The Washington Post article by Christopher Ingraham (June 13th, 2014) says it all "There are more museums in the U.S. than there are Starbucks and McDonald's - combined." Quite accurately we think of museums as important cultural and educational institutions; however, they are also quiet superstars of the entertainment industry. According to The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), with over 800 million live visits annually, their attendance exceeds that of all theme parks and major sporting events combined. But America's museums are much more than popular and numerous; they are cultural and educational gems that play a vital role. They are community elders that tell the stories of our American neighborhoods. Mamie Bittner with The Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) stated in the Washington Post article: "Many of these institutions, particularly in small towns and rural areas, are historical societies and history museums. We are in love with our history - at a very grassroots level we care for the histories of our towns, villages and counties," The story of how I came to visit and admire so many small museums begins nearly eight years ago when I faced a scary scenario.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer my doctor's instructions were clear and blunt. "We caught this thing very early; lose some weight but by year's end take care of this." Taking care of this meant either an operation or radiation. He was confident that either procedure would be sufficient; nevertheless, I was scared as hell. When you hear that diagnosis, "you have cancer", a thousand things race through your mind all at once, yet somehow the whole world stops at the same time. What are the treatment options... I have to research each treatment... I have to research the surgeons... what if I don't make it... what happens to my wife... what happens to my family... I want this thing out of me... how do you research this stuff... I want this done before the end of the year... why me... why not me. My mind was racing, racing, racing. Who do I tell? When do I tell them? Should I tell them? My mind was just racing, racing, racing. It was June 2010. I was 54 years old, a professor, husband and father. Earlier that year my wife had been hospitalized for 34 days. Should I tell my wife? Would this aggravate her condition? She was already worried about being unemployed.
Do I tell her? Our three sons were all in high school and doing reasonably well; the oldest would start college in the fall. Out of worry would my oldest boy forgo his athletic scholarship to stay home with his ailing parents? Even if he did go to college, if he knew I was battling cancer how would this affect him academically? Who should I tell? Do I tell my boys? Do I tell everyone? Do I tell no one? I once heard somewhere that "we grow up and become our parents." How true that is. Although it didn't occur to me at the time, I'd seen this situation play out before in 1969; I was 12. One day my dad asked me to come with him to his doctor. This was strange; he had never asked me to go to a doctor with him before. We went to St. Nicholas Park, Mount Morris Park, Central Park, baseball games, museums and grocery stores. On Sundays we walked to newsstands to buy the New York Times and Daily News.
Afterwards we'd come back home and eat big southern style Sunday breakfasts - smothered chicken, smothered pork chops, grits, gravy and biscuits, never rolls - always biscuits. We did a lot, but he had never asked me to go to a doctor with him. I should have known that something was up, but I didn't. The doctor's appointment took place on an early evening. The office was located on the first floor of an apartment building and it was dark outside. I sat in the waiting area while my dad met privately with the doctor. That day his doctor told him he had six months to live. My dad a tall, quiet, dignified WWII vet said nothing. We went home and he acted as if nothing had happened. He kept it all to himself. Yet twenty one years later, and long after his doctor had died, my dad was still alive. He told no one this frightening secret for all of those years. Finally, in 1990 he spoke with me about what had happened on that day way back in 1969. When I asked him why he hadn't said anything he had a classic answer, "Hell, I wasn't gonna die to just to make the doctor look good." To this day I still don't know if he ever told anyone else. In 2010, 41 years after my dad was told he had six months to live and said nothing to the family, I became my dad - absent the courage and dignity of the WWII vet. Initially I told no one.
I did however listen to my doctor's advice and began power-walking aggressively to lose the weight. I weighed 308 pounds. This was the beginning of a journey. Little did I know it would transform my health, my body and to a great degree my soul. I elected for a robotic prostatectomy as treatment. Recognizing that I would be hospitalized for several days I was forced to say something to my wife. Every married man knows that disappearing for several days without telling your wife is a guaranteed death sentence; cancer is only potentially lethal. We sat down on the living room sofa on a Sunday around 7pm. It was the evening before I'd be admitted to the hospital. This scenario gave her very little time to dwell on the matter; I had to be at the hospital early the next day. As I had feared, she broke down and began to cry and as soon I uttered the word cancer. We agreed not to tell our sons; we both thought it might cause them to worry. Fortunately the operation was a success. Neither chemotherapy nor radiation was required.
Several months later I resumed my power-walking. Over time a routine evolved. I prefer walking outdoors in parks (no matter the temperature) to treadmills and tracks, mornings are better than evenings, warmups last 5 - 7 minutes, weekday walks last 45 - 50 minutes, weekend sessions last a minimum of 90 minutes and finally, almost all sessions end with 7- 8 minutes of stretching. I walk 4 times per week during cold months and 4 - 5 times per week during warm months, I also found a very reliable partner, music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. My partner also gets along fabulously with an ancient Sony Walkman. Who knows, perhaps this partner is my subconscious whispering to remind me of long lost youth. While I do not claim to be a very religious person, being outdoors in parks (which are after all tiny forests) sweating, breathing and among the general splendor of God's nature is often a spiritual event. The cancer has now been gone for nearly eight years. Over that time 70 pounds have melted away and my diabetes seems to have disappeared, or at the very least be well controlled. Along the way I began to enter races; I power-walk but compete against runners.
Half marathons (13.1 miles) and 10Ks (6.2 miles) are my favorites. Being somewhat vain, before entering my first race I checked the times of the runners to make sure I would not finish last. At first I entered local races. Later a colleague, who is a runner, told me about the Philadelphia "Love Marathon" which I competed in. This lead me to research races in other locations. Now, I travel to participate I races. However, journeying to different cities only to participate in a single race seemed hardly to be an efficient use of time and travel. I needed another activity to compliment the racing. This is how I developed an interest in small museums. I had some experience with researching museums. Years ago I had begun exploring museums as field trip venues for high school students. At the time I supervised a college program that provided various activities for at-risk high school students.
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) provided a great deal of information for our program. Later, as I began to look for museums in the cities and towns I would be racing in, AAM and several other museum related organizations such as The Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) and Museums of the World (MOW) have become valuable resources. One fact that immediately became clear is that America is the undisputed museum capitol of the world. According to MOW there were an estimated 55,000 museums located in 202 countries in 2014. IMLS, (a U.S. agency) states there are 35,144 active museums in the United States alone. Assuming these data are accurate, over 63% of the world's museums are located in America. The IMLS 2012-16 Strategic Plan points out "There are more than 4.5 billion objects held in public trust by museums, libraries, archives and other institutions in the U.S." My articles will attempt to capture some of the fascinating stories, color, history, myths and life that are the marrow of America's small museums. I hope you will join me. Coming soon wax, warships and a poet named Wadsworth.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Being A Human Whisperer
We have the Ghost Whisperer, Dog Whisperer, Cat Whisperer, Horse Whisperer, but have we thought about being the Mother of all whisperers? The Human Whisperer? I know this sounds funny but it is the most basic life skill set we all must strive to possess. And we think that as humans, we know how to do this? Nope. The number ONE challenge that almost all of my clients have is to be able to communicate effectively. Whether it is with their family, loved ones, colleagues, clients or subordinates, this is ONE BIG CHALLENGE. Over the course of the last two to three weeks, it made me realise that most of the work that I have been doing is really about teaching people how to communicate effectively. It is not about speaking well or having good diction. It is about communicating with each individual or group in such a way that they get what I am saying. Sometimes, I am required to be tough/stern, others times I am required to be soft and loving, and other times, it is important to be humorous.
TIMING to do what and when is really the key. Some of the key challenges that most people face include: communicating with self? Is there effective self talk that one has clarity in the direction they are heading? communicating with others - Are your needs understood? Are you being heard? is using voice better than touch? Or vice versa? how to communicate effectively with a crowd so that you are rallying them towards something positive does being a leader automatically make you an effective communicator? Or is it the other way around? If our communication skills are effective, then we will certainly have less of a challenge in our relationship with others. It is a fundamental skill that we must have. However, it is also one of the most challenging to learn, and a skillset that is challenging to impart. To effectively learn this skill, attending a workshop for the masses on tactics, techniques etc is not sufficient. Simply because we are all different. One must learn to adapt these skills to different life situations and with different people.
I have found that certain communication skills I have coached one client on, will not work on another as effectively. As the facilitator, I am required to adapt to each of the needs of my clients. Now, keep in mind that as a coach, it is necessary for me to have this skill set. But the reality is, everyone should have these skill sets too. We need one another, that goes without saying, so our need for one another requires us to communicate. If this skill is missing, not only are our own needs not being met, you will not be able to meet the needs of others as well, whether it is in an intimate relationship, social relationship or work relationship. I just googled "how to communicate your sexual needs to your partner". And there are over 7 million results. This just goes to show that even the most basic human need is not being met. Couples are having real difficulties communicating their basic needs to their partners. If this is a challenge, what about other needs?
TIMING to do what and when is really the key. Some of the key challenges that most people face include: communicating with self? Is there effective self talk that one has clarity in the direction they are heading? communicating with others - Are your needs understood? Are you being heard? is using voice better than touch? Or vice versa? how to communicate effectively with a crowd so that you are rallying them towards something positive does being a leader automatically make you an effective communicator? Or is it the other way around? If our communication skills are effective, then we will certainly have less of a challenge in our relationship with others. It is a fundamental skill that we must have. However, it is also one of the most challenging to learn, and a skillset that is challenging to impart. To effectively learn this skill, attending a workshop for the masses on tactics, techniques etc is not sufficient. Simply because we are all different. One must learn to adapt these skills to different life situations and with different people.
I have found that certain communication skills I have coached one client on, will not work on another as effectively. As the facilitator, I am required to adapt to each of the needs of my clients. Now, keep in mind that as a coach, it is necessary for me to have this skill set. But the reality is, everyone should have these skill sets too. We need one another, that goes without saying, so our need for one another requires us to communicate. If this skill is missing, not only are our own needs not being met, you will not be able to meet the needs of others as well, whether it is in an intimate relationship, social relationship or work relationship. I just googled "how to communicate your sexual needs to your partner". And there are over 7 million results. This just goes to show that even the most basic human need is not being met. Couples are having real difficulties communicating their basic needs to their partners. If this is a challenge, what about other needs?
Mind Mapping for Creating Characters
Whether you consider it using flow charts, whiteboards or even just free association, Mind Mapping has been around for some time now. People have used it for taking notes, brainstorming, and problem-solving. A Mind Map is a tool used to visually organize information or ideas. As a writer, it can be used for solving writer's block or creating a workable outline. Today I am going to show you how to create a character sketch. Character sketches can be very basic or incredibly detailed. It can include eye and hair color or blood type and your heroes first kiss. Many writers go online and look for pre-made character sketches that include hundreds of questions that may not apply to your work. This is where the idea of a mind map comes in handy. For those who are not familiar with the process, don't worry creating a mind map is not complicated. It can be done on a piece of paper, a whiteboard or using software programs. It doesn't have to be expensive. There are several FREE programs that will do an excellent job, including xmind.net, mindmaple.com, and freemind.sourceforge.net.
Some of these programs have paid versions, but as a writer, the free versions will do everything you need. To create a mind map on any subject there are 4 basic steps. Step 1 - Start by writing a single concept in the middle of a blank page. Step 2 - Add related ideas to this concept and use lines to connect them. Step 3 - Branch off each of these ideas to expand and create new thoughts. Step 4 - Use different colors, symbols, and images to make each branch unique. To help visualize this process I will use one of my own characters as an example. Every character you create will be different, but if you use these points as a starting place, it will be much easier. My starting point is always very specific. I use my character's name and a photo of what I think he or she will look like. Why do I add a photo? Because as the saying goes, "a picture IS worth a thousand words." Personally, I put the name and photo inside a red circle at the center of the page, like a bullseye. I add new ideas to focus on around my character.
Each idea is placed in its own circle and connected by a wavy line. Why a wavy line? Because straight lines are boring and analytical, I am trying to tap into the creative side of my brain. I will also use a different color for each circle and the line that connects it, for the same reason. I focus on six main points with each character. These include Family, Friends, Work, Skills, Physical and Secrets. At this point, it might be hard to come up with a photograph for each category, but you can use symbols like a question mark for the section that says Secrets. This is where the fun begins. Under each main point listed, I include 5 additional sub-ideas. For example, under Family, I would list Mother, Father, Siblings, Other and History. Each of these would also have their own circle, and I would color that circle the same as the primary idea Family.
I can already hear someone saying this won't work for me, my character's parents are dead, or my character is an orphan. So? This is only to spark ideas. If the mother is dead, this will remind you of that and be a memory for your character to ponder about. If she's not, you can describe what he liked or disliked about her the most. The same idea applies to Siblings, if he has them he can tell stories of when his brother did this, or his sister did that. If he never had one, did he ever wonder what it would be like to have a brother or sister? You might wonder why I included the word Other. Whether your character's parents are living or not at some point someone else had a major impact on his life. That could be a babysitter, a scout leader or a teacher. All of us are created by those we have interacted with. History would include things like who was the black sheep of the family, are all the women in this family short, have there always been anger issues? These are the things the character himself may not even realize affect his (or her) way of thinking.
I could write an entire article on how your character's family affects the way they act or think or believe. That's kind of the point of a mind map, you can go as deep as you want. By keeping it simple, (one word at a time) it allows your mind to keep filling in the blanks. Don't believe me? Just say the word Mother out loud and see what images and thoughts pop into your head. Most of the categories I listed are obvious, but I do want to take a moment to talk about Secrets. Every person on the planet has them and if you think you can create a character without them, you are sadly mistaken. It could be as simple as they never learned to swim, or as dramatic as they killed their own sister. This is also a good place to include habits. For example, if you wrote Taps, it could remind you when he gets nervous he always taps his fingers. If you wrote the word Ring, you would know she twists her ring when upset. You don't have to write the whole reason why she twists her ring just write the word to keep your imagination going.
Key points to remember: 1st point - Keep is simple. One word at a time. You are not writing the story you are capturing ideas to include in the story. 2nd point - Use color. Bright, vibrant colors stimulate the mind. The more stimulated the mind, the easier it is to be creative. 3rd point - Use curved lines to connect thoughts. Why? Because if you just use straight lines, the brain gets bored quickly. 4th point - Add images whenever possible. Why? Because if a picture is worth a thousand words, then 10 pictures are worth ten thousand words. By using a word AND an image you engage both sides of the brain without limiting your potential. Once you start using mind mapping to write, ideas will flow one after another. It's actually very hard to have writer's block if ideas come so fast you can't keep up. It may not solve all your writing problems, but it will make things easier.
Some of these programs have paid versions, but as a writer, the free versions will do everything you need. To create a mind map on any subject there are 4 basic steps. Step 1 - Start by writing a single concept in the middle of a blank page. Step 2 - Add related ideas to this concept and use lines to connect them. Step 3 - Branch off each of these ideas to expand and create new thoughts. Step 4 - Use different colors, symbols, and images to make each branch unique. To help visualize this process I will use one of my own characters as an example. Every character you create will be different, but if you use these points as a starting place, it will be much easier. My starting point is always very specific. I use my character's name and a photo of what I think he or she will look like. Why do I add a photo? Because as the saying goes, "a picture IS worth a thousand words." Personally, I put the name and photo inside a red circle at the center of the page, like a bullseye. I add new ideas to focus on around my character.
Each idea is placed in its own circle and connected by a wavy line. Why a wavy line? Because straight lines are boring and analytical, I am trying to tap into the creative side of my brain. I will also use a different color for each circle and the line that connects it, for the same reason. I focus on six main points with each character. These include Family, Friends, Work, Skills, Physical and Secrets. At this point, it might be hard to come up with a photograph for each category, but you can use symbols like a question mark for the section that says Secrets. This is where the fun begins. Under each main point listed, I include 5 additional sub-ideas. For example, under Family, I would list Mother, Father, Siblings, Other and History. Each of these would also have their own circle, and I would color that circle the same as the primary idea Family.
I can already hear someone saying this won't work for me, my character's parents are dead, or my character is an orphan. So? This is only to spark ideas. If the mother is dead, this will remind you of that and be a memory for your character to ponder about. If she's not, you can describe what he liked or disliked about her the most. The same idea applies to Siblings, if he has them he can tell stories of when his brother did this, or his sister did that. If he never had one, did he ever wonder what it would be like to have a brother or sister? You might wonder why I included the word Other. Whether your character's parents are living or not at some point someone else had a major impact on his life. That could be a babysitter, a scout leader or a teacher. All of us are created by those we have interacted with. History would include things like who was the black sheep of the family, are all the women in this family short, have there always been anger issues? These are the things the character himself may not even realize affect his (or her) way of thinking.
I could write an entire article on how your character's family affects the way they act or think or believe. That's kind of the point of a mind map, you can go as deep as you want. By keeping it simple, (one word at a time) it allows your mind to keep filling in the blanks. Don't believe me? Just say the word Mother out loud and see what images and thoughts pop into your head. Most of the categories I listed are obvious, but I do want to take a moment to talk about Secrets. Every person on the planet has them and if you think you can create a character without them, you are sadly mistaken. It could be as simple as they never learned to swim, or as dramatic as they killed their own sister. This is also a good place to include habits. For example, if you wrote Taps, it could remind you when he gets nervous he always taps his fingers. If you wrote the word Ring, you would know she twists her ring when upset. You don't have to write the whole reason why she twists her ring just write the word to keep your imagination going.
Key points to remember: 1st point - Keep is simple. One word at a time. You are not writing the story you are capturing ideas to include in the story. 2nd point - Use color. Bright, vibrant colors stimulate the mind. The more stimulated the mind, the easier it is to be creative. 3rd point - Use curved lines to connect thoughts. Why? Because if you just use straight lines, the brain gets bored quickly. 4th point - Add images whenever possible. Why? Because if a picture is worth a thousand words, then 10 pictures are worth ten thousand words. By using a word AND an image you engage both sides of the brain without limiting your potential. Once you start using mind mapping to write, ideas will flow one after another. It's actually very hard to have writer's block if ideas come so fast you can't keep up. It may not solve all your writing problems, but it will make things easier.
American Teen Sensation or American Patriot?
Try to imagine a time when life was much more difficult, and kicking back in the recliner, watching TV, surrounded by all the comforts of home after a long day, was not even a fanciful notion. Rather, vigilance and invasion by a foreign entity of your town or home without notice was what was on the mind of freedom seeking people in this country. Even your own home was not a safe space. Sixteen year old Sybil, another young American patriot would have been a strong voice for Liberty in organizations like Turning Point or the Tea Party today, but it was not to be her time. What made her such an asset to the freedom and reform movement anyway? Well Sybil's father was a ranking Colonel who, in a battle situation needed to muster reinforcements to counter an enemy attack while simultaneously planning his defense. His troops were scattered over a 30-mile loop of country side and he had no mechanized transportation or radio to help facilitate contact.
Left with no one to call upon for help, Sybil, the only capable person available to get out a desperate call for help, decided to respond to what she considered to be her call to duty. Without hesitation, Sybil volunteered, in the middle of the night, and in the pouring rain, to get on her horse, `Star`, and ride, and ride she did! In her selfless act of courage, she rode for what seemed an eternity to notify as many as 400 troops who were ready to do battle to defend a lifestyle only dreamed of by true freedom seeking Americans. Modern day Americans have no experience or even a vision of what it would be like to have a foreign influence coming to our shores to battle us, challenging our constitutional rights and freedoms. We live free in part because of the bravery of men and women like Sybil. None of us will ever know the kind of person Sybil was, or what passions she possessed inside that would allow her ride 30 miles, alone, and risk life and limb to warn others of an invading enemy. She indeed did help to thwart Americans being slaughtered. This time on American soil where there was no safe space for anyone to hide.
You see, Sybil Ludington`s time was during the time of another Tea Party and revolution, some 240 years ago. In the night attack, the British did burn Danbury, Connecticut, an important supply depot for the Continental Army, but because of Sybil, many people were ready and escaped death. Sybil`s gutsy ride, and the message she carried is not widely known, but on April 26, 1777, calling out, in the cold of night, with rain blowing in her face, `Muster at Ludington`s! ` was indeed significant. It was not at all unlike Paul Revere`s ride. Today, Sybil`s heroism is memorialized with only a poem written by American poet Berton Braley, commemorating her historic ride, and a bronze statue, that stands honoring her bravery and passion for freedom, in Carmel, New York.
Left with no one to call upon for help, Sybil, the only capable person available to get out a desperate call for help, decided to respond to what she considered to be her call to duty. Without hesitation, Sybil volunteered, in the middle of the night, and in the pouring rain, to get on her horse, `Star`, and ride, and ride she did! In her selfless act of courage, she rode for what seemed an eternity to notify as many as 400 troops who were ready to do battle to defend a lifestyle only dreamed of by true freedom seeking Americans. Modern day Americans have no experience or even a vision of what it would be like to have a foreign influence coming to our shores to battle us, challenging our constitutional rights and freedoms. We live free in part because of the bravery of men and women like Sybil. None of us will ever know the kind of person Sybil was, or what passions she possessed inside that would allow her ride 30 miles, alone, and risk life and limb to warn others of an invading enemy. She indeed did help to thwart Americans being slaughtered. This time on American soil where there was no safe space for anyone to hide.
You see, Sybil Ludington`s time was during the time of another Tea Party and revolution, some 240 years ago. In the night attack, the British did burn Danbury, Connecticut, an important supply depot for the Continental Army, but because of Sybil, many people were ready and escaped death. Sybil`s gutsy ride, and the message she carried is not widely known, but on April 26, 1777, calling out, in the cold of night, with rain blowing in her face, `Muster at Ludington`s! ` was indeed significant. It was not at all unlike Paul Revere`s ride. Today, Sybil`s heroism is memorialized with only a poem written by American poet Berton Braley, commemorating her historic ride, and a bronze statue, that stands honoring her bravery and passion for freedom, in Carmel, New York.
The Reality of Reality Shows
The concept of reality shows Reality television is a television programming genre that displays usually unscripted overdramatic or hilarious situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of trained actors, sometimes in a competition or other circumstances where a prize is awarded. Shows in the Reality TV are called as reality shows that are often produced as series. The people are either engaged in competition with each other or in an awkward situation or spied on in their daily lives. Reality TV is a buzzword of the day. Watching reality shows have become our favourite past time and a source of fun and enjoyment. It is a real program cast with real people not with actors. Though the term reality television is chiefly used to categories shows that have arisen since the year 2000, the history of reality TV shows goes back farther than we can think. Television has been depicting the lives of people through dating shows, contests and pranks for a very long time. It has a great history which most people didn't know considering modern reality television and its boom in popularity in recent years. The reality TV show started in the year 1948, Producer-host Allen Funt's Candid Camera, in which unsuspecting people were drops into funny and unusual situations gets filmed with hidden cameras, was first aired in the year 1948. The show is seen as a prototype of reality television programming.
Different kind of reality shows There are various types of reality shows that are running on TV. These shows broke the boredom of the traditional scripted shows and started showing the real-life situations. Reality shows cater to different age groups and tastes because of the availability of the wide range of themes. In many reality shows, participants are often placed in exotic locations or in abnormal situations. Some of the reality shows cover a person or a group of people improving their lives. They represent a modified and highly influenced form of reality to attract its viewers. Documentaries and nonfictional shows for example news and sports are not categorized under reality shows. Some types of reality shows are as written below: • Documentaries or Documentary Series Out of all the subgenres of reality TV, the documentary subgenre is possibly the most general one. The core difference between documentaries and a documentary series is that while documentaries are every so often constrained to one episode, documentary series span a series in its entireness, following a series of arc-like scripted television.
The subgenre would also cover most social experiment shows, where different kinds of interactions are observed just for the sake of a new experiment. • Competition or Elimination Reality programs that are based on a elimination or competition format are just about getting eliminated by the annoying housemate or having the best participant become the winner. They are all about winning something important overcoming your competitors. The competition may be among all the other participants, or against time/money. • Makeover or Renovation Same as the name itself says this type of shows either about Makeover of a person's appearance or make a renovation of your old house. • Dating This one is the most significant subgenre of reality TV where the boy meets girl and the audience stick to know 'will they or won't they' aspect of the story. • Hidden Camera Starting with Candid Camera, this is possibly the longest-running reality subgenre. It is all about capturing the reactions of innocent people placed in unexpected situations. This subgenre also covers shows which rely on amateur submitted content. • Supernatural The most common types of the show in this subgenre are programs that investigate paranormal occurrences. The subgenre also encompasses shows which focus on hunting down famous mythical creatures.
Travel or Aspirational Since most audiences can't afford to travel to the faraway lands for a vacation, many of us settle on enjoying these destinations through this type of travel shows where a person, couple or group goes to a trip and film all of their experiences for the viewers. Besides all these shows celebrity talk shows or competitions like talent hunt, adventure, game shows or fear-based shows are also mentionable. Reality Shows in India The very first reality show of any kind on Indian TV was a quiz contest Titled- Bournvita Quiz Contest. It was hosted by the famous Derek O'Brien in the year 1972. But first, it featured a live show in various cities initially, then went on air as a radio show. In the year 1992, it became the first reality show to be featured on ZEE TV and Indian Television. Then came "Sansui Antakshari" in the year 1993 which was hosted by Annu Kapoor on ZEE TV and It became the first Indian singing reality show that ran till 2006. Came in different versions of Star One and SAB TV with the same host after 2006. ZEE TV made its name to bring about home-grown reality shows rather adapting international reality shows on Indian TV. Singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa came in the year 1995 hosted by the famous singer of Bollywood Sonu Nigam and the dancing reality show that changed the whole scenario of dancing shows Dance India Dance came in the year 2009.
Sony Entertainment Television launched India's first dance reality show titled- Boogie Woogie it was created by Naved Jaffrey in the year 1996 and hosted and judged by Javed Jaffrey. It was as an immediate hit for the channel. In the year 2000, Star Plus aired "Kaun Banega Crorepati" with Amitabh Bachchan (an adaptation of "Who wants to become a millionaire") which went on to become India's favourite and most watched reality show. To give competition ZEE TV launched another game show titled- Sawal Dus Crore Ka and Sony TV launched Jeeto Chappar Phhad Ke but KBC's popularity didn't deter; making it the most successful reality show in Indian television. Sony India came up with Indian Idol in 2004 which was an adaptation to the popular international reality show "American Idol". After its success with grown-ups, they came with kids participants in the show which helped the show to gain love by all. The production team of Endemol India came up with popular reality show Big Brother's Indian version of Bigg Boss and Fear Factor on Sony TV in 2006. It became India's most popular international adapted show after KBC.
It was moved to Colors TV making it India's most watched Hindi Television due to its backing on Bigg Boss, Fear Factor competing with the likes of Star Plus and ZEE TV. Next revolution reality shows in India came with an adaptation of other famous international shows like The Voice India and So You Think You Can Dance on &TV. These shows changed the concept of singing and dance shows on Indian Television. Other popular reality shows based on foreign shows are like MTV Roadies, India's Got Talent etc. The actual reality of reality shows It's generally accepted that reality TV is really kind of terrible. What was once considered innovative in the entertainment world, has devolved into unintentional comedies starring the most horrible and awkward people imaginable. Nowadays real is the last thing that strikes you about reality shows. Whether it is a dance show where lesser-known faces of telly world vie for the best dancer tag or the Bigg Boss's house in which racial slurs and catfights are a part of the process to decide winners, much goes into presenting a reality show as real.
There is a vast majority of reality television shows that are not 100 percent real, as there is a high degree of manipulation in order to achieve sustained audience attention. Results are in reality shows mostly controlled by producers/directors. They want to keep audience believe it is random and unpredictable, to convey this most of the time some candidate is told what to do, how to do. They are even told to behave in certain ways. And in the end nobody will show you all things, things will get edited and aired show may be far from actual reality. Reality Television is a genre more of an exact description of the shows themselves. Producer's fake shots and even re-stage dramatic moments that happened when the cameras weren't rolling- pretty much everything is actually plotted and planned out like the normal scripted show. Most of the reality shows still hold a basic level of truth, however, portraying events that really did happen, even if they're acted again for the cameras.
These shows feature people living their lives and doing their jobs, even if a lot has been smoothed out of their day-to-day routine in order to edit out the boring bits. Most of the talent hunt, singing, dancing even in shows based on general knowledge like "Kaun Banega Crorepati" participants has to go through a long struggle. Most of the time voting is absolutely rigged and the winner gets decided as per his or her capability of keeping TRP's high. Most of the contestants of the reality shows, especially the winners, might get disappointed soon after their win, the attention shifts to the winner of the next season. The limelight being taken away from them doesn't agree with many young people. Some contestants might get frustrated as they harbour false hopes that once they win the contest, their future is set for good. Impact of reality shows on society New boys & girls who are becoming reality TV celebrity stars does not succeed on talent but use melodrama to always remain in the news. One of the worst effects of their action is on teens who try to emulate their behaviour.
All the stunts that are done on these TV shows under organized conditions are copied by the people in reality and resulting in death. Some of the shows where contestants participate to win prizes show them in poor light as they use meanness and greed to outdo each other. The negative traits can manifest themselves in the audiences and create behavioural problems. Liberal doses of abuses are hurled on the shows because the directors think that more and more people will watch them. It is a huge mistake because bad words are caught by teens and kids affecting their personality as well as behaviour. Although kids' reality shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, Sabse Bada Kalakaar, Junior Masterchef India and many other shows attract the audiences and gains good ratings, it is not advisable to put children under stressful situations in the early years of their lives! Small children have been forced to participate in reality shows, they have wrenched away from all normal activities and thrown into a single-minded devotion to lending their voices to these reality shows.
They are compelled to shoot for long hours, sometimes in scorching hot non-air conditioned rooms. Even Parents also pressurise their children to excel on reality shows, small children become victims of a system that fosters and encourages unrealistic ambitions. Some reality shows show participants taking extreme risks and putting themselves in bizarre or dangerous situations. Since younger children mostly learn through imitation, watching such programmes may put them at risk of physical injury. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology indicated that children who viewed high-risk TV programmes increased their self-reported risk-taking behaviour significantly more than children who were exposed to low-risk TV or watched less TV. Reality shows that are focussed on some people and their day-to-day lives are a big nuisance and parents need to draw a line when it comes to children watching such shows. They portray everything in an exaggerated manner which is not at all a reflection of real life.
This should be made clear to our children. Reality talent shows, on the other hand, make parents feel that their own children are inadequate. Prevention from the bad effects of reality shows First, establish that watching reality shows is not a priority in the family. According to the age and understanding of your child, explain what your family belief systems and values are and that they do not match what is shown on reality TV. Help the child understand the impact such programmes can have and that real life is different from what is projected in a reality show. Have discussions about this in a friendly and non-threatening manner. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9937465
Different kind of reality shows There are various types of reality shows that are running on TV. These shows broke the boredom of the traditional scripted shows and started showing the real-life situations. Reality shows cater to different age groups and tastes because of the availability of the wide range of themes. In many reality shows, participants are often placed in exotic locations or in abnormal situations. Some of the reality shows cover a person or a group of people improving their lives. They represent a modified and highly influenced form of reality to attract its viewers. Documentaries and nonfictional shows for example news and sports are not categorized under reality shows. Some types of reality shows are as written below: • Documentaries or Documentary Series Out of all the subgenres of reality TV, the documentary subgenre is possibly the most general one. The core difference between documentaries and a documentary series is that while documentaries are every so often constrained to one episode, documentary series span a series in its entireness, following a series of arc-like scripted television.
The subgenre would also cover most social experiment shows, where different kinds of interactions are observed just for the sake of a new experiment. • Competition or Elimination Reality programs that are based on a elimination or competition format are just about getting eliminated by the annoying housemate or having the best participant become the winner. They are all about winning something important overcoming your competitors. The competition may be among all the other participants, or against time/money. • Makeover or Renovation Same as the name itself says this type of shows either about Makeover of a person's appearance or make a renovation of your old house. • Dating This one is the most significant subgenre of reality TV where the boy meets girl and the audience stick to know 'will they or won't they' aspect of the story. • Hidden Camera Starting with Candid Camera, this is possibly the longest-running reality subgenre. It is all about capturing the reactions of innocent people placed in unexpected situations. This subgenre also covers shows which rely on amateur submitted content. • Supernatural The most common types of the show in this subgenre are programs that investigate paranormal occurrences. The subgenre also encompasses shows which focus on hunting down famous mythical creatures.
Travel or Aspirational Since most audiences can't afford to travel to the faraway lands for a vacation, many of us settle on enjoying these destinations through this type of travel shows where a person, couple or group goes to a trip and film all of their experiences for the viewers. Besides all these shows celebrity talk shows or competitions like talent hunt, adventure, game shows or fear-based shows are also mentionable. Reality Shows in India The very first reality show of any kind on Indian TV was a quiz contest Titled- Bournvita Quiz Contest. It was hosted by the famous Derek O'Brien in the year 1972. But first, it featured a live show in various cities initially, then went on air as a radio show. In the year 1992, it became the first reality show to be featured on ZEE TV and Indian Television. Then came "Sansui Antakshari" in the year 1993 which was hosted by Annu Kapoor on ZEE TV and It became the first Indian singing reality show that ran till 2006. Came in different versions of Star One and SAB TV with the same host after 2006. ZEE TV made its name to bring about home-grown reality shows rather adapting international reality shows on Indian TV. Singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa came in the year 1995 hosted by the famous singer of Bollywood Sonu Nigam and the dancing reality show that changed the whole scenario of dancing shows Dance India Dance came in the year 2009.
Sony Entertainment Television launched India's first dance reality show titled- Boogie Woogie it was created by Naved Jaffrey in the year 1996 and hosted and judged by Javed Jaffrey. It was as an immediate hit for the channel. In the year 2000, Star Plus aired "Kaun Banega Crorepati" with Amitabh Bachchan (an adaptation of "Who wants to become a millionaire") which went on to become India's favourite and most watched reality show. To give competition ZEE TV launched another game show titled- Sawal Dus Crore Ka and Sony TV launched Jeeto Chappar Phhad Ke but KBC's popularity didn't deter; making it the most successful reality show in Indian television. Sony India came up with Indian Idol in 2004 which was an adaptation to the popular international reality show "American Idol". After its success with grown-ups, they came with kids participants in the show which helped the show to gain love by all. The production team of Endemol India came up with popular reality show Big Brother's Indian version of Bigg Boss and Fear Factor on Sony TV in 2006. It became India's most popular international adapted show after KBC.
It was moved to Colors TV making it India's most watched Hindi Television due to its backing on Bigg Boss, Fear Factor competing with the likes of Star Plus and ZEE TV. Next revolution reality shows in India came with an adaptation of other famous international shows like The Voice India and So You Think You Can Dance on &TV. These shows changed the concept of singing and dance shows on Indian Television. Other popular reality shows based on foreign shows are like MTV Roadies, India's Got Talent etc. The actual reality of reality shows It's generally accepted that reality TV is really kind of terrible. What was once considered innovative in the entertainment world, has devolved into unintentional comedies starring the most horrible and awkward people imaginable. Nowadays real is the last thing that strikes you about reality shows. Whether it is a dance show where lesser-known faces of telly world vie for the best dancer tag or the Bigg Boss's house in which racial slurs and catfights are a part of the process to decide winners, much goes into presenting a reality show as real.
There is a vast majority of reality television shows that are not 100 percent real, as there is a high degree of manipulation in order to achieve sustained audience attention. Results are in reality shows mostly controlled by producers/directors. They want to keep audience believe it is random and unpredictable, to convey this most of the time some candidate is told what to do, how to do. They are even told to behave in certain ways. And in the end nobody will show you all things, things will get edited and aired show may be far from actual reality. Reality Television is a genre more of an exact description of the shows themselves. Producer's fake shots and even re-stage dramatic moments that happened when the cameras weren't rolling- pretty much everything is actually plotted and planned out like the normal scripted show. Most of the reality shows still hold a basic level of truth, however, portraying events that really did happen, even if they're acted again for the cameras.
These shows feature people living their lives and doing their jobs, even if a lot has been smoothed out of their day-to-day routine in order to edit out the boring bits. Most of the talent hunt, singing, dancing even in shows based on general knowledge like "Kaun Banega Crorepati" participants has to go through a long struggle. Most of the time voting is absolutely rigged and the winner gets decided as per his or her capability of keeping TRP's high. Most of the contestants of the reality shows, especially the winners, might get disappointed soon after their win, the attention shifts to the winner of the next season. The limelight being taken away from them doesn't agree with many young people. Some contestants might get frustrated as they harbour false hopes that once they win the contest, their future is set for good. Impact of reality shows on society New boys & girls who are becoming reality TV celebrity stars does not succeed on talent but use melodrama to always remain in the news. One of the worst effects of their action is on teens who try to emulate their behaviour.
All the stunts that are done on these TV shows under organized conditions are copied by the people in reality and resulting in death. Some of the shows where contestants participate to win prizes show them in poor light as they use meanness and greed to outdo each other. The negative traits can manifest themselves in the audiences and create behavioural problems. Liberal doses of abuses are hurled on the shows because the directors think that more and more people will watch them. It is a huge mistake because bad words are caught by teens and kids affecting their personality as well as behaviour. Although kids' reality shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, Sabse Bada Kalakaar, Junior Masterchef India and many other shows attract the audiences and gains good ratings, it is not advisable to put children under stressful situations in the early years of their lives! Small children have been forced to participate in reality shows, they have wrenched away from all normal activities and thrown into a single-minded devotion to lending their voices to these reality shows.
They are compelled to shoot for long hours, sometimes in scorching hot non-air conditioned rooms. Even Parents also pressurise their children to excel on reality shows, small children become victims of a system that fosters and encourages unrealistic ambitions. Some reality shows show participants taking extreme risks and putting themselves in bizarre or dangerous situations. Since younger children mostly learn through imitation, watching such programmes may put them at risk of physical injury. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology indicated that children who viewed high-risk TV programmes increased their self-reported risk-taking behaviour significantly more than children who were exposed to low-risk TV or watched less TV. Reality shows that are focussed on some people and their day-to-day lives are a big nuisance and parents need to draw a line when it comes to children watching such shows. They portray everything in an exaggerated manner which is not at all a reflection of real life.
This should be made clear to our children. Reality talent shows, on the other hand, make parents feel that their own children are inadequate. Prevention from the bad effects of reality shows First, establish that watching reality shows is not a priority in the family. According to the age and understanding of your child, explain what your family belief systems and values are and that they do not match what is shown on reality TV. Help the child understand the impact such programmes can have and that real life is different from what is projected in a reality show. Have discussions about this in a friendly and non-threatening manner. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9937465
Coloring Books for For Adults
Do you like to color? If you haven't done so you may wish to try your coloring techniques on a new hobby called coloring for adults. Its popularity started out as means of occupying your idle time while traveling or waiting your turn for an appointment at the doctor's or dentist's office. This new craze has gone beyond its use for doodling or a form of activity for relaxation, or an activity for the elderly. Hobbyists are finding this to be a fun activity and are using their finished art pieces in craft projects. People who are considering art or find that they have a potential or interest in learning how to draw and color find that this new hobby interest is helping and building their confidence to advance their art training.
The first book we purchased had 39 pictures of mandala drawings. A small box of basic coloring pencils started our adventure. We worked with the primary colors of red, orange, blue, green, violet. black, white, and a few other tints which were in the small box. The initial starting stage began with the techniques of our elementary school years. The instructions included the color wheel which we started paying attention to after getting bored with the basic colors. The simple act of coloring is the beginning of gaining tinting knowledge with personal experiences of school day memories and trial and error. As you follow suggestions for cool and warm colors one begins to understand how colors offer contrast or compliment each other. The emotional side benefits of tranquility and immediate rewards encourage learning.
The mandala drawings, which are circles filled with geometric patterns, change their appearance with selected colors. There may be three of you coloring and each of you will have a different kaleidoscopic view because of the color choices made by each individual. If you are anything like me, I started downloading free examples offered by artists located Online.
Selecting landscaping, animals, people, and objects allowed me to experiment and gain a better understanding of colors. The benefit of working with colored pencils: Economical Clean and dry Purchase coloring books Download from the Internet Make your own drawings or sketches No added equipment or accessories There are different sizes of boxed colored pencils available. We started with a small box and learned how to mix colors to increase tint variety. Later we purchased larger boxes for more variety, but still found that we like mixing colors to get the hue that is just right for the project. Coloring is a fun hobby; try it, you may like it.
The first book we purchased had 39 pictures of mandala drawings. A small box of basic coloring pencils started our adventure. We worked with the primary colors of red, orange, blue, green, violet. black, white, and a few other tints which were in the small box. The initial starting stage began with the techniques of our elementary school years. The instructions included the color wheel which we started paying attention to after getting bored with the basic colors. The simple act of coloring is the beginning of gaining tinting knowledge with personal experiences of school day memories and trial and error. As you follow suggestions for cool and warm colors one begins to understand how colors offer contrast or compliment each other. The emotional side benefits of tranquility and immediate rewards encourage learning.
The mandala drawings, which are circles filled with geometric patterns, change their appearance with selected colors. There may be three of you coloring and each of you will have a different kaleidoscopic view because of the color choices made by each individual. If you are anything like me, I started downloading free examples offered by artists located Online.
Selecting landscaping, animals, people, and objects allowed me to experiment and gain a better understanding of colors. The benefit of working with colored pencils: Economical Clean and dry Purchase coloring books Download from the Internet Make your own drawings or sketches No added equipment or accessories There are different sizes of boxed colored pencils available. We started with a small box and learned how to mix colors to increase tint variety. Later we purchased larger boxes for more variety, but still found that we like mixing colors to get the hue that is just right for the project. Coloring is a fun hobby; try it, you may like it.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
What Is The Salt Technique?
What is this technique used for? This technique is used to give paintings a rough texture and to create special colour effects. What the salt does is it absorbs the water in the paint and causes the pigment in the paint to spread out. What you're left with is a lighter area that provides a contrast with the darker paint you applied. Using this technique in a particular part of a painting can help give that prominence to make it stand out and grab the viewer's attention. Can it be used with any type of paint? The only type of paint this technique is suitable for is watercolour because of the fact that the salt absorbs the water; the salt wouldn't have any water to absorb if you were painting with acrylics or oils, so the technique won't work with acrylics or oils. Can it be used with any type of salt? You can use any type of salt for this technique. However different types of salt will produce different effects and some types will work better than others. For the best effects, it's suggested that you use coarse salt. The bigger the piece of salt, the more it's going to absorb.
This technique will still work with fine salt, but the effect won't be as pronounced as when using coarse salt. How do I do it? Using this technique is very simple. First get your watercolour paints and your support and paint the area you'd like to add the salt to. Once you've finished painting, lightly sprinkle some salt over the area you want to be affected, though of course the paint has to still be wet, preferably shiny and quite damp. If the paint has dried, this technique won't work; if the paint's too wet and there are puddles of liquid everywhere, the salt will absorb all the paint and you won't get the same effects. Get rid of any puddles by gently using a paper towel. Once the salted area is completely dry, then you should gently brush away the granules of salt - don't leave the salt on the painting. Is there a knack to it? It may take you a few tries before you get this technique right because you have to know exactly how much salt to use to get your desired effects.
If you use too little salt, you're not going to get as many effects; use too much and you could end up seeing too much of the colour absorbed. There is a knack to judging how much salt you should use - the wetness of the watercolour paint also makes a difference, so bear that in mind when experimenting with this technique. Try to use this technique in a room that isn't too warm or cold: if it's too warm, the paint can dry too quickly, not giving the salt enough time to be effective; it it's too cold, you could find yourself waiting for ages for the paint to dry. Joanne Perkins is a Berkshire-based artist with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. She specialises in painting Berkshire landscapes and loves capturing the natural beauty of her local countryside. She is happy to accept all queries and questions.
This technique will still work with fine salt, but the effect won't be as pronounced as when using coarse salt. How do I do it? Using this technique is very simple. First get your watercolour paints and your support and paint the area you'd like to add the salt to. Once you've finished painting, lightly sprinkle some salt over the area you want to be affected, though of course the paint has to still be wet, preferably shiny and quite damp. If the paint has dried, this technique won't work; if the paint's too wet and there are puddles of liquid everywhere, the salt will absorb all the paint and you won't get the same effects. Get rid of any puddles by gently using a paper towel. Once the salted area is completely dry, then you should gently brush away the granules of salt - don't leave the salt on the painting. Is there a knack to it? It may take you a few tries before you get this technique right because you have to know exactly how much salt to use to get your desired effects.
If you use too little salt, you're not going to get as many effects; use too much and you could end up seeing too much of the colour absorbed. There is a knack to judging how much salt you should use - the wetness of the watercolour paint also makes a difference, so bear that in mind when experimenting with this technique. Try to use this technique in a room that isn't too warm or cold: if it's too warm, the paint can dry too quickly, not giving the salt enough time to be effective; it it's too cold, you could find yourself waiting for ages for the paint to dry. Joanne Perkins is a Berkshire-based artist with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. She specialises in painting Berkshire landscapes and loves capturing the natural beauty of her local countryside. She is happy to accept all queries and questions.
What Is The Dry Brush Painting Technique?
What is this technique used for? The dry brush painting technique is used to give paintings more texture and to make them look like they've been done on a much rougher surface; the surface also looks as if it's been scratched quite a lot. If you're using water-based media, including watercolours and acrylics, using this technique on something in the painting can give it prominence because it contrasts with the rest of the painting.
What type of paint should I use it with? The great thing about this painting technique is that it can be used with all three main types of paint (acrylics, watercolours and oils). Of the three main types of paint, acrylics and watercolours are probably the best to use this technique with because they dry quite quickly. Because oils take a lot longer to dry, you have to wait a lot longer for the paint to dry before you can blend or brush over strokes you've already made. Is there anything else I should know? This technique is really well suited for watercolour paper, especially paper that's already got quite a rough texture to it. To get the best out of using this technique, it's suggested that you use a round brush, not a fine point one. By using a round brush, the paint is being spread round more, whereas with a fine point brush, the paint's going to be applied in lines, which makes this technique's effects less noticeable.
How do I do it? Make sure your brush is completely dry and is free from any oils or solvents. Load it up with paint, then blot it several times on to a paper towel. Make sure the support you're applying the paint to is completely dry. When it comes to applying the paint to the support, you should do so very lightly, as if you're just skimming over the surface. Keep creating strokes until there's hardly any paint left on the brush, then it's time to reload the brush. If you want to add more colour and depth to a stroke, wait until it's completely dry and then go over it using the same steps you did for the first one. Oils are probably not the best choice for this technique because they take so long to dry; if you want to be able to go over your work, you should use acrylics or watercolours.
What type of paint should I use it with? The great thing about this painting technique is that it can be used with all three main types of paint (acrylics, watercolours and oils). Of the three main types of paint, acrylics and watercolours are probably the best to use this technique with because they dry quite quickly. Because oils take a lot longer to dry, you have to wait a lot longer for the paint to dry before you can blend or brush over strokes you've already made. Is there anything else I should know? This technique is really well suited for watercolour paper, especially paper that's already got quite a rough texture to it. To get the best out of using this technique, it's suggested that you use a round brush, not a fine point one. By using a round brush, the paint is being spread round more, whereas with a fine point brush, the paint's going to be applied in lines, which makes this technique's effects less noticeable.
How do I do it? Make sure your brush is completely dry and is free from any oils or solvents. Load it up with paint, then blot it several times on to a paper towel. Make sure the support you're applying the paint to is completely dry. When it comes to applying the paint to the support, you should do so very lightly, as if you're just skimming over the surface. Keep creating strokes until there's hardly any paint left on the brush, then it's time to reload the brush. If you want to add more colour and depth to a stroke, wait until it's completely dry and then go over it using the same steps you did for the first one. Oils are probably not the best choice for this technique because they take so long to dry; if you want to be able to go over your work, you should use acrylics or watercolours.
5 Benefits Of Painting
1. Appreciating works of art Paintings can be intricate works of art that have many layers to them in terms of their message. Artists complete their works in a particular way and have a particular subject matter for a reason. If you paint, you'll get a better understanding of why other artists have completed their works in the way they have. The best way to understanding the make-up of a painting is not to look at it from afar, but to do your own paintings and get to grips with how they're completed. The more you experiment in your own work with different styles and techniques, the more you'll understand and appreciate other works of art.
2. Stress relief Painting is a great way to relieve stress. Many people turn to painting because it allows them to get away from it all and focus on creating something positive. Many channel their stress into their works and create works that have been inspired by their heavy feelings. Painting becomes more fun and exciting because you're leaving the negativity behind and doing something where you can just focus on the good.
3. Self-expression Lots of people enjoy painting because it's a great way for them to express themselves. There's nothing to get your creativity going like a blank canvas. With painting you can create whatever you want and you can say whatever you want. All paintings have meaning and messages, whether they're simple or complex. All paintings are done to convey meaning and messages to others; they're a way for the artist to show their creativity and express themselves to the world in a highly creative way.
4. Optimism Most painters are optimists because painting has helped them develop a positive outlook on life. Part of this outlook comes from a sense of achievement artists feel as they develop their painting skills and complete more paintings. Many artists who have been painting for a while feel great that they've built up a skill set and have a collection of paintings to show. Building up skills and paintings is something that can help you feel a lot more positive because you're achieving things and doing something good.
5. Fun To put it simply, one of the best benefits of painting is that it's fun. You get to unleash your creative spirit and can create whatever you want without any restrictions. You're in charge and you get to approach painting exactly how you want to. You feel motivated to get your work done then you feel a sense of accomplishment once it's done. There is so much to explore, with loads of different styles and techniques to discover - there's always going to be a painting ready to be created. Painting can be many things but there's no denying that above all, it's a lot of fun, and that's one of its best benefits. Joanne Perkins is a Berkshire-based artist with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. She specialises in painting Berkshire landscapes and loves capturing the natural beauty of her local countryside. She is happy to accept all queries and questions. For more information about Joanne, her work and her current projects.
2. Stress relief Painting is a great way to relieve stress. Many people turn to painting because it allows them to get away from it all and focus on creating something positive. Many channel their stress into their works and create works that have been inspired by their heavy feelings. Painting becomes more fun and exciting because you're leaving the negativity behind and doing something where you can just focus on the good.
3. Self-expression Lots of people enjoy painting because it's a great way for them to express themselves. There's nothing to get your creativity going like a blank canvas. With painting you can create whatever you want and you can say whatever you want. All paintings have meaning and messages, whether they're simple or complex. All paintings are done to convey meaning and messages to others; they're a way for the artist to show their creativity and express themselves to the world in a highly creative way.
4. Optimism Most painters are optimists because painting has helped them develop a positive outlook on life. Part of this outlook comes from a sense of achievement artists feel as they develop their painting skills and complete more paintings. Many artists who have been painting for a while feel great that they've built up a skill set and have a collection of paintings to show. Building up skills and paintings is something that can help you feel a lot more positive because you're achieving things and doing something good.
5. Fun To put it simply, one of the best benefits of painting is that it's fun. You get to unleash your creative spirit and can create whatever you want without any restrictions. You're in charge and you get to approach painting exactly how you want to. You feel motivated to get your work done then you feel a sense of accomplishment once it's done. There is so much to explore, with loads of different styles and techniques to discover - there's always going to be a painting ready to be created. Painting can be many things but there's no denying that above all, it's a lot of fun, and that's one of its best benefits. Joanne Perkins is a Berkshire-based artist with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. She specialises in painting Berkshire landscapes and loves capturing the natural beauty of her local countryside. She is happy to accept all queries and questions. For more information about Joanne, her work and her current projects.
It's Only Paint and Canvas
What is the true" market value" of a painting? How does a potential collector know that a fair price is being offered? After all, the price can be negotiated... It's not like a car, a stereo system, or a suit jacket that contains technical components and can be shopped between stores. It's only paint and canvas, right? Lines, colors, shapes, usually on a flat rectangular surface: that's how we most often define "a painting." As an objet d'art it has perceived value, both inside and out of the marketplace. Often paintings contain little or no moving parts. Precious metals may be employed, but not usually-it's simply canvas by-the-yard and pigment. The materials of which a painting is made today are not much different than they were thousands of years ago, when early man painted and engraved shapes of animals on cave walls, with crushed plants and vegetable matter for paint, and animal-fat crayons and fingertips for brushes. The technology of paint-making and the variety of painting surfaces have significantly improved since then, but paint is still made of pigments and the surface of a painting is still usually flat. Doesn't' sound that impressive, does it?
_______________________________ "The synthesis of truth and beauty... is the highest and deepest reality." Ovid _________________________________ Let's consider the work of those early artists, at places like Lascaux and Altamira: they were the agents of man's first recorded history. Their wall paintings speak to us through the millennia, even though their materials were elemental. Those artworks still communicate human ideas, perceptions, the very milieu in which early men and women lived. Those paintings today give us an insight into a culture, basal psychology, and the soul of early man. Those artworks were--as all artworks have been since those first paintings were created-visions, thoughts, dreams, and an exploration of what it means to be human. Those paintings in sedimentary sanctuaries were not-and are not now-simply colored dirt on stone: they are the reality of a time gone by. ______________________ " We keep our eyes on the things we cannot see: for the things which we can see are temporal; the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18 ________________________________ It's the vision encapsulated in those ancient artworks that give them their true value, not the materials with which they are made. Then as now, it is the material that gives the immaterial form and meaning, and which gives any painting its value. How well a contemporary artwork does that for each viewer or potential collector in today's marketplace, how deeply the painting establishes a personal connection, is what gives the work its significance and worth. Paintings enable us to see more than the obvious, to break free of our prejudices, to elevate our thoughts.
The author Charlotte Bronte expressed this ability of the artist to help us "see" on a higher plane: "I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward." The artist is the catalyst in this process of Imagineering and revelation. It is through the artist's eye that new possibilities can be discovered, and comprehended. In fact, former President John F. Kennedy underlined that creative significance: "I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." The painter does what the director does for a film, or the composer for a symphony. He or she draws unrelated concepts together, instills pattern, variety and unity, and discloses the essence of an idea. If we look through the painter's lens, we are treated to a new perspective on reality. The visionary artist is a conductor on the journey to an exotic destination. We begin to understand that there is something higher in that artwork, than just paint and canvas. ___________________________ "An artist is not paid for his labor, but for his vision."
James Abbot McNeill Whistler ___________________________________ For a painting, it is the experience of the artist expressed therein that is of utmost value. The material nature of the work is quite secondary. A painting that conveys the power of emotion to the viewer is more than "just paint and canvas." It is the description of a heartfelt concept that has been forged into tangible excellence through a creative process of envisioning and technical facility. It even has the power to change lives. "(Art) has the capacity to penetrate even the most callous skin and to ignite a revolution from within," as musician Benjamin Moore so eloquently reminds us.
Pursuing art with our whole hearts and minds is probably the most civilizing undertaking we can do as artists. "What a privilege it is to be able to take brush in hand and put paint on paper in this troubled world," is our encouragement from artist Veronica Stensby. A painting's value is not in its material nature, as "just paint and canvas." Rather, it is the vision an artist expresses with those materials that is of value: that slice of heaven, the best of the Best, that idea of the Ideal, that is the central core of both the material and spiritual worth of an artwork. What is the significance of painting and the role of the painter in modern society? Is art just a luxury, or can it help inspire or change those who view and collect it? Should we think of art as an investment, or as a way to connect to our world? I believe the answer is more profound that it might appear.
_______________________________ "The synthesis of truth and beauty... is the highest and deepest reality." Ovid _________________________________ Let's consider the work of those early artists, at places like Lascaux and Altamira: they were the agents of man's first recorded history. Their wall paintings speak to us through the millennia, even though their materials were elemental. Those artworks still communicate human ideas, perceptions, the very milieu in which early men and women lived. Those paintings today give us an insight into a culture, basal psychology, and the soul of early man. Those artworks were--as all artworks have been since those first paintings were created-visions, thoughts, dreams, and an exploration of what it means to be human. Those paintings in sedimentary sanctuaries were not-and are not now-simply colored dirt on stone: they are the reality of a time gone by. ______________________ " We keep our eyes on the things we cannot see: for the things which we can see are temporal; the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18 ________________________________ It's the vision encapsulated in those ancient artworks that give them their true value, not the materials with which they are made. Then as now, it is the material that gives the immaterial form and meaning, and which gives any painting its value. How well a contemporary artwork does that for each viewer or potential collector in today's marketplace, how deeply the painting establishes a personal connection, is what gives the work its significance and worth. Paintings enable us to see more than the obvious, to break free of our prejudices, to elevate our thoughts.
The author Charlotte Bronte expressed this ability of the artist to help us "see" on a higher plane: "I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward." The artist is the catalyst in this process of Imagineering and revelation. It is through the artist's eye that new possibilities can be discovered, and comprehended. In fact, former President John F. Kennedy underlined that creative significance: "I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." The painter does what the director does for a film, or the composer for a symphony. He or she draws unrelated concepts together, instills pattern, variety and unity, and discloses the essence of an idea. If we look through the painter's lens, we are treated to a new perspective on reality. The visionary artist is a conductor on the journey to an exotic destination. We begin to understand that there is something higher in that artwork, than just paint and canvas. ___________________________ "An artist is not paid for his labor, but for his vision."
James Abbot McNeill Whistler ___________________________________ For a painting, it is the experience of the artist expressed therein that is of utmost value. The material nature of the work is quite secondary. A painting that conveys the power of emotion to the viewer is more than "just paint and canvas." It is the description of a heartfelt concept that has been forged into tangible excellence through a creative process of envisioning and technical facility. It even has the power to change lives. "(Art) has the capacity to penetrate even the most callous skin and to ignite a revolution from within," as musician Benjamin Moore so eloquently reminds us.
Pursuing art with our whole hearts and minds is probably the most civilizing undertaking we can do as artists. "What a privilege it is to be able to take brush in hand and put paint on paper in this troubled world," is our encouragement from artist Veronica Stensby. A painting's value is not in its material nature, as "just paint and canvas." Rather, it is the vision an artist expresses with those materials that is of value: that slice of heaven, the best of the Best, that idea of the Ideal, that is the central core of both the material and spiritual worth of an artwork. What is the significance of painting and the role of the painter in modern society? Is art just a luxury, or can it help inspire or change those who view and collect it? Should we think of art as an investment, or as a way to connect to our world? I believe the answer is more profound that it might appear.
Sunday, July 1, 2018
My Date With Beating Retreat 2016
Being in Delhi for more than three decades, I did not get an opportunity to see the Beating Retreat ceremony live. Since every news paper while reporting about the forthcoming event in 2016 stated that this year it is going to be colourful and more musical and the ceremony during 2016 will be at its best. After seeing that report both me and my wife got excited and don't want to miss the event this time. After getting pass for the programme I was eagerly waiting for the event to be held on 29 Jan 2016. The scheduled programme was to start exactly at 5.30 PM. All the Central Government offices located around Vijay Chowk were closed and Security Staff occupied the area and the venue was looked like a war zone. We started from our residence at around 3 AM and reached Patel Chowk Metro Station at 3.30. By that time lot of people started pouring in and were going towards the venue. Security was so tight and it seemed that all security staff watching the public with a suspicion to avoid any untoward incidents.
After reaching the venue we found that there were three tier security. This was the first time we went through three tier security and we both felt little nervous. The sun was about to set in. The reflection of red colour brighten the sky. Entire audience were waiting eagerly for the ceremony to begin. The atmosphere was completely silent. All eyes were turned towards Rastrabathi Bhawan. A white jeep started coming towards the dais. Yeah it was the Chief of the Naval Staff who came first followed by Air Force and Army Chief. Entire audience clapped their hands when the three Chiefs waved their hands towards the crowd. After few minutes, the crowd stood at their feet to see Prime Minister's car reaching the venue. It's difficult to ignore Narendra Modi's signature half-sleeve kurtas (and churidaars). His crisp formals and that pop of colour make him distinct from other guests. When he waved his hand the entire audience responded with a roar! When President's cavalcade entered the venu everybody got excited and the entire crowd waved their hands and the President reciprocated them by waving his hand to the audience.
The Republic Day parade is a wonderful experience and a very proud tradition of our nation. Unlike previous year the much awaited Beating Retreat, that signals the end of the Republic Day festivities, undergone a slight change.The ceremony in Delhi is observed keeping in mind the age old tradition, according to which, soldiers called a close down to the war at sunset.The ceremony officially marks the finale of the Republic day celebrations. This year the ceremony show caused new blend of music instead of the long tradition of only military music. Sitar, santoor and tabla, will be heard for the first time along with military bands.These newly introduced percussion instruments has changed the usual bugles, pipes and drums usually featured in the show by the colonial military band. For the better view of the programme for the crowd LED screens, spider-cams and surround sound systems were installed. And at exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered to the National Anthem and soon after Rashtrabathi Bhawan, South Block, North Block and all the surrounding Government buildings illuminated that brought the Republic Day celebrations to a bright and formal end.
After reaching the venue we found that there were three tier security. This was the first time we went through three tier security and we both felt little nervous. The sun was about to set in. The reflection of red colour brighten the sky. Entire audience were waiting eagerly for the ceremony to begin. The atmosphere was completely silent. All eyes were turned towards Rastrabathi Bhawan. A white jeep started coming towards the dais. Yeah it was the Chief of the Naval Staff who came first followed by Air Force and Army Chief. Entire audience clapped their hands when the three Chiefs waved their hands towards the crowd. After few minutes, the crowd stood at their feet to see Prime Minister's car reaching the venue. It's difficult to ignore Narendra Modi's signature half-sleeve kurtas (and churidaars). His crisp formals and that pop of colour make him distinct from other guests. When he waved his hand the entire audience responded with a roar! When President's cavalcade entered the venu everybody got excited and the entire crowd waved their hands and the President reciprocated them by waving his hand to the audience.
The Republic Day parade is a wonderful experience and a very proud tradition of our nation. Unlike previous year the much awaited Beating Retreat, that signals the end of the Republic Day festivities, undergone a slight change.The ceremony in Delhi is observed keeping in mind the age old tradition, according to which, soldiers called a close down to the war at sunset.The ceremony officially marks the finale of the Republic day celebrations. This year the ceremony show caused new blend of music instead of the long tradition of only military music. Sitar, santoor and tabla, will be heard for the first time along with military bands.These newly introduced percussion instruments has changed the usual bugles, pipes and drums usually featured in the show by the colonial military band. For the better view of the programme for the crowd LED screens, spider-cams and surround sound systems were installed. And at exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered to the National Anthem and soon after Rashtrabathi Bhawan, South Block, North Block and all the surrounding Government buildings illuminated that brought the Republic Day celebrations to a bright and formal end.
Five Surprising Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
When it comes to exercise, many people head straight to the gym, preferring to work their muscles on a treadmill or elliptical machine. While gyms are certainly useful and can give an athlete a head start on their fitness goals, nothing quite beats the benefits of nature. For those looking to improve their physical fitness, outdoor recreation can help boost both physical and emotional fitness and health, while also transforming exercise from a dull routine into a fun adventure. Here are five reasons everyone should head outside.
Improve Physique Outdoor recreation can often be physically demanding, but the sports work different muscles than those static machines at the gym. Instead of doing countless repetitions on a weight machine, try canoeing or go fishing with a friend. The motions of the sports work the arm and core stabilizer muscles in a different way, boosting the effectiveness of a gym workout and improving muscle tone and strength. Best of all, because the movements come with a healthy dose of fun, it won't feel like exercise! Engage With Others Working out in a gym is often a solitary activity.
Headphones and televisions often keep people from interacting or conversing as they work out. Outside, whether it's on a hiking trail or at a golf course, people can talk to each other, turning a solitary activity into a social outing. Once the conversations start, many people find they have more in common with their fellow participants than they expected, resulting in new friendships and new connections. Unplug From the Daily Grind Technology is everywhere in daily life. At work, many tasks are completed on a computer, and at home, countless hours are devoted to the television. Heading outside for a walk or sitting in a park gives people the opportunity to unplug and relax. Rather than focusing on a screen, individuals can focus on watching the clouds or observe the way the leaves blow in the wind. Disconnecting from technology gives the mind a chance to rest and reset, reducing anxiety and stress associated with an on-demand society.
Better Sleep and Improved Focus Anyone who is familiar with spending hours outside in the sun knows that at the end of the day, their body is tired. Outdoor recreation changes up the way the body moves, exercising new muscles and stimulating the mind. Physical activity helps the body relax and makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Well-rested individuals are better prepared to focus the next day and often see an improvement in the quality of their work. Develop New Hobbies Getting outside is a great way to discover new passions and hobbies. Go to a new place, hike a new trail, or play a new sport. Not only will the new experiences help cultivate a passion for the environment, but it will also give individuals an outlet outside of their usual hobbies. Instead of heading to the gym for a solitary workout session, head outside, take a walk in nature, and breathe the fresh air!
Improve Physique Outdoor recreation can often be physically demanding, but the sports work different muscles than those static machines at the gym. Instead of doing countless repetitions on a weight machine, try canoeing or go fishing with a friend. The motions of the sports work the arm and core stabilizer muscles in a different way, boosting the effectiveness of a gym workout and improving muscle tone and strength. Best of all, because the movements come with a healthy dose of fun, it won't feel like exercise! Engage With Others Working out in a gym is often a solitary activity.
Headphones and televisions often keep people from interacting or conversing as they work out. Outside, whether it's on a hiking trail or at a golf course, people can talk to each other, turning a solitary activity into a social outing. Once the conversations start, many people find they have more in common with their fellow participants than they expected, resulting in new friendships and new connections. Unplug From the Daily Grind Technology is everywhere in daily life. At work, many tasks are completed on a computer, and at home, countless hours are devoted to the television. Heading outside for a walk or sitting in a park gives people the opportunity to unplug and relax. Rather than focusing on a screen, individuals can focus on watching the clouds or observe the way the leaves blow in the wind. Disconnecting from technology gives the mind a chance to rest and reset, reducing anxiety and stress associated with an on-demand society.
Better Sleep and Improved Focus Anyone who is familiar with spending hours outside in the sun knows that at the end of the day, their body is tired. Outdoor recreation changes up the way the body moves, exercising new muscles and stimulating the mind. Physical activity helps the body relax and makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Well-rested individuals are better prepared to focus the next day and often see an improvement in the quality of their work. Develop New Hobbies Getting outside is a great way to discover new passions and hobbies. Go to a new place, hike a new trail, or play a new sport. Not only will the new experiences help cultivate a passion for the environment, but it will also give individuals an outlet outside of their usual hobbies. Instead of heading to the gym for a solitary workout session, head outside, take a walk in nature, and breathe the fresh air!
The Enchanting Forts of Rajasthan
Enchanting edifices and pristine palaces scattered all along the land makes Rajasthan a must-visit state for tourists from all corners of the world. Coupled with an intriguing culture, Rajasthan is a royal land ripe with fables and fantasies, acquainting its visitors with romance and chivalry through its numerous fortified palaces and forts. Hiding behind the colossal forts are numerous invigorating journeys sprawling over centuries; from fairytale romances to appalling sacrifices. To get you acquainted with the royal legacy, we've compiled a list of some of the best forts in Rajasthan. An authentic testimony to parched state's fateful, gripping history, Rajasthan forts are a distinguished source to reminisce the royal history of Rajasthan.
1. Chittorgarh Fort An epitome of bravery, Chittorgarh Fort is a fitting symbol of never-ending Rajput spirit. One of the largest and oldest forts in India, it's credited as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ramped up on a 180 meter high hill, the massive fort spreads across 700 acres and is an immortal testimony to the Rajput valor.
2. Kumbhalgarh Fort Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the legendary king of Mewar. Drenched in vast history, the fort is nestled atop the Aravalli range and was built in 15th century by Rana Kumbha. While the fort is famous for its 36 kilometer long serpentine fortification wide enough to accommodate 8 horses abreast, within the fort lies more than 300 temples and numerous palaces, of which Badal Mahal is the most notable.
3. Amer Fort Located 11 kilometers away from Jaipur, the state capital, Amer Fort is noted for its artistic Hindu elements and astute craftsmanship laid out on a four level layout. Overlooking the Maota Lake, the enchanting fort is built out of white and red sandstone. While the architecture depicts a fine blend of Rajput and Hindu styles, the ornamentation within the fort is a concoction of Hindu and Muslim expressions.
4. Jaisalmer Fort This massive fort is set amidst the parched expanse of the Thar Desert and one of the largest fully-preserved, fortifications on the face of Earth. Rising from the canvas itself, the fort is a glowing reflection of the golden hues of desert sand, and is aptly known as Sonar Quilla (Golden Fort). The yellow sandstone monument was built by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 AD and comprises of 4 entrances. Along with Chittorgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan, attracting tourists from far and wide.
1. Chittorgarh Fort An epitome of bravery, Chittorgarh Fort is a fitting symbol of never-ending Rajput spirit. One of the largest and oldest forts in India, it's credited as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ramped up on a 180 meter high hill, the massive fort spreads across 700 acres and is an immortal testimony to the Rajput valor.
2. Kumbhalgarh Fort Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the legendary king of Mewar. Drenched in vast history, the fort is nestled atop the Aravalli range and was built in 15th century by Rana Kumbha. While the fort is famous for its 36 kilometer long serpentine fortification wide enough to accommodate 8 horses abreast, within the fort lies more than 300 temples and numerous palaces, of which Badal Mahal is the most notable.
3. Amer Fort Located 11 kilometers away from Jaipur, the state capital, Amer Fort is noted for its artistic Hindu elements and astute craftsmanship laid out on a four level layout. Overlooking the Maota Lake, the enchanting fort is built out of white and red sandstone. While the architecture depicts a fine blend of Rajput and Hindu styles, the ornamentation within the fort is a concoction of Hindu and Muslim expressions.
4. Jaisalmer Fort This massive fort is set amidst the parched expanse of the Thar Desert and one of the largest fully-preserved, fortifications on the face of Earth. Rising from the canvas itself, the fort is a glowing reflection of the golden hues of desert sand, and is aptly known as Sonar Quilla (Golden Fort). The yellow sandstone monument was built by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 AD and comprises of 4 entrances. Along with Chittorgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan, attracting tourists from far and wide.
The Great Basin's Lehman Cave
"There are two kinds of rocks in Lehman Caves," the park ranger told the group. "Headbangers and kneeknockers. Watch for both when you're in there." Then she led us through a heavy door and into a long concrete tunnel. The patter of our footsteps raced and collided along the tunnel's length. The placid, 50-degree Fahrenheit (10-degrees Celsius) air chilled us as we passed through the door that completed the airlock, and we finally entered the subterranean labyrinth. When the sun is setting, Great Basin National Park in east-central Nevada lies in the shadow of the Snake Range's Wheeler Peak, which, at 13,063 feet (3982 meters), is the highest point wholly within Nevada. Millions of years ago, magma intruded into the joint between the quartzite, constituting most of the Snake Range, and the limestone along the range's eastern flank. The magma's heat metamorphosed some of the limestone into marble. That was the crucial first step in the formation of the caves. At one time, the climate of eastern Nevada was more humid than it is today and, consequently, the water table was higher. Rainwater, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the air to form carbonic acid - the weak acid of soda pop - soaked into the ground and dissolved the marble. As the climate dried, the water table dropped, and the trickling water emerged into vaulted rooms and passageways. Losing its carbon dioxide, the liquid deposited its burden of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate) at the slower than snail's pace - an inch per century - to form soda straws, stalactite daggers, stalagmite stumps, mysterious shields, graceful draperies and columns resembling the ruins of ancient Greece. To keep the difference between cave features clear in your mind remember that the word "stalactites" has the letter "c" and this feature comes down from the ceiling, and the word for the other well-known feature "stalagmites" has the letter "g" and comes up from the ground.
So it's "c" for ceiling (stalactite) and "g" for ground (stalagmite). Actually, stalactites turn out to be soda straws that became plugged up. Soda straws have mineral-laden water dripping down through the center and leaving behind rings of minerals that can extend great distances if left undisturbed, up to 30 feet (9 meters). If the end becomes plugged, however, water can start dripping down the outside of the straw leaving minerals on the outside of the straw that continue to grow in an outward direction, thus becoming stalactites, as the former straw now starts to thicken. Into the Gothic Palace As the ranger led us past the cave's natural entrance and into the Gothic Palace, she paused to tell us about Absalom S. Lehman. The proprietor of a ranch on the eastern slopes of Wheeler Peak, Lehman discovered the cave in 1885. In that year, he guided 800 people through its rooms and passageways; visitors had to climb down ladders into the vertical entrance, using only candle lanterns for illumination, according to the ranger. When our group was a little farther along the path, the ranger turned off the electric lights, leaving only a candle lantern as our light source. As she raised the lantern from the ground, haunting shadows shifted across the somehow enlarged chamber. "Can you imagine exploring the caves this way?" she asked. After the lights were switched back on, we continued our six-tenths of a mile (1 km) journey through the white complex of narrow, twisting passageways and voluminous chambers. Some corridors were like art galleries displaying their sculptures openly. Other corridors obscured their treasures in confounding folds.
The Wedding Chapel and Beyond After the Gothic Palace, with its arching ceiling and tall columns, we reached the spacious Wedding Chapel, which was actually used for five wedding ceremonies in the 19th century. In the adjacent Music Room, early tour guides would produce musical notes by tapping on the stalactites with mallets. However, this practice was discontinued after some of the stalactites were found crumbling. Up past wooden stairs, our group came upon the Tom-Tom Room, which has the most famous geological feature of Lehman Caves - saucer-shaped plates called shields or pallets, angled out from the walls. No one knows exactly how shields develop. They may form when water, under pressure, emerges through cracks in the walls to deposit thin films of calcite, creating numerous pairs of facing plates that seem to defy gravity. Gradually, water builds columns underneath many of these shields. They only occur in one percent of all known limestone caves; so Lehman Caves would be special if only for its abundance of shields. Going past the Dragon's Den and the Queen's Chamber, the ranger reached the Lodge Room at the crossroads of the trail system in the caves. She described how Clarence T. Rhodes, the first custodian of the cave after it had become public property, had urged members of the Knights of Pythias and the Boy Scouts from nearby Ely, Nevada, to hold their meetings here. Since the government didn't have any money in the state budget to pay him. Mr. Rhodes was entitled to any fees he might charge for admission and, thus, had a vested interest in promoting the caves.
Unfortunately for the Lodge Room, those visitors knocked down some of the ceiling formations to provide headroom, and the soot from their fires is still visible along the walls. On through a tunnel, the ranger led us to the Inscription Room. A glance at the sooty letters and numbers on the ceiling and walls immediately told us the reason for the name. After pointing them out, the ranger shined her flashlight beside the tunnel we had come through to show us a low crawl space. "This is the old way to get into this room," she explained. With only an 18-inch (45 cm) clearance, the passage earned the name of Fat Man's Misery for those early visitors who made it through. To celebrate their quest, they marked the room with their initials or the date, the earliest of which is from the 1890's. The plunking of water greeted us in the Cypress Swamp. Miniature gods of Mt. Olympus might have luxuriated in the delicate, rimstone-diked pools along with a few curious, calcite creatures. The largest pool was named Lake Como, by Mrs. Rhodes after the famous lake in the Italian Alps. The ranger saved the best for last. The Grand Palace offered us a gopher's-eye-view of orange carrot-like stalactites, beet-shaped stalagmites and other root-like shapes in this veritable garden of natural rock formations. On some columns, contorted stubs called helictites - looking as though someone had included wax beans - pointed every which way, defying gravity.
The Parachute, the symbol of Lehman Caves, was frozen in time with its shield catching the air above dangling stalactite cords. We continued thinking heavenward on seeing the Angel's Wing, a vertical shield overflowing with a tapering column, and on passing by fluted columns called the Pearly Gates. The Glacier, composed of flowstone where water deposited calcite while running over a sloping wall, crept in from one end of the chamber. Elsewhere, lacy crystals of aragonite, another form of calcium carbonate, decorated the wall. On our way back through to the exit tunnel, we were again reminded that Nature's artful hand had graced Lehman Cave. The Nature Trail Outside the exit tunnel, a nature trail begins. By following it, you can learn more about the history of the park at the old cabin where Clarence Rhodes once lived, and get acquainted with the trees and shrubs of the park. Actually, the Snake Range gives you the opportunity to explore five different plant communities, representing the changes in vegetation from Mexico to Alaska. The first community, the upper Sonoran, named after Sonora, Mexico, surrounds Lehman Caves with piñons and junipers and extends down toward the Snake Valley. By driving 12 miles (23 km) toward the Wheeler Peak Campground, you can see the rest of the life zones. The transition zone of ponderosa pines, white fir and mountain mahogany begins around the Lehman Creek Campground, which has the largest mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) in the world. Quaking aspens are here and on up the mountainside. Higher up the steep, twisting road, near the Peak overlook, the Canadian life zone begins, with Douglas fir and Englemann spruce predominating.
From the overlook, craggy Mount Jefferson Davis is to the left and Wheeler Peak is to the right. In a sense, you're nearing the Hudson Bay by the time you make it to the Wheeler Peak Campground at about 10,000 feet (3048 meters). Limber pine, Engelmann spruce, and aspens shade the campsites. A trail system leads you to timberline, the highest margin of the Hudsonian zone, where an interpretive trail shows you the oldest living things on the planet - bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva). The oldest bristlecone, at almost 5,000 years, grew on the slopes of Wheeler Peak before being cut down in 1964. It was named Prometheus by locals, who gave individual trees names including Buddha and Socrates. The story has it that a geographer studying Ice Age features tried to take a core sample of Prometheus in order to find its age.
When the core sample boring tool broke, he resorted to cutting it down, with the Forest Service's permission. It was only afterward when he counted the rings that he realized he had cut down the oldest known tree on Earth. It was later determined to be 4862 years old. Older bristlecone pines have been measured over the years since, but for a time, Prometheus held the record. Lastly, the Arctic-Alpine zone extends up to the summit of Wheeler Peak, attainable by ascending 2,600 feet up a strenuous four-mile (6.5 km) trail. Little grows in this zone, except lichens, mosses, some hardy wildflowers and grasses in protected places. On the way up to the campground, turn at an interpretive trail that tells the story of early gold mining in the area. To facilitate placer mining, the Osceola Placer Mining Company constructed a 30-mile (48 km) long ditch from Lehman Creek around the mountains in the early 1880's. Their most notable find was a 24-pound (10.9 kg) nugget. The trail leads out to some of the remains of this project. Another interpretive trail lies along the dirt road to the Baker Creek Campground.
The Forest Service has laid out a trail of rock art made by the native culture pre-dating the present-day Paiute, Goshute and Shoshone tribes. The best rock art in eastern Nevada, though, is the sculptures that Nature herself created in Lehman Caves. Resources To get to Great Basin National Park, drive about 68 miles (110 km) east from Ely, Nevada, along combined U.S. Routes 6 and 50 to their junction with State Route 487, then south to Baker and, finally, west along Route 488. Cave tours, which last an hour for the Lodge Room tour to an hour and a half for the Grand Palace tour, cost $8 and $10, respectively for adults, or $4 and $5 respectively for children 5 - 15 years old and seniors, but are free for children under 5 for the Lodge Room tour. Children under 5 are not allowed on the Grand Palace tour. Today, a paved path and tunnels make spelunking skills unnecessary but it still helps to have some level of fitness for these tours.
The park has five developed campgrounds and seven primitive campsites. The town of Baker has a motel and two private campgrounds, while additional accommodations are available in the cities of Ely in Nevada and Milford and Delta in Utah. Trails lead through these forests, to mountain peaks and to lakes and creeks of the Snake Range. The visitor center is outside the park in the town of Baker, so you can check on getting a campsite while arranging for your cave tour before you arrive at the park itself. For more information, Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9736998
So it's "c" for ceiling (stalactite) and "g" for ground (stalagmite). Actually, stalactites turn out to be soda straws that became plugged up. Soda straws have mineral-laden water dripping down through the center and leaving behind rings of minerals that can extend great distances if left undisturbed, up to 30 feet (9 meters). If the end becomes plugged, however, water can start dripping down the outside of the straw leaving minerals on the outside of the straw that continue to grow in an outward direction, thus becoming stalactites, as the former straw now starts to thicken. Into the Gothic Palace As the ranger led us past the cave's natural entrance and into the Gothic Palace, she paused to tell us about Absalom S. Lehman. The proprietor of a ranch on the eastern slopes of Wheeler Peak, Lehman discovered the cave in 1885. In that year, he guided 800 people through its rooms and passageways; visitors had to climb down ladders into the vertical entrance, using only candle lanterns for illumination, according to the ranger. When our group was a little farther along the path, the ranger turned off the electric lights, leaving only a candle lantern as our light source. As she raised the lantern from the ground, haunting shadows shifted across the somehow enlarged chamber. "Can you imagine exploring the caves this way?" she asked. After the lights were switched back on, we continued our six-tenths of a mile (1 km) journey through the white complex of narrow, twisting passageways and voluminous chambers. Some corridors were like art galleries displaying their sculptures openly. Other corridors obscured their treasures in confounding folds.
The Wedding Chapel and Beyond After the Gothic Palace, with its arching ceiling and tall columns, we reached the spacious Wedding Chapel, which was actually used for five wedding ceremonies in the 19th century. In the adjacent Music Room, early tour guides would produce musical notes by tapping on the stalactites with mallets. However, this practice was discontinued after some of the stalactites were found crumbling. Up past wooden stairs, our group came upon the Tom-Tom Room, which has the most famous geological feature of Lehman Caves - saucer-shaped plates called shields or pallets, angled out from the walls. No one knows exactly how shields develop. They may form when water, under pressure, emerges through cracks in the walls to deposit thin films of calcite, creating numerous pairs of facing plates that seem to defy gravity. Gradually, water builds columns underneath many of these shields. They only occur in one percent of all known limestone caves; so Lehman Caves would be special if only for its abundance of shields. Going past the Dragon's Den and the Queen's Chamber, the ranger reached the Lodge Room at the crossroads of the trail system in the caves. She described how Clarence T. Rhodes, the first custodian of the cave after it had become public property, had urged members of the Knights of Pythias and the Boy Scouts from nearby Ely, Nevada, to hold their meetings here. Since the government didn't have any money in the state budget to pay him. Mr. Rhodes was entitled to any fees he might charge for admission and, thus, had a vested interest in promoting the caves.
Unfortunately for the Lodge Room, those visitors knocked down some of the ceiling formations to provide headroom, and the soot from their fires is still visible along the walls. On through a tunnel, the ranger led us to the Inscription Room. A glance at the sooty letters and numbers on the ceiling and walls immediately told us the reason for the name. After pointing them out, the ranger shined her flashlight beside the tunnel we had come through to show us a low crawl space. "This is the old way to get into this room," she explained. With only an 18-inch (45 cm) clearance, the passage earned the name of Fat Man's Misery for those early visitors who made it through. To celebrate their quest, they marked the room with their initials or the date, the earliest of which is from the 1890's. The plunking of water greeted us in the Cypress Swamp. Miniature gods of Mt. Olympus might have luxuriated in the delicate, rimstone-diked pools along with a few curious, calcite creatures. The largest pool was named Lake Como, by Mrs. Rhodes after the famous lake in the Italian Alps. The ranger saved the best for last. The Grand Palace offered us a gopher's-eye-view of orange carrot-like stalactites, beet-shaped stalagmites and other root-like shapes in this veritable garden of natural rock formations. On some columns, contorted stubs called helictites - looking as though someone had included wax beans - pointed every which way, defying gravity.
The Parachute, the symbol of Lehman Caves, was frozen in time with its shield catching the air above dangling stalactite cords. We continued thinking heavenward on seeing the Angel's Wing, a vertical shield overflowing with a tapering column, and on passing by fluted columns called the Pearly Gates. The Glacier, composed of flowstone where water deposited calcite while running over a sloping wall, crept in from one end of the chamber. Elsewhere, lacy crystals of aragonite, another form of calcium carbonate, decorated the wall. On our way back through to the exit tunnel, we were again reminded that Nature's artful hand had graced Lehman Cave. The Nature Trail Outside the exit tunnel, a nature trail begins. By following it, you can learn more about the history of the park at the old cabin where Clarence Rhodes once lived, and get acquainted with the trees and shrubs of the park. Actually, the Snake Range gives you the opportunity to explore five different plant communities, representing the changes in vegetation from Mexico to Alaska. The first community, the upper Sonoran, named after Sonora, Mexico, surrounds Lehman Caves with piñons and junipers and extends down toward the Snake Valley. By driving 12 miles (23 km) toward the Wheeler Peak Campground, you can see the rest of the life zones. The transition zone of ponderosa pines, white fir and mountain mahogany begins around the Lehman Creek Campground, which has the largest mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) in the world. Quaking aspens are here and on up the mountainside. Higher up the steep, twisting road, near the Peak overlook, the Canadian life zone begins, with Douglas fir and Englemann spruce predominating.
From the overlook, craggy Mount Jefferson Davis is to the left and Wheeler Peak is to the right. In a sense, you're nearing the Hudson Bay by the time you make it to the Wheeler Peak Campground at about 10,000 feet (3048 meters). Limber pine, Engelmann spruce, and aspens shade the campsites. A trail system leads you to timberline, the highest margin of the Hudsonian zone, where an interpretive trail shows you the oldest living things on the planet - bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva). The oldest bristlecone, at almost 5,000 years, grew on the slopes of Wheeler Peak before being cut down in 1964. It was named Prometheus by locals, who gave individual trees names including Buddha and Socrates. The story has it that a geographer studying Ice Age features tried to take a core sample of Prometheus in order to find its age.
When the core sample boring tool broke, he resorted to cutting it down, with the Forest Service's permission. It was only afterward when he counted the rings that he realized he had cut down the oldest known tree on Earth. It was later determined to be 4862 years old. Older bristlecone pines have been measured over the years since, but for a time, Prometheus held the record. Lastly, the Arctic-Alpine zone extends up to the summit of Wheeler Peak, attainable by ascending 2,600 feet up a strenuous four-mile (6.5 km) trail. Little grows in this zone, except lichens, mosses, some hardy wildflowers and grasses in protected places. On the way up to the campground, turn at an interpretive trail that tells the story of early gold mining in the area. To facilitate placer mining, the Osceola Placer Mining Company constructed a 30-mile (48 km) long ditch from Lehman Creek around the mountains in the early 1880's. Their most notable find was a 24-pound (10.9 kg) nugget. The trail leads out to some of the remains of this project. Another interpretive trail lies along the dirt road to the Baker Creek Campground.
The Forest Service has laid out a trail of rock art made by the native culture pre-dating the present-day Paiute, Goshute and Shoshone tribes. The best rock art in eastern Nevada, though, is the sculptures that Nature herself created in Lehman Caves. Resources To get to Great Basin National Park, drive about 68 miles (110 km) east from Ely, Nevada, along combined U.S. Routes 6 and 50 to their junction with State Route 487, then south to Baker and, finally, west along Route 488. Cave tours, which last an hour for the Lodge Room tour to an hour and a half for the Grand Palace tour, cost $8 and $10, respectively for adults, or $4 and $5 respectively for children 5 - 15 years old and seniors, but are free for children under 5 for the Lodge Room tour. Children under 5 are not allowed on the Grand Palace tour. Today, a paved path and tunnels make spelunking skills unnecessary but it still helps to have some level of fitness for these tours.
The park has five developed campgrounds and seven primitive campsites. The town of Baker has a motel and two private campgrounds, while additional accommodations are available in the cities of Ely in Nevada and Milford and Delta in Utah. Trails lead through these forests, to mountain peaks and to lakes and creeks of the Snake Range. The visitor center is outside the park in the town of Baker, so you can check on getting a campsite while arranging for your cave tour before you arrive at the park itself. For more information, Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9736998
Summer Time Outdoors
Summer fun begins when school is out and no more studies, that is for some kids. Schools now offer the kids summer school which might include catching up on hours to graduate or learning new skills and attending classes that need improvement. Other kids go to summer school just to be with their friends and have fun. Many schools plan outside activities like going to the park, swimming pool, or going to places to see the fire department, police headquarters and meet the people who serve their community. Some kids participate in crafts and games at school, but overall most kids enjoy their time at summer school. Some of the sports outside still are going on in most areas. Boys and girls are involved in playing T-ball or baseball, while parents and grandparents cheer them on.
It is just part of summer and being outdoors, even when it is hot and muggy. This is a good time to meet other parents and your neighbors that you don't always see. Usually, you will share a bag of popcorn, candy, ice cream and soda with your kids or grandkids, what a great time to be together. You, of course, will want to take the camera to be able to take that special picture or video of your kids or grandkids. What memories you can make with them for being there at that special time when they catch the ball or make a home run.
As summer season continues the outdoor sports like swimming, riding bikes, going to camp and just being around their friends is important to them. While dad and mom are packing and getting the car ready to go on vacation. The kids are getting their special toys ready to take with them. Some families will plan to go to spend their time at an amusement park or to the beach, while other families are getting ready to go camping and spending time up in the mountains and enjoying the outdoors and scenery. Summer is a busy time, but can also be a great time to enjoy the family and be together. Taking time with your family is so important today since days seem to be so busy and our schedules are so full with work and other activities. Our kids and grandkids grow up so fast and leave home to go off to school or take a job away.
It is just part of summer and being outdoors, even when it is hot and muggy. This is a good time to meet other parents and your neighbors that you don't always see. Usually, you will share a bag of popcorn, candy, ice cream and soda with your kids or grandkids, what a great time to be together. You, of course, will want to take the camera to be able to take that special picture or video of your kids or grandkids. What memories you can make with them for being there at that special time when they catch the ball or make a home run.
As summer season continues the outdoor sports like swimming, riding bikes, going to camp and just being around their friends is important to them. While dad and mom are packing and getting the car ready to go on vacation. The kids are getting their special toys ready to take with them. Some families will plan to go to spend their time at an amusement park or to the beach, while other families are getting ready to go camping and spending time up in the mountains and enjoying the outdoors and scenery. Summer is a busy time, but can also be a great time to enjoy the family and be together. Taking time with your family is so important today since days seem to be so busy and our schedules are so full with work and other activities. Our kids and grandkids grow up so fast and leave home to go off to school or take a job away.
Autumn Leaves Are Falling
Autumn is a wonderful time. It is the end of the beginning. In Spring, everything comes to life after being dormant through the cold winter months. Then Summer arrives and everything blossoms and grows. Finally, Autumn is upon us and the trees shed their leaves waiting for the next time they can come back to life. The autumn leaves are changing colour, the air is crisp and clean in the early morning, the sound of rustling leaves as they float through the air moving as if they are ready to travel to wherever old man wind takes them... these are the sounds and sights of Autumn. Autumn is a perfect time to get out and go for a walk, or even better take your dog with you. This is also a great time for photography. The amazing colours of the leaves turning red, orange and gold, and the way the light shines through the canopy of leaves makes for some truly amazing shots. Action shots of dogs (big or small) romping through piles of leaves, wriggling ecstatically on top of the pile, trying to catch falling leaves in their mouths or running along a path with the sunlight behind them.
These make for some amazing shots! Taking advantage of the spectacular backdrops and scenery that the Autumn leaves provide, can make a picture of your best friend so much more interesting. It may even be worthy of having the honour of hanging on your wall, and not just your Autumn screen saver on your computer, tablet or phone. With the new age of digital cameras and phones with cameras we now take more pictures than ever before. Years ago we were limited to how many pictures we could take, based on how much film you could afford and the cost of developing the film..unless you were lucky enough to have your own darkroom! Taking 36 pictures in a week used to be a lot, but now with almost everyone having a cell phone and those phones having a high definition camera right in their phone it's nothing to take 36 pictures in a matter of minutes.
Our cameras and phones consistently hit their limits and we have to go through and delete hundreds of pictures that we never would have taken had it cost money for film and developing. It is estimated that people take at least 100 times as many pictures now as opposed to the old film and developing days. Why not? There's no reason why we can't have amazing shots of our furry friends, and Autumn is a great time of the year to capture some wonderful memories of them. But then again, Winter is only a short time away so we can get ready for some amazing shots of our fur baby's trying to catch snow flakes instead of leaves, and enjoying their first-time diving into piles of snow! Actually, it sounds like there really isn't a bad time to take pictures of our best friends! Jack Devon has been taking photographs for the past 10 years. He is an avid nature photographer, that uses both DSLR and point and shoot cameras. While patiently waiting for the perfect shot,
These make for some amazing shots! Taking advantage of the spectacular backdrops and scenery that the Autumn leaves provide, can make a picture of your best friend so much more interesting. It may even be worthy of having the honour of hanging on your wall, and not just your Autumn screen saver on your computer, tablet or phone. With the new age of digital cameras and phones with cameras we now take more pictures than ever before. Years ago we were limited to how many pictures we could take, based on how much film you could afford and the cost of developing the film..unless you were lucky enough to have your own darkroom! Taking 36 pictures in a week used to be a lot, but now with almost everyone having a cell phone and those phones having a high definition camera right in their phone it's nothing to take 36 pictures in a matter of minutes.
Our cameras and phones consistently hit their limits and we have to go through and delete hundreds of pictures that we never would have taken had it cost money for film and developing. It is estimated that people take at least 100 times as many pictures now as opposed to the old film and developing days. Why not? There's no reason why we can't have amazing shots of our furry friends, and Autumn is a great time of the year to capture some wonderful memories of them. But then again, Winter is only a short time away so we can get ready for some amazing shots of our fur baby's trying to catch snow flakes instead of leaves, and enjoying their first-time diving into piles of snow! Actually, it sounds like there really isn't a bad time to take pictures of our best friends! Jack Devon has been taking photographs for the past 10 years. He is an avid nature photographer, that uses both DSLR and point and shoot cameras. While patiently waiting for the perfect shot,
Craters of the Moon: Lava and Cinders
The Earth had been jittery for several days. She shuddered with anticipation. Then, clouds of sulfurous stench hissed out of a widening gape. Fountains of lava shot skyward from the fissure and heaped cinders and blobs around themselves. The prevailing south-westerly wind carried the volcanic dust and skewed the growing cinder cones toward the northeast. Suddenly, as though they had been shut off, the fountains dropped back into the crack. The earth ceased her trembling: only hot hissing remained. But the earth was not finished. A coal-black cinder cone bulged outward on its flank and broke open a new wound. Lava blood spilled out haltingly. The earth mustered herself and sent lava gushing to the surface. Fragments of the cone broke off, and the torrent rafted them away. As the lava's crust cooled from incandescent to dark, arteries of lava flowed underneath, pushing the flow along. Like honey, lava spread across the landscape.
Only about two thousand years ago - a mere tick of the geologic clock - an event similar to that just described occurred at Craters of the Moon National Monument in south-central Idaho. But that wasn't the only incident of volcanism here. A large weakness in the earth's crust, known as the Great Rift, has permitted molten rock to well up from deep within the earth on several occasions. The park's visitor center is an ideal place to start your exploration of this seemingly bleak lava land. The center contains books and exhibits pertaining to the geology, history, and biology of the park. A video displays recent eruptions in Hawaii that were similar to those that occurred at Craters of the Moon centuries ago. Across the road, visitors can camp among the volcanic rock and cinders at the only campground (no hookups) and enjoy an evening campfire program during the summer at the nearby amphitheater.
After you've obtained a map, a campsite, and extra water (the visitor center and the campground are the only sources), you can begin your drive along the seven-mile loop road to explore the area. Just past the campground, the road turns abruptly to the right as it reaches part of the young North Crater Flow. Beyond the curve, a paved interpretive trail awaits those wishing to see the lava up close. Along this trail, you'll see the Triple Twist Tree - an ancient, gnarled limber pine. By counting the number of growth rings in this tree, scientists estimate that this flow may have occurred two thousand years ago, making it one of the youngest flows in the park. You'll learn the two types of basaltic lava flows are found at Craters of the Moon. One type is called pahoehoe (pronounced pa-hoy-hoy; a Hawaiian word meaning ropy). A cool yet pliable crust formed on top of this flow, which pushed the crust into pleats. The other kind is aa (pronounced ah-ah; Hawaiian for "hard on the feet"). Aa lava, which is less gassy and more sluggish than pahoehoe, forms spiny chunks on its surface as it flows. A short distance beyond the parking area is the North Crater Trail. This trail will lead you up the crater where the lava flow originated. Continuing on, you'll turn left off of the loop to reach the Devil's Orchard. Geologists believe that this is the site of an ancient cinder cone that has been reduced to bits and pieces by erosion. You may take a self-guiding trail - which features numbered markers keyed to a booklet - through the chunky remains.
You'll learn about the geology, the bird life, and lichens and other plants. Lichens are an association of fungi and algae that can live on bare rock. Look for the purplish dwarf monkey flowers that carpet the ground here in the early summer season. If you continue along the loop road, you'll reach Inferno Cone. A short, steep trail leads to the summit of this mass of cinders. The peak provides a good vantage point for viewing the many cones along the Great Rift to the southeast and northwest. Standing at the summit, you can feel the full brunt of the park's incessant southwesterly winds. Big Cinder Butte, one of the largest purely basaltic cinder cones in the world, is the tallest cone to the southeast. From late spring to late summer, many of the more than 200 species of plants native to Craters of the Moon dot the slopes of the cones. Dwarf buckwheat, with its pom-pon-like flower clusters, and bitterroot, whose bright white petals contrasts sharply with the dark centers, are particularly common. Spatter cones are the next interesting formations along the loop. Nowhere else in the continental United States can you find a better example of spatter cones than at Craters of the Moon. These were formed when the earth threw out blobs of lava that stuck to one another. One of the cones here contains ice year-round. This is because lava rocks nearly always contain gas bubbles, which act as insulators.
A spur road off of the loop leads past frozen cascades of lava to the Tree Molds Parking Area. From here, you'll take a trail out to the tree molds, which formed when lava flowed over trees and then cooled, often leaving the rock with the impressions of the burning trunks' bark. You might take the Wilderness Trail from the parking area into the seldom-visited Craters of the Moon Wilderness Area. You'll need a free permit to enter the wilderness area if you're backpacking. The Wilderness Trail branches off of the Tree Molds Trail drops steeply down to a pahoehoe flow and crosses the flow. Rock cairns mark the path across the undulatory, pleated surface. At the far end, you'll find an old dirt road that extends for about four miles into the wilderness. If you follow this road, you'll enjoy mild hiking through wide-open scenery with just a little bit of dust and cinders to be concerned about. After you cross the wilderness boundary, you'll pass between Big Cinder Butte and Half Cone, and then continue on through Trench Mortar Flat.
The flat's name was derived from lava tubes that formed like the tree molds, except that the lava shaped itself around standing tree trunks. After you round Coyote Butte, you'll come to Echo Crater - one of the better campsites in the area for backpackers. We camped at Echo Crater on our first and most recent visits to this wilderness. During our first visit, we set up camp on the rim of the crater and day-hiked from there in search of waterholes, fissures, and other features that we noticed on the topographical map. On our last night there, we heard and saw prairie falcons flying around the crater. After we watched them awhile, we discovered that they were a male and female taking turns hunting and guarding their nest on the Echo Crater rim. On a visit during the 1980's, we reached Echo Crater around dark. The wind was its normally persistent self, so we camped inside the crater for protection. As it happens, the crater is shaped like a crescent - a high western rim sloping to a lower eastward opening. As we began to cook our dinner, the moon rose a full, flaming, orange-red ball, casting its light across our campsite and into the crater.
In the late 1990's, we were exploring mapped features that form in lava flows, like lava tube caves and lava bridges. Lava can flow like a river and with the lava on top exposed to the cooler air, a crust can form which solidifies and stops moving. But a lava crust is a good insulator, so the still hot lava underneath can continue to flow. Eventually, the still-liquid lava can drain away leaving a tube behind. If a part of the roof eventually collapses then there is a lava tube cave. If another part of the roof collapses near another collapse, the solid crust overarching the space between them is a lava bridge. On the Craters of the Moon map, two lava bridges are listed, the Bridge of Tears and the Bridge of the Moon. We went to the Bridge of Tears and camped next to it and also explored Moss Cave and Amphitheater Cave, which formed along the same lava tube as the bridge. We had heard rumors that the Bridge of the Moon might have collapsed and we wanted to go to the area where it should have been and see if we could find it. Not being able to find it could be taken as a sign that it had collapsed.
After camping at Bridge of Tears, we set out on a hiking path that would take us straight toward the Bridge of the Moon's mapped location. After starting out, we had to skirt around an elliptically shaped depression. We noticed that at the opposite end of the depression, there appeared to be an opening. So we decided to take some time to explore it. It turned out to be a cave with two side-by-side openings. The map didn't show this feature, so we took notes about it, including its GPS coordinates. We continued on to the Bridge of the Moon's mapped location, but couldn't find it. We started back out of the wilderness but spent one more night. Upon hiking out the next day, we turned in our write-up about the unmapped cave to the rangers at the visitor center and asked if this feature had ever been described before. It turned out that it hadn't, see we got to name it. Because we are twin brothers and the cave had two openings, we called it Twin Cave.
It will never appear on any maps, however, because the Park Service is trying to protect caves from vandalism and doesn't want to give away their locations. In August 2016, we went back to the Craters of the Moon wilderness to visit "our" cave after almost 20 years and discovered that one of the openings had gotten larger due to parts of the roof collapsing, but the other seemed to be about the same as before. We took what we call a "twin selfie" by the entrance to post on our social media pages. The dirt road into the wilderness peters out by the time it reaches two cinder cones situated past Echo Crater - The Sentinel and The Watchman. South of here, in 1879, J.W. Powell and Arthur Ferris of Arco, Idaho, left a marker at Vermilion Chasm during a scouting trip to determine whether the Craters of the Moon area had sufficient water to support livestock grazing. It didn't. Then, in 1921, Robert Limbert, W.L.
Cole, and a dog ventured north from Minidoka to explore this virtually unknown region. During their journey across the aa flows, they could hardly sleep at night because of the sharpness of the lava. The dog cut his feet, so the men had to carry him. After running low on water, they managed to find waterholes by observing the flight of doves. In spite of these hardships, the two men were enthralled with this land, and they gave many of its features the descriptive names that they are known by today. Thanks to Limbert's reports, photographs, and lobbying, and an article he wrote for National Geographic, Craters of the Moon was declared a national monument in 1924. Back on the road, after rejoining the loop, you'll continue on toward the Caves Area.
Pahoehoe flows advance via channels or tubes beneath a cooling crust. As the eruption subsides the lava may drain out of the tube, leaving the crust to support itself. Indian Tunnel is an example of a lava tube in which much of the overlying crust has collapsed. Because of this condition, you needn't carry a flashlight to explore the subway-sized Indian Tunnel. Just outside the tunnel, a ring of rocks is all that remains of a windbreak where the Shoshone Indians once camped while hunting deer and other wildlife of the park. You will need a flashlight to explore the other cave, however. Boy Scout Cave is especially interesting. Throughout the year, this cavern contains a thick layer of ice, which may be covered by a layer of water in the summertime. Craters of the Moon is also famous for being a part of NASA's effort to send men to the actual moon. Several of the astronauts came here to study the area as an example of what they might encounter when they landed on the moon. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9753990
Only about two thousand years ago - a mere tick of the geologic clock - an event similar to that just described occurred at Craters of the Moon National Monument in south-central Idaho. But that wasn't the only incident of volcanism here. A large weakness in the earth's crust, known as the Great Rift, has permitted molten rock to well up from deep within the earth on several occasions. The park's visitor center is an ideal place to start your exploration of this seemingly bleak lava land. The center contains books and exhibits pertaining to the geology, history, and biology of the park. A video displays recent eruptions in Hawaii that were similar to those that occurred at Craters of the Moon centuries ago. Across the road, visitors can camp among the volcanic rock and cinders at the only campground (no hookups) and enjoy an evening campfire program during the summer at the nearby amphitheater.
After you've obtained a map, a campsite, and extra water (the visitor center and the campground are the only sources), you can begin your drive along the seven-mile loop road to explore the area. Just past the campground, the road turns abruptly to the right as it reaches part of the young North Crater Flow. Beyond the curve, a paved interpretive trail awaits those wishing to see the lava up close. Along this trail, you'll see the Triple Twist Tree - an ancient, gnarled limber pine. By counting the number of growth rings in this tree, scientists estimate that this flow may have occurred two thousand years ago, making it one of the youngest flows in the park. You'll learn the two types of basaltic lava flows are found at Craters of the Moon. One type is called pahoehoe (pronounced pa-hoy-hoy; a Hawaiian word meaning ropy). A cool yet pliable crust formed on top of this flow, which pushed the crust into pleats. The other kind is aa (pronounced ah-ah; Hawaiian for "hard on the feet"). Aa lava, which is less gassy and more sluggish than pahoehoe, forms spiny chunks on its surface as it flows. A short distance beyond the parking area is the North Crater Trail. This trail will lead you up the crater where the lava flow originated. Continuing on, you'll turn left off of the loop to reach the Devil's Orchard. Geologists believe that this is the site of an ancient cinder cone that has been reduced to bits and pieces by erosion. You may take a self-guiding trail - which features numbered markers keyed to a booklet - through the chunky remains.
You'll learn about the geology, the bird life, and lichens and other plants. Lichens are an association of fungi and algae that can live on bare rock. Look for the purplish dwarf monkey flowers that carpet the ground here in the early summer season. If you continue along the loop road, you'll reach Inferno Cone. A short, steep trail leads to the summit of this mass of cinders. The peak provides a good vantage point for viewing the many cones along the Great Rift to the southeast and northwest. Standing at the summit, you can feel the full brunt of the park's incessant southwesterly winds. Big Cinder Butte, one of the largest purely basaltic cinder cones in the world, is the tallest cone to the southeast. From late spring to late summer, many of the more than 200 species of plants native to Craters of the Moon dot the slopes of the cones. Dwarf buckwheat, with its pom-pon-like flower clusters, and bitterroot, whose bright white petals contrasts sharply with the dark centers, are particularly common. Spatter cones are the next interesting formations along the loop. Nowhere else in the continental United States can you find a better example of spatter cones than at Craters of the Moon. These were formed when the earth threw out blobs of lava that stuck to one another. One of the cones here contains ice year-round. This is because lava rocks nearly always contain gas bubbles, which act as insulators.
A spur road off of the loop leads past frozen cascades of lava to the Tree Molds Parking Area. From here, you'll take a trail out to the tree molds, which formed when lava flowed over trees and then cooled, often leaving the rock with the impressions of the burning trunks' bark. You might take the Wilderness Trail from the parking area into the seldom-visited Craters of the Moon Wilderness Area. You'll need a free permit to enter the wilderness area if you're backpacking. The Wilderness Trail branches off of the Tree Molds Trail drops steeply down to a pahoehoe flow and crosses the flow. Rock cairns mark the path across the undulatory, pleated surface. At the far end, you'll find an old dirt road that extends for about four miles into the wilderness. If you follow this road, you'll enjoy mild hiking through wide-open scenery with just a little bit of dust and cinders to be concerned about. After you cross the wilderness boundary, you'll pass between Big Cinder Butte and Half Cone, and then continue on through Trench Mortar Flat.
The flat's name was derived from lava tubes that formed like the tree molds, except that the lava shaped itself around standing tree trunks. After you round Coyote Butte, you'll come to Echo Crater - one of the better campsites in the area for backpackers. We camped at Echo Crater on our first and most recent visits to this wilderness. During our first visit, we set up camp on the rim of the crater and day-hiked from there in search of waterholes, fissures, and other features that we noticed on the topographical map. On our last night there, we heard and saw prairie falcons flying around the crater. After we watched them awhile, we discovered that they were a male and female taking turns hunting and guarding their nest on the Echo Crater rim. On a visit during the 1980's, we reached Echo Crater around dark. The wind was its normally persistent self, so we camped inside the crater for protection. As it happens, the crater is shaped like a crescent - a high western rim sloping to a lower eastward opening. As we began to cook our dinner, the moon rose a full, flaming, orange-red ball, casting its light across our campsite and into the crater.
In the late 1990's, we were exploring mapped features that form in lava flows, like lava tube caves and lava bridges. Lava can flow like a river and with the lava on top exposed to the cooler air, a crust can form which solidifies and stops moving. But a lava crust is a good insulator, so the still hot lava underneath can continue to flow. Eventually, the still-liquid lava can drain away leaving a tube behind. If a part of the roof eventually collapses then there is a lava tube cave. If another part of the roof collapses near another collapse, the solid crust overarching the space between them is a lava bridge. On the Craters of the Moon map, two lava bridges are listed, the Bridge of Tears and the Bridge of the Moon. We went to the Bridge of Tears and camped next to it and also explored Moss Cave and Amphitheater Cave, which formed along the same lava tube as the bridge. We had heard rumors that the Bridge of the Moon might have collapsed and we wanted to go to the area where it should have been and see if we could find it. Not being able to find it could be taken as a sign that it had collapsed.
After camping at Bridge of Tears, we set out on a hiking path that would take us straight toward the Bridge of the Moon's mapped location. After starting out, we had to skirt around an elliptically shaped depression. We noticed that at the opposite end of the depression, there appeared to be an opening. So we decided to take some time to explore it. It turned out to be a cave with two side-by-side openings. The map didn't show this feature, so we took notes about it, including its GPS coordinates. We continued on to the Bridge of the Moon's mapped location, but couldn't find it. We started back out of the wilderness but spent one more night. Upon hiking out the next day, we turned in our write-up about the unmapped cave to the rangers at the visitor center and asked if this feature had ever been described before. It turned out that it hadn't, see we got to name it. Because we are twin brothers and the cave had two openings, we called it Twin Cave.
It will never appear on any maps, however, because the Park Service is trying to protect caves from vandalism and doesn't want to give away their locations. In August 2016, we went back to the Craters of the Moon wilderness to visit "our" cave after almost 20 years and discovered that one of the openings had gotten larger due to parts of the roof collapsing, but the other seemed to be about the same as before. We took what we call a "twin selfie" by the entrance to post on our social media pages. The dirt road into the wilderness peters out by the time it reaches two cinder cones situated past Echo Crater - The Sentinel and The Watchman. South of here, in 1879, J.W. Powell and Arthur Ferris of Arco, Idaho, left a marker at Vermilion Chasm during a scouting trip to determine whether the Craters of the Moon area had sufficient water to support livestock grazing. It didn't. Then, in 1921, Robert Limbert, W.L.
Cole, and a dog ventured north from Minidoka to explore this virtually unknown region. During their journey across the aa flows, they could hardly sleep at night because of the sharpness of the lava. The dog cut his feet, so the men had to carry him. After running low on water, they managed to find waterholes by observing the flight of doves. In spite of these hardships, the two men were enthralled with this land, and they gave many of its features the descriptive names that they are known by today. Thanks to Limbert's reports, photographs, and lobbying, and an article he wrote for National Geographic, Craters of the Moon was declared a national monument in 1924. Back on the road, after rejoining the loop, you'll continue on toward the Caves Area.
Pahoehoe flows advance via channels or tubes beneath a cooling crust. As the eruption subsides the lava may drain out of the tube, leaving the crust to support itself. Indian Tunnel is an example of a lava tube in which much of the overlying crust has collapsed. Because of this condition, you needn't carry a flashlight to explore the subway-sized Indian Tunnel. Just outside the tunnel, a ring of rocks is all that remains of a windbreak where the Shoshone Indians once camped while hunting deer and other wildlife of the park. You will need a flashlight to explore the other cave, however. Boy Scout Cave is especially interesting. Throughout the year, this cavern contains a thick layer of ice, which may be covered by a layer of water in the summertime. Craters of the Moon is also famous for being a part of NASA's effort to send men to the actual moon. Several of the astronauts came here to study the area as an example of what they might encounter when they landed on the moon. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9753990
A Saturday Morning in Nigeria
I see two girls with buckets of water on their heads; one is green, the other is black. I see a woman by the well, she's fetching water from the well, and scolding her child for whatever crime he committed. Mothers are gods. Some men are gathered in front of a house, holding a meeting of some sort, or probably just gossiping. "E ra epo e s'ebe" (Buy palm oil and cook your soup). Her voice is the traditional advertising tool, she's taller than most women around. A woman holding a yellow keg just passes me by.
Down the street, I see a man struggling with his bike, the thing just doesn't want to work this morning. I see a shirtless child, probably a girl or boy, its rounded tummy is not enough proof of either gender. The street is littered with dirt. There's a constant noise A woman is grinding pepper. I'm wondering if there are no really aged people here unlike where I come from, I've barely seen any. I check the front of each house, but there are none. The weather is a bit different, rain drizzled a bit yesterday, I like that. It makes a good Saturday morning.
I see one very fine girl, I've seen her around a few times. We make eye contact once I look off my phone. She's probably wondering why I'm all sucked up in my phone, or probably hoping I'll approach her. Anyway... A man is coming behind me, he's making ridiculous sounds with his slippers, he's dragging his feet, I hate that. I'm thinking of going to the next street, maybe I'll see some really aged people. But come to think of it, I've not seen a car on this street.. Wow! I'm thinking about my project, too. And also, I'm thinking of how Lagos streets will be contrastingly busy. I'm thinking of how things would be if I had a car, I certainly wouldn't be walking around aimlessly. I'm thinking of the writing brand I'm working on.
Down the street, I see a man struggling with his bike, the thing just doesn't want to work this morning. I see a shirtless child, probably a girl or boy, its rounded tummy is not enough proof of either gender. The street is littered with dirt. There's a constant noise A woman is grinding pepper. I'm wondering if there are no really aged people here unlike where I come from, I've barely seen any. I check the front of each house, but there are none. The weather is a bit different, rain drizzled a bit yesterday, I like that. It makes a good Saturday morning.
I see one very fine girl, I've seen her around a few times. We make eye contact once I look off my phone. She's probably wondering why I'm all sucked up in my phone, or probably hoping I'll approach her. Anyway... A man is coming behind me, he's making ridiculous sounds with his slippers, he's dragging his feet, I hate that. I'm thinking of going to the next street, maybe I'll see some really aged people. But come to think of it, I've not seen a car on this street.. Wow! I'm thinking about my project, too. And also, I'm thinking of how Lagos streets will be contrastingly busy. I'm thinking of how things would be if I had a car, I certainly wouldn't be walking around aimlessly. I'm thinking of the writing brand I'm working on.
Life at Cape Flattery Lighthouse
In March of 1778 Captain James Cook sailed the waters of the North Washington Coast where there was an opening along the coastline. He named the place Cape Flattery because he thought he had been flattered into thinking it was a passage into The Strait of Juan de Fuca. In his logbook he wrote "In this very latitude geographers have placed the pretended Strait of Juan de Fuca. But nothing of that kind presented itself to our view, nor is it probable that any such thing ever existed." Ten years later Captain John Meares managed to confirm the existence of the Strait of Juan de Fuca when he visited a small island that sits about a half mile off Cape Flattery.
There he met Tatooche, chief of the Makah Indians. He named the island after Chief Tatooche. The chief used the island as his base during summers when he hunted whales and caught salmon. In 1850 William McArthur had just finished surveying the west coast and recommended a lighthouse be established on Tatooche Island. In this way the vessels could enter the strait at night and not have to wait until daylight.
In 1854 Congress was convinced to allocate $39,000 to build lighthouses on Tatoosh Island and on New Dungeness Spit. The government had paid $30,000 for all of the Makah's traditional lands except for a small reservation at Neah Bay. The Makah Indians were quite angry with the white people who purchased their land and gave the construction crew a hostile reception. This was because several hundred of the Indians had been killed by an outbreak of smallpox in 1853 brought on by the disease bearing "Bostons". During the summer the Indians continued to use the island for fishing and whale hunting. In order to protect themselves the construction crew built a blockhouse of rough-hewn timbers before they started construction on the lighthouse.
There was always one member of the crew on guard duty but there were no more issues with the Indians other than a few missing tools and supplies. On December 28, 1857 the first-order Louis Sauter Fresnel lens light was first illuminated in the sixty-six foot tower of Cape Flattery lighthouse. This tower was taller than most of the Cape-Cod-Style lighthouses. Its white light had a focal plane 162 feet above the sea. Cape Flattery lighthouse was the fourteenth established on the west coast. The pay for a lighthouse keeper was poor and the weather conditions were miserable.causing many keepers to resign. In 1861 there was a visitor to the island who saw the rundown condition of the lighthouse. He saw the leaky roof and the moss growing on inside walls. Wind even blew across the chimney causing smoke to invade the living quarters.
The keepers were provided with extra fuel and the district engineer was commanded to find a permanent solution. In 1873, after several years of deplorable conditions and inept keepers, the lighthouse dwelling was declared "not fit to be occupied" as the walls were moldy all year long. Congress appropriated $18,000 to build a new duplex with six rooms on each side. The rooms in the lighthouse which were formerly keepers quarters were now being used for storage. Some very interesting things happened on this island. Francis James was the first principal keeper. One day he became angry with an assistant and threw coffee in his face. The two men decided to settle the argument with a gunfight. They took three shots at each other, called it a draw and shook hands. Later, another assistant confessed to removing the bullets.
Due to the "frollicking" nature of the bachelor keepers it was decided that keepers with families were more dependable and in 1894, with families coming onto the island, it was determined that more living space was needed. and the lighthouse was once again made livable. October 27,1900 assistant keeper Nels Nelson and Frank Reif lost their lives in a small boat during a storm. Their bodies were found over a week later on Vancouver Island. In 1900 John W Cowan and his wife and seven children arrived at the lighthouse and stayed on for 32 years experiencing many exciting times. The children attended school in Portland while staying with relatives.
They spent the summers at home on the island with their parents. Eventually there were enough children on the island to warrant a school. On February 18, 1911 Cowan saw a vessel struggling in angry seas between Tatoosh Island and Neah Bay. He was able to rescue two navy radio men, but was unable to save three others including his own son Forrest. There is a story, not verified, that a seventy-mile-per-hour gale hit the island in 1921. It blew Mr. Cowan across the island for about 300 ft while he clung to vegetation before crawling to safety.
The family's bull was listed as "lost at sea". Everyone was very surprised and plied him with extra rations when he swam ashore. The Cowan family was evidently much beloved. When they left the island after retiring in September of 1932 their fellow islanders were in tears. Second Assistant Keeper Ole Rasmussen was another casualty while returning to the island in a small boat. Heavy swells capsized his craft and he was struck in the head.
The weather station was closed in 1966. 1977 brought automation of the light station. A modern beacon was installed to replace the tower's Fresnel lens in 1996 The Makah Indian Tribe now controls the decommissioned Cape Flattery Lighthouse and the island. It is well worth the trip to drive to Neah Bay, get out of the car and hike the o.75 miles to the tip of the cape where you can view Tatoosh Island and the lighthouse. This happens to be the western most point in the continental US.
There he met Tatooche, chief of the Makah Indians. He named the island after Chief Tatooche. The chief used the island as his base during summers when he hunted whales and caught salmon. In 1850 William McArthur had just finished surveying the west coast and recommended a lighthouse be established on Tatooche Island. In this way the vessels could enter the strait at night and not have to wait until daylight.
In 1854 Congress was convinced to allocate $39,000 to build lighthouses on Tatoosh Island and on New Dungeness Spit. The government had paid $30,000 for all of the Makah's traditional lands except for a small reservation at Neah Bay. The Makah Indians were quite angry with the white people who purchased their land and gave the construction crew a hostile reception. This was because several hundred of the Indians had been killed by an outbreak of smallpox in 1853 brought on by the disease bearing "Bostons". During the summer the Indians continued to use the island for fishing and whale hunting. In order to protect themselves the construction crew built a blockhouse of rough-hewn timbers before they started construction on the lighthouse.
There was always one member of the crew on guard duty but there were no more issues with the Indians other than a few missing tools and supplies. On December 28, 1857 the first-order Louis Sauter Fresnel lens light was first illuminated in the sixty-six foot tower of Cape Flattery lighthouse. This tower was taller than most of the Cape-Cod-Style lighthouses. Its white light had a focal plane 162 feet above the sea. Cape Flattery lighthouse was the fourteenth established on the west coast. The pay for a lighthouse keeper was poor and the weather conditions were miserable.causing many keepers to resign. In 1861 there was a visitor to the island who saw the rundown condition of the lighthouse. He saw the leaky roof and the moss growing on inside walls. Wind even blew across the chimney causing smoke to invade the living quarters.
The keepers were provided with extra fuel and the district engineer was commanded to find a permanent solution. In 1873, after several years of deplorable conditions and inept keepers, the lighthouse dwelling was declared "not fit to be occupied" as the walls were moldy all year long. Congress appropriated $18,000 to build a new duplex with six rooms on each side. The rooms in the lighthouse which were formerly keepers quarters were now being used for storage. Some very interesting things happened on this island. Francis James was the first principal keeper. One day he became angry with an assistant and threw coffee in his face. The two men decided to settle the argument with a gunfight. They took three shots at each other, called it a draw and shook hands. Later, another assistant confessed to removing the bullets.
Due to the "frollicking" nature of the bachelor keepers it was decided that keepers with families were more dependable and in 1894, with families coming onto the island, it was determined that more living space was needed. and the lighthouse was once again made livable. October 27,1900 assistant keeper Nels Nelson and Frank Reif lost their lives in a small boat during a storm. Their bodies were found over a week later on Vancouver Island. In 1900 John W Cowan and his wife and seven children arrived at the lighthouse and stayed on for 32 years experiencing many exciting times. The children attended school in Portland while staying with relatives.
They spent the summers at home on the island with their parents. Eventually there were enough children on the island to warrant a school. On February 18, 1911 Cowan saw a vessel struggling in angry seas between Tatoosh Island and Neah Bay. He was able to rescue two navy radio men, but was unable to save three others including his own son Forrest. There is a story, not verified, that a seventy-mile-per-hour gale hit the island in 1921. It blew Mr. Cowan across the island for about 300 ft while he clung to vegetation before crawling to safety.
The family's bull was listed as "lost at sea". Everyone was very surprised and plied him with extra rations when he swam ashore. The Cowan family was evidently much beloved. When they left the island after retiring in September of 1932 their fellow islanders were in tears. Second Assistant Keeper Ole Rasmussen was another casualty while returning to the island in a small boat. Heavy swells capsized his craft and he was struck in the head.
The weather station was closed in 1966. 1977 brought automation of the light station. A modern beacon was installed to replace the tower's Fresnel lens in 1996 The Makah Indian Tribe now controls the decommissioned Cape Flattery Lighthouse and the island. It is well worth the trip to drive to Neah Bay, get out of the car and hike the o.75 miles to the tip of the cape where you can view Tatoosh Island and the lighthouse. This happens to be the western most point in the continental US.
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