A few nice facts about animals images I found:
Indian Rock Python
Image by kmkeshav
An Indian Rock Python in the Guindy Park, Chennai.
Weird Fact about me: I totally love snakes. Ya, I know! :D I never miss a single show about these creatures on Nat Geo/Animal Planet. Somewhere in my past, I should have studied something that would have made me a Herpetologist!!
Ah well.. anyway.. hope this doesn't creep you people out! :D
G+ | Twitter | Facebook | Profile
Check out these facts about animals images:
The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012
Image by Karen Roe
The Great Hall
These are the actual main doors to the Great Hall, surrounded with stone statues and carvings. Walking through into the Great Hall we are told that we were now walking on the actual stone floor used in the films and seeing the actual tables where the actors ate their feasts. Dummies down each side of the hall wear the actual house costumes that were used in the films: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin and not forgetting Moaning Myrtle. At the far end of the hall is the teachers table area, with more amazing costumes worn by Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Trelawney and Flitwick as well as Hagrid and Filch. Each of the Great Hall torch holders is a carving of one of the four house animals.
The House Point Counter
Though it was rarely seen on screen, prop makers are especially proud of the house point counter, which contains thousands of glass beads.
The Owl Podium
The podium used by Professor Dumbledore is covered in real gold and years of melted wax.
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old - and now, for the first time, the doors are going to be opened for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time. Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films - the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:
- Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
- Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
- Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
- Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
- Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Located just 20 miles from the heart of London at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very place where it all began and where all eight of the Harry Potter films were brought to life. The Studio Tour is accessible to everyone and promises to be a truly memorable experience - whether you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, an all-round movie buff or you just want to try something that’s a little bit different.
The tour is estimated to take approximately three hours (I was in there for 5 hours!), however, as the tour is mostly self guided, you are free to explore the attraction at your own pace. During this time you will be able to see many of the best-loved sets and exhibits from the films. Unique and precious items from the films will also be on display, alongside some exciting hands-on interactive exhibits that will make you feel like you’re actually there.
The magic also continues in the Gift Shop, which is full of exciting souvenirs and official merchandise, designed to create an everlasting memory of your day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Hogwarts Castle Model - Get a 360 degree view of the incredible, hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction that features within the Studio Tour. The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel of the Art Department having been built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times over for the next seven films. The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years. The model was used for aerial photography, and was digitally scanned for CGI scenes.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films. To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every four minutes so you can experience its full beauty.
An amazing amount of detail went into the making of the model: all the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery. To make the model appear even more realistic, artists rebuilt miniature versions of the courtyards from Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, where scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were shot.
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
Funny Face Portrait [EXPLORED FRONT PAGE]
Image by charliebarker
Best viewed in Lightbox.
I was actually just messing about with this and I ended up really liking it so here you go my friends...a funny portrait of me.
Name: Charlie Clark.
Age: Not telling you!
Languages: English, a bit of BSL & a little French.
Career Aspiration: Teacher
What are your passions: Photography, Art, Music & Words (Language).
Hobbies: Flickr, Art & Writing.
Goals in life: To travel, get a degree in Teaching, Marriage & start a family.
Favorite books: I love all of Karen Rose's novels and a lot of crime/thriller novels.
Favorite movies: 500 Days of Summer, Love & Other Drugs, Toy Story 3, Monster's Inc & Funny Face.
Favorite animals: Penguin!! Red Pandas & Giraffes.
Favorite song: Umm...I don't have one. I like lots of songs.
You watch: Law & Order, Dexter, Criminal Minds, Lie To Me, House & How I Met Your Mother.
One random fact about you: I have a strange love for feet.
One thing you wish you could change about the world: For it to be in the hands of the right person. Soon.
EXPLORED ON THE 24TH AUGUST 2011
© All rights reserved
No Photography, These Animals Are Highly Sensitive
Image by Thomas Hawk
One of the things that annoys me to no end is when I see "no photography" policies that are put into place in order to restrict flash photography. Recently I encountered an example of this at the new California Academy of Sciences, a wonderful and remarkable museum where my family has purchased a family membership and which I've already shot pretty extensively so far.
I have to give the Academy high marks for allowing photography in the entire museum for the most part. It's an incredible architecturally significant (and actually living) structure. The exhibits really are first rate and the fact that you can shoot there (and even wear a backpack) are really great. But I was disappointed recently when I visited and saw several "no photography" signs in the basement aquarium of the new museum.
People were ignoring these signs pretty much and shooting anyways, but that's beside the point. I sat and watched one of the "no photography" exhibits for a while and saw several altercations between photographers and museum patrons. One patron chided another for taking a non-flash photograph, "can't your read," she curtly said to the photographer, "it says 'no photography' why do people like you always think they're above the law."
The photographer said that they thought that the museum meant no "flash photography," (they were using an iPhone without a flash). The woman got agitated with the photographer and continued the altercation, "if they meant no 'flash' photography then it would say 'no flash photography'," she continued. "People like you are so rude," she chided the photographer again.
After seeing a few altercations like this I decided to investigate this policy a bit so I went to talk to one of docents. I asked her why the signs were there and asked if it had to do with flash photography. She told me that actually it did not. She said that cameras have lasers in them and that when the shutter opens the laser in the camera can shoot out and harm the fish. Now, I know that there are not lasers in cameras, at least not in my new Canon 5D M2 that I was shooting with that day," but I left it at that.
When I returned home from my trip I contacted the museum aquarium staff and inquired about the policy by email. The response that I got back was pretty much exactly as I expected. The museum staff confirmed what I assumed the reason why they had the "no photography" signs on certain exhibits was. They said it was to "be on the safe side, lest someone forget to turn off his/her flash."
Now while I can see why the museum staff has this policy in place, I still don't agree with it. My Canon 5D M2 doesn't even have a flash on it. I couldn't use flash on their exhibit even if I wanted to. And it sort of drives me crazy when people try to prohibit all photography based on arguments about flash.
So what's the alternative? Well, they could easily replace the "no photography" sign with a sign that says "no photography without museum permission, or museum permit," and point people to the staff offices for a permit. Here if there were photographers like me who really wanted to shoot those animals they could reconfirm and stress (if it's indeed that important) that any photography must be done *without* a flash. I could then return with my simple paper permit in hand and when that batty woman who won't mind her own business starts to chide me I could pull out my "permit" and show her that indeed I do have permission.
Of course as people mostly were just ignoring the sign anyways, while I was there at least, they could also just consider changing the sign to a more photographer friendly, "no flash photography," with an explanation that flash really stresses the animals out to put extra emphasis on it.
They also might want to consider telling their docents that digital cameras don't shoot laser beams. This is not Buck Rogers in the 21st Century -- it's a science museum, where it's probably better that policies be based on real actual science, not science fiction.
Florine[F]9
Image by tankgirlrs
While reading up on Florine I found out some alarming things dealing with the disposal of the of one of Florine's byproducts, Fluoride. When most people think of Florine or Fluoride they think of teeth and dentists.
However, it is primarily used for insecticides and poisons, etching glass like the markings on a light bulb, and the production of other materials like nuclear fuels, Aluminum, low friction plastics, and haloalkanes such as chlorofluorocarbons, which are used extensively in air conditioning and in refrigeration. (They have been banned for these applications because they contribute to ozone destruction.)
Some United States and Soviet space scientists in the early 1960s studied elemental fluorine as a possible rocket propellant, due to its exceptionally high specific impulse when used as an oxidizer. The experiments failed because fluorine proved difficult to handle, and its combustion product (typically hydrogen fluoride) was extremely toxic and corrosive.
Other uses in History of Florine was in the Manhattan Project which was the development of the atomic bomb, Hitler and Stalin were said to use it to keep prisoners docile and tame... then in the 1940's they started Water fluoridation.
This is where it gets scarey, Water fluoridation is the dumping of Fluoride into our drinking water and was presented to the public as a way to fight tooth decay, when in actuality it was NEVER conclusively proven to help at all. Not to mention that it is used, with results, for a lot of destructive and harmful things(see above uses) and it was also used in pharmaceuticals like anti depressants and mood stabilizers. SO why would the public, after just being told that Fluoride was in all of the newest and best insecticides for their crops, believe that it is also safe to be in there drinking water, in their children's water?
Why was it being put there at all?
In the 1930s, a lot of law suits were coming up for villages and farms that were down stream or down wind of a factory that used Florine to refine Aluminum and other products, claiming that their crops and animals were dieing and many of the people themselves suffered some sort of health issue including tooth decay. To avoid the lawsuits the companies quickly tried to find something that said it was safe to dump it, forging scientific reports to their favor. Allowing them to not have to pay for the proper disposal of the waste, and even get paid by the government TO dump it in the drinking supply because of its "helpful effects on teeth".
Some Facts about Fluoride (F-)
~low concentrations of F− in drinking water protect against dental caries (originally investigated in the 1930s by H. T. Dean et al (some literature refs here, at the bottom)
~below 1 ppm F−, there are no adverse effects, short term or long term
~2-3 ppm F− can turn teeth brown
~at 50 ppm F− harmful toxicity occurs
~150 mg of NaF causes poisoning, but this can be easily reversed with appropriate treatment
Unknowns that make me wonder... water suppliers CAN NOT accurately control the exact levels of fluoride that individuals receive, nor can they monitor the response in people drinking it. Our intake of Florine is from not just water, but also the air, since the factories also burn off the waste that way, and it is in toothpaste and other dental products. How do we know how much we are getting?? How do we know that the long term affects of low does of fluoride over generations isn't affecting us? Making us more docile? Affecting our development?
More and more scientist are coming forward speaking against Water fluoridation, urging the government to put a stop to it all.
WHY I CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT WATER FLUORIDATION
Why I am now officially opposed to adding fluoride to drinking water
The Truth About Fluoride and Drinking Water
If you have time google or Youtube "Water fluoridation" you will be alarmed at what you find... well once you sort through the conspiracy theories and such. :-)
Other sources:
wiki - Fluorine
wiki - Fluoride
wiki - Water_fluoridation_controversy
Check out these facts about animals images:
The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012
Image by Karen Roe
The Great Hall
These are the actual main doors to the Great Hall, surrounded with stone statues and carvings. Walking through into the Great Hall we are told that we were now walking on the actual stone floor used in the films and seeing the actual tables where the actors ate their feasts. Dummies down each side of the hall wear the actual house costumes that were used in the films: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin and not forgetting Moaning Myrtle. At the far end of the hall is the teachers table area, with more amazing costumes worn by Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Trelawney and Flitwick as well as Hagrid and Filch. Each of the Great Hall torch holders is a carving of one of the four house animals.
The House Point Counter
Though it was rarely seen on screen, prop makers are especially proud of the house point counter, which contains thousands of glass beads.
The Owl Podium
The podium used by Professor Dumbledore is covered in real gold and years of melted wax.
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old - and now, for the first time, the doors are going to be opened for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time. Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films - the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:
- Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
- Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
- Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
- Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
- Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Located just 20 miles from the heart of London at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very place where it all began and where all eight of the Harry Potter films were brought to life. The Studio Tour is accessible to everyone and promises to be a truly memorable experience - whether you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, an all-round movie buff or you just want to try something that’s a little bit different.
The tour is estimated to take approximately three hours (I was in there for 5 hours!), however, as the tour is mostly self guided, you are free to explore the attraction at your own pace. During this time you will be able to see many of the best-loved sets and exhibits from the films. Unique and precious items from the films will also be on display, alongside some exciting hands-on interactive exhibits that will make you feel like you’re actually there.
The magic also continues in the Gift Shop, which is full of exciting souvenirs and official merchandise, designed to create an everlasting memory of your day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Hogwarts Castle Model - Get a 360 degree view of the incredible, hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction that features within the Studio Tour. The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel of the Art Department having been built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times over for the next seven films. The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years. The model was used for aerial photography, and was digitally scanned for CGI scenes.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films. To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every four minutes so you can experience its full beauty.
An amazing amount of detail went into the making of the model: all the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery. To make the model appear even more realistic, artists rebuilt miniature versions of the courtyards from Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, where scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were shot.
The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012
Image by Karen Roe
The Great Hall
These are the actual main doors to the Great Hall, surrounded with stone statues and carvings. Walking through into the Great Hall we are told that we were now walking on the actual stone floor used in the films and seeing the actual tables where the actors ate their feasts. Dummies down each side of the hall wear the actual house costumes that were used in the films: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin and not forgetting Moaning Myrtle. At the far end of the hall is the teachers table area, with more amazing costumes worn by Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Trelawney and Flitwick as well as Hagrid and Filch. Each of the Great Hall torch holders is a carving of one of the four house animals.
The House Point Counter
Though it was rarely seen on screen, prop makers are especially proud of the house point counter, which contains thousands of glass beads.
The Owl Podium
The podium used by Professor Dumbledore is covered in real gold and years of melted wax.
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old - and now, for the first time, the doors are going to be opened for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time. Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films - the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:
- Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
- Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
- Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
- Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
- Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Located just 20 miles from the heart of London at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very place where it all began and where all eight of the Harry Potter films were brought to life. The Studio Tour is accessible to everyone and promises to be a truly memorable experience - whether you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, an all-round movie buff or you just want to try something that’s a little bit different.
The tour is estimated to take approximately three hours (I was in there for 5 hours!), however, as the tour is mostly self guided, you are free to explore the attraction at your own pace. During this time you will be able to see many of the best-loved sets and exhibits from the films. Unique and precious items from the films will also be on display, alongside some exciting hands-on interactive exhibits that will make you feel like you’re actually there.
The magic also continues in the Gift Shop, which is full of exciting souvenirs and official merchandise, designed to create an everlasting memory of your day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Hogwarts Castle Model - Get a 360 degree view of the incredible, hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction that features within the Studio Tour. The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel of the Art Department having been built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times over for the next seven films. The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years. The model was used for aerial photography, and was digitally scanned for CGI scenes.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films. To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every four minutes so you can experience its full beauty.
An amazing amount of detail went into the making of the model: all the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery. To make the model appear even more realistic, artists rebuilt miniature versions of the courtyards from Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, where scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were shot.
Some cool facts about animals images:
Even Scorpions Cuddle
Image by Furryscaly
Az and Femme cuddle under a blacklight. I miss these guys. They're Arizona bark scorpions. Formerly known as Centruroides exilicauda, they're now back to the original Centruroides sculpturatus name, after being split into two separate species. The Baja California bark scorpion, being the "newer" species, gets the newer C. exilicauda name, while the "older" Arizona bark scorpion gets its old name back.
You should NEVER leave a blacklight on a scorpion long-term. The intense UV rays will eventually kill the nocturnal animal. Some pet stores market scorpion habitats with blacklights because they look cool, but they don't tell you the facts. Long-term blacklight exposure will stress them out. They like it dark.
Here they are featured on UglyOverload.com on June 24, 2007:
uglyoverload.blogspot.com/2007/06/as-you-requested.html
Az and Femme are also featured in the scorpion gallery at About.com's Phoenix, AZ site:
phoenix.about.com/od/arizonapicturesandphotos/ig/Arizona-...
EXPO88_Static Display_019
Image by Degilbo on flickr
Alaskan bear in USA Pavilion at Expo 88 held in Brisbane from 30 April to 30 October 1988. Taken with Agfamatic 4000 on Kodacolor 110 size film. Some facts about the Alaskan or Kodiak bear: "The island grizzlies of Alaska (Kodiak and Admiralty) are considered the largest land carnivores in the world, and live on a diet of fish and other rich food. The inland animals are smaller by some 30%."
www.bears.org/animals/
Expo '88 was a World's Fair held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia between April 30 and October 30, 1988. The theme of the Expo was "Leisure in the Age of Technology" and at a cost of AUD5 million, Expo '88 was the largest event of the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations of the British settlement of Australia.
Some cool facts about animals images:
The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012
Image by Karen Roe
Potions Classroom
Hidden deep in Hogwarts dungeons is the Potions Classroom, a room lined with dusty shelves full of peculiar jars and bottles which was the haven of Professors Snape and Slughorn.
For Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the classroom was actually shot on-location at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, England. For subsequent films a version of the set was built here at Leavesden with some additional magic touches. More than five hundred bottles line the walls of the classroom, many with their own handcrafted labels.
Self-Stiring Cauldron
To add a bit more wizardry to the classroom, John Richardson's Special Effects team designed this cauldron that mechanically stirs itself.
Gilded Archways
These brass-leafed archways contain cryptic Latin and English inscriptions of potions ingredients and rare minerals, all selected from ancient alchemy recipes.
Giner Roots and Salamanders
Among the ingredients kept on the classroom shelves are plastic animals from Regent's Park Zoo gift shop, baked animal bones from a local butcher shop and dried leaves & herbs.
A Magical Transformation
Portions of this room were constructed for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone but since then this room has gone through several changes.
The room was first seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as the small closet where Fluffy the three-headed dog guarded the trap door leading to the Philosopher's Stone.
For Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the production team revamped the space to create Professor Snape's office.
In 2008 the set was redressed again for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as the potions classroom and the entire room was made larger.
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old - and now, for the first time, the doors are going to be opened for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time. Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films - the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:
- Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
- Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
- Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
- Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
- Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Located just 20 miles from the heart of London at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very place where it all began and where all eight of the Harry Potter films were brought to life. The Studio Tour is accessible to everyone and promises to be a truly memorable experience - whether you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, an all-round movie buff or you just want to try something that’s a little bit different.
The tour is estimated to take approximately three hours (I was in there for 5 hours!), however, as the tour is mostly self guided, you are free to explore the attraction at your own pace. During this time you will be able to see many of the best-loved sets and exhibits from the films. Unique and precious items from the films will also be on display, alongside some exciting hands-on interactive exhibits that will make you feel like you’re actually there.
The magic also continues in the Gift Shop, which is full of exciting souvenirs and official merchandise, designed to create an everlasting memory of your day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Hogwarts Castle Model - Get a 360 degree view of the incredible, hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction that features within the Studio Tour. The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel of the Art Department having been built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times over for the next seven films. The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years. The model was used for aerial photography, and was digitally scanned for CGI scenes.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films. To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every four minutes so you can experience its full beauty.
An amazing amount of detail went into the making of the model: all the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery. To make the model appear even more realistic, artists rebuilt miniature versions of the courtyards from Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, where scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were shot.
Some cool facts about animals images:
2012 Reggie Day at Miller Park Zoo
Image by Homecoming at Illinois State
Families enjoyed a fun day with Reggie Redbird and his animal buddies as they toured the zoo and learned about fun animal facts. View more images at IllinoisStateHomecoming.
2012 Reggie Day at Miller Park Zoo
Image by Homecoming at Illinois State
Families enjoyed a fun day with Reggie Redbird and his animal buddies as they toured the zoo and learned about fun animal facts. View more images at IllinoisStateHomecoming.
Some cool facts about animals images:
012/365 24th August
Image by Bradley.Johnson.
The Scream
This photo is brought you by: Lightbox
This photo is a random black and white photography of me screaming/shouting :) Not meant to be any good, But let me know what you think please :)
Name: Bradley Johnson
Age: Sixteen.
Languages: English, a bit of BSL & a little French.
Sexual Orientation: Straight.
Career Aspiration: Electrician
What are your passions: Photography, Music, Sport and Technology
Hobbies: Flickr, Extreme Cycling, Photography Sport
Goals in life: To travel, Become a professional Electrician, Married and Start a Family
Favorite books: I love all of Karen Rose's novels and Autobiography's
Favorite movies: 500 Days of Summer, Love & Other Drugs, Toy Story 3, Monster's Inc & Funny Face, Grown Ups, All Jim Carry Films
Favorite animals: Pandas! Red Pandas & Giraffes, Bears and Penguins
Favorite song: Umm...I don't have one. I like lots of songs.
You watch: How I Met Your Mother, American Chopper and Hot Rod. NBA and Wife Swap.
One random fact about you: I love wonky eyes ;)
One thing you wish you could change about the world: For it to be in the hands of the right person. Soon.
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The paper princess
Image by Ellieboat
Technically this is for my art project, but I needed to upload on here! It's been so long since I've posted... I had no ideas, no time and then I went on holiday, but here I am (:
I'll put some more in comments
oh, also, does any one know anything about the Nikon d3100? I'm seriously considering getting it when I eventually have the cash..
Name: Ellie
Age: 16
Languages: English, and technically french and german but I suck at both
Favourite Color: orange
Career Aspiration: I intend to be a renowned artist and photographer whose works sell for thousands. Until then, I want to do any job that allows me to travel and / or involves art (:
What are your passions?: dance, art, photography, and I like acting, too.
Hobbies: Shopping, dancing, drawing and painting, cycling, pilates, Photo editing, Photography
Goals in life: to travel, to work hard and enjoy myself... to have an interesting life story to tell.
Favourite book: The Family Way; The Fire Within series.
Favourite movie: Chicago, Chocolat, the classic disney films, the Emporers New Groove, and anything by Pixar. (:
Favourite animal: I like lots of animals! Cats, dogs and fish.
Favourite song: right now, promises by Nero is all I want to listen to!
You watch: Miranda... actually sit coms and comedy panel shows in general. And the Mentalist.
One random fact about you: I have lived in three countries, but I've never been back to one since, and the other I went literally half my lifetime ago ):
One thing you wish you could change about the world: Bad things happening to lovely people.
Greenshield Lichen
Image by elycefeliz
Common Greenshield is one of our most common lichens. A lichen is special, because it is not one organism, but two. A lichen is a complicated relationship between a fungus and an algae.
A lichen is created when the fungus and algae join together to form a new organism. The lichen looks different than the way the fungus or algae looks by itself. The lichen can also reproduce itself and looks like a plant. The relationship between the fungus and algae is not fully understood, but scientists are studying to learn more.
An interesting fact about lichens is that the algae species in one lichen can usually join with a different fungus and make another lichen. It doesn't work the opposite way, however; a fungus is only able to make a lichen with one type of algae.
Although they look like plants, lichens do not have roots, stems, or leaves. The lichen takes the form of the fungus, and the algae lives inside. Since most algae are plants, they can make their own food. The fungus part of a lichen gets its food from the algae. Scientists cannot make up their minds if this relationship is mutualism or parasitism. This may be a mutualistic relationship, since the fungus gets food from the algae, and the algae gets a "house" from the lichen. Or maybe the fungus is just a parasite, taking food from the algae, when the algae could just as easily live on its own or with another lichen. The fungus is able to live on its own, but it doesn't do very well without the algae.
A lichen species always takes its name from the fungus part of the relationship. The fungus in Common Greenshield is Flavoparmelia caperata, so that is also the scientific name of the lichen.
Common Greenshield is usually greenish-gray or yellowish-green. It is called a "foliose" lichen because its body looks a lot like leaves. The "leaves" are mostly round usually overlap. Sometimes they are wrinkled, sometimes smooth.
Common Greenshield grows on tree trunks or rocks. Some trees that often have greenshield on them are maples and oaks. Lichens do not damage trees. Common Greenshield grows well in shady, damp places, especially in woods.
Lichens are not a popular food item for animals, but some that are known to eat them include: White-tailed Deer (small amounts in Winter), Wild Turkey, Meadow Vole, terrestrial snails, springtails, and oribatid mites.
Lichens grow very slowly. If a part of the lichen is broken off, it can grow into a new lichen. Lichens also make spores which can travel to new places on the wind; however, the spores will only grow into a fungus, not the total lichen.
Over time, a colony of lichen can break down rocks and put nutrients back into the soil.
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
Izzy
Image by scienceheath
I chose this image because it shows how the atoms in you have been a part of many other things, like flowers, fish and even Beethoven. I think that it is interesting that atoms can circulate that much (even if it is over a long period of time). Similar to the water on Earth, atoms can pass through a huge number of things. I think this picture really illustrates the fact that your atoms could have been a part of any other thing before they were part of you.
-How many atoms do you have that used to belong to one particular organism, like Beethoven for example?
-How do the atoms travel across oceans?
why is this Friday not like other Fridays?
Image by natalia love
one time i saw this lady doing her walking in the park. she had on like black long loose pants and a long grey cardigan, and she had her hair in one of those sort of cloth hair wraps that maybe had an animal print to it. something about how she moved and how she seemed totally unselfconscious, not like "here i am walking in the park" but seemed like just matter of fact just going about things without thinking that anybody watching her or whatever... something about her was totally ELEGANT, even in baggy comfortable clothes for going to walk at the park in.
i tried to make my Friday Foster look like a little bit like her.
raincoat from Rufus (wilde imagination)
tshirt from him or other tonner guy
jeans Teen Trends
shoes and bag Tonner "go green" outfit
why is this Friday not like other Fridays?
Image by natalia love
one time i saw this lady doing her walking in the park. she had on like black long loose pants and a long grey cardigan, and she had her hair in one of those sort of cloth hair wraps that maybe had an animal print to it. something about how she moved and how she seemed totally unselfconscious, not like "here i am walking in the park" but seemed like just matter of fact just going about things without thinking that anybody watching her or whatever... something about her was totally ELEGANT, even in baggy comfortable clothes for going to walk at the park in.
i tried to make my Friday Foster look like a little bit like her.
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
American Whitetail Deer (Buck)
Image by w4nd3rl0st (InspiredinDesMoines)
Best on black
Exif:
ISO 6400 (not a misprint)
1/320
f5.6
Hand held
Iowa as a state is known for several things: agriculture, our state fair, beautiful prairies and whitetail deer. Thanks in large part to the endless food supply and a DNR staff that is committed to maintaining healthy populations, Iowa has produced more Boone and Crockett Club record book deer than any other state: 615 in all.
During mid and late summer, Whitetail deer are hanging out in large groups with male and female deer mixed together. The male (bucks) are growing their antlers which will remain covered in a soft velvet for a few more weeks. The females are tending to the young fawns born earlier this spring.
The fawns still have spots, but won't for long. The whole group is enjoying soybean fields and acorns - in fact, about half of a deer's diet will come from acorns.
This is a great example of a "typical" Iowa buck. Notice the symmetry in his antlers. The thickness and height of the antlers indicate a very mature and healthy animal. This deer is likely in excess of 200-220 lbs in weight. If you're a hunter, you would say he's a nice "10 point buck".
More information about Iowa's DNR and Whitetail deer can be found below:
www.iowadnr.gov/
www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting/DeerInformation.aspx
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitetail_deer
ME - I got tagged by Sheila!
Image by billynom
I got tagged by Sheila - www.flickr.com/photos/27345936@N06/
OK, I got tagged and the game is that I have to give 16 facts about me, ok here goes;
1) I am an easy going fella who enjoys a laugh and somehow always ends up doing the wrong thing whilst trying to do the right thing!
2) My favourite film is “The Man Who Would be King” based on a Rudyard Kipling story and starred Sean Connery and Michael Caine and was made in 1975.
3) The book I am reading at the moment is “At my mothers knee and other low joints” by Paul O’Grady.
4) My favourite colour is blue.
5) I love to travel, and do so when I can.
6) My biggest pet hate is poor personal hygiene – there is no need for it.
7) My favourite song of all time is “The Prince” by Madness.
8) My favourite beer is Guinness.
9) I hate greed, waste and materialism.
10) I often wonder about packing a rucksack and taking a year or two to wonder around the coast of Britain (maybe one day I will do it).
11) Most exciting experience would be fast roping out of a Sea King helicopter.
12) Worst life experience, a good friend took his own life, Graham you silly bastard still miss you.
13) The person I miss the most in life is my sister who died soon after birth, so cheated not to be able to know her.
14) Job I wished I had has got to be a pilot.
15) Best job I ever had, Bomb Disposal Officer, where else could you get paid by the Queen to loon around with explosives and ammunition.
16) I hate cruelty to animals.
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012
Image by Karen Roe
The Great Hall
These are the actual main doors to the Great Hall, surrounded with stone statues and carvings. Walking through into the Great Hall we are told that we were now walking on the actual stone floor used in the films and seeing the actual tables where the actors ate their feasts. Dummies down each side of the hall wear the actual house costumes that were used in the films: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin and not forgetting Moaning Myrtle. At the far end of the hall is the teachers table area, with more amazing costumes worn by Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Trelawney and Flitwick as well as Hagrid and Filch. Each of the Great Hall torch holders is a carving of one of the four house animals.
The House Point Counter
Though it was rarely seen on screen, prop makers are especially proud of the house point counter, which contains thousands of glass beads.
The Owl Podium
The podium used by Professor Dumbledore is covered in real gold and years of melted wax.
People the world-over have been enchanted by the Harry Potter films for nearly a decade. The wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old - and now, for the first time, the doors are going to be opened for everyone at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see many things the camera never showed. From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time. Secrets will be revealed.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films - the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:
- Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
- Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
- Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
- Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
- Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Located just 20 miles from the heart of London at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very place where it all began and where all eight of the Harry Potter films were brought to life. The Studio Tour is accessible to everyone and promises to be a truly memorable experience - whether you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, an all-round movie buff or you just want to try something that’s a little bit different.
The tour is estimated to take approximately three hours (I was in there for 5 hours!), however, as the tour is mostly self guided, you are free to explore the attraction at your own pace. During this time you will be able to see many of the best-loved sets and exhibits from the films. Unique and precious items from the films will also be on display, alongside some exciting hands-on interactive exhibits that will make you feel like you’re actually there.
The magic also continues in the Gift Shop, which is full of exciting souvenirs and official merchandise, designed to create an everlasting memory of your day at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Hogwarts Castle Model - Get a 360 degree view of the incredible, hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction that features within the Studio Tour. The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel of the Art Department having been built for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times over for the next seven films. The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years. The model was used for aerial photography, and was digitally scanned for CGI scenes.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films. To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every four minutes so you can experience its full beauty.
An amazing amount of detail went into the making of the model: all the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery. To make the model appear even more realistic, artists rebuilt miniature versions of the courtyards from Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, where scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were shot.
Some cool facts about animals images:
Goodyera pubescens in bud, before it was destroyed.
Image by FritzFlohrReynolds
I headed out to the woods before dawn this morning, because I wanted to get an awesome photo of this Orchid without annoying dappled sunlight. Unfortunately, when I got there, the plants had been destroyed.
This slightly blurry photo of one of the plants still in bud was taken last Saturday. I didn't worry about making it a good photo, I only took it so I could show my brother and my friends what I've been up too.
I visited this Orchid six times waiting for it to bloom. I'm feeling pretty sad, and I'm thinking about giving up hiking and botanizing, because I know what the future holds in terms of the local ecology, and I seem unable to observe these things with a healthy emotional distance.
Who damaged these plants is somewhat a mystery, although I suppose there is no point in dwelling on it. The flowers were removed, and so were most of the basal leaves, but the plants were not uprooted, and the surrounding soil was not disturbed. This is an unusual pattern for a human. If the plants had been dug up and removed, that would have suggested poachers, if they had been pulled up and casually tossed on the ground, perhaps a destructive child. When merely the flowering part of a plant is removed, I can usually only be confident that it was the work of humans if I find the flowers tossed on the ground, often near the trailhead, otherwise, even if humans are the likely culprit, it could always be simply that a hungry animal, probably a Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has eaten them.
In this case, since not merely the flowering portion of the plants was removed, but also the basal leaves, I think deer were likely responsible, although it is possible that it could have been the work of a human influenced by those horrible plant guides which encourage ignorant people to imagine they are doing something healthy and wise and even earth friendly by poaching edible or medicinal native plants from "the wild".
Personally, I think that these Orchids are passing through the digestive track of some deer, along with a bunch of other plant matter, much of it, unfortunately, increasingly scarce native species. One of the common characteristics of most species that I consider invasive is that they are inedible to deer. This gives them a significant advantage in areas where overpopulation of deer is a problem.
I love Whitetail deer, they are majestic, delicious creatures. They are also native here, this is their natural habitat. However, because of extreme habitat destruction coupled with the fact that all of their natural predators have been extirpated from this area, there are simply too many of them for the available natural habitat to support.
Sensible plans to control the deer population through hunting have faced heavy opposition from "animal rights" activists, who refuse to accept the fact that deer overgrazing is seriously impacting native species and preventing normal forest succession.
The habitat destruction/deer overpopulation/overgrazing issue has been going on for some time now. During the 90s, as most of Fairfax county was deforested, huge numbers of deer were left wandering through the newly built suburban subdivisions, desperately searching for something to eat, and frequently being hit by cars. That was the situation I grew up with, but eventually, after all but tiny fragments of the natural habitat was eliminated from Fairfax county, except for along the river, the deer population dropped, although not to a sustainable level, and things settled down a bit.
Unfortunately, over the past few years something awful has happened. Essentially the only natural habitat remaining in Fairfax county, or elsewhere in the area, is along the Potomac river. The officially protected parkland is only a narrow section along the river, but until recently, it was bordered by a buffer zone which gave it the illusion of being much larger than it really was. Citizens had been led to believe that this nearly roadless area of large parcels of private property would remain essentially unchanged by Georgetown Pike's official designation as "Virginia's first scenic byway." It was woods with the weekend get away cabins of the extremely wealthy, and a few pastures for horses. At one point, in the 1960s, there were neighborhood covenant's put in place to keep things this way, but these were allowed to expire. The rich people who owned property there had some sort of informal agreement amongst themselves to maintain the "bucolic charm" and “sylvan character” of the area, but it did not have the weight of law.
Then in 2004, on the other side of the river, in Montgomery county Maryland, which generally has stricter laws and better enforcement than Virginia, Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins football team, broke the law by cutting down the trees which had blocked the view of his mansion from the river, and got away with it.
Even though this caused massive erosion into the parkland beneath, everyone seemed to regard what he had done as merely an isolated aesthetically displeasing "eyesore", merely a nuisance to his also wealthy neighbors, rather than something that would set a precedence for massive habitat destruction. Since then woods along the Virginia side of the river has begun to be cleared, and the topsoil stripped away.
Despite the fact that property in this area is extremely expensive compared to the rest of Fairfax county precisely because of it's reputation for "bucolic charm" and "sylvan character", this new generation of extremely rich people have no desire for forest solitude, or horses, or anything remotely in good taste. The houses being constructed are flimsy plywood McMansions identical to houses in any suburban subdivision, only larger. The drive along "Virginia's first scenic byway" to the increasingly fragmented seeming natural habitat remaining in the parks reveals that this destruction has accelerated rapidly since spring of this year with the huge open sores of exposed red clay now waiting to built upon. This landscape of destruction reminds me of what I witnessed as a child elsewhere in Fairfax county, but although the total number of acres involved is much less, it is occurring in a much more ecologically significant area.
It makes sense that there is currently a new exodus of whitetail deer from the just destroyed land into the adjacent parks occurring, so it should perhaps not be surprising that heavier overgrazing than ever is occurring. I strongly suspect that a deer ate these orchids. Unfortunately this is not the only, nor the worst effect that this deforestation will have.
Central Park Reservoir, Aug 2011 - 16
Image by Ed Yourdon
Note: this photo was published in a Aug 30, 2011 issue of Everyblock NYC for the "customized" region of Central Park.
*******************************************
You probably think that you already know everything that you need to know about the Central Park reservoir. After all, everyone has heard of New York City, and most people (except the residents of certain boroughs that we won't mention by name) assume that "New York City" means "Manhattan." And if you've heard of Manhattan, then you've heard of Central Park ... and if you know about Central Park, then you know about the reservoir in the middle of the park. What more is there to know?
Well, actually, there's a lot you should know, beginning with the fact that its official name is now "The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir," in honor of the late widow of President John Kennedy. But you can call it the Central Park Reservoir, because that was its original name, and that's what most of us here still do call it. (We also insist on calling the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge by its original moniker, "the Triboro Bridge," but who knows how long that will last.)
More importantly, it's not even a reservoir any more ... or, to be more precise, it became a "decommissioned" reservoir in 1993, when it was deemed obsolete because of a new water-main under 79th Street that connected to the Third Water Tunnel. (There was also some concern that the reservoir might eventually become contaminated because of the nasty habit of the rowdy bridge-and-tunnel crowd -- aka visitors from New Jersey, Long Island, and other 'burbs -- to pee in the reservoir after getting thoroughly sloshed on green beer and Ripple wine every St. Patrick's Day. But we don't really like to talk about that, because they eventually go home, and we make a lot of money from the event.)
So basically, the Central Park so-called reservoir is just a big pond with a billion gallons of water (give or take a gallon or two), with colorful Kanzan cherry trees along one section, a bunch of rhododendrons along another section, and lots of animals (mallards, Canadian geese, coots, loons, cormorants, wood ducks, raccoons, grebes, herons, and egrets) who hang out in the general area. It also has a 1.58-mile jogging path, which means that you can almost always find dozens of people jogging, walking, or racing around the park; and only the cynics would remind you that game show host Jack Barry died while jogging around the reservoir in 1984.
You might think that the reservoir was originally a pond or a small lake, or that it was fed and replenished by some kind of underground stream. But in fact, the reservoir was built during the period of 1858-1862 by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, as part of the overall design of Central Park. It was never a source of water itself, nor was it a "collecting" reservoir; its purpose instead was to receive water from upstate New York, via the Croton Aqueduct, and distribute it to the thirsty residents of Manhattan. All of that predated the work of Olmstead and Vaux; the Croton aqueduct was begun in 1837, and began delivering water to New York City in 1842.
So much for the history of the place. Like I said, it's basically just a big pond in the middle of Manhattan; but it happens to be a very beautiful place, especially with the skyline of the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, and central Manhattan so visible from different vantage points. During the brief week or two that the cherry trees are in blossom, it's almost as beautiful as the famous stretch of trees in Washington; and it's a peaceful place for a stroll throughout the spring, summer, and fall. It's even beautiful in the dead of winter, when much of the water has frozen over, and when the jogging path is basically empty...
On three consecutive days in mid-to-late August, I walked around the reservoir with my camera, doing my best to capture some of the peaceful beauty, as well as the activity of the joggers and walkers and tourists. On the first day, I walked clockwise around the reservoir -- because everyone else was following the posted rules, and was running/walking counter-clockwise, which made it easier for me to photograph them. Then I came back the next day and walked the circumference again, but this time in the officially-sanctioned counter-clockwise direction. And then I decided that all of the still photos had failed to capture the beauty of the fountain that sprays a plume of water high into the air, as well as the constant motion of all those joggers and walkers ... so I came back for a third lap around the park, but this time with my camera set to "video" instead of "still." I've done my best to winnow all of the photos and videos down to a representative set; but to truly appreciate the beauty of the place, you'll have to come back and see it for yourself.
By the way, don't ask me what a grebe is. I have no idea, and I can only hope that I haven't stepped on one by mistake as I've walked around the reservoir from time to time...
Intelligent donkeys credited with leading rebels to success in Libya
Image by Donkey Sanctuary Press Images
Intelligent donkeys credited with leading rebels to success in Libya
PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary
31st August 2011
A report in the national press today quotes a Libyan rebel leader crediting donkeys with helping to free the town of Gharyan by keeping supplies running to fighters trapped in the besieged town. Thanks to their intelligence and stoic natures, donkeys and mules have played a vital role throughout history in supporting armies and keeping supplies moving under otherwise impossible circumstances says international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary.
Colonel Gaddafi, in a broadcast on state television on 20th August, blamed ‘the donkeys of the gulf’ for keeping rebels supplied with weapons. As highly intelligent animals, donkeys are usually better known for their work as lifelines to humans worldwide, living and working amongst some of the poorest communities on the planet. However, they are also often used in dangerous conflict situations which other animals would be unable to cope with, particularly in countries where the terrain is rough, such as Libya or Afghanistan, where many areas are inaccessible to vehicles making donkeys the preferred method of supply.
The Sanctuary’s donkey behaviour expert Ben Hart says: “It is a common misconception that donkeys are just small horses with big ears, but in fact they are an entirely different animal, particularly when it comes to intelligence. Donkeys have phenomenal memories and are able to remember complex routes, plus recognise humans and other donkeys even after many years of separation. Their temperament coupled with their intelligence makes them better equipped to cope and remain calm in difficult situations.”
The Kosovan conflict made use of donkey-power, with the charity becoming involved in the extraordinary case of a mule and two donkeys who had been placed under arrest by the British Army in 2002. The rebel fighters were using the animals to smuggle guns across the border and had trained the donkeys to travel unattended to prevent fighters from getting captured. In the absence of humans to take into custody, the army placed the animals under arrest. The Donkey Sanctuary was contacted by a British Brigadier for advice on caring for the donkeys and mule and the three were signed over to the charity’s care. All three were transferred to the charity’s sanctuary in Spain, El Refugio De Burrito.
During World War II, mules were used to carry supplies behind enemy lines in Burma. Due to the danger of the situation, the thousands of mules used for this task underwent a procedure removing their voice boxes to keep them silent during manoeuvre. Andrew Trawford, director of veterinary services with The Donkey Sanctuary, said the wartime practice of de-voicing mules was taught as a history lesson at vet school. He said: "The operation is quite simple and not too traumatic for the animal, but its welfare afterwards can be a concern. The animal is not able to communicate and mules are naturally noisy, especially when trying to attract a mate and it is said their call can be heard to up to two miles away. It is not an operation I have ever had to perform."
To remember the many animals killed in wars a memorial was erected in Park Lane in London in 2004. The main dedication reads: ‘This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time’. A smaller inscription reads: ‘They had no choice’. The western section of the memorial features two heavily-laden mules climbing the steps. The memorial has the name of The Donkey Sanctuary’s founder, the late Dr Elisabeth Svendsen, inscribed on the wall - 'honouring the fallen'
ENDS
Notes to Editor
For an interview, further information or images, please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573097/573014 or mobile 07970 927778
About The Donkey Sanctuary
International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by the late Dr Elisabeth Svendsen M.B.E. in 1969 and aims to protect donkeys and mules and promote their welfare worldwide.
The Donkey Sanctuary supports projects to relieve the suffering of donkeys in 29 countries worldwide, including sanctuaries across Europe, where more than 14,500 donkeys and mules have been cared for, and major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work.
For further information telephone: 01395 578222, view www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk or visit the charity’s headquarters near Sidmouth in Devon (open 365 days/free admission).
Check out these facts about animals images:
Kerry the Koala
Image by roboM8
6/30 - Kerry the Koala is with Smelly Belly today. Even though Smelly Belly told Kerry to stay still and wait for the photo to be taken. But Kerry wanted to find a tree to pose on so I got a photo of him looking away. Smelly Belly's fact: A koala is the only tree dwelling marsupial in the world that doesn't have a tail. So how does it hang on to trees?
Midway Treats
Image by w4nd3rl0st (InspiredinDesMoines)
Whether you are looking for treats for your taste buds, or your other four senses, the Midway is a great place to visit during the Iowa State Fair.
One of the most iconic parts of a Midway is its carousel. (From Wikipedia) A carousel (from French carrousel, from Italian carosello), or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down via gearwork to simulate galloping, to the accompaniment of looped circus music. This leads to one of the alternative names, the galloper. Other popular names are roundabout and flying horses.
Little known fact about Carousels - In the UK and Europe, merry-go-rounds (as they are most often referred to in those countries) usually turn clockwise (see photograph at top), while in North America, carousels typically go anti-clockwise (or "counter-clockwise") - looked on from above. One mounts a real horse by lifting one's right leg over the animal's back as it stands with its head towards one's left (the horse's left side is called its "near" side). Likewise for a carousel that turns anti-clockwise: one stands on the near side of the horse to mount (towards the center of the carousel, not on its outer edge). One possible reason for carousels in the USA turning anti-clockwise may be so that the rider can use their right hand to catch a brass ring.
Future Dates of the Iowa State Fair:
2012: August 9–19
2013: August 8–18
2014: August 7–17
2015: August 13–23
2016: August 11–21
2017: August 10-20
Canon 7d and 15-85 with a Vanguard Tripod
More information:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Fair
www.iowastatefair.org/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel
Midway Carousel (Black and White)
Image by w4nd3rl0st (InspiredinDesMoines)
Whether you are looking for treats for your taste buds, or your other four senses, the Midway is a great place to visit during the Iowa State Fair.
One of the most iconic parts of a Midway is its carousel. (From Wikipedia) A carousel (from French carrousel, from Italian carosello), or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down via gearwork to simulate galloping, to the accompaniment of looped circus music. This leads to one of the alternative names, the galloper. Other popular names are roundabout and flying horses.
Little known fact about Carousels - In the UK and Europe, merry-go-rounds (as they are most often referred to in those countries) usually turn clockwise (see photograph at top), while in North America, carousels typically go anti-clockwise (or "counter-clockwise") - looked on from above. One mounts a real horse by lifting one's right leg over the animal's back as it stands with its head towards one's left (the horse's left side is called its "near" side). Likewise for a carousel that turns anti-clockwise: one stands on the near side of the horse to mount (towards the center of the carousel, not on its outer edge). One possible reason for carousels in the USA turning anti-clockwise may be so that the rider can use their right hand to catch a brass ring.
Future Dates of the Iowa State Fair:
2012: August 9–19
2013: August 8–18
2014: August 7–17
2015: August 13–23
2016: August 11–21
2017: August 10-20
Canon 7d and 15-85 with a Vanguard Tripod
More information:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Fair
www.iowastatefair.org/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel
Some cool facts about animals images:
Red-tailed Hawk On a Wire
Image by LI Refugee
The cry of a Red-tailed Hawk is used in just about every movie or TV show known to mankind to signify any sort of raptor cry, especially in desert settings and in situations of peril. This is despite the fact that Red-tailed Hawks do not live in deserts and do not present any peril to anything except small creatures. The hawk seen in this picture is a juvenile.
Retirement with No Problem 3 of 20
Image by johngarghan
Photo 3 - Nice to meet you Sue and Vic, I knocked on the roof and was invited in for some soap which I declined because I was so hot from running along the towpath, but I had to have some of Sue’s homemade bread.
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For about 3 years I have been a follower of the blog “Retirement with No Problem”
noproblem.org.uk/blog/ The internet diary of a couple Vic and Sue, who retired from the family business to live on a traveling narrow boat “No Problem”, they move each day along the canals of England. Sue originally began the blog so that the family back home in Portsmouth would be able to follow them and now its well read by other boaters because it keeps up to date with anything from the location for the best fuel prices, signs of damage to the canal or near by facilities and a detailed review of the visited pubs food and drink.
Reading the blog I found that they are travelling through the Birmingham area over the weekend, I wanted to find them and introduce myself but I knew it would be almost impossible because they move so quick and they could be anywhere on the city canal system, in fact I tried to find them last year without success. Last week Sue blogged that they are going through the 21 locks at Wolverhampton and I then knew I could find them along that stretch because it takes a few hours to navigate through a small area.
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
Tipton St John Scout Group learn about DonkeyS. Photo copyright of The Donkey Sanctuary
Image by Donkey Sanctuary Press Images
SCOUT TROOP SPENDING TERM AT THE DONKEY SANCTUARY
A 19 strong group of Scouts are spending their entire autumn term learning about the worldwide work of The Donkey Sanctuary and meet each Monday at the charity headquarters near Sidmouth.
On Monday 8th November the 1st Tipton St. John Scout Troop will be learning about the charity’s work in Mainland Europe in six project countries including sanctuaries in Cyprus, Italy and Spain.
Since the 6th September, the Scout Troop have been involved with caring for the donkeys (grooming etc), learning about the history of The Donkey Sanctuary and had introductions to the Fundraising and PR functions of the charity.
Dawn Vincent, who held the 4th October session on Public Relations, involved the Scouts in writing a quote for a news release, which would help to promote the work of the charity in local press.
Jack Roberts of 1st Tipton St. John Scout Troop said: “I was amazed by how much work is put in everyday, all over the world and how much they care about every single donkey.”
Over the next few weeks, the 1st Tipton St. John Scout Troop can look forward to hearing about the charity’s work overseas on international veterinary aid and educational work, including the opportunity to make toggles using leathers and materials used in project countries.
Jan Aherne, the Education and Activities Manager who has organised the action and fact-filled term for the Scout Troop says: “It is wonderful to share our devotion of donkeys with the Scouts and we hope they learn a great deal about our worldwide work in a fun and interesting way.”
The Scout Troop are working towards their Global, Community and Promise challenge badges and will be presented with these on Friday 10th December during the Sanctuary’s Carol by Candlelight event.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
For an interview, further information or images, please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573097/573014 or mobile 07970 927778
Download a high resolution image for this story at:
About The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary aims to protect donkeys and mules and promote their welfare worldwide.
The charity was founded by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen M.B.E. in 1969 and has since provided a sanctuary for life to more than 14,500 donkeys and mules in the UK, Ireland and Mainland Europe.
It alleviates the suffering of working donkeys in developing countries and has major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico where donkey welfare is improved through education and veterinary work.
The charity relies entirely on donations to continue its vital work in 29 countries worldwide. For further information telephone: 01395 578222, view www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk or visit the charity’s headquarters near Sidmouth in Devon (open 365 days/free admission).
Collective Quotes from the 1st Tipton St John Scout Troop:
•Chris Seers: “I have had a great time at The Donkey Sanctuary, and I have learned that donkeys are very interesting animals”
•Lily Pearson: “I’m feeling really excited because I know I’m working with a charity that changes the world each day”
•Jamie Davis: “The experience at The Donkey Sanctuary has been interesting, but also very motivating. It is intriguing about the history and what the staff have done to help improve their lives”
•Madeleine Roberts: “I’m loving my time at The Donkey Sanctuary because I know that if I continue learning about them, I have the potential to change a donkey’s life. Even cleaning out a donkey has been great, because I’ve never been so hands on before in my life”
•Harry Holmden-Bollard: “I like coming to The Donkey Sanctuary because it is fun spending time with the donkeys. I have learned that a lot of owners do not treat their donkeys with respect and know the way they should be treated”
•Amy Taylor: “Over the past couple of weeks I have been coming to The Donkey Sanctuary I have seen some really great things which have come out of some really bad things. I now feel strongly about the welfare of donkeys, but I know that not every owner in the world is as kind to their donkeys as others.”
•Polly Edwards: “I think that I am amazed and impressed by how long the people at The Donkey Sanctuary have worked, and how much they put into it – and how many donkeys they rescue from all over the world every year.”
•Jack Roberts: “I was amazed by how much work is put in everyday, all over the world – and how much they care about every single donkey, no matter how big or small.”
•Charles Amos: “I think that the donkeys don’t deserve to be treated in a horrible way. The people who use the donkeys to work shouldn’t treat them unkindly. I have been working with the donkeys that have been brought in, and I am finding out different things about them. They have a right to be treated they way we would like to be treated because they help us. I am working for a badge for my scout activities. I love working with the donkeys, they are lovely. Please carry on treating the donkeys nicely”
•Ben Wilkins: “I think The Donkey Sanctuary does some really good work to help the donkeys”
•Tobias Walters: “I think the people at The Donkey Sanctuary are very kind and caring towards these amazing animals”
•Lewis Douglas: “I think The Donkey Sanctuary is a fabulous idea. They take in an array of different donkeys and make sure they live a happy life – and live it to the full extent”
•Tom Gardner: “Since I’ve been at The Donkey Sanctuary I’ve become more interested in donkeys and giving them hope”
•Matthew Shepherd: “Help donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary every day to help them live a happy life”
•Finn Hutchings: “I think The Donkey Sanctuary is a good charity, looking after poor and wounded donkeys and giving them a good life, helping them to live a lot longer and giving them hope”
•Joanna Barker: “I think that The Donkey Sanctuary is a great charity. The staff there have the expertise to advise and expand. They have shown presentations that have made me feel touched, and also sad about how some donkeys are treated all over the world”
•Jacob Franks: “The most amazing, revealing experience of all time – hardworking and worth it”
A witch in disguise, perhaps?
Image by Gabriela Ruellan
This is a followup to a series of events started here.
So, after a month and a half spent in pupal stage, this moth eclosed yesterday at 3 AM (yay! — and there's still one pupa left in the jar). I did some photo sessions of it and left it in the garden at dusk, then it flew away.
Yesterday was overcast and rainy, so I had to resort to artificial lighting.
I don't know much about Citheronias, but this one looked like it was a female, judging by the thin antennae and from the fact that it spent quite a lot of time doing the pheromone release thing. The one that's about to eclose should be a male then, since the two pupae were different. Suspense...
Edit: It is a female, lol. It did not go away, it's still in the garden and has managed to attract not just one male, but two. Impressive, considering I had never seen a male Citheronia moth before.
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Esta es la continuación de una serie de eventos que comenzó acá.
Bueno, después de haber pasado un mes y medio en estado pupal, esta mariposa nocturna hizo eclosión ayer a las 3 de la mañana (¡iupi! y todavía queda una pupa en el tarro). Le hice algunas sesiones de fotos, la dejé en el jardín al anochecer, y ahí se fue.
Ayer estuvo nublado y lluvioso, así que tuve que recurrir a la luz artificial.
Mucho no sé de Citheronias, pero esta parecía ser una hembra, juzgando por las antenas finitas y por el hecho de que pasaba bastante tiempo haciendo la cosa de echar feromonas. La que está por eclosionar debe ser un macho entonces, porque las dos pupas eran diferentes. Suspenso...
Editado: Es una hembra, jua. No se fue, está todavía en el jardín y consiguió atraer no a un macho, sino a dos. Impresionante, considerando que yo nunca había visto una polilla Citheronia macho antes.
Citheronia brissotii meridionalis ♀
7 cm / 2.75 inches long
Distribution range / Área de distribución: Southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina / Sudeste de Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y Argentina
A few nice facts about animals images I found:
Deadliest countries to drive in!
Image by brizzle born and bred
If you’re thinking of travelling abroad, then you might be interested in finding out which countries are the worst for driving in or taking a holiday in. Depending on those you think are the most dangerous, the reality may well surprise you.
Deadliest countries to drive in. (per list just compiled by the OECD)
(based on fatalities per million drivers)
1. Russia
2. Slovakia
3. Poland
4. Turkey
5. Hungary
6. Korea
7. Greece
8. U.S.A.
9. Czech Republic
10. Belgium
United Kingdom
So despite what you might think about the UK’s roads and RTAs, Britain doesn’t make it into the top ten and in fact is consistently proven to be one of the safest countries in the world to drive in – alongside Sweden and The Netherlands.
The fact that the UK has such safe roads is partially due to the excellent road network and conditions, the high levels of policing and speed management (though this point is always hotly debated!) and of course the stringent tests that drivers in Great Britain have to pass before being allowed onto the road.
So why is Russia so bad?
Although Russian drivers also have to pass extensive examinations to earn their driving licences, it seems that there is a world of difference between what a Russian can expect to learn about the road while preparing for a test and what they actually find out there when they pass.
With around only 10% of their accidents being blamed on drunk-drivers, the other 90% seem to come from a combination of bad driving, terrible road conditions (in some areas it seems that the white lines that we expect to separate the lanes on a major road are worn away or completely missing) and a lack of policing.
The Government Auto Inspection (or GAI) the Russian version of the Transport Police does attempt to enforce regulations but has to do so with a small budget and old vehicles which makes it almost impossible. So until more money is given to the GAI it seems that Russia will continue to dominate the list of countries to avoid driving in if you want to come home in one piece.
In this crime-ridden, ex-Soviet state, no longer does the government stuff their Armani suits with rubles, but the vandals and gangsters. The Russian mafia runs amuck, there are more gangsters than police, and a Russian is assassinated every 18 minutes, averaging 84 murders per day in a nation of 143 million. The nucleus of Russian crime is stationed in the Republic of Chechnya, a region within Russia just north of Georgia. Prostitution, drug trafficking, and underground restaurants are arbitrarily controlled by the Chechens. Foreigners are kidnapped more frequently due to the higher ransom allocated. Crimes towards include but are not limited to: pick pocketing wallets, cell phones, cameras, cash, and physical assaults. From superpower to Third World country, think tanks are beginning to speculate if communism really was the cure for Russia.
Most Dangerous Countries to have a holiday
Afghanistan is the most dangerous country in the world to drive in. Keep an eye out for our noble soldiers will driving through Kandahar, but also make sure you keep your other eye on the traffic. See, for every 100, 000 people on Afghanistan's roads, 39 people die. You don't want to be one of them.
Iraq
It doesn’t matter whether you are George Bush, Pele or Chuck Norris – you are not safe in Iraq. Despite its rich history and its oil reserves, it is a ruined nation that is wracked with violence, despair and confusion. Since 2003, the United States has occupied Iraq which has led to a civil war claiming the lives of more than 650 000 civilians. Al-Qaeda, Sunni insurgents, Shiite security forces, Kurdish rebels, American soldiers, Turkish troops and criminals are involved in a cycle of violence that unfortunately, will not abate any time soon. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) and mines are a constant threat, as are suicide bombers who have slain hundreds. Kidnappings and random killings are reported with almost mind-numbing frequency. Since 2003, 2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring countries and another 1.9 million in Iraq remain internally displaced. Depleted uranium used as armor-piercing rounds will poison Iraqi civilians and US servicemen for decades. Truly, a hell on earth.
USA
For the average traveller, the USA is fairly safe, but the numbers do not lie. There are more than 200 million guns in the USA and more than 50 murders a day, 10 times the rate of Germany. Nearly 5000 people die a year in truck crashes, about 6000 pedestrains die on the streets and 31000 people end their own lives. The USA now leads all nations in violent crime and leads all nations with incarcerations now standing at 2.3 million. American citizens also make up the greatest number of criminals serving time in overseas prisons. Militias, hate groups and other right wing radicals all spread their message of violence and are known to throw around the odd pipe-bomb. The government is not much better, spending a whopping 0 billion a year on defense in order to contain the handful of nations hostile to it.
South Africa
Any nation described as the ‘rape capital of the world’ should be one to take extra special care in. Although rape had shown a declining trend to 113.7 in 2004, it increased in 2005 to 118.3 per 100 000. Another damning statistic for South Africa is its appallingly high murder rate. The 2010 World Cup host is consistently in the Top 5 list of countries by homicide rate. Most crime is confined to poor areas but it hasn’t stopped gated communities springing up all over South Africa and armed guards protecting wealthy tourist groups. Farming in South Africa has become one of the most dangerous professions in the world. The murder rate for farmers is 313 per 100 000 – about 8 times the national average. And like anywhere, sex can be very dangerous in South Africa, where more than 10 million people are infected with HIV.
Burundi
This small, densely populated and poor nation has giant problems. A civil war between Hutus and Tutsis tore the nation apart between 1993 and 2006. A ceasefire was declared however most provisions have not been implemented. Mass murder and mayhem compete with environmental problems as the biggest headaches for the people of Burundi. The list of assassinated leaders is extensive, and control of the nation has changed hands numerous times in the last 50 years. Crimes committed by roaming gangs and armed children are risks for visitors. Muggings, carjackings and kidnappings await, so you are advised not to stop the car for souvenirs. Should you be injured or harmed while in Burundi, you may need to be well trained, as local clinics have almost no resources to assist you.
Antarctica
While murder, rape and robbery may not be a big problem in this part of the world, the hostile conditions are. Antarctica is home to some extreme weather conditions, with the mercury regularly dropping below -60 degrees Celsius (-100F) and winds tearing in at more than 100km/hr. If exposed to this weather for more than an hour, you will most certainly die. Antarctica has no hospitals, no food to forage and if you get lost, not a lot of hope. Stay with the tour groups. At least there is a McDonald’s at Scott Base if you manage to find it.
Somalia
Somalia is a failed state known for its anarchy, corruption, lack of government, and starvation. Travelers are warned against entering Somalia, the self-proclaimed “independent Republic of Somaliland” or even sailing near the Horn Of Africa. Pirates patrol these waters armed with AK-47s and will seize craft and hold crews to ransom. Inter-clan fighting has claimed thousands of lives in the north of the country, while territorial control in the capital, Mogadishu is carved up between many clans and warlords. Ethiopia attacked Islamic troops in Somalia in late 2006, resulting in hundreds of casualties and the internal displacement of thousands. Heck, if this place is too much for the Marines, what chance do you stand? Make sure your insurance is fully up to date.
Sudan
Desperation, death and destruction are synonymous with Sudan. Terrorism is a mainstay of this nation, which has been controlled by Islamic military regimes since its independence. Some of the worlds most famous killers have earned their stripes in Sudan, finishing with degrees in car-bombing, rocket launching and genocide. Violence is rife in the Darfur region between government-backed militias, government troops and local insurgent groups. Sudan has been in open warfare with Chad partly due to the Darfur conflict. Since 2003, 230,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to eastern Chad from Darfur. More than two million have died during the 2 civil wars that spanned the last 50 years. Along with its bleak desert conditions, Sudan is one of the worst places on the planet.
Brazil
For anyone traveling to Brazil, it is not a matter of whether you get mugged, it is a matter of when! Grinding poverty still lives alongside incredible wealth in a country that is riding a wave of economic growth. But with prosperity, rates of crime have also soared. Street crime is rampant in parts of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, and whilst many victims are left unharmed, having a broken bottle put to your throat for your bracelet is not pleasant.
The incidences of “quicknappings” has risen in major cities. This involves being abducted and taken to an ATM to pay your ransom. If you can’t pay, thanks to mobile technology, your family is only a call away. Along with street crime, organized criminal groups have waged wars against police and public institutions that were unable to be bribed. Prison riots are brutally suppressed, drugs and narco-terrorism claim civilian casualties and if you survive all that – the piranhas are waiting.
Brazil is a beautiful country, with sunny beaches, clear waters, lush rainforests, incredible culture and many other attributes that make it a lovely travel destination. Unfortunately there is also a down side, a dark side of Brazil you’re bound to experience if you ever go. Despite the accelerated economic growth of recent years, poverty is still a serious issue here and people will do just about anything when their survival instincts kick-in.
You could end up with a switchblade pressing hard on your throat and be forced to surrender your wallet and valuables in order to keep your life. Kidnappings aren’t unusual in large cities like Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paolo; you just get pulled into a car and taken to the closest ATM in order to pay your own ransom. If you can’t do that, well, you better hope your family can or you’re in serious trouble.
Drug cartels have a firm grip over the slums of many of Brazil’s large cities and the police simply don’t have the power to bring them to their knees, so you might be unlucky enough to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and become a victim of their crossfire.
Poland
Poland’s ranking is not a surprise. Its decades-old, mostly two-lane roads are poorly marked and not built for today’s heavy truck traffic. Last month, on the four-hour main route from Breslau to Poznan that is entirely over winding narrow roads, we frequently witnessed impatient auto drivers pass long lines of trucks without sufficient clearance.
Crashes were often averted only when vehicles in both lanes moved onto the road’s shoulders. Beware if you plan to drive “east.”
United Arab Emirates
Sure, they may be the most prosperous of all Arab nations, but you'd think they'd be able to afford some better road safety programs. The land of oil, excess and seven-star hotels also happens to be one of the most dangerous places to get behind the wheel, with an estimated 37 out of every 100, 000 drivers and passengers dying on the road.
The Gambia
Memo to the chicken who crossed the road: don't in The Gambia. Massive car pile-ups are so frequent there that officials created a "road safety week" this past November. The West African country has a road fatality rate of 36.6 per 100, 000 citizens.
Angola
Malaria a major cause of premature death in Angola, but believe it or not, car collisions aren't far behind. In the past five years, a staggering 10, 000 Angolans have died in driving accidents. Bad roads, drunk driving and speeding are some of the main causes of the country's road traffic death rate of 37.7 per 100, 000 citizens.
Niger
As if famine and overpopulation weren't enough, Niger also has to put up with reckless drivers. If you're thinking of cruising down the scenic African country's dusty roads, keep in mind it has a traffic fatality rate of 37.7 per 100, 000 people.
Iraq
Okay, so chances are you won't be spending your holidays in Iraq, but if by some odd chance you are, try hiking everywhere instead of driving. The main stage of the War on Terror has a traffic fatality rate of 38.1 per 100, 000 motorists and passengers.
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
In 2007 alone, 2,138 Libyans died in auto-collisions. Among the reasons cited by Libyan authorities are excessive speed (oh really?) and poorly planned roads. Libya ranks as the second most dangerous Arab locale to drive in, with a fatality of rate of 40.5 per 100, 000 people.
Egypt
Blazing through the desert in a jet black jeep may have looked really cool while playing Tomb Raider 4, but about 42 people per 100, 000 die on Egypt's roads. That just drains all the fun right out, doesn't it? Considering the country's estimated 6,000 traffic-related fatalities a year, some curse-happy Pharaoh must have a huge chip on his shoulder.
The Cook Islands
They're renowned for their friendly people, tropical weather and relaxed pace of life - that is, when vehicles are smashing into one another. The Cook Islands have a road death rate of 45 per 100,000 drivers and passengers.
Eritrea
With an estimated 48 road traffic deaths per 100, 000 people, the small, poor African country of Eritrea tops the list. Oh, they also don't have a publicly available pre-hospital care system in place, so try not to get into any smashups.
Colombia
Its not the driving you have to worry about? Kidnapping is the main worry in Colombia. There were 2338 kidnappings in Colombia in 1998. Of the victims, 138 were killed by their captors. Ranked Fourth in the world for murders with 69.98/100000 in 2006, the popular targets are mayors, with dozens of them being slain each year. And of course, who can forget cocaine? Colombia supplies 75% of the worlds supply and thanks to Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel, paramilitary groups have waged war on the government in a bloody conflict with no end in sight. Even those working in the name of charity are not excluded from the frenzy. In 2005, 5 Catholic missionaries were murdered, down from 9 in 1999. Colombia’s beautiful coast and rugged mountains should make it a tourist paradise, instead it is among the most feared destinations you can visit.
World's most dangerous roads
Bolivia The Old Yungus Road 50-mile mountain road that connects Coroico to La Paz
Brazil Interstate 116 Potholes, poor signals and heavy traffic in southern Brazil
China Sichuan-Tibet Highway A rough, high-elevation road between Chengdu and Tibet where landslides and rock avalanches are common.
Costa Rica Pan American Highway Called the Hill of Death, the stretch from San Isidro de El General to Cartago is full of potholes and steep curves.
Croatia Coastal roads Adriatic Coast roads are narrow, curvy, and congested, and many lack shoulders and guardrails.
Ecuador Cotopaxi Volcan road 25-mile dirt road that crosses a swift-moving stream at the Cotopaxi National Park entrance.
Egypt Luxor-al-Ghurdaqah road Many crashes on this road to the Red Sea occur at night because Egyptians drive with headlights off.
England A44 More than 25% of crashes on the stretch linking Leominster and Worcester are head-on.
Greece Patiopoulo-Perdikaki road A steep, gravel road with an unmarked edge in the Agrafa region.
India Grand Trunk Road Heavily used by trucks, the country's busiest road is overloaded with ox carts, animals, bicycles and pedestrians.
Kenya Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret Highway More than 300 die annually in crashes commonly caused by speeding, improper passing and drunken driving.
Mexico Highway 1 A winding, narrow potholed road from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas that lacks guard rails, shoulders and road signs.
Morocco Marrakesh-Agadir Road Heavy truck traffic and buses and taxis that pass on steep, blind curves
Namibia Swakopmund-Walvis Bay road Heavy truck traffic and frequent head-on collisions when drivers misjudge distance between vehicles while passing.
Nepal Prithvi Highway Landslides and road cave-ins during the rainy season are common on this narrow road with heavy traffic linking Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Nigeria Lagos-Ibadan-Ogbomosho-Ilorin-Jebba-Minna-Abiyo Expressway A congested road with deep potholes and a median in disrepair that links northern and eastern Nigeria. Drivers may drive on the wrong side to avoid traffic.
Pakistan N-35 (Karakoram Highway) Landslides, floods and mud can block this northern Pakistan mountain road that passes through deep gorges and is a route to China.
Peru Kuelap-Celendin-Cajamarca road Narrow, gravel mountain road with sheer drops and hair-pin turns on descent from Barro Negro Pass to Las Balsas.
Portugal IP3 Steep, deteriorating road with no barrier between lanes linking Coimbra and Viseu.
Scotland A77 A winding single- and two-lane road in southwestern Scotland with varying speed limits and many fatal crashes.
Spain Carretera Nacional N340 A narrow Costa del Sol coastal road where drunken drivers and tourists unaccustomed to driving on the right have caused many crashes.
South Africa N3 Between Warden in Free State Province and the bottom of Van Reenen's Pass in KwaZulu-Natal Province, there's a high crash rate because of fog, rain, wind and winding stretches.
Turkey Bodrum-Milas-Soke road Winding coastal road without barriers on many stretches that's especially dangerous when wet.
Mute swan feeding
Image by LHG Creative Photography
Just a close up taken with my canon 75-300mm at slimbridge.
I deliberately took it with the offset tilt, just made it seem a bit more dynamic.
What originally attracted my eye was the light striping in the head from the water reflections created by low autumn evening light. They make an animal with quite a bland all-over tone seem a bit more interesting to me.
Swans are always like a blank canvas when it comes to their plumage, you have to work hard to make something about them a bit more tactile. Avoiding preconceptions of them are good, everyone prejudges them as a bird that has to be represented as pristine white and always graceful or a compliment to a scenery and thats not really their nature.
Being bright though,does mean you get light interplay between them and their environment in a mutual visually affecting way, and personally, I like to concentrate on that and their behaviour, perhaps try to see them more as they see each other, as functional kinetic beings rather than purely as ornamentation. It seems to be the less well trodden path, and theres still new things to see there.
Again I was also trying to get right into the personal space of the animal using telephoto in the hope of revealing something about it. There were loads of them at location, at least four dozen, but though there is a group social structure in play, each one kind of does its own thing, keeping an eye on whats going on around it, so being the devils advocate, I focused in on one to see what he was doing in his personal moment apart from the group mentality. There was a relationship between him and me too, what you often see in large groups is a lot of aggression.
Now your average swan especially a male or an alpha couple tend to intimidate the younger birds around them a little, perfectly understandable in a heirarchical situation, so what younger birds who are used to being around humans tend to do is get closer to you, and use you as a barrier or an intimidatory space that an aggressive swan is less likely to invade.
Even when trusted the average human still reads as a predator to a bird, so territorial scuffles are less likely to happen within a few metres of feet of you because even dominant birds don't like to be suckered by a predatory attack while they are dealing with heirarchical business.
Predators have long exploited courship in other species as an opportunity to attack, so canny youngster raised in wildlife reserves uses that instinctive fear to cut themselves a 10 minute break now again so that they can feed and preen, even take a 5 minute kip. This youngster knows me quite well by now, he's seen me since he was the size of a tennis ball at least once a fortnight, knows i'm not a real threat, and when I sit at the waters edge he just comes over and uses me as a bit of protection against his dominants, gets to chill out, relax a bit.
Its not what you'd call really wild nature photography, but its nice to know he gets something out of the deal when I take photos of him. I think everyone tends to think you have to feed birds to get them close, but actually trust works far better when the animal has had time to get to know you.
He knows I rarely have food on me and doesn't beg, he just comes over to take a look and uses me for protection, which lets face it , is clever of him, I don't know if he knows he's exceeding the fear instincts of other swans and exploiting it logically, but he certainly does know how to avoid being picked on by choosing the right person to sit next to.
I wouldnt put it past him to have read my personality though, he knows I'm not about to chicken and run in front of an aggressive swan and he probably uses my no-fear kind of defiance and confidance I have to shield himself. and it does kind of make you feel warm and fuzzy. He reads confidance, I am an ex-animal rescuer and can handle swans with skill, i'm neither intimidated by their aggression, or in any physical danger from even the most commited swan, because come to crunch I could subdue one without hurting it in about 4 seconds flat, and i'm pretty sure a swan can pick that up off you. Its a bit like other peoples cats don't really come to you until youve had a cat of your own,( I raised an otter, so the otters at slimbridge squeak to address me directly and look straight into my eyes when they avoid the gaze of others, and I can even call them over if I wish to, yet Ive never fed them, and I even seem to be able to get a communication going with some of the higher order more intelligent reptiles like iguanas etc primarily because I owned a six footer myself ) you unconsciously learn something, almost like an identifier code in your behaviour, that makes them trust you. When youve worked with birds before much can be settled in a look.
I mean there are prerequisites in nature for this sort of thing, plains animals use other species to avoid conflict, a zebra getting picked on by its dominant might use a buffalo or an elephant as cover knowing full well that violence kicking off next to it would probably see some zebra get put into orbit, so things stay peaceful. The swan being adaptable has just worked that out for itself, and happens to think humans will do. Ive had it from other animals too a mother mallard duck with maybe 30 creched young she was looking over, brought them over to me when a gull started scoping them out. I was just sat there with a camera , cross legged in the path taking pics, but she knew the gull wouldnt dare strike so close to me, so she used me and so did all 30 odd ducklings. It was quite weird being surrounded by little chirping dudes. But fun.
Thing is though, it makes you wonder about how much the animals have noticed about you, did she use me as cover because I was just that relaxed and still, or did she use me because she noticed that I noticed the situation, and being a gooey human felt a tiny twinge of the paternal instinct, and somehow transmitted that emotion, or was she just assumming I'd kick off if anything violent happened around me as most other animals would, and that would be protection enough for the gull not to try anything. How did she know the gull might know that I might kick off? Can all this really be just learned from other examples perhaps shes tried it before... if its her first time then how does she know, is it instinctively hard wired in to all of us, the human and the two different bird species? Even baitballs of fish have used cameramen and scientists as cover, and in a shoal of young fish in the middle of the pacific theres no way they will have seen a human before, so how do they know they are any safer by the human than they are by the tuna? Its not like humans havent hunted fish in dive suits before.
Thing is though birds and ourselves have very little in common when it comes to expression. Sure the eyes speak volumes when you look at context, but as primates we are heavy of facial expression and when sitting still as photographers low on bodily expression. A bird has almost zero facial expression simple because their beak is rigidly fixed and even their eyes dont have that much freedom of movement, the surrounding muscle structure is mostly flush with the skull.
So is it that they are used to dealing with such tiny subtleties of expression and they find us easy to read from signals we are almost completely unaware of transmitting, or are they looking at a wider view of events which lets face it, denotes a really intense intelligence ( though that might not surprise me, almost every animal studied for intelligence turns out to be smarter than we originally assume) or do they simply gamble and remember, trial and error. Because if thats what they do, their rationales sem incredibly loose and very lucky by a margin of something significantly more than the law of averages. If we taught em poker we could make a bloody fortune!
Either way its a fascinating thought. Just how do they make these assessments? Is it really just "i'll take a chance here, cos its an unknown, but i'm definitely gonna die over there" ?
In any case, I like the fact that a mutually beneficial touch of symbiotic behaviour doesnt have to revolve around bribery or trade, yet still serves purpose. Wild, half wild, domestic, it doesnt really matter, the longer you hang around animals they always show you something new.
Cool Toys Pic of the day - SOPA Countdown / Blackout SOPA / American Censorship
Image by rosefirerising
I'm all about freedom of speech, freedom of information, open
education, open science, transparency, etcetera. So the blackout
starts in a couple hours. I blogged about it yesterday so you'd all
have more warning than I can give you today.
Want to participate in the blackout or support it? Check out yesterday's
post or go to American Censorship.
American Censorship:
americancensorship.org/
Need an image to black out your Twitter or Facebook stream, or a
banner for your blog? Get them at BlackOut SOPA.
Blackout SOPA:
www.blackoutsopa.org/
When is this really happening? You can find that at the SOPA Countdown.
SOPA Countdown:
sopacountdown.com/
Or can you? Read on, things are changing, even as we speak.
The bill is on-again, off-again, but folks tracking it have already
pointed to some new bills with similar missions. What they say is
true. With the big guns behind this, like Disney and the MPAA behind
this idea, it won't go away. They'll keep proposing new bills. There
are more in the works even now. So here's a few little tidbits to
think about. While folks were gearing up for the tail end of the this
fight to preserve important freedoms, the White House responded to
petitions about SOPA, basically saying there are some real problems
with the current form of the legislation.
Combating Online Piracy while Protecting an Open and Innovative Internet
By Victoria Espinel, Aneesh Chopra, and Howard Schmidt
wwws.whitehouse.gov/petition-tool/response/combating-onli...
"“We will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression,
increases cybersecurity risk or undermines the dynamic, innovative
global Internet. ...
Any effort to combat online piracy must guard against the risk of
online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation
by our dynamic businesses large and small. ...
We must avoid creating new cybersecurity risks or disrupting the
underlying architecture of the Internet. ...
We expect and encourage all private parties, including both content
creators and Internet platform providers working together, to adopt
voluntary measures and best practices to reduce online piracy."
Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and
Online Piracy:
www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/14/obama-administration-r...
"The White House has responded to two petitions about legislative
approaches to combat online piracy. In their response, Victoria
Espinel, Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator at Office of
Management and Budget, Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer,
and Howard Schmidt, Special Assistant to the President and
Cybersecurity Coordinator for National Security Staff stress that the
important task of protecting intellectual property online must not
threaten an open and innovative internet."
White House Says It Opposes Parts of Two Antipiracy Bills:
www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/us/white-house-says-it-opposes...
"The bills currently under consideration in Congress were intended to
combat the theft of copyrighted materials by preventing American
search engines like Google and Yahoo from directing users to sites
that allow for the distribution of stolen materials. They would cut
off payment processors like PayPal that handle transactions.
The bills would also allow private citizens and companies to sue to
stop what they believed to be theft of protected content. Those and
other provisions set off fierce opposition among Internet companies,
technology investors and free speech advocates, who said the bills
would stifle online innovation, violate the First Amendment and even
compromise national security by undermining the integrity of the
Internet’s naming system."
What happened next? Well, Congress decided they better go back to the
drawing board and rethink this.
Controversial online piracy bill shelved until 'consensus' is found
thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/204167-sopa-...
Putting SOPA on a shelf:
www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/puttin...
So, everything is good, right? The bill has been canceled. No one
needs to worry. It's gone. But the momentum is still going, and the
SOPA strike is still being planned, and more folk are signing up for
it all the time. Does that seem ... illogical? Is the strike still
needed? The folks who've been pushing for SOPA seem to think that
continuing with the strike is basically ill-mannered and ill-bred.
Danny Sullivan used stronger language to describe what their view was.
MPAA issues statement slamming SOPA/PIPA "blackout" protests as
"dangerous gimmick". By Xeni Jardin at 1:24 pm Tuesday, Jan 17:
boingboing.net/2012/01/17/mpaa-issues-statement-on-jan.html
Motion Picture Association of America:
mpaa.org/resources/c4c3712a-7b9f-4be8-bd70-25527d5dfad8.pdf
"It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely
on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of
power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace
today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms
that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to
incite their users in order to further their corporate interests."
Does this mean that the MPAA doesn't do things to further their
corporate interests?
OpenCongress: S.968 - PROTECT IP Act of 2011: Money:
www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/money
Oh. I guess someone is spending a lot of money to lobby! ,672,497 to
support SOPA vs. ,839,707 to oppose it, and that just mentions the
top recipients of donations. As Danny pointed out, does that mean buy
people's consent with money is OK, but inspiring action is not? Now,
where is the real passion here? I'm remembering a song I used to sing
way back when ... "'Tis sad when you think of her wasted life, for
youth cannot mate with age, and her beauty was sold for an old man's
gold ... She's a bird in a gilded cage." I don't know that I agree
with the ageism of the song's lyrics, but the idea that there is
something different between actions inspired by money and those
inspired by passion does seem to be relevant.
So back to the blackout. You'd be surprised how many people I've seen
who were ready to call it quits, and just let the big boys handle the
blackout. Then they read the MPAA document. Now, they are even
angrier, and even MORE people are joining the blackout. It is pretty
obvious that even if SOPA does die, this is just one skirmish. The
original mission of the blackout was to let people find out, in a very
small way, what life might feel like if this bill, or others like it,
pass. That might still be a useful and valuable lesson, you know. Just
maybe.
