Tagged With "Changing of the Guard"
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 11, 2014: Please Close the Gate.
Well, leaving aside anyone's feelings about royalty or whatever (play nice, everyone!), someone has to do the chores and mopping up, and the gatekeeper above is not alone in that...this picture is from the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace ("Christopher Robin went down with Alice...") After the impressive parade and band performance, this fellow and two or three others were left behind to store the music stands...
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Re: Swiss wine-growers look for good news in climate change
"The NASA Earth Observatory notes three particularly cold intervals: one beginning about 1650, another about 1770, and the last in 1850, each separated by intervals of slight warming" Swiss Farms and Villages were destroyed by the advancing glaciers during the mini-ice ages. 1.6C is not a great recovery in 100 years.
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
Climate change "experts" are saying that: "Antarctica’s massive stores of ice are likely to melt as the planet warms and contribute ever greater amounts of water to the world’s oceans." But the facts are: "The winter ice around the southern continent has been growing relatively constantly since records began in 1979. The US National Snow and Ice Data Centre, which monitors sea ice using satellite data, say that the year’s maximum was 1.54m sq km (595,000 sq miles) above the 1981-2010...
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
Garry, aside from the fact that climate change involves far more than the question of polar ice caps, we're not in huge disagreement, I think. 1. Climate change is a more accurate term than global warming, because it's not all about warming, and in some cases the change brings colder rather than warmer. 2. The effects are not the same everywhere, nor are they always immediately harmful. It is possible for one area to be threatened with inundation while another benefits from a return of...
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
Not in disagreement at all Paul. Just a mention that climate change is not all bad news. And an option to some folks that wonder where all that melted ice is going to. It's been another winter when the Jet Stream has kept the UK warm and the Eastern States frozen. So there's a lot more water to come down from the Ice Cap yet !
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
The issue of what we can do about the "world's changing climate" aside, when I look at a massive stone structure like the one in the photo and realize it's sitting essentially on a sand bar (which is what most of Florida is), I'm not surprised that it might actually be slowly settling and sinking. Just like Venice is. Venice has serious problems but these are mostly due to the fact that the entire city is sinking.
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
50 years ago this area of Liverpool UK was underwater twice a day. Every tide. And storms would cause the land to flood half a mile inland. So this area is now a man made construction. Sand hills cover the solid foundation. Marrem grass has roots that bind the sand together. And it works. Copied off the Netherlands where much of the land is below sea level all year.
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Re: A Bicycle Rickshaw Ride in Old Delhi
Few things in life are as comprehensively stimulating as old Delhi. The relative leisure of a cycle rickshaw allows you to take in so much more as on foot you would be constantly on guard against breaking your neck stepping into a manhole or a ripe pile of garbage. Believe me, in India, if it is in the garbage it is of no conceivable use.
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Re: Classic American Cars #7
The side trim threw me for a loop. After I stared at it for a while, I came to the conclusion that at least part of it had been taken from a 4-door. On the 2-doors that used that type of trim, it ended near the back of the doors. 4-doors got a small additional piece for the rear doors which appears to have been added to this one. Also, the trim piece on the door doesn't taper at the back, which makes me wonder if it isn't a 4-door piece, too. My final trim note is that there is a 'script'...
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Re: Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave
Amazing story indeed. I've heard many recollections from veterans of WW2 and all of them beyond belief. When I was a schoolboy (in England) my Math Teacher was in the real "Great Escape" in 1944 and told us boys stories to make your hair stand up ! But when he told us of the Germans making an "example" of repeat escapees his eyes were full of the horrors of war. Then we'd get back to the Math lesson. "Tomorrow we'll found out how we hid the guard dogs!"
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Re: Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave
Just having lunch - what subject you interested in ? Prison Camps, What was untrue in the Great Escape or what was true ? Vanishing guard dogs ?
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
Won't the beaches just move inland too?
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
What! and spoil my headline? Seriously, though, not necessarily. The deposit of sand and similar materials is a longer process than is being discussed here, and the new shorelines would be quite different, at least for a long time.
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
I am not smart enough to know what the correct temperature or ocean level of the earth should be.
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
So many resorts truck in their "beaches", it may turn out to be more an excuse to build new fancier versions of themselves than the prospect of their disappearance. Where there's a will...and you know there is!
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
When the Vikings first discovered Greenland a thousand years ago they wrote of a "Green and pleasant land with pastures, cows and animals". Now its a frozen wasteland ! In 1817 the wine producers of North Yorkshire (England) abolished their trade association as summers were becoming too cold to grow grapes. They've never grown grapes since ! This time last year we were digging the snow out. Today is 68f and sunny. Climate change doesn't go away. Ever.
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
No, climate change doesn't go away...but until the last century, we lacked the ability to really push it in one direction or another. The issue these years is not the natural progression but the degree to which our emissions and more have upset the balance. On the one hand, I won't be around to see how it all comes out...but I'm concerned because my grandchildren will be!
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
I do not believe that the burning of fossils fuels has any effect on the direction of the Jet Stream. Which in turn controls the weather around the world. I do believe that the Petro-Chemical Refineries from the New Jersey coast and further south releasing tons of nasty unwanted chemicals into the atmosphere does have a big effect on the de-forestation of Europe with acid rain. They release this gas when the wind is blowing east across the Atlantic. And when the wind suddenly changes the...
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
While I certainly agree with you about the refineries (remember how close to some of them I live) the jetstream is hardly the only factor involved in weather and climate. I'm not best equipped to explain more...that's the domain of my wife the science teacher...but it's clear there's a scary future ahead...
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Re: When there are no more beaches, will we all head for the hills?
The Jet Stream is responsible for the California drought. The Polar Vortex you've been suffering from - and for the UK not having frosty weather since last November. English strawberries in Winter and de-icing salt being 15cents for a 10 kilo sack ! Its not yet April and I've cut the grass twice ! Blame it all on the Jet Stream.
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Re: Don't Expect Things to Work Like Home
Sounds like the unplanned cultural excursion that I prefer. I hate being shoulder to shoulder when its peak time. So like you I go the opposite way to the rush. Good pix too ....
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Re: Don't Expect Things to Work Like Home
It's been long enough since my residence in PR that I seem to be craving a trip back. Having lived in Isla Verde & Santurce, I've wanted to return for a stay in Old San Juan. You've just added fuel to that desire, JL.
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Re: Don't Expect Things to Work Like Home
Garry and PM You are right, I hate being caught in crowds - it's why I have spent 1.5 weeks in Florence and I have never been to the Uffizi. I look for the smaller museums and out of the way towns. That is my favorite way to travel.
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Re: Don't Expect Things to Work Like Home
Hello Jonathan L, What a day! Sounds like a case where changing horses midstream is a good thing. I guess that's what traveling is all about. Taking the good with the bad and expect the unexpected. Cruise ships can be a nuisance especially when they unload all their passengers on unsuspecting adventurers like yourself. Glad to hear it worked okay in the end. Love the pics too.
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Re: Don't Expect Things to Work Like Home
Old San Juan is my February destination for next year, so thanks for the preview! I hope you'll be writing more about it in coming months...
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The Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset
Almost unsure whether this constitutes a Travel Gumbo "travel" post, I press ahead with my submission and await rapped knuckles from the Senior Gurus! But, first I will bring the big guns to bear with the help of Brad Pitt and his Sherman tank from...
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The Sunshine Skyway Bridge – The Creepy and the Miraculous
If you follow Interstate 275 south through the city of St. Petersburg, Florida until you run out of land, you’ll be greeted by a gentle slope of road that seemingly rises from the waters of the Tampa Bay. This...
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Ottawa – NOT the coldest Capital in the world!
Ottawa is a vibrant and charming small city — so pleasant that it’s hard to believe it’s home to soooo many politicians. Of the national capitals I've visited, Ottawa seems the most livable to me (ie. if...
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Quebec — A Walled European Fortress In America
Quebec, like New York, is both a city and a state (or rather, a province). It’s an island of French heritage and culture within our Anglo-North American continent. We combined this visit with stops in Montreal and...
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Old San Juan: Beautiful...and not all old
San Juan, Puerto Rico is a city of contrasts, of modern skyscrapers, crowded residential areas of different eras, resort hotels and casinos along Condado, and much more...but the image that usually comes to mind is really that of Old San Juan, the...
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Very successful and equally unpopular
US airlines collected a staggering US$6.4 billion in baggage and trip change fees in 2014. Baggage fees increased 5.3% in 2014 to $3.5 billion, with Delta leading the pack at $875 million dollars. Change fees increased 5.7% in 2014...
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Florida warned: take action against future flooding
17th c. Castillo de San Marcos, guarding America's oldest city, may be endangered by rising waters. With all the jokes about earthquakes in California creating ocean-front lots in Nevada, it's easy to forget that things are changing in numbers...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 31, 2015: After the Guard has changed...
When AA Milne wrote They're changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace; Christopher Robin went down with Alice. Alice is marrying one of the Guard: "A soldier's life...
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Government St., Mobile: A Great Historic Street (Pt. 1)
I haven't heard anybody else say this, especially in the local area, but Government Street in Mobile, Alabama is one the most spectacular historic streets in the world, even today. I had a chance to walk a good portion of Government St. in March of...
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The Sunshine Skyway Bridge – The Creepy and the Miraculous
By JP Chartier If you follow Interstate 275 south through the city of St. Petersburg, Florida until you run out of land, you’ll be greeted by a gentle slope of road that seemingly rises from the waters of the Tampa Bay. This...
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Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is one of the most desolate place I have been. Others include central Greenland and the Dead Sea. Death Valley is the lowest place in the western hemisphere at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level. The Dead Sea in Israel is 1,370...
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A Day in Ponce, Puerto Rico (Where Gumbo Was #87)
On our second-to-last day in Puerto Rico, we headed to the south shore of the island, to the city of Ponce. It's smaller than San Juan, has less tourist traffic—all that, and yet it considers itself the cultural equal of the capital or of...
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May 25, 2017: Superior Entry Lighthouse, Superior, Wisconsin
This interesting and attractive lighthouse has stood guard protecting ships entering and exiting Superior Bay since 1913.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey: Istanbul to Sofia
Wilbur's exotic train journeys continue, today with stops in Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Meteora (Kalambaka), Skopje, Niš, ending in Sofia. If you love train travel stories, you'll love this post.
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Grand Marais, Minnesota (Where Gumbo was #222)
Gumbo was visiting the popular town of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Superior, it's a great place for people who like to boat, kayak, sail, fish or explore nature.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey: Zagreb to Veliko Tărnovo
Wilbur's train journeys around Eastern Europe continue, this week with stops in Zagreb, Split, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Sofia, and Veliko Tărnovo
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So, what’s it worth ?
Bob Cranwell shares a discussion and thoughts on the value of things using a memorable experience in Yemen.
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July 22, 2017: Comic statues, Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava has its serious monuments, but there's still room for some with fun and attitude.
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Small Museums of New York State
While driving across New York following the Erie Canal, Jonathan L had the opportunity to stop at some of the smaller museums that are often missed by tourists.
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Diamond Head State Monument, Oahu (Where Gumbo Was #230)
Gumbo was visiting Oahu's most famous landmark, Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater adjoining Honolulu. Our puzzle clues took us up the path to the rim of the crater, with its splendid views of Oahu and especially Waikiki beach.
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Royal Caribbean adds lifeguards to pools
Royal Caribbean becomes the first major cruise operator to hire full-time lifeguards for its pools.
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Luray Valley Museum, Virginia
George G takes us on a tour of the museum that was the site for last week's Where In The World puzzle.
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Ends of the Line: Taking the #1 Train, NYC
Every New York subway line has its own character; Jonathan L begins an exploration of what's at their ends, starting with his home line.
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Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters
DrFumblefinger visits the historic Key West lighthouse, the tallest point on that island.
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Tips for Your First White Water Rafting Trip
Darren shares some reasons and background on whitewater rafting (sponsored content)