiple changes of ownership and of numerous rearrangements inside the main components such as Baroque facade, vestibule, staircase, hall and gallery remained largely unchanged. The building extends between Freyung and Rosengasse. The property is only 30 meters wide, but three times longer. It was therefore not an easy task to build on it a representative palace with a grand staircase. Hildebrandt but has brilliantly overcome by putting up four floors at 24 m height, and yet preserving the proportions. He grouped the construction with two long side wings and a cross section around two consecutive large courtyards. The pomp and living rooms of the palace are mounted around the first courtyard, while the second contained carriage houses and stables. Here have yet been preserved the marble wall panels with the animal waterings made ​​of cast iron and enamel from the late 19th century. Hildebrandt integrated various parts of the previous building into the new building. The seven-axle face side at the Freyung is divided several times. Stability is procured by the rusticated ground floor with its inserted diamond blocks. On it sit the two residential floors. They are embraced by Corinthian Riesenpilaster (giant pilasters). The mezzanine floor above it features in comparison with the underlying main floor tiny windows.

Hercules

The large windows on the main floor are particularly detailed designed. While the outer pairs of windows possess pagoda-like over roofings, those of the three windows of the central projection are round-arched. The trophies and weapons depicted in the lintel fields refer to the military profession of the owner. Vertically is the extensive looking facade accented by the slightly protruding, tri-part central risalite, the pilasters are decorated much richer than that of the side projections. In the Fantasiekapitelle (fantasy capital) of the pilasters are diamond lattices incorporated, an important component of the coat of arms of the Counts Down. The with figures and trophies decorated attica is over the central part formed as balustrade. The sculptures are believed to originate from Joseph Kracker, representing the gods Minerva, Juno, Hercules, Neptune, Diana and Constantia. Very elegant looks the plastically protruding portal. Its composition goes back to Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. It is considered one of the most beautiful Baroque portals of Vienna. The draft was submitted in 1713 and carried out until 1715. The richly decorated wooden gate dates from the period around 1856, when it was renewed. It is outside flanked by two, obliquely placed Doric columns that match the rusticated ground floor. Sloped to the inside carry two, on pillar stumps standing atlases (also from Kracker) the entablature with the overlying structured segment gable. On it sit the stone figures of Prudence and Justice. The middle window in between is much richer decorated than the rest of the window openings on the first floor. Instead of the usual trapezoidal over roofings here it is crowned by a cartouche held by two putti. The originally thereon located coat of arms of the owner was replaced after the change of ownership by that of the Kinsky family with three boar's teeth. Above the shield hangs an chain with the Order of the Golden Fleece. Both the gusset of the archway as well as the overlying triglyph frieze are decorated with trophies.

Banquet Hall

If someone passes the portal, so one gets into one, by strong pillars divided three-aisled gatehouse. The massive spatial impression is something mitigated by the large sculptures in the niches. They were created by Joseph Kracker. Among the somewhat restrained stucco decorations you can see the coat of arms of the owner, with its characteristic diamond motif. At this gate hall adjoins the widely embedded and more than twice as high vestibule with its domed ceiling. This transverse oval space is divided by pilasters and Doric columns. The rich stucco decoration of the ceiling provided with lunettes could come from Alberto Camesina or from his workshop. The here used motifs are again relating to the career of the client as a commander. For instance, in the lunette caps are reliefs of Roman soldiers. On the left side of the vestibule leads an anteroom to the grand staircase. It is dominated by a vault carrying Hercules, a work by Lorenzo Mattielli. As the monogram of Charles VI proves, with it the Emperor was meant to be worshiped. In two oval niches stand above the two double doors of the Treppenvorhauses (stairway hall way) busts of Caesar and Emperor Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian. The elongated stairway occupies almost the entire length of the left wing of the first courtyard. In the stairwell are eleven statues of Roman deities in stucco niches. The relatively narrow, crossed grand stairway is considered one of the most beautiful of Vienna. It overall design might go back to Antonio Beduzzi. On the second floor stand on the from winded perforated volute forms constructed stone balustrade four groups of playing or scrapping putti. They serve in part as a lantern holders, partly just as a decoration. The statue cycle in the staircase is a work of Lorenzo Mattielli, but the cherubs are believed to stem from Joseph Kracker. This type of decoration already points to the coming Rococo. A fresco by Carlo Innocenzo Carlone adorns the ceiling. The simulated architecture painted Antonio Beduzzi. The large wall mirror of the staircase were added after 1907 .

Staircase/ceiling fresco

The somewhat playful balustrade leads to the reception rooms on the second floor. The large oval ballroom above the entrance hall is oriented towards the courtyard. Its allegorical ceiling painting stems from Carlo Innocenzo Carlone. The other frescoes are of him and Marcantonio Chiarini. The walls are covered with marble. The room was several times, most recently in 1904 changed structurally. In front of the banquet hall is the former dining room. It is now called Yellow Salon. In 1879/80 was installed in it a choir stalls from the Pressburg Cathedral by Georg Raphael Donner ( 1736) and partly completed. The also acquired confessionals were converted into boxes that are in the antechamber of the second floor today. In the chapel, designed by Hildebrandt, was until 1741 as altarpiece Francesco Solimena's "Holy Family with the Infant John the Baptist". 1778 the sacred space, however, was already desecrated. The altarpiece is already since the 18th Century in Wiener Neustadt Neuklosterkirche (church in Lower Austria). In the cross-section between the first and the second courtyard lay the paneled gallery whose spatial effect in 1856 by an attached conservatory was changed something. Its vaulted ceiling is decorated with frescoes by Carlo Innocenzo Carlone. Marcantonio Chiarini created 1716/18 the quadrature paintings. At it followed a larger hall in which Francesco Solimena's oil painting "Phaeton and Apollo" was located. It can be admired today in the National Gallery in Prague. The hall was later used as a library. Part of the state rooms 1714 was equipped with ceiling paintings by Peter Strudel. In the course of a radical redesign of the building's interior Ernest Koch has cut off all stucco ceilings of the staterooms 1798-1800 and also redesigned the walls. Since 1879 Carl Gangolf Kayser tried to restore the original spatial impression by the of Rudolf von Weyr created new Neo-Baroque stucco ceilings. Only in a few areas (vestibule, staircase, ballroom), the original substance remained. In the palace there are numerous Mamorkamine (marble fireplaces) and stoves from the 18th and 19th Century. The star parquet floors and many original door fittings date from the third quarter of the 19th Century. The facades of the first courtyard are structured by Tuscan pilasters. The arcades on the ground floor have already been closed in 1753. The with a mascaron decorated wall fountain is a work of Rudolf von Weyr. The second courtyard is kept simple. Remarkable at it rear end is the cenotaph for the current owner Karl Wlaschek.

Location/Address: 1010 Vienna, Freyung 4

Activities: The courtyards are freely accessible, the staircase usually also. A look at the state rooms is only possible if these are not just rented.

www.burgen-austria.com/archive.php?id=804

The condos to my south reflect in the outwash from one of the storm sewer drains the big construction project is looking to replace.

And here's where I get all nostalgic and lament a thing that's probably good overall but sad on a personal level. In the past, these outflows have been one of the parts of Myrtle Beach I've most enjoyed. The sea birds like to gather around them, because they're good places to get a drink of fresh water and wash all the salt off their feathers. I wonder how their absence will affect sea bird populations, or if flocks will shift to places closer to fresh water sources. Kids like to play in them and collect sand from them for sand castles. I like to watch them form miniaturized topography while I get all up in my head about the flow of rivers and creation of canyons and the nature of a chaotic universe. They seem like a little thing, but Myrtle Beach will change once they've been plugged up and redirected under ground. I don't know how, but it will be different.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 27-Aug-18.

Named: "Innsbruck".

This aircraft was delivered to Austrian Airlines as OE-LMM in Mar-90. It was sold to a lessor in Jul-01 and immediately leased to Vanguard Airlines (USA) as N136NJ. Vanguard ceased operations at the end of Jul-02. It was returned to the lessor and initially stored at Kansas City, MO, USA before being moved to Tucson, AZ, USA in Oct-02 for further storage. The aircraft was leased to AeroMexico XA-TXH in May-03 and returned to the lessor in Feb-09. It was sold to Allegiant Air for spares as N399NV the following week and ferried to Mojave, CA, USA where it was permanently retired. The aircraft was last noted at Mojave in Apr-10 with both sides of the fuselage cut out.

Note: The registration OE-LMM was used again by Austrian charter airline MAP Jet between Dec-06/Sep-08. That aircraft, an MD-83, had previously been operated by Austrian Airlines as OE-LME.

Italian postcard by Bromofoto, Milano, no. 1400. Photo: Paramount Films.

Mexican-American actor Anthony Quinn (1915-2001) started as a contract player at Paramount, where he mainly played villains and ethnic types. He became disenchanted with his career and did not renew his Paramount contract. Instead, he returned to the stage and replaced Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. This performance made his reputation and boosted his film career. For his role as Brando's brother in Viva Zapata! (Elia Kazan, 1952), Quinn won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. He gave his greatest performance as the circus strongman in Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Strada (1954). Quinn won his second Supporting Actor Oscar in 1957 for his portrayal of Paul Gauguin in Lust for Life (Vincente Minnelli, 1956), opposite Kirk Douglas as Vincent van Gogh. Over the next decade Quinn lived in Italy alternated between Hollywood and the European cinema.

Antonio Rudolfo Oaxaca Quinn was born in 1915, in Chihuahua, Mexico. His parents were Manuela (Oaxaca) and Francisco Quinn. After starting life in extremely modest circumstances in Mexico, his family moved to Los Angeles, where his father became an assistant cameraman at Selig Film Studios. Quinn often accompanied his father to work, and became acquainted with such stars as Tom Mix and John Barrymore, with whom he kept up the friendship into adulthood. He attended Polytechnic High School and later Belmont High, but eventually dropped out. The young Quinn boxed which stood him in good stead as a stage actor, when he played Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. He won a scholarship to study architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright at the great architect's studio, Taliesin, in Arizona. Quinn was close to Wright, who encouraged him when he decided to give acting a try. After a brief apprenticeship on stage, Quinn hit Hollywood. He made his film debut with a character role in the crime drama Parole! (Lew Landers, 1936). Quinn picked up a variety of small roles in several films at Paramount, including a Cheyenne Indian in The Plainsman (1936), which was directed by his future father-in-law, Cecil B. DeMille. As a contract player at Paramount, Quinn mainly played villains and ethnic types, such as a gangster in the crime drama Dangerous to Know (Robert Florey, 1938), a Chinese gangster in Island of Lost Men (Kurt Neumann, 1939) and an Arab chieftain in the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope vehicle Road to Morocco (David Butler, 1942). He also played the sympathetic Crazy Horse in They Died with Their Boots On (Raoul Walsh, 1941) with Errol Flynn. As a Mexican national (he did not become an American citizen until 1947), he was exempt from the draft. With many actors in the service fighting World War II, Quinn was able to move up into better supporting roles. He had married DeMille's daughter Katherine DeMille, which afforded him entrance to the top circles of Hollywood society. He became disenchanted with playing supporting parts as Chief Yellow Hand in Buffalo Bill (William A. Wellman, 1944) and a Chinese in China Sky (China Sky (Ray Enright, 1945). His first lead was the Indian farmer Charlie Eagle in Black Gold (Phil Karlson, 1947) opposite his wife, Katherine DeMille. By 1947, he had appeared in more than fifty films and was still not a major star. He did not renew his Paramount contract despite the advice of others, including his father-in-law whom Quinn felt never accepted him due to his Mexican roots. Instead, he returned to the stage. His portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire in Chicago and on Broadway, where he replaced Marlon Brando, made his reputation. However, IMDb also gives another explanation for his move to the stage: “Became a naturalized United States citizen in 1947, just before he was ‘gray-listed’ for his association with Communists such as screenwriter John Howard Lawson and what were termed ‘fellow travelers’, though he himself was never called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. When warned of his gray-listing by 20th Century-Fox boss Darryl F. Zanuck (a liberal), Quinn decided to go on the Broadway stage where there was no blacklist rather than go through the process of refuting the suspicions.”

Anthony Quinn’s success on Broadway boosted his film career. He returned to the cinema in The Brave Bulls (Robert Rossen, 1951). Director Elia Kazan cast him as Marlon Brando's brother in his biographical film of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, Viva Zapata! (1952). Quinn won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for 1952, making him the first Mexican-American to win an Oscar. It was not to be his lone appearance in the winner's circle: he won his second Supporting Actor Oscar five years later for his portrayal of painter Paul Gauguin in Vincente Minnelli's biographical film of Vincent van Gogh, Lust for Life (1956), opposite Kirk Douglas. Over the next decade Quinn lived in Italy and became a major figure in world cinema, as many studios shot films in Italy to take advantage of the lower costs. He appeared in several Italian films, giving one of his greatest performances as the dim-witted, thuggish and volatile circus strongman who brutalizes the sweet soul played by Giulietta Masina in her husband Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Strada (1954). Alternating between Europe and Hollywood, Quinn built his reputation and entered the front rank of character actors and character leads. He received his third Oscar nomination (and first for Best Actor) for Wild Is the Wind (George Cukor, 1957). Quinn starred in The Savage Innocents 1959 as Inuk, an Eskimo who finds himself caught between two clashing cultures. He played a Greek resistance fighter against the Nazi occupation in the monster hit The Guns of Navarone (J. Lee Thompson, 1961) and received kudos for his portrayal of a once-great boxer on his way down in Requiem for a Heavyweight (Ralph Nelson, 1962). Back on Broadway, he was nominated for the 1961 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for Becket. He returned to the cinema to play ethnic parts, such as an Arab warlord in David Lean's masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and he played the eponymous lead in the Sword-and-sandal blockbuster Barabbas (Richard Fleischer, 1961) opposite Silvana Mangano. Two years later he reached the zenith of his career, playing Zorba in Alexis Zorbas/Zorba the Greek (Michael Cacoyannis, 1964)), which brought him his fourth, and last, Oscar nomination as Best Actor. The 1960s were kind to him: he played character leads in such major films as The Shoes of the Fisherman (Michael Anderson, 1968) opposite Laurence Olivier, and The Secret of Santa Vittoria (Stanley Kramer, 1969), with Anna Magnani. However, his appearance in the title role in the film adaptation of John Fowles' novel, The Magus (Guy Green, 1968), did nothing to save the film, which was one of that decade's notorious turkeys.

The following decade saw Anthony Quinn slip back into playing ethnic types again. He starred as the Hispanic mayor of a rapidly growing city in Southwest United States in the TV series The Man and the City (1971). IMDb writes about an interesting incident: “Around 1972, he announced his desire to play Henry Cristophe, the 19th-century emperor of Haiti. Upon this announcement, several prominent black actors, including Ossie Davis and Ellen Holly, stated that they were opposed to a ‘white man’ playing ‘black’. Davis stated, ‘My black children need black heroes on which to model their behavior. Henry Cristophe is an authentic black hero. Tony, for all my admiration of him as a talent, will do himself and my children a great disservice if he encourages them to believe that only a white man, and Tony is white to my children, is capable of playing a black hero.’” Quinn’s career lost its momentum during the 1970s. Aside from playing a thinly disguised Aristotle Onassis in the cinematic roman-a-clef The Greek Tycoon (J. Lee Thompson, 1978), his other major roles of the decade were as Hamza in the controversial The Message/Mohammad, Messenger of God (Moustapha Akkad, 1976), as the Italian patriarch in L'eredità Ferramonti/The Inheritance (Mauro Bolognini, 1976) opposite Dominique Sanda, yet another Arab in Caravans (James Fargo, 1978) and a Mexican patriarch in The Children of Sanchez (Hall Bartlett, 1978) with Dolores Del Rio. In 1983 he reprised his most famous role, Zorba the Greek, on Broadway in the revival of the musical Zorba, for 362 performances. Though his film career slowed during the 1990s, he continued to work steadily in films and television. Anthony Quinn lived out the latter years of his life in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he spent most of his time painting and sculpting. In 2001, he died in a hospital in Boston from pneumonia and respiratory failure linked to his battle with lung cancer. Quinn was 86 years old. He was married three times. After divorcing Katherine DeMille in 1965, he married Jolanda Addolori (1966-1997) and Kathy Benvin (1997-2001). He had ten children, five with DeMille, three with Addolori, and two with Benvin.

Sources: Jon C. Hopwood (IMDb), Pedro Borges (IMDb), Wikipedia, and IMDb.

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While James Stuber was changing a burned out light bulb in his home one day in 2012, he had his own personal light bulb moment. {media_1}

“I took out the lightbulb to replace it and I looked at it and on it was the GE (General Electric) logo and underneath that in all capital letters was the word CHINA,” Stuber said. “The juxtaposition of the two things — since I considered GE stood for Thomas Edison and all things American — made me think if GE is making its light bulbs in China, maybe we have a problem.”

Stuber had been shopping a few days prior to the light bulb moment and noticed that most everything in the store had been made in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

“These things all kind of grabbed a hold of me and I wouldn’t let go,’’ said Stuber, who has built a career as an attorney, legislative aide on Capitol Hill, entrepreneur, and candidate for Congress. “I really wanted to know what the heck was going on.”

He began what turned out to be three years of research and in 2017, Stuber added author to his resume with the release of his book “What if Things Were Made in America Again: How Consumers Can Rebuild the Middle Class by Buying Things Made in American Communities.”

The goal of Stuber’s book was to answer three pertinent questions: Why does it seem like everything is made somewhere else? Isn’t that causing a problem? And if it is, what can be done about it?

America has an approximately $800 billion trade deficit with countries around the world, nearly half of which is a whopping $365 billion trade imbalance with China.

But despite the complexities of trade policy and the U.S. economy, Stuber reached the conclusion that American consumers are the most likely of all factors to rein in the constantly rising trade deficit and help put America back on a level playing field with our trading partners.

Stuber holds bachelors and masters degrees in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, respectively, and a law degree from Georgetown University. He resides in Berwyn, Pa. with his wife and four teenage children.

In an interview, Stuber explains why American consumers can provide the most effective economic bailout with their power to purchase American-made goods.

Jeffrey Bonior: Why does it seem like everything we see in our stores is made in some other country?

James Stuber: The short answer is because it is. I did research on the various categories of goods, and 95 percent of our apparel is coming from overseas, 70 percent of our appliances, 70 percent of our electronics. There are whole categories of goods that over the decades we have just sent somewhere else to be made.

JB: How and why did this happen?

JS: The U.S adopted faulty free trade theories, globalization happened, and China entered the global market. China had gone communist in 1949, so a lot of this was fighting communism by giving countries like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and these Asian tigers whole industries starting with clothing. It gave these countries some of our markets instead of having them trade with communist China.

The second era is what I call the China Globalization Era, from 1995 to 2015, when we stepped onto the globalization merry-go-round just outsourcing everything. The big thing, the inflection point, was in 2001 when we granted China permanent favored nation tariff treatment and admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Then things really took off. The irony about this and the thing that really bothers me is that our leaders, who are supposed to know what they are doing, were pursuing these free trade policies that clearly made no sense.

JB: The stock market is thriving and unemployment is at 3.9 percent, so isn’t America doing well?

JS: Most of us are not doing very well at all compared to the cost of living in America. And what we’ve been doing to ordinary Americans raises profound moral questions. The stock market almost has nothing to do with the working and middle class, and the unemployment numbers are misleading because it counts bad jobs, jobs where people are working almost no hours even though they wish they had a full-time job. So, when you look deeper, 10 percent would probably be a more realistic number for people that are underemployed and underpaid. Wages are basically stagnant. The Federal Reserve said that 40 percent of Americans couldn’t immediately come up with $400 in an emergency. We are on thin ice and people know it.

JB: Your book touches on all things made in America, but how important is it for the U.S. to have a thriving industrial base like the steel and automotive industries?

JS: My passion for this grew out of my family working in the steel mills in Pittsburgh and Steubenville. The mill where The Deer Hunter was filmed in Mingo Junction, Ohio is the town where my parents grew up in and all my family worked. I pick up the story in in the book in 1945 when our soldiers were fighting their way across Europe and the islands of the Pacific and there were a couple of places where the Japanese and Germans both saw these columns and columns of American tanks, jeeps and trucks and realized what they were up against. There was a mill in California that made all of the Liberty Ships and it was really America’s industrial might, the core of which was steelmaking, that carried the day in World War II.

Now we are locked in another geopolitical fight with China and Russia and not realizing the importance from a security standpoint of the steel industry. I’ve concluded no economy is strong without a strong manufacturing sector. And to rely on other countries for either the raw steel or things in the steel supply chain is just hollowing out our economy. You need steel for security and you need steel for a strong economy.

JB: What is your opinion of President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, and why do you think there is such a pushback from some downstream manufacturers?

JS: It is disheartening to see how quickly many U.S. companies are to throw under the bus those companies farther upstream in the supply chain just to protect their own niche. But they are mistaken if they believe that they are not themselves vulnerable to foreign competition. The Chinese and other mercantilists want to occupy the entire supply chain, especially in high value-added products. This is all spelled out in China’s “Made in China 2025” plan.

I don’t understand why we are hearing such vociferous objections to paying a fair price for steel, one that includes paying workers a living family wage and a modest profit for the company. {media_2}

JB: How will consumers purchasing Made-in-America products alleviate our trade deficit?

JS: Consumers, and only consumers, can solve this problem. We can bring home $650 billion in spending, create 6 or 7 million jobs and get a virtuous circle going in the economy.

I think that if consumers realize that what we are doing now is not sustainable and that there is a very high cost to that low price of goods, it will drive consumers to want to do this. If they realize the stakes are high and they really have the power to rebuild the American economy and get us growing at a faster clip, I think they will do it. They need this education. Once they read my book and get the facts, they will stop and just pay attention to their purchasing power.

I sometimes approach people and say, ‘I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your smartphone was made in a labor camp, your clothes were made in a sweatshop and your fish were caught by a slave ship.’ This is morally wrong and has caused a massive increase across the world in what two Princeton economists have called Death of Despair.

JB: Your theory has merit, but isn’t the bottom line that people will be spending more for products?

JS: Yes, sometimes. My son’s first hammer cost $25 instead of $15. It was worth it to support the community that made it. Often things don’t cost more. Oreo cookies, now made in Mexico, cost the same price as they did when they were made in Chicago.

JB: How can you get the American consumers to understand that something Made in America is an investment in their own lives and communities?

JS: It is going to require an education process to change a lot of consumer thinking. Where we are right now [is] just focused on price, price, price. We are not recognizing the high cost of that low price. In foreign countries where laborers are exploited and the high cost in the U.S. starting with families that lose their manufacturing jobs in the community and the high cost to all of us who are paying taxes and trying to deal with all this dependency, drug addiction and social problems. If you add all that up into the price of that good, [what] we thought was a low price really wasn’t such a low price at all. That’s going to require a wake-up call for many Americans.

JB: Is it realistic for American consumers to pay higher prices for Made in America products?

JS: It is. Just look at the evidence for people willing to buy organic or buy green. People are paying a lot more for these things, which they perceive of particular value. We see other trends where people are willing to pay more for something they really care about. Of course, you start with the people that are able to pay more, and work your way down through the economy, and as you do the prices come down and it will kind of converge at some point. It seems like right now everything in the food store is organic, and the prices are a lot less than they used to be.

At one time I was involved in the tourism business in Florida and you heard about hotels advertising they were green hotels. I was thinking, ‘Who cares if their hotel is green?’ Well, it turned out consumers did. The hotel companies responded by rebuilding or retrofitting those hotels to make them green. So, consumers are saying to builders: ‘I care about those components in my house,’ and there was a change to make them green. It’s not going to be easy but it’s doable, very doable.

And then you really know you are helping someone in America. It is easy to look up these companies if you want to. (Editor’s note: Check out our directory!) They are often in small towns and your purchase is helping these communities. You can indeed be assured you are helping someone when you buy American.

JB: Do you have additional strategies to influence Buy American?

JS: There is a third leg to my story and it is the policy leg. Although I believe consumers can do this without asking the government for support or permission, there are other things we want to ask the government for. And two of them are related as a consumer solution.

The big one I want to pursue is a fair country of origin labeling where people can tell really where something is coming from. While there are several laws that cover that, the information should be prominently displayed in advertising, in catalogues, in online displays and in stores so through the packaging consumers can make an informed choice. This is an area where we are sorely lacking right now.

The other thing is to strengthen the Buy America laws at the national, state and local levels so when the government is spending your tax dollars, the school board is going to be able to buy a desk that was made in Pennsylvania or someplace in the United States. And these American companies end up paying taxes that will go to the schools. It really is a no-brainer.

The best thing a consumer can do is to support an American community by buying something made in that community. Every American needs to know this story. It will be a game-changer for them in their purchasing habits. And a game changer for the American economy.

To purchase “What if Things Were Made in America Again” and learn more about the consumer Buy America movement, visit www.themadeinamericabook.com or www.madeinamericaagain.org

Q&A: Want to See More American-Made Stuff? Buy More American-Made Stuff. syndicated from petroteksdnbhd.blogspot.com

The camera came to me with a decayed mirror damper foam.

I replaced mirror damper for some of my cameras before, using black foam sheet from Michaels store.

I find that a piece of foam on a respirator mask (see the photo) is softer than the one from Michaels store, probably a better material. Let try it. I cut a strip of it, glue it in. Well done!

The only thing is that it has grey color, not black, it won't be a problem, I hope.

Will run a roll of film soon to see how things go.

Budget cuts to arts education force online art classes to replace missing skills to publicly educated students so they can compete for arts college admission. Funds are focused on the core subjects resulting in students being unable to make adequate art portfolios

(Newswire.net via Emailwire.com -- July 9, 2013) Guelph, ON -- Budget cuts to arts education force online art classes to replace missing skills to publicly educated students so they can compete for arts college admission. Funds are focused on the core subjects resulting in students being unable to make adequate art portfolios.

Budget cuts to arts education force online art classes to replace missing skills to publicly educated students so they can compete for arts college admission. Funds are focused on the core subjects resulting in students being unable to make adequate art portfolios.

Early this year, US nationwide budget cuts in the arts have adversely affected public schools. The Washington Examiner reports that the DC Public School cut $300,000US from their arts program. The principal has already turned five full-time art teachers into part-timers, against parent wishes, forcing the better teachers to leave.

Eugene Weekly also reports that Churchill High School of Eugene Oregon has limited the sequential art courses switching them to electives. “Arts always, always fall afterwards,” said Churchill art teacher Lance Eagen. “It’s always scheduled after ‘the real classes’ are scheduled.”

According to the University of Michigan report, Education Budgets for Art Education schools are forced to focus the limited funds they have on the subjects that are tested in nation-wide assessments in order to gain federal funding and have little choice but to reduce spending on arts education. The result is that students miss out on building the fundamental skills critical in everyday life.

“Arts learning experiences contribute to the development of certain thinking, social and motivational skills that are considered basic for success in school, work and life,” says Sandra S. Ruppert in her book Critical Evidence: How the ARTS Benefit Student Achievement. “These fundamental skills encompass a wide range of more subtle, general capacities of the mind, self-perceptions and social relationships.”

More importantly, aspiring artists miss out on the opportunity to develop their skills and a shot at a career in art or design. Only those families of adequate wealth can afford the necessary private schooling that it takes to get into the best universities with higher job placement rates upon graduation. It begs the question; how many talented artists and designers are the United States leaving out of the workforce and depriving the nation of potential innovators?

Due to the unavailability of art programs in high schools students look towards websites like PortPrep.com to serve as a solution. They train students how to build an art portfolio, giving publicly educated students a chance to compete for placements in the better schools.

PortPrep founder Karen Kesteloot said in a video, “We help you learn how to plan which images to include in your portfolio…We teach you what colleges are looking for, how to present your work in the best way to show your strengths…Getting into the better schools is going to give you the better education that you need to have an excellent start in your career."

Author: Christopher Jan Benitez

Senior Writer for PortPrep

PortPrep Studios

Karen Kesteloot, founder of Portprep.com

275 Woolwich St, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

N1H 3V8

info@portprep.com

(519) 803-2539

Sources:

www.eugeneweekly.com/20130411/shortchanging-our-schools/b...

sitemaker.umich.edu/356.burba/education_budgets_for_art_e...

www.nasaa-arts.org/Research/Key-Topics/Arts-Education/cri...

Below is the link to the news source:

www.newswire.net/newsroom/education/75314-Art-Students-Fo...

Replacing an earlier scanned 6"x4" print with a better version 27-Aug-21 (DeNoise AI).

Fleet No: "609".

An early B767 (Line No:91), This aircraft was built as a standard B767-200. It was first flown with the Boeing test registration N6055X, it was delivered to Canada Trust/Canadian Mutual Life and leased to Air Canada as C-GAUY in May-84.

It was converted to B767-200ER standard in early 1995. The aircraft spent over 18 years with Air Canada until it was stored at Mojave, CA, USA in Sep-02. It was returned to the lessor in Jul-03 and permanently retired. The aircraft was broken up at Mojave in Oct-06.

... remove them.

this is for my Arriva Medway fleet to replace darts as there is still no sign of ttc diecast Optare Versa!!!!!! so just using what i want in my fleet and this will look the part i think with the mods to look like a Volvo B7TL and also a DAF DB250LF on this body to which may take some time to convert

To replace anchor cables on the I-90 Lake Washington floating bridges, the divers must work in a fairly hostile environment. It's dark and murky at the bottom of the lake.

A camera is mounted on the diver's helmet. It provides a live video feed which shows the crew back on the barge what the diver is seeing and doing.

This is photo of the monitor on the work barge showing the diver's hands.

The divers are replacing 21 of the 108 anchor cables that help stabilize the I-90 floating bridges against wind and waves.

Learn more at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/floatingbridgesanchorcables/

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 02-Sep-2019.

Operated for British Airways by franchise partner GB Airways.

First flown with the Airbus test registration D-AVZC, this aircraft was delivered to British Airways in full livery as G-TTIB in Feb-01. It was sold on delivery to GECAS and transferred to British Airways franchise partner, GB Airways, who then operated it on behalf of British Airways. The aircraft returned to the lessor at the end of Jan-08, just prior to GB Airways being taken over by easyJet. It was leased to Monarch Airlines the following month as G-OZBP. The aircraft was returned to the lessor in Jan-15 and in Mar-15 it was leased to Aegean Airlines as SX-DGT. Current, updated (Sep-19).

I also have photo's of this aircraft with Monarch Airlines and Aegean Airlines at...

www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/6818616872 - Monarch

www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/31937077382 - Aegean

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 11-Aug-18.

This aircraft was delivered to Irish Aerospace Ltd and leased to AeroCancun (Mexico) as XA-RPH in Nov-89. It was sub-leased to Oasis International Airlines (Spain), initially with the temporary Spanish registration EC-733 in May-91. It was re-registered EC-FFF in Aug-91. The aircraft was returned to AeroCancun as XA-RPH in in Dec-91. It was wet-leased to Oasis International again between Jul/Oct-92. In May-94 it was wet-leased to Oasis International again. In Aug-94 AeroCancun returned the aircraft to the lessor and it was leased direct to Oasis International and re-registered EI-CKM. It was returned to the lessor in Dec-94 and leased to Aero Lloyd (Germany) two weeks later. The German registration D-ALLW was assigned but not taken up and the lease continued as EI-CKM. The aircraft returned to the lessor in Mar-95 and was leased to Sunway Airlines (Turkey) as TC-INC in Apr-95. It returned to the lessor as EI-CKM in Jul-97 and was stored. In Mar-98 the aircraft was leased to Meridiana SpA (Italy). Meridiana was merged with Eurofly to form MeridianaFly in Feb-10. It continued in service until it was retired and returned to the lessor in Nov-11. It was stored at Marana, AZ, USA. The aircraft was permanently retired and sold to Pennant Aviation as N597SC in Mar-12 for parting out. It was last noted still at Marana in Nov-12.

Hurst Green station dates from the 1960s and replaced a halt immediately to the south; on 19 September 1987 205001 stops on the 1436 Victoria - East Grinstead. Electric services are only two weeks away.

Replaced

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 23-Jan-24.

Fleet No: "277".

First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWYL this aircraft was delivered to US Airways as N677UW in Feb-01. It was re-registered N277AY in Aug-06. US Airways was merged into American Airlines in Apr-15.

The aircraft was withdrawn from service in Mar-20 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and stored at Roswell, NM, USA. In late summer 2020 American made the decision to permanently retire the whole A330 fleet and it continued to be stored at Roswell.

It was sold to VAS Aero Services in Jan-23 and will eventually be broken up. Updated 23-Jan-24.

A view from the subway portal into the tunnel where work is going on.

CTA crews replaced running rail in the Kimball Subway (Blue Line, O'Hare Branch) over the weekend, as a part of important regular track maintenance.

On Saturday, February 22, around 1,300 feet of new rail was installed, replacing old rail showing signs of wear on the Forest Park-bound track. One of the rails was replaced from the subway portal at the Kennedy Expressway (I90/94) down to the Belmont station. The new rail installed weighed nearly 50,000 lbs. (about 25 tons).

Workers cut the old rail into manageable segments, removed them, swapped in new pieces of new rail and joined the 1500-lb pieces together. Crews also made adjustments to the third rail, swapping out old third rail chairs with new ones.

Reusable parts of the rail that was removed was used to replace sections of worn rail on the O'Hare-bound side, Sunday (we reuse what we can).

This maintenance work is just a taste of what's to come with an upcoming project to improve this line! Later this year, larger, more widespread work will occur to improve tracks, stations and infrastructure on the Blue Line in areas between O'Hare and through downtown as part of the Your New Blue project, a $492 million investment in the Blue Line. Learn more at transitchicago.com/yournewblue

replaced original windy sound

We had a weekend in Borrowdale recently, a Christmas present that we tagged a day on to. After calling at work on Saturday morning to open for business we headed up the motorway to Penrith. The road through the central lakes was washed away in the recent floods and it is going to be a long job replacing it. This made the diverted journey around 145 miles but we had a good run up there. We wanted to get walking ASAP so we pulled in at Threlkeld with a view to heading up Clough Head, and subject to conditions, head over the Dodds and back by the Old Coach Road. We had left appalling weather at home, wind, rain, fog and sleet on the tops. Thankfully it was better further north. There was laying snow on the summits, it was fairly calm low down and some summits were cloud free.

We left the car at 11.10 in our winter gear, straight up through the quarries and the steep scree slope (another Red Screes), by now we were into the snow line. The cloud was down, the wind gale force and the summit frozen hard – a different world up here. South next to Calfhow Pike, the wind made it difficult to talk and it was around -4 so the there was a fair wind-chill factor. It was tough going to our next top – Great Dodd, part of the Helvellyn massif – It was to icy to walk in places which meant deviating from the path, and losing our bearings, visibility was around ten yards with spindrift creating a whiteout at times. We battled on to the top and found the summit cairn. Great Dodd isn’t the easiest top to find your way off in low visibility, we would have gone further but in these conditions it was pointless so we retraced our steps to Calfhow and clear conditions. From here we followed Mosedale beck to Mariel Bridge, which is on the Old Coach Road, this gave us a circular route back to our start. The Old Coach Road has been wrecked by the floods and the 4x4 off roaders are making it a lot worse. 9.25 miles in 3 ¼ hours and we were in Brysons Tearooms in Keswick for Coffee and cake by 3.45pm. We carried on to Borrowdale and checked in at our hotel, not a bad day really.

After a poor night in a poor bed we were breakfasted and out for 8.30. We drove the few miles up to Seatoller and we were kitted up and away at 9.10. A bitterly cold and icy morning, there was some sun but not as much as promised. We could see the summit of Great End covered in cloud, we were heading up there on to the Sca Fell massif. We followed the valley to the east of Seathwaite Fell, a new path for us. Once in the snow the going was very icy with the path ice covered in places. The snow was dry and powdery and in places it had blown over the underlying ice. At this point I might add, we do own crampons. After a winter of splashing around soaked we didn’t expect to need them and they were at home – very clever! This was our first real winters day this winter, other than an hour on Sca Fell Pike on Christmas Day, we haven’t seen winter conditions this winter. By the time we got to Esk Hause it was difficult to stay upright and on our way to Great End we had to pick our way very carefully around the worst of the ice. The spindrift made it difficult to see the ground at times, spinning around our feet in a mist. Once on the summit the cloud was thick and the wind speed high. We had been here fairly recently so I knew the layout of the summit and we had little difficulty finding the summit cairn. We were cursing our lack of crampons and the cloud. Instead of heading into the cloud along the Sca Fell Pike path we decided to get under the cloud, back to Esk Hause and head over Allen Crags and Glaramara. At this point we both took some heavy falls, as did others up there, a lot turned around and headed back down, it was deadly. The cloud had thickened, there wasn’t a ray of sun to soften things. Our chosen route was one of the hardest afternoons we had ever had. Everywhere was frozen solid, we had to kick toe or heel holes to move on slopes that we wouldn’t have broken stride on normally. Minor rock scrambles down steep crags had become life threatening in places and we proceeded with extreme care. The knees were creaking on the long descent to Seathwaite. 10.3 miles in six hours, almost half the speed of yesterday. We made it Keswick for afternoon tea – and bought some Micro Spikes for unfinished business to deal with tomorrow. A beautiful day was forecast so fingers crossed we headed back for a soak in the tub.

Day three, a gorgeous icy, sunny winters day. Things looked promising. We left along yesterday’s route at the same start time – with walking poles and Micro Spikes! At the top of the valley we met a guy who had set off before us, two guys known to him were picking their way through the crags, tiny specks on the 800 foot rocky crag. Some appeared to have tried to climb the snow filled chimney that runs to the summit but we heard later that conditions weren’t suitable. Even though it was minus four the sun had softened the snow just enough to get a grip and it was easier to avoid the worst of the ice, unlike yesterday. The summit of Great End was incredible with never ending vistas. We could see a steady stream of walkers on every path by now. Word had got out that we were in for a rare treat today, plus it was school half term so a lot of people were off work. I visited every possible viewpoint as we went to the summit of Ill Crag , Broad Crag and finally Sca Fell Pike. It was 1.00 PM by now and a steady stream of elated walkers were arriving on England’s highest point. It was bitter but beautiful. We had around five miles back to the car along the Corridor Route to Styhead, Stockley Bridge and Seathwaite. Part of this route we had covered recently on Christmas Day and despite the snow and ice we powered along. We would have been back in two hours but! A mile from the car, following the manmade path down Taylorgill Force to Stockley Bridge Jayne Stumbled. It’s not often she walks in front. I normally lead and relay instructions and warnings back to her. She hit the rock path with her head and face really hard, stunned, she rolled off the path over a drop. She was vertical, resting on a rock on her knees and clinging on to the edge of the path with her fingertips. I grabbed her rucksack and held her whilst I checked her injuries. She had a bad bump on her temple, another on her forehead, split the bridge or her nose, her glasses had gone flying but would straighten. Being left handed she had stuck her left hand out and it had been bent back, it was swelling and discolouring pretty fast. When I had established that nothing was serious enough to stop her moving I got her back on to the path to see to her injuries. The pain initially made her think that she was in a worse state than ( I thought) she really was. She could move her fingers and wrist, albeit with some pain but not enough for it to be broken. The wound to the bridge of her nose although very painful wasn’t going to be a problem. The bumps on her head were turning into eggs by now. I gave her Ibuprofen and Paracetemol and she sat and composed herself for the final mile. We made it to the café in Keswick and got a slightly later afternoon break, our first of the day again. 11.3 miles today in 6 ¼ hours and fairly tough going. It was nothing more than a careless, tired perhaps, stumble on one of the horrible ( our own opinion, I might add) manmade paths made out of irregular stones which are laid at odd angles and are a nightmare to descend when wet on tired legs. A few days later and Jayne is sat on reception at the doctors looking like she’s been boxing, with a purple eye and nose, her left hand swollen and purple – otherwise she’s OK. I came down with mild food poisoning during the night and had to drive 145 miles home at 8.00 the morning after feeling extremely ill. I was due to start fasting for a Colonoscopy in three days. I ended up eating six slices of toast over a four day period – Monday evening to Thursday evening- Having had over 40 stomach endoscopies in twenty years the colonoscopy was nothing more than uncomfortable and , subject to biopsy results, everything looked OK. The trapped wind was another matter – for two days! All in all a very traumatic week. Needless to say we didn’t use the Micro Spikes.

replaced ...

replacing old fillings

This project replaced two small culverts with a 55-foot pre-stressed concrete girder bridge. Traffic has been restored to two lanes.

I replaced C45 with Pilotfly Traveler. I used C45 with RX100M4/LX100 but finally determined my GX7MK3 with Gimbal.

I suppose the better part of guys who have Traveler use this with Sony RX series since I didn't find out anybody who toy with Traveler + LUMIX. So I would like to try to test several combination with Traveler and LUMIX Lenses.

LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm/F2.8-4.0 ; Available.

LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60mm/F2.8-4.0: Available.

LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm/F1.7: Available.

LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4: Available.

LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 : Available.

I was afraid if I got a counter wait problem since C45 couldn't be used with GX7MK3 due to this. Traveler has no counter wait issue. So..if you are LUMIX GX7 series user and have an interest in Pilotfly Traveler, you can proceed to buy this coll Gimbal:-).

Shoreditch London 45 Pitfield Street New Building replacing Charlie Wrights Bar RIP

Dweorh's have become a common sight throughout the Goodfellow cluster in recent years, having replaced Phayze Fructification's aging W3t series in most commercial mobile frame applications. Like the P81 before it, The Dweorh is one of those products that seeks to please many masters, as it was developed for the civilian market but with a mil-spec feature list, making it powerful, versatile, easy to operate, and reasonably affordable.

Although it is rather small compared to PFi's more recent combat models, it more than makes up for the lack of reach with an unrivaled dependability. Dweorh's can withstand the harshness of any planetary biome, and be easily calibrated for a wide range of gravitational environments. They have been used for logging, loading, construction, demolition, security and even emergency services.

Fire/Rescue: Flame Suppressant Tank w/ high pressure applicator (Rd), heat dissipating chest plate (B), Demolition Hammer (Rh)

Police: Sonic Shotgun (Rd), Grav-rotor Pack (G), Official badge (B)

Mine Supervisor: Demolition charge (SSR), Mining Drill (Rh), 2x Comm relay (YY),

Construction: Earth mover (B), foot treads (G), Linear Rivet Setter (Rd), radio antenna (Y)

Yojimbo: 2x Shoulder Armor (BB), Faceplate Scanner (Y), Naginata (Rh)

***

Credit for the shotgun goes to SAMS. I just changed the grip.

I'm aware that people who actually play MFZ and don't just build robots for the hell of it tend to prefer more compact (and less parts-intensive) frames than I typically produce, and I've worried that size-creep had completely consumed me ever since I bricked up my first MCS frame, but I checked the LDD version in my LDD size box (10x10 studs across and 12 bricks tall) and all was good, so I let the matter rest... for a while.

In an attempt to down-size, I started out fiddling with the core of Vitor Faria's adorably awesome Lockon Frame and would up with a tablescrap that quickly took on a strangely endearing form. The height feels just right for a minifig helmet as the head (which you are free to call a cop-out, I don't mind), and the articulation of the arms in pretty nice. I didn't really want to use the reversed knees, but I didn't feel like things lined up right the other way - don't get me wrong, I like the knees this way, I just wish I could have made them look right the other way, too.

I've been considering a line of civilian-use MCS frames for a while (and may still do a few), but the form-factor on this guy seemed to lend itself much better to heavy labor than combat. It's important to note that the Dweorh is NOT out of scale with the MCS - they're just different sizes because they were designed for different roles.

Review LG LED IPS Monitor 23MP65HQ (LG 23EA63V replaced) An Phat PC by dtien87 ductien daoductien - www.anphatpc.com.vn

Replacing the iconic A310 in 1984, the Alpine GTA as it was originally known became the company's flagship auto right through until 1995 when both it and the Alpine name were discontinued.

Replaced in 1985, Hutton Mill Bridge, carry's this local road from Foulden to Paxton over Whiteadder Water

A random snapshot of the old circuit cut-out switches that were on one of the old utility poles that were recently replaced on Main Street in the Pearlhaven Community in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

These cutouts are quite large up close when they are on the ground compared to them being up on top of the pole when it was in service.

This old pole had a lever switch that when it was turned, it would open up these electrical circuits, cutting power down the lines... when the circuits are closed, the electrical power flows through.

For those that do not know, the power lines or cables are called ''conductors'' whilst the porcelain ceramic bits that stop the flow of electricity as well as holding the wires on the poles are called ''insulators.''

I FINALLY replaced my wireless flash triggers!! Simon and I went to Glazers to get his FIVE ROLLS OF FILM developed (turns out they don't do that), and I ended up buying these triggers for only 50 bucks. I'm so excited to start taking semi-studio-looking 365 photos like I did back in freshman year. :3

After Glazers we went to Pike Place and ate fish & chips, and Simon took some more film photos. He buys five rolls at a time because it takes him 6+ months to get them developed. HE HE HE.

Then we went to Burien, got my light stand, clamp, and umbrella, and then drove back to his house to play HALO and play with my "new" setup.

SO EXCITED!!

P.S. My right hand looks weird, but I was willing to sacrifice its prettiness for my hair's awesomeness. Woot.

kellymason.tumblr.com

raincityambience.com

twitter.com/kellehhh

Strobist: Sunpak 383 at 1/16th power shot through an umbrella camera right.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version.

these three were once my most popular mocs (on mocpages) but as time goes on, and mocers become better, they eventually decide to replace their old models, so these Lamborghini Gallardos will be replaced with new ones (hopefully better ones)

ps. wips coming soon! :D

The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated.

Over many decades, change saw the concert hall become the city library, offices proliferate and more tenants move in, including piano tuners, palmists and clairvoyants. Drastic 'remodelling' occurred during the austere 1930s and the main occupant was the Sydney City Council. As recently as 1959 the Queen Victoria Building was threatened with demolition. As it stands now, in all its glory. It is testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.

The QVB fills an entire city block bound by George, Market, York and Druitt Streets. The dominant feature is the mighty centre dome, consisting of an inner glass dome and an exterior copper- sheathed dome. Glorious stained glass windows and splendid architecture endure throughout the building and an original 19th century staircase sits alongside the dome. Every detail has been faithfully restored, including arches, pillars, balustrades and the intricate tiled floors thus maintaining the integrity of the building.

The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms, on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbour. Panel 1, on the left hand side, represents the Council of the City of Sydney, and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B. on panel 3, on the right, represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB.

The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. There are many interesting and charming exhibitions and attractions throughout the building, along with portraits of the Queen. There is also a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. Outside the QVB, on Town Hall Place, facing The Town Hall are the Royal Wishing Well and Queen Victoria's statue.

From: www.qvb.com.au/About-QVB

Your new electronic cigarette is not a complicated device but with anything new there is always going to be a bit of a learning curve. Here are some tips on the best way to maximize your electronic smoking experience so you can save both time and money.

Tips for new electronic smokers:

1. Get extra batteries and atomizers. These are the two things that are most likely to need replacing. A quick word of caution: It's a good idea to make sure you like your particular electronic cigarette model first before buying all the extras. Once you know for sure you're satisfied with it, get the extra hardware... you'll definitely get good use out of them!

2. Get a car charger and a USB passthrough. These will allow you to "vape" while driving or at your computer without the need to drain your batteries. Again, make sure you're satisfied with your model before buying the extras.

3. Start off with a lower nicotine dose. Electronic cigarette cartridges typically come in several different doses: High, medium, low and none. When you first get your e-cigarette you're going to want to be experimenting with it a lot, trying new flavors, etc. If you're not careful you'll end up absorbing more nicotine than you're used to... and possibly increasing your addiction to it. Start off low and increase your dose after the novelty wears off if you feel like it.

4. Take long, slow puffs. A long, slow, steady puff will give you the most vapor volume. Short, hard puffs will tend to flood the atomizer causing reduced vapor production (you may even get liquid in your mouth).

5. Switch atomizers frequently. Atomizers tend to get clogged easily and when this happens the vapor volume is greatly reduced. Switch out your atomizer daily for best performance and be sure to clean them frequently. (This tip only applies to three-part ecigs where the atomizer is a separate unit. Some newer two-piece models have a built in atomizer in each individual cartridge).

Follow these tips and you will have a head start on being able to fully enjoy your new electronic cigarette as soon as possible. If you're unsure about something be sure to check out some of the ecigarette forums online. These can be an excellent resource for answering nearly any question you can think of.

Congratulations on choosing a healthier smoking alternative... happy vaping!

James Oliver is an avid proponent of electronic cigarettes, or as they are now starting to be termed 'Electronic Nicotine Inhalers.' He was an early adopter of the new technology and successfully quit smoking tobacco and cigarettes almost immediately, something he had never been able to accomplish prior.

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This is a photograph from the 3rd Annual Meath Spring Half Marathon and 10KM Road Races hosted by Bohermeen AC on the 2nd March 2014 at 12:00 at Bohermeen, Ardbraccan, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. This year's event included a 10KM race which replaced the 5KM event held on the previous years. This event has grown quickly in popularity over the past few years with this year's entry of 700 beating the previous race numbers of 680. This half marathon event is perfectly placed in the Irish running calendar as it provides runners of all levels and abilities an opportunity to test the half marathon distance in preparation for a Spring Marathon or as the first serious running goal of the New Year. Bohermeen AC is steeped in Irish athletics history since 1927 and it is this experience and exceptional community spirit and volunteering which has made this event today so successful. The very heavy rain that fell on the 10KM race and the begining of the Half Marathon did nothing to dampen the spirits of the participants. In fact, despite a head wind at certain parts of the course, this was a perfect day for road racing.

Our full set of photographs from today's event are available on Flickr at the following link http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157641717197563/. This set of photographs is mostly of the Half Marathon race but there are some from the 10KM event.

Don't forget to scroll down to see more information about the race and these photographs!

Event Management was provided by Irish Company PRECISION TIMING who provided electronic timing for both events. The results from today's events can be found on Precision Timing's website at this URL [www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer?v=%252Fen%252Fra...]

The Satellite Navigation Coordinates to Bohermeen are [53.650882,-6.77989] and is accessible using the M3, N2 and N52

The routing for the 2014 event has changed slightly from previous year. In 2014 the race starts about 100m away from the Bohermeen Club Race HQ [See Google StreetView in the direction of the imagery goo.gl/maps/rtj1X] and the race proceeds down the road towards Navan. Just before the 1st mile the race takes a right turn [see Google Streetview goo.gl/maps/iGrR0] which brings runners on the route of the famous Patrick Bell 5KM Road Race route held at Bohermeen every summer. Then the route turns slightly eastwards and this brings the race along a beautiful stretch of rural countryside road. This connects runners with the main loop [see Google StreetView goo.gl/maps/gLI1l] where the race follows the N51 towards Navan. The race must now complete this loop (which passes through the start area and past the finish) and then a full loop again before finishing in the Athletics track. The only hills to speak of in this course are on the the stretch where the race route crosses the M3 motorway (see Google Streetview - as of March 2014 their imagery is a little out of date for the M3 goo.gl/maps/tcdJX). The only major climb on the course must be tackled twice as the road rises up over the M3 Motorway. This comes at about the 5M and 11.5 Mile mark in the race.

Some useful links to other web-resources related to this race

Bohermeen AC Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/bohermeen.ac?fref=ts

2014 Spring Half Marathon Route: www.runningmap.com/?id=641747

2014 Spring Half Marathon 10KM Race Option Route: www.runningmap.com/?id=641752

Google Streetview of the Race Start: goo.gl/maps/rtj1X

Google Streetview of the Race Finish and Race Headquarters: goo.gl/maps/qVttR

Internet Homepage for the Spring Half Marathon [www.meathspringhalfmarathon.com/]

Results from 2013 from Precision Timing: www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer?v=%252Fen%252Fra...

Results from 2012 from Precision Timing: www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer?v=%252Fen%252Fra...

The Boards.ie Athletics Forum Thread For 2013 Race [www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056785036&p...]

The Boards.ie Athletics Forum Thread For 2014 Race [www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057078579]

Photographs from previous events

Our Flickr Photograph set from the 2nd Spring Marathon 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157632906920970/

Our Flickr set from the 1st Spring Marathon (2012) www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157629146137284/with...

Photographs from the 2013 event from our friend Paul Reilly [pjrphotography.zenfolio.com/p670974697]

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

How can I get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

such a shame that people throw their stuff in the nature. really makes me mad :(

I think about replacing it with this one

and some others + last one

原來網路上已經有很多案例，就是這顆IC搞的鬼，算一算數量又多買了5顆當庫存...

The Donner Peak snowsheds,

Theodore Judah laid out the route of the transcontinental railroad over Donner Summit. He noted that it snowed and so he studied the moss on the trees. He was sure snow would not be a problem for the railroad over Donner Summit. The snow just had to be pushed out of the way before it accumulated.

Donner Summit gets 35-40 feet of snow a year and sometimes 60 or 70 feet. Snow drifts can be dozens of feet high. And then there are avalanches. In January, 1870, just a few months after the Golden Spike was pounded into place completing the first transcontinental railroad, an avalanche covered and tore away hundreds of feet of track. A blizzard followed. Miles of track were blocked and it kept snowing. The snow shovelers and buckers (engines with plows) could not make headway. Workers cleared for six days and still there were 7 miles of snow covered track to go. California was cut off from the nation.

Passengers were irate as train after train was stopped. After six days the railroad took stranded passengers up to the snowblocked tracks and told them to walk. Without proper clothing they walked through the snow past small stations with their telegraphers and railroad facilities, and through tunnels all the way to Emigrant Gap.

After that winter the Central Pacific built more snowsheds, forty miles of snowsheds, to protect their tracks. They used 65 million board feet of lumber and 900 tons of bolts and spikes. The wooden sheds, sitting in the summer sun, were terrible fire hazards acting sometimes like flues. The mountains of accumulating winter snow could collapse them. So the snowsheds spawned jobs for thousands of workers: fire train crews, track walkers, fire lookouts, carpenters, and snow shovelers. There were so many workers some lived in old freight cars all along the railroad line.

Railroad shops, buildings, turntables, local businesses, worker houses, and even the school and hotel on Donner Summit were connected by snowsheds. In winter some people would never see the light of day.

The snowsheds worked. The railroad had conquered the snows of Donner Summit - usually.

Passengers were not thrilled however. Imagine traveling past some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, but you could not see it.

Imagine traveling for hours through a long, dark, smoke-filled tunnel.

Eventually snow removal improved and sheds were removed. Remaining sheds were rebuilt of concrete so that collapse was no longer a threat. The thousands of workers are gone and with them their towns

An interesting artifact from US rail history resides just west of Donner Lake adjacent to Old Highway 40. The tunnels and snowsheds from the original transcontinental railroad passage through Donner Summit create a horizontal line across Donner Peak, which is 8019 ft, in elevation. More than a century ago, Chinese workers provided the bulk of the labor in the excruciatingly time consuming and dangerous construction of the railway. Newly developed nitroglycerine was largely used for nearly two years of blasting required to bore through the mountain. A seventy five foot high retaining wall between two tunnels was built entirely by stacking natural rocks by hand.

The snowsheds were designed to protect the train tracks from avalanches and snow drifts and were originally built with wood and later replaced by concrete. The four mile stretch was retired in 1993 by the active Union Pacific tunnel which passes through the mountain just south of the original line. The defunct section of the snowshed no longer contains rails and can be navigated on bike or four wheel drive in the summertime.

"The first fountain next to the arch was completed in 1852 and replaced in 1872. In 1851, it was described as having "a very large circular basin, with a central jet and several side jets." A story on the completion of the fountain appeared in the first edition of the New-York Daily Times, which would eventually become the New York Times. The statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi was unveiled in 1888. In 1918, two statues of George Washington were added to the north side.

Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre (39,500 m2) public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. One of the best known of New York City's public parks, it is an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. It is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks).

The park is an open space, dominated by the Washington Square Arch at the northern gateway to the park, with a tradition of celebrating nonconformity. The park's fountain area has long been one of the city's popular spots, and many of the local buildings have at one time served as homes and studios for artists. Many buildings have been built by New York University, while others have been converted from their former uses into academic and residential buildings.

Greenwich Village (/ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ/ GREN-itch, /ˈɡrɪn-/ GRIN-, /-ɪdʒ/ -ij) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village also contains several subsections, including the West Village west of Seventh Avenue and the Meatpacking District in the northwest corner of Greenwich Village.

Its name comes from Groenwijck, Dutch for "Green District". In the 20th century, Greenwich Village was known as an artists' haven, the bohemian capital, the cradle of the modern LGBT movement, and the East Coast birthplace of both the Beat and '60s counterculture movements. Greenwich Village contains Washington Square Park, as well as two of New York City's private colleges, New York University (NYU) and The New School.

Greenwich Village is part of Manhattan Community District 2, and is patrolled by the 6th Precinct of the New York City Police Department. Greenwich Village has undergone extensive gentrification and commercialization; the four ZIP Codes that constitute the Village – 10011, 10012, 10003, and 10014 – were all ranked among the ten most expensive in the United States by median housing price in 2014, according to Forbes, with residential property sale prices in the West Village neighborhood typically exceeding US$2,100/sq ft ($23,000/m2) in 2017.

New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles (778.2 km2), New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. The city is within the southern tip of New York State, and constitutes the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area – the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass. With over 20.1 million people in its metropolitan statistical area and 23.5 million in its combined statistical area as of 2020, New York is one of the world's most populous megacities, and over 58 million people live within 250 mi (400 km) of the city. New York City is a global cultural, financial, and media center with a significant influence on commerce, health care and life sciences, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, dining, art, fashion, and sports. New York is the most photographed city in the world. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy, an established safe haven for global investors, and is sometimes described as the capital of the world." - info from Wikipedia.

The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.

Now on Instagram.

Become a patron to my photography on Patreon or donate.

Slices my finher off. The hearth cost £280 and was cut on the same day

replacing the office chair with an exercise ball

Some yeas ago, I replaced my dying D300, which I loved by a D7100. While it is supposzed to be superior, thank to more pixels, higher isos and ability to make movies, I never was entirely happy with the new camera. It felt fiddly, and I never took that much pleasure using it. In the end, i bought an old D700, just to see. And there it was. It is like I was reunited with my D300 and I understood what was missing. It is not the so much the light and plastiquy feel of the D7100 that was putting me off, is the fact that it is so much more difficult to use. On the D700, evrything is there, easily accessible, fast to use, well thought. I am now selling my D7100. I was kind of thinking upgrading it to a D610 or maybe a D750, I know now that I will have to wait until I can afford a D800 or D810...

Introduced in 1956, it replaced the highly-successful Austin A30. The name reflected the larger and more-powerful 34 hp (25 kW) A-Series straight-4 engine, enabling a slightly higher top speed and better acceleration.

The A35 was very similar in appearance to the A30, except for a larger rear window aperture and a painted front grille, with chrome horse-shoe surround, instead of the chrome grille featured on the A30. Both had 13 in (330 mm) wheels. The semaphore turn-signal indicators were replaced with present-day front- and rear-mounted flashing lights. A slightly easier to operate remote-control gear-change was provided. Much of the improved performance was a result of different gearbox ratios. The A30 had the first three ratios close together then a big gap to top (4th gear). The A35 ratios were better spaced and gave a max speed in third of 60 mph (97 km/h) against about 45 mph (72 km/h) for the A30.

Like the A30, the A35 was offered as a 2- or 4-door saloon or 2-door "Countryman" estate and also as a van. The latter model continued in production through to 1968. A rare pickup version was also produced in 1956.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, N2 class 0-6-2 wheel arrangement steam locomotive No. 1744 was built for the Great Northern Railway in 1921 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Hyde Park works in Glasgow, Scotland. Its works number was 22600.

Throughout its 40 year operational life hauling packed commuter trains in and out of north London, the N2 was based at King's Cross station and was fitted with a large condensing pipe so the steam locomotive could operate in railway tunnels such as at Moorgate.

Equipped with side water tanks and a rear coal bunker, the 71-ton steam locomotive was designed for hauling commuter trains in the suburban areas of north London and the N2 class worked most of the trains out of King's Cross.

Often hauling one or two sets of articulated suburban coaches, the N2 steam locomotives ran to New Barnet and Gordon Hill on the Hertford loop and often hauled empty coaching stock trains between King's Cross and the Ferme Park carriage sidings. Some of the N2s - such as No. 1744 - worked on the Metropolitan line between King's Cross and Moorgate.

When withdrawn from British Railways at King's Cross station during September 1962 - the year of the Cuban missile crisis when the United States of America and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war - the N2 was replaced by diesel locomotives, such as the 'Baby Deltics', and then by diesel multiple units.

We had a weekend in Borrowdale recently, a Christmas present that we tagged a day on to. After calling at work on Saturday morning to open for business we headed up the motorway to Penrith. The road through the central lakes was washed away in the recent floods and it is going to be a long job replacing it. This made the diverted journey around 145 miles but we had a good run up there. We wanted to get walking ASAP so we pulled in at Threlkeld with a view to heading up Clough Head, and subject to conditions, head over the Dodds and back by the Old Coach Road. We had left appalling weather at home, wind, rain, fog and sleet on the tops. Thankfully it was better further north. There was laying snow on the summits, it was fairly calm low down and some summits were cloud free.

We left the car at 11.10 in our winter gear, straight up through the quarries and the steep scree slope (another Red Screes), by now we were into the snow line. The cloud was down, the wind gale force and the summit frozen hard – a different world up here. South next to Calfhow Pike, the wind made it difficult to talk and it was around -4 so the there was a fair wind-chill factor. It was tough going to our next top – Great Dodd, part of the Helvellyn massif – It was to icy to walk in places which meant deviating from the path, and losing our bearings, visibility was around ten yards with spindrift creating a whiteout at times. We battled on to the top and found the summit cairn. Great Dodd isn’t the easiest top to find your way off in low visibility, we would have gone further but in these conditions it was pointless so we retraced our steps to Calfhow and clear conditions. From here we followed Mosedale beck to Mariel Bridge, which is on the Old Coach Road, this gave us a circular route back to our start. The Old Coach Road has been wrecked by the floods and the 4x4 off roaders are making it a lot worse. 9.25 miles in 3 ¼ hours and we were in Brysons Tearooms in Keswick for Coffee and cake by 3.45pm. We carried on to Borrowdale and checked in at our hotel, not a bad day really.

After a poor night in a poor bed we were breakfasted and out for 8.30. We drove the few miles up to Seatoller and we were kitted up and away at 9.10. A bitterly cold and icy morning, there was some sun but not as much as promised. We could see the summit of Great End covered in cloud, we were heading up there on to the Sca Fell massif. We followed the valley to the east of Seathwaite Fell, a new path for us. Once in the snow the going was very icy with the path ice covered in places. The snow was dry and powdery and in places it had blown over the underlying ice. At this point I might add, we do own crampons. After a winter of splashing around soaked we didn’t expect to need them and they were at home – very clever! This was our first real winters day this winter, other than an hour on Sca Fell Pike on Christmas Day, we haven’t seen winter conditions this winter. By the time we got to Esk Hause it was difficult to stay upright and on our way to Great End we had to pick our way very carefully around the worst of the ice. The spindrift made it difficult to see the ground at times, spinning around our feet in a mist. Once on the summit the cloud was thick and the wind speed high. We had been here fairly recently so I knew the layout of the summit and we had little difficulty finding the summit cairn. We were cursing our lack of crampons and the cloud. Instead of heading into the cloud along the Sca Fell Pike path we decided to get under the cloud, back to Esk Hause and head over Allen Crags and Glaramara. At this point we both took some heavy falls, as did others up there, a lot turned around and headed back down, it was deadly. The cloud had thickened, there wasn’t a ray of sun to soften things. Our chosen route was one of the hardest afternoons we had ever had. Everywhere was frozen solid, we had to kick toe or heel holes to move on slopes that we wouldn’t have broken stride on normally. Minor rock scrambles down steep crags had become life threatening in places and we proceeded with extreme care. The knees were creaking on the long descent to Seathwaite. 10.3 miles in six hours, almost half the speed of yesterday. We made it Keswick for afternoon tea – and bought some Micro Spikes for unfinished business to deal with tomorrow. A beautiful day was forecast so fingers crossed we headed back for a soak in the tub.

Day three, a gorgeous icy, sunny winters day. Things looked promising. We left along yesterday’s route at the same start time – with walking poles and Micro Spikes! At the top of the valley we met a guy who had set off before us, two guys known to him were picking their way through the crags, tiny specks on the 800 foot rocky crag. Some appeared to have tried to climb the snow filled chimney that runs to the summit but we heard later that conditions weren’t suitable. Even though it was minus four the sun had softened the snow just enough to get a grip and it was easier to avoid the worst of the ice, unlike yesterday. The summit of Great End was incredible with never ending vistas. We could see a steady stream of walkers on every path by now. Word had got out that we were in for a rare treat today, plus it was school half term so a lot of people were off work. I visited every possible viewpoint as we went to the summit of Ill Crag , Broad Crag and finally Sca Fell Pike. It was 1.00 PM by now and a steady stream of elated walkers were arriving on England’s highest point. It was bitter but beautiful. We had around five miles back to the car along the Corridor Route to Styhead, Stockley Bridge and Seathwaite. Part of this route we had covered recently on Christmas Day and despite the snow and ice we powered along. We would have been back in two hours but! A mile from the car, following the manmade path down Taylorgill Force to Stockley Bridge Jayne Stumbled. It’s not often she walks in front. I normally lead and relay instructions and warnings back to her. She hit the rock path with her head and face really hard, stunned, she rolled off the path over a drop. She was vertical, resting on a rock on her knees and clinging on to the edge of the path with her fingertips. I grabbed her rucksack and held her whilst I checked her injuries. She had a bad bump on her temple, another on her forehead, split the bridge or her nose, her glasses had gone flying but would straighten. Being left handed she had stuck her left hand out and it had been bent back, it was swelling and discolouring pretty fast. When I had established that nothing was serious enough to stop her moving I got her back on to the path to see to her injuries. The pain initially made her think that she was in a worse state than ( I thought) she really was. She could move her fingers and wrist, albeit with some pain but not enough for it to be broken. The wound to the bridge of her nose although very painful wasn’t going to be a problem. The bumps on her head were turning into eggs by now. I gave her Ibuprofen and Paracetemol and she sat and composed herself for the final mile. We made it to the café in Keswick and got a slightly later afternoon break, our first of the day again. 11.3 miles today in 6 ¼ hours and fairly tough going. It was nothing more than a careless, tired perhaps, stumble on one of the horrible ( our own opinion, I might add) manmade paths made out of irregular stones which are laid at odd angles and are a nightmare to descend when wet on tired legs. A few days later and Jayne is sat on reception at the doctors looking like she’s been boxing, with a purple eye and nose, her left hand swollen and purple – otherwise she’s OK. I came down with mild food poisoning during the night and had to drive 145 miles home at 8.00 the morning after feeling extremely ill. I was due to start fasting for a Colonoscopy in three days. I ended up eating six slices of toast over a four day period – Monday evening to Thursday evening- Having had over 40 stomach endoscopies in twenty years the colonoscopy was nothing more than uncomfortable and , subject to biopsy results, everything looked OK. The trapped wind was another matter – for two days! All in all a very traumatic week. Needless to say we didn’t use the Micro Spikes.

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