tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9466902529380307812024-03-14T02:38:15.739-07:00Natural born explorersMarcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-80527575236843867892012-04-29T20:49:00.001-07:002012-08-11T20:15:58.501-07:00if the United States were independent European countries ...<h1>
US vs. EU</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lets for a moment assume that the United States do not function as one country but are somewhat similar
to the European Union. In such a case we could compare the individual states of the US as independent countries to members of the EU. We will do the comparison to have a rough estimate of quality of
economies of individual states, if they were to function as independent countries. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How to estimate who is important? </b>We will take a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a main and the only indicator. We will take the GDP of individual states of the US and calculate what fraction of the total US GDP they are. The same procedure we will apply to the European Union. This will give us an estimate of how important is the economy of that state/EU member for the total GDP of the US or EU. Why not just look at the total numbers? It would give us the same information, however, fractions are easier to look at. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Who is who?</b> To roughly compare states to countries we will look at the individual GDP numbers. We will restrict the list to 10 richest states from the US. The direct match of the GDPs is not possible, therefore we will choose country with GDP closest to a given state, possibly rounding in favor of the state. </div>
<h1>
The United States</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the picture bellow, we present contribution of the states economies to the total GDP of the US. 10 states that contribute the most, are California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, and give together a bit more than 50% of the total US GDP. Other half divides among the other 40 states. California has significantly higher GDP that any other states and is only slightly smaller than sum of the GDPs of Texas and New York together. Although we restrict our list to 10 states, the last state from our list (North Carolina) has very similar GDP contribution as few following states (Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHengmdcaVA/T1L1BX3ByyI/AAAAAAAAKWo/sIMKxmNgSQ4/s1600/us-gdp-by-state.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHengmdcaVA/T1L1BX3ByyI/AAAAAAAAKWo/sIMKxmNgSQ4/s640/us-gdp-by-state.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Unites States GDP for individual states as a contribution to the total US GDP. Fraction of the total US GDP<br />
per state was taken from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_GDP" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> and refers to 2010.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
European Union</h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IttfZzJG8k/T1L0Y0CQZyI/AAAAAAAAKWg/LguJ2f61xq4/s1600/european-union-total-gdb-divided-by-fraction.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IttfZzJG8k/T1L0Y0CQZyI/AAAAAAAAKWg/LguJ2f61xq4/s400/european-union-total-gdb-divided-by-fraction.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GDP of the European Union divided into member countries. <br />
Data taken from <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/" target="_blank">World Bank</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Similar comparison for members of the European Union shows that first ten largest contributors sum up to more than 75% of the total GDP of EU. From 27 member countries the first 10 are Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden and Austria.<br />
<br />
Germany and France together contribute in approximately 1/3 of the total GDP. Including in that list the UK, the total contribution of the three countries is approximately 50% of the total EUs GDP. On the other side, Germany contribute to the EU GDPs approximately the same as 17 counties (whole EU not including 10 countries mentioned before).</div>
<h1>
Who is who</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To summarize first 10 highest contributors to the total US and EU GDPs in the table below
we list 10 US states and 10 EU countries along with their GDP (in Million US dollars).
</div>
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">The United States </td><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">European Union</td></tr>
<tr><td style="vertical-align: middle;">US #</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">US State</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
GDP </div>
(Millions USD)</td>
<td style="vertical-align: middle;">EU #</td><td style="vertical-align: middle;">Country</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
GDP </div>
(Millions USD)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>California</td><td>1,936,400 </td><td>1</td><td>Germany</td><td>3,280,530</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Texas</td><td>1,207,432 </td><td>2</td><td>France</td><td>2,560,002</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>New York</td><td>1,156,500</td><td>3</td><td>UK</td><td>2,261,713</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Florida</td><td>754,000</td><td>4</td><td>Italy</td><td>2,060,965</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>Illinois</td><td>644,200</td><td>5</td><td>Spain</td><td>1,407,405</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td>575,600</td><td>6</td><td>Netherlands</td><td>779,356</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>497,000</td><td>7</td><td>Poland</td><td>469,440</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Ohio</td><td>483,400</td><td>8</td><td>Belgium</td><td>469,374</td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>Virginia</td><td>427,700</td><td>9</td><td>Sweden</td><td>458,551</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>407,400</td><td>10</td><td>Austria</td><td>379,069</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let us try to select one or combination of counties that economy (in terms of GDP) are roughly representing the GDP of a given US state. The largest EU countries must however stay off the comparison, the first EU country that approximately has the same GDP as California is Italy (the fourth EU economy). Below we compare the first 10 US states to EU countries.</div>
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">US #</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">US State</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">EU Country</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>California</td><td>Italy</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Texas</td><td>Spain</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>New York</td><td>Spain</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Florida</td><td>Netherlands</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>Illinois</td><td>Netherlands</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td>Poland + Hungary (598,071 Million USD)</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>Austria + Hungary (507,700 Million USD)</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Ohio</td><td>Austria + Hungary</td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>Virginia</td><td>Poland</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Summarizing the comparison, California being an independent country would correspond in the strength of its economy to Italy. Texas and New York, both approximately match Spain. Florida and Illinois match GDP of Netherlands. For Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio we combined two
EU countries to slightly overestimate the GDP of the states and assigned them to economies of Poland and Hungary for Pennsylvania and Austria and Hungary for both New Jersey and Ohio. The last two of the first 10 US states, Virginia and North Carolina, approximately correspond to economies of Poland and Sweden respectively. The comparison is of course very approximate.
</div>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-33832955993958236062012-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:002012-05-19T09:07:40.904-07:00most common North American birds<h1>
Blue Jay</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blue Jays are native to North America and are common in eastern US and Canada. Male and female are
very similar and are light blue with white bellies. Coloring is caused by light interference not a diet like in many birds. Blue Jays mainly eat nuts and soft fruit. Both, male and females, build the round and open nest. Birds name comes from its noisy nature. It may be aggressive to people approaching the nest. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blue Jays are 20-25 cm long and have crest on their heads which appearance depends on the birds mood. Four subspecies were distinguished: northern, coastal, interior and Florida Blue Jays. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABluejay_(Cyanocitta_cristata)_(1547)_-_Relic38.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Darren Swim (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata) (1547) - Relic38" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Bluejay_%28Cyanocitta_cristata%29_%281547%29_-_Relic38.jpg/256px-Bluejay_%28Cyanocitta_cristata%29_%281547%29_-_Relic38.jpg" width="170" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABlue_Jay_2010-05-09.jpg" title="By Letartean (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Blue Jay 2010-05-09" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Blue_Jay_2010-05-09.jpg/256px-Blue_Jay_2010-05-09.jpg" width="170" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABlue_Jay_in_Flight.jpg" title="By Todd Hartz (Flickr: Blue Jay in Flight) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Blue Jay in Flight" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Blue_Jay_in_Flight.jpg/256px-Blue_Jay_in_Flight.jpg" width="170" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Blue Jay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Northern Cardinal</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cardinal is a small, around 20 cm long, bird with a characteristic bright red color feathers
in males. Female is similar in size, but light grey-brownish. Cardinals eat mainly seeds, insects and fruit. Male cardinal marks his territory singing. Male, in characteristic way, feeds female during courtship. Both, male and female, are of similar colors to adult female when they are chicks. Chicks grow adult feathers in the fall.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In past, it has been sold as a cage bird, however, it has been forbidden since 1918. Northern cardinal is common to eastern part of the Canada, US and Mexico. Cardinal is a state bird of several states in the US (North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia). </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANorthern_Cardinal_Male-27527-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Northern Cardinal Male-27527-2" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Northern_Cardinal_Male-27527-2.jpg/256px-Northern_Cardinal_Male-27527-2.jpg" width="145" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANorthern_Cardinal.jpg" title="By Texaslorarend (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Northern Cardinal" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Northern_Cardinal.jpg/256px-Northern_Cardinal.jpg" width="210" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFemale_Cardinal.jpg" title="Manjith Kainickara at ml.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Female Cardinal" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Female_Cardinal.jpg/128px-Female_Cardinal.jpg" width="120" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Northern Cardinal, male (left and middle) and female (right). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Mallard Duck</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mallard Duck is the most common duck in the northern hemisphere, outside of North America, Europe and Asia it
has been introduced to Australia and New Zeeland. Male and female Mallard Duck differ in colors, but are the same size. Male Mallard has green or blue head and grey and brown body with blue stipes on the wings. Female has light brown and grey feathers with blue stripes on wings. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMale_mallard_duck_on_a_lake_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Autor: Bert de Tilly (Praca własna) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], undefined"><img alt="Male mallard duck on a lake 3" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Male_mallard_duck_on_a_lake_3.jpg/256px-Male_mallard_duck_on_a_lake_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AA_Mallard_duck_airs_its_wing_feathers.jpg" title="Autor: Stephen Heron [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], undefined"><img alt="A Mallard duck airs its wing feathers" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/A_Mallard_duck_airs_its_wing_feathers.jpg/256px-A_Mallard_duck_airs_its_wing_feathers.jpg" width="155" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALanding_mallard_drake.jpg" title="Autor: Keith (Flickr: DSC06490) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], undefined"><img alt="Landing mallard drake" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Landing_mallard_drake.jpg/256px-Landing_mallard_drake.jpg" width="175" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Mallard duck, male (right and left) and female (middle).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many common domestic ducks originated from Mallard Ducks. The Mallard is around 50-65 cm long. Mallards reach adulthood at 14 months and live up to 20 years. Ducklings are yellow and initially become similar in colors to female. </div>
<h1>
Common Grackle</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Common Grackle is a small, about 30 cm long, black bird with distinctive blueish head. Male and female are similar, with female being a bit smaller and less iridescence. Common Grackle is native to the eastern and central North America. Grackles eat insects, frogs, berries, seeds and grain. Grackles often nest in large colonies. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGrackle_in_my_garden.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By GeoffClarke[see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Grackle in my garden" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Grackle_in_my_garden.jpg/256px-Grackle_in_my_garden.jpg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AQuiscalus_quiscula_-Delaware_-USA-8.jpg" title="Autor: Pheanix (originally posted to Flickr as Common Grackle) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], undefined"><img alt="Quiscalus quiscula -Delaware -USA-8" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Quiscalus_quiscula_-Delaware_-USA-8.jpg/256px-Quiscalus_quiscula_-Delaware_-USA-8.jpg" width="160" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACommon_Grackle_male_RWD.jpg" title="Autor: DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) (Praca własna) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) lub GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], undefined"><img alt="Common Grackle male RWD" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Common_Grackle_male_RWD.jpg/256px-Common_Grackle_male_RWD.jpg" width="180" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Common Grackle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Grackle is often considered a pest. Despite a decent current population the number of Grackles decreased
over 60% during last decades.<br />
<h1>
European Starling</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
European Starling is a small blackish bird with characteristic light "V" shape spots present in a winter
plumage. Male and female are similar with male being less spotted. Starlings mimic voices and in captivity learn to imitate sounds and speech.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEuropean_Startling_(Sturnus_vulgaris)_RWD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="European Startling (Sturnus vulgaris) RWD" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/European_Startling_%28Sturnus_vulgaris%29_RWD.jpg/256px-European_Startling_%28Sturnus_vulgaris%29_RWD.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASturnus_vulgaris.jpg" title="By Andreas Trepte (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Sturnus vulgaris" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Sturnus_vulgaris.jpg/256px-Sturnus_vulgaris.jpg" width="115" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEstorninopinto.jpg" title="By LUZMARIA (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Estorninopinto" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Estorninopinto.jpg/256px-Estorninopinto.jpg" width="180" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">European starling in the winter plumage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Starlings are not native to North America and have been introduced there at late XIX century by Shakespeare
lovers that tried to introduce in the US every bird mentioned in his plays. Starlings are considered agressive and are threats to air traffic.
</div>
<h1>
American Robin</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Robin is a very common songbird with red-orange belly and grey back. Robins eat mostly insects, fruit and berries. Although Robins are present in the US territory year-round, they migrate south for winter. Robin is around 25 cm long. Male and female Robins are similar. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Robin was chosen to be a state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin. In XIX century, Robins were hunted for meat. Now Robins are protected although not endangered. American Robins have been observed to migrate east and several of them were reported in UK. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAmerican_Robin_0026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Ltshears (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="American Robin 0026" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/American_Robin_0026.jpg/256px-American_Robin_0026.jpg" width="210" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAmerican_Robin-27527.jpg" title="By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="American Robin-27527" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/American_Robin-27527.jpg/256px-American_Robin-27527.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAmerican_robin.jpg" title="By Sujit kumar (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="American robin" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/American_robin.jpg/128px-American_robin.jpg" width="115" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">American Robin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
American Goldfinch</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
American Goldfinch is about 10-13 cm long, bright yellow-black bird. Male is much more vibrant in colors than female. Both male and female have black wings with a white stripe. American Goldfinch is common to south Canada and the US. Goldfinch migrates south for winter. Goldfinches shed feathers twice a year. Summer plumage is more bright. Female builds a nest during late summer. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
American Goldfinch is a state bird of Iowa, New Jersey and Washington.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAmerican_Goldfinch-27527.jpg" title="By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="American Goldfinch-27527" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/American_Goldfinch-27527.jpg/256px-American_Goldfinch-27527.jpg" width="198" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACarduelis_tristis_CT.jpg" title="By Cephas (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Carduelis tristis CT" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Carduelis_tristis_CT.jpg/256px-Carduelis_tristis_CT.jpg" width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACarduelis-tristis-002.jpg" title="By Mdf (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Carduelis-tristis-002" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Carduelis-tristis-002.jpg/256px-Carduelis-tristis-002.jpg" width="122" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">American Goldfinch, male and female on the left, male only on the middle and right pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Canada Goose</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Canada Goose is a large, 75 - 110 cm long, goose native to North America. Canada Goose has been also introduced to the Northern Europe and New Zeeland. Distinctive black neck and white chin is common for males and females. Goslings are yellow. Smaller Cackling Goose has similar plumage and sometimes may be taken as a small Canada Goose. Geese migrate in characteristic "V" shape formations from Canada to the US. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Canada Goose is a serious threat to air traffic and has caused plane crushes in the past. Canada Geese introduced in New Zeeland have become a serious problem and since 2011 they are not protected. However, the US and Canada population suffered serious decline in the population at the beginning of XX century caused by overhunting. Birds reach naturally northern Europe and Siberia. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACanada_goose_flight_cropped_and_NR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Image taken bu Alan D. Wilson, and modified by Diliff (cropped and noise reduction applied). (Image:Canada goose flight - natures pics.jpg) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Canada goose flight cropped and NR" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Canada_goose_flight_cropped_and_NR.jpg/256px-Canada_goose_flight_cropped_and_NR.jpg" width="244" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACanadian_geese.jpg" title="By Brocken Inaglory (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Canadian geese" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Canadian_geese.jpg/256px-Canadian_geese.jpg" width="190" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACanada_goose_093.JPG" title="By Ginkgo100 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Canada goose 093" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Canada_goose_093.JPG/128px-Canada_goose_093.JPG" width="95" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Canada Goose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
House Finch</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
House Finch is a small, about 15 cm long, singing bird. Adult male differs from a female in plumage. Males
feathers are colored red (head, belly and shoulders), rarely yellow. Female is gray. Coloration is caused by type of diet. House Finches eat mainly grains, seeds, fruit and berries (the type of berries dictates color of plumage).
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACarpodacus_mexicanus_-Madison%2C_Wisconsin%2C_USA-8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By John Benson from Madison WI (Another House Finch Uploaded by snowmanradio) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Carpodacus mexicanus -Madison, Wisconsin, USA-8" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Carpodacus_mexicanus_-Madison%2C_Wisconsin%2C_USA-8.jpg/256px-Carpodacus_mexicanus_-Madison%2C_Wisconsin%2C_USA-8.jpg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFemale_house_finch_carpodacus_mexicanus.jpg" title="By Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com (Own work) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Female house finch carpodacus mexicanus" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Female_house_finch_carpodacus_mexicanus.jpg/256px-Female_house_finch_carpodacus_mexicanus.jpg" width="180" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACarpodacus_purpureus_male_Delaware.jpg" title="By Pheanix (originally posted to Flickr as Purple Finch) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Carpodacus purpureus male Delaware" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Carpodacus_purpureus_male_Delaware.jpg/256px-Carpodacus_purpureus_male_Delaware.jpg" width="163" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">House finch, male (left and right) and female (middle).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
House Finches originally were present only in Mexico and southern states of the US and have been introduced in the north-eastern US in 1940.
</div>
<h1>
Rock Pigeon</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The most common from pigeons and doves in North America. It is nowadays present close to residential
areas, however, its natural nesting sites are close to coastal area with natural cliffs. Rock pigeon is present all around the world in areas habitat by people. Adult rock pigeon is around 35 cm long. It is mainly grey with blueish accents and green neck. Contrary to doves its colors are not uniform. Female looks almost identical to male, with less apparent green neck. Rock pigeons live from 5 years in the wild to almost 15 in captivity. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Rock dove - natures pics" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg/256px-Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg" width="232" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGo%C5%82%C4%99bie.jpg" title="By Lestat (Jan Mehlich) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Gołębie" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Go%C5%82%C4%99bie.jpg/128px-Go%C5%82%C4%99bie.jpg" width="116" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AColumba_livia_in_Japan.JPG" title="By Alpsdake (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Columba livia in Japan" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Columba_livia_in_Japan.JPG/256px-Columba_livia_in_Japan.JPG" width="180" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Rock Pigeon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
House Sparrow</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
House Sparrow is a small bird, nowadays common in all continents (except Antarctica). Sparrows are about 10-13 cm long, with brown-grayish plumage in males and grayish in females. Males and females are similar size. House Sparrows originate in Middle East but spread or have been introduced to other parts of the world. Sparrows eat mainly seeds and grain. House Sparrow is a worlds most widely distributed wild bird.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APasser_domesticus_-California%2C_USA-8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By David Lofink from Anaheim (Bird looking down Uploaded by Snowmanradio) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Passer domesticus -California, USA-8" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Passer_domesticus_-California%2C_USA-8.jpg/256px-Passer_domesticus_-California%2C_USA-8.jpg" width="240" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APasser_domesticus_-Scotland_-male-8b.jpg" title="By John Haslam (originally posted to Flickr as Male House Sparrow) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Passer domesticus -Scotland -male-8b" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Passer_domesticus_-Scotland_-male-8b.jpg/256px-Passer_domesticus_-Scotland_-male-8b.jpg" width="170" /></a>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A2003-08_Sparrow.jpg" title="By Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="2003-08 Sparrow" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/2003-08_Sparrow.jpg/128px-2003-08_Sparrow.jpg" width="125" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">House Sparrow, male (right and middle) and female (left).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-72339411369967944162012-04-01T21:00:00.000-07:002012-04-01T21:00:50.648-07:00architecture of Egypt - antiquity - Pyramides<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Egypt is one of the most fascinating countries. Starting with its ancient civilisation,
its history, believes, knowledge and architecture to the modern, post-Arab Spring.
Modern Egypt controls the strategic region of Suez Channel and Red Sea on the border of Africa and Asia.
Over the last three millennia architecture of Egypt went a stunning transition.
Despite the passing time, one may notice large influence of the history and
tradition on modern Egyptian architecture. Contrary to different parts of the
world, in Egypt one can compare the ancient architecture to the most modern buildings directly. The oldest of Egyptian constructions date to XXXV century B.C. and are very often superbly preserved, in particular of tombs and pyramids.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARobarmitagepyrammids.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Styles66 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Robarmitagepyrammids" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Robarmitagepyrammids.jpg/1024px-Robarmitagepyrammids.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view on Giza pyramides</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Step Pyramid of Djoser</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADjoser_Stepped_Pyramid_of_Saqqara.jpg" title="By Gary Ku [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Djoser Stepped Pyramid of Saqqara" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Djoser_Stepped_Pyramid_of_Saqqara.jpg/256px-Djoser_Stepped_Pyramid_of_Saqqara.jpg" width="183" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APyramide_von_Djoser%2C_von_S%C3%BCd_0965.JPG" title="By Hedwig Storch (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Pyramide von Djoser, von Süd 0965" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Pyramide_von_Djoser%2C_von_S%C3%BCd_0965.JPG/256px-Pyramide_von_Djoser%2C_von_S%C3%BCd_0965.JPG" width="206" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASaqqara_pyramid.jpg" title="By Charlesjsharp (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Saqqara pyramid" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Saqqara_pyramid.jpg/256px-Saqqara_pyramid.jpg" width="206" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest preserved pyramid in Egypt. Although not the oldest pyramide worldwide, Djoser pyramid is the worldwide oldest construction build from a cut stone (Caral pyramide is Peru is the worlds oldest unworked stone pyramide).
Djoser pyramid was build in XXVII century B.C. and consist of six "steps" (mastabas). The construction of such a scale profs the new paradigm in the architecture and social
structure of Egypt (mainly large scale manpower and material control). </div>
<h1>
Meidum Pyramid</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMeidum_pyramid_006.jpg" title="By Meidoum_pyramide_006.JPG: Neithsabes derivative work: JMCC1 (Meidoum_pyramide_006.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Meidum pyramid 006" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Meidum_pyramid_006.jpg/256px-Meidum_pyramid_006.jpg" width="223" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMeidum_Pyramide_Fassadendetail_c.jpg" title="By Meidum_Pyramide_Fassadendetail.jpg: Peterkoelbl derivative work: JMCC1 (Meidum_Pyramide_Fassadendetail.jpg) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Meidum Pyramide Fassadendetail c" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Meidum_Pyramide_Fassadendetail_c.jpg/128px-Meidum_Pyramide_Fassadendetail_c.jpg" width="111" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A01_meidum_distance.jpg" title="By Jon Bodsworth (http://www.egyptarchive.co.uk/html/meidum_01.html) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="01 meidum distance" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/01_meidum_distance.jpg/128px-01_meidum_distance.jpg" width="125" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMeidumPyramidPassage2.jpg" title="By MeidumPyramidPassage.JPG: JLCA derivative work: JMCC1 (MeidumPyramidPassage.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="MeidumPyramidPassage2" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/MeidumPyramidPassage2.jpg/128px-MeidumPyramidPassage2.jpg" width="125" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meidum pyramid initially was designed as a step pyramid. It was designed for the last
pharaon the Third Dynasty. However, his successor turned Meidum pyramid into a true
pyramid filling the steps with a limestone. The pyramid was constructed in different
stages, expanded in base and height at every stage. Meidum pyramid has collapsed still
in the antiquity. Due to that it is mostly known as a "collapsed pyramid". Remains of
the pyramid include only the core constructed as an initial stage. Meidum site represent a transition stage, between "step" and "true" pyramids.
</div>
<h1>
Great Pyramid of Giza</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APiramida_Cheopsa.jpg" title="By Janusz Recław (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Piramida Cheopsa" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Piramida_Cheopsa.jpg/256px-Piramida_Cheopsa.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFlickr_-_Gaspa_-_Giza%2C_piramide_di_Cheope_(4).jpg" title="By Francesco Gasparetti from Senigallia, Italy (Giza: piramide di Cheope) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Flickr - Gaspa - Giza, piramide di Cheope (4)" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Flickr_-_Gaspa_-_Giza%2C_piramide_di_Cheope_%284%29.jpg/256px-Flickr_-_Gaspa_-_Giza%2C_piramide_di_Cheope_%284%29.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACheops-Pyramide_0914.JPG" title="By Hedwig Storch (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Cheops-Pyramide 0914" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Cheops-Pyramide_0914.JPG/256px-Cheops-Pyramide_0914.JPG" width="205" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The great pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest pyramid in the Giza complex. It is the most known and recognizable Egyptian pyramid and represent a true pyramide style. The pyramid was build for pharaon Cheops (called also Khufu) in XXVI century B.C. Great pyramid was the worlds tallest man made object until the construction of Lincoln Cathedral, England in XIV century. The pyramid is build from a polished limestone, on a base of an almost perfect square and is aligned to the north and south poles. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Djoser, Meidum and Giza represent three milestones in the pyramid architecture in Egypt. From the true stone pyramid of Djoser, through Meidum site with step pyramid changed later to a classic pyramid, ending with the true pyramid of Giza.</div>
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<b>See also:</b><br/>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/teutonic-knights-castles-in-poland.html">Teutonic knights castles in Poland</a><br/>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/worlds-most-scenic-castles.html">Worlds most scenic castles</a><br/>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/poland-feel-invited.html">10 reasons to visit Poland</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-51139162599672012402012-02-18T13:52:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:25:15.385-07:00Alaska's flag<h1>
The Big Dipper and the North Star</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R4CaWX7wPU/TlGSapdZalI/AAAAAAAAJtc/QCgLVS6ah60/s1600/seward-alaska-flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R4CaWX7wPU/TlGSapdZalI/AAAAAAAAJtc/QCgLVS6ah60/s320/seward-alaska-flag.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Benny Benson memorial site, the designer of Alaska's flag.<br />
Alaska's flag displaying the Big Dipper and the North Star<br />
on a blue field is shown on the memorial stone. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 1927, Alaska (not yet a state at that time) organized a competition for children to design
a flag for Alaska territory. Since the US purchased Alaska from Russia, there was no official flag for that
territory. From over 700 submitted designs, the blue field with the Big Dipper and the North Star
submitted by Benny Benson, was original enough to win the competition.<br />
<br />
Most of the other designs
featured bears, northern lights or gold rush artifacts for the future Alaska's flag. First level of the Alaska's flag competition was a local school contest. Ten best local designs were submitted to the central competition in Juneau. Benny's design was chosen as the best and became the official flag of Alaska by decision of Alaska Territorial Legislature in May, 1927.<br />
<br />
The winning design was not the only one prepared by Benny Benson. The original design has been modified by removing year 1867 from below the Big Dipper. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Benny Benson design for the Alaska's flag was submitted for the competition with the following description:
<br />
<blockquote>
The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear—symbolizing strength.</blockquote>
</div>
<h1>
Benny Benson and Seward, Alaska</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdqslpJxgA/TlF0rWz4NFI/AAAAAAAAJtI/gKt-HTzNUAs/s1600/alaska-flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdqslpJxgA/TlF0rWz4NFI/AAAAAAAAJtI/gKt-HTzNUAs/s320/alaska-flag.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaska's flag on a Kenai Fjords tour boat in Seward, Alaska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Benny Benson at the time of the Alaska's flag competition was a 13 year old boy living in the Jesse Lee Mission Home, an orphanage in Seward, Alaska. Benny was a native Alaskan and was born in 1913 to Russian-Aleut mother and Swedish father.<br />
<br />
For the design of the Alaska's flag Benny was awarded a gold watch with his design engraved and $1000. The watch has been donated by him to Alaska State Museum in 1963.<br />
<br />
Benny Benson spent most of his adult life in Kodiak, Alaska. Benson died in 1972. Seward celebrated his contribution to Alaska by setting his memorial site in the town. </div>
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<br />
<b>See also:</b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/worlds-most-amazing-hotels.html">Worlds most amazing hotels</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-1.html">Honeymoon in Alaska - Part 1</a>,
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-2.html">Part 2</a> and
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/09/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-3.html">Part 3</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-24603081751564398732012-02-07T20:33:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:26:29.729-07:00Springfield in one day<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3tylg71AFw/Ty7abqJeC6I/AAAAAAAAKR4/mDrepnAjpC4/s1600/springfield-capitol-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3tylg71AFw/Ty7abqJeC6I/AAAAAAAAKR4/mDrepnAjpC4/s200/springfield-capitol-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT5fl5C86Is/Ty3K15lFrYI/AAAAAAAAKQw/yP8Sz3c_Ql4/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT5fl5C86Is/Ty3K15lFrYI/AAAAAAAAKQw/yP8Sz3c_Ql4/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5IMQA9LWNY/Ty7gdUIdMSI/AAAAAAAAKSk/dz2SJdgvY0g/s1600/springfield-sun-clock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5IMQA9LWNY/Ty7gdUIdMSI/AAAAAAAAKSk/dz2SJdgvY0g/s200/springfield-sun-clock.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State Capitol building</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old State Capitol building</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundial at the back of the State Capitol</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
First impression</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent a winter weekend in Springfield and the town seemed to be deserted. One could
see only few people on the streets. However, most of the museums and restaurants had
people visiting them. Downtown of Springfield is nice and relatively small. All major attractions
are available within a walking distance. If you decide to stay in a hotel in the downtown
area you will not need a car. Taking train to Springfield and staying in downtown area seems also like a good idea. Although the town seemed deserted, museums and restaurants were all
open. Downtown does not have many shops and most of the interesting things in Springfield can be seen in one day.
</div>
<h1>
Old State Capitol</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Old State Capitol is very well preserved and all open rooms are equipped with
furnitures from the middle of XIX century. One can follow a tour or walk around
without a guide. Walking around the Old State Capitol you will see how compact and well
organized was the Capitol more than 160 years ago. You will notice there equivalents of all
major modern state institutions.
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDlopc0TvU0/Ty3K1VSKlGI/AAAAAAAAKQo/hE2XE8Vrumc/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDlopc0TvU0/Ty3K1VSKlGI/AAAAAAAAKQo/hE2XE8Vrumc/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT5fl5C86Is/Ty3K15lFrYI/AAAAAAAAKQw/yP8Sz3c_Ql4/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT5fl5C86Is/Ty3K15lFrYI/AAAAAAAAKQw/yP8Sz3c_Ql4/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-btf4Mzkq4jM/Ty3K2IBC8nI/AAAAAAAAKQ4/UQl1MlZY7kU/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-btf4Mzkq4jM/Ty3K2IBC8nI/AAAAAAAAKQ4/UQl1MlZY7kU/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-outside-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the information placed at the Old Capitol:
<br />
<blockquote>
Old State Capitol<br />
<br />
The Old State Capitol was the fifth State House in Illinois history.
The building served as capitol from 1839 to 1876. Its cornerstone was laid
during ceremonies held July 4. 1837.<br />
<br />
During the 1840s and 1850s the building dominated Springfield's square
and became a center of public life. Benefit dinners and other civic affairs
took place in its rooms. The legislative chambers were the scene of frequent
political meetings. Cultural programs often accompanied legislative sessions,
which attracted citizens from throughout Illinois to the capitol city.<br />
<br />
Abraham Lincoln frequented the building from 1839 until he departed in 1861
to assume the presidency. As a lawyer he often practiced before the Illinois Supreme
Court. Lincoln delivered several important speeches, including the 1858 "House
divided" address. In representatives' hall the governor's room served as his
informal headquarters during the 1960 presidential campaign. In 1965 citizens
paid their last respects to the assassinated president in representatives' hall
before burial at Oak Ridge cemetery.<br />
<br />
In 1876, a new State House replaced the Old State Capitol, which became the
Sangamon County Courthouse. Legislation passed in 1961 led to the state's
purchase and reconstruction of the building to its Lincoln-era appearance.
The three-year project was completed in 1969.<br />
<br />
Erected by The Illinois State Historical Society<br />
and The Illinois Department of Transportation, 1991</blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kv2CvKa0tGM/Ty3MpuaqUsI/AAAAAAAAKRA/iNnK3OUMaCI/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kv2CvKa0tGM/Ty3MpuaqUsI/AAAAAAAAKRA/iNnK3OUMaCI/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfpvgh6q6ro/Ty3Mp2gzTII/AAAAAAAAKRI/DyWThoRsg3w/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfpvgh6q6ro/Ty3Mp2gzTII/AAAAAAAAKRI/DyWThoRsg3w/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqGbto-T9LM/Ty3MqDGjqdI/AAAAAAAAKRQ/Ttcs7QXHps0/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqGbto-T9LM/Ty3MqDGjqdI/AAAAAAAAKRQ/Ttcs7QXHps0/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuQDQNd_XD8/Ty3MqTdASwI/AAAAAAAAKRY/nl_VJgiey-8/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuQDQNd_XD8/Ty3MqTdASwI/AAAAAAAAKRY/nl_VJgiey-8/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-4.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VkOqVTzGoA/Ty3Mqm7E8LI/AAAAAAAAKRg/KTYsD_5gXuY/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VkOqVTzGoA/Ty3Mqm7E8LI/AAAAAAAAKRg/KTYsD_5gXuY/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-inside-5.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnm2vmXn7cE/Ty3MsHFey7I/AAAAAAAAKRo/Mr3uBAyE3YA/s1600/springfield-old-state-capitol-us-flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnm2vmXn7cE/Ty3MsHFey7I/AAAAAAAAKRo/Mr3uBAyE3YA/s200/springfield-old-state-capitol-us-flag.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Inside of the Old State Capitol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
State Capitol</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New State Capitol contrary to the Old State Capitol is not very inviting. We were trying to
get there twice, both times with no success. Building is very impressive from outside but just
after you enter the building, security informs you that "one can not walk around by yourself" and
that one has to wait for guided tour. In front of the Capitol there is a large statue of Abraham Lincoln and on the back a very nice sundial (on the picture above). The current Capitol building is the sixth Capitol in the history of Illinois and the second one in Springfield. First Capitol was built in Springfield after Abraham Lincoln and his colleges advocated for moving the capitol of Illinois from <a href="http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/" target="_blank">Vandalia</a> to Springfield. Old Capitol has been turned into a museum. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuO7wM1F590/Ty7aba3GzmI/AAAAAAAAKRw/JWzGBO7bY0A/s1600/springfield-capitol-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuO7wM1F590/Ty7aba3GzmI/AAAAAAAAKRw/JWzGBO7bY0A/s200/springfield-capitol-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3tylg71AFw/Ty7abqJeC6I/AAAAAAAAKR4/mDrepnAjpC4/s1600/springfield-capitol-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3tylg71AFw/Ty7abqJeC6I/AAAAAAAAKR4/mDrepnAjpC4/s200/springfield-capitol-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOBqd-_zgw4/Ty7acKgK4hI/AAAAAAAAKSA/-jfTwDG4uXA/s1600/springfield-capitol-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOBqd-_zgw4/Ty7acKgK4hI/AAAAAAAAKSA/-jfTwDG4uXA/s200/springfield-capitol-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Springfield, State Capitol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Lincoln's Museum</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Springfield has quite many museums for its size. One that is definitely worth visiting is the Abraham
Lincoln Museum connected to the Presidential Library. Museum is very modern and extremely multimedial.
It pictures life of Abraham Lincoln from his childhood, through first jobs, his time in Springfield and work as a lawyer to his presidency and assassination. Museum collected an impressive number of
items related to Abraham Lincoln. It takes more than an hour to walk through the whole museum. At the
end, one should definitely stay for the impressive multimedial presentation of the museum and the presidential library. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIs_TAx2FiA/Ty773U4okGI/AAAAAAAAKTU/7td1YgRgwt0/s1600/springfield-lincoln-museum-outside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIs_TAx2FiA/Ty773U4okGI/AAAAAAAAKTU/7td1YgRgwt0/s200/springfield-lincoln-museum-outside.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fndmXvPP254/Ty773aQRxYI/AAAAAAAAKTc/UpmbYrZcZjw/s1600/springfield-lincoln-museum-lincolns-family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fndmXvPP254/Ty773aQRxYI/AAAAAAAAKTc/UpmbYrZcZjw/s200/springfield-lincoln-museum-lincolns-family.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpS1FjIJT3c/Ty773loqYxI/AAAAAAAAKTk/Lc7sLhydGQw/s1600/springfield-lincoln-museum-lincolnd-wife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpS1FjIJT3c/Ty773loqYxI/AAAAAAAAKTk/Lc7sLhydGQw/s200/springfield-lincoln-museum-lincolnd-wife.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln's Museum from outside</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abraham Lincoln with family</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln's wife</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Lincoln's House</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Old part of Springfield including whole neighborhood of Lincoln's House has been turned into
a museum. Guided tours are available for visiting Lincoln's House and the Old Downtown.
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdNZ1zHCvnk/Ty70rA3WhjI/AAAAAAAAKSw/KJhGTR7DB2o/s1600/springfield-lincoln-house-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdNZ1zHCvnk/Ty70rA3WhjI/AAAAAAAAKSw/KJhGTR7DB2o/s200/springfield-lincoln-house-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OqaRLdBFUs/Ty70rOpxmQI/AAAAAAAAKS4/2H_eWdbWMTE/s1600/springfield-lincoln-house-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OqaRLdBFUs/Ty70rOpxmQI/AAAAAAAAKS4/2H_eWdbWMTE/s200/springfield-lincoln-house-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQJGiKGcw9o/Ty70rPHB5ZI/AAAAAAAAKTM/RVoOxwOcb14/s1600/springfield-lincoln-house-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQJGiKGcw9o/Ty70rPHB5ZI/AAAAAAAAKTM/RVoOxwOcb14/s200/springfield-lincoln-house-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Abraham Lincoln's House in Springfield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Lincoln's Tomb</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Visiting Springfield one cannot miss the Lincolns Tomb. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery
and it is a very impressive monument. The Tomb is closed during the winter. However, outside of the Tomb is also
very interesting. The Oak Ridge Cemetery has more interesting graves and tombs. The cemetery is quite large and at its very end one will find war memorials. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-5Z3cSNKCQ/TzHXgzc1obI/AAAAAAAAKVs/x7YObBFrw7Y/s1600/springfield-lincolns-tomb-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-5Z3cSNKCQ/TzHXgzc1obI/AAAAAAAAKVs/x7YObBFrw7Y/s200/springfield-lincolns-tomb-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RayHyldVsUA/TzHXhFMkVRI/AAAAAAAAKV0/bKr2-HTjK8Y/s1600/springfield-lincolns-tomb-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RayHyldVsUA/TzHXhFMkVRI/AAAAAAAAKV0/bKr2-HTjK8Y/s200/springfield-lincolns-tomb-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm7VUqHfsOw/TzHXhRpQkGI/AAAAAAAAKV8/LZyY3EObdZ4/s1600/springfield-lincolns-tomb-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm7VUqHfsOw/TzHXhRpQkGI/AAAAAAAAKV8/LZyY3EObdZ4/s200/springfield-lincolns-tomb-3.jpg" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln's Tomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<h1>
Springfield by night</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After a whole day of sightseeing you may want to relax over a nice dinner or a drink.
The downtown area is full of nice restaurants. Most of them offer American food and it
may be harder to quickly find an oriental kitchen. Although there is a lot of bars around, the most fun seems to be the top of the Hilton hotel. Hilton on its 30th floor has a bar and a restaurant. Both of them have stunning views over the panorama of Springfield with nicely illuminated Capitols. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4miDq7sjvIg/Ty8ADNXeasI/AAAAAAAAKUc/aAbP_8mnGo0/s1600/springfield-by-night-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4miDq7sjvIg/Ty8ADNXeasI/AAAAAAAAKUc/aAbP_8mnGo0/s200/springfield-by-night-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kH5UhaWq564/Ty8ADI4EacI/AAAAAAAAKUk/6pUNWhu9o24/s1600/springfield-by-night-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kH5UhaWq564/Ty8ADI4EacI/AAAAAAAAKUk/6pUNWhu9o24/s200/springfield-by-night-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caJDKgg908w/Ty8ADW5XFcI/AAAAAAAAKUs/-UV4rJjFvXg/s1600/springfield-by-night-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caJDKgg908w/Ty8ADW5XFcI/AAAAAAAAKUs/-UV4rJjFvXg/s200/springfield-by-night-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">View from the bar on the top of Hilton hotel</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State Capitol</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Other attractions</h1>
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9d4Jl0r1UTw/TpMeewWsJ5I/AAAAAAAAKDc/aaFClKDDz3I/s800/orange_5pix.jpg" style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;" /> <a href="http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/" target="_blank">Springfield Museums center including </a>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Michele & Donald D'amour Museum of Fine Arts </li>
<li>Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History </li>
<li>George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum</li>
<li>Springfield Science Museum </li>
<li>Connecticut Valley Historical Museum </li>
</ul>
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9d4Jl0r1UTw/TpMeewWsJ5I/AAAAAAAAKDc/aaFClKDDz3I/s800/orange_5pix.jpg" style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;" /> List of all historic sites in Springfield: <a href="http://www.springfield.il.us/Commissions/HistSites/PhotoGallery.asp">Historic Sites Commission of Springfield, IL</a>
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9d4Jl0r1UTw/TpMeewWsJ5I/AAAAAAAAKDc/aaFClKDDz3I/s800/orange_5pix.jpg" style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;" /> <a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2012/01/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-springfield.html">Frank Lloyd Wright designed Dana-Thomas House</a> [<a href="http://www.dana-thomas.org/">Official site</a>]
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9d4Jl0r1UTw/TpMeewWsJ5I/AAAAAAAAKDc/aaFClKDDz3I/s800/orange_5pix.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: black; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: black; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> <a href="http://www.springfield.il.us/Public%20Works/OakRidgeCemetery.htm" target="_blank">Oak Ridge Cemetery</a><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9d4Jl0r1UTw/TpMeewWsJ5I/AAAAAAAAKDc/aaFClKDDz3I/s800/orange_5pix.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: black; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: black; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> Museum of Funeral Customs (closed in 2009)<br />
<br />
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<b>See also:</b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2012/01/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-springfield.html">Frank Lloyd Wright House in Springfield</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/09/hot-air-ballons-show-indiana.html">Hot air ballons show in Indiana</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-chicago.html">Frank Lloyd Wright House in Chicago</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-1.html">Honeymoon in Alaska - Part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/largest-earthquake-and-tsunami-in-north.html">The largest earthquake and tsunami in North America</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-73916465873514891942012-01-27T13:27:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:39:24.640-07:00Frank Lloyd Wright house in Springfield<h1>
Dana-Thomas House, Springfield</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dana-Thomas House in Springfield is probably the largest and the best preserved Frank Lloyd House
I have seen so far. The house was completed in 1904 as a reconstruction of the Lawrence family house
in "Aristocrat hill" in Springfield, Illinois. Susan Lawrence Dana was a leading independent woman in Springfield
and heiress of a substantial fortune.<br />
<br />
Ordering the house design from Frank Lloyd Wright, she has requested to have a large dinning room, which after the house was completed could accommodate around 40 people. As the only house except Frank Lloyd Wright own, Dana-Thomas houses dinning room includes a "cylindric" shape roof. Except the house itself, Wright designed stained glass
windows, ornaments based on the sumac leaf shape and oak furniture.
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3Fgr9Rbd5c/Tx7iJwXel4I/AAAAAAAAKNw/R5fAsUrcvWY/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3Fgr9Rbd5c/Tx7iJwXel4I/AAAAAAAAKNw/R5fAsUrcvWY/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBd_Rq7jyCc/Tx7iKCIRsiI/AAAAAAAAKN4/7JS-t-DltEY/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBd_Rq7jyCc/Tx7iKCIRsiI/AAAAAAAAKN4/7JS-t-DltEY/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9SExknGVwUY/Tx7iKWOVxFI/AAAAAAAAKOA/asDML0dhbuk/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9SExknGVwUY/Tx7iKWOVxFI/AAAAAAAAKOA/asDML0dhbuk/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVgSGFgWCdM/Tx7iKTUJwwI/AAAAAAAAKOI/fa1rfOzfMyA/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVgSGFgWCdM/Tx7iKTUJwwI/AAAAAAAAKOI/fa1rfOzfMyA/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-4.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuZiBt9NBU0/Tx7iKrOxxBI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/ff5ZV3wA_Kg/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuZiBt9NBU0/Tx7iKrOxxBI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/ff5ZV3wA_Kg/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-5.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dBrvMJly-bo/Tx7iK8n_zdI/AAAAAAAAKOY/huJbupvSRwI/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dBrvMJly-bo/Tx7iK8n_zdI/AAAAAAAAKOY/huJbupvSRwI/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-6.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Dana-Thomas house today</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dana has been married three times and although she inherited substantial fortune, over the years
she has felt into poverty. Her house was bought together with other properties in Springfield to pay
back her debts. However, the buyer was more interested in the buildings that could have been turned into shops and had very little interest in the Frank Lloyd House and decided to destroy the house. However, a publisher Charles C. Thomas bought the house in 1944 and kept it until 1981 when the Frank Lloyd house was sold to the State of Illinois. Currently the house is open to public and guided tours lasting about an hour show the well preserved house with its original furniture.
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv_57MXjxZY/Tx7iLilaSFI/AAAAAAAAKO4/6m7LEoSb63g/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv_57MXjxZY/Tx7iLilaSFI/AAAAAAAAKO4/6m7LEoSb63g/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-10.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XscptUiNY-g/Tx7iL9VpKPI/AAAAAAAAKPI/Pt4xxUHzIqE/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XscptUiNY-g/Tx7iL9VpKPI/AAAAAAAAKPI/Pt4xxUHzIqE/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-12.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAhvJt9xdb0/Tx7iL6kWm0I/AAAAAAAAKPA/w6YFe7pC4SQ/s1600/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAhvJt9xdb0/Tx7iL6kWm0I/AAAAAAAAKPA/w6YFe7pC4SQ/s200/frank-lloyd-house-springfield-11.JPG" /></a></td>
</tr>
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<b>See also:</b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-chicago.html" target="">Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chicago</a><br/>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2012/02/springfield-in-one-day.html">Springfield in one day</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-19511194144582585922012-01-18T19:16:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:39:36.950-07:00the unconventional public campaign<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXUNsi5BH5c/TxeEed_S4LI/AAAAAAAAKNg/2W-R5l1x0wg/s1600/synapsis-foundation-bartlomiej-topa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXUNsi5BH5c/TxeEed_S4LI/AAAAAAAAKNg/2W-R5l1x0wg/s1600/synapsis-foundation-bartlomiej-topa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartłomiej Topa, screen from the campaign movie, <a href="http://www.synapsis.waw.pl/" target="_blank">Synapsis Foundation</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Odd behavior attracts attention</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone likes to gossip and most people like to gossip about celebrities. Whenever a celebrity
behaves odd, most of us think that they are under influence of alcohol of drugs. People start
posting, tweeting, hunting for possible movies where the embarrassing behavior is exposed.
Most of us now of stories like that from celebrity news.
Polish actor, Bartłomiej Topa, that played for example in movie "Three colors: White", has been caught
on camera when he did not behave quite like himself. First, while interviewed on TV, he has been distracted,
did not answer any questions and seemed to be hyperactive. After that he has been filmed twice, on the
train and in the shop. Both films show him quite distracted and having problems with adapting to the
surrounding him place.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gX92deUEMs4" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MpHss76GWZs" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<h1>
Rather drunk than insidious</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All of the Polish celebrity pages and newspapers noticed the anonymously posted amateur videos
and published articles and pictures commenting behavior of Bartłomiej Topa. Many different theories followed the published movies. Everyone thought that the actor is either drunk, took some drugs or is going through some mental problems. However, few days after the movies and articles were published, the actor and <a href="http://www.synapsis.waw.pl/" target="_blank">Synapsis Foundation</a> explained what has happened. </div>
<h1>
Autism misleads senses</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Behavior of Bartłomiej Topa was part of a social campaign aiming to increase the awareness of autism.
The unconventional behavior of Bartłomiej Topa was for him "an acting exercise, for many people it is their whole
life" (from the Synapsis campaign movie). The campaign was carried in media only and was keept in secret
even from the involved media themselves. Movies were done by Tomek Wlaziński and Bartłomiej Topa and
published between 11-14 of January 2012. </div>
<br />
<div align="center">
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-73969131392675511852012-01-17T20:16:00.000-08:002012-08-12T11:19:28.555-07:00EPAR - the next big discovery<h1>
Energy Accumulating and Dissipating Converter</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Big discoveries do not happen very often and in modern world are very rarely
a work of a single person. However, EPAR (abbreviation from Polish name) or
Energy Accumulating and Dissipating Converter is a work of a self-taught Polish
inventor Lucjan Łągiewka. EPAR is a device that absorbs kinetic energy, quickly converts it and slowly
scatters. The potential of the device is clearly shown of the movie from the EPAR presentation.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4_5oseSVUc4" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<h1>
Lucjan Łagiewka</h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wrQSgMEXz3s/TxYofWrks9I/AAAAAAAAKNY/F1dGagHw8_s/s1600/lucjan-lagiewka.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wrQSgMEXz3s/TxYofWrks9I/AAAAAAAAKNY/F1dGagHw8_s/s320/lucjan-lagiewka.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucjan Łągiewka. Picture taken from the <a href="http://www.epar.pl/" target="_blank">EPAR</a> project website</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucjan Łągiewka, the inventor and constructor of the EPAR device, was born in 1949 and for more than 40 years is an active inventor and experimentalist.
The idea for the device came from dynamics of fluids. The first presentations of the device, then in a form of a specially constructed bumper installed on a small FIAT car, were done in the late 90s. At that time Łągiewka filed also a patent application, which was unfortunately rejected because of the formal issues. Over the last decade Łągiewka was awarded with many international prizes for his inventions and he reached a wide recognition for his invention in a inventors communities. Today he leads together with his son the EPAR project development company. A large focus of the company is to implement EPAR idea into a safety elements of the infrastructure e.g. road barriers. Łągiewka did not get the attention of academic communities with the exception of his long-term collaborator Prof. Stanisław Gumuła from AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. Łągiewka together with Gumuła claim that the EPAR device works against Newton laws.</div>
<h1>
Łągiewka vs. Newton and Smith</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucjan Łągiewka did not earn any patents that he applied for in the late 90s. However, he noticed that Oxford University professor Malcolm Smith later constructed a device that works based on the same principles. Prof. Smith successfully patented in the US a device that has been later used in Formula 1 races as a J-Damper. J-Damper was suppose to extinguish the suspension vibrations and effectively gave the Formula 1 bollid better traction which resulted in approximately 0.5 s advantage per lap. J-Damper was used first by Kimi Räikkönen and gave him almost 30 seconds advantage in the whole race. <br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqpRswGN_mM/TxYofM7LiJI/AAAAAAAAKNM/Ci5gCkAc8dU/s1600/epar-general-idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqpRswGN_mM/TxYofM7LiJI/AAAAAAAAKNM/Ci5gCkAc8dU/s320/epar-general-idea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General idea behind the EPAR project. Energy is absorbed, converted and slowly scattered.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Picture taken from the presentation of the EPAR on <a href="http://www.epar.pl/" target="_blank">www.epar.pl</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As unfortunate as it sounds, self-taught Łągiewka is in a constant battle with scientists. First with Newton, claiming that his device works agains Newtons laws. Now in a battle agains Prof. Malcolm Smith from Oxford for recognition of Łągiewkas contribution into the invention of the idea/device. These complains are now investigated by the European Patent Office. Battle with Newton and the recognition in academia may be more difficult that the one in EPO.</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdN9NUo36dw/TxYoex7CFnI/AAAAAAAAKNI/3L751u1UHi4/s1600/epar-car-test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdN9NUo36dw/TxYoex7CFnI/AAAAAAAAKNI/3L751u1UHi4/s400/epar-car-test.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Car test done with and without the EPAR device. Left picture shows a small car FIAT 126p </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
after it hit a wall at the speed 50 km/h with the EPAR device installed on the bumper. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Right picture shows the same model after the impact at the speed 40 km/h without the EPAR device. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Picture taken from the official presentation of the EPAR project. </span></div>
</td></tr>
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<h1>
Red sprites</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lightnings are phenomena that we all are used to seeing during thunderstorms. However, the white and
light blue strikes are not the complete picture. Second type of a lightning phenomena occurs above the clouds. Directly above the cloud-to-ground or cloud-to-cloud lightning stikes, appear weak but massive flashes. The mostly red illuminations apear from the tops of the clouds up to 95 km above. Red sprites are very difficult to spot with an naked eye. Since the sprites occur above the active thunderstorm, to spot them one has to able to see above the clouds (for example when a thunderstorm occurs on the horizon).
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABigRed-Sprite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By Eastview (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="BigRed-Sprite" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/BigRed-Sprite.jpg/500px-BigRed-Sprite.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<h1>
Blue jets</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blue jets, similarly to red sprites, are observed above the active thunderstorm. They appear as blue illuminations from the core of the lightnings rich region of the thunderstorm. Blue jets disappear about 40-50 km above the clouds. The blue color is assumed to come from nitrogen emission caused by high energy collisions with oxygen. Together with red sprites, blue jets have been reported first time in 1989.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALightning_sprites.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Lightning sprites" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Lightning_sprites.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>See also:</b><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/11/weird-weather-phenomena.html">weird weather phenomena - part 1</a> <br/>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-15208511006877706862011-11-19T14:34:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:41:12.511-07:00weird weather phenomena<h1>
Catatumbo lightning or Lighthouse of Maracaibo</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Catatumbo lightning is a phenomenon occurring in Venezuela at the estuary of Catatumbo river to the lake Maracaibo. Very intensive lighting occur there from 140 to 160 days a year, for approximately 10 hours a day. During one hour one can observe about 240 lightning strikes. Taking into account the large number of lightnings this region is probably the largest natural source of ozone in the atmosphere. Light of the strikes is seen from hundreds of kilometers from the source which gave the spot a name "Lighthouse of Maracaibo".</div>
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACatatumbolightning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" title="English Wikipedia user Thechemicalengineer [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Catatumbolightning" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Catatumbolightning.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<h1>
Lunar rainbow</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone is used to seeing rainbows during a daytime. The phenomena may be also observed during the night from the light given by the Moon. Lunar rainbow is also known as a moonbow or white rainbow. It is incredibly difficult to see with a naked eye. However, a camera with a long time exposure may easily capture the moonlight rainbow. A lunar rainbow may be easiest seen over a waterfall during a full moon.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMoonbow_at_lower_Yosemite_fall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Mila Zinkova (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Moonbow at lower Yosemite fall" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Moonbow_at_lower_Yosemite_fall.jpg/240px-Moonbow_at_lower_Yosemite_fall.jpg" width="190" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALunarRainbowVicFalls_small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Calvin Bradshaw [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="LunarRainbowVicFalls small" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/LunarRainbowVicFalls_small.jpg" width="255" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonbow at the Lower Yosemite Fall</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonbow over Victoria Falls, Zambia.</td>
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</tbody></table>
<h1>
Rain of fish</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rain of fish or Lluvia de Peces is a phenomenon occurring in Honduras. Together with falling rain people notice small fish. There are legends and even chronicle entries from many places all over the world talking about a similar phenomenon. However, in Yoro in Honduras rain of fish is observed every year usually between May and July. Local people got used to this event occurring and collect small fish from the streets. The rain of fish was first reported in 1970 when the National Geographic Magazine journalist visited Yoro and witnessed the rain of fish.
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGravure_de_pluie_de_poissons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By en:Olaus Magnus (1490-1557) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Gravure de pluie de poissons" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Gravure_de_pluie_de_poissons.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-30619815930422180252011-11-14T18:21:00.000-08:002012-03-28T13:41:20.109-07:00Super Mario<br />
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMario_Monti.jpg" title="By ESMT (http://www.esmt.org/en/110369) [CC-BY-SA-2.0-de (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en), GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Mario Monti" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Mario_Monti.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wV7GfKYoOV8/TsHgXBWW10I/AAAAAAAAKJA/foP24_EpHwY/s1600/uk.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wV7GfKYoOV8/TsHgXBWW10I/AAAAAAAAKJA/foP24_EpHwY/s1600/uk.png" style='border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;'/></a></div>
Silvio Berlusconi has stepped down and Mario Monti replaced him as a prime minister of Italy. Mario Monti or "Super Mario" as call him journalists, is suppose to create a government of experts, not politicians. His program and his decisions in the next few months are to help Italy overcome its present financial situation. Italy as a fourth largest economy in Europe is currently following Greece with 119.1% debt-to-GDP ratio (estimate at 2010, CIA factbook). Italy has after Greece (142.7%) and Iceland (126.3%) has the largest debt-to-GDP ratio in Europe.
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<br />
Mario Monti may not get large support in the Italian
parliament where large fraction is Berlusconi's party. Monti is a professor of economics and is an experienced politician. Monti concluded plans and ambitions for his government with words "Italy must take up the challenge of liberation from the crisis, must again be a symbol of strength, not weakness in the European Union".</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F06ucJYDGY4/TsHgrSCA5FI/AAAAAAAAKJI/_JPwnno4t8Q/s1600/pl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F06ucJYDGY4/TsHgrSCA5FI/AAAAAAAAKJI/_JPwnno4t8Q/s1600/pl.png" style='border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;'/></a></div>
Silvio Berlusconi zrezygnował i Mario Monti objął po nim stanowisko premiera Włoch. Mario Monti albo "Super Mario" jak nazywają go dziennikarze, ma za zadanie zbudowac odpolityczniony gabinet ekspertów. Jego program i podejmowane decyzje mają pomóc Włochom uniknąć bankructwa. Włochy jako czwarta europejska gospodarka podążają drogą Grecji z długiem publicznym na poziomie 119.1% PKB (szacunek na 2010 rok, dane z CIA factbook). Włochy po Grecji (142.7%) i Islandii (126.3%) mają obecnie największe zadłużenie w Europie.<br />
<br />
Mario Monti może nie znaleźć poparcia we Włoskim parlamencie gdzie znaczącą część zajmuje partia Silvio Berlisconiego. Monti jest profesorem ekonomii z dużym doświadczeniem politycznym. Monti podumował plany i ambicje swojego rządu słowami "Włochy muszą podjąć wyzwanie wyzwolenia się z kryzysu, muszą znów być symbolem siły, a nie słabości w Unii Europejskiej".</td>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-60582751602406300542011-10-19T18:41:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:41:38.564-07:00park - photography<h1>Park in September - late photos</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn8x085V0nw/Tp9xhV8goEI/AAAAAAAAKGw/kmfnkVEx9wg/s1600/flower2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn8x085V0nw/Tp9xhV8goEI/AAAAAAAAKGw/kmfnkVEx9wg/s200/flower2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yxPpoYh1nZ4/Tp9xf4RB_fI/AAAAAAAAKGQ/8-VBiKZHrWU/s1600/cattails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yxPpoYh1nZ4/Tp9xf4RB_fI/AAAAAAAAKGQ/8-VBiKZHrWU/s200/cattails.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnnuwjzajuI/Tp9xgZ2YGJI/AAAAAAAAKGY/uXJsezmCr1w/s1600/cricket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnnuwjzajuI/Tp9xgZ2YGJI/AAAAAAAAKGY/uXJsezmCr1w/s200/cricket.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLGJIZLleko/Tp9xiYOarXI/AAAAAAAAKHA/YAm9ovzZ588/s1600/frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLGJIZLleko/Tp9xiYOarXI/AAAAAAAAKHA/YAm9ovzZ588/s200/frog.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YryEqj-oLWg/Tp9xh1azg5I/AAAAAAAAKG4/B_FQ_IE6-c8/s1600/flower3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YryEqj-oLWg/Tp9xh1azg5I/AAAAAAAAKG4/B_FQ_IE6-c8/s200/flower3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-J5ZFd2yk4/Tp9xfHxy9uI/AAAAAAAAKGI/x4vh2Nh14Bo/s1600/caterpillar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-J5ZFd2yk4/Tp9xfHxy9uI/AAAAAAAAKGI/x4vh2Nh14Bo/s200/caterpillar.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ19-aMzMyw/Tp9xhBdsnMI/AAAAAAAAKGo/KwXJ7ZuQ4Y0/s1600/flower1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ19-aMzMyw/Tp9xhBdsnMI/AAAAAAAAKGo/KwXJ7ZuQ4Y0/s200/flower1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Udo9_jroePY/Tp9xi2I_rZI/AAAAAAAAKHI/CSkKmxnFHlo/s1600/pine-tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Udo9_jroePY/Tp9xi2I_rZI/AAAAAAAAKHI/CSkKmxnFHlo/s200/pine-tree.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVmhzAgdgM/Tp9xgpTWi2I/AAAAAAAAKGg/kGHIZhYp-gI/s1600/dandelion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PjVmhzAgdgM/Tp9xgpTWi2I/AAAAAAAAKGg/kGHIZhYp-gI/s200/dandelion.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
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<b>See also:</b><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-chicago.html">Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chicago</a><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/autumn-photography.html">autumn - photography</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-45537121857174868972011-10-18T16:36:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:41:47.836-07:00Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chicago<h1>
Open house Chicago</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last weekend (October 15 and 16, 2011) Chicago Architecture Foundation organized an open house event. Many sites that are usually closed to public, open just by invitation or are occupied by businesses were during these two days open for everyone. From many sites one of the most interesting was the house in Rogers Park designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is not large and is placed next to a small bed and breakfast called <a href="http://www.catscradlechicago.com/">Cat's Cradle</a>. Cat's Cradle was a site in the open house itself and is very interesting place. </div>
<h1>
Frank Lloyd Wright house - photography</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y61QHdbj6Io/Tp4IVa32n0I/AAAAAAAAKEk/t4WZX7aOFLQ/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y61QHdbj6Io/Tp4IVa32n0I/AAAAAAAAKEk/t4WZX7aOFLQ/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house1.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDts6h8EyPQ/Tp4IVo38LLI/AAAAAAAAKEs/LHt0ostJQMs/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDts6h8EyPQ/Tp4IVo38LLI/AAAAAAAAKEs/LHt0ostJQMs/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVm9HmAUGaY/Tp4IWDPYh3I/AAAAAAAAKE0/I6BpwWShyPE/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVm9HmAUGaY/Tp4IWDPYh3I/AAAAAAAAKE0/I6BpwWShyPE/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bawspa5lMok/Tp4IWo5mhXI/AAAAAAAAKE8/qgpsC74jLDs/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bawspa5lMok/Tp4IWo5mhXI/AAAAAAAAKE8/qgpsC74jLDs/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house4.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq64PyxwmRs/Tp4IXCCfesI/AAAAAAAAKFE/m0hLM7cR_n0/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq64PyxwmRs/Tp4IXCCfesI/AAAAAAAAKFE/m0hLM7cR_n0/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house5.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KuSBx5py1hA/Tp4IXuH06NI/AAAAAAAAKFM/2EOFGD_2mpk/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KuSBx5py1hA/Tp4IXuH06NI/AAAAAAAAKFM/2EOFGD_2mpk/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house6.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0foOmh0NE3k/Tp4IYJgyQ9I/AAAAAAAAKFU/jG4XNSaLEJ0/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0foOmh0NE3k/Tp4IYJgyQ9I/AAAAAAAAKFU/jG4XNSaLEJ0/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house7.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JO7enCPG7w/Tp4IYXaFZXI/AAAAAAAAKFc/JgLvaF0i9aM/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JO7enCPG7w/Tp4IYXaFZXI/AAAAAAAAKFc/JgLvaF0i9aM/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house8.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nf9rlSQS3kk/Tp4IY0jIMQI/AAAAAAAAKFk/CDpBXQXCzHc/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nf9rlSQS3kk/Tp4IY0jIMQI/AAAAAAAAKFk/CDpBXQXCzHc/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house9.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YwGerYFsGc/Tp4KGag-4JI/AAAAAAAAKGA/9PgfPSW99BU/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YwGerYFsGc/Tp4KGag-4JI/AAAAAAAAKGA/9PgfPSW99BU/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house12.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-74iZM-wS-G0/Tp4IZWYc8nI/AAAAAAAAKFs/F1uPw688fqk/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-house10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-74iZM-wS-G0/Tp4IZWYc8nI/AAAAAAAAKFs/F1uPw688fqk/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-house10.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6Ui0cRk-Ow/Tp4IZ59BtSI/AAAAAAAAKF0/v1SQmYFUdXI/s1600/frank-lloyd-wright-hoyse11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6Ui0cRk-Ow/Tp4IZ59BtSI/AAAAAAAAKF0/v1SQmYFUdXI/s200/frank-lloyd-wright-hoyse11.jpg" width="200" /></a></td>
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<h1>
About the house</h1>
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<td style="border: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I_Vo7xug0s/Tys4UXEY1XI/AAAAAAAAKQg/NeqzQpR4Xmw/s1600/about-frank-lloyd-house-rogers-park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I_Vo7xug0s/Tys4UXEY1XI/AAAAAAAAKQg/NeqzQpR4Xmw/s200/about-frank-lloyd-house-rogers-park.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<td style="border: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Information placed in front of the house
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Chicago Landmark<br />
Emil Bach House<br />
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect<br />
1915<br />
<br />
One of the last of Wright's small urban houses, the Bach House combines elements of the Prairie style with a compact plan well suited for an interior lot. The inward orientation of the house ensures the privacy of its residents and reflects Wright's idea of the importance of family life.<br />
<br />
Designated a Chicago Landmark on September 28, 1977 by the City Council of Chicago. Michael A. Bilandic, Mayor<br />
<br />
Commission on Chicago<br />
Historical and Architectural Landmarks</blockquote>
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<b>See also:</b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/autumn-photography.html">Autumn - photography</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2012/01/frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-springfield.html" target="">Frank Lloyd Wright house in Springfield, Illinois</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-49782593496456237682011-10-16T18:26:00.000-07:002012-08-12T11:06:14.476-07:00transgender members of parliament<h1>
Anna Grodzka, Poland</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anna_Grodzka.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Radek Oliwa [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Anna Grodzka" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Anna_Grodzka.jpg/240px-Anna_Grodzka.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Grodzka</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anna Grodzka became a member of the Polish parliament in the recent election on October 9th, 2011.
Anna Grodzka is a member of a Palikot Movement party which collected enough votes to become a third major
force in the current parliament. Grodzka is currently the only transgender member of parliament worldwide. She is a long-term activist for the LGBT rights. Grodzka is a founder and activist of the <a href="http://transfuzja.org/en/artykuly.htm">Trans-Fuzja</a> foundation which is devoted to help transgender community in Poland. Her transformation to be a woman has been presented in HBO movie Trans-Akcja and presented in 2010. Among Grodzkas goals for the parliament are to help LGBT community, equalization of opportunities for woman and raise of the minimum wages. </div>
<h1>
Georgina Beyer, New Zealand</h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georgina_Beyer_at_International_Conference.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Montrealais (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Georgina Beyer at International Conference" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Georgina_Beyer_at_International_Conference.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgina Beyer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Georgina Beyer is the worldwide first transgender member of parliament. She has served in the parliament of New Zealand between 1999 and 2007 on behalf of the labour party. Beyer underwent the sex reassessment surgery in 1984. Her public career has started from election to school board and consequent election as a city mayor. Beyer had tried to include "gender identity" term in the list of Human Rights Act. Georgina Beyer has been elected three times, in 1999, 2002 and 2005. In 2007 she has resigned from the seat. </div>
<h1>
Other members</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Luxuria_-_Roma_Pride_2008.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Stefano Bolognini (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Vladimir Luxuria - Roma Pride 2008" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Vladimir_Luxuria_-_Roma_Pride_2008.JPG/120px-Vladimir_Luxuria_-_Roma_Pride_2008.JPG" width="120" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vladimir Luxuria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first member of parliament in Europe that has openly admitted transsexuality was Vladimir Luxuria. Vladimir was a member of parliament in Italy during Romano Prodi's government. Vladimir functions in public life entirely as a woman. However, Vladimir has never undergone the medical or the legal procedure of the sex change. Luxuria has been involved in organizing Italy's first pride parade in early 90's and has continued LGBT rights activism during her appointment in Italy's parliament. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Few pictures that I have taken on my walk today. Very sunny day gave a perfect opportunity to take some nice pictures. European yaw or hawthorn look particularly pretty in autumn, leafs changing colors are always very photogenic. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owutit7fEQM/TpoIclRr5MI/AAAAAAAAKD8/7l1uzgpwhU4/s1600/european-yew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owutit7fEQM/TpoIclRr5MI/AAAAAAAAKD8/7l1uzgpwhU4/s320/european-yew.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HeLc4qMsu-c/TpoIcD837GI/AAAAAAAAKD0/JeMTMRLbJNw/s1600/dry-leafs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HeLc4qMsu-c/TpoIcD837GI/AAAAAAAAKD0/JeMTMRLbJNw/s320/dry-leafs.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq7rT4Dv-I4/TpoIb7VHSyI/AAAAAAAAKDs/oy8zP_sp45Y/s1600/butterfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq7rT4Dv-I4/TpoIb7VHSyI/AAAAAAAAKDs/oy8zP_sp45Y/s320/butterfly.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMkwRtqysB0/TpoIdEFoZMI/AAAAAAAAKEE/pEr4GNzF81Q/s1600/red-berries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMkwRtqysB0/TpoIdEFoZMI/AAAAAAAAKEE/pEr4GNzF81Q/s320/red-berries.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGaYf9_y57s/TpoNgZlMpGI/AAAAAAAAKEc/RMtbKqZQG_g/s1600/corrosion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGaYf9_y57s/TpoNgZlMpGI/AAAAAAAAKEc/RMtbKqZQG_g/s320/corrosion.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<b>See also:</b><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/park-photography.html">park - photography</a><br>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-77313738345760737032011-10-11T19:00:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:43:15.978-07:00worlds most scenic castles<h1>
Egeskov Castle, Denmark</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.egeskov.dk/en/">Egeskov Castle</a> is a renaissance castle located in southern Funen in Denmark. The Castle has been built as a fortification on a lake and originally one could reach it only by a waterbridge. The name of the Castle means "oak forrest". Egeskov Castle is surrounded by gardens featuring different topics. Whole area with the Castle functions now as a museum and is one the most important tourists attractions of the island. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KlcTAzypZPE/TpESYfstxWI/AAAAAAAAKDQ/kn384gwDTqk/s1600/egeskov_castle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KlcTAzypZPE/TpESYfstxWI/AAAAAAAAKDQ/kn384gwDTqk/s640/egeskov_castle.jpeg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egeskov Castle, Denmark. Pictrure from <a href="http://www.egeskov.dk/">www.egeskov.dk</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Leeds Castle, England</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.leeds-castle.com/">Leeds Castle</a> was built at the beginning of XII century and shortly after that became a royal residence. Over the centuries Leeds Castle was a residence of English royal family. Last private owner acquired the Castle at the beginning of the XX century and in 1976 was open to the public. The Castle was afterwards place of peace negotiation between Egypt and Israel and Northern Ireland peace talks. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leeds_Castle,_Kent,_England_3_-_May_09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Diliff (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Leeds Castle, Kent, England 3 - May 09" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Leeds_Castle%2C_Kent%2C_England_3_-_May_09.jpg/640px-Leeds_Castle%2C_Kent%2C_England_3_-_May_09.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leeds Castle, England</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Malbork, Poland</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://zamek.malbork.pl/index.php?lang=en">Teutonic Castle in Malbork</a> is the worlds largest gothic castle. Malbork was the capital of the Teutonic Country and was occupied by the Teutonic Grand Master. Castle is well preserved and all of its parts are open for tourists. Over two centuries the Castle in Malbork became the most guarded town in the Teutonic Country. Castle was partially demolished at the beginning of XIX century but shortly after reconstructed. The museum is the Castle has also very large amber, art and military collection. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Thomas Stegh [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Marienburg 2004 Panorama" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg/640px-Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malbork, Poland</td></tr>
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<h1>
Kalmar Castle, Sweden</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.kalmarslott.se/sites/kalmarslott/t/default.aspx?id=19676">Kalmar Castle</a> was build in XIII century and since then played significant role in Scandinavian history. The union of Denmark, Sweden and Norway was finalized in the Kalmar Castle in XIV century. Kalmar Castle was heavily damaged XVII century and not restored until the XIX century. Nowadays Kalmar is one of the best preserved Swedish castles and is open to the public. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalmar_slott.nordostra_sidan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Alexandru Baboş Albabos (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Kalmar slott.nordostra sidan" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Kalmar_slott.nordostra_sidan.jpg/500px-Kalmar_slott.nordostra_sidan.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalmar Castle, Sweden</td></tr>
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<h1>
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm">Neuschwanstein Castle</a> is a XIX century palace in southern Bavaria in Germany. The Palace was planed to act as a royal residence but has been open to public immediately after the construction. The magnificent scenery of the Castle was an inspiration for many movies. Today the Castle is a popular tourist destination.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuschwanstein_Castle_panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By b k from Freehold, NJ [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Neuschwanstein Castle panorama" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Neuschwanstein_Castle_panorama.jpg/640px-Neuschwanstein_Castle_panorama.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany</td></tr>
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<b>See also:</b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/teutonic-knights-castles-in-poland.html">Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-34740193576838482542011-10-06T20:58:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:43:25.590-07:00graduation towers - different face of spa<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ciechocinek.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Autor: Akapit (Praca własna) [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], undefined"><img alt="Ciechocinek" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Ciechocinek.jpg/640px-Ciechocinek.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduation tower in Ciechocinek, Poland</td></tr>
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<h1>
What is a graduation tower?</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A graduation tower is a wooden construction traditionally in a shape of long tower. Tower is filled with blackthorn branches.
The purpose of the graduation towers in the past was to increase the concentration of salt in saline solution and to obtain salt.
Nowadays graduation towers are used in spa towns for artificially creating salt concentration in air similar to sea shore area. Mineral rich water obtained from a local spring is run slowly from the top of the tower. Droplets of saline evaporating and breaking on the branches create a mineral rich aerosol in the vicinity of the tower. The condition of the air around towers highly depends on the weather and is the richest in minerals when evaporation is high, that is sunny and warm days. </div>
<h1>
Graduation towers in the world</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Graduation towers can be found only in Poland, Germany and Austria. In all of those counties towers have been build in towns with mineral rich natural springs. Previously used for salt production, nowadays are a tourist attraction and turned towns into health resorts. Large complex of graduation towers is located in Poland in town Ciechocinek. Ciechocinek became a health resort mainly used by people with respiratory tract problems.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gradierwerk2BadNauheim.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Z0man (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Gradierwerk2BadNauheim" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Gradierwerk2BadNauheim.jpg/240px-Gradierwerk2BadNauheim.jpg" width="240" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:6_Ciechocinek_18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=" © Marek and Ewa Wojciechowscy / Trips over Poland / CC-BY-SA-3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.0 & GDFL , via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="6 Ciechocinek 18" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/6_Ciechocinek_18.jpg/240px-6_Ciechocinek_18.jpg" width="170" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ciechocinek_teznia_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Ludek (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Ciechocinek teznia 4" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Ciechocinek_teznia_4.jpg/120px-Ciechocinek_teznia_4.jpg" width="120" /></a></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad Nauheim, Germany</td>
<td class="tr-caption" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">Ciechocinek, Poland</td>
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<b>See also:</b><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/poland-feel-invited.html">10 reasons to visit Poland</a><br>
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/teutonic-knights-castles-in-poland.html">Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-17064996119622773062011-10-05T19:00:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:43:41.023-07:00the largest earthquake and tsunami in North America<h1>
The largest earthquake in North America</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Very close to Seward, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on Good Friday March 28, 1964 took place the largest earthquake recorded in North America. The magnitude of the earthquake reached 9.2. The earthquake caused a tsunamis more than 200 feet (60 meters) hight. Tsunamis reached Oregon and California causing fatalities. Despite a large magnitude of the earthquake only 131 people died, mostly as victims of the tsunamis. The largest damage was caused in Anchorage as a direct result of the earthquake. Other areas damage was mostly caused by tsunamis. The strength of the Alaskan earthquake has been noticed worldwide and as a result even level of wells in Africa has changed and boats sunk in Luisiana. The great Alaskan Earthquake is worldwide second largest earthquake ever recorded. Only the Great Chilean Earthquake that stroked in 1960 was larger and reached 9.5 on the magnitude scale. </div>
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<div align="center" style="border: 1px solid black; width: 625px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ae964cb6824b07c58&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=60.748424,-148.271484&spn=1.87913,6.866455&z=7&output=embed" width="625"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ae964cb6824b07c58&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=60.748424,-148.271484&spn=1.87913,6.866455&z=7&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Americas largest earthquake</a> in a larger map</small>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the map above the epicentrum of the Great Alaskan Earthquake is marked in green, in blue we marked Anchorage and Seward. </div>
<h1>
Alaska after the largest earthquake</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Althout only 131 people died in the Great Alaskan Earthquake, large region suffered great damage. Anchorage suffered the most damage. About 30 blocks of commercial buildings in downtown Anchorage were heavily damaged. Smaller coastal towns, like Seward, suffered also great damage caused mainly by tsunamis. After the earthquake plans of towns were adjusted and new buildings or constructions have been put new more save areas. Damage in Alaska has been estimated at 2 billion dollars (at todays value). Results of the tsunamis are still visible as a death forest that is nowadays preserved. Salty water brought inland by tsunamis destroyed trees in large coastal area. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5673bIMq5g/TmuuU_mlJXI/AAAAAAAAJ6s/fJJG5VFPlho/s1600/alaska-after-largest-earthquake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5673bIMq5g/TmuuU_mlJXI/AAAAAAAAJ6s/fJJG5VFPlho/s200/alaska-after-largest-earthquake.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyhRu_Yoadg/TmuuVUzOXlI/AAAAAAAAJ6w/g8G6MZ9Ze5M/s1600/alaska-after-largest-earthquake2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyhRu_Yoadg/TmuuVUzOXlI/AAAAAAAAJ6w/g8G6MZ9Ze5M/s200/alaska-after-largest-earthquake2.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqD-veostx8/TmuuV0s9fhI/AAAAAAAAJ60/3yoUTFGOugc/s1600/alaska-after-largest-eqrthquake3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqD-veostx8/TmuuV0s9fhI/AAAAAAAAJ60/3yoUTFGOugc/s200/alaska-after-largest-eqrthquake3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Tsunami hazard in Alaska</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alaska as one of the most seismically active region on the planet is at constant earthquake and tsunami hazard. Most of the earthquakes and vulcano eruptions do not cause big damage since the most active region of the Ring of Fire is sparsly populated. However, the southern Alaska is not only in danger of tsunamis and earthquakes caused in the region. As an coast open to the Pacific Ocean, it is in the tsunami hazard area of more distant earthquakes like those in Japan, Hawai, California or South America. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The tsunami hazard zone, the evacuation route and area are well marked in all tsunami hazard areas. Seward in Alaska has daily test of the tsunami alert, similar to other towns in the hazard zones. Below we show road signs used in Alaska for the hazard area. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z8xDw8Od2ZQ/TlB9_eDOc8I/AAAAAAAAJtA/sQQuEpYU7js/s1600/tsunami-hazard-zone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z8xDw8Od2ZQ/TlB9_eDOc8I/AAAAAAAAJtA/sQQuEpYU7js/s200/tsunami-hazard-zone.JPG" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuCA7cmBtbs/TlB9-9d7J3I/AAAAAAAAJs8/SFaXe7eP_U8/s1600/tsunami-evacuation-route.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuCA7cmBtbs/TlB9-9d7J3I/AAAAAAAAJs8/SFaXe7eP_U8/s200/tsunami-evacuation-route.JPG" width="200" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoIBXDMIa5Q/TlB9-XLK5bI/AAAAAAAAJs4/1ZA-WvickeY/s1600/tsunami-evacuation-area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoIBXDMIa5Q/TlB9-XLK5bI/AAAAAAAAJs4/1ZA-WvickeY/s200/tsunami-evacuation-area.jpg" width="112.5" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsunami hazard zone US road sign.</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evacuation route, road sign from Alaska.</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evacuation area for tsunami hazard, Alaska.</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>See also: </b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-1.html">Alaskan honeymoon - part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-2.html">Alaskan honeymoon - part 2</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/09/honeymoon-in-alaska-part-3.html">Alaskan honeymoon - part 3</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-24828705963391646292011-10-04T20:07:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:44:00.853-07:00slavery in the modern world<h1>
Slavery in the world today</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One may think that the slavery is a concept of the past centuries and that in a modern society every person is free. According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word "slave" has wider meaning than the commonly used one.
</div>
<blockquote>
A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
<br />
<ul>
<li>a person who works very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation</li>
<li>a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Slave Trade Abolition was passed in March 1807 and both United Kingdom and the United States enacted the law in 1807 and 1808 respectively. However, more than 200 years after that countries around the world fight with slavery. Nowadays the most victims of slavery are children and woman that are sold as servants, factory workers or sex slaves. Problem mainly concerns poor regions of Middle East and Africa but America and Europe are not free of the slavery problem either and have noticeable amount of sex slavery cases. In Europe and America immigrants from poorer countries are sometimes taken advantage of and forced to work for smaller than minimal or no salary. <br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ST-slaves.jpg" title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="ST-slaves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/ST-slaves.jpg" width="270" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arabslavers.jpg" title="By 19th-century engraving Uploaded by DavidYork71 at en.wikipedia [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Arabslavers" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Arabslavers.jpg" width="235" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Overseer_Artayou_Carrier_whipped_me._I_was_two_months_in_bed_sore_from_the_whipping._My_master_come_after_I_was_whipped,_-_NARA_-_533232.tif" title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Overseer Artayou Carrier whipped me. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping. My master come after I was whipped, - NARA - 533232" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Overseer_Artayou_Carrier_whipped_me._I_was_two_months_in_bed_sore_from_the_whipping._My_master_come_after_I_was_whipped%2C_-_NARA_-_533232.tif/lossy-page1-371px-Overseer_Artayou_Carrier_whipped_me._I_was_two_months_in_bed_sore_from_the_whipping._My_master_come_after_I_was_whipped%2C_-_NARA_-_533232.tif.jpg" width="99" /></a>
<br />
<h1>
Facts about slavery around the world</h1>
<div>
Few examples of slavery in modern world and todays slave trade </div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In 2005 UNICEF and United Arab Emirates signed the agreement to free more than 1000 children slaves from Middle East involved in camel racing.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Remnant of the cast system in India exacerbate the children slavery problem which are often forced to work in carpet factories. Although carpet manufacturers and carpet importers to the US and Europe deny it, South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude estimates that between 200 000 and 300 000 children are slaved in India. Estimated numbers for Pakistan and Nepal are of the same order.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Led by false promises of employment in hotels or restaurant women immigrants are sold and forced to prostitute in Europe and North America.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Sugar cane slavery is problem in Dominica Republic where people are kidnaped by or sold to Dominican soldiers and forced to harvest sugar cane for low or no wages.</li>
</ul>
<h1>
Your slavery footprint</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you are curious if and how many people were abused or worked as slaves to manufacture goods that all of us use everyday
check your slavery footprint. Service <a href="http://slaveryfootprint.org/">slaveryfootprint.org</a> after collecting some informations
about place you live and what is in your house and what do you eat everyday will show you how many people were abused making your
life as it is. Service will also display a map with distributed fraction of slavery in your footprint.
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-75341240014547666212011-10-02T19:59:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:44:16.140-07:00worlds most amazing hotels<h1>
Hotel from Ice in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden </h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Town Jukkasjärvi in the northern Sweden is fameus from <a href="http://www.icehotel.com/uk/ICEHOTEL/">Ice Hotel</a>. The Ice Hotel is entirely made of ice and snow and is build every year and opens around December. Ice Hotels bar glasses are also made from ice. Hotels bar was open in partnership with Absolut Vodka and is a precursor of Icebars in London, Stockholm and other cities. Hotel accommodates around 100 people and rooms, main hall, church, reception area are uniquely designed and rebuild every year from scratch. Icehotel is the largest ice and snow structure spanning over 6000 square meters. Guests can spend a night in temperature below zero, sleeping in warm clothes and boots on a ice-block bed. </div>
<br />
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ice_Hotel_Church_Jukkasj%C3%A4rvi.jpg" title="By bjaglin from Lund, Sweden (Ice Hotel Church @ Jukkasjärvi) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Ice Hotel Church Jukkasjärvi" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Ice_Hotel_Church_Jukkasj%C3%A4rvi.jpg/240px-Ice_Hotel_Church_Jukkasj%C3%A4rvi.jpg" width="250" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweden_Ice_Hotel_5.jpg" title="By Cyr (Tom Corser) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.0-uk (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Sweden Ice Hotel 5" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Sweden_Ice_Hotel_5.jpg/240px-Sweden_Ice_Hotel_5.jpg" width="220" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Icehotel_entre_ms.jpg" title="By Laplandish (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Icehotel entre ms" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Icehotel_entre_ms.jpg/120px-Icehotel_entre_ms.jpg" width="110" /></a>
<br />
<h1>
Salt Hotel, Bolivia</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Salar de Uyuni desert in Bolivia one finds a hotel entirely made from salt. The desert is a remnant of a dry salty lake. The hotel is build from salt blocks and other natural materials from the Andes. Few years ago the hotel had to be demolished after missmanagement but was rebuild in the eastern edge of the desert under the name Palacio de Sal. Floor, walls, even the furniture including chairs and beds are made from salt and guests are forbidden to lick the equipement. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek99r39Kvm4/TokFrDvQmYI/AAAAAAAAKCk/RCojd5jX_JY/s1600/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek99r39Kvm4/TokFrDvQmYI/AAAAAAAAKCk/RCojd5jX_JY/s200/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_01.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMRGKi31Y44/TokFrnRflAI/AAAAAAAAKCo/P9cBfCEuF30/s1600/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMRGKi31Y44/TokFrnRflAI/AAAAAAAAKCo/P9cBfCEuF30/s200/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_02.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ6N8tkP0jY/TokFr_axWyI/AAAAAAAAKCs/3-icDImXx24/s1600/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ6N8tkP0jY/TokFr_axWyI/AAAAAAAAKCs/3-icDImXx24/s200/Hotel_Tayka_de_Sal_03.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Pictures from <a href="http://www.boliviatravelsite.com/">www.boliviatravelsite.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h1>
Tree Hotel, Sweden</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sweden is home for few of the most unique hotels. It is not only that they have an Ice Hotel but Swedish people put a new meaning to the word tree-house. Tree Hotel features six uniquely designed and fully equipped tree-houses. All rooms have different shape, from a bird's nest to UFO. The hotel is located in town Harads in northern Sweden. Each of the six houses is eco-friendly and has been put from 4 to 6 meters above the ground are 15-30 square meters large. Although hotel is located in northern Sweden, it is open all year long. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rqy4vjZHzc/TokJAC2plxI/AAAAAAAAKCw/CbO9yvpgahw/s1600/44994_birdsnest_1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rqy4vjZHzc/TokJAC2plxI/AAAAAAAAKCw/CbO9yvpgahw/s640/44994_birdsnest_1a.png" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird's nest room. Picture from <a href="http://www.treehotel.se/">www.treehotel.se</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h1>
Sleeping capsules, Japan</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Japan has probably the worlds most minimalistic hotel. 9 Hours is not only hotel with different design but also different concept of running a hotel. The hotel does not have rooms in the classical meaning and guests are sleeping in the individual capsules. Most of the hotel is shared between guests and the private area is restricted to the 2.5 meter long and 1 meter high capsule. Except a TV and a small shelf the capsule contains just a mattress covering the floor. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq_ZA_MqeIk/TokKF0aXwoI/AAAAAAAAKC0/JoMyyVys7h4/s1600/bg_main12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq_ZA_MqeIk/TokKF0aXwoI/AAAAAAAAKC0/JoMyyVys7h4/s200/bg_main12.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kFjQ9GxCmc/TokKICvvhtI/AAAAAAAAKC4/eqS5o8vRPoA/s1600/bg_main13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kFjQ9GxCmc/TokKICvvhtI/AAAAAAAAKC4/eqS5o8vRPoA/s200/bg_main13.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyMjqJZ8NyA/TokKJAlQjxI/AAAAAAAAKC8/pMMeEPGzTV4/s1600/bg_main02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyMjqJZ8NyA/TokKJAlQjxI/AAAAAAAAKC8/pMMeEPGzTV4/s200/bg_main02.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Pictures from <a href="http://9hours.jp/">9hours.jp</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1>
Cave Hotel, New Mexico, US</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New Mexico, US has a hotel made in a cave. Kokopelli's Cave is located 70 feet below the surface and has cave cavity turned into a hotel room. Access to the cave may be not easy depending on the guests condition. The cave was first the office and private home before it has been arranged as a hotel room. The room is fully equipped with full kitchen and even a jacuzzi and everything is put between 65 million years old walls.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5JzioXkrIw/Toj_EF0F2VI/AAAAAAAAKCg/itYOzuiNqt8/s1600/pix8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5JzioXkrIw/Toj_EF0F2VI/AAAAAAAAKCg/itYOzuiNqt8/s200/pix8.jpeg" width="190" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IIMLbZfk2w/Toj_Dr-wwUI/AAAAAAAAKCY/6bCJRztzM3A/s1600/pix6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IIMLbZfk2w/Toj_Dr-wwUI/AAAAAAAAKCY/6bCJRztzM3A/s200/pix6.jpeg" width="171" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMtfm1NKOIE/Toj_D67jqbI/AAAAAAAAKCc/UkoxG5ENl3I/s1600/pix7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMtfm1NKOIE/Toj_D67jqbI/AAAAAAAAKCc/UkoxG5ENl3I/s200/pix7.jpeg" width="171" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Pictures from Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast, <a href="http://www.bbonline.com/nm/kokopelli/">www.bbonline.com/nm/kokopelli</a></td></tr>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-74178355297845565882011-10-01T19:00:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:44:27.318-07:00Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland<br />
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kwidzyn_zamek.jpg" title="Autor: Kwipedia (Praca własna) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) lub GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], undefined"><img alt="Kwidzyn zamek" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Kwidzyn_zamek.jpg/240px-Kwidzyn_zamek.jpg" width="255" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zamek_-_Radzyn_Chelminski_002.jpg" title="Autor: Konrad Ślęzak (Praca własna) [CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], undefined"><img alt="Zamek - Radzyn Chelminski 002" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Zamek_-_Radzyn_Chelminski_002.jpg/240px-Zamek_-_Radzyn_Chelminski_002.jpg" width="225" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torun_zamek_krzyz_gdanisko.jpg" title="By Pko (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Torun zamek krzyz gdanisko" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Torun_zamek_krzyz_gdanisko.jpg/120px-Torun_zamek_krzyz_gdanisko.jpg" width="112" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg" title="Autor: Thomas Stegh [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) lub CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], undefined"><img alt="Marienburg 2004 Panorama" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg/640px-Marienburg_2004_Panorama.jpg" width="636" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lidzbark_(js)3.jpg" title="Autor: Jerzy Strzelecki (Praca własna) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) lub CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], undefined"><img alt="Lidzbark (js)3" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Lidzbark_%28js%293.jpg/120px-Lidzbark_%28js%293.jpg" width="95" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zamek_w_Nidzicy.jpg" title="Autor: Semu (Praca własna) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) lub CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], undefined"><img alt="Zamek w Nidzicy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Zamek_w_Nidzicy.jpg/240px-Zamek_w_Nidzicy.jpg" width="246" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Szymbark1(js).jpg" title="Autor: Jerzy Strzelecki (Praca własna) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) lub CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], undefined"><img alt="Szymbark1(js)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Szymbark1%28js%29.jpg/240px-Szymbark1%28js%29.jpg" width="250" /></a>
<br />
<h1>
Teutonic Knights Order</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Order of Teutonic Knights has been created after the crusades in Jerusalem.
Together with Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller was one of the largest
three orders created on the legacy of crusades. Teutonic Knights Order was based
on participants of the crusaders of German origin. Initially order was to act as
guards of injured and sick knights of German origin. Pope Clement III officially
founded the order when the knights moved from Jerusalem to Akka. After the conquest
of Akka the Pope gave the city and its neighbourhood into the power of the order. Over many years of diplomatic efforts of the Grand Master Hermann von Salza, Teutonic Knight become a powerful and respected force in Europe. Vatican and the Holy Roman Empire awarded the Teutonic Order with land and many privileges in Palestine and in Europe. The ambitions of the Grand Master were to create an independent Teutonic Country. Teutonic Order obtained great land donations in Transylvania in Hungary in 1211. However, the donations have been withdrawn after the Teutonic Knights broke the agreement of the donation in 1225. In 1226 the Order has received a lese of land in Poland from Konrad I of Masovia.</div>
<h1>
Teutonic Knights in Poland</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Duke of Masovia, Konrad I of Masovia invited the military religious Teutonic Knights Order to Poland having problems with Prussian rides over his land. Main role of Teutonic Knights was suppose to be christianisation of pagan Prussia and keeping peace on the border with Masovia. Teutonic Knights conquered Prussian land and created their own country. Ambitions of the Order become even larger and in the next century great Polish - Teutonic war has started. The war has definitely ended in 1525 when Teutonic Knights lost their land in Poland and keept only their possessions in the Holy Roman Empire. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: 1px solid black; width: 625px;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ad9385775d7e2d4ef&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=53.813626,19.072266&spn=2.270397,6.866455&z=7&output=embed" width="625"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ad9385775d7e2d4ef&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=53.813626,19.072266&spn=2.270397,6.866455&z=7&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland</a> in a larger map</small>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the map above we marked all Teutonic castles in Poland. Well preserved castles have been marked in red and ruins in blue. The largest Teutonic castle has been build in Malbork that became a capital of the Teutonic Country. The castle in Malbork is until today the world largest castle. </div>
<h1>
Present Teutonic Knights</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Teutonic Order functions until today. Its headquarter is located in Viena and the Order possesses many locations in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Order is nowadays focusing on running hospitals, helping older people and running nursing homes. Bruno Platter is the Great Master of the Teutonic Order since 2000. At the 600th anniversary of the the great Polish-Teutonic battle in Grunwald, Bruno Platter visited Poland and was a guest of Polish president. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The legacy of Teutonic Knights in Poland is a great tourist attraction. Many of the castles have been destroyed during wars, but large fraction of them with the castle in Malbork for example have been very well preserved and turned into museums. </div>
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<b>See also : </b>
<br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/poland-feel-invited.html">10 reasons to visit Poland</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/09/euro-2012.html">EURO 2012</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-21590348024247998352011-10-01T15:00:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:44:38.124-07:0010 reasons to visit Poland<h1>
Perfect time to visit Poland, 10 good reasons</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you are planing to travel to central or eastern Europe you should definitely visit Poland. If you are looking for destination and have not decided yet, look at the things that are waiting for you in Poland and reconsider your next years holidays.
</div>
<h1>
The oldest settlements</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biskupin_brama_od_zewnatrz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="I, Ludek [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Biskupin brama od zewnatrz" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Biskupin_brama_od_zewnatrz.jpg/240px-Biskupin_brama_od_zewnatrz.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The archaeological site in <a href="http://www.biskupin.pl/asp/en_start.asp?typ=13&menu=143&strona=1">Biskupin</a> contains reconstructed fortified settlement and village from approximately 750 year b.c. The museus is open all year long and reenactments of peoples life and culture are organized every summer. The village is situated by the scenic lake and is close to Bydgoszcz which is one the main metropolis of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The settlement has been accidentally discovered in 1933 when local drainage works have lowered the level of the lake. Since 1934 Biskupin is an active archeological site .</div>
<h1>
Kraków old Polish Capital</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Krak%C3%B3w_-_Wawel_from_Kopiec_Krakusa.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="By RaNo (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Kraków - Wawel from Kopiec Krakusa" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Krak%C3%B3w_-_Wawel_from_Kopiec_Krakusa.jpg/240px-Krak%C3%B3w_-_Wawel_from_Kopiec_Krakusa.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="274" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Kraków is the main metropolis in the southern Poland. Before the capital has been moved to Warsaw, Kraków was home of the royal castle. Kraków is one of the oldest Polish cities and is the location of the oldest Polish University. Jagiellonian University has been established in 1364 and is one of the world oldest universities. Kraków is well preserved and suffered very little damage over the wars. Many of monuments in Kraków have been put on UNESCO Worlds Heritage Sites.</div>
<h1>
Gothic Castles</h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zamek_w_malborku_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Wisniowy (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Zamek w malborku 01" height="130" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Zamek_w_malborku_01.jpg/500px-Zamek_w_malborku_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teutonic Castle in Malbork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Almost every city and town in Poland has a well preserved caste or its ruins. Town Malbork at the north of Poland is home for the world largest castle that more than 500 years ago was a capital of Teutonic Knights country. Ruins and castles are open for tourists and wait with a museum and a guide.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Castle in <a href="http://www.zamkigotyckie.org.pl/kwidzyn-ang.htm">Kwidzyn</a> and <a href="http://www.zamek.malbork.pl/index.php?lang=en">Malbork</a> are examples of the best preserved castles on the <a href="http://www.szlak.zamkigotyckie.org.pl/index-ang.html">Gothic Castles Tour</a>.</div>
</div>
<h1>
Spas</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of the Polish towns are located in regions rich in natural resources with salty spring waters or hot springs. Around those towns people have build spas and unique health resorts. Graduation towers are one of the most unique constructions. One the pictures below from the left are graduation towers in Ciechocinek and Inowrocław in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Spa in Ląndek Zdrój at the south of Poland.
</div>
<br/>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ciechocinek_t%C4%99%C5%BCnia_nr_3_(03).jpg" title="By Lopcio (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-pl (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/pl/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Ciechocinek tężnia nr 3 (03)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Ciechocinek_t%C4%99%C5%BCnia_nr_3_%2803%29.jpg/240px-Ciechocinek_t%C4%99%C5%BCnia_nr_3_%2803%29.jpg" width="210" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inowroclaw_Teznie_(1).jpg" title="Autor: Stanisław J. Radziński (pl.wiki - en.wiki) (English: own work Polski: praca własna) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], undefined"><img alt="Inowroclaw Teznie (1)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Inowroclaw_Teznie_%281%29.jpg/240px-Inowroclaw_Teznie_%281%29.jpg" width="204" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ladek_zdroj_010.JPG" title="By Leszek Żur (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Ladek zdroj 010" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Ladek_zdroj_010.JPG/240px-Ladek_zdroj_010.JPG" width="186" /></a>
<h1>
See the bisons</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zubr_003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="I, Lite [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Zubr 003" height="150" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Zubr_003.jpg/240px-Zubr_003.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="http://www.puszczabialowieska.org/eng/index.htm">Białowieża Forest</a> is one of the last places in Europe to see wild bisons. Białowieża Forest is one of the largest forest in Poland and lies on a border of Poland and Belarus. The forest contain ancient oaks and the National Park organizes bird and bisons watching tours. Białowieża Forest was partially protected even in XV century when habitation and goods harvesting from this forest was forbidden. </span></div>
<br/>
<h1>
Toruń, Copernicus hometown</h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Toruń is a gothic town in the middle of northern Poland. Its unique and well preserved gothic architecture make its old town one of the most beautiful in Poland. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Toruń and his family house is a museum of his life and work. University in Toruń is named after Copernicus. For long time Toruń was a border city with the river dividing Poland and Teutonic Country. Modern Toruń has ruins of castles on both sides of the river. </div>
<br />
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pomnik_Miko%C5%82aja_Kopernika_w_Toruniu.JPG" title="By Kumal (Own work(own work by uploader)) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Pomnik Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Pomnik_Miko%C5%82aja_Kopernika_w_Toruniu.JPG/240px-Pomnik_Miko%C5%82aja_Kopernika_w_Toruniu.JPG" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toru%C5%84_-_Old_Town_by_night_01.jpg" title="By Lestat (Jan Mehlich) (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Toruń - Old Town by night 01" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Toru%C5%84_-_Old_Town_by_night_01.jpg/240px-Toru%C5%84_-_Old_Town_by_night_01.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torun-sw-Jakuba.jpg" title="By Pko (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Torun-sw-Jakuba" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Torun-sw-Jakuba.jpg/120px-Torun-sw-Jakuba.jpg" width="107" /></a><br />
<h1>
Fallen and rebuild Warsaw</h1>
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal-Castle-of-Warsaw_AB.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="By Andrzej Barabasz (Chepry) (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Royal-Castle-of-Warsaw AB" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Royal-Castle-of-Warsaw_AB.jpg/240px-Royal-Castle-of-Warsaw_AB.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although Warsaw is very old city, it had a very turbulent history and has been destroyed during the II World War. Warsaw is a capital of Poland since the XVI century and nowadays is home for all main government institutions. Warsaw's Old Town is location of a Royal Castle with a column of Polish king Sigismund III Vasa. Modern Warsaw has in its borders many royal palaces that are open for tourist. Warsaw has two major universities. A Palace of Culture and Science in the center of Warsas is one of the more recognizable buildings common for Eastern European capitals. </div>
<h1>
Gdańsk and Baltic Sea shore</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pl_gdansk_zuraw_dlugiepobrzeze2006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By Rafal Konkolewski (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Pl gdansk zuraw dlugiepobrzeze2006" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Pl_gdansk_zuraw_dlugiepobrzeze2006.jpg/240px-Pl_gdansk_zuraw_dlugiepobrzeze2006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The north of Poland has a major metropolis consistent of three major cities Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. Gdańsk is the oldest and most scenic of the three cities. Part of Gdańsk called Westerplatte is a site where II World Was has started in Poland. In 2012 Gdańsk in one of the four Polish cities hosting EURO 2012 games. Old Town in Gdańsk very scenic and is home of Polish most fameus Neptun sculpture that has become a symbol of Gdańsk. </div>
<br/><br/>
<h1>
EU presidency 2011</h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKRPI8OxoTk/Tn_o4-QglxI/AAAAAAAAKCI/w5-FXNdlvSc/s1600/Prezydencja+2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKRPI8OxoTk/Tn_o4-QglxI/AAAAAAAAKCI/w5-FXNdlvSc/s1600/Prezydencja+2011.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polish EU presidency logo, <br />
picture from <a href="http://pl2011.eu/en">pl2011.eu</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
European Union changes a president country every 6 months and between July and December 2011 Poland takes this function. Poland at that time will be leading the EU Council, setting its agenda, negotiating with new members, managing and administrating the EU Council, host and organize the Council meetings. Poland takes the presidency for the first time and together with the administrative part it also promotes Polish culture in the EU and outside intensifying the number or Poland related cultural events in Poland and abroad. More informations about the cultural program of Polish presidency may be found on <a href="http://www.culture.pl/web/English/cppp">www.culture.pl</a>.</div>
</div>
<h1>
EURO 2012</h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz6voGFyh_Q/TnY9Fpi2NJI/AAAAAAAAKBc/ED8T3TF2olQ/s1600/UEFA_Euro_2012_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz6voGFyh_Q/TnY9Fpi2NJI/AAAAAAAAKBc/ED8T3TF2olQ/s200/UEFA_Euro_2012_logo.png" width="100" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EURO 2012 logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
EURO 2012 will be organized by Poland and Ukraine. Poland will host football games in four very scenic cities : Gdańsk, Warsaw, Poznań and Wrocław. All of those cities are worth visiting regardless of the EURO. However, EURO 2012 may be a perfect opportunity to see the games and cities as well. All cities have airports and are easily reachable from any major European airport. Maskots of the EURO 2012 are two football players with traditional sounding names Slavek and Slavko. The first match of the EURO 2012 will be in Warsaw on 8 June and final will be played on 1 July in Kiev.<br />
<br /></div>
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<b>See also : </b><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/09/euro-2012.html">EURO 2012</a><br />
<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/10/teutonic-knights-castles-in-poland.html">Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-84027604480954807742011-09-21T20:18:00.000-07:002012-03-28T13:44:48.628-07:00the winner is Egypt<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.worldtravelawards.com/">World Travel Awards</a> have been given and Egypt is on top of the winning traveling spots. Althout all political problems of Egypt this year, it was not abandoned by tourists. In category "Africa" Egypt has won in categories like Africa's Leading Attraction with The Pyramides, Africa's Leading Beach Destination with Egyptian Sharm El Sheikh, Africa's Leading Beach and City hotels, resort and villa. However, Africa's Leading Destination was in 2011 City of Cape Town in South Affrica.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheops_pyramid_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Jon Bodsworth [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Cheops pyramid 01" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Cheops_pyramid_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheops pyramide, Egypt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The awards are given in categories based on their location and are grouped in continents. Awards are given since 18 years ago. During that time Egypt was the twice Africa's Leading Destination (Cape Town was awarded most often in this category).<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sphinx_and_the_Great_Pyramid_of_Giza_panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By kallerna (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza panorama" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Sphinx_and_the_Great_Pyramid_of_Giza_panorama.jpg/640px-Sphinx_and_the_Great_Pyramid_of_Giza_panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-27603630580154732782011-09-18T20:39:00.000-07:002012-03-19T19:02:05.522-07:00EURO 2012<h1>
2012 UEFA European Football Championship</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz6voGFyh_Q/TnY9Fpi2NJI/AAAAAAAAKBc/ED8T3TF2olQ/s1600/UEFA_Euro_2012_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz6voGFyh_Q/TnY9Fpi2NJI/AAAAAAAAKBc/ED8T3TF2olQ/s320/UEFA_Euro_2012_logo.png" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UEFA EURO 2012 official logo.</td></tr>
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European Football Championship (EURO) in 2012 will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine together. Shared organisation of such event was done before in 2000 by Belgium and Netherlands and in 2008 when Austria and Switzerland hosted EURO 2008 together.
Poland and Ukraine are preparing for this event since few years. New stadiums had to be build and infrastructure around them prepared for all the football fans that will come to see this unique event. Hopefully Maya people were wrong and world will not end before EURO giving Spain a chance to defend their championship from 2008. </div>
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For those who are not familiar with EURO, it is an equivalence of World Cup but only for teams from Europe. Some countries like UK have more teams that enter EURO and represent for example England or Scotland separately. However, most of countries are represented by their national teams. Games that are played during EURO are the finals and eliminations are happening long line before the actual event. However, EURO is divided into group part, where all teams play agains all from the same group and play-off part. The champion holds the title for four years until the next EURO.<br />
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Games will be played in four cities in Poland and Ukraine. Map below shows all cities that will host games during EURO 2012 in Poland (marked in red) and Ukraine (marked in blue).<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ad3fc6dfb3ea8abde&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=0&ll=51.179343,27.37793&spn=9.648141,26.367188&z=5&output=embed" width="600"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210624478766125717750.0004ad3fc6dfb3ea8abde&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=0&ll=51.179343,27.37793&spn=9.648141,26.367188&z=5&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Poland-Ukraine EURO 2012</a> in a larger map</small>
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<b>See also : </b>
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<a href="http://naturalbornexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/08/poland-feel-invited.html">10 reasons to visit Poland</a>Marcinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421213440756977555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946690252938030781.post-1197762448112191122011-09-17T17:26:00.000-07:002012-07-21T21:05:53.431-07:00where is the Amber Room?<h1>
Amber Room</h1>
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The Amber Room is a chamber with gold and amber decorations. It was made in XVIII century and disappeared during the II World War. It is estimated to be worth nowadays over 500 millions dolars and is considered an "Eighth Wonder of the World". The Amber Rooms known history ends suddenly and leaves many possible locations for its place of hiding. Since its disappearance many treasure seekers were involved in the search. However, none of them succeeded yet. </div>
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History of Amber Room</h1>
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Frederick I of Prussia at the beginning of XVIII century ordered a decorative room for his palace. The room was designed by Andreas Schlüter and made in Denmark by Gottfried Wolfram from amber. Initially the Amber Room was installed in Charlottenburg Palace near Berlin in Germany. In 1716 Frederick I gave the Amber Room to Peter the Great to strengthen their alliance against Sweden. Peter the Great got the Amber Room installed in his Winter Palace in St. Petersburg as a part of the European art collection. The Amber Room has been moved again in following decades and while being adapted to the new location it has been also expanded. After years it covered more that 50 square meters and included approximately 6 tons of amber.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin_-_Schloss-Charlottenburg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Autor: Lestat (Jan Mehlich) (Praca własna) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) lub CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], undefined"><img alt="Berlin - Schloss-Charlottenburg" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Berlin_-_Schloss-Charlottenburg.jpg/500px-Berlin_-_Schloss-Charlottenburg.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlottenburg Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winter_Palace_Facade_II.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Photograph by Siyad Ma, cropped and straightened by Iain99 [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Winter Palace Facade II" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Winter_Palace_Facade_II.jpg/500px-Winter_Palace_Facade_II.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Palace in St. Petersburg</td></tr>
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The last legitimate location of the original Amber Room is Catherine Palace in Pushkin close to St. Petersburg. The palace is also a location of the modern reconstruction of the Amber Room. In its history, Amber Room was used by Peter the Great, Czarina Elizabeth, Catherine the Great and Aleksander I.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CatherinePalaceSouthSide.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By User Leonard G. on en.wikipedia (Image by en:User:Leonard G.) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="CatherinePalaceSouthSide" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/CatherinePalaceSouthSide.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine Palace in Pushkin, Saint Petersburg</td></tr>
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During the II World War and German invasion of Soviet Russia, the Amber Room was moved by Germans to Königsberg Castle and installed there. The Castle during the II World War functioned as a museum. In 1943 Alfred Rohde, working as a director of the museum, was in charge of moving Amber Room to different location. In 1944 the castle was burned down as a result of bombing. Königsberg Castle is the last known location of the Amber Room.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:K%C3%B6nigsberg_Castle_courtyard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Photoglob AG, Zürich, Switzerland or Detroit Publishing Company, Detroit, Michigan [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Königsberg Castle courtyard" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/K%C3%B6nigsberg_Castle_courtyard.jpg/500px-K%C3%B6nigsberg_Castle_courtyard.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Königsberg Castle, Kaliningrad, Russia</td></tr>
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<h1>
Where the Amber Room is now?</h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Known history of the Amber Room ends in the Königsberg Castle. The Amber Room was suppose to leave the castle and there is no information saying that it was there when the castle was destroyed. There is many theories what happened to the Amber Room after it left the castle. One them says that it is in Wilhelm Gustloff ship wreck that has been sunken in 1945 by Russians in Baltic Sea. Other informations lead to Castels in Lower Silesia in Poland occupied by Germans during the II World War. One of the people that had informations about the Amber Room was Erich Koch that was leader of NSDAP in Eastern Prussia during the war. After the war he was sentenced with a death penalty which was never performed. He died in 1986 by natural causes in a prison in Barczewo, Poland. Over many years he was number of times interviewed about whereabouts of the Amber Room, never (officially) revealing any secrets. Other theory says that a secret organisation ODESSA that was suppose to help fugitive Nazis, could be responsible for its disappearance and possible current location. Treasure seeker from all over the world mention about 200 possible locations of the Amber Room.
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Reconstruction of the Amber Room</h1>
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The Amber Room has been reconstructed in Catherine Palace and is now a great turist attraction. Information how to get there may be found on <a href="http://amber.tzar.ru/">http://amber.tzar.ru</a>, the site is for the moment only in russian. However, you may use Google Translator to get more informations until the english version apears. </div>
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<td><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernsteinzimmer11.jpg" title="By jeanyfan (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Bernsteinzimmer11" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Bernsteinzimmer11.jpg/240px-Bernsteinzimmer11.jpg" width="180" /></a>
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<td><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernsteinzimmer06.jpg" title="By jeanyfan (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Bernsteinzimmer06" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Bernsteinzimmer06.jpg/240px-Bernsteinzimmer06.jpg" width="180" /></a>
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<td><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernsteinzimmer04.jpg" title="By jeanyfan (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Bernsteinzimmer04" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Bernsteinzimmer04.jpg/240px-Bernsteinzimmer04.jpg" width="180" /></a>
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<td class="tr-caption" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Reconstruction of the Amber Room in Catherine Palace</td>
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