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Winnipeg
May 2, 2017
May 9, 2017
Prometheus Film Included Stunning Landscapes of Iceland
Exterior shots of the alien world were shot in Iceland, where filming occurred for two weeks. It commenced on July 11, 2011, at the base of Hekla, an active volcano in southern Iceland. Speaking about working at the volcano, Scott said, “If one is afraid of nature in this profession then it would be best to find a different job”. Filming also took place at Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.
Scott said that the filming in Iceland comprised approximately fifteen minutes of footage for the film, and that the area represented the beginning of time. Morocco had been chosen as a location for these scenes, but the 2010 Arab Spring protests forced the change of venue. Alternatives including the Mojave Desert had been considered, but Scott explained that Iceland was ultimately chosen because “here it is so rough and ‘Jurassic-like’ and that proved decisive”.
Dettifoss Waterfall used in the opening scene
From the film, an ‘Engineer’ on the edge of the Falls.
Aerial shot from an early sequence in the film
This background landscape is actually Jordan. I had to include it because it is so cool. Other geographical locations included Scotland and Spain.
Amazing Iceland landscapes
Northern Lights
Seclusion
Ten Drugs You Should Not Take While Driving
Klebstoff – Glue
Alle Zusammen – All together
Images that attract your attention
Ancient meets modernity over Burma
What’s cooking?
U.S. bombing of Tora Bora, Afghanistan 2001. Bin Laden was holed up in the cave complex. Bin Laden’s beard turned white after the 4 days of continuous bombing.
Chicago Lightning
Crater Lake, Oregon
Quebec floods
Protesters in Montreal taunting the police with donuts
Clouds that look like waves
Now this is an office
Ice road
Wheel barrow of puppies
Hotel in Russia
Weather station in Switzerland
Oregon farmland
Moscow
Babe Ruth knocked out cold after chasing a ball into the fence
Manhole in Holland
Cockpit of a Harrier jet on a British carrier
Los Angeles freeway spaghetti
Hen soothing scared kittens during a thunder storm
The Vertical Forest of Milan
Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) is a pair of residential towers in the Porta Nuova district of Milan, Italy, between Via Gaetano de Castillia and Via Federico Confalonieri near Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station. They have a height of 110 metres (360 ft) and 76 metres (249 ft) and will host more than 900 trees (approximately 550 and 350 trees in the first and second towers respectively) on 8,900 square metres (96,000 sq ft) of terraces. Within the complex is also an 11-story office building; its facade does not host plants.
The towers were designed by Boeri Studio (Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca and Giovanni La Varra). It also involved input from horticulturalists and botanists.
The building was inaugurated in October 2014.
The project was designed as part of the rehabilitation of the historic district of Milan between Via De Castillia and Confalonieri. It consists of two residential towers of which the largest is 26 floors and 110 meters high (called Torre E) and the smaller tower is 18 floors and 76 meters high (called Torre D). It contains 400 condominium units priced from 3,000 – 12,000 Euro per square metre.
It is called Bosco Verticale because each tower houses trees between three and six meters which help mitigate smog and produce oxygen. It is also used to moderate temperatures in the building in the winter and summer. The plants also attenuate noise. The design was tested in a wind tunnel to ensure the trees would not topple from gusts of wind. Botanists and horticulturalists were consulted by the engineering team to ensure that the structure could bear the load imposed by the plants. The steel-reinforced concrete balconies are designed to be 28 cm thick, with 1.30 metre parapets.
The construction of the towers began in late 2009 and early 2010, involving 6,000 onsite construction workers. Between mid-2010 and early 2011 construction progressed very slowly and the towers rose by only five floors while the core rose to the seventh floor. Construction progressed throughout 2011, and by the beginning of 2012 the structures were completed, and construction of the facades and installation of the plants began on 13 June 2012. The building was inaugurated in October 2014.
On April 11, 2012, one of the buildings was used as a temporary art gallery and opened to the public for an art exhibition hosted during Milan Fashion Week.
The two buildings have 730 trees (480 large, 250 small), 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 perennials and groundcover on its facades. The original design had specified 1,280 tall plants and 920 short plants encompassing 50 species. Overall, the vegetation is the equivalent of that found in a one hectare woodlot. The innovative use of heat-pump technology is helping to slash heating and cooling costs.
On November 19, 2014, Bosco Verticale won the International Highrise Award, prestigious international competition bestowed every two years, honouring excellence in recently constructed buildings that stand a minimum of 100 meters (328 feet) tall. The five finalists were selected from 26 nominees in 17 countries.
On the 12th of November 2015, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards Jury selected Bosco Verticale, Milan, as the overall “2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide” at the 14th Annual CTBUH International Best Tall Building Awards Symposium, Ceremony & Dinner, celebrated at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
Gardeners rappel down ropes
US Air Force’s secretive space plane lands after two years in orbit
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-4), an unmanned, reusable space plane operated by the US Air Force, has landed at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida after two years in orbit.
US Air Force officials confirmed the craft’s landing and said they were “excited about the data gathered”.
According to a press release, the programme is designed to experiment on and develop reusable space vehicles.
But what the OTV-4 has been doing for the last 24 months isn’t clear.
“The hard work of the X-37B OTV team and the 45th Space Wing successfully demonstrated the flexibility and resolve necessary to continue the nation’s advancement in space,” said Randy Walden, the director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
| Role | Unmanned spaceplane |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
| First flight | 7 April 2006 (first drop test) |
| Introduction | 22 April 2010 (first spaceflight) |
| Status |
|
| Primary user |
|
| Number built |
|
| Developed from | Boeing X-40 |
“The ability to land, refurbish, and launch from the same location further enhances the OTV’s ability to rapidly integrate and qualify new space technologies.”
Because the X-37B started life as a Nasa programme, the Air Force is in a position to talk openly about the craft’s design but its precise purpose remains classified.
Back in 2010, when the vehicle was first launched, Gary Payton, the Air Force’s deputy undersecretary for space programmes, tried to calm worries about the potential weaponisation of space.
“I don’t know how this could be called weaponisation of space. It’s just an updated version of the space shuttle type of activities in space,” he said.
“We, the Air Force, have a suite of military missions in space and this new vehicle could potentially help us do those missions better.”
Given that its landing on Sunday caused a sonic boom, waking residents in central Florida, it would be hard for US Air Force officials to deny something had happened.
“Today marks an incredibly exciting day for the 45th Space Wing as we continue to break barriers,” said Brig Gen Wayne Monteith, the 45th SW commander.
“Our team has been preparing for this event for several years, and I am extremely proud to see our hard work and dedication culminate in today’s safe and successful landing of the X-37B.”
General characteristics
Crew: none
Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
Wingspan: 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Max takeoff weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Electrical power: Gallium arsenide solar cells with lithium-ion batteries
Payload bay: 7 × 4 ft (2.1 × 1.2 m)
Performance
Orbital speed: 28,044 km/h (17,426 mph)
Orbit: Low Earth orbit
Orbital time: 270 days (design)
Prince Philip Retiring from Public Life at 96
Prince Philip will retire this fall from his royal duties, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday.
Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, will attend previously scheduled engagements until August, but won’t accept invitations after that, a palace spokesman said, adding the decision was made by the 95-year-old Duke of Edinburgh and supported by the queen. Elizabeth, who is 91, “will continue to carry out a full program of official engagements,” the statement said.
Philip is known for both his off-the-cuff remarks and his sometimes embarrassing gaffes. At an event in London on Wednesday, he referred to himself as the “world’s most experienced plaque unveiler.”
Some of his best quotes:
To President of Nigeria, who was in national dress, 2003: “You look like you’re ready for bed!”
His description of Beijing, during a visit there in 1986: “Ghastly.”
To a tourist in Budapest in 1993: “You can’t have been here long, you haven’t got a pot belly.”
On the Duke of York’s house, 1986: “It looks like a tart’s bedroom.”
On the 1981 recession: “A few years ago, everybody was saying we must have more leisure, everyone’s working too much. Now everybody’s got more leisure time they’re complaining they’re unemployed. People don’t seem to make up their minds what they want.”
On Tom Jones, 1969: “It’s difficult to see how it’s possible to become immensely valuable by singing what are the most hideous songs.”
To then Paraguay dictator General Stroessner: “It’s a pleasure to be in a country that isn’t ruled by its people.”
To Scottish driving instructor, 1995: “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?”
To Susan Edwards and her guide dog in 2002: “They have eating dogs for the anorexic now.”
On Princess Anne, 1970: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested.”
History of the MGM Lion
“Since 1924, there have been around five different lions used for the MGM logo”
– Wikipedia
Slats (1916-1928)
Jackie (1928-1956; black and white)
Coffee (1932-1935; Technicolor tests)
Tanner (1934-1956; Technicolor)
George (1956-1958)
Leo (1957-today)
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