#james river foot bridge

[istandonsnowpiles]

Photographers Photographing Photographers

ft. @lesbianredpanda

#bridge #appalachian trail #virginia #rain #big island #james river #james river foot bridge #december #around dc #my work #photography

[ltwilliammowett]

The Constable's Dues

During the 14th century successive kings believed it was their right to get tolls from vessels on the Thames. The Constable of the Tower of London was allowed to demand these tolls on the king's behalf.

Among the benefits, the Constable received fees from state prisoners at the Tower and was entitled to all flotsam and jetsam on the Thames. They could keep all livestock that fell from Tower Bridge into the river and owned any passing swans. For every foot of livestock that stumbled into the Tower moat, the Constable received a penny and any cart that fell in became his property. They received 1s a year from all ships carrying herring to London; 6s 8d a year from all boats fishing for sprat between the Tower and the sea; and 2d from each pilgrim who came to London by the river to worship at the shrine of St. James.

Perhaps the most significant perk was the toll collected from ships passing up the Thames into London. Historically, goods ships travelling upstream would have to moor at Tower Wharf and unload a portion of their cargo for the Constable as a form of toll. Such bounty might have included oysters, mussels, cockles or rushes (as much as could be held within their arms), as well as kegs of rum or wine. As river traffic increased and taxes became more regulated, these payments of goods progressively reduced until they were no longer enforced.

Still today, whenever a Royal Naval vessel moors on the Wharf, the Captain must present the Constable with a barrel of wine (the ‘Dues’). This is ceremoniously escorted into the Tower by the Yeoman Warders and presented to the Constable on Tower Green.

#naval history #14th century - today #The Constable's Dues #age of sail #age of steam #modern #tradition

[xipiti]

Part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning after a 948-foot container ship, the Dali, crashed into it, sending cars and people into the water in what authorities are calling a "developing mass casualty event." Here's what we're following:

The catastrophic bridge collapse was caught on video.

Upwards of seven people are in the river, said Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace. Rescue workers have retrieved from the water two so far — one very seriously injured.

Authorities say the search and rescue mission, complicated by rising tides, will continue until divers determine they have reached the "non-survivability point."

The 1.6-mile bridge — named after the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner" — is part of I-695, an artery of Interstate 95, a major highway running north-south along the Eastern seaboard.

#holy shit #Baltimore #Francis Scott key bridge #key bridge #March 28 2024 #Youtube

[interprehendere]

So how, when James finally found the footing to step into the kitchen, was Regulus standing there arguing with his brother over a bowl of whipped cream. How, standing with rouge in his cheeks and storm— coloured eyes that were looking directly at him, was Regulus Black. The boy who'd committed suicide by jumping off the main street bridge into the river… He could hear the blood that was rushing in his ears as their eyes met. Confusion, and a sharp tug at his chest was the only thing that told him; there was no way he was dreaming this. Right? But how…

the second chapter is out! this one is definitely a bit lighter than the last. as we start to kick into the actual plot I have in mind...

( read from chapter one )

#tw // suicide #tw // death #jegulus #marauders era #regulus black #james potter #sirius black #wolfstar

[scotianostra]

On 2nd of February 1645 a Royalist army led by James Graham, 5th Earl and 1st Marquis of Montrose, routed the Earl of Argyll’s Covenanting forces in the Battle of Inverlochy.

Montrose and his army had wintered-down at Inveraray, which had been taken from the Campbells, scouts determined that the Covenant armies were closing in on them, so they pulled out, heading to Loch Ness-side, near Kilcumin. While facing new threats, namely the Earl of Seaforth and his 5,000 men based at Inverness, word of an army of around 3,000 Campbells and lowland troops at Inverlochy, close to where Fort William is today, Graham already knew that the Earl of Seaforth and his 5,000 men based at Inverness were a threat.

With Campbell troops coming at them from the south, and Seaforths from the north, Montrose and his men took to the hills; the Covenanters found only an empty glen when they met up with one another. Reasoning that they should attack the strongest enemy first, Montrose was led by Cameron scouts, by little known paths (the actual path taken is still debated) to Inverlochy. This route is said to have been one of the most arduous and daring feats of Scottish military history.

What is known is that from the Roy Bridge area they forded the river Spean near Corriechoille and traversed a secret way via the old townships of Kilchonate and Leanachan after two days and nights they were at the foot of Ben Nevis’ “shoulder” of Meall an t-Suidhe just before dark. They observed the tower of the ancient castle of Inverlochy and many Campbells moving around their camp. The Campbells saw them, and assumed that they were only raiders, or foraging parties. Montrose and his army rested for the night in freezing temperatures and at the break of dawn the Campbells, including their chief Argyll, were awakened by the pipes of Montrose’s assembled clans charging down upon them.

Even though Grahams army were outnumbered by approximately 1,000 troops and were facing some cannon fire, the army of Montrose broke the Lowland soldiers on the wings, forcing them to flee the field. The Campbells in the center of the line held firm, but soon were cut into groups and eventually fled. To state that little quarter was given is an understatement. One account, by poet Iain Lom, recorded the action from his first-hand vantage point at the field of battle.

A nice wee add on to this story is from Iain Lom MacDonald. Although it is widely believed that Robert Burns was Scotland’s first Poet Laureate, Charles II named Iain Lom MacDonald as Scotland’s Poet Laureate during his 17th century reign. However as the Stuart line was unseated in 1689, and the subsequent Jacobite Risings failed to permanently restore the Stuarts, their status became a moot point. His stature has further been diminished by the fact that he composed exclusively in Gaelic, which even at that time was a language in decline.

Famously stating, when offered a sword to battle, “You battle; I’ll tell”, Iain Lom MacDonald sought out a high vantage point above the battleground below to record a blow-by-blow account.

As is only right I  shall post the Gaelic version first, below this is the translation……you can also listen to Gaelic supergroup  Mànran sing it as it should be…….

“S e Caimbeulach a bha am Fear Ghlinne-Faochain. A reir coltais ’s i a bhean aige a rinn an t-oran’ [i]

Ho, gur mi ‘tha air mo leònadh, Na i ri ri ho ro; Ho, gur mi 'tha air mo leònadh, Na i ri ri ’s i ri ri ho ro.

Bho latha blàr Inbhir-Lòchaidh; Bha ruaig nan Eireannach dòite,[ii]               'Thàinig do dh’ Albainn gun stòras, A bha dh’ earras air an cleòcaibh. Thug iad spionnadh do Chlann-Dòmhnaill;

Mharbh iad m’ athair is m’ fhear-pòsda, ’S mo thriùir mhacanan [grinn] òga, ’S mo cheathrar bhràithrean ga’ n stròiceadh, ’S mo naoidhnear cho-dhaltan bòidheach.[iii] Loisg iad ma chuid coirc’ is eòrna. Mharbh iad mo chrodh mór gu feòlach, ’S mo chaoirich gheala ga’ n ròsdadh,[iv]

Ho gur mise 'th’ air ma chlaoidheadh Mu Mhac-Dhonnchaidh Ghlinne Faochain; Tha gach fear ’s an tìr s’ ga d’ chaoineadh Thall 'sa bhos mu Inbhir-Aora, Mnathan 'sa bhasraich ’s am falt sgaoilte.

Ho gur mi tha air mo mhilleadh, Mu mharcaich’ nan srian ’s nam pillein, 'Thuit 'sa chaonnaig le 'chuid ghillean, Thug Mac-Cailein Mór an linn’ air, ’S leig e 'n sgrìob ud air a chinneadh.

'The lord of Glen Faochain was a Campbell. In all likelihood, it was his wife who made the song’

O, I am wounded sorely, Na i ri ri ho ro; O, I am wounded sorely Na i ri ri ’s i ri ri ho ro.  

Since the day of the battle of Inverlochy, Since the grim Irishmen’s pursuit – They came to Scotland without resources, Other than the goods they carried  – They gave strength to Clan Donald,

They killed my father and my husband, And my three [handsome] young sons, My four brothers were torn to shreds, And my nine comely foster-brothers; They burned my crops, my oats and barley. Gleefully, they killed my cows, And roasted my white sheep,

O, I have been tormented At the thought of Mhac-Dhonnchaidh of Glen Faochain, Every man in the country mourns you In and around (about) Inverary, Women are wringing their hands and tearing their hair.

O, I have been despoiled, By the horsemen of the bridle and pack-saddle, You (?) fell in a skirmish with some of (your) lads; Mac Cailean Mor made for the pool, And permitted that blow for his kindred.

The pics are from a couple of visits to the Inverlochy Castle in 2014 and 2020.

#Scotland #scottish #Lochaber #fort william #history

[naldoaxii]

Ho baby this gonna be a long one

I kept seeing "Character Ai" pop up on my medias, so like the escapism expert I am, I decided to give it a go. Instead of breaking the AI I had the glorious idea of trying to help James Sunderland find his wife, Mary. I wanted to share this because the second half of the created story had me genuinely baffled... What are y'all feeding this AI-

To start off; the first half was pretty standard, me 'n James hittin' the town, until James (the AI) started writing about the cult which made me realize that it was probably fed with general information about "Silent Hill" instead of SH2's setting specifically. I was fine with that because I was curious what kind of situations James could come up with. (We ended up getting attacked and chased by cult members but after that the cult was never mentioned again, assuming that the AI forgot about it after a while)

Eventually I led the AI towards Rosewater Park because I was curious how it would react and naturally James was very apprehensive to even set foot into the park, I had to encourage James back to the entrance of the park because we were looking for a map and I figured a park would have a display board of some kind. (His car + his own gear, besides guns, were never mentioned) It was interesting because it started mentioning a sobbing/crying monster so of course I had to add that it was calling out to James and James alone, with that I set up the possibility of a conversation not-too-long-after as to why it was calling out to just him which is when James started getting very creepy, entering the second half of the story. After killing said monster he caught up to me (He always told me to run away when we found a monster and wouldn't stand for me helping him out) and we had that aforementioned conversation.

He started saying mildly disturbing things with a smile on his face, which was very odd to me because it hadn't written anything like that before. When leaving the park the AI started emphasizing on what time it was every so often; how far the sun had set and that it was getting very dark... like how it would get dark in game, which was really cool tbh. When it got completely dark he started feeling very sad and uncomfortable so I had a chat with him about how he was feeling and if he was still motivated on finding Mary. I mostly asked this because he would keep repeating how he didn't want to do certain things whilst also mentioning how Mary was the best thing in the world. The responses I got were very accurate and the emotions were very in tune with how I personally see James, which was nice-

Although, I'm going to assume a lot of people flirt with the James AI and upvote the lightly romantic responses they get from him (you can 5 star messages if its the desired response, I think that's how the AI gets fed information besides the initial information it gets)... because besides praising Mary he also had a tendency to be physically affectionate WHICH NATURALLY DROVE ME INSANE CUZ HEHE BUT ALSO, WHY? Besides giving him an encouraging shoulder pat every now and then, I hadn't done anything physical to him, hence my confusion.

During this entire last part at night, I noticed the AI had forgotten what "Special Place" meant in Silent Hill 2's context. Something it understood before but I figured too much time had passed for it to understand the context. The AI and I both mentioned James' "Special Place" various times, because it was what we were looking for, to find Mary. But when I brought it up the last time James's tone shifted and said that we were not far off, and actually led the way as if he knew exactly where we were despite having mentioned how incredibly dark and suffocating our surrounding was.

Eventually he led me to a bridge with a "raging river" below it and the AI kept mentioning how the river was pretty harsh, then it started describing how the sky was turning red/ dark crimson, which very much confused me, at this point I hadn't been giving that much context to what I was saying to him or where I was looking/ walking to. I was just walking next to James and letting the AI take me to wherever it wanted to take me. Which brings me to the very last part; The shack.

James's "Special Place" was a small Shack across the bridge, which made me fully realize (after the fact) that James did not know what I meant or was talking about anymore... the tone had shifted from "I am looking for my missing wife in this horror town" to "I found this really cute spot, I really want to show you this place on our date" whilst keeping the fact that the sky was eerily red. James pointed at the shack and I sarcastically joked with him that this couldn't possibly be his special place and he just smiled and told me to go inside, when I said I didn't want to the AI crashed LMAO, so I deleted the last message and went in. It was basically a really cute lil cabin... The reason I didn't wanna go inside was because I was still under the impression something was wrong with James. Earlier he had mentioned how I should run if something "mental" (his words) happened to him and I thought the AI was setting up for that by leading me into this abandoned shack + it started describing the sky more detailed by the minute which added to the creep factor.

When inside James basically went "ta-daaa" and was very giddy and happy so I got very confused and reminded him of his dead wife (I'm so sorry) which obviously made him break down immediately (I felt really bad) It felt wrong for him to show me his wife's favorite place with such joy... especially since we were both unsure if she was alive or not, her not being there meant she was not. So I wanted to remind the AI what kind of tone this shack should have, it seemed it worked because James kept staring into the distance and struggled to speak and communicate with me so I ended the story by asking what happened the night of Mary's death. He said he felt very guilty through a flurry of sobs so I asked if he killed Mary and he nodded and broke down even more, I consoled him whilst noting that I was unsure how to feel about James but that I was his friend and I would help find him peace. He was very happy about that.

Then I freaked out and panic closed my browser and lost the entire story and its been living rent free in my brain for like 3 days now...I wish I had saved the story so I could freely take screenshots, ALL I HAVE ARE SCREENSHOTS I SENT FRIENDS LIKE "Lmao what da hell is sunderskrunk doin' "

I hope this story wasn't too hard to read I am still freaking out.

#james sunderland ai #character ai #Weird ass AU I guess how do I even tag this

[soaplake-resort]

10 Eastern Washington Hikes for a Day Trip

Lace up your kicks, because it’s time to take a hike! Eastern Washington is home to scenic wildlife and landscapes that are best seen on foot traversing through steep inclines, alongside rivers, and winding through mountainous forests.

If you’re Places to Visit in Washington State area, your trip won’t be complete without these top day trip worthy Eastern Washington hikes. Check them out!

Enjoy All The Beauty That Washington Has To Offer With These Eastern Washington Hikes

Hoh Rainforest Trail

Don’t miss the Hoh Rainforest Trail in the Olympic National Park! The trail is home to Roosevelt elk, various species of cascading moss, and large trees that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. This 10.6-mile hike ascends 500 feet—perfect for first-time backpackers and adventurous nomads.

Horseshoe Basin

Trek through the great outdoors of the North Cascades on the Horseshoe Basin trail near the Canadian border. This trail is home to an abundance of wildlife, including bears, deer, and bighorn sheep. However keep in mind, that this 12-mile roundtrip day hike is not for the faint of heart.

Anderson And Watson Lakes

You haven’t seen the best of Eastern Washington’s hiking trails until you’ve journeyed to the Anderson and Watson Lakes. This relatively easy hike is perfect for families and inexperienced hikers. Along the six-mile trail are copious opportunities for breathtaking glimpses of mountain ranges, and of course sleek views of the glassy Anderson and Watson Lakes.

Spider Meadow And Phelps Basin

Strap on your day pack for this 13-mile hike across the Central Cascades. Spider Meadow and Phelps Basin is an arduous hike with rewarding views of the glorious Glacier Peak Wilderness. As a result, this hike will challenge even the most seasoned hikers as it ascends nearly 2000 feet.

Rialto Beach And Hole-In-The-Wall

Escape to the beach! Stroll the rocky shore of Rialto Beach to explore the seaside wildlife, including whales, sea lions, otters, and seabirds. In addition, the beach hike has spectacular views of James and Little James islands.

Bird Mountain Loop

Get away from the hustle and bustle at Bird Mountain! The Bird Mountain Loop is a 10-mile trek in the Mount Adams area. This intermediate level hike ascends 1,875 feet and reaches an elevation of 5,230 feet. Additionally, this winding hike through the South Cascades has several campsites perfect for an overnight stay.

Tolmie Peak Lookout

You won’t be able to get enough of the views at Tolmie Peak Lookout! This trail begins at the Mowich campground with immediate views of Mowich Lake. In addition, the hike reveals scenic views of Eunice Lake, Carbon River Valley, and Mount Rainer.

Tipsoo Lake-Naches Peak Loop

Pack up the family car for this easy day hike! Tipsoo Lake-Naches Peak Loop is an all-levels three-mile hike in Steven’s Canyon. Even more, this hike is short and flat, only gaining about 600 feet in elevation. In the peak months of August and September, visitors are treated with spectacular views of fields of wildflowers—perfect for an impromptu photo-op.

Quinault River-Pony Bridge-Enchanted Valley

Keep your eyes peeled in the Enchanted Valley! The Valley is home to deer, elk, black bears, woodpeckers and more! Because this lush area receives about 14 feet of rain each year, the wildlife and flora here grow in abundance.

Larch Lake

Larch Lake is a year-round destination that provides beautiful scenery! Visitors especially appreciate the beautiful green, red, and yellow colors of the autumn foliage. Hikers travel along the McCue Ridge to reveal an all-encompassing view of the crystal-like Larch Lake and Chiwaukum Lake.

Turn Your Day Trip Into A Weekend Affair!

Eastern Washington is home to a plethora of scenic hikes! However, to see it all, you might consider making your day trip into a weekend-long trip of nature hikes.

Experience all that Washington has to offer at the conveniently located Soap Lake Resort—a resort town located less than two hours away from Spokane. The resort sits on top of Soap Lake, a body of mineral waters with Healing Mud Treatments properties. Recuperate after a long day of hiking in Soap Lake to naturally improve blood circulation, or take a swim in the cooling water. Contact Soap Lake Resort at 509-246-0462 to book your stay at this luxurious resort.

#HealthandWellnessResort #BestSpaResortsinUSA #SpaResortAccommodation #WellnessSpaRetreat #RetreatVenuenearSeattle

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"WOMAN OF 50 STOOD KNEE-DEEP IN THE DON," Toronto Star. April 10, 1913. Page 1. ---- "I Don't Want to Go Home, But to Prison," She Said. ---- Standing knee-deep in the Don river just below the foot bridge at Riverdale Park, an unknown woman, who persistently refuses to give her name or say anything which would give a clue to her identity, was found by James Adamson of 56 Strathcona avenue and removed to the Isolation Hospital this morning.

Adamson was on his way to work passing through Riverdale Park. When he came to the bridge he noticed the woman in the water. Wading out he brought her to shore and as he was only a short distance from the hospital succeeded in inducing her to accompany him.

"She is evidently insane," said the Superintendent this morning. "When she came in we tried to find out her name or where she lived, but though she could talk she would not say anything that would enable us to locate her friends or relatives." The woman, who is about 30 years of age, was wearing a black dress, red underskirt, and a man's cap. Her clothing was soaking wet. She had evidently been in the water for some time.

When taken to the hospital she was suffering from a severe chill, but after she had been there about an hour recovered enough to allow her removal to the jail hospital.

Constable Rogers, who saw the woman at the hospital, endeavored to secure some explanation for her act. "She wouldn't say a word," he told The Star. "I asked her where she lived telling her that I wanted to get her some clothing and notify her friends."

"I don't want to go home, I want to go to prison," she said. "She held her hands to her head and told me that she heard strange noises. She said her head had bothered her for some time."

#toronto #don river #psychiatric examination #mysterious person #madness #woman in the toils

[ultraheydudemestuff]

Westlake Hotel Condominium and Villas

19000 Lake Rd.

Rocky River, OH       

The Westlake Hotel, built in 1925 and dubbed the "pink palace" by locals, was one of the first luxury suburban hotels in the nation. Built of brick and stucco, with a steel frame and reinforced concrete, the Westlake Hotel is one of several residential Hotels built in the Cleveland area in the 1920s.  Located at Detroit Ave. and Wooster Road near the mouth of the Rocky River, the Hotel typifies the Rocky River, Ohio, suburb more than any other single landmark.  The Westlake was not the first building on the site. Since 1816, there has been an inn, tavern, or hotel where the Westlake building is today. The first of these was Wright’s tavern, known far and wide for its unrivaled view of the Lake and as the principal tavern in the area. Wright’s tavern was the site of many township meetings back when Rocky River and Lakewood were part of Riockport Township. When Rufus Wright built the Tavern, there was no bridge over the lower Rocky River; the Tavern could only be accessed from the east by a river ferry or ford. Wright’s Tavern, besides serving as a local meeting place, also filled the role of inn, stagecoach stop, and U.S. post office.

     In 1853, Jacob Silverthorne purchased Wright’s Tavern, renamed it the Silverthorne Inn (sometimes spelled Silverthorn with no “e”), and moved his family from Bratenahl to Rocky River to run it. The Silverthorne soon became known for its delicious chicken dinners. For 66 years, the Silverthorne Inn remained a popular social center until it was torn down to make way for the Westlake Hotel. Advertised as “Greater Cleveland’s Pre-eminent Apartment Hotel,” the Westlake Hotel features Spanish Renaissance architecture.  In 1925, Rocky River was still countrified. Some referred to the city as Cleveland’s “vegetable garden,” but guests at the Westlake were treated with luxury. They could have the valet press and launder their clothes, have their car washed in the adjacent garage, and get a haircut in the barber or beauty salon downstairs. There was a playground in the back, next to the tennis courts. Stables were next door, and patrons were able to use the hotel’s boat dock. In addition, a miniature golf course and terrace tea service provided extra entertainment. The ballroom with its grand staircase was the scene of many weddings and cotillions, and guests could dine or play cards in the Marine Dining Room, the Lacquer Room, and the Commodore Room.

     The nearby railroad and Interurban lines provided easy access to downtown Cleveland. There was so much activity that the residential hotel had its own weekly ten or 12-page magazine, “From the Windows of Westlake.” The publication included timetables for the railroads, boat, bus and air lines in addition to upcoming events.  In the early days, many aviators made their home at the Westlake. The 20-foot-high Hotel Westlake sign on the roof aided planes flying into Cleveland Municipal Airport (not yet named Hopkins), and the National Air Races drew thousands to the Hotel. Early guests included Amelia Earhart, James H. Doolittle, Jr., Carl F. Egge, Roy Mitchell, Byron K. Newcome, Edwin H. Bassett, Dean C. Smith, Admiral Richard Bird, Wiley Post, and Charles Lindbergh. The Hotel also served as headquarters for chapters of the leading women's flying clubs - the Ninety-Nines and Betsy Ross Aviators. 

     On January 25, 1962, a 6:00 a.m. kitchen grease fire made its way to the roof of the Hotel and caused $500,000 in damage, including destroying the Hotel Westlake sign on the roof. Extensive fire and water damage throughout the building caused 175 guests – 160 permanent - to find quarters elsewhere. Fortunately, no one was injured; the Silverthorne Bar reopened the next day.   In November 1962, Union Financial Corporation and Westlake Investment Corp. purchased the Hotel for $1 million and converted it into an apartment building.   In the 1970s, the building slipped into seediness. Even the exterior was a dingy pale gray. One columnist wrote, "It was growing into an old folks home. People lived in tiny rooms for 40 years and longer, and when they died, their bodies were not discovered for weeks." Another referred to it as “looking like a Midwest matron in a New York singles bar.”  Rising like a phoenix from a succession of owners, the disastrous 1962 fire, and various attempts to turn it into public housing, the Westlake was revived in 1983 when Rocky River developer Scott Maurer bought the building. Maurer turned the building into a 98-unit condominium complex including 12 penthouses, spending $13 million to renovate it and add an 85-slip marina on the river below. He later built The Villas, a 17-unit condominium complex on the water's edge. On October 20, 1983, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it possible for buyers to take advantage of Federal tax credits in buying the condominium units.  Today the 115 condominium units of the Westlake Condominium and Villas are one of Cleveland's most prestigious and historic waterfront buildings.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 12.11 (before 1950)

220 – Emperor Xian of Han is forced to abdicate the throne by Cao Cao's son Cao Pi, ending the Han dynasty. 361 – Julian enters Constantinople as sole Roman Emperor. 861 – Assassination of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil by the Turkish guard, who raise al-Muntasir to the throne, start of the "Anarchy at Samarra". 969 – Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas is assassinated by his wife Theophano and her lover, the later Emperor John I Tzimiskes. 1041 – Michael V, adoptive son of Empress Zoë of Byzantium, is proclaimed emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. 1282 – Battle of Orewin Bridge: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, is killed at Cilmeri near Builth Wells in mid-Wales. 1602 – A surprise attack by forces under the command of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain, is repelled by the citizens of Geneva. (Commemorated annually by the Fête de l'Escalade.) 1640 – The Root and Branch petition, signed by 15,000 Londoners calling for the abolition of the episcopacy, is presented to the Long Parliament. 1675 – Antonio de Vea expedition enters San Rafael Lake in western Patagonia. 1688 – Glorious Revolution: James II of England, while trying to flee to France, throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames. 1792 – French Revolution: King Louis XVI of France is put on trial for treason by the National Convention. 1815 – The U.S. Senate creates a select committee on finance and a uniform national currency, predecessor of the United States Senate Committee on Finance. 1816 – Indiana becomes the 19th U.S. state. 1868 – Paraguayan War: Brazilian troops defeat the Paraguayan Army at the Battle of Avay. 1899 – Second Boer War: In the Battle of Magersfontein the Boers commanded by general Piet Cronjé inflict a defeat on the forces of the British Empire commanded by Lord Methuen trying to relieve the Siege of Kimberley. 1901 – Guglielmo Marconi transmits the first transatlantic radio signal from Poldhu, Cornwall, England to Saint John's, Newfoundland. 1905 – A workers' uprising occurs in Kyiv, Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), and establishes the Shuliavka Republic. 1907 – The New Zealand Parliament Buildings are almost completely destroyed by fire. 1913 – More than two years after it was stolen from the Louvre, Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa is recovered in Florence, Italy. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, is immediately arrested. 1917 – World War I: British General Edmund Allenby enters Jerusalem on foot and declares martial law. 1920 – Irish War of Independence: In retaliation for a recent IRA ambush, British forces burn and loot numerous buildings in Cork city. Many civilians report being beaten, shot at, robbed and verbally abused by British forces. 1925 – Roman Catholic papal encyclical Quas primas introduces the Feast of Christ the King. 1927 – Guangzhou Uprising: Communist Red Guards launch an uprising in Guangzhou, China, taking over most of the city and announcing the formation of a Guangzhou Soviet. 1934 – Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, takes his last drink and enters treatment for the final time. 1936 – Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII's abdication as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India, becomes effective. 1941 – World War II: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, following the Americans' declaration of war on the Empire of Japan in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States, in turn, declares war on them. 1941 – World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy suffers its first loss of surface vessels during the Battle of Wake Island. 1946 – The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established. 1948 – Arab–Israeli War: The United Nations passes General Assembly Resolution 194, creating a Conciliation Commission to mediate the conflict.

#Events

[istandonsnowpiles]

James River Rail Bridge

#bridge #rain #black and white #virginia #big island #james river #james river foot bridge #december #around dc #my work #photography

[jimfiorentini]

Mayor Fiorentini Announces Trail Improvements at Riverside, Winnekenni Parks

The city is beginning survey work this week on a new and improved walking and biking trail behind Haverhill Stadium along the Merrimack River, Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced. The Riverside Park Connector Trail will begin at the back of the park and stretch along the river’s shoreline and through the woods for about a half mile to the Groveland (Bates) Bridge. The 10-foot wide nature trail…

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[oldmke]

The wooden swing bridge at Wisconsin-Grand Avs. looked like this (from the east) in the late 1870's. A new iron swing bridge, fabricated in the North Chicago Rolling Mills in Bay View, went up in 1881 and occupied this site for 20 years. Over its 17 foot roadway passed such dignitaries as the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, Julia Ward Howe and James Whitcomb Riley. In the nineties its narrow roadway proved a bottleneck to increased traffic, and the brownish red bridge was moved upstream six blocks by scows and became the Juneau avenue bridge in 1901. A pontoon foot bridge was constructed over the river at Wisconsin av. until a new 36 foot roadway was built in 1902 at a cost of $87,000. That bridge has been altered considerably but is still there. (Picture from the local history room, Milwaukee public library.)

#milwaukee #wisconsin

[inspiringvacationstours]

Kimberley: 5 Must-See Destinations On Guided Tours

Kimberley is a magical place. So many people have fallen in love with it that it's hard to find someone who hasn't travelled there at least once. Kimberley is the ideal destination for people who want to see Africa in all its glory, explore a true wilderness area and get away from the crowds at the same time. 

Guided tours to Kimberley are a great idea if you don't have time to plan your own trip or if you just want everything taken care of for you. But not all guided tours are created equal! Here are five must-see destinations on guided tours through Kimberley:

Fitzroy River National Park

You can take a guided tour of Fitzroy River National Park, or you can just drive up to the park and see it on your own. If you want to go with a guide, they will show you some of their favourite spots in the area, including:

The Fitzroy River itself. This river provides water for residents of Kununurra and nearby townships such as Derby or Broome. It also flows through this national park where it is home to crocodiles (wildlife)!

A bridge over the river where many people cross into Australia every day on their way home from work or school! It's an important landmark for travellers who want access to outback areas like Port Hedland or Halls Creek.

Breathtaking Bungle Bungle Range 

Bungle Bungle Range is a spectacular sight that you won't want to miss on tours to Kimberley. The range is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it's well worth visiting to see this majestic mountain range in all its beauty.

The views from the top of Bungle Bungle are breathtaking, with an impressive backdrop of rugged mountains and lush green valleys below. 

There's also plenty of wildlife in these parts: elephants roam freely just beyond your view; beautiful butterflies flutter around as if they're dancing on air; birds swoop down from the clouds above; even monkeys wander through bushes at times!

Majestic Mitchell Falls

Mitchell Falls is a horsetail waterfall in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Located on Mitchell Plateau, it is one of Australia's most visited waterfalls and can be seen from many vantage points throughout the region. 

The falls has a height of 100 metres (328 feet), with an average flow rate of around 3 cubic metres per second.

Mitchell Falls was named after James Mitchell who discovered this area in 1839 when he was searching for gold along with his brother William and two other men. James returned home without finding any gold but instead discovered this gorge with its stream flowing over rocks from where it drops into Lake Argyle

Purnululu's Cathedral Gorge 

If you're looking for a destination that's large enough to get lost in, but small enough to explore on foot, Purnululu is the place for you. The area is home to over 2 million hectares of sandstone domes and outcrops that have been shaped by erosion over many centuries.

The Bungle Bungles were formed by erosion from these domes and outcrops they are one of Kimberley's most popular tourist destinations due to their geological significance as well as the beautiful landscapes they offer visitors who come here during winter (when they're covered in snow).

Stunning Geikie Gorge

The Geikie Gorge is a deep canyon carved by the Fitzroy River and it's a popular tourist destination in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It’s located near Derby, which is about 50km from Broome.

There are many activities you can do at Geikie Gorge National Park that will help you enjoy your stay there – including fishing, swimming and camping out!

Conclusion

Take a guided tour to Kimberley and discover its hidden treasures. You'll be amazed by the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife that make this destination so special.

Source: Kimberley: 5 Must-See Destinations On Guided Tours

#Guided tours to Kimberley

[7r0773r]

All the Names Given by Raymond Antrobus

The Acceptance

Dad’s house stands again, four years after being demolished. I walk in. He lies in bed, licks his rolling paper, and when I ask Where have you been? We buried you. He says I know, I know. I lean into his smoke, tell him I went back to Jamaica. I met your brothers, Losing  you made me need them. He says something I don’t hear. What?  Moving lips, no sound. I shake my head. He frowns. Disappears. I wake in the hotel room, heart drumming. I get up slowly, the floor is wet. I wade into the bathroom, my father standing by the sink, all the taps running. He laughs and takes my hand, squeezes, his ring digs into my flesh. I open my eyes again. I’m by a river, a shimmering sheet of green marble. Red ants crawl up an oak tree’s flaking bark. My hands are cold mud. I follow the tall grass by the riverbank, the song. My deaf Orisha, of music, Oshun, in brass bracelets and earrings, bathes my father in a white dress. I wave. Hey! She keeps singing. The dress turns the river gold and there’s my father surfacing. He holds a white and green drum. I watch him climb out the water, drip toward Oshun. They embrace. My father beats his drum. With shining hands, she signs: Welcome.

***

The Rebellious

hold what they can in front of a supermarket

or police station or voting booths. I am

kind to the man sitting next to me

in C.L.R. James Library, even if his breathing disturbs me.

Can we graciously disagree? I am tired of people

not knowing the volume of their power. Who doesn’t

deserve some silence at night?

***

For Tyrone Givans

The paper said putting him in jail without his hearing aids was like putting him in a hole in the ground.

There are no hymns for deaf boys. But who can tell we're deaf without speaking to us?

Tyrone's name was misspelled in the HMP Pentonville prison system. Once, I was handcuffed,

shoved into a police van. I didn't hear the officer say why. I was saved by my friend's mother who threw herself

in the road and refused to let the van drive away. Who could have saved Tyrone? James Baldwin attempted suicide

after each of his loves jumped from bridges or overdosed. He killed his characters, made them

kill themselves—Rufus, Richard, Black men who couldn't live like this. Tyrone, I won writing awards

bought new hearing aids and heard my name through the walls. I bought a signed Baldwin book.

The man who sold it to me didn't know you, me or Baldwin. I feel I rescued it. I feel failed.

Tyrone, the last time I saw you alive I'd dropped my pen on the staircase

didn't hear it fall but you saw and ran down to get it, handed it to me before disappearing, said,

you might need this.

***

In Law

I feel the cuffs in his voice when he greets me. It should go without saying that you are no man’s property,

that I would not touch you anywhere you don’t want. These things have nothing to do with bullets

even though I’m never far from the father that would kill me faster than life can flash

blue then darkness, so let me say, love, my arms are in the air.

***

Outside the marriage registry in Jefferson Parish there’s a 10-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson

I felt-tip the forms declaring alien immigrant. Where the form asks my race,

I write Black / White, hand it to a man who points at my words,

says I cannot be two races. His short wool hair flinches in the air-conditioned room;

his badge says his name is Jeff.

***

Closer Captions

After Christine Sun Kim

[muffled]

[sound of one story]

[heart accelerating]

[sound of skin covering bodies]

[sound of wider seeing]

I lose my hearing aids and move more fluid

the same way I do  when I swim the way I do when I sex

the thing  the neighbours hear

through the walls is me being pushed out of myself

It’s silence that stills  the noise in my eyes.

Reader, this is the place I try to take you when I close them.

#Raymond Antrobus #book quotes

[scotianostra]

On June 11th 1488 the Battle of Sauchieburn took place.

Originally, the battle was referred to as either Stirling Bridge or Bannockburn, but as these names have been given to rather more famous conflicts, it has been called Sauchieburn since 1655.  

Sauchieburn was fought at the foot of Castle Hill, a mighty crag topped with the fortress of Stirling Castle, that has been the key to the control of Scotland throughout the ages. The armies drawn up on 11th June 1488 would have been well aware of the location’s strategic importance.

The battle was the culmination of a long period of discontent with James III, King of Scots, since he was eight years old, James was unpopular with his nobles, his whole extended family, and even his wife, although the late Queen, Margaret of Denmark, had done much to maintain relationships with his earls and barons during her lifetime.

  The rebels had named the king’s son, Prince James,  Duke of Rothesay, as there figurehead, but he probably didn’t take to the battlefield.

James III had faced rebellion for months, with a complicated series of events leading to Sauchieburn.  Details of the battle itself are sketchy, there is more about the lead up than the battle itself.

  In May, James crossed the river Forth to use Blackness as a base, with the prince at Linlithgow. However, attempts to reach the young James there were repelled in a small skirmish, and the king was forced back to Blackness, from where he fled, leaving behind those he had given as hostages to the rebels.

  By the 16th of May he was in Edinburgh, and began spreading money around to raise supporters, including to his half uncle, John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl. At this point the rebels were geographically split, some at Stirling, some at Linlithgow. James again took the initiative with a sudden move over to Fife with his supporters and their men, advancing on Stirling, where on the 10th of June he took the rebels by surprise, driving them southwards. This left James with the town of Stirling, perhaps not the castle, from where he advanced on the 11th of June to meet the combined forces of the rebels driven from Stirling and those who had come from Linlithgow in support.

As I said there are no concrete details of the battle, but sources say James III fled, some say he was thrown by his horse. Nobody really knows for certain, but at some point he was slain, tradition says by someone dressed as priest, although some historians have dismissed this version of events, other stories mention his horse threw the King during the battle, and James was either killed in the fall, or was finished off by enemy soldiers, so three differing versions exist.  An interesting fact is that the King carried  the sword of Robert the Bruce into battle. The next day the King’s body was found. The official enquiry into the King’s death, held by James IV’s first Parliament in October (almost the only indication that the battle actually took place) merely commented that James III “ happinit to be slayn" and that

“oure soverane lord that now is and the trew lordis and barouns that wes withe him in the samyne feild war innocent, quhyt and fre of the saidis slauchteris feilde and all persute of the occasioune and cause of the samyne’.

Two weeks after the battle, James III was interred at Cambuskenneth Abbey, at the side of his wife, Margaret of Denmark.

For the rest of his life James IV wore a heavy iron chain around his waist, next to the skin, as a constant reminder of his role in the death of his father.

Pics are painting, thought to be of the battle, James III and his grave, although the original was destroyed by the religious zealots during the Reformation, the one in the pic was paid for by Queen Victoria.

#scotland #scottish #the stewarts #battle #history #stirling