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Chaoscope is a Fractal Freeware application. To create anaglyphs with it requires some logic, experimentation, and some other software such as SPM or PS. I found that using 8bf plugin filters can help extend the variety of displays. IrfanView freeware is my general purpose viewer/editor and it also accepts 8bf plugins just as Photoshop would use. I used StereoPhoto Maker to create the anaglyph from a stereo pair and also to create the animated GIF.
As part of the required course knowledge pupils need to be able to outline the process involved in taking a square wooden blank and preparing it for turning between centres. These pictures depict that process chronologically.
Stage 1 * Preparation of wooden blank. Cut to size. Sand square. Mark across diagonals. Centre punch the centre point. Use spring dividers to mark circumference. Repeat on other end.
Stage 2 * Plane off corners down to circumference line. This takes cross section from square to octagon. This reduces force on cutting toll in initial prep of blank. Mount between fork [driven] centre and dead [or live ] centre at tailstock end. Apply grease a dead centre end. apply force from tailstock end to force fork into material at driven end. Adjust toolstock height to suit. Check for clearance.
Stage 3 * Roughout using scraper to diameter. Use combination of gouges and skew chisels to add beads and other decorative detailing as required. Ensure spindle speed is appropriate for material and cross section under consideration. Obey all safety instructions.
AM I PAYING TO BE PROMOTED?
No. You are paying for the seminars, and while I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars, it is not required. You may show up for the second half only. But, again, I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars. It helps us with organization, expresses to the instructors that you are interested in learning, and fosters a team oriented environment.
WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR BEING PROMOTED?
Under the Capital flag you must demonstrate the 3 Ts: time on the mat, toughness and technique. Visualize a triangle, where technique is on top. On the bottom are time and toughness. Those who are very tough might have the time requirement reduced (but not below the minimum). Those with a great deal of time might have the toughness requirement reduced. Also, other variables may be taken into consideration. For example, one of our newest members is beginning his Jiu-Jitsu journey at 70 years young! Modifications will be made to ensure his journey is both challenge and rewarding!
WHAT ARE THE TIME REQUIREMENTS?
A blue belt takes an average of 1.5 years. A purple belt takes an average of 5 years. A brown belt takes an average of 7 years. A black belt takes an average of 10+ years. Most of the practitioners who tested for black belt had between 12 and 17 years of experience, and the pass rate was about 50%.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION FOR ADVANCEMENT?
Three instructors, including at least one black belt, must approve any promotion.
WHY DOES THE FORMAT KEEP CHANGING?
It’s been consistent for the last two years. However, we do expect that slight changes will be made as time goes on. We always seek feedback from students, peers and our instructors to make things better. The current format is: seminars (optional), sparring, promotions, gauntlet (optional), and group picture.
ETIQUETTE
At promotions events every practitioner should wear a laundered Capital branded white training kimono. This is the equivalent of wearing formal attire for a special occasion, like a wedding. Also, it is extremely impolite to ask an instructor about being promoted.
WHAT DOES THE NAVY BLUE BAR MEAN?
Royce Gracie and the Valente Brothers wanted to honor Helio Gracie’s life and legacy by wearing the navy blue belt that Helio wore. Going forward they are asking representatives to wear the navy bar (excluding white belts and new black belts). For more information about Grandmaster Helio Gracie’s decision to wear the navy belt visit: graciekentucky.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-did-grandmaster-h...
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR PUTTING A NAVY BAR ON MY BELT?
The easiest thing to do is purchase athletic tape: www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&...
I BELIEVE YOU MADE AN ERROR REGARDING MEMBER X, BY PROMOTING/NOT PROMOTING HIM….
Think about a Jiu-Jitsu competition. Is it possible, from time to time, for the referee to make an error? Of course! It is also possible for the decision makers at our semiannual gatherings to make errors. However, as practitioners progress, more scrutiny is applied to their rank, and ultimately 40 - 60 black belts will test them. At that time practitioners must demonstrate the complete stand-up self-defense curriculum, striking, clinching, grappling and philosophy (the 753 Code).
I caution those who dwell on the rank progress of others, especially as it compares to their own. Instead I encourage you to apply your vigilance to your own journey in the gentile art.
DO I NEED TO BE AT THE PROMOTIONS EVENT?
To be promoted to the next color belt, yes. Technically, to be promoted with stripes on the purple and brown belt, also yes. However, we needed to honor time constraints at Saturday's event, and stripes for deserving practitioners will be awarded this week and in January.
IS THE GAUNTLET HAZING?
What is the difference between a healthy ritual and hazing? What in fact is hazing? According to Wikipedia: "Hazing is the practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.” Does the gauntlet qualify?
Couldn’t we define the gauntlet as a rite of passage? Google defines a rite of passage as, "a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, puberty, marriage, and death.” While I don’t know of any peer reviewed research articles, the overwhelming consensus is that there are tremendous psychological benefits to being included in a rite of passage.
There’s also acknowledging that our ritual is far less dangerous than the activities which led to it. Whether it’s the rigorous exercise, intense sparring rounds, competitions or the black belt test. In fact, Professor Pedro Valente noted that we are training to be effective in a proven fighting system. To take a hit is not only to be initiated, it's an essential component of our training.
I am not familiar with many of the reasons why people haze, and personally, I have never been involved in a hazing ritual. The gauntlet is our rite of passage; a tradition handed down to us by our elders. I am opposed to taking away or intensifying the gauntlet tradition. Our tradition is about the student, and I don’t believe that practitioners at Capital MMA experience some perverse pleasure in seeing people suffer. Rather, we are celebrating with the newly inducted.
I believe that the gauntlet tradition should only be carried on in the presence of the black belt instructors, exclusively at our semiannual promotions events. Also, it is our charge as black belts to educate junior members of our tradition, and how we conduct ourselves during the rite of passage. Injury, abuse and humiliation are never our objectives.
Finally, this tradition is, and always will be, optional. However, our requirements for being promoted are not. The rigor, intensity, and sacrifice experienced by senior practitioners is significant.
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Free trade: Way ahead ‘is openness, not protectionism’ By John Paul Rathbone
International trade is under attack. Recession has tested many countries’ commitment to keep their borders open, as politicians, beholden to domestic audiences, have succumbed to the temptation of throwing up trade barriers for short-term economic gain.
That is a fair enough summary of the current state of global trade. But not in Mexico, one of the most stalwart defenders of free trade in Latin America – or indeed the world.
Enrique Peña Nieto of the opposition PRI has an agenda including more competition in the economy “We have to be very clear that the way forward is not protectionism, but openness,” Felipe Calderón, Mexico’s outgoing president, told a gathering of chief executives during April’s Summit of the Americas. “The way forward remains commerce, as it has been for millennia.” It was a passionate and rare public statement by a leading international politician in favour of free trade. In today’s economic climate, it is hard to think of any other G20 leader who would stick out his or her neck so far on the issue. More ON THIS STORY Overview Leaders aim to make a difference Regulation Economic slowdown has put brake on global reforms Viewpoint Why food security comes first Food prices Leaders seek a long-term solution to hunger pains Eurozone Greek chaos casts long shadow again IN G20: MEXICO & THE WORLD Los Cabos Venue is alluring backdrop for talks Security First signs that drug crime is on the wane G20 reform Time to take action – or risk irrelevance Power structures Emerging nations seek better balance It was also a thinly veiled criticism of some of Mexico’s partners. These include the US, where there are protectionist measures in Congress and, especially, two Latin American countries that have large Atlantic coastlines and where nervousness about deindustrialisation has recently triggered mercantilist instincts. In February, for example, Brazil moved to shield its car industry from Mexican competition; the country’s vintners also want protection from Chilean imports. Argentina, a prodigious inventor of eccentric policies, has meanwhile required importing businesses to sell something – anything – to foreigners worth as much as what they buy from them. The contrast between these approaches and the attitude of big Latin American economies with a Pacific coastline – Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile – is stark. All have strong free-trade instincts, perhaps because they have a sharper sense that the world’s economic centre of gravity is shifting towards Asia and the Pacific. Mexico, for example, is one of the most open of the world’s leading economies. In 2010, trade accounted for almost 60 per cent of its gross domestic product, compared with China at 48 per cent, the US with 22 per cent and Brazil at 19. Look to the future, and the contrast is even starker. HSBC reckons Mexican trade, which totalled $700bn last year, will rise to almost 70 per cent of GDP this year and 85 per cent by 2017. In some ways, this makes Mexico a regional standard bearer for open trade – although one could argue it has little choice. The country sits next to the world’s largest market, to which it can supply goods within 48 hours. It is also less rich in commodities than, say, Brazil. Both factors point to Mexico’s strategic need to become adept at manufacturing and facilitating trade. Thus, its exporting vocation has been further boosted by a plethora of trade agreements, and by fostering supplies of skilled and semi-skilled labour. Some 110,000 engineers graduated in engineering and technology in 2010, more than double the number in 1999, according to Inegi, the national statistics agency. As a result, the country has steadily diversified its trade partners and moved up the value chain, as Mexico-based manufacturers have become ever more efficient and skills-rich. The country now even exports cars to China. Analysts agree it is unlikely this attitude will change after Mexico’s July 1 presidential election. Politically, Enrique Peña Nieto of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who leads in the polls, is pushing a reformist agenda that seeks to break down barriers to growth rather than erect new ones. Indeed, top of his list are domestic reforms to encourage more competition in Mexico’s internal economy. The country is also benefiting, as the relative competitive advantage of Chinese manufacturers is eroded by rising wage and labour costs there. The continued shortening of North American supply chains will see Mexican industry ever more tightly integrated into the region. Nor is it the only country in the region with free trading instincts. Alongside Canada, Mexico is angling to join the trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which is being pushed by Washington to form a grand Asia-Pacific trade area. At the same time, Chile, Colombia and Peru want to form with Mexico an “Alliance of the Pacific”. Whether these Latin ambitions will come to anything is another matter. But at least the approach is businesslike. This year, for example, the presidents of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile discussed their proposed trade alliance via a “virtual summit”. That might be a fancy phrase for a “videoconference”. But it marked a welcome change in a continent that has often seemed overly fond of grandstanding presidential summits that are filled with patriotic fervour but rarely produce much of substance. The Mercosur trade bloc, for example, which groups Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, was once held up as an emblem of regional trade integration. Yet today it has become bogged down in disputes – including, in May, a “chip war” after truckloads of frozen fries, produced in Argentina and normally destined for Brazilian-based hamburger chains, clogged the two countries’ borders. Indeed, if you put aside the smiles and diplomatic niceties, since 1995 trade within the bloc has grown less than among countries outside it, or even between individual Mercosur members and other Latin American countries. Meanwhile, Mexico, under Nafta, has become an exporting powerhouse.
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The British economist John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) grew up with a belief in free trade; this underpinned his criticism of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 for the damage it did to the interdependent European economy. After a brief flirtation with protectionism in the early 1930s, he came again to favour free trade so long as it was combined with internationally coordinated domestic economic policies to promote high levels of employment, and international economic institutions that meant that the interests of countries were not pitted against each other. In these circumstances, "the wisdom of Adam Smith" again applied, he said. George W. Bush and Hu Jintao of China meet while attending an APEC summit in Santiago de Chile, 2004 In Kicking Away the Ladder, development economist Ha-Joon Chang reviews the history of free trade policies and economic growth, and notes that many of the now-industrialized countries had significant barriers to trade throughout their history. The United States and Britain, sometimes considered the homes of free trade policy, employed protectionism to varying degrees at all times. Britain abolished the Corn Laws, which restricted import of grain, in 1846 in response to domestic pressures, and it reduced protectionism for manufactures in the mid 19th century, when its technological advantage was at its height, but tariffs on manufactured products had returned to 23% by 1950. The United States maintained weighted average tariffs on manufactured products of approximately 40–50% up until the 1950s, augmented by the natural protectionism of high transportation costs in the 19th century.[18] The most consistent practitioners of free trade have been Switzerland, the Netherlands, and to a lesser degree Belgium. Chang describes the export-oriented industrialization policies of the Four Asian Tigers as "far more sophisticated and fine-tuned than their historical equivalents". Some degree of protectionism is nevertheless the norm throughout the world. Most developed nations maintain controversial[citation needed] agricultural tariffs. From 1820 to 1980, the average tariffs on manufactures in twelve industrial countries ranged from 11 to 32%. In the developing world, average tariffs on manufactured goods are approximately 34%. Since the end of World War II, in part due to industrial supremacy and the onset of the Cold War, the U.S. government has become one of the most consistent proponents of reduced tariff-barriers and free trade, having helped establish the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and later the World Trade Organization (WTO); although it had rejected an earlier version in the 1950s (International Trade Organization or ITO).[22][citation needed] Since the 1970s U.S. governments have negotiated numerous managed-trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the 1990s, the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in 2006, and a number of bilateral agreements (such as with Jordan).
I've enjoyed this little layout immensely, as it doesn't require much attention - peacock moss growing on stone, complemented by staurogyne porto velho.
The cheer point at Surrey Quays for the British Heart Foundation as they support the runners and supporters who are taking part in the Virgin London Marathon, 23rd April 2017
Photography by Fergus Burnett
Accreditation required with all use - 'fergusburnett.com'
Wedding at Pocahontas State Park: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/pocahontas#general_infor...
Parks wedding info: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/weddings#wedpo
Please call the park, (804) 796-4255, for details or to reserve. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance
Photo credit REQUIRED: Caiti Garter Photography caitigarterphotography.pixieset.com/
The Cramps
The I Beam
San Francisco, California
7-14 & 7-15 1986
The Cramps; The I Beam; San Francisco; California; 7-14/15-86; Any further use requires permission from the photographer; Michael Conen.
***
These photos were taken on print film, and then digitally scanned at 2000 dpi.
All images viewed here are "proofs" of the negatives.
Serious inquiries regarding further publication will be entertained.
Please contact me with comments, questions, etc. at michaelconen@tutanota.com
The unidentified bus/coach was noted in Cambell's yard in Alexandria, however depite the rear light arrangement looking familiar so far I haven't even been able to identify the bodywork. Answers on a postcard (or simply leave a comment, probably easier...)
From the August 2016 return trip to Siem Reap and the Angkor complex:
I love the Angkor complex, Siem Reap, and the Cambodian people so much that I returned again for about a week to photograph as much of the “non-major” sites as I could. Some of them are slightly far from Angkor Wat (by that, I mean to say more than 10 kilometers away), and usually require a little more money to get to. Also, some of the sites (Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen) are not included in the Angkor ticket price and have an additional admission fee.
I don’t know if there’s a set number of how many sites belong in the Angkor complex, though I’m sure it would vary. (Do you only count the major sites like Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm? Do you add the sites that aren’t included in the standard “Angkor Pass,” but are clearly of the same era? Do you include sites that aren’t even named (as are one of the sites in this series)? All in all, I’ll put a very rough number at…50 sites in the Siem Reap area, and that includes the sites that are about 100 km away. Of those, I would say I’ve been to all but 5-10 now. All are included here with the exception, obviously, of the sites that I didn’t visit. (Off the top of my head, I can say they include Koh Ker & that respective group, which is about 120 km ENE of Siem Reap; Phnom Krom, one of the three “mountains” with temples; Ta Prohm Kel; and Mangalartha.)
In practical terms, I’m afraid that with the volume of shooting (about 1,500 frames in the past 7 days), photos will start to look redundant to those who don’t have the same interest in ancient/historical architecture or Angkor as I do. That being said, there are a few things besides temples here. The Old Market area (now Night Market/Pub Street) is represented – a little – and Phnom Kulen has a pretty nice waterfall which is also in this series. Also, I tried to catch a few people in here, though didn’t get as many as I would’ve liked.
I had my friend Mao (tuktuk driver) take me around for 5 of these 7 days this time around. As I mentioned last time, he may cost a little more than what you can arrange through a hotel/guesthouse, but he’s well worth the money (and, in the grand scheme of things, not too expensive; I paid less than $200 for the five days, two of which were “long” trips). He loves his country and heritage, he knows what he’s showing you, he’s flexible, he gives you enough ice water to keep you hydrated, and he’s just a good guy. (He even bought me a birthday cake for cryin’ out loud…) Anyway, I highly recommend Mao. You can find him here: www.facebook.com/mao.khvan (or on Trip Advisor: www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297390-d10726821-R... )
Now that shameless plugs and other assorted rhetoric are out of the way, it’s time to get on to the temples, ruins, and other miscellany.
Today is really the excuse that I used to come back to Siem Reap for a week. Mao was nice enough not to schedule any other customers for today since it’s my 43rd birthday, and also for Saturday. (Another reason, I think, is that I wanted to see all of the non-major sites and most everyone else is only interested in the major ones. So…thanks to Mao for giving up a few bucks from others just to make sure I got to see all that I wanted these two days.)
Mao came to pick me up around 10:00 in the morning with his wife and adorable daughter. Today, we pretty much followed the small loop tour that we did yesterday (and that most tourists do). However, we skipped every spot from yesterday (Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm’s main temple, Ta Keo, Thommanon, Chao Say Tevoda, Bayon) and opted for the others along the same route.
The first stop of the morning was Prasat Kravan. This is a particularly interesting – and small – temple that consists mainly of one building with a central tower, but five chambers lined up in a row. Prasat Kravan was built in the early 10th century (consecrated in 921) and is built of brick. It was built during the short reign of Harshavarman I. The name is the modern name (though I don’t know the original name) and means “cardamom sanctuary,” for a tree that once stood here. From an architectural standpoint, what is most interesting – and what caught my attention – is the brick bas-reliefs here. They are the only known representation of these in Khmer art and are reason alone to visit here. The central tower has a statue of Vishnu and the northernmost has a statue of his consort, Lakshmi.
After 15-20 minutes at Prasat Kravan, Mao took me to Bat Chum, which was quite near. (It wasn’t on my list, so kudos to Mao for adding a few stops that I otherwise wouldn’t have seen; as I said, the man knows the territory, and I highly recommend him to anyone who comes here.) Bat Chum is a very, very small site (under restoration, though it looks like even the restoration has been forgotten) a few hundred meters due south of Sra Srang, and a few hundred meters east of the road from Angkor Wat to Banteay Kdei. When Bat Chum was built in 960, there were houses and a Buddhist monastery nearby, which have long since vanished. This temple was built by the lone Khmer architect whose name we know: Kavindrarimathana. He also built the palace of the East Mebon and Sra Srang. This is a temple with three brick towers. There are stone lions and interesting inscriptions here as well.
From Bat Chum, we returned to the main road, skirted along the eastern and northern sides of Banteay Kdei’s outer wall, then along the southern and western sides of Ta Prohm’s outer wall. Most people enter Ta Prohm from the western gate (as evidenced by the massive throng of tuktuks here) or the eastern gate (where you will find a slew of souvenir vendors). As far as I can tell, there is no southern gate – as I imagine you’d see it flying by on the road. (Banteay Kdei does have a northern gate, though people don’t seem to stop here.) Ta Prohm does have a rather charming and rarely visited northern gate that I was unaware of. Again…thanks, Mao. Just stop on the road at the northwest corner of Ta Prohm’s outer wall and walk east along the north wall for about five minutes to find the northern gate, surrounded by jungle.
Next up on today’s tour is a very small site that, from what I know, doesn’t even have a name. (Mao didn’t even know the name of the place, so it’s just titled ‘Unnamed Site’ here.) It’s very small, almost an afterthought, but still worth a look. It’s on the road heading due north from Ta Prohm’s west gate about 100-200 meters south of where it heads to the west to Ta Keo. It’s barely 50 meters off the road, so is very easy to visit in 10 minutes or so.
Right at the point where the road takes a 90 degree turn to head west to Ta Keo, you have the option of going straight (down a fairly bumpy dirt road) to Ta Nei. This is actually a larger temple, but unlike the others nearby, it hasn’t gone under extensive restoration yet, so it isn’t visited very often. It’s 800 meters north of Ta Keo, set back in the woods, and is 200 meters west of the Eastern Baray’s western border. It was built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The highlights of coming here are simply the setting, the pediments, and the overall lack of visitors.
After half an hour or so at Ta Nei, Mao and I hopped back in the tuktuk and returned to the main road, heading west past Ta Keo before veering north and making a very quick stop at the Hospital Chapel that is 150 meters due west of Ta Keo (slightly north). This is a very quick – 5 minute – stop that interested me simply because it was/is part of a hospital that’s close to a thousand years old now. It was built by Jayavarman VII (like so many of the Angkor sites) in the late 12th century. This sandstone monument is one of four that were on site here (and, from what I’m reading, one of 102 that were found throughout the empire). Honestly, seeing this just makes me wonder about 12th century medicine. What would a Khmer hospital at the turn of the 13th century have been like?
Moving north from the Hospital Chapel, the road takes another 90 degree turn to the west. Before entering the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, you pass Thommanon and Chao Say Tevoda (bypassed, as already mentioned), and then Spean Thma, near a bridge that crosses the Siem Reap River. (The Siem Reap River, today, is more like a gentle stream, though it was used to transport the quarried rock from Phnom Kulen to Angkor to build these massive temples a thousand years ago.) That aside, I decided to bypass Spean Thma for now.
Once inside the Victory Gate, which I mistakenly called the East Gate in May (it is on the eastern wall), we turned south on a dirt path about 100-200 meters inside Angkor Thom and traveled south, parallel to the wall. After less than 5 minutes, you arrive at the road that runs directly east from Bayon to the East Gate, otherwise known as the Slaves’ Gate or Gate of the Dead. (From the names, obviously, if anyone who didn’t belong to the royal family saw this gate…bad news for them.) According to Mao, the slaves were marched out this gate on the way to their execution. Grim history aside, it’s a rather nice gate, well-restored, with some good angles for shooting. It’s certainly worth a visit, especially since it’s so easily accessible – and there are rarely many people around.
After this quick stop, we took the road due west to the heart of Angkor Thom – Bayon – then headed up the road towards the North Gate, where the majority of Angkor Thom sites are located (just north of Bayon). Passing by Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper Kings (all on the west side of the main road), and the Kleangs and Suor Prat Towers (east side of the main road, with the towers being bisected by the road heading east through the Victory Gate), we turned off just north of the Terrace of the Leper Kings to the west to see Tep Pranam – very briefly – and Preah Pilalay.
Tep Pranam is simply a statue of a giant seated sandstone Buddha, still in use for worship today, that was built around the 16th century. If this were in an out-of-the-way place, it may not be worth the time. However, it’s in the heart of Angkor Thom and it’s impossible to go to Preah Pilalay without seeing it if you come by tuktuk. (This isn’t a complaint by any means; it’s rather nice.) Preah Pilalay is in the northwest section of Angkor Thom and is fairly remote (given the amount of tourists that the other nearby sites see). Its main features are a tall chimney-like structure, a few nagas, and its setting in the forest. It was built in either the 13th or 14th century, possibly by Jayavarman VIII or, perhaps, by Jayavarman VII. It’s about 200 meters north of the royal enclosure (Phimeanakas). Some of the larger trees that used to tower over the temple have been hewn resulting in a very different feel. However, it was a pleasant side trip.
Hopping back in the tuktuk and going directly across the road, the last stop for the day inside Angkor Thom was the Preah Pithu group. This is a collection of five temples/ruins in the northeastern section of Angkor Thom that is in a delightful wooded setting. If you can see them in early morning or late afternoon, you should get some wonderful lighting. You can spend as little as 15 minutes here or as much as an hour or two. They probably weren’t designed to be one cohesive group, though it’s not possible to say with certainty. They were built in the 13th century. (Though I mention this as the last stop, I’ve also included the North Kleang and Northern Suor Prat Towers here. Though I didn’t explore those in depth, I am giving them their own set here – Kleangs and Suor Prat Towers.)
On the way out of Angkor Thom, via the South Gate, we stopped outside the moat for a few pictures. Directly south of Angkor Thom are a few temples that I wanted to see: Thma Bay Kaek, Prasat Bei, and Baksei Chamkrong.
We visited them in that order. Thma Bay Kaek is nearest the road about 50 meters southwest of the bridge over the southern moat. All that remains here are the ruins of a square brick tower. It’s probably the remains of one of many temples that were here in the Bakheng area. It was built in the 10th century by Yasovarman I.
About a five minute walk - -if that – due west of Thma Bay Kaek is Prasat Bei (“Three Towers”). Unlike Thma Bay Kaek, these towers are still standing, so obviously, slightly more photogenic. They would probably be best photographed in early morning. The trees block it from the west in late afternoon. It, too, was built by Yasovarman I in the 10th century.
The last of the three temples in this area, Baksei Chamkrong, is the most impressive of the three. It’s from the early and middle 10th century (rededicated in 948) and was built by Harshavarman. This is a pyramid temple at the foot of Phnom Bakheng. The name means “the bird with sheltering wings,” though – like most temples here – this is a modern appellation that the builders wouldn’t have recognized. This tower is a single brick tower on a pyramidal base.
Finally, to finish up the day, Mao dropped me at Phnom Bakheng. It’s about a 20 minute walk up the hill around a winding path. This is considered to be one of the best places to watch sunset over Angkor Wat because of its panoramic view from the peak of the hill. However, everyone knows this, and this is the only place all day that was too crowded for my liking. In addition to its being under restoration to the point of making it a bit of an eyesore (for the time being), it was easily my least favorite place of the entire day. After waiting in line for 20 minutes and barely moving an inch, I decided to call it a day, taking 1-2 pictures (that you see here), and heading back down the hill.
Mao had disappeared into the throngs of people eating at restaurants. Fortunately for me, he spotted me. On the way back to the guesthouse, he stopped and picked up a birthday cake which we shared with the folks who happened to be at the guesthouse. All in all, it was a wonderful birthday. Tomorrow, too, would be just me and would include the lesser-visited sites on the Grand Tour Loop, in addition to 1-2 others.
As always, I hope you enjoy this set. I appreciate you taking time to look. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message or leave it via comment.
Feb. 1, 2017. Boston, MA.
Kickoff rally on Boston Common in support of the Massachusetts Safe Communities Act which would protect all state residents by making sure tax dollars are not used to enforce federal immigration law. This new version of the Trust Act is sponsored by Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge (SD.1596) and State Representative Juana Matías (HD.3052). The bill would include:
No state support for Muslim registry. Prohibits access to information in state databases for use in any federal registry program based on national origin, religion or other protected characteristics.
Ensures Basic Due Process Rights for people detained in state and local facilities for civil immigration violations. Requires informing detainees that they have the right to decline an interview with ICE agents, and to have their own attorney present (at their own expense) if they so choose.
Use police resources to fight crime, not separate families. Ensures that state, local and campus police don’t participate in immigration enforcement activities, including inquiries, investigations, raids, arrests or detentions that are based solely on immigration status.
Prohibits agreements with DHS that deputize local officers as immigration agents, including county officers in Bristol and Plymouth sheriff's departments.
© 2017 Marilyn Humphries
i think my bird table needs a paint job in looking at this photo.
Camera was setup at table level to catch the various birds that visit the feeder when there is still some seed left. Unfortunately, the squirrels get up there pretty quickly after putting it out.
One of the many blue jays, not one of this years brood.
WELCOME & SUPER SESSION: The Digital Health Manifesto
We require innovations that add value and quality to health and medical care delivery. It's crucial we recruit fresh thinking and new participants to solve our ongoing healthcare crisis. Join the first-ever roundtable discussion featuring healthcare's preeminent leaders who will hash it out to identify and resolve barriers that impede marketplace success in order to optimize the health of the nation. Present at the table: The Visionary, The Physician, The Provider, The VC, The Digital Health Innovator, The Consumer Advocate, The Retail Doctor. Speakers include: Dr. Reed Tuckson, Managing Director, Tuckson Health Connections, LLC, Margaret Anderson, Executive Director, FasterCures, Dr. Yan Chow, Director, Innovation & Advanced Technology, Kaiser Permanente, Todd Hixon, Managing Partner, New Atlantic Ventures, James Mault, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Qualcomm Life, Dr. Travis Stork, Co-Host / Chairman of Medical Advisory Board, The Doctors / MDLIVE, and Grant Verstandig, Founder and CEO, Audax Health.
Todd Hixon, @toddhixon, Managing Partner, New Atlantic Ventures, @navfund
WEBSITE: bit.ly/1c8MrF2
The Digital Health Summit at the 2014 International CES®.http://bit.ly/DigitalHealthCES - Focuses on the latest products and consumers' growing demand for high-tech health services. See solutions for diagnosing, monitoring and treating a variety of illnesses - from obesity to ADHD, from poor vision to high blood pressure...Official Hashtag #DHCES ..News & Press Articles #DigiHealthCESPress ..CES Hashtag: #CES2014.Website bit.ly/DigitalHealthWebsite.Twitter bit.ly/DigitalHealthTwitter.YouTube Videos bit.ly/DigitalHealthYouTube.Flickr Photos bit.ly/DigitalHealthFlickr.Linkedin bit.ly/DigitalHealthLinkedIn.Facebook bit.ly/DigitalHealthFB.Google+ bit.ly/DigitalHealthGPlus.Instagram bit.ly/DigitalHealthInstagram..Thank you IDEAL LIFE bit.ly/J3NdZc for sponsoring Digital Health Summit Live. ..Photos by Asa Mathat www.asamathat.com
As part of the required course knowledge pupils need to be able to outline the process involved in taking a square wooden blank and preparing it for turning between centres. These pictures depict that process chronologically.
Stage 1 * Preparation of wooden blank. Cut to size. Sand square. Mark across diagonals. Centre punch the centre point. Use spring dividers to mark circumference. Repeat on other end.
Stage 2 * Plane off corners down to circumference line. This takes cross section from square to octagon. This reduces force on cutting toll in initial prep of blank. Mount between fork [driven] centre and dead [or live ] centre at tailstock end. Apply grease a dead centre end. apply force from tailstock end to force fork into material at driven end. Adjust toolstock height to suit. Check for clearance.
Stage 3 * Roughout using scraper to diameter. Use combination of gouges and skew chisels to add beads and other decorative detailing as required. Ensure spindle speed is appropriate for material and cross section under consideration. Obey all safety instructions.
This image is licensed cc-by-nc-sa. Media (including blogs) are permitted to use my images provided they provide attribution in the form of "Photo by Andrew Bossi" or something along those lines.
It would be very much appreciated (though not required) if you provide a link back to my photo. Send me a message on Flickr or at thisisbossi@gmail.com if you use my image & I'll add a link on the photo's page back to your article.
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Also, if I've mis-titled or mis-tagged anything: just let me know. If you recognise someone I should tag: again, just let me know.
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In response to the Congressional budget debacle which proved that DC is but a colony -- prone to being singled out unlike any other city in the country -- a number of activists, elected officials, and general citizens came out in force upon the grounds of Capitol Hill.
The crowd first formed on the sidewalk, but after some opening remarks by elected officials and activists: they quickly spilled into the street. The Capitol Police had been on hand & I'd thought it amusing that a couple were taking photos & videos... it wasn't until I saw the wristbands come out when I realised these weren't officers enjoying the moment; they were recording evidence.
With many minutes of warning, large portions of the group shifted over the sidewalk; whilst a core of dedicated supporters -- including our Mayor, a number of councilmembers, and members of DC Vote -- remained behind to block the roadway. The officers began to surround the group & repeated their warnings to get back on the sidewalk or face arrest.
Now in all fairness to the Capitol Police: they were doing their job. They were quite courteous about it & the protest was similarly jubilant right back. One woman was first to be bound, soon followed by several other activists. Then came Muriel Bowser: first councilmember to be arrested.
In general, I tend to dislike political grandstanding... but this was different. If our council was being arrested by our own police, I'd think it a cheesy photo op... but now our locally-elected officials were being arrested by the very forces we were out to protest: the Feds. This wasn't a mere photo op arrest; this was actually a legitimate arrest... the kind of thing that goes on your record; the kind of thing you spent a night in jail for.
Now granted, I don't expect anyone will be in jail longer than tomorrow; I'd be surprised if any were still locked up by midnight tonight. But it was Councilmember Bowser's arrest which really hit a moment... you could see the look on her face was of some worried concern: someone who had never been arrested before & didn't show up here today expecting to be arrested. As she was placed into the police van: her look of concern changed to a bit more worry. I mean this as no knock against Councilmember Bowser's committment; rather I felt it really help to humanise the entire event. It made me respect her all the more.
Yvette Alexander stood right beside us for quite some time, complicated in that she didn't have her ID on her. While it was entertaining to see our top officials being frisked, it was also quite entertaining that our easily-recognisable councilmember needed her ID... prompting a standerby to call one of her staffers with the best introduction I've ever heard over a phone: "Hi, your councilmember has been arrested." Also, kudos to Councilmember Alexander for going to jail in high heels!
There is a lot I can complain about with the council in general; and certainly with individual councilmembers & even the mayor. Heck, that's what politicians are for: you're not supposed to always like them. But this was an opportunity to set aside some of those issues (frankly, I'd say DC was glad to have a unifying moment after the past couple weeks) and cheer on our own brothers & sisters as they stood up in support of our rights.
It was certainly a proud moment to be a DC resident and a fine boost to our collective esteem after several weeks of turmoil within our local & federal levels of government. It's aggravating that my support for small & local government is inhibited by those in Congress whom advocate small & local government. If I wanted to live in a colony, I'd have moved to Williamsburg.
But not used. I was hoping to use this wig casually (−_−＃) Unfortunately even with styling, it's too easy to see the wig cap through the fibres. To put it another way, you have to figure out how to arrange the hair just right so you don't see the wig cap.
Bibury is a charming, typically Cotswold, village just a short drive from "The Capital of the Cotswolds", Cirencester with the River Coln flowing through.
Bibury was once described by William Morris (1834-96) as "the most beautiful village in England". In fact, Fox News says that Bibury is one of the world's most picturesque villages.
Arlington Row - The picturesque Arlington Row cottages were built in 1380 as a monastic wool store. This was converted into a row of weavers' cottages in the 17th century. The cloth produced there was sent to Arlington Mill on the other side of Rack Isle. The cloth was then hung on wooden timber frames on Rack Isle after being degreased at Arlington Mill. This is probably one of the most photographed Cotswold scenes (and I can see why).
Bibury Trout Farm - Visit a working trout farm....Bibury Trout Farm is one of Britain’s oldest, and certainly most attractive, Trout Farms. Founded in 1902, by the famous naturalist Arthur Severn, to stock the local rivers and streams with the native Brown Trout it now covers 15 acres in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Cotswolds, the Coln Valley. The crystal clear waters of the Bibury Spring provide the essential pure water required to run the hatchery which spawns up to 6 million trout ova every year.
Saxon Church, the Church of St Mary - The north Chancel wall of the Church is home to a stained glass window which was designed in 1927 by Karl Parsons and was featured in the 1992 Christmas stamp set issued by the Royal Mail.
AM I PAYING TO BE PROMOTED?
No. You are paying for the seminars, and while I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars, it is not required. You may show up for the second half only. But, again, I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars. It helps us with organization, expresses to the instructors that you are interested in learning, and fosters a team oriented environment.
WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR BEING PROMOTED?
Under the Capital flag you must demonstrate the 3 Ts: time on the mat, toughness and technique. Visualize a triangle, where technique is on top. On the bottom are time and toughness. Those who are very tough might have the time requirement reduced (but not below the minimum). Those with a great deal of time might have the toughness requirement reduced. Also, other variables may be taken into consideration. For example, one of our newest members is beginning his Jiu-Jitsu journey at 70 years young! Modifications will be made to ensure his journey is both challenge and rewarding!
WHAT ARE THE TIME REQUIREMENTS?
A blue belt takes an average of 1.5 years. A purple belt takes an average of 5 years. A brown belt takes an average of 7 years. A black belt takes an average of 10+ years. Most of the practitioners who tested for black belt had between 12 and 17 years of experience, and the pass rate was about 50%.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION FOR ADVANCEMENT?
Three instructors, including at least one black belt, must approve any promotion.
WHY DOES THE FORMAT KEEP CHANGING?
It’s been consistent for the last two years. However, we do expect that slight changes will be made as time goes on. We always seek feedback from students, peers and our instructors to make things better. The current format is: seminars (optional), sparring, promotions, gauntlet (optional), and group picture.
ETIQUETTE
At promotions events every practitioner should wear a laundered Capital branded white training kimono. This is the equivalent of wearing formal attire for a special occasion, like a wedding. Also, it is extremely impolite to ask an instructor about being promoted.
WHAT DOES THE NAVY BLUE BAR MEAN?
Royce Gracie and the Valente Brothers wanted to honor Helio Gracie’s life and legacy by wearing the navy blue belt that Helio wore. Going forward they are asking representatives to wear the navy bar (excluding white belts and new black belts). For more information about Grandmaster Helio Gracie’s decision to wear the navy belt visit: graciekentucky.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-did-grandmaster-h...
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR PUTTING A NAVY BAR ON MY BELT?
The easiest thing to do is purchase athletic tape: www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&...
I BELIEVE YOU MADE AN ERROR REGARDING MEMBER X, BY PROMOTING/NOT PROMOTING HIM….
Think about a Jiu-Jitsu competition. Is it possible, from time to time, for the referee to make an error? Of course! It is also possible for the decision makers at our semiannual gatherings to make errors. However, as practitioners progress, more scrutiny is applied to their rank, and ultimately 40 - 60 black belts will test them. At that time practitioners must demonstrate the complete stand-up self-defense curriculum, striking, clinching, grappling and philosophy (the 753 Code).
I caution those who dwell on the rank progress of others, especially as it compares to their own. Instead I encourage you to apply your vigilance to your own journey in the gentile art.
DO I NEED TO BE AT THE PROMOTIONS EVENT?
To be promoted to the next color belt, yes. Technically, to be promoted with stripes on the purple and brown belt, also yes. However, we needed to honor time constraints at Saturday's event, and stripes for deserving practitioners will be awarded this week and in January.
IS THE GAUNTLET HAZING?
What is the difference between a healthy ritual and hazing? What in fact is hazing? According to Wikipedia: "Hazing is the practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.” Does the gauntlet qualify?
Couldn’t we define the gauntlet as a rite of passage? Google defines a rite of passage as, "a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, puberty, marriage, and death.” While I don’t know of any peer reviewed research articles, the overwhelming consensus is that there are tremendous psychological benefits to being included in a rite of passage.
There’s also acknowledging that our ritual is far less dangerous than the activities which led to it. Whether it’s the rigorous exercise, intense sparring rounds, competitions or the black belt test. In fact, Professor Pedro Valente noted that we are training to be effective in a proven fighting system. To take a hit is not only to be initiated, it's an essential component of our training.
I am not familiar with many of the reasons why people haze, and personally, I have never been involved in a hazing ritual. The gauntlet is our rite of passage; a tradition handed down to us by our elders. I am opposed to taking away or intensifying the gauntlet tradition. Our tradition is about the student, and I don’t believe that practitioners at Capital MMA experience some perverse pleasure in seeing people suffer. Rather, we are celebrating with the newly inducted.
I believe that the gauntlet tradition should only be carried on in the presence of the black belt instructors, exclusively at our semiannual promotions events. Also, it is our charge as black belts to educate junior members of our tradition, and how we conduct ourselves during the rite of passage. Injury, abuse and humiliation are never our objectives.
Finally, this tradition is, and always will be, optional. However, our requirements for being promoted are not. The rigor, intensity, and sacrifice experienced by senior practitioners is significant.
Our old windows required a lot of work: replace glass, repair and repaint wood, replace pulleys with new balances, fill pulley cavity with foam, weather-strip all joints, reinstall sashes, install interior and exterior trim, and flash exterior trim. How did it go? It took WAY longer than we thought. We had hired someone, but he could only do the glass replacement.
There are various ways to construct and assemble an RC aeroplane. Various kits are available, requiring different amounts of assembly, different costs and varying levels of skill and experience.
Some kits can be mostly foam or plastic, or may be all balsa wood. Construction consists of using formers and longerons for the fuselage, andspars and ribs for the wings and tail surfaces. More robust designs often use solid sheets of wood to form these structures instead, or might employ a composite wing consisting of an expanded polystyrene core covered in a protective veneer of wood, often obechi. Such designs tend to be heavier than an equivalent sized model built using the traditional method, and would be much more likely to be found in a power model than a glider. The lightest models are suitable for indoor flight, in a windless environment. Some of these are made by bringing frames of balsa wood and carbon fiber up through water to pick up thin plastic films, similar to rainbow colored oil films. The advent of "foamies," or craft injection-molded from lightweight foam and sometimes reinforced with carbon fiber, have made indoor flight more readily accessible to hobbyists. "Crash proof" EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) foam planes are actually even bendable and usually sustain very little or no damage in the event of an accident, even after a nose dive. Some companies have developed similar material with different names, such as AeroCell or Elapor.
The late 1980s saw a range of models from the United States company US AirCore cleverly using twinwall polypropylene material. This double skinned 'Correx' or 'Coroplast' was commonly used in advertising and industry, being readily available in flat sheet form, easily printed and die cut. Models were pre-decorated and available in ARTF form requiring relatively straightforward, interlocking assembly secured with contact adhesive. The material thickness (usually 3~6mm) and corresponding density meant that models were quite weighty (upwards of 5 lb or 2 kg) and consequently had above average flying speeds. The range were powered using a clever (interchangeable) cartridge motor mount designed for the better, more powerful 0.40 cu in (6.6 cm³) glow engines. Aircore faded from the scene around the Millennium.
Coincidently this is when the material was used experimentally by Mugi-the small tough delta glider was invented. This rapidly developed into a high performance design-the Mugi Evo. Popular worldwide as the plans were immediately launched freely on the Internet. Any grade or thickness of the material can be used by appropriate scaling. However the optimum material is twinwalled polypropylene sheet in 2mm thickness and at 350gsm (density)
Amateur hobbyists have more recently developed a range of new model designs utilizing the corrugated plastic or "Coroplast" material. These models are collectively called "SPADs" which stands for Simple Plastic Airplane Design. Fans of the SPAD concept tout increased durability, ease of building, and lower priced materials as opposed to balsa models, sometimes (though not always) at the expense of greater weight and crude appearance.
Flying models have to be designed according to the same principles as full-sized aircraft, and therefore their construction can be very different from most static models. RC planes often borrow construction techniques from vintage full-sized aircraft (although they rarely use metal structures).
Get to know about what are required technical skills for your audit team by Asif Bhatti to improved performance of the function if the budget was available and why it is essential. To know more browse @ www.iac-recruit.com
1665 is in the workshop for repairs so a spare Volvo occupies the 15th bay - this 16 strong 200S contract allocation are the only buses to escape scrapping from the former 2A contract fleet 1644-1672 and starting with 1662 on 23rd April these will gain red corners for the 7A to release 1500-1502 ,1199-1206 and 5 of the best older Scanias on 1A 6A or 7A for renewed 200S contract
WELCOME & SUPER SESSION: The Digital Health Manifesto
We require innovations that add value and quality to health and medical care delivery. It's crucial we recruit fresh thinking and new participants to solve our ongoing healthcare crisis. Join the first-ever roundtable discussion featuring healthcare's preeminent leaders who will hash it out to identify and resolve barriers that impede marketplace success in order to optimize the health of the nation. Present at the table: The Visionary, The Physician, The Provider, The VC, The Digital Health Innovator, The Consumer Advocate, The Retail Doctor. Speakers include: Dr. Reed Tuckson, Managing Director, Tuckson Health Connections, LLC, Margaret Anderson, Executive Director, FasterCures, Dr. Yan Chow, Director, Innovation & Advanced Technology, Kaiser Permanente, Todd Hixon, Managing Partner, New Atlantic Ventures, James Mault, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Qualcomm Life, Dr. Travis Stork, Co-Host / Chairman of Medical Advisory Board, The Doctors / MDLIVE, and Grant Verstandig, Founder and CEO, Audax Health.
Todd Hixon, @toddhixon, Managing Partner, New Atlantic Ventures, @navfund
WEBSITE: bit.ly/1c8MrF2
The Digital Health Summit at the 2014 International CES®.http://bit.ly/DigitalHealthCES - Focuses on the latest products and consumers' growing demand for high-tech health services. See solutions for diagnosing, monitoring and treating a variety of illnesses - from obesity to ADHD, from poor vision to high blood pressure...Official Hashtag #DHCES ..News & Press Articles #DigiHealthCESPress ..CES Hashtag: #CES2014.Website bit.ly/DigitalHealthWebsite.Twitter bit.ly/DigitalHealthTwitter.YouTube Videos bit.ly/DigitalHealthYouTube.Flickr Photos bit.ly/DigitalHealthFlickr.Linkedin bit.ly/DigitalHealthLinkedIn.Facebook bit.ly/DigitalHealthFB.Google+ bit.ly/DigitalHealthGPlus.Instagram bit.ly/DigitalHealthInstagram..Thank you IDEAL LIFE bit.ly/J3NdZc for sponsoring Digital Health Summit Live. ..Photos by Asa Mathat www.asamathat.com
From the August 2016 return trip to Siem Reap and the Angkor complex:
I love the Angkor complex, Siem Reap, and the Cambodian people so much that I returned again for about a week to photograph as much of the “non-major” sites as I could. Some of them are slightly far from Angkor Wat (by that, I mean to say more than 10 kilometers away), and usually require a little more money to get to. Also, some of the sites (Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen) are not included in the Angkor ticket price and have an additional admission fee.
I don’t know if there’s a set number of how many sites belong in the Angkor complex, though I’m sure it would vary. (Do you only count the major sites like Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm? Do you add the sites that aren’t included in the standard “Angkor Pass,” but are clearly of the same era? Do you include sites that aren’t even named (as are one of the sites in this series)? All in all, I’ll put a very rough number at…50 sites in the Siem Reap area, and that includes the sites that are about 100 km away. Of those, I would say I’ve been to all but 5-10 now. All are included here with the exception, obviously, of the sites that I didn’t visit. (Off the top of my head, I can say they include Koh Ker & that respective group, which is about 120 km ENE of Siem Reap; Phnom Krom, one of the three “mountains” with temples; Ta Prohm Kel; and Mangalartha.)
In practical terms, I’m afraid that with the volume of shooting (about 1,500 frames in the past 7 days), photos will start to look redundant to those who don’t have the same interest in ancient/historical architecture or Angkor as I do. That being said, there are a few things besides temples here. The Old Market area (now Night Market/Pub Street) is represented – a little – and Phnom Kulen has a pretty nice waterfall which is also in this series. Also, I tried to catch a few people in here, though didn’t get as many as I would’ve liked.
I had my friend Mao (tuktuk driver) take me around for 5 of these 7 days this time around. As I mentioned last time, he may cost a little more than what you can arrange through a hotel/guesthouse, but he’s well worth the money (and, in the grand scheme of things, not too expensive; I paid less than $200 for the five days, two of which were “long” trips). He loves his country and heritage, he knows what he’s showing you, he’s flexible, he gives you enough ice water to keep you hydrated, and he’s just a good guy. (He even bought me a birthday cake for cryin’ out loud…) Anyway, I highly recommend Mao. You can find him here: www.facebook.com/mao.khvan (or on Trip Advisor: www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297390-d10726821-R... )
Now that shameless plugs and other assorted rhetoric are out of the way, it’s time to get on to the temples, ruins, and other miscellany.
Today is really the excuse that I used to come back to Siem Reap for a week. Mao was nice enough not to schedule any other customers for today since it’s my 43rd birthday, and also for Saturday. (Another reason, I think, is that I wanted to see all of the non-major sites and most everyone else is only interested in the major ones. So…thanks to Mao for giving up a few bucks from others just to make sure I got to see all that I wanted these two days.)
Mao came to pick me up around 10:00 in the morning with his wife and adorable daughter. Today, we pretty much followed the small loop tour that we did yesterday (and that most tourists do). However, we skipped every spot from yesterday (Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm’s main temple, Ta Keo, Thommanon, Chao Say Tevoda, Bayon) and opted for the others along the same route.
The first stop of the morning was Prasat Kravan. This is a particularly interesting – and small – temple that consists mainly of one building with a central tower, but five chambers lined up in a row. Prasat Kravan was built in the early 10th century (consecrated in 921) and is built of brick. It was built during the short reign of Harshavarman I. The name is the modern name (though I don’t know the original name) and means “cardamom sanctuary,” for a tree that once stood here. From an architectural standpoint, what is most interesting – and what caught my attention – is the brick bas-reliefs here. They are the only known representation of these in Khmer art and are reason alone to visit here. The central tower has a statue of Vishnu and the northernmost has a statue of his consort, Lakshmi.
After 15-20 minutes at Prasat Kravan, Mao took me to Bat Chum, which was quite near. (It wasn’t on my list, so kudos to Mao for adding a few stops that I otherwise wouldn’t have seen; as I said, the man knows the territory, and I highly recommend him to anyone who comes here.) Bat Chum is a very, very small site (under restoration, though it looks like even the restoration has been forgotten) a few hundred meters due south of Sra Srang, and a few hundred meters east of the road from Angkor Wat to Banteay Kdei. When Bat Chum was built in 960, there were houses and a Buddhist monastery nearby, which have long since vanished. This temple was built by the lone Khmer architect whose name we know: Kavindrarimathana. He also built the palace of the East Mebon and Sra Srang. This is a temple with three brick towers. There are stone lions and interesting inscriptions here as well.
From Bat Chum, we returned to the main road, skirted along the eastern and northern sides of Banteay Kdei’s outer wall, then along the southern and western sides of Ta Prohm’s outer wall. Most people enter Ta Prohm from the western gate (as evidenced by the massive throng of tuktuks here) or the eastern gate (where you will find a slew of souvenir vendors). As far as I can tell, there is no southern gate – as I imagine you’d see it flying by on the road. (Banteay Kdei does have a northern gate, though people don’t seem to stop here.) Ta Prohm does have a rather charming and rarely visited northern gate that I was unaware of. Again…thanks, Mao. Just stop on the road at the northwest corner of Ta Prohm’s outer wall and walk east along the north wall for about five minutes to find the northern gate, surrounded by jungle.
Next up on today’s tour is a very small site that, from what I know, doesn’t even have a name. (Mao didn’t even know the name of the place, so it’s just titled ‘Unnamed Site’ here.) It’s very small, almost an afterthought, but still worth a look. It’s on the road heading due north from Ta Prohm’s west gate about 100-200 meters south of where it heads to the west to Ta Keo. It’s barely 50 meters off the road, so is very easy to visit in 10 minutes or so.
Right at the point where the road takes a 90 degree turn to head west to Ta Keo, you have the option of going straight (down a fairly bumpy dirt road) to Ta Nei. This is actually a larger temple, but unlike the others nearby, it hasn’t gone under extensive restoration yet, so it isn’t visited very often. It’s 800 meters north of Ta Keo, set back in the woods, and is 200 meters west of the Eastern Baray’s western border. It was built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The highlights of coming here are simply the setting, the pediments, and the overall lack of visitors.
After half an hour or so at Ta Nei, Mao and I hopped back in the tuktuk and returned to the main road, heading west past Ta Keo before veering north and making a very quick stop at the Hospital Chapel that is 150 meters due west of Ta Keo (slightly north). This is a very quick – 5 minute – stop that interested me simply because it was/is part of a hospital that’s close to a thousand years old now. It was built by Jayavarman VII (like so many of the Angkor sites) in the late 12th century. This sandstone monument is one of four that were on site here (and, from what I’m reading, one of 102 that were found throughout the empire). Honestly, seeing this just makes me wonder about 12th century medicine. What would a Khmer hospital at the turn of the 13th century have been like?
Moving north from the Hospital Chapel, the road takes another 90 degree turn to the west. Before entering the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, you pass Thommanon and Chao Say Tevoda (bypassed, as already mentioned), and then Spean Thma, near a bridge that crosses the Siem Reap River. (The Siem Reap River, today, is more like a gentle stream, though it was used to transport the quarried rock from Phnom Kulen to Angkor to build these massive temples a thousand years ago.) That aside, I decided to bypass Spean Thma for now.
Once inside the Victory Gate, which I mistakenly called the East Gate in May (it is on the eastern wall), we turned south on a dirt path about 100-200 meters inside Angkor Thom and traveled south, parallel to the wall. After less than 5 minutes, you arrive at the road that runs directly east from Bayon to the East Gate, otherwise known as the Slaves’ Gate or Gate of the Dead. (From the names, obviously, if anyone who didn’t belong to the royal family saw this gate…bad news for them.) According to Mao, the slaves were marched out this gate on the way to their execution. Grim history aside, it’s a rather nice gate, well-restored, with some good angles for shooting. It’s certainly worth a visit, especially since it’s so easily accessible – and there are rarely many people around.
After this quick stop, we took the road due west to the heart of Angkor Thom – Bayon – then headed up the road towards the North Gate, where the majority of Angkor Thom sites are located (just north of Bayon). Passing by Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper Kings (all on the west side of the main road), and the Kleangs and Suor Prat Towers (east side of the main road, with the towers being bisected by the road heading east through the Victory Gate), we turned off just north of the Terrace of the Leper Kings to the west to see Tep Pranam – very briefly – and Preah Pilalay.
Tep Pranam is simply a statue of a giant seated sandstone Buddha, still in use for worship today, that was built around the 16th century. If this were in an out-of-the-way place, it may not be worth the time. However, it’s in the heart of Angkor Thom and it’s impossible to go to Preah Pilalay without seeing it if you come by tuktuk. (This isn’t a complaint by any means; it’s rather nice.) Preah Pilalay is in the northwest section of Angkor Thom and is fairly remote (given the amount of tourists that the other nearby sites see). Its main features are a tall chimney-like structure, a few nagas, and its setting in the forest. It was built in either the 13th or 14th century, possibly by Jayavarman VIII or, perhaps, by Jayavarman VII. It’s about 200 meters north of the royal enclosure (Phimeanakas). Some of the larger trees that used to tower over the temple have been hewn resulting in a very different feel. However, it was a pleasant side trip.
Hopping back in the tuktuk and going directly across the road, the last stop for the day inside Angkor Thom was the Preah Pithu group. This is a collection of five temples/ruins in the northeastern section of Angkor Thom that is in a delightful wooded setting. If you can see them in early morning or late afternoon, you should get some wonderful lighting. You can spend as little as 15 minutes here or as much as an hour or two. They probably weren’t designed to be one cohesive group, though it’s not possible to say with certainty. They were built in the 13th century. (Though I mention this as the last stop, I’ve also included the North Kleang and Northern Suor Prat Towers here. Though I didn’t explore those in depth, I am giving them their own set here – Kleangs and Suor Prat Towers.)
On the way out of Angkor Thom, via the South Gate, we stopped outside the moat for a few pictures. Directly south of Angkor Thom are a few temples that I wanted to see: Thma Bay Kaek, Prasat Bei, and Baksei Chamkrong.
We visited them in that order. Thma Bay Kaek is nearest the road about 50 meters southwest of the bridge over the southern moat. All that remains here are the ruins of a square brick tower. It’s probably the remains of one of many temples that were here in the Bakheng area. It was built in the 10th century by Yasovarman I.
About a five minute walk - -if that – due west of Thma Bay Kaek is Prasat Bei (“Three Towers”). Unlike Thma Bay Kaek, these towers are still standing, so obviously, slightly more photogenic. They would probably be best photographed in early morning. The trees block it from the west in late afternoon. It, too, was built by Yasovarman I in the 10th century.
The last of the three temples in this area, Baksei Chamkrong, is the most impressive of the three. It’s from the early and middle 10th century (rededicated in 948) and was built by Harshavarman. This is a pyramid temple at the foot of Phnom Bakheng. The name means “the bird with sheltering wings,” though – like most temples here – this is a modern appellation that the builders wouldn’t have recognized. This tower is a single brick tower on a pyramidal base.
Finally, to finish up the day, Mao dropped me at Phnom Bakheng. It’s about a 20 minute walk up the hill around a winding path. This is considered to be one of the best places to watch sunset over Angkor Wat because of its panoramic view from the peak of the hill. However, everyone knows this, and this is the only place all day that was too crowded for my liking. In addition to its being under restoration to the point of making it a bit of an eyesore (for the time being), it was easily my least favorite place of the entire day. After waiting in line for 20 minutes and barely moving an inch, I decided to call it a day, taking 1-2 pictures (that you see here), and heading back down the hill.
Mao had disappeared into the throngs of people eating at restaurants. Fortunately for me, he spotted me. On the way back to the guesthouse, he stopped and picked up a birthday cake which we shared with the folks who happened to be at the guesthouse. All in all, it was a wonderful birthday. Tomorrow, too, would be just me and would include the lesser-visited sites on the Grand Tour Loop, in addition to 1-2 others.
As always, I hope you enjoy this set. I appreciate you taking time to look. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message or leave it via comment.
COLLEEN HOUSE MODEL Single Attached Type
Located at LANCASTER ESTATES, Imus,Cavite
just 15-20 mins to MALL OF ASIA
VERY ACCESSIBLE to MANILA, AIRPORT, BACLARAN, MAKATI
via CAVITE EXPRESSWAY(Cavitex)
HOUSE FEATURES :
* Three (3) Bedrooms
* Living Area
* Kitchen Area
* Two (2) Toilet and Bath
* Laundry / Service Area
* Dining Area
* Provision for Balcony
* Provision for One (1) Carport
* Provision for CATV, Telephone and Air-conditioning Unit
LANCASTER ESTATES AMENITIES:
*Church
*Petron Gas Station
*Transport Service to Manila
*Bus Stop
*St. Edward School
*Country Club
*Commercial Areas
*Wet and Dry Market
BANK FINANCING SAMPLE COMPUTATION
12.5% DOWNPAYMENT (NO INTEREST)
Estimated move in time: After 15Months
Total_Selling_Price: PHP 1,684,000.00
Add:Proceesing Fees: Php 134,720
Total Contract Price: Php 1,818,720
Downpayment Required:Php 207,340.00
Less:Reservation Fees:PHP 20,000.00
MONTHLY DOWNPAYMENT for 15months Zero Interest: Php 13,822.67
Loanable AMOUNT: Php 1,591,380.00
MONTHLY AMORTIZATION (MA)
(MRI & FIRE Insurance+Free Title Transfer included)
05 - - - PHP 34,536.20
10 - - - PHP 21,754.29
15 - - - PHP 17,825.13
20 - - - PHP 16,081.24
You can also avail thru In-house Financing, Deferred Cash and Cash Payment
WE DO FREE SITE TRIPPING DAILY! :)
Inform us a day ahead for the tripping sched.
Units are First come,First served basis only.
Pick up Points:
Crossing Starmall - Chowking @ 9AM
SM Makati - Watson @ 9:30AM
Pasay Taft Rotonda - Savemore @ 9:45AM
SM Bacoor - Mercury @ 11:00AM
FOR INQUIRIES/TRIPPING/RESERVATIONS:
Please see attached pic for my contact nos.
See you! :)
Thanks and GODBLESS! ;)
A pregnant body requires special attention as it has different needs than that of a normal one. You may have doubts arising in your minds on how to prepare your body for pregnancy. While preparing to carry another body in yours, the carrying body also needs to be prepped up to withstand the changes and increase endurance. In your journey to motherhood, yoga mixed with small exercises can be your best friend. While it undergoes drastic changes in the 9 month period careful exercise can be crucial for a healthy baby and mother. Fret not, we have your answer on how to exercise during this fragile stage.
Sampson has been our buddy since 2004. In the winter of 2008, he suffered a severe perineal hernia that required a $2000 surgery to repair it. At the time of the surgery, we were told that due to the severity of the hernia that it was likely to reoccur. As predicted, it has reoccurred and he desperately needs more surgery before 2012. Other than the hernia, he is a happy, healthy and active dog who should live to his mid to late teens. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience end his life prematurely. I have also contacted a Corgi rescue in hopes that he could be adopted to a family that is more financially able to care for him. However, since my husband and I can't have children, giving him up for adoption because of health issues seems as ridiculous to us as giving up our 9 year old child for adoption because we can't keep up with the medical expenses. We work in the service industry, living paycheck to paycheck and our credit is not good enough to get a care credit card that would allow us to make payments. To help us pay for Sampson's surgery, we have set up a ChipIn donation site to raise funds for Sampson's surgery. So please consider donating whatever small amount you can to help keep Sampson with the family that loves him. If you can't make a donation, please pass this info along to friends who may be able to help. Sampson, his Corgi buddies Shiloh & Rusty and his human family thank you! Click on the link below to go to Sampson's ChipIn.com page to make your donation. THANK YOU!!
corgisampson.chipin.com/sampson-the-corgis-hernia-surgery...
Periodic required disclosure; I'm a guest of Edmonton Tourism & Alberta Tourism on this trip, but opinions are my own.
This photo is shot from the side of a candle holder made of ice, one of many such decorations at the Edmonton City Hall ice rink.
More about Edmonton on the Perceptive Travel blog: perceptivetravel.com/blog/2013/02/14/not-what-youd-expect...
AM I PAYING TO BE PROMOTED?
No. You are paying for the seminars, and while I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars, it is not required. You may show up for the second half only. But, again, I strongly encourage everyone to be present for the seminars. It helps us with organization, expresses to the instructors that you are interested in learning, and fosters a team oriented environment.
WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR BEING PROMOTED?
Under the Capital flag you must demonstrate the 3 Ts: time on the mat, toughness and technique. Visualize a triangle, where technique is on top. On the bottom are time and toughness. Those who are very tough might have the time requirement reduced (but not below the minimum). Those with a great deal of time might have the toughness requirement reduced. Also, other variables may be taken into consideration. For example, one of our newest members is beginning his Jiu-Jitsu journey at 70 years young! Modifications will be made to ensure his journey is both challenge and rewarding!
WHAT ARE THE TIME REQUIREMENTS?
A blue belt takes an average of 1.5 years. A purple belt takes an average of 5 years. A brown belt takes an average of 7 years. A black belt takes an average of 10+ years. Most of the practitioners who tested for black belt had between 12 and 17 years of experience, and the pass rate was about 50%.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION FOR ADVANCEMENT?
Three instructors, including at least one black belt, must approve any promotion.
WHY DOES THE FORMAT KEEP CHANGING?
It’s been consistent for the last two years. However, we do expect that slight changes will be made as time goes on. We always seek feedback from students, peers and our instructors to make things better. The current format is: seminars (optional), sparring, promotions, gauntlet (optional), and group picture.
ETIQUETTE
At promotions events every practitioner should wear a laundered Capital branded white training kimono. This is the equivalent of wearing formal attire for a special occasion, like a wedding. Also, it is extremely impolite to ask an instructor about being promoted.
WHAT DOES THE NAVY BLUE BAR MEAN?
Royce Gracie and the Valente Brothers wanted to honor Helio Gracie’s life and legacy by wearing the navy blue belt that Helio wore. Going forward they are asking representatives to wear the navy bar (excluding white belts and new black belts). For more information about Grandmaster Helio Gracie’s decision to wear the navy belt visit: graciekentucky.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-did-grandmaster-h...
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR PUTTING A NAVY BAR ON MY BELT?
The easiest thing to do is purchase athletic tape: www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&...
I BELIEVE YOU MADE AN ERROR REGARDING MEMBER X, BY PROMOTING/NOT PROMOTING HIM….
Think about a Jiu-Jitsu competition. Is it possible, from time to time, for the referee to make an error? Of course! It is also possible for the decision makers at our semiannual gatherings to make errors. However, as practitioners progress, more scrutiny is applied to their rank, and ultimately 40 - 60 black belts will test them. At that time practitioners must demonstrate the complete stand-up self-defense curriculum, striking, clinching, grappling and philosophy (the 753 Code).
I caution those who dwell on the rank progress of others, especially as it compares to their own. Instead I encourage you to apply your vigilance to your own journey in the gentile art.
DO I NEED TO BE AT THE PROMOTIONS EVENT?
To be promoted to the next color belt, yes. Technically, to be promoted with stripes on the purple and brown belt, also yes. However, we needed to honor time constraints at Saturday's event, and stripes for deserving practitioners will be awarded this week and in January.
IS THE GAUNTLET HAZING?
What is the difference between a healthy ritual and hazing? What in fact is hazing? According to Wikipedia: "Hazing is the practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.” Does the gauntlet qualify?
Couldn’t we define the gauntlet as a rite of passage? Google defines a rite of passage as, "a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, puberty, marriage, and death.” While I don’t know of any peer reviewed research articles, the overwhelming consensus is that there are tremendous psychological benefits to being included in a rite of passage.
There’s also acknowledging that our ritual is far less dangerous than the activities which led to it. Whether it’s the rigorous exercise, intense sparring rounds, competitions or the black belt test. In fact, Professor Pedro Valente noted that we are training to be effective in a proven fighting system. To take a hit is not only to be initiated, it's an essential component of our training.
I am not familiar with many of the reasons why people haze, and personally, I have never been involved in a hazing ritual. The gauntlet is our rite of passage; a tradition handed down to us by our elders. I am opposed to taking away or intensifying the gauntlet tradition. Our tradition is about the student, and I don’t believe that practitioners at Capital MMA experience some perverse pleasure in seeing people suffer. Rather, we are celebrating with the newly inducted.
I believe that the gauntlet tradition should only be carried on in the presence of the black belt instructors, exclusively at our semiannual promotions events. Also, it is our charge as black belts to educate junior members of our tradition, and how we conduct ourselves during the rite of passage. Injury, abuse and humiliation are never our objectives.
Finally, this tradition is, and always will be, optional. However, our requirements for being promoted are not. The rigor, intensity, and sacrifice experienced by senior practitioners is significant.
Stairs to the trail behind Seljalandsfoss. Ice accumulated on everything that the mist from the falls settled on. Personally, I passed on taking the trail on this day.... Seljalandsfoss, south coast, IcelandNov 20 12 7755
To get the Marlin through its IVA will require a number of trips on a trailer. Compared with the cost and hassle of getting someone to transport it for me I thought fitting a towbar to the 325 touring made more sense. I can then hire a car trailer when needed.
The kit I bought is PF Jones own brand though what turned up looked suspiciously like the Witter one.
For some reason I quite like the look of the car with the rear bumper off. The holes that the bumper mounts were in look like a pair of high up massive exhausts
Protecting our national historic landmarks in a sustainable way requires persistent advocacy and determined activism; no where was this more apparent than at Preservation Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 7, 2011. Along with 200 other participants from around the country, I had the opportunity to trade stories with peers in the field and to volunteer my time for a one day lobbying effort. Our mission: to ask our elected officials to protect $70 million dollars in critical funding for historic preservation, including monies for programs like Save America's Treasures (SAT) and Preserve America that benefit small and large towns alike. From New York to Hawaii, everyone in attendance voiced concern about President Obama’s proposal to "zero out" dollars for solid, job producing programs like SAT. My concern is rooted in JHC's work in historical preservation; it was an SAT matching grant of $200,000, secured with the assistance of local Congresswoman Nita Lowey that first allowed JHC to upgrade its MEPs (mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems) in an effort to make the 1838 Jay Mansion greener. This "seed money" in turn inspired ten times that amount in private and corporate contributions, eliciting a total of over $2 million that made it possible for JHC to take the next big sustainable step – the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system. I could hardly envision where we would have gotten without the SAT program.
Several moments in the day made the experience particularly striking for me, as a preservationist and as a citizen of Rye. I met with our district’s Congresswoman Nita Lowey and her staff, who are attentive and top notch - throughout her career, Congresswoman Lowey has done a great deal for historic preservation and energy conservation in Westchester. But what made the day even more special was the chance to meet Congressman Maurice Hinchey and to thank him personally for his role in saving the Jay Property, as well as his unwavering dedication to the Hudson River Valley Greenway. Congressman Hinchey’s vision for John Jay’s home and for all the 99 member sites of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) is for them to one day become part of the venerated National Parks System (NPS).
NPS currently oversees 394 areas including “national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.” Hinchey has been advocating an NPS designation for the HRVNA because this action “would take the region to the highest, most prestigious level possible while making the region eligible for an increase in federal resources and support…these additional resources could be used toward conservation efforts, historic preservation, tourism promotion and a wide array of economic development activities.”
As the last meeting of this novice’s first long day on Capitol Hill, this approach to revitalizing main streets left me re-energized and inspired by the sustainable possibilities that our country and its many American treasures, like John Jay's home in Rye, have in their future through historic preservation.
[Postscript: The bad news - funding for Save America's Treasures and Preserve America was zeroed out. The good news - As of July 2011, Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Senator Kirsten Gillebrand are reintroducing legislation to fund a study to place the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area under the auspices of the National Parks System - this will help boost tourism and create jobs! Read more at www.nylcv.org/ecopoliticsdaily/20110707_high_hopes_for_hu...]
Jay Heritage Center
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275
Email: jayheritagecenter@gmail.com
Follow and like us on:
Twitter @jayheritage
Facebook www.facebook.com/jayheritagecenter
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www.instagram.com/jayheritagecenter/
A National Historic Landmark since 1993
Member of the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County since 2004
Member of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area since 2009
© Lightning Photography/Lee Smith. Any unauthorized usage will result in legal action.
Had this idea... I LOVE APPLE PRODUCTS as they are far ahead of PC's not only in design but also in the way they work as they hardly ever let you down.
Not only that but I work with them too as a retoucher/artworker/designer!
I also have the 24" iMac 2.4Ghz Intel Core Duo 2 with 4GB of ram but could not include it in the shot as I only have 2 hands and it is quite heavy! :) LOL
I love this Nikon 24-85mmf2.8-4 lens which also has a handy Macro feature. My Sigma 105mm Macro lens hardly gets used now as this lens is very versatile and really sharp for a zoom! :-)
Strobist:
D300 in commander mode.
On board flash @ 1/64 for a little extra front fill.
Group A: 2 SB600's. 1 each side of subject in 24" softboxes @ 1/3.2 power, zoomed to 24mm, cam left softbox is 2.5ft from subject & cam right softbox is 4ft from subject.
Group B: 1 SB800 on the floor behind subject pointed at the wall @ 1/2.5 power, zoomed to 50mm with a blue gel.
Nikon D300 | 24-85mmf2.8-4 | ISO200 | f8 | 1/250th with +1 exposure compensation (didn't realise this was on from last use... doh!)