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Austin, TX - October 2011
I really don't understand why people in Texas say, "I'm so happy to be back in Texas!" upon returning from a trip elsewhere. Not sure what people see in this place. Sure, I understand that this place is not an easy place to live, so you have to be tougher to make it here. You could say the same thing about other places like New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. I bet a lot of Texans couldn't survive in Portland given all the rain. Heck, there is a reason the government had to give this land away for free to settlers.
This project started out with me seeing some concept art by Ivan Tantsiura. The engines in particular really caught my attention. More boxy than what you normally see. So I decided to run with the concept.
The idea behind the shuttle itself was less scientific like NASAs shuttles, and more commercial. Carrying corporate employees to stations in Earth orbit. So the interior is more luxurious than you might expect with plenty of leg room. Even the cockpit has some measure of luxury, despite a lot of that being overridden with function The seat would have neural ports for the pilots to control the aircraft, something I couldn't manage on the model itself but the idea lives on in my imagination. Now, on the other hand, you don't want to waste money on too much luxury, so the rear cargo bay is bare metal with industrial warnings and hardpoints for securing luggage. Really embracing that military cargo bay feel. All in all I am really happy with the interior. I even managed to make room for figs!
I had just as much fun with the exterior. I wanted a super clean look that was reminiscent of our real-world shuttles, but still carried on more sci-fi design cues. The engines are an obvious start to that concept. Those were taken wholesale from the concept art I mentioned earlier, then modified and adapted to suit what I had in mind. The rest of the shuttle took shape from an early sketch I did of the top profile. And I swear I was using that leading edge design before the UCS Batwing was announced, that's what I'm saying to make myself feel better at least.
Obviously, another important part of the exterior is the color blocking. The orange came pretty naturally. It contrasts well without being too bright. And the part availability meant I had access to enough parts to really clean up the lines. The orange section on the underside makes me especially happy.
And that's really a good note to end on, I'm just really happy with this build. It let me have some fun and I think the final pruduct reflects that. As always, instructions are available on Rebrickable. rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-89840/AsgardianStudio/cyberpunk-...
Thanks for reading!
This iconic Warrumbungle National Park walk is famous for its wildlife and vistas of rugged volcanic landscape. Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk is the jewel in the glistening crown and is must do for bush walkers who love a challenge with their scenery. The track follows Spirey Creek before climbing steeply to give close encounters with iconic formations such as Belougery Spire, Bress Peak and Crater Bluff.
"This is patrol twenty-one, we need an Evac pronto! We've got mortar fire hitting everywhere and a group of Vietcong hell-bent on killing us!"
"Squad leader Crowe, please repeat what you just said, you broke off."
"I REPEAT, WE NEED AN EVAC OR WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE."
"Alright, we gotcha that time Lieutenant Crowe. Evac on the way"
For my MOC-off with [Renegade].
Seen here: www.flickr.com/groups/1959373@N22/
Also for the BAF 'Nam contest.
This Bar Relief is in San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome.
We enjoyed a bicycling trip to the Tuscany region of Italy and Rome in September, 2016.
This guy was trying to find out, what was so interesting on the other side of the beach when he noticed the clicking sound from my camera. He looked at me and then turned his head to the sunrise...I quickly snapped a few shots.
He didn't ask me anything, but I could feel he was trying to say..."What are you doing out here in the dark with all those stuff? its only 6.30 in the morning...crazy...."
Crazy or not, try to View Large On Black
Location : Pantai Batu Buruk, Terengganu. Malaysia.
This hairy species is Missouri's largest spider. The body and legs are uniformly dark chocolate-brown, with reddish hairs on the carapace. The tarantula's large size and shaggy appearance is frightening to many people, leading them to believe it has a ferocious nature. It actually is a shy creature, quick to evade humans. This species is sometimes called the Texas brown tarantula or the Oklahoma brown tarantula. Its range extends from Kansas and Missouri south to Louisiana, Texas and Arizona, so this spider might as well be named after any of the states it lives in! This is one reason why scientists prefer precise Latin names, which don't vary with local usage.
After heavy rain, the drain flushing from nearby wet lands into the Bay, was full of food for the bird life. I've never seen so many birds, but this pelican was funny spreading his wings to move others out of his way..
This lovely swallow was a delightful surprise for me to see. As I sat on my stool in the midst of a Barn Swallow fest, I noticed a few Violet-greens swooping around me, one of them coming in closer with each pass, as if to check me out. At one point, one of the swallows flew right across my arm and I could feel the whoosh of air as it did. Sweet!
This is a male Hooded Merganser (uncommon in Alberta) that flew in and landed on a large patch of open water in the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on 17 March 2011. Such beautiful birds with the white crest edged in black. This can be raised, as in this image, or lowered. He looks quite spectacular in his breeding plumage. Not the best photo, but I only have a few photos of this species.
This image is protected by copyright, no use of this image shall be granted without my written permission.
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This 60-second video/slideshow was taken on 19 January 2025 and demonstrates the beautiful reflection photography possible using the early morning sunlight here in Spain.
This week in 2004, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Designed and built by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, MESSENGER was the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. Protected from the intense heat of the Sun by an innovative ceramic-cloth sunshade, MESSENGER provided the first images of the entire planet and collected information on the composition and structure of Mercury's crust, geologic history, atmosphere, magnetosphere, and the makeup of its core and polar materials. The spacecraft arrived at Mercury on March 17, 2011, and impacted the planet's surface April 30, 2015. MESSENGER was part of the Discovery program, managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. The NASA History Program is responsible for generating, disseminating, and preserving NASA's remarkable history and providing a comprehensive understanding of the institutional, cultural, social, political, economic, technological, and scientific aspects of NASA's activities in aeronautics and space. For more pictures like this one and to connect to NASA's history, visit the Marshall History Program's webpage.
Image credit: NASA
This back-alley scene was photographed in Seattle, just minutes from the waterfront. During my editing process, I created a cinematic look from the past with glowing globes and a warm vibe.
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©️ All Rights Reserved Louis Ruth Photography
I don't think any aerodynamics working here, but still this car seems to be well balanced. It goes fast and straight!
Today’s Covid-19 Exercise Walk took me past the back door of Debenhams (it should really be Debenham’s but like most high street stores the apostrophe has been dropped). The sign on the window signals that the store is closing but the “This Store Only” qualification is now sadly out of date following the announcement on Monday that the brand was sold for £55 million to Boohoo and that all of the 188 stores throughout the UK will close. That puts an end to Debenhams’ 242 years of trading on the high street and a slice of our shopping culture vanishes.
According to the Times “The seeds of its demise can be traced to an infamous private equity-led asset stripping. TPG Capital, Merrill Lynch Private Equity and CVC Capital took Debenhams private in a £1.7 billion leveraged buyout in 2003, paying down the £1.1 billion of debt they loaded on to the chain by selling and leasing back its stores on 25-year deals, as well as squeezing suppliers. Within months they had taken a £130 million dividend, and in just three years they made more than three times the £600 million of equity they originally put in.”
What now for Edinburgh Princes Street site I wonder ? Another hotel, bar and eatery ? Time for a planning re-think I suggest.
This is the look I get whenever I'm eating something and Chi ball wants. This boy has such bad starving kitten syndrome.
This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be embedded or used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Bruce Finocchio.
A couple of years ago went through a phase of calming the waters with the ubiquitous big stopper...lol..I like the effect but much prefer the crash and roar.....:))
"this dawn awakes with floating ribbons on the sea, an ocean sunrise stretches toward the beach in rainbows of light; a breathtaking sight to see
as earth and heaven sigh in harmony, and the sands begin to glow with golden light
as waves wash away the darkness of the night."
Annette Bromley
This is a bottle of the liqueur Chartreuse (see previous image), made by Carthusian Monks since 1737 in the Chartreuse Mountains above Grenoble, France. I don't particularly like it, the bottle is over 10 years old, and some seems to have evaporated out over time. So for 118 pictures in 2018, this is #42, "Why am I keeping this?".
So this is a follow up to the Anakin Skywalker - What If I posted a while back. It's based in the same universe and operating under the same galaxy changing event.
Obi-Wan Kenobi - With the public execution of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine at the hands of the CIS commander General Grievous, the Jedi council made it their highest priority to capture the villainous commander and bring to justice before the Senate. To accomplish this, they assigned the Open Circle Armada commanded by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to lead the spearhead into the heartland of Separatist space with one objective. Capture Grievous.
Having faced the droid general on multiple occasions and failing to best him in combat, Obi-Wan would often feel guilt for Palpatine's death, believing that had he not failed in the past the Clone War would have come to an end long ago. But with the help of his former apprentice, Obi-Wan was able to look beyond his past failures to the future. Both he and Anakin would bring Grievous to justice in the name of the former chancellor.
The spearhead campaign would take both Jedi to the edges of the Outer-Rim, culminating in a skirmish on the sinkhole world of Utapau where Grievous would gravely wound Obi-Wan by stabbing the blade of a lightsaber through his stomach. As his former apprentice fought the droid general one on one, Obi-Wan was able to use the force to briefly numb his pain.
As he delved deep into the force to grant him the power he needs for one last strike, Obi-Wan heard a familiar voice calling to him.
"I am proud of you, Obi-Wan."
At first Obi-Wan was taken aback. Hearing the voice of his deceased master distracted him for a moment, but calling on the force allowed him to lunge forward with his lightsaber. Before Grievous could react, Obi-Wan decapitated the Separatist commander. Neutralising the threat.
Collapsing from blood loss, the Jedi master was rushed to the nearest medical bay onboard a Republic cruiser. Despite a near brush with death, Obi-Wan survived and told Anakin about how he'd heard the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn speak to him. It was at that point that Anakin confessed something he'd hidden from his master since the beginning of the Clone War. Following the first battle of Geonosis, he had married Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo.
Whilst he was taken aback by this revelation, deep down Obi-Wan had always suspected that his feelings for Senator Amidala were more than he cared to admit. Though hesitant, Obi-Wan voiced his support for his former padawan, and promised to keep his secret. In a jokey remark, Obi-Wan then asked if Anakin knew who the father of Padme's future child would be, much to the Jedi Knight's horror.
With the elimination of General Grievous, it was believed the Clone Wars would come to an end with the capture of Count Dooku, the recently ascended Sith Lord. Though keen to finally bring peace to the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin were ordered back to Coruscant for a much needed reprieve from the conflict. As they left Utapau, Grievous' final trap would reveal itself. Every sinkhole on the surface of Utapau had been layered with explosives designed to detonate two days after activation. The explosions would destroy every city on Utapau and destroy a sizeable portion of the occupying force.
The devastation would leave the surface of Utapau inhospitable. Realising the horrors that the Separatists were capable of, the Republic vowed never to end the war until their enemy was wiped from existence.
As both Anakin and Obi-Wan returned to Coruscant, Padme went into labour resulting in an unexpected surprise.
Anakin became the father of twins.
As his closest friend, the young Jedi asked Obi-Wan to be godfather to his children. Obi-Wan graciously accepted.
Though he was happy for his former padawan having the family he'd always wanted, deep down Obi-Wan felt more isolated than ever. Having lost the love of his life the Duchess Satine of Mandalore to the hands of Darth Maul, just under a year ago he couldn't help but feel heartbroken every time he saw Anakin's new family.
To distract himself, Obi-Wan would take on a new apprentice by the name of Jaylam Duos. Despite his reluctance in the past to take on a new apprentice, having wanted to not teach a pupil during a time of war, Obi-Wan decided that his declining physical condition meant it was unlikely he'd make past the war thus his choice to take on his new apprentice now.
As both master and apprentice began to move into the unknown regions of space, they'd encounter Count Dooku's newest agents. Sith acolytes, all vying for the position as Dooku's apprentice. Though Kenobi and Duos were able to defend themselves against the acolytes, the Jedi Master lost the closest friend he had during the Clone War. Clone Commander Cody was killed saving Duos' life from one of Dooku's acolytes.
In a moment of rage, Obi-Wan was able to disarm all four of Dooku's acolytes by severing their hands, only to allow them to leave. A perplexed Duos would be met by one of the first lessons Kenobi was taught by his own master.
'Revenge is not the Jedi way.'
In honour of their fallen comrade, Duos would take the former clone commander's blaster pistol and continue to use it in conjuncture with his lightsaber much to Kenobi's dismay. He considered blasters to be a crude and inelegant weapon compared to a lightsaber.
As time would progress and the recently deceased Commander Cody was replaced by Clone Captain Sendro, Kenobi's former apprentice would achieve the rank of Master before being named Grand Master of the Jedi Order as Master Yoda passed the reigns to young Skywalker. Though the transfer of power was questioned by some council members, Kenobi would openly endorse his former Padawan, claiming there was no-one more suited for the role than the Chosen One himself.
Under Skywalker's leadership, the Jedi would undertake an intensive search throughout the galaxy to locate the final piece of the puzzle needed to end the Clone War. Reigning Sith Lord, Count Dooku known by this point as the nefarious Darth Tyranus. After two weeks scouring the galaxy, Kenobi and Duos would come face to face with the Sith Lord.
The duel between the three of them would culminate in the Sith Lord besting Kenobi in lightsaber combat, but not before the Jedi Master could sever one of Dooku's hands. Even in his weakened state, the old man was able to easily best Duos in lightsaber combat and would use his blade to decapitate the young boy. Distraught, Obi-Wan declared how horrifically Dooku disgraced Qui-Gon Jinn's legacy.
In a moment of what appeared to be regret, the Sith Lord chose to leave the duel without taking Kenobi's life. This would prove to be the Count's undoing, as Kenobi was able to place a tracker on the Sith Lord's cape allowing Republic intelligence to track the Count back to his last refuge.
A moon sized battle station known as the 'Death Star'. Reunited with Skywalker, both Master and former apprentice would lead the Republic fleet into battle against the Separatists one last time, with the fate of the galaxy in their hands....
This was one of the most amazing sunsets i have ever seen!
We were heading to see the lighthouse in mizen head and we had to stop the car to get out and take shots of and watch the sunset.
It was magical!
Mizen Head, Co. Cork, Ireland
This is part of the Penrith Flickr assignment. Victoria bridge taken from the East bank of the Nepean River from below the Log Cabin - Finale
I have to stop here, otherwise this will be worse than flower shots :)
This Belted Kingfisher was shot in the wild...non zoo, non baited, non show bird.
On the far right is the 'down arrow'- click on that to open 'original' size... click 'open' on original size and then hit F11 on keyboard for full screen effect...
This couldn't have turned out better. Especially since this four-light set up was put together ON the way to this location and the set-up time was mere minutes before the train rolled across the Fox River at Sheridan.
Thanks Vahey for the M5-athon and slow-roll across the river and thanks Darkman Guss for the lighting.
This engine house was once part of a thriving tin mine on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. I wanted a gritty image so I converted to b/w and added some grain and a slight brown tint
This plant is growing in a rural auto wreckers yard. It's colour is harmonious with the faded paint of a nearby automobile. Taken near Guelph, Ontario.
“Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don’t throw away the best of yourself.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
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This picture is for the group Macro Mondays and this week the theme is "Glaze".
This tiny plate is almost 1 1/2 inches wide.
I'm not happy at all with this picture. Since I had such a hard time photographing it I wanted to submit it to the group in hope of suggestions. I took the picture outside. I have an even harder time taking pictures indoors. I just can't seem to get the lighting correct and I'm never happy with those photos.
I was focusing on the the picture on the plate but it bothers me that the edges looked blurred. I also hate that the white of the plate is not all white (on the left, around the edge, you can see what I mean) which I'm assuming is a shadow or glare from the house.
I certainly appreciate your comments!
This image highlights the location of the galaxy JADES-GS-z6 in a portion of an area of the sky known as GOODS-South, which was observed as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey, or JADES.
More + high resolution image: www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_s...
This galaxy, along with others in this region, were part of a Webb study by an international team of astronomers, who observed the chemical signature of carbon-rich dust grains at redshift ~7. This is roughly equivalent to one billion years after the birth of the Universe. Similar observational signatures have been observed in the much more recent Universe, attributed to complex, carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is not thought likely, however, that PAHs would have developed within the first billion years of cosmic time. Therefore, this observation suggests the exciting possibility that Webb may have observed a different species of carbon-based molecule: possibly minuscule graphite- or diamond-like grains produced by the earliest stars or supernovae. This observation suggests exciting avenues of investigation into both the production of cosmic dust and the earliest stellar populations in our Universe, and was made possible by Webb’s unprecedented sensitivity.
The team’s research indicates that this particular galaxy showed significant dust obscuration and has undergone substantial metal enrichment relative to galaxies with similar mass at the same redshift. The team also believes the galaxy's visible colour gradient may indicate a peculiar geometrical alignment of stars and dust.
In this image, blue, green, and red were assigned to Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) data at 0.9, 1.15, and 1.5 microns; 2.0, 2.77, and 3.55 microns; and 3.56, 4.1, and 4.44 microns (F090W, F115W, and F150W; F200W, F277W, and F335M; and F356W, F410M, and F444W), respectively.
The galaxy is shown zoomed in on a region measuring roughly 1x1 arcseconds, which is a measure of angular distance on the sky. One arcsecond is equal to 1/3600 of one degree of arc (the full Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5 degrees). The actual size of an object that covers one arcsecond on the sky depends on its distance from the telescope.
Image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, ESA, CSA, B. Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), B. Johnson (Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian), S. Tacchella (University of Cambridge, M. Rieke (Univ. of Arizona), D. Eisenstein (Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian), A. Pagan (STScI)
[Image description: The image shows a deep galaxy field, featuring thousands of galaxies of various shapes and sizes. A cutout indicates a particular galaxy, known as JADES-GS-z6, which was a research target for this result. It appears as a blurry smudge of blue, red and green.]
I’m happiest when me and I think this photo shows that. I feel incredibly comfortable wearing female fashion and I know what I like and find that when I try it on I’m usually right and because I feel that I look fabulous then my whole body radiates that feeling…… the pose, the confidence, the relaxed nature of how I’m seated and my smile 😊❤️️⚧️
Incredible panoramic view from The Sky Terrace 428, The Peak, Hong Kong.
The peak tower is the most iconic landmark in Hong Kong located 396m above sea level. Dazzling array of restaurants and shops set against the beautiful backdrop of the city.
Madame Tussauds (Wax Museum) is located inside this building too!
Share to the world interesting image as always!
Randy Tan
RnD.de.Portraits
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