View allAll Photos Tagged useful,
nobody said art had to be popular!!! where there's art, there's critics!!
here are some useful "cracker "termsA GUIDE TO CRACKERESE
Here are words and phrases used by Crackers over the centuries.
Catchdogs — Cracker cattle-herding dogs trained to literally "catch" a cow and hold its ear or nose in its teeth until a cowman arrived.
Chittlins — Cracker version of chitterlings, or hog innards, cleaned and cooked.
Conchs — Key West Crackers.
Cooter — A freshwater soft-shell turtle eaten by Crackers.
Corn Pone — A "dressed-up" hoecake, made from the standard cornmeal, but with milk instead of water used in the batter. Cone pone differs from cornbread in that the former is fried and the latter is baked.
Cracklin — Fried hog fat used for food, sometimes mixed into meal to make cracklin cornbread.
Croker sack — Burlap gunny sack sometimes used for clothing.
Curlew — Pink spoonbills hunted for food and for their plumes.
Drag — A rawhide whip used by Crackers for driving cattle or wagon oxen.
Fatback — Called fatback because this is exactly where it comes from — off the back of a hog. It was cut in small squares and put in cooking pots to flavor beans and other vegetables. Sometimes, it was roasted until it became crunchy and eaten like popcorn for a snack. Lard was made by boiling the fatback and straining it through fine cloth.
Fetch — To get, as in to "fetch" some water.
Grits — A principal Cracker staple made from dried and coarsely ground corn, used in place of potatoes, never as a cereal. Hominy grits, not to be confused with hominy corn, is a Northern label for a coarser grain of ground corn.
Hoecake — Primitive bread cake made of cornmeal, salt and water and cooked in an iron griddle or skillet. It is said that these cakes were once baked on a hoe held over an open fire.
Hominy — Whole grains of white corn treated with lye and boiled for food.
Literd — A hot fire started with fat pine.
Low-bush lightning — Cracker term for moonshine–liquor made and smuggled during Prohibition.
Marshtackie — A small horse with a narrow chest, prized by cowmen for their smooth ride, durability and quick maneuverability. Descendants of the horses brought to Florida by the Spanish, they are adapted to the Florida wilderness.
Pilau — Any dish of meat and rice cooked together, like a chicken pilau. Pronounced "per-loo" by Crackers.
Piney-woods rooter — Wild hog and a regular part of the Cracker diet.
Poultices — Medicinal salves made with materials such as soap, fat meat, chewing tobacco, chopped onion, scraped Irish potato and wet baking soda.
Pull — To take a hard drink from a liquor jug.
Rot gut — Bad whiskey.
Sawmill chicken — Salt pork.
Scrub chicken — Gopher tortoise, once a Cracker delicacy, now illegal to take.
Scrub cows — Cracker cattle bred to withstand the tough conditions of the Florida range. They are descendants of original Spanish cattle introduced to Florida in 1521.
Swamp cabbage — The tender heart of Sabal palm, cut and boiled like cabbage.
Store-boughten — Cracker materials which could only be purchased from a store.
Truck garden — A plot garden which was grown to produce a surplus of vegetables for sale to local grocery stores, etc.
Varmit — The Cracker version of varmint, or any small animal, especially rodents.
Courtesy Dana Ste. Claire, curator, The Cracker Culture in Florida History. Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences
For 'Macro Mondays' theme of 'Hand Tool'.
Not quite what you would expect as a 'Hand Tool' but 60 to 70 years ago you improvised and used what was available to do a job ! Some of us still do.
My Dad always carried a coin in his pocket on the basis that you never knew when it might come in useful. I've seen him remove stones from his car tyre with a coin and I've seen him use a coin as a screw driver.
So here you have a more common use - removing a lid from a tight tin. Those more familiar with a 'modern' film camera will have used a coin to loosen and tighten the battery cover on the base of their camera.
Lesson to be leant - always carry a coin in your purse or pocket, but perhaps not like my Grandfather who always had a half-sovereign with him!
Russian Jupiter 9 85mm ...................................... less than 2 inches
These are extreme useful for making you figs that much better! There a bit on the pricy side, but I guarantee you'll get your moneys worth out of them!
A build for Lands of Roawia (LoR) online role-playing game. LoR features motivating contests and character-driven stories.
Dinosaur heavily inspired by senteosan's majestic Tyrannosaurus and Stegosaurus on LEGO Ideas.
Abner landed on the shore with Scraff and a handful of marines just before dawn. They waited in silence while the launch returned to the Spirit of Lenfald to retrieve the rest of the party. The boat returned after a short time with the rest of the men. Scraff and twelve marines would accompany Abner on his expedition inland to discover what wonders New Lenfald held for them. Toliver had remained aboard the ship to “chart the seas,” though Abner suspected the decision had more to do with the bull tortoise encounter then Toliver’s interest in navigation. Regardless, Abner knew the navigator would be of more use on the ship; Toliver planned to sail south along the shore in search of an easterly current. If this new land was an island, as Toliver suspected, the Spirit of Lenfald would await the expedition on the far side where it could be spotted from the top of the mountain range.
Abner turned to the men on the beach. “Gentlemen,” he started, “I will keep this brief. I understand that you are outstanding marines- the best, in fact, in Roawia. However, I caution you to remember that your skills are tailored to life and battle at sea. The land is a very different environment, and it is my territory. I am a ranger, trained to survive in the toughest terrain and to go unseen by my enemies wherever I travel. Trust me, do as I say, and stay close. I will guide us through this land. Now come, follow me.”
Scraff trotted up to Abner as they began to move inland. “The men will follow you, Abner. I think they’ve quite forgotten that they planned to have your head just two days ago.”
Abner shook his head, bemused. “Unbelievable. I can’t even fathom how they can change that quickly.”
Scraff smiled. “Ah, but I can. My marines are used to the harsh life at sea. They’re, ah, adaptable.”
Abner raised an eyebrow. “Adaptable?”
Scraff shrugged. “Best I could come up with in the moment.”
They reached the river before noon and turned west, following the water’s course as Abner had the previous day. They skirted the place where they had encountered the bull tortoise and continued inland. The terrain grew rougher and the trees grew larger and closer together. They had reached the foothills of the great mountain range and it seemed that dense vegetation could be expected for the remainder of their trek. Abner called a halt.
“We’ll make camp here for the night,” said the ranger, turning to address the marines. No one said a word of complaint. They were all dripping with sweat- it was extremely hot and humid and it took a great deal of effort to move through the undergrowth.
“Why did you choose this spot in particular?” questioned Scraff, looking about with his brow furrowed. “I assume you have a reason for doing so. You always seem to have a reason for things. I don’t see why you can’t just do something for the fun of it. It’s a pity, really. Anyhow, why have you chosen this spot to make camp?”
Abner chuckled. “Scraff, you really are an interesting fellow. I’m quite glad to have you along with me,” he said. “But to answer you, I chose this location because it will protect us from whatever might seek to harm us in the night.” He pointed to his right. We’re just below the crest of the hill, so we won’t be sitting up there in plain sight. But we’re high enough that anything passing by will simply go around the slope rather than climbing up to us,” he gestured around him. “The vegetation is rather thick so it will hide us, but it thins out downhill so we can see anything that might try to approach us. We are close enough to the river to draw water but far enough to avoid contact with any thirsty individuals,” he stopped. Scraff was looking at him incredulously. “What?” he asked.
“All of that just to sleep?” said Scraff. “No thank you. I’ll take a bunk or a hard deck over that any day,” he said, dropping his pack on the ground. He looked at Abner. “You think we might not be alone here?”
“It’s possible,” replied Abner. “There hasn’t been a sign of anyone living here, but even a bear or a pack of wolves would be devastating to us if we weren’t careful.”
Scraff grinned sheepishly. “Or a bull tortoise.”
“Or that.”
They ate a hearty supper of some very tasty fish the marines had caught in the river and some foraged fruits that Abner had determined to be safe to eat. The men turned in at sundown, half of them standing guard while the others slept. It was an uneventful night and the men rose eager and well rested at dawn. They broke camp, being careful to erase all evidence of their presence there.
Abner showed the marines how to cover their tracks and hide the ashes from their cooking fire. They caught on quickly and they were on the move again before long. Abner led them up through the thickening plants, pushing through them as often as he could and hacking his way when he couldn’t.
“Ever been in a jungle before, Scraff?” he asked jokingly.
“Curse you, Abner, and your blasted curiosity,” swore the big marine. “I’d give you a knock on the head if I could just find you in this mess right now!”
Abner laughed aloud. “Hah, a ‘knock’ from you would end me. It’s a good thing I’m a better woodsman than you.” He darted through the foliage and jabbed Scraff with his elbow, immediately feinting back into the bushes.
“Why you little-“ said Scraff, flailing about in the plants. “Where’d you go?!”
Abner laughed again as he heard the commander crashing about in the foliage. He turned back to the party. “Head count!” he called.
The marines each sounded off in turn, Scraff bringing up the rear with a string of curses. Suddenly he stopped and called out, “Captain!”
Abner turned towards his friend’s voice and pushed his way through the jungle to where Scraff stood. “What is- whoa!” he exclaimed. In front of them stood the strangest plant Abner had ever seen. It looked like an enormous flower, its petals each the size of a man. On a thin vine rising from the center of the plant dangled a large fruit the size of a watermelon. Its skin was like that of a peach and it looked incredibly delicious.
“Finders keepers!” said Scraff, starting forward excitedly. Abner yanked him back quickly.
“No, Scraff!” he ordered.
“What?” cried Scraff. “You can’t just pull rank now that there’s a plump, juicy fruit on the line! Not even fair. See, if I-“
“Scraff,” said Abner. “No one is going near that fruit, or anything like it for that matter.”
“What are you talking about?” demanded Scraff.
In response, Abner plucked a rock from the ground and hefted it through the air at the center of the giant flower. The second it touched the plant’s center, the petals snapped up from the ground violently, smashing together like jaws with a sickening crunch.
“I see,” said Scraff. “How about I don’t touch anything any more?”
One of the marines spoke up. “What was that?” he questioned, looking at Abner.
“That, Felnor, was a trap plant,” replied Abner.
Felnor shrugged. “Doesn’t help.”
“There are some of them in Lenfald, too, though none close to this size,” Abner continued. “In Lenfald they are about the size of your palm and they eat mostly insects. By the looks of it, this one has much larger prey in mind.”
“Wait, so now there are carnivorous plants?” Scraff said. “This place just gets better and better!”
“The good news is, they don’t chase you!” replied Abner jovially.
“You really just can’t let that whole bull tortoise thing go, can you Abner?” asked Scraff.
“Never.”
At that moment Abner felt the hair on his neck begin to stand on end. He looked around him quickly, but nothing in the brush seemed to be amiss. He knelt to the ground and closed his eyes.
Scraff looked down at him, bemused. “Abner, I daresay you-“
“Shhhh!” Abner hissed.
Scraff motioned to his marines and they knelt quietly as well, turning outward and grasping their weapons.
Abner felt something- something so slight and unassuming that he wasn’t even sure what sense had detected it. Puzzled, he lay flat and pressed his ear to the ground. He felt a miniscule vibration, heard the ground rumble just a bit. Then it happened again, then again, in perfect rhythm. Still baffled, Abner focused as hard as he could, straining to make out what exactly he was detecting. The rumbles grew slightly louder, like drumbeats, as if from a distance. Abner opened his eyes as the drumbeat grew louder. The ground now shook visibly, ever so slightly whenever the rumble sounded. Abner’s eyes widened and he sprang to his feet.
“RUN-“ a monstrous roar shredded the stillness of the jungle, a deafening sound that rattled the men to their very bones. A sound more terrifying than anything they had ever heard.
“Go! This way!” screamed Abner, shoving one of the marines ahead of him into the foliage. Abner counted the men out of the little clearing as they plowed back into the jungle, jumping in behind Scraff at the back of the column. The marines up front had drawn their blades and now hacked through the densest vegetation as they ran. Leaves and vines still struck them all as they careened through the foliage.
The ground now shook violently and another earth-shattering roar ripped through the air.
“I suppose you know what that is, then, ranger?” yelled Scraff, his ears still ringing.
“I haven’t the foggiest!” Abner called back, ducking under a low-hanging branch. He was fiddling with an arrow as he ran.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to run with sharp objects?” called Scraff, grinning insanely.
“She’s a healer, Scraff. She just patched me up after I did!” replied Abner. “That thing is getting closer!”
The ground was now rumbling as if shaken by an earthquake and they could hear the booming footfalls of whatever monster pursued them. Suddenly a cluster of squealing lizard-things burst through the foliage and darted past the men as if oblivious to their presence. The creatures were extremely fast, sprinting by on two legs with long tails extended straight back behind them. They were like nothing Abner had ever seen.
“Well, it’s a day of firsts even for me!” yelled Abner to Scraff, who had fallen back to motivate the lagging Felnor. As Abner turned to look back at the two men, his world seemed to go into slow motion. Above the marines, the jungle canopy suddenly tore apart, the trees bending like saplings and leaves flying everywhere. Then the most terrible thing Abner had ever seen burst through, its massive head descending towards one of the lizard-creatures- and towards Scraff!
The beast was enormous, dwarfing elephants, buildings, and even the dragons Abner had heard about. Its monstrous jaws were filled with rows of jagged teeth and giant horns protruded from its face. Time slowed even more for Abner. He raised his bow and nocked the arrow he had been holding to the string. The monster’s jaws descended towards Scraff, passing the lower jungle canopy. Abner drew back his longbow with all of his strength, its sturdy wood groaning in protest. The beast moved down, down- it was almost upon Scraff now! Abner let his arrow fly.
The scene seemed frozen in time. The shaft crawled through the air, moving unbearably slowly towards the marines and the great beast. Abner saw Scraff’s determined expression- there was never fear on that man’s face! – and Felnor’s look of terror as he sprinted with his crossbow. There was terror in the eyes of the lizard creature, too- it heeded nothing but its own feet as it tore through the jungle, its only thought to escape the monster that pursued it. The arrow carved its path forward, flying just over Scraff’s head and clipping off a piece of the feather that adorned his hat. The terrible beast’s jaws opened fully and it was now merely feet from Scraff’s body.
Then the arrow struck it. The missile flew straight and true, burying itself in the giant tongue of the monster. The massive beast reeled in pain, whipping its head up and snapping its jaws closed blindly, missing Scraff and Felnor by just feet. The two men continued to charge ahead, Scraff screaming at his young companion to move faster. Abner did not hesitate for a moment. He dropped his bow, drawing his short sword and running forward towards the wounded creature.
Scraff saw him turning and shouted something back at him, but Abner did not hear him. Abner’s world grew quiet, and he saw only the monster in front of him. It clutched at its scaly throat desperately, scratching at itself with its ferocious claws. Its face swelled and its eyes turned upward, its legs suddenly growing limp. The beast fell down, down, crashing through the jungle and snapping trees like twigs beneath it.
Scraff turned back and screamed something at Abner again, his eyes widening.
Abner, who was now directly beneath the creature’s neck, raised his sword calmly above his head, pointing it right at the beast’s throat. The monster descended towards him, as if Abner’s whole world was crashing down around him. Abner closed his eyes as the world went dark around him.
Scraff looked on in horror as the enormous monster slammed into the ground.
“ABNER!”
My friend is staying in a waterfront home that was once a brothel. Our distinguished politicians would enter the facility from a boat through a trap door under the building, so as to arrive unseen and unknown.
For two days every year in the month of January, the city of Bikaner comes alive with the celebration of the Camel Festival of Rajasthan. A lively and colourful event, the Camel Festival is organized by the Department of Tourism of Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the Desert of Rajasthan. Camel is known as the Ship of the Desert, the Camel has been a fundamental part of the lives of the Rajasthani lifestyle since time immemorial. In the camel country Bikaner of Rajasthan, these desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and even work at the wells. In order to acknowledge the importance of this useful animal, the Camel Festival of Bikaner is celebrated on a grand scale in Rajasthan. Desert region's Folk dances and Music of Rajasthan; add on to what is otherwise an exclusive camel affair of Rajasthan. A festival when the ships of the desert are seen at their best. Camels of Rajasthan fascinate tourists from all over the world with their movements, charm and grace. A spectacle of unusual camel performances in Rajasthan: camel races, camel dances, and the bumpy, neck shaking camel rides.
This is my Silva compass. Part of its perspex base has broken off. It's little used now that Google Maps and OS maps online make instruments like this almost obsolete. However, it does not need batteries, nor does it lose its signal, so still useful as a backup. Probably about fifty years old now and still working.
Pilot G-Tec-C4 rollerball
One spot of Cass Art watercolour
Seawhite A4 concertina sketchbook
Inktober '21 No 16
#Inktober2021
useful tail
my lichen photos by genus - www.flickr.com/photos/29750062@N06/collections/7215762439...
my photos arranged by subject, e.g. mountains - www.flickr.com/photos/29750062@N06/collections
Happy belated to Hasselblad creator and photographer Victor Hasselblad, whose birthday was a couple days ago. I've been a proud owner of a Hasselblad 500cm for around eight years now and it has become one of, if not my most prized and useful possessions. I can only imagine the immense satisfaction that Mr. Hasselblad must have had knowing how many people used his cameras to create images. I'm sure he would also be quite pleased (maybe not surprised though) to know that the beastly early models of the 500 series are still out there producing beautiful images in 2021.
When I was looking to get back into film and dip my toe into the medium format waters, I considered a number of different cameras. A few film shooters local to PDX and here on Flickr were inspirations and made me take a closer look at the 500 series. What I saw was an incredibly flexible system with outstanding build quality and aptitude. Searching my archives for an image to match, this photo from our front garden 'popped' out at me.
The versatility of the camera was on full display. Interchangeable film backs let me to load a roll of Portra 800 into an empty back which allowed for increased speed and depth of field, letting me shoot this handheld at a higher shutter speed. A tack sharp Zeiss lens mounted along with a 55mm extension tube got me up close for a true macro view. Plus the ability to swap the waist level finder for the PM-5 prism viewfinder for critical focusing and useful eye cup to block out light on a sunny day. The result is a spot on focus image of the inside of a poppy flower, so sharp you can see individual bits of pollen. Not to mention that I could have easily taken this same film back, and put it on my SWC for the next frame for a 38mm wide angle photo of our entire yard and house from the same spot. Not many film systems can claim this kind of versatility with the quality to match.
From our front yard to the Bavarian Alps, from the South Pacific seas to snow storms......my Hasselblad has been around, and never let me down.
Thank you Victor, I salute you.
Image with my Hasselblad 500cm.
Fujifilm X-Pro1 / Lightroom CC
Fuji X Secrets Workshops & Blog
Read the X-Pert Corner blog.
Useful (e)books on Fujifilm cameras:
The Fujifilm X-T20 – 125 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T2 – 120 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T10 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T1 – 111 X-Pert Tips 2nd edition
The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual
Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1
Save 40% with coupon code XPERT40
Die Fujifilm X-T2. 120 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-Pro2. 115 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-T10. 115 Profitipps.
Thomas the tank engine
Here's a really useful engine you know
'Cause the fat controller he told him so ...
Rail Safety Week, Central Station, Sydney, Australia (Monday 15 August 2016)
Progenitors
Classification: Mid-Long Range
Armaments:
(1) BZ-BLSTRCS198X
(1) HC-DUALCS198X
A unique reFrame intended for space exploration and travel, the Explorer was designed to be used by Moon's Special Forces. The huge propellant boosters on its back would allow it to exit Earth's orbit on its own but required the Explorer to be airlifted via special carrier to optimal launch altitudes. A few of these units were field tested on Luna base and some are still operational to this day.
---
More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog: messymaru.com/
Follow me at other social media sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MessyWorksLEGO
Twitter: twitter.com/Messymaru
Instagram: www.instagram.com/messymaru/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/messymaru
---
reFrame Version 3.0 frame (instructions) now available
For those interested in LEGO mech building, I also have an eBook from 2015 called Mech Wars 2015 Instructional Primer. It contains some things I wrote about basic mech building, a bit about my Mech Warsuniverse, and all my early models from 2014-2015. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful.
Fujifilm X-T20, RAW / Lightroom CC
Fuji X Secrets Workshops & Blog
Read the X-Pert Corner blog.
Useful (e)books on Fujifilm cameras:
The Fujifilm X-T2 – 120 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T10 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T1 – 111 X-Pert Tips 2nd edition
The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual
Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1
Save 40% with coupon code XPERT40
Die Fujifilm X-T2. 120 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-Pro2. 115 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-T10. 115 Profitipps.
____________________________________
Useful Links
§ Article 3 December 2014 by Aime Williams, a highly talented journalist then with the Tottenham and Wood Green Independent. Carpetright in iconic building to close before Christmas.
§ Click to view in Flickr lightbox.
§ Click to see photos of this building on fire in the Tottenham riot; and later rebuilt flic.kr/p/ptMfxL. It's one of his fascinating then-and-now pairings of photos, posted on Flickr by Roll the Dice.
§ A scary children's story about Lord Bigwig of Carpets. A short video by Rhonda Evans about protesting parents who held a kids' "carpet time" at Carpetright in Tottenham Hale Retail Park.
§ View the film Academies and Lies by Rhonda Evans about Lord Phil Harris of Carpetright and his takeover of a Tottenham Primary School. Also on YouTube.
For many years the Wheeling & Lake Erie used a former passenger car as the yard office at Hartland Yard on the Hartland Subdivision. The car wasn't designed for this purpose, but it worked. It has since been replaced with a more conventional structure. (Scanned from a slide)
20th biennial Finnish-American Festival, Naselle, Washington.
July 2022
Below are entries chock-full of information having to do with each of the plates shown above.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Left: "Compliments of FORSMAN & COMPANY, Naselle"
This would be a useful plate to have around now, 102 years after it was made, because I've never had a good grip on the year the Great War (WWI) ended. The plate would reinforce the year the war began and ended. Or would it?
The prominence of the date 1920 might confuse matters further. However, with the war having ended in November, 1919, it makes sense that 1920 was when commemorative objects such as plates were produced.
While the passage of years appears to have erased all traces of Deep River's Forsman & Company, history has not forgotten the community of Deep River, not even a little bit!
=======================================================
Many Finnish immigrants settled in Deep River and the surrounding areas of Washington. There were striking similarities between life in Finland and life in this area, including an economic life that depended largely on timber and salmon, both of which were plentiful in the Deep River area. The Pacific Northwest was an ideal destination for Finnish immigrants. There was free land that was covered with timber for them to claim.
Seasonal work opportunities were available all year. There was salmon fishing in the spring and summer. Work was available at logging camps the rest of the year.
The daughter of a Finnish immigrant described the early settlement of Deep River:
When asked how the area was settled, an elderly, buxom woman replied, "First the Finns came to fish. Then when Olsons opened the logging camp, they went to Sweden and brought back men to work in the woods. The Swedes married the Finn girls. Later a few Irishmen and Poles drifted in." (Appelo, 1986, p. 110)
This woman also related that her protective Finnish father had built the family’s house in the center of their property to prevent his daughters from seeing and associating with the railroad workers. In spite of his precautions, she waved at one of the railroad brakemen, a handsome Swede. She noted that this Swedish railroad worker later became her husband.
Carlton Appelo (1978, p. 12) listed the names of some of the early Finnish settlers in the Deep River area who arrived before Washington became a state in 1889: Erik Hanson; Henrik Denson (Deep River Cemetery land donor); Isak Herajarvi; Johan Pakanen; Antti Jakob Kantola (Kandoll); Henrik Harrison (Pirila); Mikael Homstrom; Lars Loukkanen (father of August and Chas. Larson); Johan Lueeni; Johan S. Nelson (Ahola); Antti Pirila (father of Albert and Gust Pirila); Johan Erik Rull; Johan Vilmi; Erik Johnson; Karl Forsman; Erik Melin; Antti Rippa (Andrew Rinell); Simon Keko (father of Ed Simmons); Johan Parpala; Johan Salmi (Santalahti); Johan Lamppa (Johnson); Matt, Fredricka, Matti, Joseph, Rosa, and Kalle (Charles) Riippa; Matt Hakala; Matti Harpet (Haapakangas); John Haapakangas; Antti Penttila; Gust Gustafson; Peter Maata; John Ehrlund Rantala; Erik Maunula; Andrew and August Eskola; Antti Johnson (Salmi); John Laakso; Matt Puskala; Abraham Wirkkala; Matt Mathison; and John Warra (Autiovarra).
The prevalence of Finnish immigrants in the Deep River area is evidenced by the many Finnish names that are listed in a cemetery transcription that was recorded for the Deep River Cemetery, and listed on a website that is maintained by the Genealogical Society of Finland. Many Scandinavian names are also found at a Wahkiakum County cemetery transcription site maintained by the "RootsWeb" genealogy organization that lists the names of persons buried in several cemeteries in the county.
The Early Deep River Community
The two major early industries of the Washington territory, particularly in Deep River, were the timber and salmon-fishing industries.
The Timber Industry.
An article in a special section of the Ilwaco, Washington Tribune in 1970 celebrated 100 years of logging at Deep River. The author, Larry Maxim, described the life of the men who worked in the timber industry and felled the gigantic trees as men who were "giants with muscles of laced steel cable and the stamina of an Olympic athlete." The men worked hard for extended periods of time and lived at the logging camps, which usually consisted of a bull barn, a cook shack, and a bunkhouse.
The bunkhouse was crude, just enough to keep out the rain. The bunks were just as crude, a few rough boards spread with straw. The logger had to do his own laundry. His laundry machine–each logger had one–was a five-gallon kerosene can in which he boiled his socks and underwear and sometimes took a sponge bath. (Maxim, 1970)
II. THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE DEEP RIVER FINNS
by Sandra Johnson Witt *
References
I. C. Arthur Appelö and Carlton Appelo: The contributions of two Swedish-Finns to Deep River, Washington and America
An important center of activity at the logging camps was the recreation hall, which the logging companies provided for their workers. The loggers and their families often gathered for dances that lasted until the early morning hours. Children came along too, and slept on mattresses that their parents brought.
Jessie Hindman, an Astorian Budget columnist, wrote an article about the history of the Deep River Timber Company in 1956.
This company owned 4,000 acres of land located above Deep River, one of the shortest and deepest rivers in the world. The logging area contained some of the best timber in the country, including top-grade fir, spruce, hemlock, and cedar.
She described how the local people and logging workers, mostly Finns and Swedes who had begun their lives here as fishermen, became the pioneers of the logging industry in this area. These early families lived together in close association with each other.
The early families along Deep River lived together in such a closely knit life that it was almost as if they had been hurled back into some clannish age. Travel was done entirely by boat as there were no roads except private ones. Towns just 50 miles away were spoken of as "The Outside." Yet, when talking to the older inhabitants of the valley, one is immediately impressed with the full realization that theirs was a happy, satisfying life. (Appelo, 1986, p. 103)
Early home life among the settlers in Deep River was simple. Kerosene lamps provided light and wood stoves provided heat. Most of the houses were made from rough unpainted boards. The women made the clothes and quilts for their families, which they washed by hand. They also planted the gardens and flower beds in addition to planning the recreational activities for their families, which included dances, picnics, boat rides, water carnivals, and playing cards. Playing cards was especially popular during the winter months when steady rainfall forced the families to stay inside. At times, the men would animate their poker games with the hard liquor or beer that they had purchased in Astoria.
Salmon Fishing.
The other major early industry in Deep River was fishing. Astoria had become a major salmon-fishing area by 1870. Because of its location on the Columbia River near the Pacific Ocean, riverboats provided access to the transcontinental railroad. Astoria’s facilities had access to the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Their experiences in Finland made many of the Finnish immigrants ideally suited for successful careers in the salmon-fishing industry.
The Columbia River Fishermen’s Protective Union was incorporated in 1884 and is one of the oldest conservation unions on the West Coast.
In 2003, an article in the Columbia River Gillnetter, the union’s official publication, outlined its early history. "The Story of Two Hundred Fishermen" describes how a group of fishermen successfully established the Union Fishermen’s Cooperative Packing Company in 1896 during troubled economic times, when the salmon industry’s future was uncertain because of some unethical practices that had taken place for 30 years.
The founders, many of whom were from Finland, risked their savings and worked hard to establish this company. They were convinced that their efforts to offer the consumers superior canned salmon would succeed. The cooperative was incorporated by Sofus Jensen, Anton Christ, Ole B. Olsen, J. W. Angberg, and Matt Raistakka:
With their savings for capital, our founders entered into the highly competitive and well-financed salmon packing industry of the Columbia…
Building of the net racks, except for pile driving, was done without charge by stockholders. They received $1.50 a day working on the cannery. They were eager and capable craftsmen. Many had been brought up in Scandinavia and Finland where they had learned trades under masters.
All were imbued with the cooperative movement then taking root in Western Europe. They had acquired a practical understanding of what it means to run a cooperative business successfully. (p. 19)
Community Life, Schools, and Churches.
Many of the immigrants’ children did not learn English until they attended school. The early rural schools in the area were small. The elementary schools were usually one-room buildings that served as many as 80 pupils. It was common for one female teacher to be responsible for teaching the children in all eight grades. Teachers were generally brought into the area from the "Outside," but often married the local farmers, loggers, or fisherman and stayed in Deep River to raise their families.
Church activities were an integral part of community life. The Finnish settlers of Deep River, Naselle, and Salmon Creek organized into a congregation in 1894 as the Finnish Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. They shared a pastor with the Astoria Finnish Church. The Deep River Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1898 near the Deep River Cemetery. The church was the first organized Evangelical Lutheran Church in the area and has been officially proclaimed a National Historical Site.
Women were deeply involved in community life. In 1906, the female members of Naselle Church formed the Nasellin Ompelu Seura (Naselle Sewing Circle), which functioned for 71 years to support missions and hospitals, with an emphasis on salvation and benevolence.
Athletic Activities and Music.
Finnish immigrants knew how to work hard, but they also knew how to play hard. They actively participated in all aspects of Deep River community life, including athletic activities. Baseball was especially popular. Most of the members of the official Deep River team, the "Coyotes," were Finnish loggers and fishermen. The team had a very successful pitcher, Arvo Davis, and catcher, Arthur Anderson.
Athletic activities, including footraces and baseball, were often held on the boardwalk road from the Deep River landing to Pentti’s Pool Hall. When the weather was good, Fred Pentti was often observed sitting on a bench in front of the pool hall to view the athletic events.
The Swedes used to sit on the railing on one side and the Finns on the other–hurling insults at one another. When things got too rough, Pentti would wind up his phonograph and play some nice accordion music. Even the kids were allowed to come down and listen to the music. (Appelo, 1997, p.1)
The Finns have always enjoyed music. Many of the Finnish settlers were accomplished musicians. Axel Larson, a well-known fiddler from the Olson’s Logging Camp, played for hundreds of dances with his wife Matilda, who played the piano, and his brother Ernest on the accordion. Charles Hertzen, a talented violinist, and Fred George, who played the guitar, later joined their band. Axel liked to relate their experience of leaving the logging camp by pump cars (also known as hand speeders, operated on railroad tracks) with their musical instruments, and pumping their way four miles to Deep River:
They transferred to row boats and rowed two miles to Svenson’s Landing, then walked nearly six miles by road (carrying their dress shoes in the pocket of their coats) wearing boots. Arriving at Meserve’s store they climbed the stairs to the large hall on the second floor to play for a local crowd plus the ten dancers they brought with them. This lasted until 3 a.m. and they retraced their route only to find that the railroad rails had become frosted. The hand speeders had to be pushed rather than pumped over the slippery areas. They arrived back at Olson’s camp in time to hear the breakfast bell at the cook house. Some of the men had to go to work for a full day in falling timber. (Appelo, 1978, p. 41)
Axel Larson, long-time employee of Deep River Logging Company, playing his fiddle as he did for countless local dances in southwest Washington.
World War I.
Twenty five years after the Washington territory became a state, the young Finnish immigrant men were asked to defend their new country in World War I. Carlton Appelo (1978) cites an article from the June 1917 edition of the Deep River newspaper:
A party of well known young men residing in Deep River were en route to Cathlamet to take physical exams for the selective service under which they were recently called to colors.
363 Arthur C. Appelo
368 Henry J. Johnson
373 Henry W. Lassila
379 Jacob W. Matta
383 Charles L. Eskola
388 Charles Koski
390 Arvo Davis
All seven are fine specimens of physical manhood and will no doubt pass the required examinations enabling them to enter the military service with the national army which is to be mobilized in the near future. (p. 78)
Accomplishments of Early Finnish Immigrants.
Many of the children of the Finnish immigrants were able to move into professional careers through hard work and steadfast personal dedication to education. At times they pursued adult education programs at night while they worked during the day to make a living for themselves and their families.
In a brief history of Finnish settlements along the Columbia River that Carlton Appelo prepared for the 1999 FinnFest USA, he listed the accomplishments of several Finnish immigrants to the Deep River area, B. S. Sjoborg, Erikki Maunula, and Oscar Wirkkala. B. S. Sjoborg (1841-1923) immigrated from Kristinestad. He was the cannery foreman at Astoria in 1875. After changing his name to Seaborg, he founded the Aberdeen Packing Company at Ilwaco and Aberdeen. He was Washington’s first senator when it became a state in 1889.
Erikki Maunula–who invented numerous devices that were used in the salmon-canning industry–donated land for the Deep River Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church has been designated a National Historical Site.
Oscar Wirkkala (1881-1959) was an extremely successful inventor of items used in the logging industry. He held more than 20 patents, including the Wirkkala choker hook, the Wirkkala propeller, and the widely-used skyline logging system.
In addition to the considerable professional accomplishments of many of the Finnish immigrants, certain aspects of the Finnish culture that the immigrants brought with them contributed to the culture of Deep River and the surrounding area. In addition to the immigrants’ willingness to work hard to improve the future lives of their families, there was a pervasive sense of community and mutual respect among the Finnish immigrants. This sense of community could be observed in all types of activities, including those related to the area schools, churches, athletics, and social events.
Many immigrant Finns became prominent entrepreneurs in business in industry as well as professional fields, but it was the rural Finnish immigrant who created a sense of community. Neighbors came to the rescue when misfortune hit, and food was shared at school gatherings or social events.
Attendance at Cottage Church Services was done without worrying about denominational sponsors. It is that same familial spirit uniting entire communities that survives today. We care about each other. (Appelo, 1999, p. 1)
The Finnish immigrants supported each other through difficult times. In 1918, when Fred Pentti–an immigrant from Kannus, Finland–was severely injured while working as a brakeman on the logging train, Deep River residents and businesses readily assisted him. The logging camp workers donated $5 each to him, the Deep River Land and Wharf Company donated a piece of land to him, the Olson brothers gave him lumber from their mill, and the community joined together to build a pool hall for Fred.
His business became the focal point for all types of sport including his favorite, baseball. It was the social club for many young men of the area…It was commonly called "Pentti’s College" (pronounced collitch). No one would say that moonshine didn’t change hands out front during those days of prohibition. When 3.2 beer became legal, it was Pentti’s tavern. (Appelo, 1978, p. 41)
In order to successfully farm the land, much of which was wetland, the settlers had to install dikes and extensive drainage systems. Because of the primitive roads that were generally limited to use in the summer, almost all travel was by water.
The riverboat "General Washington" made daily round trips to nearby Astoria–the source of supplies, mail, and medical services to Deep River–and provided the residents with transportation to and contact with the outside world.
This riverboat was built in 1909 by the North Shore Transportation Company. It served Deep River, Knappton, and Frankfort until the early 1930s, when the newly built area highway became more competitive for passenger and freight travel.
The General Washington steamship approaching Deep River Landing, circa 1915
II. THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE DEEP RIVER FINNS
by Sandra Johnson Witt *
The labor of immigrants was essential in order to build the infrastructure of North America. The immigrants cut timber and cleared land to build their homes and farms. Because there were no roads (only rivers) in the early Deep River area, travel was usually by foot or boat. The immigrants (and their horses) worked hard to build the roads in their new country.
Immigrant road builders
Ironically, the advent of the better roads that the Deep River citizens had worked so hard to construct resulted in a decline in the town. Construction of the bridge one mile downstream from the Deep River landing diverted traffic away from the main part of town. The railroad that had provided economic resources and brought people to the town was doomed by the use of trucks to transport lumber.
Although the improved roads relieved the isolation of the area, they brought an end to the riverboat era. Trucks replaced the boats as the main means of transporting various types of cargo to and from the community. The Deep River Timber Company ceased operating in 1956.
The elementary school was consolidated with other schools.
The movie house and Pentti’s Tavern closed. The Shamrock Hotel had depended on the loggers as boarders, and was forced to close.
Only local residences, the post office, and Appelo’s General Merchandise and Insurance Agency remained in Deep River.
sydaby.eget.net/emig/deep_river.htm
RIGHT: CHARLES A. NIEMI (ca. 1884-1961)
1930 Federal Census
Birth Year: abt 1894
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 36
Birthplace: Washington
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Naselle, Pacific, Washington, USA
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Value: 3000
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 26
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Finland
Mother's Birthplace: Finland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Retail Merchant
Industry: General Merchandise
Class of Worker: Employer
Veteran: Yes
War: WW
Household Members Age Relationship
Charles A Niemi 36 Head
Esther E Niemi 35 Wife
C Albert Niemi 9 Son
Henry W Niemi 7 Son
Hilda M Nasi 27 Servant
31 August 1917: Charles A. Neimi was accepted by the local draft board, presumably in connection with military service in WWI.
The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, p. 6.
26 April 1928: Niemi sues the state road contractor for $5,031.44 for materials and merchandise furnished in connection with the contractor's work in Wahkiakum and Pacific Counties in Washington.
The Olympian, Olympia, Washington, p. 14.
Camera: Cosina Voigtlander Bessa R3M
Lens: KMZ 50mm f1.5 Jupiter 3
Film: Fuji Neopan 400 (Legacy Pro)
Developer: Xtol
Scanner: Epson V600
Photoshop: Curves, Healing Brush (spotting)
Cropping: None
RICOH GXR MOUNT A12 My Useful set for traveling
Total weight 1.25kg
Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f4.5 Aspherical (22.5mm)
GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO
Leica SUMMICRON-M f/2/50mm (75mm)
Maxine's beauty tip #3 - make yourself useful! "Here I am at Mom's desk, sitting on her printer, being a beautiful inspiration throughout the day. She can't get anything done without me!"
I mentioned when I posted the strutting seagull that I was having Camera Camp for my granddaughters, Adora (age 11) and Shiloh (age 9) during their March break so I thought I'd give you the update. The girls had a great time and I know it's true because they want to do it again. So do I! It was great fun.
Our first stop was the Centennial Conservatory and it was a busy place, filled with people taking pictures of the Spring bulb display. The night before we went I took the girls through some photographs of flowers created by people I follow so they'd have an idea of what they were trying to achieve and from the moment we arrived they were hard at it for over two hours. They each took almost 300 pictures at the greenhouse alone!
Over the next couple of days, we went into Toronto to look for 'photo ops' as well as out into the countryside and it was really interesting to see things through their eyes and what they chose to photograph.
What was amazing to me was the speed with which they picked up the basics of Photoshop. Two computers were set up in the room and I swiveled between them both until I was almost dizzy as I talked them through the edits of their photos.. I had to laugh when they discovered the 'Distort' filters....they were whooping like they were on a roller coaster with all the crazy things they were doing to their pictures. They think cloning is great fun and also found the 'undo' button particularly useful (one of my own favourites).
So I've set them up with a Flickr photostream with the provisos that they are not given the login details and only photos they've edited themselves will be posted. There are a lot of pictures waiting to be edited on their next visit but I think they've made a pretty good start.
And I'm not the least bit prejudiced. :-D
Their photostream is here: www.flickr.com/photos/adora-shiloh/
From the feedback I've reveived on my cannon ball w/pin, it appears there is an inrerest in seeing it used in a mixel-ball hub (#14704 "Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Ball Receptacle Small on Side"), but with some alterations.
Some have suggested I pierce the ball, to allow any length of bar to attach. However, without a bar molded tot the ball, you can't remove the ball from the ball receptacle without a knife!
So, I'm wondering if a barbell design might work, and if so, what length of bar would be most useful (expressed in terms of plate thicknesses)
Your thoughts?
Zandvoort , The Netherlands
GTevent2011
Please make some useful comments and/ or fave my photo if you like.
Fujifilm X100F / Lightroom CC
Fuji X Secrets Workshops & Blog
Read the X-Pert Corner blog.
Useful (e)books on Fujifilm cameras:
The Fujifilm X-T20 – 125 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T2 – 120 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T10 – 115 X-Pert Tips
The Fujifilm X-T1 – 111 X-Pert Tips 2nd edition
The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual
Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1
Save 40% with coupon code XPERT40
Die Fujifilm X-T2. 120 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-Pro2. 115 Profitipps.
Die Fujifilm X-T10. 115 Profitipps.
Such a useful house myriapod but yet, injustly feared. It helps regulate pests, eats spiders (yes he does), cockroachs and every crawlies in your house. Stop spreading misinformations about them, they are fantastic and will never bite anyone. They are fast runners and will always prefer to retreat instead of fighting a gigantic human.
Night hunters, they can sometimes be difficult to see, they like to hide between furnitures and wood barks, more generally in bewteen everything that can provide them some shadow.
Medium Format time......
Bit of fun here, I've put together lots of combos today for a bit of fun!!!
Some are useful others that just look great together!!
Here's the first one.
Hasselblad 500c with 80mm Zeiss Planar f/2.8
&
Yashica Mat 124G with 80mm Yashinon f/3.5
My new bag - WOTANCRAFT - City Explorer 002 Ranger
Review Here - aperturepriority.co.nz/wotancraft-city-explorer-002-ranger/
Other combo's - www.flickr.com/photos/52590822@N05/sets/72157631709973211/
More of my gear here - www.flickr.com/photos/52590822@N05/sets/72157628438050933/
Phedora. - "Asura" Boots Available at SABBATH Event
For our first time in Sabbath, we made a pair of sexy, thigh high, chunky platform boots that will spice up your outfits! Our "Asura" Boots come in a 34 colors fatpack,100% MESH,Parts Individually Changeable, Rigged for EBody Reborn, Inithium Kupra, Legacy & Maitreya!
❥ LM : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/GASET/93/202/25
❥Wear your group tag for 10% off!
❥Join our group inworld for 10% discount: Phedora Updates
❥ALWAYS TRY DEMO FIRST
USEFUL LINKS
the Perthshire winter approaches - 4X4 time! This is the "useful" beemer, the convertible is less useful but more fun: flic.kr/p/Q4jY2d
book / 2014
40 pages ($20/$33)
please see my tumblr for more info:
e5books.tumblr.com/post/104414538527/useful-reading-2014-...
turkey vultures definitely have their own beauty with their richly coloured feathers and red head; gentle and useful creatures...
Not particularly groundbreaking or anything, just an LDD example to show one of my go to methods for smooth surfaces with studs in two directions.
A giant tortoise at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone nigra) is the largest living tortoise, native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. The Galápagos tortoise is unique to the Galápagos Islands. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 ft) long. They are long-lived with a life expectancy in the wild estimated to be 100-150 years. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the seventeenth century. Now only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. However, conservation efforts since the establishment of the Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation have met with success, and hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands. They have become one of the most symbolic animals of the fauna of the Galápagos Islands. The tortoises have very large shells (carapace) made of bone. The bony plates of the shell are integral to the skeleton, fused with the ribs in a rigid protective structure. Naturalist Charles Darwin remarked "These animals grow to an immense size ... several so large that it required six or eight men to lift them from the ground.". This is due to the phenomenon of island gigantism whereby in the absence of natural predation, the largest tortoises had a survival advantage and no disadvantage in fleeing or fending off predators. When threatened, it can withdraw its head, neck and all forelimbs into its shell for protection, presenting a protected shield to a would-be predator. The legs have hard scales that also provide armour when withdrawn. Tortoises keep a characteristic scute pattern on their shell throughout life. These have annual growth bands but are not useful for aging as the outer layers are worn off. There is little variation in the dull-brown colour of the shell or scales. Physical features (including shape of the shell) relate to the habitat of each of the subspecies. These differences were noted by Captain Porter even before Charles Darwin. Larger islands with more wet highlands such as Santa Cruz and the Alcedo Volcano on Isabela have lush vegetation near the ground. Tortoises here tend to have 'dome-back' shells. These animals have restricted upward head movement due to shorter necks, and also have shorter limbs. These are the heaviest and largest of the subspecies.Smaller, drier islands such as Española and Pinta are inhabited by tortoises with 'saddleback' shells comprising a flatter carapace which is elevated above the neck and flared above the hind feet. Along with longer neck and limbs, this allows them to browse taller vegetation. On these drier islands the Galápagos Opuntia cactus (a major source of their fluids) has evolved a taller, tree-like form. This is evidence of an evolutionary arms race between progressively taller tortoises and correspondingly taller cacti. Saddlebacks are smaller in size than domebacks. They tend to have a yellowish color on lower mandible and throat. At one extreme, the Sierra Negra volcano population that inhabits southern Isabela Island has a very flattened "tabletop" shell. However, there is no saddleback/domeback dualism; tortoises can also be of 'intermediate' type with characteristics of both. The tortoises are slow-moving reptiles with an average long-distance walking speed of 0.3 km/h (0.18 mph). Although feeding giant tortoises browse with no apparent direction, when moving to water-holes or nesting grounds, they can move at surprising speeds for their size. Marked individuals have been reported to have traveled 13 km in two days. Being cold-blooded, the tortoises bask for two hours after dawn, absorbing the energy through their shells, then becoming active for 8–9 hours a day. They may sleep for about sixteen hours in a mud wallow partially or submerged in rain-formed pools (sometimes dew ponds formed by garua-moisture dripping off trees). This may be both a thermoregulatory response and a protection from parasites such as mosquitoes and ticks. Some rest in a 'pallet'- a snug depression in soft ground or dense brush- which probably helps to conserve heat and may aid digestion. On the Alcedo Volcano, repeated use of the same sites by the large resident population has resulted in the formation of small sandy pits. Darwin observed that: "The inhabitants believe that these animals are absolutely deaf; certainly they do not overhear a person walking near behind them. I was always amused, when overtaking one of these great monsters as it was quietly pacing along, to see how suddenly, the instant I passed, it would draw in its head and legs, and uttering a deep hiss fall to the ground with a heavy sound, as if struck dead." The tortoises can vocalise in aggressive encounters, whilst righting themselves if turned upside down and, in males, during mating. The latter is described as "rhythmic groans". The tortoises are herbivorous animals with a diet comprising cactus, grasses, leaves, vines, and fruit. Fresh young grass is a favorite food of the tortoises, and others are the 'poison apple' (Hippomane mancinella) (toxic to humans), the endemic guava (Psidium galapageium), the water fern (Azolla microphylla), and the bromeliad (Tillandsia insularis). Tortoises eat a large quantity of food when it is available at the expense of incomplete digestion. Its favorite food is grasses. The tortoise normally eat an average of 70 to 80 pounds a day. Tortoises have a classic example of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with some species of Galápagos finch. The finch hops in front of the tortoise to show that it is ready and the tortoise then raises itself up high on its legs and stretches out its neck so that the bird can pick off ticks that are hidden in the folds of the skin (especially on the rear legs, cloacal opening, neck, and skin between plastron and carapace), thus freeing the tortoise from harmful parasites and providing the finch with an easy meal. Other birds, including Galápagos Hawk and flycatchers, use tortoises as observation posts from which to sight their prey. Mating occurs at any time of the year, although it does have seasonal peaks between January and August. When two mature males meet in the mating season they will face each other, rise up on their legs and stretch up their necks with their mouths open to assess dominance. Occasionally, head-biting occurs, but usually the shorter loser tortoise will back off, leaving the other to mate with the female. In groups of tortoises from mixed island populations, saddleback males have an advantage over domebacks. Frustrated non-dominant males have been observed attempting to mate with other males and boulders. The male sniffs the air when seeking a female, bellows loudly, and bobs his head. The male then rams the female with the front of his shell and bites her exposed legs until she withdraws them, immobilizing her. Copulation can last several hours with roaring vocalisations from the males. Their concave shell base allows males to mount the females from behind. It brings its tail which houses the penis into the female's cloaca. After mating (June-December), the females journey up to several kilometres to reach nesting areas of dry, sandy ground (often near the coast). Nest digging can last from hours to days and is elaborate and exhausting. It is carried out blindly using only the hind legs to dig a 30 cm deep hole, into which she lays up to sixteen hard-shelled eggs the size of tennis balls. The female makes a muddy plug for the nest hole out of soil mixed with urine and leaves the eggs to incubate. In rocky areas, the eggs are deposited randomly into cracks. The young emerge from the nest after 120 to 140 days gestation later (December-April) and may weigh only 80 grams (2.8 oz) and measure 6 centimetres (2.4 in). Temperature plays a role in the sex of the hatchling: if the nest temperature is lower, more males will hatch; if it is high, more females will hatch. When the young tortoises emerge from their shells, they must dig their way to the surface, which can take up to a month. All have domed carapaces, and subspecies are indistinguishable. Galápagos Hawk used to be the only native predator of the tortoise hatchlings, as Darwin remarked: "The young tortoises, as soon as they are hatched, fall prey in great numbers to buzzards". Sex can be determined only when the tortoise is 15 years old, and sexual maturity is reached at 20 to 25 years old. The tortoises grow slowly for about 40 years until they reach their full size. Reproductive prime is considered to be from the ages of 60–90. The shape of the carapace of some subspecies of the tortoises is said to have reminded the early Spanish explorers of a kind of saddle they called a "galápago," and for these saddle-shaped tortoises they named the archipelago. Up to 250,000 tortoises inhabited the islands when they were discovered. Today only about 15,000 are left.
The inhabitants...state that they can distinguish the tortoise from different islands; and that they differ not only in size, but in other characters. Captain Porter has described those from Charles and from the nearest island to it, namely Hood Island, as having their shells in front thick and turned up like a Spanish saddle, whilst the tortoises from James Island are rounder, blacker, and have a better taste when cooked.---Charles Darwin 1845
There were probably twelve subspecies of Geochelone nigra in the Galápagos Islands, although some recognise up to 15 subspecies. Now only 11 subspecies remain, five on Isabela Island, and the other six on Santiago, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Pinzón, Española and Pinta. Of these, the Pinta Island subspecies is extinct in the wild and is represented by a single individual (Lonesome George). In the past, zoos took animals without knowing their island of origin. Production of fertile offspring from various pairings of tortoises largely confirmed that they are subspecies and not different species. All the subspecies of giant tortoise evolved in Galápagos from a common ancestor that arrived from the mainland, floating on the ocean currents (the tortoises can drift for long periods of time as they are buoyant and can stretch head upwards to breathe). Only a single pregnant female or breeding pair needed to arrive in this way, and then survive, for Galápagos to be colonised. In the seventeenth century, pirates started to use the Galápagos islands as a base for resupply, restocking on food, water and repairing vessels before attacking Spanish colonies on the South American mainland. The tortoises were collected and stored live on board ships where they could survive for at least a year without food or water, providing valuable fresh meat, whilst their diluted urine and water stored in their neck bags could also be used as drinking water. Of the meat, Darwin wrote: "the breast-plate roasted (as the Gauchos do 'carne con cuero'), with the flesh on it, is very good; and the young tortoises make excellent soup; but otherwise the meat to my taste is indifferent." In the nineteenth century, whaling ships and fur-sealers collected tortoises for food and many more were killed for high grade 'turtle oil' from the late 1800s onward. Darwin described this process thus: "beautifully clear oil is prepared from the fat. When a tortoise is caught, the man makes a slit in the skin near its tail, so as to see inside its body, whether the fat under the dorsal plate is thick. If it is not, the animal is liberated and it is said to recover soon from this strange operation." A total of over 15,000 tortoises is recorded in the logs of 105 whaling ships between 1811 and 1844. As hunters found it easiest to collect the tortoises living round the coastal zones, the least decimated populations tended to be those in the highlands. Population decline accelerated with the early settlement of the islands, when they were hunted for meat, their habitat was cleared for agriculture and alien mammal species were introduced. Feral pigs, dogs, cats and black rats are effective predators of eggs and young tortoises, whilst goats, donkeys and cattle compete for grazing. In the twentieth century, increasing human settlement and urbanisation and collection of tortoises for zoo and museum specimens depleted numbers even more. The Galápagos giant tortoise is now strictly protected. Young tortoises are raised in a programme by the Charles Darwin Research Station in order to bolster the numbers of the extant subspecies. Eggs are collected from places on the islands where they are threatened and when the tortoises hatch they are kept in captivity until they have reached a size that ensures a good chance of survival and are returned to their original ranges. The Galápagos National Park Service systematically culls feral predators and competitors where necessary such as the complete eradication of goats from Pinta. The conservation project begun in the 1970s successfully brought 10 of the 11 endangered subspecies up to guarded population levels. The most significant recovery was that of the Española Tortoise, whose breeding stock comprised 2 males and 11 females brought to the Darwin Station. Fortuitously, a third male was discovered at the San Diego Zoo and joined the others in a captive breeding program. These 13 tortoises gave rise to over 1000 tortoises now released into their home island. In all, 2500 individuals of all breeds have been reintroduced to the islands. However, persecution still continues on a much smaller scale; more than 120 tortoises have been killed by poachers since 1990 and they have been taken hostage as political leverage by local fishermen.
Santa Cruz
With the largest human population in the Galapagos archipelago, Isla Santa Cruz is the most important of the Galapagos Islands. Meaning Holy Cross in Spanish, this island is also known as Indefatigable, after the HMS Indefatigable landed here long ago. The second largest island terms of land area at 986 sq km, Isla Santa Cruz is home to the key town of Puerto Ayora, the Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service. With its own airport on Isla Baltra a few miles away, Isla Santa Cruz is where most visitors who come to the Galapagos Islands usually stay. With a number of bars, hotels, restaurants and shops in Puerto Ayora, most tours of the Archipelago also usually begin from here.
Galapagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands (official name: Archipiélago de Colón; other Spanish names: Islas de Colón or Islas Galápagos) are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, some 900 km west of Ecuador. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature. Because of the only very recent arrival of man the majority of the wildlife has no fear of humans and will allow visitors to walk right up them, often having to step over Iguanas or Sea Lions.The Galápagos islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population of around 40,000, which is a 40-fold expansion in 50 years. The islands are geologically young and famed for their vast number of endemic species, which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.
Didn’t crop...just useful normal oil painting effect at 70%. Located in the yard of a nearby neighbor.
The problem with magpies is they'll walk all over you. Literally. Now, they do catch ticks and other annoying pests that a bison can't reach on his own. So they can be useful. In fact, it's hard to live without them... but one's too many.
Usually Plains Bison are very tolerant when a Black-billed Magpie hitches a ride, and usually the magpies stay well back. This bison finally shook the magpie off his head, and the bird flapped away to find a new host.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2016 James R. Page - all rights reserved.