It was cold and very dark gloomy , a very bad day. Now amazing Capture One pro 10 is out, and for Sony users the express version is free. The Capture One 9.4 before it was simply outstanding RAWC, much better than anything from Adobe or Raw Therapy. Unfortunately, the free version of C1 does not handle Canon, Nikon or Olympus RAW, only Sony or DNG(Pentax and Leica). So I guess It is another big reason for many of us to choose Sony over anything else. If you use Sony, you can get a full copy of Capture One pro 10 for just 50 USD. AS far as I am concerned, this is an incredible deal, great Christmas gift for us from Phase One, the greatest company in Photography ever. I think both Capture One 10 Pro and DXO 11 produce a bit better color than LR CC or LR6 for Sony, Canon,Olympus, or Nikon. I suspect that Adobe programs are optimized for Canon but even for Canon CR2 files, LR6 and CC are not good enough, never produce the amazing amount details that Capture One 10 or DXO 11 does. Seriously C Oen 10 pro for just 50 US is an amazing deal. nothing beats it for that price. Capture One 10 is a much better more serious program than the LR crapware, and the biggest deal here is not need to deal with the Adobe subscription stuff. Many many Adobe users used the license and repaid it to re-activate it, it is really terribly unstable. I had one time could not use it when I was editing my images on site in a mountain area and they say my account is just trial although I paid it for full CC version. So after coming back from the mountain, I decided to cancel all Adobe CC crap, and I just got Capture One express 8.32 for Sony free,then later in the same month (last April)I upgraded it to the pro version. I could not be happier. Now, also DXO is offering me a copy FULL copy of DXO 11 Pro version for just 99 USD. I will get that too. Honestly, there are still times we need Photoshop but I do have full copy of CS6, so I do not need CC anymore, and I've found life without Adobe CC crap is really much more relaxing and easier. So in the long run, may Sony E mount be the most expensive system out side of the Leica SL and MFDBs arena? Well it seems like that considering terribly expensive Sony service charge and repair price, and of course their lens prices. As far as lenses are concerned, I can only compare the lenses that have been tested scientifically. Now please keep in mind that these tests were done with the A7R not version 2, but when Nikon introduces their higher resolution camera this will increase the final numbers for Nikon system as well, and Canon already have even higher resolution camera than both Nikon and Sony, but oddly enough DXO and most of others refuse to use the high resolution Canon body for testing their new gen lenses. Sony 35 2.8, Nikon 35 1.8, Canon 35 2.0 tested with A7R, D810, 5DIII, oddly DXO refuses to test Canon lenses on the 5DS. Anyway though,the Sony Costs $800, Nikon Costs $600, despite the Sony having less resolving power and a full stop slower than the Nikon. So we see how expensive Sony system actually is already here at the very first comparison below. www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-AF-S-NI... To be fair to Sony, there is also the Loxia 35 mm f2,which I recently sold off for some new macro lens for my Olympus. The Loxia 35 is a fairly good lens but not an amazing lens, not exceptionally sharp, not extremely well corrected either. It has a bit of serious coma issue at f2 and on, though it is still a better lens than the Sony 35 mm f2.8 in the areas of center resolution and longitudinal CA and Vignetting. But the Loxia is worse than the Sony 35 mm f2.8 in some significant areas such as coma, edge/corner sharpness and focus accuracy at infinity. So in Sony 35 mm Full frame world , there is no value 35 mm prime at all. Now move on to value 28 mm primes: Sony 28 2.0, Nikon 28 1.8, Canon 28 2.8, they are close enough to say the difference is irrelevant in real life use. www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-FE-28mm-... So move on to 70-200 mm f4: Of Sony 70-200 f4, Nikon 70-200 f4, Canon 70-200 f4, the Sony again is the most expensive despite the Nikon having more resolving power if we are to trust DXO lens rating. I personally do not trust their lens tests although I trust their sensor tests and I think their sensor test results pretty much mirror my own findings quite often. But in case of the 70-200 mm f4 lenses, many other sites like SLRgear, lenstip tested and came to the same or identical conclusion to the DXO comparison. I also tested them at my work place with my own copy of DXO analyzer and got the same results. If I have to pick the winner here, I would pick the Nikon for its obviously better resolution at 200 mm f4 setting. But it is more complicated than just optical quality, since the latest generation body IS of Sony is much more effective than most of in-lens VR or IS I tested. So, while the Nikon is a bit better lens optically, I doubt that in real life handheld photography we see the better resolving power of the Nikon. The Sony 70-200 mm f4 comes with an excellent tripod collar that would cost 120 US if we buy it separately. Canon and Nikon do not include a tripod collar in their respective 70-200 mm f4 shipping package. So maybe, is the pricing of the Sony actually reasonable? www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-FE-70-20... Now move on to 35 mm f1.4 lenses comparison:Sony 35 1.4, Nikon 35 1.4. Interestingly in this test the Sony did a little better in resolution to the Nikon although its 22mm longer and 30 grams heavier than the Nikon and 26mm longer and 50 grams heavier than the Canon, so not so compact for a compact system any more. What this fact tells us about is if you ask ultimate resolution in any current FF system, regardless of your camera body size, your lens must be big and heavy, thus your system won't be small or cheap or light at all. www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-FE-Carl-... But in case of this 35 mm f1.4, we have to consider the extremely bad copy to copy sample variation issue of the Sony. The biggest issue of the DXO and the other typical online lens test sites is that they test only one copy supplied by the company. But there is a great man testing literally 10-100 of copies of each lens and reporting his results most of times. www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/10/sony-e-mount-lens-sharpn... Personally, I take Roger's opinion much more seriously than any other lens test site's so-called review. I work at a mall which also sell cameras and I have tested many returned lenses before sending them back to the respective manufactures, we found that the copy to copy variation is much more significant than many people online think, it is sometimes even more pronounced than lens A to lens B difference. So testing one copy of each lens is not enough, definitely in the case of any super complex modern optics such as this FE 35 mm f1.4. I know the best copies of it is a fantastic lens, but about 75 percent of times you get a bad one or just an ok kind of one. It is really really deplorable, sad. But no one so-called review site besides Roger's report it, and I smell something very fishy here. Now move on to 50 mm -55 mm value primes: the Sony 55 1.8 vs the Nikon 50 1.8 vs the Canon 50 1.8 STM The Sony beats out the Nikon and obviously the Canon because of the limited megapixels, but the interesting thing is when you compare pricing...$1000 for the Sony, $219 for the Nikon. Weight was another thing with the Sony coming in at almost 100 grams heavier than the Nikon and the Canon. In terms of Absolute resolution, the Sony is quite a bit better, though if you care about the money, then the cheap Nikon gets you about 90 percent of the expensive Sony performance at 1/ 5th of the Sony price. www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-FE-Carl-... now finally move on to 90-105 mm macro lens: The Sony 90 mm macro is reported to be a better lens by likes of DXOmark, but according to Roger Cicala's extensive optics bench testing with many many copies of it, it is not as good as we all once thought it must be because of the DXO result for it below. www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-FE-90mm-... But it is obvious if you get a good copy of the Sony FE 90 mm f2.8 G lens, it is sharper than anything else in the market, actually it even beats the over-sized over priced not much useful awkward brand lenses like the Zess Otus 85 mm f1.4 APO or the Zeiss 135 mm f2 APO Sonnar,which I sold as soon as I found it useless in real life application ,especially for travel photography and street work. I loved it for studio work, but for that use I do not need to actually own any lens, just rent it from my boss's studio. Anyway, my point here is if you get a decent Sony Fe 90 or 55 mm then it even beats the super-heavy ,awkward no compromise in design kind of d-SLR lens that priced about 4 times more than the Sony lenses. The 90 macro is a cheap lens for what it is, there is no comparison to that lens in that relatively modest range of it. So while I agree that Sony has made some very positive moves in recent years,it has come at a cost in pricing, f/stop and in the compactness to the system.Even then, the Sony lenses are not necessarily the best, especially when you take the fact that the Nikon/Canon Lenses often out resolved the Sony equivalents with faster f/stops for less money into serious consideration. The Canon lenses were at a deficit due to megapixels, and even with the obvious sensor resolution disadvantage, quite a few Canon lenses actually still out-resolve Sony Nikon equivalents, it was,to me,quite amazing. So, I think if you need the ultimate best for now or the absolute best, most promising tech into foreseeable future, then the Sony system makes real sense here, but if you just need 90 percent of what the A7RM2 can do at the 1/4 of the Sony system price, then Nikon still makes better sense(value). In my area it is even more glaringly clear, the A7RM2 body alone costs about 378000 yen, the Nikon D810 kit with the AF-S24-120 mm f4 VR costs 321000 yen,the Sony does not seem to be a great value although it may well be the absolute best camera in current camera market. And most of people just go with the almost 95 percent as good as the absolute best kind of system that costs much less than the absolute best. I chose the Zeiss Batis 85 over the Zeiss Otus 85 although I knew the Otus would beat the Batis in resolution(at a lab)..........but for me the much more manageable size and the weight saving, and more importantly the better overall practicality/usability of the Batis beat the absolute tripod resolution of the Otus. I think the same logic applies for choosing the right camera system. Although, IMO, Canon still has the edge in lens line, flash,etc, and as a company most stable and profitable with a lot of key-core patents in this ILC technology, I personally never consider any of current Canon cameras seriously. The 5DS is just simply too overpriced, the 6D is just too long in the tooth, the 5D3 is about to be replaced, so no current Canon cameras make great value. The 5DS-R costs 2 times more than the D810 and I think it is just too crazy, and that makes it absolutely the worst value camera for me. The 5DS at least a bit cheaper than the A7R2 to really justify its market position since it does not have the IBIS of the Sony, the 4k capability of the Sony, the high ISO performance of the Sony. In the end, after comparing the prices of the lenses I need for the 3 systems carefully, I kind of realize that it is most logical to just stay with my current Sony system, just because I already have it. I guess I will hold on to my A7, A7M2, A7R for as long as I can, and see if Canon, Fuji or Samsung will answer to the a7R2. The above logic just works for me, but I think for more budget minded people the Nikon may still hold the value king title with the D750.. The D750 is really attractive for event photography on a tight budget, and it is very very cheap now in the many many areas of the world, especially in my area.The Nikon D750 or D810 based system is at least 30 percent cheaper than the A7M2 or the A7RM2 based system with a few primes and a couple of zooms. But if you are a kind of person always wanting to shoot with a Otus or similar IQ lens and always carefully manually focus it, then Sony would suddenly become a much more logical choice for you. The FE 55 mm f1.8 is sharper than the Otus 55 mm f1.4 at 1/4 of the Otus weight. I do not have problem paying the Otus price for a great lens but the weight is. The Sony FE 90 mm f2.8 G (assuming you get a decent copy) beats the both Otus and Batis in resolution and a few more areas. I know the greater resolution alone does not make it a better lens than the Otus since Otus beats in the areas of CA, distortion and coma at wide open,etc. But to me the better resolution of the Sony at 1/3 or the weight of Otus is very attractive. The Batis 85 mm f1.8 is a great lens, honestly it is a bit different kind of lens than the Otus is with a bit more CA, a bit more distortion,etc, but it has the unique Zeiss look as with the other great Zeiss primes, and it is definitely sharp enough for its obvious intended use. For landscape type of corner to corner sharpness, it may not be able to match the best primes in that focal range such as the FE90 mm f2.8 G , the Otus 85 mm f1.4 and the Leica 90 mm f3.5 APO, but still it handily beats all zooms and most of primes ever made in that specific focal range. Many people compare the Batis 85 mm to the Nikon AF-S85 mm f1.8 G just because they both share f1.8 f numbers, but are they really comparable in quality? Actually, in terms of sheer resolution and optical quality the cheap plastic Nikon may be comparable to the Batis. But it is weaker in a few key areas compared to the Batis. The Nikon has much worse Lo-CA, much worse weaker flare resistance, a bit more distorted. But the Nikon is smaller, lighter comes with 62 mm filter thread rather than the big 67 mm one on the Batis, it has a bit lower distortion and seems to have a bit lower amount of light fall off. So it is actually closer match than we once thought it would be, and I see many many people mostly shooting all AF prefer the Nikon over the Zeiss in this case. But unfortunately for me, the Batis is a better looking lens for my type of shooting since I am a manual focus kind of person, seldom use AF and having good MF ring is very important to me. So as my old man always said when I was a kid, it is always horses for courses, there is no one absolutely better camera system for all of us. Finally as a side note, many many people guessing a lot of the technology inside the Leica SL seems to be from Panasonic. I think Leica/Panasonic are testing the waters, with their first FF CSC with modern design more sophisticated UI than that of the Sony A7X. I wouldn't be surprised, if less than a year from now, Panasonic makes a shot directly at Sony A7 series with a cheaper and more practical version of the Leica SL. If Canon and Nikon don't come up with competitors in the meantime, Sony-Panasonic will be pushing this market very hard very far so that the old leaders will find themselves 7 laps behind all of a sudden. It may be easy for Canon to come up with something similar since they have all the tech needed to make something similar to the Leica SL, but is Nikon still safe, some how able to manage it to survive? I know many Japanese Mega camera dealers that think in a matter of a several years Nikon won't be around in this market. If they are correct, I wonder if the new Tokyo Nikon camera museum was actually built by Nikon as their own camera indoor cemetery? UPdate : now, Canon has just announced its new sensor development policy. Canon seems to have built a new sensor plant in Mie prefecture of Japan. It seems like Canon is going on new 65nm process rule and all upcoming Canon sensors will be produced at there. I think the 1DX2 and the 80D sensors are processed at the new plant. Sony is still leading the CMOS imaging industry, but giants like Samsung are in close pursuit. Also big players like Panasonic are forming joint ventures with the likes of TowerJazz to offer 12-inch wafer fabrication with state-of-the-art quantum efficiency and dark current performance at 65 nano meters, and additional 45nm digital technology, and added available capacity of approximately 800,000 8-inch wafers per year in three manufacturing plants in Japan, according to TowerJazz. The stakes are huge. The CMOS image sensor market will reached the historic $10 billion milestone in 2015, according to Yale, and with new applications popping up in automotive, medical and surveillance, while smartphones begin adopting high-definition front facing cameras, the industry is likely to hit the $16 billion mark by 2020. So nobody is just sleeping and Sony has to consolidate its position ASAP, or probably Sony will lose it again just like its short-lived TV business. UPDATE2: Nikon has just announced a new sensor fab development with Toshiba and it seems like their new sensor design uses very similar AF tech to the DP AF of the Canon EOS M5 sensor without losing almost no amount of light getting into the sensor. Canon also patented a few new curved sensor designs with Toshiba. Toshiba seems to work as a special sensor designer for many companies rather than producing it themselves now. And it found out that the Sony's old curved sensor patent is no longer effective, and it was originally a Toshiba patent. So if Sony really lost the patent to Toshiba , then Sony would have a big problem since Sony would not be able to use the curved sensor tech for their FF camera lines that helps them to design smaller and sharper lenses for the FE system. UPDATE3: Now, I've just confirmed that Nikon DL series actual shipment date would be next January 17th as planned in last Nikon conference at Nikon D5600 launch. But it may delay even further to next CP+ show in Yokohama Japan(in Feb 2017). So it is already promised to be a failed product line before the actual launch. I think Nikon is really stupid, I mean I don't think phones or mirrorless killing Nikon but itself, it obtuse marketing killing it. UPDATE4: Many people including myself thought Nikon is dying, if not already dead by now, but in reality Nikon still sells many many more units than Sony and Nikon is now working on new type of sensor design and they may collaborate with Pentax and Olympus to set up a new sensor company. If this plays out well, then Sony will be the loser since they will have no one to sell their mediocre so-called Fullframe sensors any more. And as a result their highend camera prices will go up significantly. And now Sony has just announced they've just decided to spin off their imaging division and now it is an independent business under Sony corp's supervision, just like their sensor group..... This means now Sony imaging is not a part of Sony but their subsidiary, and therefore, to Sony device group, the imaging group is just a customer,nothing special, in fact,considering its size of market share in relation to that of Nikon, Sony imaging group is a lower class customer to the device group. So there is no more reason for Sony device technology to keep the best sensor for in-house use. In fact now Sony device tech must compete with the new sensor company Nikon Olympus Ricoh have just established here and some European sensor designers such as CMOSIS, who makes the Leica SL sensor and M sensor. And do not forget there is always Canon if Sony does not sell anything to Nikon.........Canon will start selling it and there will be Panasonic and Tower Jazz also........so Nikon will not have any problem choosing sensor suppliers any more. Sony must sell their best sensors to Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax , or Sony will lose them, Sony cannot choose customers any more. If Sony is smart, it will not compete with Nikon or Olympus in camera market. After all, Nikon is the biggest customer of Sony.......but Sony also buys steppers from Nikon anyway. So Sony is not dominating the sensor market, or controlling Nikon as many Sony fanboys think..........and the just announced Spun-off of their imaging division makes Sony camera business less trust-worthy........... Sony thinks every business as a short term investment and runs it to make it temporarily profitable and then spins it off. After that? of course sells it to anyone willing to buy it.........like Sony did with the Vaio PC business, TV business, etc,etc. That is why no one really trust Sony in the long run, we long term Sony users just use its cameras but always know it is a back-up plan or step-gap solution...... After all no serious camera buyers are as obtuse as many spec-chasers and review sites think they are. None one buys into a big expensive camera system just for an amazing set of features in a body or two...................there are many many more important aspects to a system camera than just a set of great features... Now even Tamron has sensor division in house and actually they designed the best sensor in the CMOS history and announced it recently. So sensor is becoming a large part of commodity kit. Now any one has the knowledge can design it. UPDATE5: Now my first 2 copies of FE16-35mm f4 suddenly died and I just bought my 3rd copy of it.........and sadly found it terrible this time. It is obvious buying any Sony Zeiss FE lens is like picking up an extremely difficult to win lottery ticket..........it might be great but most of times you get mediocre copies of it. My first 16-35mm f4 was excellent , the second one was even better-almost outstanding, then this third one is literally lousy. I am returning it and get a new copy but I am not expecting to get a better one, I guess I was extremely lucky with my first two copies of this lens........I guess I will force the dealer to exchange my FE16-35mm f4 for the Voiklander 15mm f4. Sony QC is just terrible, and it is not worth any premium over other cheap off-brand lens maker like Samyang, Tamron and Sigma. In fact, Sony is even worse than Tamron and much worse than Sigma Art series with respect to QC. I have had 4 Tamron VC lenses in EF and F mount and they performed fairly consistent.... I really miss Tamron 90mm macro, now I guess a brand name means nothing when it comes to QC and general after sales support. In fact, Tamron and Voiklander provided me the best service of any lens maker I have ever dealt with. It is extremely frustrating every time I spend more than 110000 yen or 1075 USD, I still have to worry about terrible sample variations. I think we have to appreciate Roger Cicala's excellent site. He is the only one guy testing more than 5 copies of any given lens. All other reviewers just merely test one copy of each lens.........useless.

GoGuizhou.com is inspired by the amazing people we have met and places we have been since coming here and we wish to pass on that gift so you can get the most out of your visit in Guizhou. Questions? Comments? Want to help make the site? EMAIL US! : emyxter@gmail.com (from googuizhou.weebly.com/index.html ) Guiyang History The region making up modern day Guiyang has an ancient history spanning thousands of years. During the Epoch of the Warring states the region was the middle zone between the Chu Qian, and it was subordinate to the mysterious Yelang Kingdom, a society which was established by local ethnic groups and was believed to be a wealthy and prosperous kingdom ecomomically and culturally until it suddenly disappeared in 26 BC. After the disappearence of the Yelang Kingdom, the area became subordinate to the Zangke Prefucture during the Han Dynasties, and in the periods of the Tang Dynasties the area was under the control of the Ju Autonomus Prefuncture. During the Song Dynasty the area including and encomapassing modern day Guiyang was named Guizhou. The old city of Guiyang was constructed during the Yuan Dynasty (which was founded by Kublai Khan and the Mongols) in 1283 AD, and was originally named Shunyuan, meaning "obeying the Yuan." The Mongols made Guiyang the seat of an army and a “pacification zone”. Around this period local Chinese began to settle the area. During the Qing and Ming dynasties the city was established as an administrative center and renamed Guiyang. It became the capital of Guizhou province in 1913. Locally Guiyang beacme an important economic center, with two merhant communitied inhabiting the city. These were the Sichuanese people who primarily lived in the northern section of the city, and the peoples of Guangdong, Hunan, and Guangxi, who dominated the southern part of Guiyang. Despite Guiyang's economic importance to Guizhou province, the predominate perception of the city was that it was merely the capital city of one of China's poorest and least developed provinces. During the Chinese war between the Communist forces and the Kuo Ming Tang, the leader of the Kuo MangTing forces, Chinag Kai Shek, flew to Guiyang and made it his base of operations agaist Mao Zedong, in an effort to prevent comunist forces from capturing the city. Mao and his Red forces fled East and the city was left undistrubed until 1939 when it was bombed by Japanese forces. As a result of these attacks approximately a third of "old" Guiyang was destroyed. During World War II Guiyang became the center of Nationalist Activities against invading Japanese forces and many refugees from the eastern part of China sought refuge. As a result, bustling economic and social activity emerged and Guiyang’s rapid development was underway. During the war roads and other vital infrastructure was built which linked Guiyang to Yunan and Chongqing. Furthermore, construction began on a railway between Guiyang and Liuzhou, Guangxi, and this construction was accelerated in 1949. This railway was completed in 1959, and subsequently connected Guiyang to Chongqing in the north, Kunming in the west, and Changsha in the east. In the decades following the completein of this ambitious project Guiyang has continued to develop at a rapid pace, and today the city is an economic hub of Guizhou province. (from googuizhou.weebly.com/history1.html ) Guiyang Government Services Guiyang has more experience than anywhere else in Guizhou dealing with foreigners, but like all places in the world, it can sometimes be a headache to work with these bureaucratic institutions. But when you must, here is the information you need. Visa Office Guiyang Gong'anJu ChuRu JingJieDail Da Ting 贵阳公安局出入境接大厅 Address: DaYing Lu 5 hao 大营路 5 号 Phone: 679-7907 Bus Stop: Guiyang RiBaoShe 贵阳日报社 Come prepared with photos, passport, and the necessary school or business papers for your particular visa. You may also need to bring the original lodging registration form from the police station. Allow five days for them to process your visa. Most of the time the officers can speak English, but it is also most helpful to go with a business or educational associate. Fesco Foreign Enterprise Service GuiyangShi WaiGuo QiYe FuWu Zong GongSi 贵阳市外国企业服务总公司 Address: ShenQi Lu 8 Hao JingXie Da sha 20 Lou 2006 Shi 神奇路8号经协大厦 20 楼 2006 室 Phone: 580-6749 Web: www.gyfesco.com Bus Stop: ShenQiLu 神奇路 This office can help you get the paperwork done to validate a foreign business. The price isn't cheap but they deal with most of the paperwork and run around so you don't have to. A new business is over 8,000 yuan and 3,000 for a representative office. Health Certificate Office GuiZhouSheng ChuRu Jing JianYanJian YiJu 贵州省出入境检验检疫局 Address: Beijing Lu 2 Hao 北京路 2 号 Phone: 678-1936 Bus Stop: GuiYangRiBaoShe or GuiYi 贵阳日报社 or 贵医 In order to get a visa anywhere in china one must pass the arcane health examination. The test will cost over 300 yuan. The tests are said not to be terrible, but are only offered in the mornings (they prefer that you not eat breakfast before you come). Plan for about four days before you will get all the paperwork back. Bring your passport and two large size visa photos. Labor Department ZhongHua RenMin ZongHeGuo LaoDong HeSheHui 中华人民共和国劳动和社会 Address: BaoZheng Zhang Bu, HuaGuoYuan GuiZhuDaSha 15 Lou 1506 Shi, 保证障部花果园贵祝大厦 15楼 1506室 Phone: 536-5641 Bus Stop: HuaGuoYuan 花果园 Once the government has approved your business, the labor department will validate your business, give you a work ID and issue the papers you need for your work visa. (from googuizhou.weebly.com/visa--govt-services.html ) Shopping If there is one thing you can do well in Guiyang it is shop. Every street, alleyway, sidewalk and crossing-way has something to buy. From high-end fashion to knock-off Cell Phones this is your one stop guide for shopping in Guiyang. Supermarkets Guiyang has a wide array of supermarkets from international chains to local Chinese markets. Best Supermarkets in Guiyang 1. Carefore 2. Beijing Hualian 3. Xingli Department Stores supermarket 4. WalMart Best Mall/Department Stores 1. Floral Plaza 2. Hunter Plaza 3. Hongsomething chang 4. xingli 5. Best Street Markets in Guiyang 1. Bird and Flower Market 2. Flower Market (from googuizhou.weebly.com/shopping.html ) Guiyang Markets Guiyang has an incredible amount of Markets in which you can find almost anything you want. Here is your guide to find the best ones. Bird and Flower Market 花鸟市场 The Bird and Flower market is the best market in town if you want some Chinese crafts, tea, arts, antiques as well as if you want to find a cute new pet for your home here. Although every large city in China has a Bird and Flower Market, Guiyang's is much different as the low volume of foreign tourists who come every year means the market has retained the local feel that it should have. Aside from the shops the Bird and Flower Market also has some of the best local food in town. Any visit to Guiyang would not be complete without a visit to he Bird and Flower Market. For more information click "Bird and Flower Market" Cheese Street Located in-between ZhuCheng Square and the train station, in a seemingly hidden street "Cheese Street" is a gold mine for local foreigners. The area is a Chinese wholesale market for the city, but past all the Chinese goods is a large area of foreign spices, ingredients and cheeses that are difficult to find in the rest of the city. Shi Xi Lu 市西路 Shi Xi Lu is Guiyang's largest and busiest wholesale market. The market goes from Daxi Men all the way to the old bus station. The place is almost always full, making it an exciting trip for a first timer but could be a little bit of a headache going through all the traffic all the time. Inside you will find everything from fake clothing, household items, rugs, shoes, art, junk, strange things, and just about anything else under the sun. The place is very crowded so watch out for your belongings, but if you want an truly Chinese shopping experience (Remember when bargaining start low! they are going to start really high), or if you need to find something that's hard to get, go to ShiXiLu. (from googuizhou.weebly.com/chinese-markets.html) Getting Money in Guiyang ATM's are incredibly widespread in China. Almost every bank has an ATM with English language screen and accepts international debit cards. The Chinese bank will deduct a small service fee from it and your bank at home will also charge an international exchange rate fee, depending on the bank this fee is between 2-4%. China Construction bank has a partnership with Bank of America. If your debit card is through bank of America, you can use this bank without a fee. Creating a Chinese Bank Account If you come to Guizhou for work or long term studying it is possible for you to open a Chinese bank account. Most often the institution who hires you can help you do the paper work. Guiyang has no English speaking bank tellers, so bring a Chinese friend and your passport with a long-term visa and you can create an account in one day. If you have a Chinese debit card, using another bank's ATM has only a 2 yuan sir charge. (from googuizhou.weebly.com/services.html ) Longdongbao airport (贵阳龙洞堡国际机场) Guiyang's airport (KWE) was refurbished a few years ago and is one of the most convenient airports in China. Because of its small size lines are usually short, security is fast and the restaurants and food stands are inexpensive. Everyday there are over 100 domestic arrivals and departures to main cities in China such as Chengdu, Kunming, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. (full departure/arrival list) (Full list of airlines) There are a few once a week trips to popular international locations such as Hong Kong, Macao and Bangkok but they are not cheap. International flights - If you wish to go to SE Asia your best bet from Guizhou is to use Air Asia out of Chengdu or China Southern out of Kunming. If you want to go international to the West or the Philippines you are best to fly from Guiyang to Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing. One can usually get a one way ticket to Guangzhou for under 500 yuan ($80) on China Southern and once in Guangzhou, the Guangzhou airport typically has cheaper flights to America than Beijing or Shanghai. Getting to City Center - To enter the city from the airport one can either take a taxi or the airport shuttle bus. Taxis can be found outside of the front door in the taxi line, during the day you can usually get a metered taxi but at night one must negoitate. You should not have to pay more than 30-50 yuan to get into the city center. The shuttle bus (10 yuan) runs from the morning to the night and leaves whenever it is full (every 15-30 minutes). The last stop for the shuttle bus is the train station near the city center. Getting to the Airport - To get to the airport one can find the shuttle bus outside the train station that leaves about every 15 minutes or take a taxi (tell the driver ji chang 飞机场). ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/plane.html ) Guiyang Train Station (贵阳火车站) Guiyang's train station is located near the heart of the city. As the station is SW China's main hub, everyday there are about 100 trains that go to hundreds of cities in the area and all around China. (full list of Guiyang departures) Guiyang is a major stop that connects the east to Kunming (12 hours, about 130 yuan hard sleeper), the west to Guangzhou (30 hours, about 350 yuan hard sleeper) and the North to Chengdu (16 hours 170 yuan hard sleeper) and Chongqing (8 hours 100 yuan hard sleeper). There are no direct trains from Guiyang to Guilin but you can get to Hunan through Kaili. There is even a direct train from Guiyang to the island Hainan that transports you by boat (sleeper 300 yuan). Buying a Ticket To buy a ticket one must be able to speak basic Chinese, come pre-prepaired with your written itinerary or use one of the ticket machines at the train station. You can buy a ticket at the train station starting 10 days prior to your departure. Throughout the city there are also small ticket booths where you can buy tickets for an extra 5 yuan. The most prominent one is located inside the Postal Savings bank across the street from Pizza Hut in Peng Shui Che. Getting into Town Bus - Upon entering the city you can either take a public bus or a taxi. Across the street from the train station you will see many buses lined up. Bus 1 and 2 will take you to the center of the city. Taxi - After the buses near the train station hotel there is a line for metered taxis. This line will work for you during the day but at night taxis can be more difficult. That being said taxis can be difficult to get, especially if you want a meter at night. Beware if you are foreign taxi drivers will try to overcharge you. A metered taxi in Guiyang starts at 8 yuan and goes up after you reach 2 km. If you can get a taxi to go to where you need to go for 10-15 yuan take it. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/train.html ) Guiyang Buses Public Buses in Guiyang are cheap and extensive allow you to get to any part of the city all day long. But with larges amounts of people using them and Guiyang's infamous traffic, they can sometimes be a pain to use, especially if you cannot get a seat. The most promient routes are the 1 and 2. They use double decker buses and run from the Train station to city center. The 1 via ZunYi RD (Faster) and the 2 via HeBin Park (longer but goes to other major locations) Below is a list of all the bus routes and bus stops. You may click on the number to see where the bus goes, for how long and what to do/see at each stop. NOTE: AS WITH GUIZHOU, BUS ROUTES CHANGE RAPIDLY!!! THIS IS A GOOD GUIDE, BUT FOR PRACTICAL REASONS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE CORRECT Bus Routes 1 Double-Decker - 2 Double-Decker - 3 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 11 - 17 - 19 - 20 - 24 - 26 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 36 - 39 - 43 - 45 - 48 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 58 - 60 - 61 - 63 - 65 - 67 - 68 - 73 -74 - 203 - 241 - 242 - 253 - k29 Bus Stops 喷水池 - PenShuiChi - Is the city center has: Pizza Hut, Createa,Grandma's Kitchen, Parkson, Flower Plaza, Japanese Ramen, Sunning,KFC, Dicos and more. 1. 次南门 - CiNan Men - Provincial Science an Technology Museum 2. 大十字 - DaShiZi - Spaceship intersection, KFC, Parkson, Top-Spinning Park, Wholesale Snack and Liquor Market 3. 大西门 - DaXiMen - Computer City, ShiXiLu Market, KFC 4. 大营坡 - DaYingPo - 5. 东门 - DongMen 6. 贵大 - GuiDa - Guizhou University, Huaxi 7. 贵医 - GuiYi - Medical College Hospital, Ramada Plaza, Visa Office, Health Certificate Office 8. 贵州日报社 - Guizhou RiBaoShe - Visa Office, Health Certificate, Ramada Plaza 9. 河滨公园 - Hebin GongYuan - Hebin Park, Hebin Park Bus Station, Dicos 10. 和平路 - HePing Lu - North Catholic Church 11. 花果园 - HuaGuo Yuan - Work Permit Office 12. 火车站 - HuoCheZhan - Train Station, Gym, Spa, Forest City Inn, Train Station Muslim, Wall Mart 13. 花溪 - HuaXi - Huaxi Park, Guizhou University, 15. 甲秀楼 - JiaXiaLou - Jiaxiu Lou Tower, Xingli Department Store / Supermarket, Toys R' Us, KFC, Japanese Ramin, 16. 机场路口 - JiChang LuKou - Airport, KFC 17. 纪念塔 - JiNian Ta - Guiyang Grand Theatre 18. 黔灵公园 - QianLing GongYuan - QianLing Park, Howard Johnson Hotel and Buffet 19. 黔灵西路口 - QianLing Xi LuKou - Beijing JiaoZi, Protestant Church, 20. 沙冲路口 - ShaChong LuKou - Train Station WalMart 21. 陕西路 - XiaXiLu - 六广门 - LiuGuangMen - Leather and Pottery Story, Gym, 22. 省府路口 - ShengFu LuKou - Alcohol Market, Beijing Hualian, XiaoShi Zi Movie Theatre 23. 省医 - ShengYi - Provincial Hosp 24. 神奇路 - ShenQi Lu 25. 师大 - ShiDa 26. 天河潭 - TianHe Tan 27. 金阳客车站 - JinYang KeCheZhan 28. 体育馆 - TiYu Guan 29. 下合群路 - XiaheQun Lu 30. 小十字 - Xiao ShiZi 31. 油炸街 - YouZhaJie 32. 新路口 - Xinlu Kou 33. 阳明祠 - YangMing Ci 34. 优点大楼 - YouDian Da Lou 35. 云岩广场 - YunYan GuangChang 36. 紫林庵 - Zi Lin'An ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/transit-bus.html) Taxi Taxi- Taxis in Guiyang during the day start at 8 yuan and at night start at 10 yuan for the first 2 km and increase by 2 yuan for every 1km after that. Taxis can be hard to find during rush hour especially on main roads, if you are having problems finding a taxi, try a smaller road. If you have any problem with a taxi in Guiyang please contact the following: •Guiyang Taxi Complaining No.: 0851-5285496 Taxi at the Train Station - Across the street from the train station, past the prominent public bus area there is a taxi line, where metered taxis can be picked up anytime of the day. Sometimes the line can be a little long, or taxis very few, but one should not have to wait more than 5-10 minutes to get a taxi. A taxi to city center should be about 10-12 yuan. Taxi at the Airport - Right outside the exit of the airport there is a taxi line, these taxis are metered during the day, but late night sometimes one must barter. Taxis into city center should be about 40-60 yuan. Black Taxis - Guiyang has many black taxis. Most of the time these taxis work perfectly, but there have been a few cases of black taxi drivers either trying to rip-off foreigners or trying to commit even worse crimes, use them at your own risk. Prices in black taxis must be negotiated and the driver usually starts high, very rarely will you ever get a black taxi for less than what a metered taxi would cost, their existence stems from the difficultly to get a taxi a certain hours of the day in Guiyang. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/taxi.html ) Five-Star Hotels Although Guiyang is a poor city, in the poorest province in China, it still boasts an incredibly wealthy class of individuals, businessmen and travelers who stay at Five-Star hotels. These hotels are cheaper than Five-Star hotels in other countries or even in other cities in China. They are also the best places to get western food if you have the money. Kempinski Sheraton Pullman This French 5-star hotel is foreign operated with a Chinese staff. Done to true 5-star quality the Pullman is a great choice for one who wants luxury on their vacation. The Pullman also has the best western buffet in town but is a little steep at 200 yuan / person. Empark Grand Hotel ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/5-star.html ) Four-Star Hotels Four-Star hotels are the best bet for Guiyang travelers who want a western standard to their rooms but do not want to pay the price Ramada The Ramada Grand Hotel is located 7kms to the railway station and 12kms to the airport. It is near Qianling Park and features a western buffet, swimming pool, gym, 100mbs/internet and more. Click on "Ramada" for more details Howard Johnson One of the first international hotels in Guiyang, the Howard Johnson still keeps up with the new hotels in town. It offers a cheaper, but still great western buffet that includes sushi. It along with the Ramada is also the only hotels with an indoor swimming pool. Being near Qianling Park, the Howard Johnson is probably your best bet for all around value. Novotel Downtown The Novotel Downtown just opened last year and is a quality 4-star hotel. The best part about it is its location. Right off of ZhongHua Road very near PenShuiChi, the Novotel allows for the easiest access to everything in the city. Trade Point ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/4-star.html ) Budget Hotels Guiyang is full of cheap hotels. They are all Chinese owned and range widely in quality, price and appearance. Sadly Guiyang does not have an international youth hostel, but one can get a nicer and cheaper room at one of these places. Warning: these hotels will not have any English speaking staff and some of them will not allow you to stay if you are a foreigner. Also many of these hotels you cannot book on an English website, so one must book it in person or on a Chinese website like qunar.com ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/budget.html ) Local Food SiWaWa - 丝娃娃 Local fresh vegetables inside a wrapped rice tortilla A local favorite right out of Guiyang, Siwawa is not only delicious, it is also vegetarian, and unlike a lot of other Chinese food contains very little oil. There are two types of Siwawa, one that is eaten at street stands and one that is eaten at a nicer restaurant. Eating Siwawa is simple, you choose the vegetables you and your eating partners wish to eat, you pick up a rice tortilla, then using Chopsticks take the vegetables you want, put it in, wrap it up and enjoy. Top 5 Siwawa Restaurants in Guiyang 1. Mr. Miaos siwawa- best in town balhbalhbalh address: link: Bean Hot Pot - DouMi HuoGuo - 豆米火锅 Tourists and locals alike can fulfill their gustatory pleasures by indulging in another Guiyang favorite, bean hot pot, in which a smorgasbord of meats and vegetables are cooked in a boiling bean soup. Unlike famous hot pots in Chongqing and Sichuan, bean hot pot pot is devoid of the peppers and spices that typically set unsuspecting foreigners' mouths ablaze. However, bean hot pot provides the opportunity to season various combinations of meats and vegetables in its delicious and hearty bean broth. At their table patrons are provided with a large pot containing a bean soup which is placed over a hot plate (or fire, depending on the restaurant you choose to patronize). Customers are then given the option to select numerous types of meats and vegetables to place in the piping hot soup. Best Bean Hot Pot Restaurants 1. Tu Feng Bean Hot Pot 土风豆米火锅 Miao Sour Soup Fish Hot Pot - Miao SuanTang Yu HuoGuo - 苗酸汤鱼火锅 A specialty coming out of Southeast Guizhou, Sour Fish Hot Pot is often regarded as a food foreigners will miss most once they leave Guizhou. The thick, sour broth is made from tomatoes and it permeates into whatever you put in the pot. Typically inside is a large river fish that soaks up the flavor and your selection of other ingredients, typically potatoes, tofu and cabbage. The hot pot can be eaten alone or with side dishes. Most locals will dip the food that comes out of the hotpot into a small bowl of liquid hot peppers. Best Sour Fish Soup Hot Pot 1. Old Kaili Sour Fish Soup - Top ranked by locals with a nice atmosphere, this restaurant gives you exactly what you need. 2. Miao Village Restaurant - Great flavored Sour Hot Pot in a little bit more modest of a setting than Old Kaili Local Snacks 1. Smelly Tofu - Chou DouFu - 臭豆腐 - Sounds gross, but add some spicy pepper and it is a great snack Best Local Lunch 1. Local Guiyang Intestine Noodle Soup 贵阳肠旺面 changwang mian - This restaurant only runs during lunch hours and is ALWAYS packed. Loved by locals, and light on the wallet, this local special is a must have.Best Local Dinner 1. Sour Soup Hotpot by the Stick restaurant - Well off the beaten path, this secret local hideout is not only ridiculously delicious but is also incredibly cheap and different. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/local-food.html ) Foreign Food Guiyang has few foreigners but over the past five years this has started to change. New western restaurants and more imported goods are coming everyday Fast Food 1. KFC - Although lacking amazing western menu items such as the double down, KFC is a good break from Chinese food at decent prices. Breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended 2. Dicos - A Chinese knockoff of KFC that some say tastes better than KFC and is usually a few yuan cheaper. They also deliver. 3. CSC - A Chinese fast food restaurant with mostly rice dishes, a little more expensive than the local food, but cheaper than Dicos / KFC. 4. Master Kongs - Almost what one would expect a Chinese fast food restaurant to be in America. Pizza 1. Pizza Fun - A Chinese owned pizza buffet that takes one out of Guiyang and into America. Currently open in two locations 2. Pizza Hut - The only international pizza chain in Guizhou. Although a little expensive it is your best bet for pizza in town. 3. Jazzy Pizza - 4. Beibado Western Restaurants 1. Grandmas - Highly noted as the best western restaurant in town. Grandmas is the home of Guiyang's only real beef hamburger. 2. LA Grill - Formerly owned by an American, now locally owned, LA Grill offers great tasting tex-mex but at a steep price and small portions 3. Highlands - Although mostly a coffee shop, highlands is owned and operated by foreigners and has a few western food items. Panini is highly recommended 4. Brazilian BBQ Western Buffets - Kempinski - not open yet, but will feature a German brew-house and the best food in town. Currently has three shefs hired. - Sheraton - A great assortment of cheeses and other western cuisines - Pullman - Rated the best buffet in town, the Pullman has everything you could want at a steep price (200 yuan/person) - Howard Johnson - Not the best western buffet in town, but it tastes good, has great western selection and is comparatively cheap! (90 yuan / person) - Ramada - Like the Howard Johnson the Ramada is good, western and cheaper than the 5-stars in town. Korean / Thai / Japanese Thai - Bangkok Lotus - Banana Leaf - Amazing Thai food, with a foreign chef and musical entertainment, but very expensive! Expect to pay at least 70 yuan a dish Japanese Korean Imported Food Supermarkets 1. Carefore - The best imported food / alcohol section in town 2. Cheese Street - A Chinese market which sells bulk cheese and other imported goods. Hard to find, but is a real Guiyang Treasure. 2. Wal-Mart - American company, decent imported food section with three locations. 3. Xingli Department store Supermarkets - Nice Chinese supermarket in the bottom of the Xingli malls. Imported food is mostly Japanese and Korean but it has the largest imported wine and beer selections in town. 4. Imported Alcohol Store - A Chinese owned store with all the foreign liquor one would want, at standard imported prices. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/foreign-food.html ) Chinese Food Chinese food is as diverse as the people and its land. There are eight famous types of Chinese food and thousands of local specialities in this vast country. If you are looking for local food, click here. This page shows where to find the best of the rest in Chinese cuisine, in Guiyang. Sichuan / Chongqing Food The most famous style of food in China, Sichuan / Chongqing food is known for itsmala (spicy and numbing) flavor. Sichuan food is what is found in most small family restaurants. (Click here for a full menu of Sichuan food) But Sichuan and Chongqing are most well known for its hotpots. The hotpots are often incredibly spicy, oily and delicious. Best Sichuan / Chongqing Dishes restaurants Best Sichuan / Chongqing Hotpot restaurants Muslim Food A favorite of foreigners in China, Muslim food comes from the Hui and UyghurMuslim populations located in North and Northwest China. The Hui and Uyghurpeople have different cuisines but they taste similar. The Hui people's most famous food is LanZhou La Mian (Lanzhou Pulled noodles) where the Uyghurs most famous food is Xinjiang DaPan Ji (Xinjiang big plate of Chicken). The pulled noodles are made by hand, topped with your choice of meat, potato and vegetables with a slightly spicy sauce covering all of it. The noodles are best ordered fried, but can also come in a soup. Da Pan Ji is a massive plate of chicken, potatoes, vegetables and sometimes tofu that is smothered in a delicious spicy sauce. One must eat this with the Xinjiang nan bread for the full flavor effect. The cuisine is much more vast than this so pick anything on the menu and you are bound to have a delightful meal! Best Muslim Restaurants in Guiyang 1. Train Station Xinjiang Uyghur Restaurant 2. Muslim Street Xinjiang Uyghur Restaurant 3. Guizhou Normal College LaMian muslim Beijing Food 1. Beijing Jiaozi - delicious Chinese dumplings with a friendly staff and good prices Other Best Vegetarian Food 1. Buddhist Temple Vegetarian Restaurant - An amazing experience in the middle of downtown, the Buddhist Temple Restaurant serves hundreds of dishes of Chinese cuisine but only use meat substitutes. These substitutes often taste better than the real thing. The end result is a meal that is delicious and healthy. Also inside is a small Buddhist temple. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/chinese-food.html ) Menu In Guizhou and all over China there are too many restaurants to even count. Most of these are called 家常菜 (family style) restaurants. These often have the same types of dishes. Here is a list of some of the most famous items on these menus. Appetizers 开胃品 1. 炸花生 - Zha HuaSheng - Deep-Fried Peanuts 2. 凉拌黄瓜 - LiangBan HuangGua - Cold cumcumber with spice 3. 豆米 - Dou Mi - Glutinous rice with spicePork 猪肉 1. 糖醋里脊 - TangCu LiJi - Sweet and Sour Pork 2. 鱼香肉丝 - YuXiang RouSi - Sour and Spicy Pork Strip 3. 京酱肉丝 - JingJiang RouSi - Saucy meat with plum sauce and mini tortillas 4. 排骨 - Pai Gu - Ribs 5. 水煮肉片 - ShuiZhu RouPian - Pork Slices with a spicy soup base 6. 蒜苗炒肉 - SuanMiao ChaoRou - Garlic Shoots with Pork Chicken - 鸡肉 1. 工包鸡丁 - GongBao JiDing - Chicken with Peanuts 2. 铁板鸡片 - TieBan Ji Pian - Sizzling Chicken with Onions 3. 腰果鸡丁 - YaoGuo Ji Ding - Chicken and Cashews Beef - 牛肉 1. 铁板牛肉 - TieBan Niu Rou - Sizzling beef and onions 2. 孜然牛肉 - ZiRan Niu Rou - Deep fried beef and cumin 3. 红烧牛肉 - HongShao Niu Rou - Beef in brown sauce 4. 牛肉炒大葱 - NiuRou Chao Da Cong - Beef and onions Vegetables - 蔬菜 1. 干煸土豆丝 - GanBian TuDouSi - Deep Friend Shredding Potatoes 2. 炸薯条 - Zha ShuTiao - Chinese French Fries 3. 土豆泥 - TuDou Ni - Mashed Potatoes 4. 西红柿炒鸡蛋 - XiHongSe ChaoJiDan - Fried Egg and Tomato 5. 干煸棒豆 - GanBian BangDou - Crispy fried green beans 6. 干煸四季豆 - GanBian SiJiDou - Crisy fried beans 7. 西兰花 - XiLanHua - Broccoli Vegetables - 蔬菜 1. 花菜 - Hua Cai - Cauliflower 2. 菠菜 - Bo Cai - Spinach 3. 空心菜 - Kong Xin Cai - Chinese Water Spinach 4. 白菜 - BaiCai - Chinese Cabbage 5. 玉米 - YuMi - Corn 6. 茄炸 - QieZha - Breaded Eggplant with meat filling 7. 生菜 - Sheng Cai - Lettuce Tofu - 豆腐 1. 麻婆豆腐 - MaPo DouFu - Tofu chunks in spicy sauce 2. 家常豆腐 - Homestyle tofu 3. 青椒豆腐干 - Smoke tofu strips and green peppers 4. 日本豆腐 - Japanese tou fu Staples 1. 米饭 - Mi fan - rice 2.蛋炒饭 - Dan ChaoFan - Egg fried rice 3. 饺子 - jiaozi - Chinese dumplings 4. 面条 - mian tiao - Noodles 5. 包子 - BaoZi - Steamed Bun with various fillings 6. 馒头 - ManTou - Chinese steamed bread 7. 馄饨 - HunTun - Wonton Soup - 汤 1. 酸辣汤 - SuanLa Tang - Hot and Sour Soup 2. 西红柿鸡蛋汤 - HongXiShi JiDanTang - Tomato and Egg soup 3. 白菜豆腐汤 - Tofu and Cabbage soup 4. 三鲜汤 - SanXianTang - Meatball, Veggie soup Hot Pot - 火锅 1. 清汤 - QingTang - Clear (light, no/little spice) hotpot 2. 酸汤 - Sour Hot Pot 3. 麻辣汤 - Hot and Spicy Hot Pot 4. 豆米火锅 - Brown Bean Hot Pot 5. 豆花火锅 - Special Tofu Hot pot 6. 干锅鸡 - Dry Chicken Hotpot Drinks - 饮料 1. 可口可乐 - kekou kele - Coke 2. 百事可乐 - baishi kele - Pepsi 3. 雪碧 - XueBi - Sprite 4. 茶水 - ChaShui - Tea 5. 矿泉水 - KuangQuan Shui Spring Water 6. 开水 - kai shui - hot water 7. 啤酒 - Pi Jiu - Beer 8. 葡萄酒 - PuTao Jiu - Red Wine 9. 咖啡 - KaFei - Coffee Desserts - 甜点 1. 拔丝苹果 - BaSi Ping Guo - Caramelized apple chunks 2. 菠萝飞饼 - BoLuo FeiBing - Pineapple Pastry 3. 南瓜饼 - NanGuo Bing - Chinese pumpkin bread Recipes Although Guizhou does not have many foreign restaurants, it does not mean you cannot get foreign food out of your Kitchen. This section will help you make delicious western food out of items you can find from most Chinese Supermarkets - Basic Pasta Noodles - Wal-Mart and Carefore both have Italian pasta but it can be expensive, make it yourself for 2 yuan! - Basic White Sauce - The closest thing you can get to Alfredo - Beer Bread - A good western style bread. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/menu--recipes.html) Guiyang Bars / Clubs China is known for its heavy drinking culture. And in China, Guizhou is famous for its heavier drinking culture. It makes sense as Guizhou is the home of the "National Liquor" Moutai. This gives Guiyang a slew of bars and KTV's but because of its small, young/middle class and foreign population there are very few international type places and no western style bars. Bars The Guiyang Bar scene is much different than other cities in China. Most bars consist of dimly lit areas with giant puffy couches to sit on and drink cheap beer. These are great for being with your friends but it can make it difficult to find new friends. Also there are no western style bars in town. Top Bars in Guiyang 1. 2. Clubs Guiyang has a few clubs in town. They are all Chinese owned and operated, but from time to time will have a foreign DJ playing. A good time for those who love them and a strange cultural experience for those who have not been to one yet. Going to a club in China is a must at least once, but terrible if you go too often. Top Clubs in Guiyang 1. 2. KTV KTV is something everyone must do at least once in China. Round up your friends, rent a room, get some beers and have the time of your life. Top KTV in Guiyang 1. 2.. Other ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/bars-clubs-and-ktv.html ) Coffee and Tea Guiyang is a city full of Coffee and Tea shops. It seems that along every street coffee and tea shops are every other shop. The best part is that in Guiyang all coffee houses are locally owned, not one Starbucks can be found! The following are a few of the best local coffee shops in town. Createa (宜北町 - Yi Bei Ding) The Starbucks of Guiyang, Createa is a local Chain with over 8 locations that gives you fast service, cheap prices and a busy atmosphere with generic jazz music playing in the background. The drinks are good, but the teas are better than the coffees. Createa also offers desserts such as cheesecake for the lowest prices in town. The menu is in English but the staff does not speak English but one can easily point at the menu to place your order. Free wi-fi is available, but you must ask the counter for the password. Here is a map of all the Createas in Guiyang. Soil Cafe (土壤咖啡) The high end coffee shop of Guiyang， Soil cafe has emerged out of nowhere a year ago to now having over five locations. The atmosphere is really nice, albeit a little confusing. The drinks are expensive and the service can be a bit slow, especially at the main store near Guizhou Normal University. The place is not meant to be a Starbucks but more of a place to meet with friends and spend an entire afternoon chatting or doing work. It really works well with Guiyang's relaxed pace of life, but if you are want a quick cup of coffee head to Createa instead. Free Wi-Fi available, just ask a server for the password. Here is a map of all the Soil Cafe's in town. Highlands Highlands was started by an American five years ago but this year the ownership was handed over to a Singaporean and a Korean. Highlands offers an English speaking staff, a comfortable atmosphere and a great foreign food menu including paninis. The prices are in-between Createa and Soil Cafe and the drinks and food are great. The only problem with Highlands is the overly strict rule enforcement that levees a sitting tax if you do not order, even if a friend did, a no outside drinks of food policy (unlike every other coffee shop in Guizhou, not even a bottle of water is not allowed from the outside even if you ordered a coffee) and an even stranger no pictures policy. That being said, the new management will hopefully change this practice. Free wifi is available. Wings of Tea Other Local Coffee / Tea Shops Guiyang has so many coffee/tea shops that it is impossible to list them all. But here is a list of GoGuizhou.com's other favorites. 1. Zero Cafe 2. 3. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/coffee--tea.html ) Hot Springs and Spas Guiyang is known for its laid back atmosphere and who would not want to relax here when there is an abundance of hot springs, natural and man-made in such a small area. Here is some of the best around. Poly Hot Springs Tianyi Forest Hot Springs Xifeng Hot Springs Wudang Hot Springs ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/hot-springs-and-spas.html) TongRen Living Living as a Laowai There are not many foreigners in Tongren. In fact, according to the police bureau, there are exactly 7 laowai in Tongren right now, all of whom are teachers. Life in Tongren is pretty relaxed. The tough part about living in a small rural community is that very few people have ever met, let alone seen, a laowai before. Therefore when you are walking down the street, riding the bus, or having dinner in any given restaurant, you can expect consistent stares and an occasional "hullo" from a brave passer by. There is one known blog about life in Tongren. Tongren blog How to Arrive / Leave Tongren does have an airport, but you can only arrive from Guiyang and Shanghai. The train station in town was built in 2006 and is very small, however, there are daily trains to Shanghai to the east and Chengdu to the west. To go south by train, you have to travel by bus to the town of Yuping or take the train one stop east and transfer in Huaihua. Where to work: Really the only jobs for foreigners in Tongren are teaching jobs. There are two universities in the town, but the salary at both is small, especially when compared to schools in more affluent provinces or autonomous regions. There are several private English training schools who offer competitive salaries that include housing, water, and electricity. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/living1.html) Wumeng Mountain The Wumeng Mountain national geopark is on the eastern slope of the qinhai tibet plateu and in the transition region from the yunnan-guzhou plateau to the hills in guangxi. Wumeng mountain si mainly composed of the karst geological remains and landscapes, plains in the mountaihns, valleys, paleeontological fossils and anthropoligical sites. The national geopark consists of two gardens and five scenic zones. Beipan River Grand Canyon YuShe National Forest Park The Wumeng Mountain national geopark is on the eastern slope of the Qinghai Tibetan plateu and in the transition region from the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau to the hills in Guangxi. Wumeng mountain si mainly composed of the karst geological remains and landscapes, plains in the mountaihns, valleys, paleeontological fossils and anthropoligical sites. The national geopark consists of two gardens and five scenic zones. Liuzhi Suoga ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/traveling.html ) Liupanshui 六盘水 - The Cool Capital Liupanshui is both a name for a city and prefecture in western Guizhou. Liupanshui is also the second largest and most developed city in Guizhou. The city itself has about 300,000 residents while the prefecture has close to 3,000,000. Liupanshui gets its name from the three main cities that combined to create the prefecture Liuzhi, Panxian and Shui Cheng. The city is known as the "cool city" or the "cool capital" because of its cool summer temperatures. The city is divided into three main areas huang tu po, The New Development Are (开发区kai fa qu） and the dragon mountain area. Huang tu po is the oldest part of the city and because of this it is the most pedestrian friendly area. There are many great shops, restaurants and supermarkets in this area. it is also home to the LPS city government. The new development zone has all been built in the last 10 years. It is the most developed area of the city which holds the people's square, two large parks, coffee shops, nice Chinese hotels, some department stores, the PSB office and a Wal Mart. The Dragon Mountain area is the newest addition to LPS city. It is up on a hill that makes a pretty picturesque scenery during a sunny day. Most of the buildings in this area have been built in the last few years and much of the area is still under construction. This area is home to the LPS provincial government offices, the number three (best) middle school and is also the future home of the LPS foreign language center. Living as a Foreigner Although the city is the second largest in Guizhou and is also one of the main hubs of the provinces' economic development, the expat population constantly fluctuates between 5-10. Most of them work as teachers but there are a few who are studying Chinese. The city is much more of a traditional Chinese place with little exposure to foreigners. Most of the time you will be greeted on the streets with stares (of curiosity not contempt), the oft-stated "hello!"or "OOO laowai!" and great smiles from the local people. That being said the city itself boasts a small Chinese middle/upper class who have had previous experience with foreigners and some nice Chinese accommodations to take you out of the sometimes harsh conditions. The level of English speaking in the community is very low. Liupanshui is a great place to live but if a laowai is not accustom to Chinese culture or know some basic Chinese (or is not willing to learn these things) it can be very difficult to live in this city. That being said if you do have a basic understanding of Chinese and its culture the city can be a really fulfilling place to experience. Laowais who have lived in LIupanshui typically say the food, people and the surrounding scenery are the best aspects of the city. While the worst part of living in Liupanshui is the constant cold and wet weather during the winter, think Seattle with the lack of central heat. Getting in / Out Train Liupanshui's train station is one of the main train hubs in Guizhou. Liupanshui has trains that go all the way to Kunming in the west, Guiyang to the east, and Chengdu to the north. To buy train tickets you must buy them in person at the train station or in one of the small ticket booths located around the city within 10 days prior to your departure. Liupanshui to Guiyang / Guiyang to Liupanshui Guiyang is the closest large city with a size-able foreign population and some international goods. At all times there is the ability to catch a train to Guiyang or Liupanshui as there are 30 trains that travel to Guiyang and about the same that come back to Liupanshui daily. There are three different types of trains that travel between the cities. All of the trains have AC. Two types of the trains take 3 hours and 45 minutes (any train with a K) and then there are three trains that take 2 hours and 45 minutes (any train with a T) The two types of K trains are priced at 23 yuan ($4) and 43 yuan ($8) oneway. If on a budget I recommend the 23 yuan train because the 43 yuan trains don't arrive any faster nor do they provide any extra comfort. Both of these trains have hard seats (benches) that face each other. If you happen to go on a weekend or holiday these will be very full with a strong likelihood that you will be crammed or standing the entire train ride. If this happens try to find the dining room car which usually resides in the middle of the train between the sleeper section and the hard seats. While there order one dish and enjoy the comfort while you eat your meal over 4 hours. Also if you have the cash sleepers are available on these trains. The T trains were just added in October of 2010. They are second hand fast trains taken from the east of China and are quite nice. Most seats are bucket type, have ample leg room and face forward like a standard western train. These trains also usually are less full, quieter and they are smoke free. The tickets cost 64 yuan ($11) for a regular seat and 77 yuan ($13) for a "VIP" seat. The VIP seats aren't worth the extra money. Full Schedule of trains from LPS to Guiyang Full Schedule of trains from Guiyang to LPS Liupanshui to Kunming / Kunming to Liupanshui Kunming is the closest city with a McDonalds. It is also a foreign backpacker mecca, a hub for many national natural wonders and just a wonderful city all the way around. It takes between 6 hours and 30 minutes to 9 hours to arrive in Kunming. If you wish to get to Kunming I recommend the T60 overnight train with a top sleeper bed. Liupanshui to Kunming Schedule Kunming to Liupanshui Schedule Liupanshui to Chengdu / Chengdu to Liupanshui Chengdu is metropolitan city of 10,000,000 people 12-15 hours north of Liupanshui. It is home of the American consulate for Southwest China. There are 7 trains daily to Chengdu. Liupanshui to Chengdu Schedule Chengdu to Liupanshui Schedule Liupanshui is also the best place to stay overnight on your way to CaoHai lake in WeiNing. There are a few trains a day that go to Weining, with a ticket only costing 10 yuan and a total travel time of 1 and a half hours. Bus station 客车站 The Liupanshui bus station is a 10 minute walk from the train station has buses running all day to many different cities in Guizhou and beyond. Most often the buses will be more expensive than the train but the station is also less crowded, and easier to get a ticket. Because of Guizhou's rough terrian bus rides are quite the adventure and they also take close to as long or longer than taking a train. That being said buses serve many smaller communities that train stations don't go to such as Bijie and Xingyi. Getting Around The city of Liupanshui lies in a valley which makes it very narrow, this makes getting lost in Liupanshui very difficult. The main road that goes throughout the city and were most of the important businesses, residential areas and places to see reside is Zhong Shan Da Dao (钟山大道). Zhong Shan da dao is a long, wide two way road, Public Transportation The only method of public transportation is bus. There are about 10 bus lines that go throughout the city. Buses start running at 7am and close at 9pm (although some of the smaller lines open later and close earlier). Every bus is 1 yuan/person. The 1 line is the most important bus route as it goes the entire length of Zhong Shan in both directions. The city is currently revamping their bus fleet and stops, more detailed information about buses will come soon. Taxis Taxis are ubquitious throughout the city. Most of the time they are very easy to hail and very cheap to use. The meter starts at 5 yuan (about $.75) for the first two km. Make sure to tell the taxi driver that you want a metered taxi (da biao!) and you should rarely ever have a ride that is more than 15 yuan ($2.50). Taxis can be difficult to get during rush hour and at the train station. Especially at midnight at the trainstation it is almost impossible to get a taxi by yourself and metered. If this is the case you should never pay over 15 yuan to get to your destination and 10 yuan is a good price. Also, especially late at night it is common for taxi drivers to pick up other passengers, this is ok, you will not be charged more for this. Although rare, if you get in a situation where the taxi driver wants to overcharge you, ask him for a receipt (Da piao), if he won't give it to you tell him you will call the police as it is in their licence agreement that they must be able to give you a recepit for the taxi ride. There are also three wheel taxis that can slowly take you anywhere. Only take these if you are having trouble finding a regular taxi. These vehicals have no meter but you should never pay over 10 yuan for a ride. They are also very small and dangerious so take them at your peril "Black Taxis" are unmarked and illegal taxis. Sometimes they can work out fine sometimes not. Take them at your own risk. Shopping Liupanshui has many supermarkets as well as outdoor markets. The big two supermarket chains in Liupanshui are WalMart (1 location) and Jiahui (3 locations). Both of these supermarkets have about the same amount of goods at close to the same prices (although I have found things to be a little cheaper at Jiahui). Other small supermarkets also exist. WalMart is located in Kai Fa Qu right across the street from Ren Min Guang Chang on the third floor of the Sun Center building. WalMart has the largest selection of International goods in Liupanshui but that is not saying much. Currently it has two small shelves full of mostly Japanese and Korean snacks. But some western food is also available such as pasta, pasta sauce, some cereals and other random western sauces. The international goods that come in are not always in stock and what WalMart carries fluctuates in random ways. WalMart is also your best bet to find foreign alcohols. They have a decent selection of International Vodka, whiskey and red wine. Other locations have it but they are most likely counterfeit. If you want good bread go to the yi xing long da chao shi (一兴隆大超市) in Hong tu po. The supermarket is across the street from Dicos and has a large blue sign at its entrance. At the bottom floor the bread section has the normal strange looking sweet breads but on the top shelf they have buns. Yi xing supermarket produced these buns for the Dicos across the street and they taste just like a bun one would find in America. Clothes Like most Chinese cities along the streets of LPS is one clothing store after another. On Zhong Shan road in the new development zone there are a few Nike, Addidas stores as well as some higher end clothing shops. The Huang tu po area has two main locations where you can buy very cheap knock off goods. One is located on the corner across the street from the KFC, the other is situated under the sports stadium. MedicalLiupanshui city is the major medical care center for the region. The best hospital is Liupanshui People's Hospital (六盘水人民医院）. The hospital is old and does not meet the standards set by the American consulate to have any work done other than the most basic services. There are no English speaking doctors. That being said in June 2011 the new hospital will open with much better facilities. The closest English speaking doctors are in Guiyang at the Guiyang Medical School hospital. The closest hospital recommended by the American consulate is in Kunming. Information for English Speaking Doctors in Guiyang Where to Work Liupanshui currently has three schools with foreign teachers. The current job openings include: www.esljobs.com/china/esl-teachers-needed-in-liupanshui-c... Teach young learners or adults in LPS Where to Study - There is an intensive Chinese language program at Liupanshui Normal University. The program offers one on one instruction with great mandarin speakers in a classroom setting. Currently there are two students enrolled. Coffee/Tea Over the past two years Liupanshui has had a renaissance of coffee and tea shops. Growing seemingly as fast as its middle class every new area has many coffee and tea houses. Once nice thing about Liupanshui coffee bars is that there are no chain coffee places, all of the shops are locally owned, which brings friendly service and a relaxing atmosphere. The only down side to that is especially for coffee some shops have very inexperienced with the drink making process itself. The following are the four best coffee/tea shops in town. Wayne (Wizard of Oz) and Tims (TT) - Although not the official names, the local laowai know the first two coffee shops by the first name of the owners. Wayne and Tim are cousins, they are incredibly friendly and both speak English well. The coffee shops are located right next to each other, on the small street next to the Dico's fast food restaurant near the People's Square. They both offer a relaxing homey atmosphere and have wonderful drinks. The main difference between the two shops are although they both serve alcohol, Wayne's only serves cocktails and wine as Tims offers a selection of beers to go along with your coffee. Cool Choose - Despite the funny name, Cool Choose is the closest thing Liupanshui has to a Starbucks / American coffee house feel. Cool Choose is north of the people's square, across the street from the Vito Hotel / China Telecom building. Not only does Cool Choose have great coffee and tea but it is also home to the only Cheese Cake in town. Detail Coffee - Located on the second floor of the cool city palace, Detail coffee has a very friendly staff, an elegant, urban atmosphere and a great view of the people's square. Bars Clubs - Liupanshui is home to two night clubs jiahui and guohui. They are both located near the People's Square. Both offer dancing to blaringly loud, techo remixes of old American pop/hip-hop songs. The nightlife also ends early. Most nights the club will be cleared by midnight - one o'clock. That does not mean they are not fun but one must arrive early. ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/liupanshui.html ) Huangguoshu Waterfall 黄果树瀑布 ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/huangguoshu-waterfall.html) Historical Sites From the ancient to modern history, temples to the political meeting sites, Guizhou has many great, off-the-path historical areas to see! Zunyi Meeting Site Qingyan Ancient Town ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/historical-sites.html) English Tour Guides English tours in Guizhou are few and far between, but that makes them much more exciting. Lost is the massive buses going to tourist attractions with expensive ticket prices and long waits and found is very personal tours, from excellent, knowledgeable and local guides. Here are a few companies with listed tours and also a list of companies that do individual tours. Top Guizhou Tours 1. ToGuizhou , www.toguizhou.com/, - A wonderful local who started his own tour company. He does the best tours of minority festivals in Guizhou. 2. Absolute China Tours , www.absolutechinatours.com/Guiyang-tours/ 3. China Tour Guides , www.chinatourguide.com/guizhou/- Wonderful Minority tours for an affordable price ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/english-tours.html) Guizhou Normal University Guizhou Normal University is located in Guiyang, China, which is the capital of China's Guizhou province. The university's main campus is located close to the center of the city, and its campus is encompassed by the often bustling and lively atmosphere of downtown Guiyang. GNU is in close proximity to Pen Shui chi, which is a center for food, shopping and night life in Guiyang. GNU currently comprises two campuses, Baoshan (main campus) and Baiyun, and the construction of a third campus is currently underway in Huaxi district. Originally named National Guiyang Teachers College, the University was founded in 1941, and renamed Guiyang Teachers College after the creation of the People's Republic of China in 1950. In 1985 it was officially named Guizhou Normal University (GNU). In 1996 GNU was officially designated as one of the "Key Universities" of Guizhou Province. GNU was honored as an "Outstanding University" in the Undergraduate Teaching Assessment conducted by the Ministry of education in 2008, and in February of 2010 GNU was authorized to grant PhD's by the State Council Academic Degrees Committee. Teaching English Teaching English - Guizhou Normal University is always looking for foreign teachers. Teacher usually have 16 hours of classes a week and an English Corner. Pay is around 6000 yuan / month and a free apartment. Apartments are old but nice. Click here and go to Contact US to apply International Scope GNU is a participant in the Ministry of Education's "Program of Partner Assistance with Western Universities," and currently engages in an exchange program with Ohio State University. GNU has also established exchange programs with schools in Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Since 2006 GNU has also cooperated with Xiamen University, a nationally prestigious university within China, to forge a "partner assistance" relationship. GNU currently has a student body numbering more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students, most of whom hail from Guizhou Province. The university has approximately 1,400 full time teachers, some of whom's work has been honored by the Guizhou Provincial Government as well as the government of China. According to GNU's website "In the past five years, the university has undertaken 79 national research projects and 430 provincial and ministerial research projects. The university has received 67 provincial awards for its achievements." GNU consists of 22 schools, including an independent college named Qiushi college. Other schools include the School of Chinese Language and Literature, the School of Law, The School of Foreign Languages, and the School of Fine Arts. There are a variety of academic programs available for students to pursue, including 52 degree programs for undergraduate students, and 42 programs available to post graduate students. Library The libraries on GNU's campuses collectively hold more than 2 million printed books, 540,000 e-books, 100,000 e-books in foreign languages, and 2,544 foreign and domestic newspapers. The library on GNU's Baoshan campus is also the location of a Provincial Information Center, the National Protection Unit of Ancient Books, and the center of "Document Sharing Technology of Guizhou Province." Other key facilities include the University hospital and a newly constructed health center at Baoshan campus. External Links Official website : www.gznu.edu.cn/ Official website (English) : 210.40.64.7/english/index.htm Studying Chinese Studying Chinese Chinese Language Program Guizhou NormalUniversity recruits students from various countries to study Chinese language and culture courses. The students may study 15 language courses and about 15 Chinese culture courses for at least half a year. If students achieve a qualified score, they can get a Chinese Language Culture Study certificate.Instruction will be given in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, newspaper reading, writing and ancient Chinese. Special courses can be arranged to meet the students'needs. The teaching-hour will be at least 20 hours. Long-term Programs Required CoursesLong term programs are available Short-term Programs Guizhou NormalUniversity recruits students and teachers from various countries to study Chinese language and culture. The available short-term Chinese language and culture programs are offered as following all year round. 1. Chinese Language Learning Program (Half a year or one year) 2. Guizhou Minority Culture Study Program during winter holiday 3. Guizhou Minority Culture Study Program during summer holiday 4. Cultural Field Trip to Sister Festival of Miao people and Drum-tower Festival of Dong People 5. Seeking Cooperative Research Fellows Application ProcedureThe period of study ranges from one and half year to one year. The spring semester begins on March 1, and the autumn semester begins on September 1. Applicants need to apply 2 months ahead of time. They need to present their resume, application form, health certification, 6 photos, letter of recommendation, an education certificate, and a photocopy of their passport at one time to the Department of International Relations of GNU. Students are expected to arrive at least a week before the new semester begins. Tuition cannot be refunded when a student discontinues studying for any reason.Application form:http://www.gznu.edu.cn/survey/org/wsb/extra_bits/app/student_application.pdf Tuition:6000 yuan / term for a general visiting student; 8000-11000 yuan / term for a visiting scholarRegistration Fee: 500 yuan Contacts:The Department of International Relations, Guizhou Normal UniversityNo. 116 BaoshanBeiLu Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001 P. R. ChinaTel: +86-851- 6701140 / 6742053Fax: +86-851-6766891E-mail: wsc@gznu.edu.cn ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/guizhou-normal-university.html ) Who we are Ni hao! Welcome to GoGuizhou.com, we are two American volunteer teachers who love living in Guizhou. Our lives have been significantly changed and touched since moving here and we both consider Guizhou "home". Our travels throughout Guizhou have taken us from small minority villages in the northeast to stunning hikes in the mountains of the southwest and everything in between. Our purpose is not to make money, but to have others share in the joy we have been given from this land. Take a look at the site, hopefully gain some new perspectives on Guizhou and contact us if you want to add your own touch to the site! Questions? Comments? Want to help make the site? EMAIL US! : emyxter@gmail.com ( from googuizhou.weebly.com/contact-us.html)

(c) Copyright Alex Drennan The Pinzgauer is a family of high-mobility all-terrain 4WD (4×4) and 6WD (6×6) military utility vehicles. They were most recently manufactured at Guildford in Surrey, England by BAE Systems Land & Armaments. The vehicle was originally developed in the late 1960s and manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch[2][3] of Graz, Austria, and was named after the Pinzgauer, an Austrian breed of horse. It was popular amongst military buyers,[3] and continued in production throughout the rest of the century. In 2000 the rights were sold to Automotive Technik Ltd (ATL) in the UK.[2] ATL was subsequently acquired by Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. in 2005; in May 2006, Stewart & Stevenson became a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence group Armor Holdings, Inc.. One year later, Armor Holdings was acquired by BAE Systems plc, who discontinued UK production of the Pinzgauer, which was proving to be vulnerable to mines and improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan. Development work (done in the UK) on a planned Pinzgauer II was evaluated by a BAE subsidiary in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa but no vehicle was ever made. The original prototype was developed around 1969 and production began in 1971,[2] as successor of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Haflinger 700 AP 4×4 light military multi purpose offroad vehicle.[2] The Pinzgauer first generation model (710, 712) was produced until 2000 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the city of Graz, Austria. It was, and is in use in many armies around the world like Austria,[3] Switzerland,[3] United Kingdom,[3] Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Albania, and Bolivia. When Austrian millionaire Mr. Stronach took over the shareholder majority of Steyr-Daimler-Puch offroad vehicles; he gave the right to build the Steyr Pinzgauer to Automotive Technik Ltd (now BAE). As of 2009, in the Graz plant, the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon / Puch G offroad vehicles were being built. The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made.[citation needed] While not as fast (110 kilometres per hour (68 mph)) as an American Humvee, it can carry more troops. Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people or two NATO pallets. Both the 4×4 and 6×6 models can tow 5,000 kilograms (11,023 lb) on road; and 1,500 kilograms (3,307 lb) or 1,800 kilograms (3,968 lb), respectively, off-road. It has a range of over 400 kilometres (249 mi) on one tank of fuel, or nearly 700 kilometres (435 mi) with the optional 125 litre tank. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in both four-wheel drive (4×4) (model 710) and six-wheel drive (6×6) (model 712) versions. The Pinzgauer was designed to be reliable and easy to fix; it is shipped with an air-cooled petrol engine with dual-Zenith 36 mm NDIX carburetors. The engine in the Pinzgauer was specifically designed for the vehicle; it has more than one oil pump so that the engine will not get starved of oil no matter how the vehicle is oriented. The Pinzgauer has a chassis design which contributes to its high mobility. It has a central tube chassis[2] with a transaxle which distributes the weight more evenly, and keeps the centre of gravity as low as possible. The differentials are all sealed units and require minimal additional lubrication. The Pinzgauer also has portal axles like the Unimog to provide extra clearance over obstacles. The 710 4×4 was the more popular variant, but the Pinzgauer was designed to have a very capable 6×6 configuration from the start. The rear suspension on the back of the 6×6 712 is designed to provide maximum traction in the most demanding circumstances along with increasing its towing, load carrying, and off-road abilities. During production from 1971 until 1985, 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both civilian and military customers. Variants[edit] 710 4×4[edit] Pinzgauer 710M 4×4 model Msoft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total) Tflat bed carrier K5 door hard top station wagon AMB-Yambulance with 3 doors AMB-Sambulance with air-portable removable shelter 712 6×6[edit] Pinzgauer 712M 6×6 model Msoft top with rear passenger seats Tflat top carrier FWfire truck K5-door station wagon Wworkshop with air-portable shelter DK4-door crew cab pickup AMB-Sambulance, with air-portable removable shelter The most common body types are either "K" (hard-topped) or "M" (soft-topped) types. Specifications[edit] All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with: 2.5 litre inline four-cylinder air-cooled engine. An exception was made on certain 712 variants towards the end of production that came with a 2.7-litre air-cooled four-cylinder engine. This was primarily on ambulances. DIN rated motive power: 65 kilowatts (88 PS; 87 bhp) (105 hp SAE) Torque: 180 newton metres (133 lbf·ft) Five-speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case four-wheel-drive or six-wheel-drive with on-the-fly hydraulic differential locks Fully independent suspension Backbone chassis tube[2] Integrated differentials 24 volt electrical system Vacuum assisted drum brakes Portal axles to give extra clearance Imports into the USA[edit] The interior of a Pinzgauer A popular idea in North America and other countries is to import first generation Pinzgauers for individual use. Any Pinzgauer can be imported but, due to the high cost and the difficulty in certifying them in the USA, the second generation Pinzgauers are very rarely imported there. First generation Pinzgauers are often imported because they are widely available and cheaper. Both Switzerland and Austria have released many 1st generation Pinzgauers into the civilian marketplace; as they converted their fleet to newer trucks. First generation Pinzgauers sold to civilians in Europe are likewise occasionally found and imported to the US. Vehicles over 25 years old are much easier to import to the USA due to a rolling 25 year exemption to United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and a rolling 21 year exemption for United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements. The first generation Pinzgauers were equipped with typical safety equipment for that era: seat belts, emergency flashers, etc., and have no difficulty meeting US standards for vehicles of that age. In many aspects, the Pinzgauer was better equipped from a safety perspective than many contemporary 4×4s (Jeeps, Land Rovers, etc.) coming from the factory with seat belts, power brakes, integral roll bars, and other safety focused design features. Like most off-road vehicles, the driver has to be aware of the high centre of gravity. As with other 4×4s, it is possible to tip them if driven aggressively or inappropriately. The first generation trucks are popular with off-roaders worldwide due to their low cost and their ability in off-roading. There are dealers in various countries that import and sell Pinzgauers from both individual sales and government auctions. Slowly 2nd generation Pinzgauers, the 716 and 718 models, are appearing on the retail market in various states and conditions. The government of Malaysia has retired its Pinzgauer fleet of P90 and P93, which vary in date of manufacture from 1996 to as late as 1998. UK army surplus vehicles tend to be in poor condition, most having served in Afghanistan or Iraq. Good vehicles are quickly bought by collectors and a small number may be turned into self-contained expedition vehicles, the Pinzgauer being one of the very few vehicles of its size that can successfully be made 'self-contained' due to its forward control cab and large load area.[original research?] Second generation[edit] In 1980, Steyr-Daimler-Puch started development on a second generation Pinzgauer. After six years of research and development, the initial second generation Pinzgauer II rolled off the assembly line in 1986. In 2000, Magna, who bought Steyr-Daimler-Puch, sold its rights to the Pinzgauer to Automotive Technik in the UK who took over production of the Pinzgauer.[3] The Pinzgauer is now owned and produced by BAE Systems Land Systems in Guildford, Surrey,[1][4] however production has ceased. The four-wheel drive (4×4) model is now called a 716,[3] and the six-wheel drive (6×6) model[4] is now called a 718.[3] The same letter body type designations apply. The new 716 has the same payload rating as the old 712, and the new 718 also has a similarly higher payload capacity. There were a few minor changes to the design of the Pinzgauer II: Inline six-cylinder Volkswagen Group Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engine ZF Friedrichshafen four-speed automatic transmission, or five-speed manual transmission[2] Slightly wider track Slightly bigger tyres Disc brakes Standard automatic transmission, with optional manual transmission The second generation motor vehicle went through several minor revisions through its life, unlike the first generation which used the same design throughout production. The first second-generation Pinzgauers were designated P80 (1980). It went through a revision in 1990 (P90), 1993 (P93), and an internal combustion engine change in 2002. This was a new Volkswagen Group Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine[2] to meet the new Euro3 emissions requirements.[2] Worldwide markets[edit] British Army Pinzgauer Vector Pinzgauer cockpit The Pinzgauer is increasingly replacing the Land Rover Defender in the military utility vehicle role;[2] despite its high cost of upwards of US$100,000 per unit. Pinzgauer (or Pinz as it is known to most British soldiers) is more common as a utility vehicle in Royal Artillery units due to its employment as a light gun tractor. A new armoured version called the "Vector" entered service in the British Army in early 2007, as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops in Afghanistan. The 6×6 Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle), will according to the manufacturer, "Build on the existing proven design, with enhancements that will include a combination of physical protection, as well as the use of sophisticated electronic counter measures to maximise survivability while on patrol". However, the Vector PPV was found to have unreliable suspension and wheel hubs as well as poor protection against improvised explosive devices. It quickly lost the confidence of field commanders and was withdrawn from service.[5] The Pinzgauer is also the basis for the Tactical Ground Station (TGS) element of the Raytheon Systems Limited Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR). The TGS comprises two workstation vehicles, a mission support vehicle, and a standard utility vehicle. Many Pinzgauers were sold to military forces (initially Austrian[3] and Swiss[3]) to be used as non-tactical utility vehicles. Typical military roles are as general-purpose utility truck, command vehicles, troop carrier, ambulance, and tow vehicle. Roles very similar to other civilian sourced vehicles like Land Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and the Mercedes G in many European countries. The New Zealand Army[2] has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role. The Malaysian Army purchased 168 2 Ton 4×4 716 Gun Tractors and 164 2 Ton 6×6 718 Mortar Transporters to replace older Volvo C303 and C304 in their inventories. It is affectionately called "Piglet" due to its design. The Pinzgauer was also marketed to the civilian marketplace worldwide for use as campers, farm trucks, ambulances,[3] fire-trucks,[3] and rescue vehicles.[3] Likewise, many ended up being used as tourist vans due to their large passenger capacity and stable, reliable platform. Pinzgauers have been used as tourist transports in Africa, Australia, South America, Hawaii, and other exotic locales. Some are still in use today. Pinzgauers were also marketed to- and used extensively by energy companies for oil exploration purposes. A few Pinzgauers were used for off-road racing, including the famous Paris to Dakar Rally and the International Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia. Military users[edit] Pinzgauer of the British Army Military users include: Argentina Austria Bolivia Cyprus New Zealand[2] United Kingdom[2] Saudi Arabia Serbia Lithuania Malaysia Switzerland Pinzgauer capabilities[edit] The Pinzgauer is a highly accomplished off-road vehicle. Its capabilities, in some operational scenarios, are better than that of the Humvee and the Land Rover Defender. 45-degree approach and departure angle 100% slope, or until tyres lose traction 700 millimetres (27.6 in) fording depth Can climb down a 360 millimetres (14.2 in) wall 43.5-degree side-slope 1000/1500 kg of payload (4×4/6×6) 335 millimetres (13.2 in) of clearance (lowest point when fully loaded) top speed (4×4): 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph); (6×6): 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) Full engine power available at 4 kilometres per hour (2 mph) M body type carries 10 people (4×4), 14 people (6×6)

This one was shot in Chiang Mai province of Thailand, I was escaping my self away from the flood in Bangkok. First, I went to Kanchanaburi province of Thailand and stayed at a hotel there for about 4 days. After Kanchanaburi, we went to Nakhonpathom and spent there 3 days. But it was still not getting any better in Bangkok, and we decided to fly over to Chiang Mai, spent there 5 days and temporarily went back to Bangkok. But as soon as we got back to Bangkok on Nov 8th, we realized it was even worse than before, and looked like getting even worse....... So we flew back to Chiang Mai and spent there another week. I really miss Thailand these days. Really missing the calm weather of Thailand these days. Thailand is a great country with lots of beautiful smiles! Why commercial cameras reviews are useless 2017: The 5DMK2 and the MK3 sensor was one of the worst sensors(read noise wise) in digital camera history, and from that crappy banding machine to the Nikon D800E was a huge leap in terms of IQ, but after that? The sad reality we must face if we are at least a bit honest with ourselves and sensor test data is that basically, image quality of so-called fullframe sensor hasn't improved since about 2012. The tech around it has been in stagnation, not any advancing. But according to the DPR,etc the A7R2 is a real game changer, so great that we should even change our own value and standard for system functionality, ergonomics preferences,etc, to get that specific camera. But in reality, as I said, the image quality of the 42.4 mp sensor is basically the same or identical to the old 36 mp sensor first introduced in the D800 in 2012. In fact, if the base ISO image quality is the most important aspect of a camera to you as DPR forced us to believe, then even the venerable D800 would still compete well against the A7R2. The A6300 is basically a bit more glorified, refined version of the NEX7 from the 2012, nothing more than that, but those so-called reviewers just intentionally dramatize the minor difference in the feature set of these 2 APS-C cameras, to call the A6300 a true game changer......before it they did the same to the A6000, which was actually a dumbed-down version of the NEX7. The OM-D EM5MK2 is the same exactly the same as the ancient EM5 IQ wise and so on. Now to them so-called reviewers, the Fuji X-T2 seems to be the most amazing camera that changes all current standard set by the A6300 or the D500 before it. It is obvious to them what they want to sell at their affiliate sites are the best and they are usually the latest and most trendy cameras. But again, the sad reality is no formats have actually got any better in terms of sheer image quality and basic functionality. So how can they sell well? I think those so-called reviewers are all clickbaiters and those sites and so called reviews are all deliberately designed to make the greatest and latest but worst value cameras look much better than they actually are: 1, we have to define what is pro camera for most ? But is there really such a thing as pro camera? I remember Marissa Mayer of Yahoo,who introduced the current style of Flick two years ago once said: "there is no such thing as professional photographer." I don't actually agree with her, but the opinion out there that shared by many influential, powerful people like her and others can be very influential and strongly affect or even change the courses of thinking or opinion making process of many people. In the photography world, the CEO of the company that owns Flickr is a person whose opinions really have that kind of power, whose opinions can influence many many people, as I said that can or may change opinions of many many people. So we like her opinion or not, it is very very strongly influential. There was the always interesting anecdote from one of those few former CEO's of Phase One, I did not know if it was true or not, though : once we asked Phase people who actually were buying their real high-end cameras? Phase answered was shocking to some,"CEO's of small companies and Dentists." Not so-called "professionals" are usual their customers, but more well heeled guys. I found it extremely interesting, but it may be true. When I asked a few of our main pro customers who mostly shoot architectures about their opinions on the above Phase anecdote, they replied to us,"well, it may be true,we sometimes used Phase One Backs but we never bought one but just rented their amazing products when we actually needed that kind of resolution,we do not consider ourselves professionals, though." Very interesting, indeed. I'd be willing to bet serious money that an overwhelming majority of A7R2, D810s and 5Ds-R camera users are just well heeled guys or girls, not shooting anything their "main" income-generating works. I'd put money somewhere around the 80% to 85% of those high end FF users are amatures or part time pros, or just geeks like us. "Professional" (like "prosumer" or "enthusiast") is a marketing word, anyway. When someone from Nikon or Canon or any major camera company tells you that the new D5XS mark 4 is a true "professional" camera, they aren't saying anything meaningful about the camera itself. They're making an advertising pitch to your ego or pride. Since, right now, most actually "professional" using camera in the Nikon lineup might be the cheap but excellent D5500. Or may even be the refurbished D3300? But its AF is primitive! It's plastic! It's not weather sealed! Who cares: the D3300's most "professional" feature is the tiny investment for the amazing IQ it stacks against any profit. Real professionals are stingy people and care about money spent on camera gear much more seriously than well heeled amatures or part time professionals like us. The D3300 is better than the D300s from 2009 in almost every way,and some even consider it a better camera than the D700 and there are very few clients who wouldn't be thrilled by what comes out of a D700 shot with skill and vision. So in terms of sheer IQ, the D5500 can be considered as a pro camera. I have many PRO customers shooting a EOS80D or a Nikon D5500 or a Sony A6300 or even an ancient Sony A6000, and many of Nikon guys use a D3300 as a back-up just because they can really abuse it. Not all pros or serious amatures need super fast AF or 4k video, and I think if they need serious 4k, they buy a dedicated 4k pro camera that can record much longer than 29 minutes a session anyway. It is actually cheaper than buying a half-baked 4k camera like the A7R2 or the GH4 in the long run. So who needs commercial reviewers brainwashing us what they actually want to sell is the best camera or the actual best selling camera ? 2, some die-hard D-SLR loving reviewers always describe the A7X menu system as "inane" or confusing, but which camera has more organized menu system? I've never understood anyone's criticism of camera menu systems. Because every camera's menu is the same, not exactly the same but identically disorganized. They're categorized lists with nested options. None of them are truly optimized for speed, they all bury (different) critical options, they all require a little practice to build familiarity. That's why they love Canon or Nikon menu system better, and they do get confused just being more familiar to them with better for all. But I personally prefer the A7X menu better since it is more customizable, and actually I am just more used to Sony E mount than anything else. After all, I have been a long time Sony/Minolta user. Controlling a camera with a menu is a stupid concept. It was a lazy, terrible idea in 1993 and it remains quite silly and terrible in 2016. Many many many so-called reviewers are really really confused and forcing us to share the really silly "one menu system is more intuitive than the others" kinda notion they have. But again, what they actually saying is they are more used to the one system than the other systems' menu lay-out or just they are too obtuse to understand anything a bit different than what they are used to using. I guess most of so-called reviewers do not know cameras they think they are testing enough to test it and publish rushed-out reviews, so they never understand how to set up the Sony A7X or even how to shoot it fast. If they do understand it, then they should know it is quite customizable and it is less menu-driven than the Canon 5DS or the Nikon D810. The A7X has 4 dials and you can actually change shutter speed, F number, EV value and ISO without diving into the menu.If they have to dive into the deep menu system all the time, then they do not understand how to set it up or customize the buttons and the dials of the Sony, and without even understanding it properly they rush to pan the menu system hard. So what do you expect from so-called reviews? 3,SONY SONY SONY!!! Fuji Fuji Fuji!!! why are they worshiping for them, and keep writing so many of so-called reviews for them each week? Why are A7R2, A6300, A7S2 and now X-Pro2 and X-T2 so special? how many so-called reviews do they need deserve? Well be realistic! Most of die-hard high end Nikon or Canon boys and girls are fanatics and difficult to influence or change their opinions or beliefs; as camera sales swirl down the toilet bowl, so does any review site's readership. Writing about or recommending two-year-old cameras or very old fashioned, 1950th minded big conventional cameras that many of their readers already own doesn't sell anything from their affiliate websites. It's that simple. When did you actually read any review of any camera last time? a decade ago? Have you ever expected any so-called review pan or even mildly criticize any camera? Do you actually trust any so-called review? I think all your answer should be no to all the 3 questions above. They are all about money, deliberately designed clickbaiters..........so what do you expect from so-called reviews? They never criticize as I said, even completely lazy, behind-the-curve products like the Fuji X-M1(only 16mp dated sensor), the Canon 7D(remember that terrible banding machine?), the Sony A58 (worst ergonomics in camera world)and the Nikon D3200(truly just announced to be already dated kind of junk) all got decent scores. No so-called reviewers actually pan anything they review, and definitely never say "we hated this product X or Y", or anything like that because their affiliate will stop feeding them if they actually do that. Meanwhile, actual users of cameras, hate various cameras and lenses all the time. Well, they can't all be unreasonable, obtuse cranks. Then why the views or opinions of real camera users and so-called reviewers are so dramatically different? Well it is easy; all review sites are affiliated with several big online camera sellers, such as Amazon, Adorama, B&H,etc in the USA, Digital Rev, Rakuten, Amazon,etc in Asia. So they cannot do real test such as using cameras in a humid Thailand jungle or testing it in an Icelandic mountain, or anything like that. They do not even test cameras with Capture One since Adobe is a big sponsor of those junk camera review sites, but most of us who tether cameras or shoot studio portrait prefer Capture One pro to the cranky slow unreliable LR for tethering work. Well after all, those commercial reviewers never buy any camera with their own money, so they do not get up-set or irritated even if a camera they are reviewing now is a real crap. We real camera users, on the other hand, actually spend our own money to buy our cameras, so we always complain if they are craps or overpriced, of course. 4, all so-called reviewers usually love the latest and greatest like the Sony A76300 or the Fuji X-T2 or the Sony A7R2 or something very gadgetry like the Panasonic GH4 or the Samsung NX1, but none of them actually like Leica or Phase,why? Well easy, they do not sell well, I mean how many more Leicas will sell if those reviews seriously recommend Leica in their silly so-called reviews? None, since we who like Leica cameras already know why we do love their cameras and we do not need any moron in disguise of a pro(oh well)reviewer to tell us about how good or amazing it is. After all, it is a Leica and it is a special to us those who understand and appreciate it fully. As for Phase, it is not their area, they do not understand that kind of real high quality products anyway, what kind of high end commercial photographers whose main cameras are some sort of Phase One or even Mamiya will be interested in moronic reviews' opinion on Phase cameras ? No one. Can those so-called reviewers from commercial sites possibly some how change opinion of the actual Phase users? never. Well, so-called reviewers are professionals but not photographic pros, they are marketing pros whose main interest is cheating manipulating naive new camera buyers. All so-called reviews are just poorly designed marketing materials and nothing else, so they just recommend something they can sell with high-margin such as the Fuji X-Pro2 and X-T2, the Sony A7R2, A6300 and Sony A7SMK2, and now also the Pentax K1. Then, why are almost all so-called pro reviewers recommending Sony and Fuji, pushing Sony A7R2, A6300 or Fuji X-Pro2 so hard to any one reading them now? Well it is very simple, because it is what their affiliate want to sell and easier to sell because of the user base of that camera is not very narrow-minded like the core user base of the D810 or the 5DS-R. The potential high-end Sony or Fuji owners the only kind of high-end camera users that may be willing to listen to so-called reviewers, thus the reviewers think they may be able to manipulate them into buying more of their affiliate pushing products. So they naturally focus on these Sony, Fuji, and Pentax high-end, high-margin products now. And anyway: Why shouldn't a high-end camera from 2015 or 2016 outperform a high-end camera from 2012 ? It should. But the sad reality is that the latest gear does not outperform the 2012 camera. The actual(in practical sense )performance is the same or almost identical, no dramatic improvement has made in the sensor design since 2012(the D800E). The D810 is better than the D800E only at the very base ISO albeit the slower exposure time due to the ISO64 vs the SIO100 base sensitivity difference . The A7R2 is only marginally better than the D800E in video department and at very high ISO for a lot more money. The Pentax K1 is a bit better than the venerable Nikon D800E from 2012 at very high ISO, but with that lame lens line is that really any better than the ancient Nikon as a whole system? No. But commercial review sites cannot say it honestly, how can they? if they say it then they cannot sell anything new any more. I just used the Sony A7R2, the Pentax K1 and the D810 as typical example cases for the kind of products so-called review sites want to hard push to the naive readers, but I know they are actually quite fantastic products, just not as amazing or dramatic game-changers as those silly commercial camera review sites try to make them out to be. But they are good indeed. So do not just listen to the hype too much that just obviously follows the money. UPDATE: Now, I just confirm that Nikon DL series actual shipment date would be next January 17th as planned in last Nikon conference at Nikon D3400 launch. But it may delay even further to next CP+ show in Yokohama Japan(in Feb 2017). So it is already promised to be a failed product line before the actual launch. I think Nikon is really stupid, I mean I don't think phones or mirrorless killing Nikon but itself, it obtuse marketing killing it. UPDATE2: I find Fuji's "Kaizen" policy very very attractive and their repair service seems excellent. I also like the new Joystick AF selector. So I may test my X-T2 a bit longer than I expected. However, I find the X-Pro 2 still a bit better body than the XT2 in terms of build and ergonomics. The X-T2 Joystick is sometimes unusable when I look into the EVF since my nose sometimes touch the Joystick. The quality of the body is obviously worse than that of the X-Pro2. The X-Pro2 is generally faster(I don't mean AF speed, but general operation speed). But when using a tele photo zoom or any big lens I think the X-T2 is better since it has the external grip option that counterbalances the weight of a big lens better. The Sony A6300 really needed a similar grip to really take all its AF and speed advantages over the A7X series. So I always saw the Sony A6300 as a halfhearted effort of Sony that was carefully deigned not to invade the A7X territory. It is a shame, since the A6300 has the potential to be the best camera for the most majority of ILC users. In the end, for now, I decided to keep Canon, Fuji, Sony and Nikon and eventually pick one and sell all the others. IMHO, Canon EF and Sony E seem to be the most future-proof systems, but I have feeling I may be happier with Fuji than either Canon or Sony in the long run. In my mind, Nikon is ,like Leica's CEO kindly points out , already one leg in the grave kind of system, and I do not think they are any relevant now unless they some how just really immediately come up with a serious F mount mirrorless camera that takes full advantage of the F mount eco system. I think until I get comfortable with the Fuji AF system, I keep my D750, but once I get hang of it, I do not need Nikon any more. So in near future, I will be using just 3 system rather than 4 systems. UPDATE3: after I got the prices for the new Nikon PCE lenses a few days ago, I realized that I was too hard on Sony and Olympus. I think Nikon's recent lens pricing is even worse. The PCE19mm f4 is a bit too late and it is a much more expensive lens than the Canon 17mm f4 TS lens although it is much easier to design than the Canon. So this one is definitely a bad deal. The new 70-200mm f2.8 E FL VR lens is definitely the worst value 70-200mm ever that instantly makes the Sony 70-200mm f2.8GM and especially the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS MK2 lens look like super bargain lenses. So I really think Nikon is doomed and now it is really difficult to justify the incredible amount of price hike in just a few months in Nikon system. And Nikon system seems to have the worst warranty policy especially if you get some grey market deals. So for now maybe it is wiser to keep multi mount system, Sony FE and Olympus or Panasonic m43, or Fuji APS-C system. I realized that I do not have to get a whole set of lenses for all camera systems I have. I guess I keep my Sony for just wide to normal range use and then add some Olympus or Fuji for long shot use since Sony and Nikon over 200mm lenses are huge and ridiculously expensive. But for me the biggest issue with the recent trend of super gigantic oversized lenses in FF land is that they are often rejected by budget airlines. So as airline regulation is getting more and more strict these days, the much lighter and compact m43 system may survive for foreseeable future...at least 5 more years. It really looks like Nikon is the real loser in this business since it has nothing to support its ever contracting camera business. Olympus has very strong medical division and portable audio business. Fuji is a very diversified company, Fuji owns Fuji Xerox , Fuji medical, Fuji industrial scientific lab, Fuji semi conductor, Toyama pharmaceutical corp,etc. Panasonic is also a very diversified company with core investment in house and automobile electronics industry. Sony is also a very diversified company and its main business is insurance and realestate. Canon is also a far more diversified company than Nikon. Even Ricoh is more diversified than Nikon is. So Nikon seems to be the most vulnerable one and I bet it will be the first to go out of the camera market. UPDATE4: Many people including myself though Nikon is dying if not already dead by now, but in reality Nikon sells many many more units than Sony and Nikon is now working on new type of sensor design and they may collaborate with Pentax and Olympus to set up a new sensor company. If this plays out well, then Sony will be the loser since they will have no one to sell their mediocre so-called Fullframe sensors any more. And as a result their highend camera prices will go up significantly. And now Sony has just announced they've just decided to spin off their imaging division and now it is an independent business under Sony corp's supervision, just like their sensor group..... This means now Sony imaging is not a part of Sony but their subsidiary, and therefore, to Sony device group, the imaging group is just a customer,nothing special, in fact,considering its size of market share in relation to that of Nikon, Sony imaging group is a lower class customer to the device group. So there is no more reason for Sony device technology to keep the best sensor for in-house use. In fact now Sony device tech must compete with the new sensor company Nikon Olympus Ricoh have just established here and some European sensor designers such as CMOSIS, who makes the Leica SL sensor and M sensor. And do not forget there is always Canon if Sony does not sell anything to Nikon.........Canon will start selling it and there will be Panasonic and Tower Jazz also........so Nikon will not have any problem choosing sensor suppliers any more. Sony must sell their best sensors to Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax , or Sony will lose them, Sony cannot choose customers any more. If Sony is smart, it will not compete with Nikon or Olympus in camera market. After all, Nikon is the biggest customer of Sony.......but Sony also buys steppers from Nikon anyway. So Sony is not dominating the sensor market, or controlling Nikon as many Sony fanboys think..........and the just announced Spun-off of their imaging division makes Sony camera business less trust-worthy........... Sony thinks every business as a short term investment and runs it to make it temporarily profitable and then spins it off. After that? of course sells it to anyone willing to buy it.........like Sony did with the Vaio PC business, TV business, etc,etc. That is why no one really trust Sony in the long run, we long term Sony users just use its cameras but always know it is a back-up plan or step-gap solution...... After all no serious camera buyers are as obtuse as many spec-chasers and review sites think they are. None one buys into a big expensive camera system just for an amazing set of features in a body or two...................there are many many more important aspects to a system camera than just a set of great features... UPDATE5: Now my first 2 copies of FE16-35mm f4 suddenly died and I just bought my 3rd copy of it.........and sadly found it terrible this time. It is obvious buying any Sony Zeiss FE lens is like picking up an extremely difficult to win lottery ticket..........it might be great but most of times you get mediocre copies of it. My first 16-35mm f4 was excellent , the second one was even better-almost outstanding, then this third one is literally lousy. I am returning it and get a new copy but I am not expecting to get a better one, I guess I was extremely lucky with my first two copies of this lens........I guess I will force the dealer to exchange my FE16-35mm f4 for the Voiklander 15mm f4. Sony QC is just terrible, and it is not worth any premium over other cheap off-brand lens maker like Samyang, Tamron and Sigma. In fact, Sony is even worse than Tamron and much worse than Sigma Art series with respect to QC. I have had 4 Tamron VC lenses in EF and F mount and they performed fairly consistent.... I really miss Tamron 90mm macro, now I guess a brand name means nothing when it comes to QC and general after sales support. In fact, Tamron and Voiklander provided me the best service of any lens maker I have ever dealt with. It is extremely frustrating every time I spend more than 110000 yen or 1075 USD, I still have to worry about terrible sample variations. I think we have to appreciate Roger Cicala's excellent site. He is the only one guy testing more than 5 copies of any given lens. All other reviewers just merely test one copy of each lens.........useless.

This one was shot in Chiang Mai province of Thailand, I was escaping my self away from the flood in Bangkok. First, I went to Kanchanaburi province of Thailand and stayed at a hotel there for about 4 days. After Kanchanaburi, we went to Nakhonpathom and spent there 3 days. But it was still not getting any better in Bangkok, and we decided to fly over to Chiang Mai, spent there 5 days and temporarily went back to Bangkok. But as soon as we got back to Bangkok on Nov 8th, we realized it was even worse than before, and looked like getting even worse....... So we flew back to Chiang Mai and spent there another week. I really miss Thailand these days. Really missing the calm weather of Thailand these days. Thailand is a great country with lots of beautiful smiles! Why commercial cameras reviews are useless 2017: The 5DMK2 and the MK3 sensor was one of the worst sensors(read noise wise) in digital camera history, and from that crappy banding machine to the Nikon D800E was a huge leap in terms of IQ, but after that? The sad reality we must face if we are at least a bit honest with ourselves and sensor test data is that basically, image quality of so-called fullframe sensor hasn't improved since about 2012. The tech around it has been in stagnation, not any advancing. But according to the DPR,etc the A7R2 is a real game changer, so great that we should even change our own value and standard for system functionality, ergonomics preferences,etc, to get that specific camera. But in reality, as I said, the image quality of the 42.4 mp sensor is basically the same or identical to the old 36 mp sensor first introduced in the D800 in 2012. In fact, if the base ISO image quality is the most important aspect of a camera to you as DPR forced us to believe, then even the venerable D800 would still compete well against the A7R2. The A6300 is basically a bit more glorified, refined version of the NEX7 from the 2012, nothing more than that, but those so-called reviewers just intentionally dramatize the minor difference in the feature set of these 2 APS-C cameras, to call the A6300 a true game changer......before it they did the same to the A6000, which was actually a dumbed-down version of the NEX7. The OM-D EM5MK2 is the same exactly the same as the ancient EM5 IQ wise and so on. Now to them so-called reviewers, the Fuji X-T2 seems to be the most amazing camera that changes all current standard set by the A6300 or the D500 before it. It is obvious to them what they want to sell at their affiliate sites are the best and they are usually the latest and most trendy cameras. But again, the sad reality is no formats have actually got any better in terms of sheer image quality and basic functionality. So how can they sell well? I think those so-called reviewers are all clickbaiters and those sites and so called reviews are all deliberately designed to make the greatest and latest but worst value cameras look much better than they actually are: 1, we have to define what is pro camera for most ? But is there really such a thing as pro camera? I remember Marissa Mayer of Yahoo,who introduced the current style of Flick two years ago once said: "there is no such thing as professional photographer." I don't actually agree with her, but the opinion out there that shared by many influential, powerful people like her and others can be very influential and strongly affect or even change the courses of thinking or opinion making process of many people. In the photography world, the CEO of the company that owns Flickr is a person whose opinions really have that kind of power, whose opinions can influence many many people, as I said that can or may change opinions of many many people. So we like her opinion or not, it is very very strongly influential. There was the always interesting anecdote from one of those few former CEO's of Phase One, I did not know if it was true or not, though : once we asked Phase people who actually were buying their real high-end cameras? Phase answered was shocking to some,"CEO's of small companies and Dentists." Not so-called "professionals" are usual their customers, but more well heeled guys. I found it extremely interesting, but it may be true. When I asked a few of our main pro customers who mostly shoot architectures about their opinions on the above Phase anecdote, they replied to us,"well, it may be true,we sometimes used Phase One Backs but we never bought one but just rented their amazing products when we actually needed that kind of resolution,we do not consider ourselves professionals, though." Very interesting, indeed. I'd be willing to bet serious money that an overwhelming majority of A7R2, D810s and 5Ds-R camera users are just well heeled guys or girls, not shooting anything their "main" income-generating works. I'd put money somewhere around the 80% to 85% of those high end FF users are amatures or part time pros, or just geeks like us. "Professional" (like "prosumer" or "enthusiast") is a marketing word, anyway. When someone from Nikon or Canon or any major camera company tells you that the new D5XS mark 4 is a true "professional" camera, they aren't saying anything meaningful about the camera itself. They're making an advertising pitch to your ego or pride. Since, right now, most actually "professional" using camera in the Nikon lineup might be the cheap but excellent D5500. Or may even be the refurbished D3300? But its AF is primitive! It's plastic! It's not weather sealed! Who cares: the D3300's most "professional" feature is the tiny investment for the amazing IQ it stacks against any profit. Real professionals are stingy people and care about money spent on camera gear much more seriously than well heeled amatures or part time professionals like us. The D3300 is better than the D300s from 2009 in almost every way,and some even consider it a better camera than the D700 and there are very few clients who wouldn't be thrilled by what comes out of a D700 shot with skill and vision. So in terms of sheer IQ, the D5500 can be considered as a pro camera. I have many PRO customers shooting a EOS80D or a Nikon D5500 or a Sony A6300 or even an ancient Sony A6000, and many of Nikon guys use a D3300 as a back-up just because they can really abuse it. Not all pros or serious amatures need super fast AF or 4k video, and I think if they need serious 4k, they buy a dedicated 4k pro camera that can record much longer than 29 minutes a session anyway. It is actually cheaper than buying a half-baked 4k camera like the A7R2 or the GH4 in the long run. So who needs commercial reviewers brainwashing us what they actually want to sell is the best camera or the actual best selling camera ? 2, some die-hard D-SLR loving reviewers always describe the A7X menu system as "inane" or confusing, but which camera has more organized menu system? I've never understood anyone's criticism of camera menu systems. Because every camera's menu is the same, not exactly the same but identically disorganized. They're categorized lists with nested options. None of them are truly optimized for speed, they all bury (different) critical options, they all require a little practice to build familiarity. That's why they love Canon or Nikon menu system better, and they do get confused just being more familiar to them with better for all. But I personally prefer the A7X menu better since it is more customizable, and actually I am just more used to Sony E mount than anything else. After all, I have been a long time Sony/Minolta user. Controlling a camera with a menu is a stupid concept. It was a lazy, terrible idea in 1993 and it remains quite silly and terrible in 2016. Many many many so-called reviewers are really really confused and forcing us to share the really silly "one menu system is more intuitive than the others" kinda notion they have. But again, what they actually saying is they are more used to the one system than the other systems' menu lay-out or just they are too obtuse to understand anything a bit different than what they are used to using. I guess most of so-called reviewers do not know cameras they think they are testing enough to test it and publish rushed-out reviews, so they never understand how to set up the Sony A7X or even how to shoot it fast. If they do understand it, then they should know it is quite customizable and it is less menu-driven than the Canon 5DS or the Nikon D810. The A7X has 4 dials and you can actually change shutter speed, F number, EV value and ISO without diving into the menu.If they have to dive into the deep menu system all the time, then they do not understand how to set it up or customize the buttons and the dials of the Sony, and without even understanding it properly they rush to pan the menu system hard. So what do you expect from so-called reviews? 3,SONY SONY SONY!!! Fuji Fuji Fuji!!! why are they worshiping for them, and keep writing so many of so-called reviews for them each week? Why are A7R2, A6300, A7S2 and now X-Pro2 and X-T2 so special? how many so-called reviews do they need deserve? Well be realistic! Most of die-hard high end Nikon or Canon boys and girls are fanatics and difficult to influence or change their opinions or beliefs; as camera sales swirl down the toilet bowl, so does any review site's readership. Writing about or recommending two-year-old cameras or very old fashioned, 1950th minded big conventional cameras that many of their readers already own doesn't sell anything from their affiliate websites. It's that simple. When did you actually read any review of any camera last time? a decade ago? Have you ever expected any so-called review pan or even mildly criticize any camera? Do you actually trust any so-called review? I think all your answer should be no to all the 3 questions above. They are all about money, deliberately designed clickbaiters..........so what do you expect from so-called reviews? They never criticize as I said, even completely lazy, behind-the-curve products like the Fuji X-M1(only 16mp dated sensor), the Canon 7D(remember that terrible banding machine?), the Sony A58 (worst ergonomics in camera world)and the Nikon D3200(truly just announced to be already dated kind of junk) all got decent scores. No so-called reviewers actually pan anything they review, and definitely never say "we hated this product X or Y", or anything like that because their affiliate will stop feeding them if they actually do that. Meanwhile, actual users of cameras, hate various cameras and lenses all the time. Well, they can't all be unreasonable, obtuse cranks. Then why the views or opinions of real camera users and so-called reviewers are so dramatically different? Well it is easy; all review sites are affiliated with several big online camera sellers, such as Amazon, Adorama, B&H,etc in the USA, Digital Rev, Rakuten, Amazon,etc in Asia. So they cannot do real test such as using cameras in a humid Thailand jungle or testing it in an Icelandic mountain, or anything like that. They do not even test cameras with Capture One since Adobe is a big sponsor of those junk camera review sites, but most of us who tether cameras or shoot studio portrait prefer Capture One pro to the cranky slow unreliable LR for tethering work. Well after all, those commercial reviewers never buy any camera with their own money, so they do not get up-set or irritated even if a camera they are reviewing now is a real crap. We real camera users, on the other hand, actually spend our own money to buy our cameras, so we always complain if they are craps or overpriced, of course. 4, all so-called reviewers usually love the latest and greatest like the Sony A76300 or the Fuji X-T2 or the Sony A7R2 or something very gadgetry like the Panasonic GH4 or the Samsung NX1, but none of them actually like Leica or Phase,why? Well easy, they do not sell well, I mean how many more Leicas will sell if those reviews seriously recommend Leica in their silly so-called reviews? None, since we who like Leica cameras already know why we do love their cameras and we do not need any moron in disguise of a pro(oh well)reviewer to tell us about how good or amazing it is. After all, it is a Leica and it is a special to us those who understand and appreciate it fully. As for Phase, it is not their area, they do not understand that kind of real high quality products anyway, what kind of high end commercial photographers whose main cameras are some sort of Phase One or even Mamiya will be interested in moronic reviews' opinion on Phase cameras ? No one. Can those so-called reviewers from commercial sites possibly some how change opinion of the actual Phase users? never. Well, so-called reviewers are professionals but not photographic pros, they are marketing pros whose main interest is cheating manipulating naive new camera buyers. All so-called reviews are just poorly designed marketing materials and nothing else, so they just recommend something they can sell with high-margin such as the Fuji X-Pro2 and X-T2, the Sony A7R2, A6300 and Sony A7SMK2, and now also the Pentax K1. Then, why are almost all so-called pro reviewers recommending Sony and Fuji, pushing Sony A7R2, A6300 or Fuji X-Pro2 so hard to any one reading them now? Well it is very simple, because it is what their affiliate want to sell and easier to sell because of the user base of that camera is not very narrow-minded like the core user base of the D810 or the 5DS-R. The potential high-end Sony or Fuji owners the only kind of high-end camera users that may be willing to listen to so-called reviewers, thus the reviewers think they may be able to manipulate them into buying more of their affiliate pushing products. So they naturally focus on these Sony, Fuji, and Pentax high-end, high-margin products now. And anyway: Why shouldn't a high-end camera from 2015 or 2016 outperform a high-end camera from 2012 ? It should. But the sad reality is that the latest gear does not outperform the 2012 camera. The actual(in practical sense )performance is the same or almost identical, no dramatic improvement has made in the sensor design since 2012(the D800E). The D810 is better than the D800E only at the very base ISO albeit the slower exposure time due to the ISO64 vs the SIO100 base sensitivity difference . The A7R2 is only marginally better than the D800E in video department and at very high ISO for a lot more money. The Pentax K1 is a bit better than the venerable Nikon D800E from 2012 at very high ISO, but with that lame lens line is that really any better than the ancient Nikon as a whole system? No. But commercial review sites cannot say it honestly, how can they? if they say it then they cannot sell anything new any more. I just used the Sony A7R2, the Pentax K1 and the D810 as typical example cases for the kind of products so-called review sites want to hard push to the naive readers, but I know they are actually quite fantastic products, just not as amazing or dramatic game-changers as those silly commercial camera review sites try to make them out to be. But they are good indeed. So do not just listen to the hype too much that just obviously follows the money. UPDATE: Now, I just confirm that Nikon DL series actual shipment date would be next January 17th as planned in last Nikon conference at Nikon D3400 launch. But it may delay even further to next CP+ show in Yokohama Japan(in Feb 2017). So it is already promised to be a failed product line before the actual launch. I think Nikon is really stupid, I mean I don't think phones or mirrorless killing Nikon but itself, it obtuse marketing killing it. UPDATE2: I find Fuji's "Kaizen" policy very very attractive and their repair service seems excellent. I also like the new Joystick AF selector. So I may test my X-T2 a bit longer than I expected. However, I find the X-Pro 2 still a bit better body than the XT2 in terms of build and ergonomics. The X-T2 Joystick is sometimes unusable when I look into the EVF since my nose sometimes touch the Joystick. The quality of the body is obviously worse than that of the X-Pro2. The X-Pro2 is generally faster(I don't mean AF speed, but general operation speed). But when using a tele photo zoom or any big lens I think the X-T2 is better since it has the external grip option that counterbalances the weight of a big lens better. The Sony A6300 really needed a similar grip to really take all its AF and speed advantages over the A7X series. So I always saw the Sony A6300 as a halfhearted effort of Sony that was carefully deigned not to invade the A7X territory. It is a shame, since the A6300 has the potential to be the best camera for the most majority of ILC users. In the end, for now, I decided to keep Canon, Fuji, Sony and Nikon and eventually pick one and sell all the others. IMHO, Canon EF and Sony E seem to be the most future-proof systems, but I have feeling I may be happier with Fuji than either Canon or Sony in the long run. In my mind, Nikon is ,like Leica's CEO kindly points out , already one leg in the grave kind of system, and I do not think they are any relevant now unless they some how just really immediately come up with a serious F mount mirrorless camera that takes full advantage of the F mount eco system. I think until I get comfortable with the Fuji AF system, I keep my D750, but once I get hang of it, I do not need Nikon any more. So in near future, I will be using just 3 system rather than 4 systems. UPDATE3: after I got the prices for the new Nikon PCE lenses a few days ago, I realized that I was too hard on Sony and Olympus. I think Nikon's recent lens pricing is even worse. The PCE19mm f4 is a bit too late and it is a much more expensive lens than the Canon 17mm f4 TS lens although it is much easier to design than the Canon. So this one is definitely a bad deal. The new 70-200mm f2.8 E FL VR lens is definitely the worst value 70-200mm ever that instantly makes the Sony 70-200mm f2.8GM and especially the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS MK2 lens look like super bargain lenses. So I really think Nikon is doomed and now it is really difficult to justify the incredible amount of price hike in just a few months in Nikon system. And Nikon system seems to have the worst warranty policy especially if you get some grey market deals. So for now maybe it is wiser to keep multi mount system, Sony FE and Olympus or Panasonic m43, or Fuji APS-C system. I realized that I do not have to get a whole set of lenses for all camera systems I have. I guess I keep my Sony for just wide to normal range use and then add some Olympus or Fuji for long shot use since Sony and Nikon over 200mm lenses are huge and ridiculously expensive. But for me the biggest issue with the recent trend of super gigantic oversized lenses in FF land is that they are often rejected by budget airlines. So as airline regulation is getting more and more strict these days, the much lighter and compact m43 system may survive for foreseeable future...at least 5 more years. It really looks like Nikon is the real loser in this business since it has nothing to support its ever contracting camera business. Olympus has very strong medical division and portable audio business. Fuji is a very diversified company, Fuji owns Fuji Xerox , Fuji medical, Fuji industrial scientific lab, Fuji semi conductor, Toyama pharmaceutical corp,etc. Panasonic is also a very diversified company with core investment in house and automobile electronics industry. Sony is also a very diversified company and its main business is insurance and realestate. Canon is also a far more diversified company than Nikon. Even Ricoh is more diversified than Nikon is. So Nikon seems to be the most vulnerable one and I bet it will be the first to go out of the camera market. UPDATE4: Many people including myself though Nikon is dying if not already dead by now, but in reality Nikon sells many many more units than Sony and Nikon is now working on new type of sensor design and they may collaborate with Pentax and Olympus to set up a new sensor company. If this plays out well, then Sony will be the loser since they will have no one to sell their mediocre so-called Fullframe sensors any more. And as a result their highend camera prices will go up significantly. And now Sony has just announced they've just decided to spin off their imaging division and now it is an independent business under Sony corp's supervision, just like their sensor group..... This means now Sony imaging is not a part of Sony but their subsidiary, and therefore, to Sony device group, the imaging group is just a customer,nothing special, in fact,considering its size of market share in relation to that of Nikon, Sony imaging group is a lower class customer to the device group. So there is no more reason for Sony device technology to keep the best sensor for in-house use. In fact now Sony device tech must compete with the new sensor company Nikon Olympus Ricoh have just established here and some European sensor designers such as CMOSIS, who makes the Leica SL sensor and M sensor. And do not forget there is always Canon if Sony does not sell anything to Nikon.........Canon will start selling it and there will be Panasonic and Tower Jazz also........so Nikon will not have any problem choosing sensor suppliers any more. Sony must sell their best sensors to Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax , or Sony will lose them, Sony cannot choose customers any more. If Sony is smart, it will not compete with Nikon or Olympus in camera market. After all, Nikon is the biggest customer of Sony.......but Sony also buys steppers from Nikon anyway. So Sony is not dominating the sensor market, or controlling Nikon as many Sony fanboys think..........and the just announced Spun-off of their imaging division makes Sony camera business less trust-worthy........... Sony thinks every business as a short term investment and runs it to make it temporarily profitable and then spins it off. After that? of course sells it to anyone willing to buy it.........like Sony did with the Vaio PC business, TV business, etc,etc. That is why no one really trust Sony in the long run, we long term Sony users just use its cameras but always know it is a back-up plan or step-gap solution...... After all no serious camera buyers are as obtuse as many spec-chasers and review sites think they are. None one buys into a big expensive camera system just for an amazing set of features in a body or two...................there are many many more important aspects to a system camera than just a set of great features... UPDATE5: Now my first 2 copies of FE16-35mm f4 suddenly died and I just bought my 3rd copy of it.........and sadly found it terrible this time. It is obvious buying any Sony Zeiss FE lens is like picking up an extremely difficult to win lottery ticket..........it might be great but most of times you get mediocre copies of it. My first 16-35mm f4 was excellent , the second one was even better-almost outstanding, then this third one is literally lousy. I am returning it and get a new copy but I am not expecting to get a better one, I guess I was extremely lucky with my first two copies of this lens........I guess I will force the dealer to exchange my FE16-35mm f4 for the Voiklander 15mm f4. Sony QC is just terrible, and it is not worth any premium over other cheap off-brand lens maker like Samyang, Tamron and Sigma. In fact, Sony is even worse than Tamron and much worse than Sigma Art series with respect to QC. I have had 4 Tamron VC lenses in EF and F mount and they performed fairly consistent.... I really miss Tamron 90mm macro, now I guess a brand name means nothing when it comes to QC and general after sales support. In fact, Tamron and Voiklander provided me the best service of any lens maker I have ever dealt with. It is extremely frustrating every time I spend more than 110000 yen or 1075 USD, I still have to worry about terrible sample variations. I think we have to appreciate Roger Cicala's excellent site. He is the only one guy testing more than 5 copies of any given lens. All other reviewers just merely test one copy of each lens.........useless.

This one was shot in Chiang Mai province of Thailand, I was escaping my self away from the flood in Bangkok. First, I went to Kanchanaburi province of Thailand and stayed at a hotel there for about 4 days. After Kanchanaburi, we went to Nakhonpathom and spent there 3 days. But it was still not getting any better in Bangkok, and we decided to fly over to Chiang Mai, spent there 5 days and temporarily went back to Bangkok. But as soon as we got back to Bangkok on Nov 8th, we realized it was even worse than before, and looked like getting even worse....... So we flew back to Chiang Mai and spent there another week. I really miss Thailand these days. Really missing the calm weather of Thailand these days. Thailand is a great country with lots of beautiful smiles! Why commercial cameras reviews are useless 2017: The 5DMK2 and the MK3 sensor was one of the worst sensors(read noise wise) in digital camera history, and from that crappy banding machine to the Nikon D800E was a huge leap in terms of IQ, but after that? The sad reality we must face if we are at least a bit honest with ourselves and sensor test data is that basically, image quality of so-called fullframe sensor hasn't improved since about 2012. The tech around it has been in stagnation, not any advancing. But according to the DPR,etc the A7R2 is a real game changer, so great that we should even change our own value and standard for system functionality, ergonomics preferences,etc, to get that specific camera. But in reality, as I said, the image quality of the 42.4 mp sensor is basically the same or identical to the old 36 mp sensor first introduced in the D800 in 2012. In fact, if the base ISO image quality is the most important aspect of a camera to you as DPR forced us to believe, then even the venerable D800 would still compete well against the A7R2. The A6300 is basically a bit more glorified, refined version of the NEX7 from the 2012, nothing more than that, but those so-called reviewers just intentionally dramatize the minor difference in the feature set of these 2 APS-C cameras, to call the A6300 a true game changer......before it they did the same to the A6000, which was actually a dumbed-down version of the NEX7. The OM-D EM5MK2 is the same exactly the same as the ancient EM5 IQ wise and so on. Now to them so-called reviewers, the Fuji X-T2 seems to be the most amazing camera that changes all current standard set by the A6300 or the D500 before it. It is obvious to them what they want to sell at their affiliate sites are the best and they are usually the latest and most trendy cameras. But again, the sad reality is no formats have actually got any better in terms of sheer image quality and basic functionality. So how can they sell well? I think those so-called reviewers are all clickbaiters and those sites and so called reviews are all deliberately designed to make the greatest and latest but worst value cameras look much better than they actually are: 1, we have to define what is pro camera for most ? But is there really such a thing as pro camera? I remember Marissa Mayer of Yahoo,who introduced the current style of Flick two years ago once said: "there is no such thing as professional photographer." I don't actually agree with her, but the opinion out there that shared by many influential, powerful people like her and others can be very influential and strongly affect or even change the courses of thinking or opinion making process of many people. In the photography world, the CEO of the company that owns Flickr is a person whose opinions really have that kind of power, whose opinions can influence many many people, as I said that can or may change opinions of many many people. So we like her opinion or not, it is very very strongly influential. There was the always interesting anecdote from one of those few former CEO's of Phase One, I did not know if it was true or not, though : once we asked Phase people who actually were buying their real high-end cameras? Phase answered was shocking to some,"CEO's of small companies and Dentists." Not so-called "professionals" are usual their customers, but more well heeled guys. I found it extremely interesting, but it may be true. When I asked a few of our main pro customers who mostly shoot architectures about their opinions on the above Phase anecdote, they replied to us,"well, it may be true,we sometimes used Phase One Backs but we never bought one but just rented their amazing products when we actually needed that kind of resolution,we do not consider ourselves professionals, though." Very interesting, indeed. I'd be willing to bet serious money that an overwhelming majority of A7R2, D810s and 5Ds-R camera users are just well heeled guys or girls, not shooting anything their "main" income-generating works. I'd put money somewhere around the 80% to 85% of those high end FF users are amatures or part time pros, or just geeks like us. "Professional" (like "prosumer" or "enthusiast") is a marketing word, anyway. When someone from Nikon or Canon or any major camera company tells you that the new D5XS mark 4 is a true "professional" camera, they aren't saying anything meaningful about the camera itself. They're making an advertising pitch to your ego or pride. Since, right now, most actually "professional" using camera in the Nikon lineup might be the cheap but excellent D5500. Or may even be the refurbished D3300? But its AF is primitive! It's plastic! It's not weather sealed! Who cares: the D3300's most "professional" feature is the tiny investment for the amazing IQ it stacks against any profit. Real professionals are stingy people and care about money spent on camera gear much more seriously than well heeled amatures or part time professionals like us. The D3300 is better than the D300s from 2009 in almost every way,and some even consider it a better camera than the D700 and there are very few clients who wouldn't be thrilled by what comes out of a D700 shot with skill and vision. So in terms of sheer IQ, the D5500 can be considered as a pro camera. I have many PRO customers shooting a EOS80D or a Nikon D5500 or a Sony A6300 or even an ancient Sony A6000, and many of Nikon guys use a D3300 as a back-up just because they can really abuse it. Not all pros or serious amatures need super fast AF or 4k video, and I think if they need serious 4k, they buy a dedicated 4k pro camera that can record much longer than 29 minutes a session anyway. It is actually cheaper than buying a half-baked 4k camera like the A7R2 or the GH4 in the long run. So who needs commercial reviewers brainwashing us what they actually want to sell is the best camera or the actual best selling camera ? 2, some die-hard D-SLR loving reviewers always describe the A7X menu system as "inane" or confusing, but which camera has more organized menu system? I've never understood anyone's criticism of camera menu systems. Because every camera's menu is the same, not exactly the same but identically disorganized. They're categorized lists with nested options. None of them are truly optimized for speed, they all bury (different) critical options, they all require a little practice to build familiarity. That's why they love Canon or Nikon menu system better, and they do get confused just being more familiar to them with better for all. But I personally prefer the A7X menu better since it is more customizable, and actually I am just more used to Sony E mount than anything else. After all, I have been a long time Sony/Minolta user. Controlling a camera with a menu is a stupid concept. It was a lazy, terrible idea in 1993 and it remains quite silly and terrible in 2016. Many many many so-called reviewers are really really confused and forcing us to share the really silly "one menu system is more intuitive than the others" kinda notion they have. But again, what they actually saying is they are more used to the one system than the other systems' menu lay-out or just they are too obtuse to understand anything a bit different than what they are used to using. I guess most of so-called reviewers do not know cameras they think they are testing enough to test it and publish rushed-out reviews, so they never understand how to set up the Sony A7X or even how to shoot it fast. If they do understand it, then they should know it is quite customizable and it is less menu-driven than the Canon 5DS or the Nikon D810. The A7X has 4 dials and you can actually change shutter speed, F number, EV value and ISO without diving into the menu.If they have to dive into the deep menu system all the time, then they do not understand how to set it up or customize the buttons and the dials of the Sony, and without even understanding it properly they rush to pan the menu system hard. So what do you expect from so-called reviews? 3,SONY SONY SONY!!! Fuji Fuji Fuji!!! why are they worshiping for them, and keep writing so many of so-called reviews for them each week? Why are A7R2, A6300, A7S2 and now X-Pro2 and X-T2 so special? how many so-called reviews do they need deserve? Well be realistic! Most of die-hard high end Nikon or Canon boys and girls are fanatics and difficult to influence or change their opinions or beliefs; as camera sales swirl down the toilet bowl, so does any review site's readership. Writing about or recommending two-year-old cameras or very old fashioned, 1950th minded big conventional cameras that many of their readers already own doesn't sell anything from their affiliate websites. It's that simple. When did you actually read any review of any camera last time? a decade ago? Have you ever expected any so-called review pan or even mildly criticize any camera? Do you actually trust any so-called review? I think all your answer should be no to all the 3 questions above. They are all about money, deliberately designed clickbaiters..........so what do you expect from so-called reviews? They never criticize as I said, even completely lazy, behind-the-curve products like the Fuji X-M1(only 16mp dated sensor), the Canon 7D(remember that terrible banding machine?), the Sony A58 (worst ergonomics in camera world)and the Nikon D3200(truly just announced to be already dated kind of junk) all got decent scores. No so-called reviewers actually pan anything they review, and definitely never say "we hated this product X or Y", or anything like that because their affiliate will stop feeding them if they actually do that. Meanwhile, actual users of cameras, hate various cameras and lenses all the time. Well, they can't all be unreasonable, obtuse cranks. Then why the views or opinions of real camera users and so-called reviewers are so dramatically different? Well it is easy; all review sites are affiliated with several big online camera sellers, such as Amazon, Adorama, B&H,etc in the USA, Digital Rev, Rakuten, Amazon,etc in Asia. So they cannot do real test such as using cameras in a humid Thailand jungle or testing it in an Icelandic mountain, or anything like that. They do not even test cameras with Capture One since Adobe is a big sponsor of those junk camera review sites, but most of us who tether cameras or shoot studio portrait prefer Capture One pro to the cranky slow unreliable LR for tethering work. Well after all, those commercial reviewers never buy any camera with their own money, so they do not get up-set or irritated even if a camera they are reviewing now is a real crap. We real camera users, on the other hand, actually spend our own money to buy our cameras, so we always complain if they are craps or overpriced, of course. 4, all so-called reviewers usually love the latest and greatest like the Sony A76300 or the Fuji X-T2 or the Sony A7R2 or something very gadgetry like the Panasonic GH4 or the Samsung NX1, but none of them actually like Leica or Phase,why? Well easy, they do not sell well, I mean how many more Leicas will sell if those reviews seriously recommend Leica in their silly so-called reviews? None, since we who like Leica cameras already know why we do love their cameras and we do not need any moron in disguise of a pro(oh well)reviewer to tell us about how good or amazing it is. After all, it is a Leica and it is a special to us those who understand and appreciate it fully. As for Phase, it is not their area, they do not understand that kind of real high quality products anyway, what kind of high end commercial photographers whose main cameras are some sort of Phase One or even Mamiya will be interested in moronic reviews' opinion on Phase cameras ? No one. Can those so-called reviewers from commercial sites possibly some how change opinion of the actual Phase users? never. Well, so-called reviewers are professionals but not photographic pros, they are marketing pros whose main interest is cheating manipulating naive new camera buyers. All so-called reviews are just poorly designed marketing materials and nothing else, so they just recommend something they can sell with high-margin such as the Fuji X-Pro2 and X-T2, the Sony A7R2, A6300 and Sony A7SMK2, and now also the Pentax K1. Then, why are almost all so-called pro reviewers recommending Sony and Fuji, pushing Sony A7R2, A6300 or Fuji X-Pro2 so hard to any one reading them now? Well it is very simple, because it is what their affiliate want to sell and easier to sell because of the user base of that camera is not very narrow-minded like the core user base of the D810 or the 5DS-R. The potential high-end Sony or Fuji owners the only kind of high-end camera users that may be willing to listen to so-called reviewers, thus the reviewers think they may be able to manipulate them into buying more of their affiliate pushing products. So they naturally focus on these Sony, Fuji, and Pentax high-end, high-margin products now. And anyway: Why shouldn't a high-end camera from 2015 or 2016 outperform a high-end camera from 2012 ? It should. But the sad reality is that the latest gear does not outperform the 2012 camera. The actual(in practical sense )performance is the same or almost identical, no dramatic improvement has made in the sensor design since 2012(the D800E). The D810 is better than the D800E only at the very base ISO albeit the slower exposure time due to the ISO64 vs the SIO100 base sensitivity difference . The A7R2 is only marginally better than the D800E in video department and at very high ISO for a lot more money. The Pentax K1 is a bit better than the venerable Nikon D800E from 2012 at very high ISO, but with that lame lens line is that really any better than the ancient Nikon as a whole system? No. But commercial review sites cannot say it honestly, how can they? if they say it then they cannot sell anything new any more. I just used the Sony A7R2, the Pentax K1 and the D810 as typical example cases for the kind of products so-called review sites want to hard push to the naive readers, but I know they are actually quite fantastic products, just not as amazing or dramatic game-changers as those silly commercial camera review sites try to make them out to be. But they are good indeed. So do not just listen to the hype too much that just obviously follows the money. UPDATE: Now, I just confirm that Nikon DL series actual shipment date would be next January 17th as planned in last Nikon conference at Nikon D3400 launch. But it may delay even further to next CP+ show in Yokohama Japan(in Feb 2017). So it is already promised to be a failed product line before the actual launch. I think Nikon is really stupid, I mean I don't think phones or mirrorless killing Nikon but itself, it obtuse marketing killing it. UPDATE2: I find Fuji's "Kaizen" policy very very attractive and their repair service seems excellent. I also like the new Joystick AF selector. So I may test my X-T2 a bit longer than I expected. However, I find the X-Pro 2 still a bit better body than the XT2 in terms of build and ergonomics. The X-T2 Joystick is sometimes unusable when I look into the EVF since my nose sometimes touch the Joystick. The quality of the body is obviously worse than that of the X-Pro2. The X-Pro2 is generally faster(I don't mean AF speed, but general operation speed). But when using a tele photo zoom or any big lens I think the X-T2 is better since it has the external grip option that counterbalances the weight of a big lens better. The Sony A6300 really needed a similar grip to really take all its AF and speed advantages over the A7X series. So I always saw the Sony A6300 as a halfhearted effort of Sony that was carefully deigned not to invade the A7X territory. It is a shame, since the A6300 has the potential to be the best camera for the most majority of ILC users. In the end, for now, I decided to keep Canon, Fuji, Sony and Nikon and eventually pick one and sell all the others. IMHO, Canon EF and Sony E seem to be the most future-proof systems, but I have feeling I may be happier with Fuji than either Canon or Sony in the long run. In my mind, Nikon is ,like Leica's CEO kindly points out , already one leg in the grave kind of system, and I do not think they are any relevant now unless they some how just really immediately come up with a serious F mount mirrorless camera that takes full advantage of the F mount eco system. I think until I get comfortable with the Fuji AF system, I keep my D750, but once I get hang of it, I do not need Nikon any more. So in near future, I will be using just 3 system rather than 4 systems. UPDATE3: after I got the prices for the new Nikon PCE lenses a few days ago, I realized that I was too hard on Sony and Olympus. I think Nikon's recent lens pricing is even worse. The PCE19mm f4 is a bit too late and it is a much more expensive lens than the Canon 17mm f4 TS lens although it is much easier to design than the Canon. So this one is definitely a bad deal. The new 70-200mm f2.8 E FL VR lens is definitely the worst value 70-200mm ever that instantly makes the Sony 70-200mm f2.8GM and especially the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS MK2 lens look like super bargain lenses. So I really think Nikon is doomed and now it is really difficult to justify the incredible amount of price hike in just a few months in Nikon system. And Nikon system seems to have the worst warranty policy especially if you get some grey market deals. So for now maybe it is wiser to keep multi mount system, Sony FE and Olympus or Panasonic m43, or Fuji APS-C system. I realized that I do not have to get a whole set of lenses for all camera systems I have. I guess I keep my Sony for just wide to normal range use and then add some Olympus or Fuji for long shot use since Sony and Nikon over 200mm lenses are huge and ridiculously expensive. But for me the biggest issue with the recent trend of super gigantic oversized lenses in FF land is that they are often rejected by budget airlines. So as airline regulation is getting more and more strict these days, the much lighter and compact m43 system may survive for foreseeable future...at least 5 more years. It really looks like Nikon is the real loser in this business since it has nothing to support its ever contracting camera business. Olympus has very strong medical division and portable audio business. Fuji is a very diversified company, Fuji owns Fuji Xerox , Fuji medical, Fuji industrial scientific lab, Fuji semi conductor, Toyama pharmaceutical corp,etc. Panasonic is also a very diversified company with core investment in house and automobile electronics industry. Sony is also a very diversified company and its main business is insurance and realestate. Canon is also a far more diversified company than Nikon. Even Ricoh is more diversified than Nikon is. So Nikon seems to be the most vulnerable one and I bet it will be the first to go out of the camera market. UPDATE4: Many people including myself though Nikon is dying if not already dead by now, but in reality Nikon sells many many more units than Sony and Nikon is now working on new type of sensor design and they may collaborate with Pentax and Olympus to set up a new sensor company. If this plays out well, then Sony will be the loser since they will have no one to sell their mediocre so-called Fullframe sensors any more. And as a result their highend camera prices will go up significantly. And now Sony has just announced they've just decided to spin off their imaging division and now it is an independent business under Sony corp's supervision, just like their sensor group..... This means now Sony imaging is not a part of Sony but their subsidiary, and therefore, to Sony device group, the imaging group is just a customer,nothing special, in fact,considering its size of market share in relation to that of Nikon, Sony imaging group is a lower class customer to the device group. So there is no more reason for Sony device technology to keep the best sensor for in-house use. In fact now Sony device tech must compete with the new sensor company Nikon Olympus Ricoh have just established here and some European sensor designers such as CMOSIS, who makes the Leica SL sensor and M sensor. And do not forget there is always Canon if Sony does not sell anything to Nikon.........Canon will start selling it and there will be Panasonic and Tower Jazz also........so Nikon will not have any problem choosing sensor suppliers any more. Sony must sell their best sensors to Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax , or Sony will lose them, Sony cannot choose customers any more. If Sony is smart, it will not compete with Nikon or Olympus in camera market. After all, Nikon is the biggest customer of Sony.......but Sony also buys steppers from Nikon anyway. So Sony is not dominating the sensor market, or controlling Nikon as many Sony fanboys think..........and the just announced Spun-off of their imaging division makes Sony camera business less trust-worthy........... Sony thinks every business as a short term investment and runs it to make it temporarily profitable and then spins it off. After that? of course sells it to anyone willing to buy it.........like Sony did with the Vaio PC business, TV business, etc,etc. That is why no one really trust Sony in the long run, we long term Sony users just use its cameras but always know it is a back-up plan or step-gap solution...... After all no serious camera buyers are as obtuse as many spec-chasers and review sites think they are. None one buys into a big expensive camera system just for an amazing set of features in a body or two...................there are many many more important aspects to a system camera than just a set of great features... UPDATE5: Now my first 2 copies of FE16-35mm f4 suddenly died and I just bought my 3rd copy of it.........and sadly found it terrible this time. It is obvious buying any Sony Zeiss FE lens is like picking up an extremely difficult to win lottery ticket..........it might be great but most of times you get mediocre copies of it. My first 16-35mm f4 was excellent , the second one was even better-almost outstanding, then this third one is literally lousy. I am returning it and get a new copy but I am not expecting to get a better one, I guess I was extremely lucky with my first two copies of this lens........I guess I will force the dealer to exchange my FE16-35mm f4 for the Voiklander 15mm f4. Sony QC is just terrible, and it is not worth any premium over other cheap off-brand lens maker like Samyang, Tamron and Sigma. In fact, Sony is even worse than Tamron and much worse than Sigma Art series with respect to QC. I have had 4 Tamron VC lenses in EF and F mount and they performed fairly consistent.... I really miss Tamron 90mm macro, now I guess a brand name means nothing when it comes to QC and general after sales support. In fact, Tamron and Voiklander provided me the best service of any lens maker I have ever dealt with. It is extremely frustrating every time I spend more than 110000 yen or 1075 USD, I still have to worry about terrible sample variations. I think we have to appreciate Roger Cicala's excellent site. He is the only one guy testing more than 5 copies of any given lens. All other reviewers just merely test one copy of each lens.........useless.

Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). As a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in Asia. It is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize, according to 2012 FAOSTAT data. Since a large portion of maize crops are grown for purposes other than human consumption, rice is the most important grain with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans. Chinese legends attribute the domestication of rice to Shennong, the legendary emperor of China and inventor of Chinese agriculture. Genetic evidence has shown that rice originates from a single domestication 8,200–13,500 years ago in the Pearl River valley region of China. Previously, archaeological evidence had suggested that rice was domesticated in the Yangtze River valley region in China. From East Asia, rice was spread to Southeast and South Asia. Rice was introduced to Europe through Western Asia, and to the Americas through European colonization. There are many varieties of rice and culinary preferences tend to vary regionally. In some areas such as the Far East or Spain, there is a preference for softer and stickier varieties. Rice, a monocot, is normally grown as an annual plant, although in tropical areas it can survive as a perennial and can produce a ratoon crop for up to 30 years. The rice plant can grow to 1–1.8 m tall, occasionally more depending on the variety and soil fertility. It has long, slender leaves 50–100 cm long and 2–2.5 cm broad. The small wind-pollinated flowers are produced in a branched arching to pendulous inflorescence 30–50 cm long. The edible seed is a grain (caryopsis) 5–12 mm long and 2–3 mm thick. Rice cultivation is well-suited to countries and regions with low labor costs and high rainfall, as it is labor-intensive to cultivate and requires ample water. However, rice can be grown practically anywhere, even on a steep hill or mountain area with the use of water-controlling terrace systems. Although its parent species are native to Asia and certain parts of Africa, centuries of trade and exportation have made it commonplace in many cultures worldwide. The traditional method for cultivating rice is flooding the fields while, or after, setting the young seedlings. This simple method requires sound planning and servicing of the water damming and channeling, but reduces the growth of less robust weed and pest plants that have no submerged growth state, and deters vermin. While flooding is not mandatory for the cultivation of rice, all other methods of irrigation require higher effort in weed and pest control during growth periods and a different approach for fertilizing the soil. The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera Zizania and Porteresia, both wild and domesticated, although the term may also be used for primitive or uncultivated varieties of Oryza. ETYMOLOGY First used in English in the middle of the 13th century, the word "rice" derives from the Old French ris, which comes from Italian riso, in turn from the Latin oriza, which derives from the Greek ὄρυζα (oruza). The Greek word is the source of all European words (cf. Welsh reis, German Reis, Lithuanian ryžiai, Serbo-Croatian riža, Polish ryż, Dutch rijst, Hungarian rizs, Romanian orez). The origin of the Greek word is unclear. It is sometimes held to be from the Tamil word அரிசி (arisi), or rather Old Tamil arici. However, Krishnamurti disagrees with the notion that Old Tamil arici is the source of the Greek term, and proposes that it was borrowed from descendants of Proto-Dravidian *wariñci instead. Mayrhofer suggests that the immediate source of the Greek word is to be sought in Old Iranian words of the types *vrīz- or *vrinj-, but these are ultimately traced back to Indo-Aryan (as in Sanskrit vrīhí-) and subsequently to Dravidian by Witzel and others. COOKING The varieties of rice are typically classified as long-, medium-, and short-grained. The grains of long-grain rice (high in amylose) tend to remain intact after cooking; medium-grain rice (high in amylopectin) becomes more sticky. Medium-grain rice is used for sweet dishes, for risotto in Italy, and many rice dishes, such as arròs negre, in Spain. Some varieties of long-grain rice that are high in amylopectin, known as Thai Sticky rice, are usually steamed. A stickier medium-grain rice is used for sushi; the stickiness allows rice to hold its shape when molded. Short-grain rice is often used for rice pudding. Instant rice differs from parboiled rice in that it is fully cooked and then dried, though there is a significant degradation in taste and texture. Rice flour and starch often are used in batters and breadings to increase crispiness. PREPARATION Rice is typically rinsed before cooking to remove excess starch. Rice produced in the US is usually fortified with vitamins and minerals, and rinsing will result in a loss of nutrients. Rice may be rinsed repeatedly until the rinse water is clear to improve the texture and taste. Rice may be soaked to decrease cooking time, conserve fuel, minimize exposure to high temperature, and reduce stickiness. For some varieties, soaking improves the texture of the cooked rice by increasing expansion of the grains. Rice may be soaked for 30 minutes up to several hours. Brown rice may be soaked in warm water for 20 hours to stimulate germination. This process, called germinated brown rice (GBR), activates enzymes and enhances amino acids including gamma-aminobutyric acid to improve the nutritional value of brown rice. This method is a result of research carried out for the United Nations International Year of Rice. PROCESSING Rice is cooked by boiling or steaming, and absorbs water during cooking. With the absorption method, rice may be cooked in a volume of water similar to the volume of rice. With the rapid-boil method, rice may be cooked in a large quantity of water which is drained before serving. Rapid-boil preparation is not desirable with enriched rice, as much of the enrichment additives are lost when the water is discarded. Electric rice cookers, popular in Asia and Latin America, simplify the process of cooking rice. Rice (or any other grain) is sometimes quickly fried in oil or fat before boiling (for example saffron rice or risotto); this makes the cooked rice less sticky, and is a cooking style commonly called pilaf in Iran and Afghanistan or biryani (Dam-pukhtak) in India and Pakistan. DISHES In Arab cuisine, rice is an ingredient of many soups and dishes with fish, poultry, and other types of meat. It is also used to stuff vegetables or is wrapped in grape leaves (dolma). When combined with milk, sugar, and honey, it is used to make desserts. In some regions, such as Tabaristan, bread is made using rice flour. Medieval Islamic texts spoke of medical uses for the plant. Rice may also be made into congee (also called rice porridge, fawrclaab, okayu, Xifan, jook, or rice gruel) by adding more water than usual, so that the cooked rice is saturated with water, usually to the point that it disintegrates. Rice porridge is commonly eaten as a breakfast food, and is also a traditional food for the sick. NUTRITION AND HEALTH NUTRIENTS AND NUTRITIONAL IMPORTANCE OF RICE Rice is the staple food of over half the world's population. It is the predominant dietary energy source for 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific, 9 countries in North and South America and 8 countries in Africa. Rice provides 20% of the world’s dietary energy supply, while wheat supplies 19% and maize (corn) 5%. A detailed analysis of nutrient content of rice suggests that the nutrition value of rice varies based on a number of factors. It depends on the strain of rice, that is between white, brown, red, and black (or purple) varieties of rice – each prevalent in different parts of the world. It also depends on nutrient quality of the soil rice is grown in, whether and how the rice is polished or processed, the manner it is enriched, and how it is prepared before consumption. An illustrative comparison between white and brown rice of protein quality, mineral and vitamin quality, carbohydrate and fat quality suggests that neither is a complete nutrition source. Between the two, there is a significant difference in fiber content and minor differences in other nutrients. Highly colored rice strains, such as black (purple) rice, derive their color from anthocyanins and tocols. Scientific studies suggest that these color pigments have antioxidant properties that may be useful to human health. In purple rice bran, hydrophilic antioxidants are in greater quantity and have higher free radical scavenging activity than lipophilic antioxidants. Anthocyanins and γ-tocols in purple rice are largely located in the inner portion of purple rice bran. Comparative nutrition studies on red, black and white varieties of rice suggest that pigments in red and black rice varieties may offer nutritional benefits. Red or black rice consumption was found to reduce or retard the progression of atherosclerotic plaque development, induced by dietary cholesterol, in mammals. White rice consumption offered no similar benefits, which the study suggests may be due in part to a lack of antioxidants found in red and black varieties of rice. ARSENIC CONCERNS Rice and rice products contain arsenic, a known poison and Group 1 carcinogen. There is no safe level of arsenic, but, as of 2012, a limit of 10 parts per billion has been established in the United States for drinking water, twice the level of 5 parts per billion originally proposed by the EPA. Consumption of one serving of some varieties of rice gives more exposure to arsenic than consumption of 1 liter of water that contains 5 parts per billion arsenic; however, the amount of arsenic in rice varies widely with the greatest concentration in brown rice and rice grown on land formerly used to grow cotton; in the United States, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is studying this issue, but has not established a limit. China has set a limit of 150 ppb for arsenic in rice. White rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas, which account for 76 percent of American-produced rice had higher levels of arsenic than other regions of the world studied, possibly because of past use of arsenic-based pesticides to control cotton weevils. Jasmine rice from Thailand and Basmati rice from Pakistan and India contain the least arsenic among rice varieties in one study. BACILLUS CEREUS Cooked rice can contain Bacillus cereus spores, which produce an emetic toxin when left at 4–60 °C. When storing cooked rice for use the next day, rapid cooling is advised to reduce the risk of toxin production. One of the enterotoxins produced by Bacillus cereus is heat-resistant; reheating contaminated rice kills the bacteria, but does not destroy the toxin already present. RICE-GROWING ENVIRONMENTS Rice can be grown in different environments, depending upon water availability. Generally, rice does not thrive in a waterlogged area, yet it can survive and grow herein and it can also survive flooding. - Lowland, rainfed, which is drought prone, favors medium depth; waterlogged, submergence, and flood prone - Lowland, irrigated, grown in both the wet season and the dry season - Deep water or floating rice - Coastal Wetland - Upland rice is also known as Ghaiya rice, well known for its drought tolerance HISTORY OF DOMESTICATION AND CULTIVATION There have been plenty of debates on the origins of the domesticated rice. Genetic evidence published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) shows that all forms of Asian rice, both indica and japonica, spring from a single domestication that occurred 8,200–13,500 years ago in China of the wild rice Oryza rufipogon. A 2012 study published in Nature, through a map of rice genome variation, indicated that the domestication of rice occurred in the Pearl River valley region of China based on the genetic evidence. From East Asia, rice was spread to South and Southeast Asia. Before this research, the commonly accepted view, based on archaeological evidence, is that rice was first domesticated in the region of the Yangtze River valley in China.Morphological studies of rice phytoliths from the Diaotonghuan archaeological site clearly show the transition from the collection of wild rice to the cultivation of domesticated rice. The large number of wild rice phytoliths at the Diaotonghuan level dating from 12,000–11,000 BP indicates that wild rice collection was part of the local means of subsistence. Changes in the morphology of Diaotonghuan phytoliths dating from 10,000–8,000 BP show that rice had by this time been domesticated. Soon afterwards the two major varieties of indica and japonica rice were being grown in Central China. In the late 3rd millennium BC, there was a rapid expansion of rice cultivation into mainland Southeast Asia and westwards across India and Nepal. In 2003, Korean archaeologists claimed to have discovered the world's oldest domesticated rice. Their 15,000-year-old age challenges the accepted view that rice cultivation originated in China about 12,000 years ago. These findings were received by academia with strong skepticism, and the results and their publicizing has been cited as being driven by a combination of nationalist and regional interests. In 2011, a combined effort by the Stanford University, New York University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Purdue University has provided the strongest evidence yet that there is only one single origin of domesticated rice, in the Yangtze Valley of China. Rice spread to the Middle East where, according to Zohary and Hopf (2000, p. 91), O. sativa was recovered from a grave at Susa in Iran (dated to the 1st century AD). PRODUCTION The world dedicated 162.3 million hectares in 2012 for rice cultivation and the total production was about 738.1 million tonnes. The average world farm yield for rice was 4.5 tonnes per hectare, in 2012. Rice farms in Egypt were the most productive in 2012, with a nationwide average of 9.5 tonnes per hectare. Second place: Australia – 8.9 tonnes per hectare. Third place: USA – 8.3 tonnes per hectare. Rice is a major food staple and a mainstay for the rural population and their food security. It is mainly cultivated by small farmers in holdings of less than 1 hectare. Rice is also a wage commodity for workers in the cash crop or non-agricultural sectors. Rice is vital for the nutrition of much of the population in Asia, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Africa; it is central to the food security of over half the world population. Developing countries account for 95% of the total production, with China and India alone responsible for nearly half of the world output. World production of rice has risen steadily from about 200 million tonnes of paddy rice in 1960 to over 678 million tonnes in 2009. The three largest producers of rice in 2009 were China (197 million tonnes), India (131 Mt), and Indonesia (64 Mt). Among the six largest rice producers, the most productive farms for rice, in 2009, were in China producing 6.59 tonnes per hectare. Many rice grain producing countries have significant losses post-harvest at the farm and because of poor roads, inadequate storage technologies, inefficient supply chains and farmer's inability to bring the produce into retail markets dominated by small shopkeepers. A World Bank – FAO study claims 8% to 26% of rice is lost in developing nations, on average, every year, because of post-harvest problems and poor infrastructure. Some sources claim the post-harvest losses to exceed 40%. Not only do these losses reduce food security in the world, the study claims that farmers in developing countries such as China, India and others lose approximately US$89 billion of income in preventable post-harvest farm losses, poor transport, the lack of proper storage and retail. One study claims that if these post-harvest grain losses could be eliminated with better infrastructure and retail network, in India alone enough food would be saved every year to feed 70 to 100 million people over a year. However, other writers have warned against dramatic assessments of post-harvest food losses, arguing that "worst-case scenarios" tend to be used rather than realistic averages and that in many cases the cost of avoiding losses exceeds the value of the food saved. The seeds of the rice plant are first milled using a rice huller to remove the chaff (the outer husks of the grain). At this point in the process, the product is called brown rice. The milling may be continued, removing the bran, i.e., the rest of the husk and the germ, thereby creating white rice. White rice, which keeps longer, lacks some important nutrients; moreover, in a limited diet which does not supplement the rice, brown rice helps to prevent the disease beriberi. Either by hand or in a rice polisher, white rice may be buffed with glucose or talc powder (often called polished rice, though this term may also refer to white rice in general), parboiled, or processed into flour. White rice may also be enriched by adding nutrients, especially those lost during the milling process. While the cheapest method of enriching involves adding a powdered blend of nutrients that will easily wash off (in the United States, rice which has been so treated requires a label warning against rinsing), more sophisticated methods apply nutrients directly to the grain, coating the grain with a water-insoluble substance which is resistant to washing. In some countries, a popular form, parboiled rice, is subjected to a steaming or parboiling process while still a brown rice grain. This causes nutrients from the outer husk, especially thiamine, to move into the grain itself. The parboil process causes a gelatinisation of the starch in the grains. The grains become less brittle, and the color of the milled grain changes from white to yellow. The rice is then dried, and can then be milled as usual or used as brown rice. Milled parboiled rice is nutritionally superior to standard milled rice. Parboiled rice has an additional benefit in that it does not stick to the pan during cooking, as happens when cooking regular white rice. This type of rice is eaten in parts of India and countries of West Africa are also accustomed to consuming parboiled rice. Despite the hypothetical health risks of talc (such as stomach cancer), talc-coated rice remains the norm in some countries due to its attractive shiny appearance, but it has been banned in some, and is no longer widely used in others (such as the United States). Even where talc is not used, glucose, starch, or other coatings may be used to improve the appearance of the grains. Rice bran, called nuka in Japan, is a valuable commodity in Asia and is used for many daily needs. It is a moist, oily inner layer which is heated to produce oil. It is also used as a pickling bed in making rice bran pickles and takuan. Raw rice may be ground into flour for many uses, including making many kinds of beverages, such as amazake, horchata, rice milk, and rice wine. Rice flour does not contain gluten, so is suitable for people on a gluten-free diet. Rice may also be made into various types of noodles. Raw, wild, or brown rice may also be consumed by raw-foodist or fruitarians if soaked and sprouted (usually a week to 30 days – gaba rice). Processed rice seeds must be boiled or steamed before eating. Boiled rice may be further fried in cooking oil or butter (known as fried rice), or beaten in a tub to make mochi. Rice is a good source of protein and a staple food in many parts of the world, but it is not a complete protein: it does not contain all of the essential amino acids in sufficient amounts for good health, and should be combined with other sources of protein, such as nuts, seeds, beans, fish, or meat. Rice, like other cereal grains, can be puffed (or popped). This process takes advantage of the grains' water content and typically involves heating grains in a special chamber. Further puffing is sometimes accomplished by processing puffed pellets in a low-pressure chamber. The ideal gas law means either lowering the local pressure or raising the water temperature results in an increase in volume prior to water evaporation, resulting in a puffy texture. Bulk raw rice density is about 0.9 g/cm³. It decreases to less than one-tenth that when puffed. HARVESTING, DRYING AND MILLING Unmilled rice, known as paddy (Indonesia and Malaysia: padi; Philippines, palay), is usually harvested when the grains have a moisture content of around 25%. In most Asian countries, where rice is almost entirely the product of smallholder agriculture, harvesting is carried out manually, although there is a growing interest in mechanical harvesting. Harvesting can be carried out by the farmers themselves, but is also frequently done by seasonal labor groups. Harvesting is followed by threshing, either immediately or within a day or two. Again, much threshing is still carried out by hand but there is an increasing use of mechanical threshers. Subsequently, paddy needs to be dried to bring down the moisture content to no more than 20% for milling. A familiar sight in several Asian countries is paddy laid out to dry along roads. However, in most countries the bulk of drying of marketed paddy takes place in mills, with village-level drying being used for paddy to be consumed by farm families. Mills either sun dry or use mechanical driers or both. Drying has to be carried out quickly to avoid the formation of molds. Mills range from simple hullers, with a throughput of a couple of tonnes a day, that simply remove the outer husk, to enormous operations that can process 4,000 tonnes a day and produce highly polished rice. A good mill can achieve a paddy-to-rice conversion rate of up to 72% but smaller, inefficient mills often struggle to achieve 60%. These smaller mills often do not buy paddy and sell rice but only service farmers who want to mill their paddy for their own consumption. DISTRIBUTION Because of the importance of rice to human nutrition and food security in Asia, the domestic rice markets tend to be subject to considerable state involvement. While the private sector plays a leading role in most countries, agencies such as BULOG in Indonesia, the NFA in the Philippines, VINAFOOD in Vietnam and the Food Corporation of India are all heavily involved in purchasing of paddy from farmers or rice from mills and in distributing rice to poorer people. BULOG and NFA monopolise rice imports into their countries while VINAFOOD controls all exports from Vietnam. TRADE World trade figures are very different from those for production, as less than 8% of rice produced is traded internationally. In economic terms, the global rice trade was a small fraction of 1% of world mercantile trade. Many countries consider rice as a strategic food staple, and various governments subject its trade to a wide range of controls and interventions. Developing countries are the main players in the world rice trade, accounting for 83% of exports and 85% of imports. While there are numerous importers of rice, the exporters of rice are limited. Just five countries – Thailand, Vietnam, China, the United States and India – in decreasing order of exported quantities, accounted for about three-quarters of world rice exports in 2002. However, this ranking has been rapidly changing in recent years. In 2010, the three largest exporters of rice, in decreasing order of quantity exported were Thailand, Vietnam and India. By 2012, India became the largest exporter of rice with a 100% increase in its exports on year-to-year basis, and Thailand slipped to third position. Together, Thailand, Vietnam and India accounted for nearly 70% of the world rice exports. The primary variety exported by Thailand and Vietnam were Jasmine rice, while exports from India included aromatic Basmati variety. China, an exporter of rice in early 2000s, was a net importer of rice in 2010 and will become the largest net importer, surpassing Nigeria, in 2013. According to a USDA report, the world's largest exporters of rice in 2012 were India (9.75 million tonnes), Vietnam (7 million tonnes), Thailand (6.5 million tonnes), Pakistan (3.75 million tonnes) and the United States (3.5 million tonnes). Major importers usually include Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brazil and some African and Persian Gulf countries. In common with other West African countries, Nigeria is actively promoting domestic production. However, its very heavy import duties (110%) open it to smuggling from neighboring countries. Parboiled rice is particularly popular in Nigeria. Although China and India are the two largest producers of rice in the world, both countries consume the majority of the rice produced domestically, leaving little to be traded internationally. World's most productive rice farms and farmers The average world yield for rice was 4.3 tonnes per hectare, in 2010. Australian rice farms were the most productive in 2010, with a nationwide average of 10.8 tonnes per hectare. Yuan Longping of China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center, China, set a world record for rice yield in 2010 at 19 tonnes per hectare on a demonstration plot. In 2011, this record was surpassed by an Indian farmer, Sumant Kumar, with 22.4 tonnes per hectare in Bihar. Both these farmers claim to have employed newly developed rice breeds and System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a recent innovation in rice farming. SRI is claimed to have set new national records in rice yields, within the last 10 years, in many countries. The claimed Chinese and Indian yields have yet to be demonstrated on seven-hectare lots and to be reproducible over two consecutive years on the same farm. PRICE In late 2007 to May 2008, the price of grains rose greatly due to droughts in major producing countries (particularly Australia), increased use of grains for animal feed and US subsidies for bio-fuel production. Although there was no shortage of rice on world markets this general upward trend in grain prices led to panic buying by consumers, government rice export bans (in particular, by Vietnam and India) and inflated import orders by the Philippines marketing board, the National Food Authority. This caused significant rises in rice prices. In late April 2008, prices hit 24 US cents a pound, twice the price of seven months earlier. Over the period of 2007 to 2013, the Chinese government has substantially increased the price it pays domestic farmers for their rice, rising to US$500 per metric ton by 2013. The 2013 price of rice originating from other southeast Asian countries was a comparably low US$350 per metric ton.[88] On April 30, 2008, Thailand announced plans for the creation of the Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC) with the intention that this should develop into a price-fixing cartel for rice. However, little progress had been made by mid-2011 to achieve this. WORLDWIDE CONSUMPTION As of 2009 world food consumption of rice was 531.6 million metric tons of paddy equivalent (354,603 of milled equivalent), while the far largest consumers were China consuming 156.3 million metric tons of paddy equivalent (29.4% of the world consumption) and India consuming 123.5 million metric tons of paddy equivalent (23.3% of the world consumption). Between 1961 and 2002, per capita consumption of rice increased by 40%. Rice is the most important crop in Asia. In Cambodia, for example, 90% of the total agricultural area is used for rice production. U.S. rice consumption has risen sharply over the past 25 years, fueled in part by commercial applications such as beer production. Almost one in five adult Americans now report eating at least half a serving of white or brown rice per day. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Rice cultivation on wetland rice fields is thought to be responsible for 11% of the anthropogenic methane emissions. Rice requires slightly more water to produce than other grains. Rice production uses almost a third of Earth’s fresh water. Long-term flooding of rice fields cuts the soil off from atmospheric oxygen and causes anaerobic fermentation of organic matter in the soil. Methane production from rice cultivation contributes ~1.5% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Methane is twenty times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. A 2010 study found that, as a result of rising temperatures and decreasing solar radiation during the later years of the 20th century, the rice yield growth rate has decreased in many parts of Asia, compared to what would have been observed had the temperature and solar radiation trends not occurred. The yield growth rate had fallen 10–20% at some locations. The study was based on records from 227 farms in Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The mechanism of this falling yield was not clear, but might involve increased respiration during warm nights, which expends energy without being able to photosynthesize. RAINFALL TEMPERATURE Rice requires high temperature above 20 °C but not more than 35 to 40 °C. Optimum temperature is around 30 °C (Tmax) and 20 °C (Tmin). SOLAR RADIATION The amount of solar radiation received during 45 days after harvest determines final crop output. ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR High water vapor content (in humid tropics) subjects unusual stress which favors the spread of fungal and bacterial diseases. WIND Light wind transports CO2 to the leaf canopy but strong wind cause severe damage and may lead to sterility (due to pollen dehydration, spikelet sterility, and abortive endosperms). PESTS AND DISEASES Rice pests are any organisms or microbes with the potential to reduce the yield or value of the rice crop (or of rice seeds). Rice pests include weeds, pathogens, insects, nematode, rodents, and birds. A variety of factors can contribute to pest outbreaks, including climatic factors, improper irrigation, the overuse of insecticides and high rates of nitrogen fertilizer application. Weather conditions also contribute to pest outbreaks. For example, rice gall midge and army worm outbreaks tend to follow periods of high rainfall early in the wet season, while thrips outbreaks are associated with drought. INSECTS Major rice insect pests include: the brown planthopper (BPH), several spp. of stemborers – including those in the genera Scirpophaga and Chilo, the rice gall midge, several spp. of rice bugs – notably in the genus Leptocorisa, the rice leafroller, rice weevils and the Chinese rice grasshopper. DISEASES Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea, is the most significant disease affecting rice cultivation. Other major rice diseases include: sheath blight, rice ragged stunt (vector: BPH), and tungro (vector: Nephotettix spp). There is also an ascomycete fungus, Cochliobolus miyabeanus, that causes brown spot disease in rice. NEMATODES Several nematode species infect rice crops, causing diseases such as Ufra (Ditylenchus dipsaci), White tip disease (Aphelenchoide bessei), and root knot disease (Meloidogyne graminicola). Some nematode species such as Pratylenchus spp. are most dangerous in upland rice of all parts of the world. Rice root nematode (Hirschmanniella oryzae) is a migratory endoparasite which on higher inoculum levels will lead to complete destruction of a rice crop. Beyond being obligate parasites, they also decrease the vigor of plants and increase the plants' susceptibility to other pests and diseases. OTHER PESTS These include the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata, panicle rice mite, rats, and the weed Echinochloa crusgali. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Crop protection scientists are trying to develop rice pest management techniques which are sustainable. In other words, to manage crop pests in such a manner that future crop production is not threatened. Sustainable pest management is based on four principles: biodiversity, host plant resistance (HPR), landscape ecology, and hierarchies in a landscape – from biological to social. At present, rice pest management includes cultural techniques, pest-resistant rice varieties, and pesticides (which include insecticide). Increasingly, there is evidence that farmers' pesticide applications are often unnecessary, and even facilitate pest outbreaks. By reducing the populations of natural enemies of rice pests, misuse of insecticides can actually lead to pest outbreaks. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) demonstrated in 1993 that an 87.5% reduction in pesticide use can lead to an overall drop in pest numbers. IRRI also conducted two campaigns in 1994 and 2003, respectively, which discouraged insecticide misuse and smarter pest management in Vietnam. Rice plants produce their own chemical defenses to protect themselves from pest attacks. Some synthetic chemicals, such as the herbicide 2,4-D, cause the plant to increase the production of certain defensive chemicals and thereby increase the plant’s resistance to some types of pests. Conversely, other chemicals, such as the insecticide imidacloprid, can induce changes in the gene expression of the rice that cause the plant to become more susceptible to attacks by certain types of pests. 5-Alkylresorcinols are chemicals that can also be found in rice. Botanicals, so-called "natural pesticides", are used by some farmers in an attempt to control rice pests. Botanicals include extracts of leaves, or a mulch of the leaves themselves. Some upland rice farmers in Cambodia spread chopped leaves of the bitter bush (Chromolaena odorata) over the surface of fields after planting. This practice probably helps the soil retain moisture and thereby facilitates seed germination. Farmers also claim the leaves are a natural fertilizer and helps suppress weed and insect infestations. Among rice cultivars, there are differences in the responses to, and recovery from, pest damage. Many rice varieties have been selected for resistance to insect pests. Therefore, particular cultivars are recommended for areas prone to certain pest problems. The genetically based ability of a rice variety to withstand pest attacks is called resistance. Three main types of plant resistance to pests are recognized as nonpreference, antibiosis, and tolerance. Nonpreference (or antixenosis) describes host plants which insects prefer to avoid; antibiosis is where insect survival is reduced after the ingestion of host tissue; and tolerance is the capacity of a plant to produce high yield or retain high quality despite insect infestation. Over time, the use of pest-resistant rice varieties selects for pests that are able to overcome these mechanisms of resistance. When a rice variety is no longer able to resist pest infestations, resistance is said to have broken down. Rice varieties that can be widely grown for many years in the presence of pests and retain their ability to withstand the pests are said to have durable resistance. Mutants of popular rice varieties are regularly screened by plant breeders to discover new sources of durable resistance. PARASITIC WEEDS Rice is parasitized by the weed eudicot Striga hermonthica, which is of local importance for this crop. ECOTYPES AND CULTIVARS While most rice is bred for crop quality and productivity, there are varieties selected for characteristics such as texture, smell, and firmness. There are four major categories of rice worldwide: indica, japonica, aromatic and glutinous. The different varieties of rice are not considered interchangeable, either in food preparation or agriculture, so as a result, each major variety is a completely separate market from other varieties. It is common for one variety of rice to rise in price while another one drops in price. BIOTECHNOLOGY HIGH-YIELDING VARIETIES The high-yielding varieties are a group of crops created intentionally during the Green Revolution to increase global food production. This project enabled labor markets in Asia to shift away from agriculture, and into industrial sectors. The first "Rice Car", IR8 was produced in 1966 at the International Rice Research Institute which is based in the Philippines at the University of the Philippines' Los Baños site. IR8 was created through a cross between an Indonesian variety named "Peta" and a Chinese variety named "Dee Geo Woo Gen." Scientists have identified and cloned many genes involved in the gibberellin signaling pathway, including GAI1 (Gibberellin Insensitive) and SLR1 (Slender Rice). Disruption of gibberellin signaling can lead to significantly reduced stem growth leading to a dwarf phenotype. Photosynthetic investment in the stem is reduced dramatically as the shorter plants are inherently more stable mechanically. Assimilates become redirected to grain production, amplifying in particular the effect of chemical fertilizers on commercial yield. In the presence of nitrogen fertilizers, and intensive crop management, these varieties increase their yield two to three times. FUTURE POTENTIAL As the UN Millennium Development project seeks to spread global economic development to Africa, the "Green Revolution" is cited as the model for economic development. With the intent of replicating the successful Asian boom in agronomic productivity, groups like the Earth Institute are doing research on African agricultural systems, hoping to increase productivity. An important way this can happen is the production of "New Rices for Africa" (NERICA). These rices, selected to tolerate the low input and harsh growing conditions of African agriculture, are produced by the African Rice Center, and billed as technology "from Africa, for Africa". The NERICA have appeared in The New York Times (October 10, 2007) and International Herald Tribune (October 9, 2007), trumpeted as miracle crops that will dramatically increase rice yield in Africa and enable an economic resurgence. Ongoing research in China to develop perennial rice could result in enhanced sustainability and food security. Rice cultivars also fall into groups according to environmental conditions, season of planting, and season of harvest, called ecotypes. Some major groups are the Japan-type (grown in Japan), "buly" and "tjereh" types (Indonesia); "aman" (main winter crop), "aus" ("aush", summer), and "boro" (spring) (Bengal and Assam). Cultivars exist that are adapted to deep flooding, and these are generally called "floating rice". The largest collection of rice cultivars is at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, with over 100,000 rice accessions held in the International Rice Genebank. Rice cultivars are often classified by their grain shapes and texture. For example, Thai Jasmine rice is long-grain and relatively less sticky, as some long-grain rice contains less amylopectin than short-grain cultivars. Chinese restaurants often serve long-grain as plain unseasoned steamed rice though short-grain rice is common as well. Japanese mochi rice and Chinese sticky rice are short-grain. Chinese people use sticky rice which is properly known as "glutinous rice" (note: glutinous refer to the glue-like characteristic of rice; does not refer to "gluten") to make zongzi. The Japanese table rice is a sticky, short-grain rice. Japanese sake rice is another kind as well. Indian rice cultivars include long-grained and aromatic Basmati (ਬਾਸਮਤੀ) (grown in the North), long and medium-grained Patna rice, and in South India (Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) short-grained Sona Masuri (also called as Bangaru theegalu). In the state of Tamil Nadu, the most prized cultivar is ponni which is primarily grown in the delta regions of the Kaveri River. Kaveri is also referred to as ponni in the South and the name reflects the geographic region where it is grown. In the Western Indian state of Maharashtra, a short grain variety called Ambemohar is very popular. This rice has a characteristic fragrance of Mango blossom. Aromatic rices have definite aromas and flavors; the most noted cultivars are Thai fragrant rice, Basmati, Patna rice, Vietnamese fragrant rice, and a hybrid cultivar from America, sold under the trade name Texmati. Both Basmati and Texmati have a mild popcorn-like aroma and flavor. In Indonesia, there are also red and black cultivars. WIKIPEDIA

The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its 20,200 Agents[1] are primarily responsible for immigration and border law enforcement as codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Their duty is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States and to deter, detect, and apprehend illegal aliens and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who enter the United States other than through designated ports of entry. Additionally, the CBP enforces federal controlled substances laws (as codified in the Controlled Substances Act) when violations occur or are found during the enforcement of federal immigration laws, via delegated authority from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Note that there are two personnel segments of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that people often confuse with each other, the CBP Officer [1], who wears a blue uniform and the Border Patrol Agent [2] who wears a green uniform. Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Strategy 2.1 1986: Employer sanctions and interior enforcement 2.2 Inspection stations 2.2.1 El Paso Sector's Operation Hold the Line 2.2.2 San Diego Sector's Operation Gatekeeper 2.2.3 Tucson Sector's Operation Safeguard 2.3 Northern border 2.4 Border Patrol moves away from interior enforcement 2.5 The new strategy 3 Capabilities 4 Expansion 5 Special Operations Group 5.1 Other specialized programs 6 Border Patrol organization 6.1 Border Patrol Sectors 7 Training 7.1 Uniforms 7.2 Border Patrol (OBP) Ranks and Insignia 7.2.1 Border Patrol Shoulder Ornaments 8 Awards 8.1 Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism 9 Border Patrol Uniform Devices 10 Equipment 10.1 Weapons 10.2 Transportation 11 Line of duty deaths 12 Armed incursions 13 Ramos and Compean 14 Criticisms 14.1 Ineffective 14.2 Allegations of abuse 14.3 Corruption 15 National Border Patrol Council 16 National Border Patrol Museum 17 In popular culture 17.1 Books 17.2 Film 17.2.1 Documentaries 18 See also 19 References 20 External links 21 External Video 21.1 GAO and OIG Reports [edit] History Immigration inspectors, circa 1924Mounted watchmen of the United States Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to prevent illegal crossings as early as 1904, but their efforts were irregular and undertaken only when resources permitted. The inspectors, usually called "mounted guards", operated out of El Paso, Texas. Though they never totaled more than 75, they patrolled as far west as California trying to restrict the flow of illegal Chinese immigration. In March 1915, Congress authorized a separate group of mounted guards, often referred to as "mounted inspectors". Most rode on horseback, but a few operated automobiles, motorcycles and boats. Although these inspectors had broader arrest authority, they still largely pursued Chinese immigrants trying to avoid the National Origins Act and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. These patrolmen were Immigrant Inspectors, assigned to inspection stations, and could not watch the border at all times. U.S. Army troops along the southwest border performed intermittent border patrolling, but this was secondary to "the more serious work of military training." Non-nationals encountered illegally in the U.S. by the army were directed to the immigration inspection stations. Texas Rangers were also sporadically assigned to patrol duties by the state, and their efforts were noted as "singularly effective". The Border Patrol was founded on May 28, 1924 as an agency of the United States Department of Labor to prevent illegal entries along the Mexico–United States border and the United States-Canada border. The first two border patrol stations were in El Paso, Texas and Detroit, Michigan.[2] Additional operations were established along the Gulf Coast in 1927 to perform crewman control to insure that non-American crewmen departed on the same ship on which they arrived. Additional stations were temporarily added along the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Eastern Seaboard during the sixties when in Cuba triumphed the Cuban Revolution and emerged the Cuban Missile Crisis. Prior to 2003, the Border Patrol was part of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), an agency that was within the U.S. Department of Justice. INS was disbanded in March 2003 when its operations were divided between CBP, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The priority mission of the Border Patrol, as a result of the 9/11 attacks and its merging into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States of America. However, the Border Patrol's traditional mission remains as the deterrence, detection and apprehension of illegal immigrants and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who generally enter the United States other than through designated ports of entry. The Border Patrol also operates 33 permanent interior checkpoints along the southern border of the United States. Currently, the U.S. Border Patrol employs over 20,200 agents (as of the end of fiscal year 2009),[3] who are specifically responsible for patrolling the 6,000 miles of Mexican and Canadian international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the Florida Peninsula and the island of Puerto Rico. Agents are assigned primarily to the Mexico–United States border, where they are assigned to control drug trafficking and illegal immigration.[4] Patrols on horseback have made a comeback since smugglers have been pushed into the more remote mountainous regions, which are hard to cover with modern tracking strategies.[5] [edit] Strategy [edit] 1986: Employer sanctions and interior enforcement Border Patrol Agents with a Hummer and Astar patrol for illegal entry into U.S.The Border Patrol's priorities have changed over the years. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act placed renewed emphasis on controlling illegal immigration by going after the employers that hire illegal immigrants. The belief was that jobs were the magnet that attracted most illegal immigrants to come to the United States. The Border Patrol increased interior enforcement and Form I-9 audits of businesses through an inspection program known as "employer sanctions". Several agents were assigned to interior stations, such as within the Livermore Sector in Northern California. Employer sanctions never became the effective tool it was expected to be by Congress. Illegal immigration continued to swell after the 1986 amnesty despite employer sanctions. By 1993, Californians passed Proposition 187, denying benefits to illegal immigrants and criminalizing illegal immigrants in possession of forged green cards, I.D. cards and Social Security Numbers. It also authorized police officers to question non-nationals as to their immigration status and required police and sheriff departments to cooperate and report illegal immigrants to the INS. Proposition 187 drew nationwide attention to illegal immigration. [edit] Inspection stations United States Border Patrol Interior Checkpoints are inspection stations operated by the USBP within 100 miles of a national border (with Mexico or Canada) or in the Florida Keys. As federal inspection stations are also operated by the Mexican government within 50 km of its borders where they are officially known as a "Garita de Revisión." or Garitas, they are known also by that name to Latinos. [edit] El Paso Sector's Operation Hold the Line El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent (and future U.S. congressman) Silvestre Reyes started a program called "Operation Hold the Line". In this program, Border Patrol agents would no longer react to illegal entries resulting in apprehensions, but would instead be forward deployed to the border, immediately detecting any attempted entries or deterring crossing at a more remote location. The idea was that it would be easier to capture illegal entrants in the wide open deserts than through the urban alleyways. Chief Reyes deployed his agents along the Rio Grande River, within eyesight of other agents. The program significantly reduced illegal entries in the urban part of El Paso, however, the operation merely shifted the illegal entries to other areas. [edit] San Diego Sector's Operation Gatekeeper A Border Patrol Jeep stands watch over the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro, California.San Diego Sector tried Silvestre Reyes' approach of forward deploying agents to deter illegal entries into the country. Congress authorized the hiring of thousands of new agents, and many were sent to San Diego Sector.[citation needed] In addition, Congressman Duncan Hunter obtained surplus military landing mats to use as a border fence.[citation needed] Stadium lighting, ground sensors and infra-red cameras were also placed in the area.[citation needed] Apprehensions decreased dramatically in that area as people crossed in different regions. [edit] Tucson Sector's Operation Safeguard California was no longer the hotbed of illegal entry and the traffic shifted to Arizona, primarily in Nogales and Douglas.[citation needed] The Border Patrol instituted the same deterrent strategy it used in San Diego to Arizona. [edit] Northern border In 2001, the Border Patrol had approximately 340 agents assigned along the Canada – United States border border. Northern border staffing had been increased to 1,128 agents to 1,470 agents by the end of fiscal year 2008, and is projected to expand to 1,845 by the end of fiscal year 2009, a sixfold increase. Resources that support Border Patrol agents include the use of new technology and a more focused application of air and marine assets. The northern border sectors are Blaine (Washington), Buffalo (New York), Detroit (Selfridge ANGB, Michigan), Grand Forks (North Dakota), Havre (Montana), Houlton (Maine), Spokane (Washington), and Swanton (Vermont). [edit] Border Patrol moves away from interior enforcement In the 1990s, Congress mandated that the Border Patrol shift agents away from the interior and focus them on the borders. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security created two immigration enforcement agencies out of the defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ICE was tasked with investigations, detention and removal of illegal immigrants, and interior enforcement. CBP was tasked with inspections at U.S. ports of entry and with preventing illegal entries between the port of entry, transportation check, and entries on U.S. coastal borders. DHS management decided to align the Border Patrol with CBP. CBP itself is solely responsible for the nation's ports of entry, while Border Patrol maintains jurisdiction over all locations between ports of entry, giving Border Patrol agents federal authority absolutely[dubious – discuss] nationwide[dubious – discuss]. In July 2004, the Livermore Sector of the United States Border Patrol was closed. Livermore Sector served Northern California and included stations at Dublin (Parks Reserve Forces Training Area), Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield. The Border Patrol also closed other stations in the interior of the United States including Roseburg, Oregon and Little Rock, Arkansas. The Border Patrol functions in these areas consisted largely of local jail and transportation terminal checks for illegal immigrants. These functions were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. [edit] The new strategy Cameras add "Smart Border" surveillance.In November 2005, the U.S. Border Patrol published an updated national strategy.[6] The goal of this updated strategy is operational control of the United States border. The strategy has five main objectives: Apprehend terrorists and terrorist weapons illegally entering the United States; Deter illegal entries through improved enforcement; Detect, apprehend, and deter smugglers of humans, drugs, and other contraband; Use "smart border" technology; and Reduce crime in border communities, improving quality of life. [edit] Capabilities The border is a barely discernible line in uninhabited deserts, canyons, or mountains. The Border Patrol utilizes a variety of equipment and methods, such as electronic sensors placed at strategic locations along the border, to detect people or vehicles entering the country illegally. Video monitors and night vision scopes are also used to detect illegal entries. Agents patrol the border in vehicles, boats, aircraft, and afoot. In some areas, the Border Patrol employs horses, all-terrain motorcycles, bicycles, and snowmobiles. Air surveillance capabilities are provided by unmanned aerial vehicles.[3] The primary activity of a Border Patrol Agent is "Line Watch". Line Watch involves the detection, prevention, and apprehension of terrorists, undocumented aliens and smugglers of aliens at or near the land border by maintaining surveillance from a covert position; following up on leads; responding to electronic sensor television systems and aircraft sightings; and interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence. Major activities include traffic check, traffic observation, city patrol, transportation check, administrative, intelligence, and anti-smuggling activities.[4] Traffic checks are conducted on major highways leading away from the border to detect and apprehend illegal aliens attempting to travel further into the interior of the United States after evading detection at the border, and to detect illegal narcotics.[3] Transportation checks are inspections of interior-bound conveyances, which include buses, commercial aircraft, passenger and freight trains, and marine craft.[3] Marine Patrols are conducted along the coastal waterways of the United States, primarily along the Pacific coast, the Caribbean, the tip of Florida, and Puerto Rico and interior waterways common to the United States and Canada. Border Patrol conducts border control activities from 130 marine craft of various sizes. The Border Patrol maintains watercraft ranging from blue-water craft to inflatable-hull craft, in 16 sectors, in addition to headquarters special operations components.[3] Horse and bike patrols are used to augment regular vehicle and foot patrols. Horse units patrol remote areas along the international boundary that are inaccessible to standard all-terrain vehicles. Bike patrol aids city patrol and is used over rough terrain to support linewatch.[3] Snowmobiles are used to patrol remote areas along the northern border in the winter. [edit] Expansion Attrition in the Border Patrol was normally at 5%. From 1995-2001 attrition spiked to above 10%, which was a period when the Border Patrol was undergoing massive hiring. In 2002 the attrition rate climbed to 18%. The 18% attrition was largely attributed to agents transferring to the Federal Air Marshals after 9/11. Since that time the attrition problem has decreased significantly and Congress has increased journeyman Border Patrol Agent pay from GS-9 to GS-11 in 2002. The Border Patrol Marine Position was created in 2009 (BPA-M). This position will be updated to a GS-12 position sometime in 2010 or 2011. Border Patrol Field Training Officers may possibly be updated in 2010 to a temporary GS-12 pay rate. In 2005, Border Patrol attrition dropped to 4% and remains in the area of 4% to 6% as of 2009.[7] The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (signed by President Bush on December 17, 2004) authorized hiring an additional 10,000 agents, "subject to appropriation". This authorization, if fully implemented, would nearly double the Border Patrol manpower from 11,000 to 21,000 agents by 2010. In July 2005, Congress signed the Emergency Supplemental Spending Act for military operations in Iraq/Afghanistan and other operations. The act also appropriated funding to increase Border Patrol manpower by 500 Agents. In October 2005, President Bush also signed the DHS FY06 Appropriation bill, funding an additional 1,000 Agents. In November 2005, President George W. Bush made a trip to southern Arizona to discuss more options that would decrease illegal crossings at the U.S. and Mexican border. In his proposed fiscal year 2007 budget he has requested an additional 1,500 Border Patrol agents. The Secure Fence Act, signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2006, has met with much opposition. In October 2007, environmental groups and concerned citizens filed a restraining order hoping to halt the construction of the fence, set to be built between the United States and Mexico. The act mandates that the fence be built by December 2008. Ultimately, the United States seeks to put fencing around the 1,945-mile (3,130 km) border, but the act requires only 700 miles (1,100 km) of fencing. DHS secretary Michael Chertoff has bypassed environmental and other oppositions with a waiver that was granted to him by Congress in Section 102 of the act, which allows DHS to avoid any conflicts that would prevent a speedy assembly of the fence.[8][9] This action has led many environment groups and landowners to speak out against the impending construction of the fence.[10] Environment and wildlife groups fear that the plans to clear brush, construct fences, install bright lights, motion sensors, and cameras will scare wildlife and endanger the indigenous species of the area.[11] Environmentalists claim that the ecosystem could be affected due to the fact that a border fence would restrict movement of all animal species, which in turn would keep them from water and food sources on one side or another. Desert plants would also feel the impact, as they would be uprooted in many areas where the fence is set to occupy.[12] Property owners in these areas fear a loss of land. Landowners would have to give some of their land over to the government for the fence. Citizens also fear that communities will be split. Many students travel over the border every day to attend classes at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Brownsville mayor Pat Ahumada favors alternative options to a border fence. He suggests that the Rio Grande River be widened and deepened to provide for a natural barrier to hinder illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.[13] The United States Border Patrol Academy is located in Artesia, New Mexico. [edit] Special Operations Group A Border Patrol Special Response Team searches room-by-room a hotel in New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina. CBP BORSTAR canine team conducting rappeling trainingIn 2007, the Border Patrol created the Special Operations Group (SOG) headquartered in El Paso, TX to coordinate the specialized units of the agency.[14] Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) National Special Response Team (NSRT) Border Patrol, Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) Air Mobile Unit (AMU) [edit] Other specialized programs The Border Patrol has a number of other specialized programs and details. Air and Marine Operations K9 Units Mounted Patrol Bike patrol Sign-cutting (tracking) Snowmobile unit Infrared scope unit Intelligence Anti-smuggling investigations Border Criminal Alien Program Multi-agency Anti-Gang Task Forces (regional & local units) Honor Guard Pipes and Drums Chaplain Peer Support [edit] Border Patrol organization David V. Aguilar, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border ProtectionThe current Acting Chief of the Border Patrol is Michael J. Fisher who succeeded in 2010 David V. Aguilar, who is now the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. [edit] Border Patrol Sectors There are 20 Border Patrol sectors, each headed by a Sector Chief Patrol Agent. Northern Border (West to East): Blaine Sector (Western Washington State, Idaho, and Western Montana.) - stations; Bellingham, Blaine, Port Angeles, Sumas. Spokane Sector (Eastern Washington State) Havre Sector (Montana) Grand Forks Sector (North Dakota) Detroit Sector (Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan) - stations; Downtown Detroit, Marysville, Gibralter, Sault Sainte Marie, Sandusky Bay. Buffalo Sector (New York) - stations; Buffalo, Erie, Niagura Falls, Oswego, Rochester, Wellesley Island. Swanton Sector (Vermont) Houlton Sector (Maine) Southern Border (West to East): San Diego Sector (San Diego, California) El Centro Sector (Imperial County, California) Yuma Sector (Western Arizona)- stations; Wellton, Yuma, Blythe Tucson Sector (Eastern Arizona) El Paso Sector (El Paso, Texas and New Mexico) - stations; Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Deming, El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Truth or Consequences, Ysleta Marfa Sector (Big Bend Area of West Texas) - stations; Alpine, Amarillo, Big Bend, Fort Stockton, Lubbock, Marfa, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn Del Rio Sector (Del Rio, Texas) - stations; Abilene, Brackettville, Carrizo Springs, Comstock, Del Rio, Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, Rocksprings, San Angelo, Uvalde Rio Grande Valley Sector (South Texas) - stations; Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Falfurrias, Fort Brown, Harlingen, Kingsville, McAllen, Rio Grande City, Weslaco Laredo Sector (South Texas) - stations; Cotulla, Dallas, Freer, Hebbronville, Laredo North, Laredo South, Laredo West, San Antonio, Zapata New Orleans Sector (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Florida) Miami Sector (Florida East and South) Caribbean Ramey Sector (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States [edit] Training All Border Patrol Agents spend 15 weeks in training at the Border Patrol Academy (if they are fluent in Spanish) in Artesia, New Mexico, which is a component of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).Those who are not fluent in Spanish spend an additional eight weeks at the Academy. Recruits are instructed in Border Patrol and federal law enforcement subjects. Border Patrol courses include: Immigration and Nationality Law, Criminal Law and Statutory Authority, Spanish, Border Patrol Operations, Care and Use of Firearms, Physical Training, Driver Training, and Anti-Terrorism. FLETC courses include: Communications, Ethics and Conduct, Report Writing, Introduction to Computers, Fingerprinting, and Constitutional Law.[15] The physical aspects of the Border Patrol Training Program are extremely demanding. At the end of 55 days, trainees must be able to complete a one and a half mile run in 13 minutes or less, a confidence course in two and a half minutes or less, and a 220 yard dash in 46 seconds or less. This final test is much easier than the day to day physical training during the program.[15] [edit] Uniforms The Border Patrol currently wears the following types of uniforms: CBP officers at a ceremony in 2007Dress uniform – The dress uniform consists of olive-green trousers with a blue stripe, and an olive-green shirt, which may or may not have blue shoulder straps. The campaign hat is worn with uniform. Ceremonial uniform – When required, the following items are added to the dress uniform to complete the ceremonial uniform: olive-green Ike jacket or tunic with blue accents (shoulder straps and cuffs, blue tie, brass tie tack, white gloves, and olive-green felt campaign hat with leather hat band. The campaign hat is worn with uniform. Rough duty uniform – The rough duty uniform consists of green cargo trousers and work shirt (in short or long sleeves). Usually worn with green baseball cap or tan stetson. Accessories, footwear, and outerwear – Additional items are worn in matching blue or black colors as appropriate. Organization patches – The Border Patrol wears two: The CBP patch is worn on the right sleeves of the uniform. It contains the DHS seal against a black background with a "keystone" shape. A "keystone" is the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch, which holds all the other stones in place. Border Patrol agents retain the circular legacy Border Patrol patch, which is worn on the left sleeve. The Border Patrol uniform is getting its first makeover since the 1950s to appear more like military fatigues and less like a police officer's duty garb.[16] Leather belts with brass buckles are being replaced by nylon belts with quick-release plastic buckles, slacks are being replaced by lightweight cargo pants, and shiny badges and nameplates are being replaced by cloth patches. [edit] Border Patrol (OBP) Ranks and Insignia Location Title Collar insignia Shoulder ornament Pay grade Border Patrol Headquarters Chief of the Border Patrol Gold-plated Senior Executive Service (SES) Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Gold-plated SES Division Chief Gold-plated SES Deputy Division Chief Gold-plated GS-15, General Schedule Associate Chief Gold-plated GS-15 Assistant Chief Silver-plated GS-14 Operations Officer Oxidized GS-13 Border Patrol Sectors Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Gold-plated SES or GS-15 Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) Gold-plated SES/GS-15 or GS-14 Division Chief Gold-plated GS-15 Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA) Silver-plated GS-15 or GS-14 Patrol Agent in Charge (PAIC) Silver-plated GS-14 or GS-13 Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge (APAIC) Oxidized GS-13 Special Operations Supervisor (SOS) Oxidized GS-13 Field Operations Supervisor (FOS) Oxidized GS-13 Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (SBPA) Oxidized GS-12 Senior Patrol Agent (SPA) (Note: Being phased out through attrition) No insignia Currently GS-11 (Will be upgraded to full performance level GS-12 sometime during the 1st quarter of 2011) Border Patrol Agent (BPA) No insignia GS-5, 7, 9, 11 (Upgrade to GS-12 pending) Border Patrol Academy Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) Gold-plated GS-15 Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) Gold-plated GS-15 Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA) Silver-plated GS-14 Training Operations Supervisor (TOS) Oxidized GS-14 Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Senior Instructor) Oxidized GS-13 Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Instructor) Oxidized GS-13 [edit] Border Patrol Shoulder Ornaments [edit] Awards Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism Commissioners Distinguished Career Service Award Commissioners Exceptional Service Medal Commissioners Meritorious Service Award Commissioners Special Commendation Award Chiefs Commendation Medal No Image Available No Image Available No Image Available Commissioners Excellence in Group Achievement Award Purple Cross Wound Medal Academy Honor Award Winner Border Patrol Long Service Medal 75th Anniversary of the Border Patrol Commemorative Medal No Image Available No Image Available [edit] Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism The Border Patrol's highest honor is the Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism. This Award is bestowed to Border Patrol Agents for extraordinary actions, service; accomplishments reflecting unusual courage or bravery in the line of duty; or an extraordinarily heroic or humane act committed during times of extreme stress or in an emergency. This award is named for Border Patrol Inspectors Theodore Newton[17] and George Azrak,[18] who were murdered by two drug smugglers in San Diego County in 1967. [edit] Border Patrol Uniform Devices Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) Special Response Team (NSRT) Honor Guard Border Patrol Pipes and Drums Cap Badge No Image Available K-9 Handler Chaplain Field Training Officer Peer Support [edit] Equipment [edit] Weapons A Border Patrol Agent carrying an M14 rifle.Border Patrol Agents are issued the H&K P2000 double action pistol in .40 S&W. It can contain as many as 13 rounds of ammunition (12 in the magazine and one in the chamber). Like other law enforcement agencies, the Remington 870 is the standard shotgun. Border Patrol Agents also commonly carry the M4 Carbine and the H&K UMP 40 caliber submachine gun. The M14 rifle is used for mostly ceremonial purposes. As a less than lethal option, the Border Patrol also uses the FN303. [edit] Transportation Unlike in many other law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Border Patrol operates several thousand SUVs and pickup trucks, which are known for their capabilities to move around in any sort of terrain. This vehicles may have individual revolving lights (strobes or LEDs) and/or light bars and sirens. An extensive modernization drive has ensured that these vehicles are equipped with wireless sets in communication with a central control room. Border Patrol vehicles may also have equipment such as speed radar, breathalyzers, and emergency first aid kits. Some sectors make use of sedans like the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor or the Dodge Charger as patrol cars or high speed "interceptors" on highways. The Border Patrol also operates ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and small boats in the riverine environment. In 2005, all Border Patrol and ICE aircraft operations were combined under CBP's Office of Air and Marine. All CBP vessel operation in Customs Waters are conducted by Office of Air and Marine. Color schemes of Border Patrol vehicles are either a long green stripe running the length of the vehicle or a broad green diagonal stripe on the door. Most Border Patrol vehicles are painted predominantly white. The Border Patrol also extensively uses horses for remote area patrols. The U.S. Border Patrol has 205 horses As of 2005[update]. Most are employed along the Mexico–United States border. In Arizona, these animals are fed special processed feed pellets so that their wastes do not spread non-native plants in the national parks and wildlife areas they patrol.[19] [edit] Line of duty deaths Total line of duty deaths (since 1904): 105[20] Aircraft accident: 14 Assault: 2 Automobile accident: 28 Drowned: 4 Fall: 4 Gunfire: 30 Gunfire (Accidental): 3 Heart attack: 6 Heat exhaustion: 1 Motorcycle accident: 2 Stabbed: 2 Struck by train: 3 Struck by vehicle: 3 Vehicle pursuit: 2 Vehicular assault: 3 [edit] Armed incursions On August 7, 2008, Mexican troops crossed the border into Arizona and held a U.S. Border Patrol Agent at gunpoint. Agents stationed at Ajo, Arizona said that the Mexican soldiers crossed the border into an isolated area southwest of Tucson and pointed rifles at the agent, who has not been identified. The Mexicans withdrew after other American agents arrived on the scene.[21] [edit] Ramos and Compean In February 2005, Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were involved in an incident while pursuing a van in Fabens, Texas. The driver, later identified as Aldrete Davila, was shot by Agent Ramos during a scuffle. Davila escaped back into Mexico, and the agents discovered that the van contained a million dollars worth of marijuana (about 750 pounds). None of the agents at the scene orally reported the shooting, including two supervisors. The Department of Homeland Security opened up an internal affairs investigation into the incident.[22] See also [23][24][25] [edit] Criticisms [edit] Ineffective In 2006, a documentary called The Illegal Immigration Invasion[26] linked the scale of illegal immigration into the United States chiefly to the ineffectiveness of the Border Patrol. The film claimed that this is due to the lack of judicial powers of the Border Patrol and the effective hamstringing of the agency by the federal government. The film interviews people that deal with illegal immigration on a daily basis, as well as local citizens living in the border areas. [edit] Allegations of abuse There are allegations of abuse by the United States Border Patrol such as the ones reported by Jesus A. Trevino, that concludes in an article published in the Houston Journal of International Law (2006) with a request to create an independent review commission to oversee the actions of the Border Patrol, and that creating such review board will make the American public aware of the "serious problem of abuse that exists at the border by making this review process public" and that "illegal immigrants deserve the same constitutionally-mandated humane treatment of citizens and legal residents".[27] In 1998, Amnesty International investigated allegations of ill-treatment and brutality by officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and particularly the Border Patrol. Their report said they found indications of human rights violations during 1996, 1997 and early 1998.[28] An article in Social Justice by Michael Huspek, Leticia Jimenez, Roberto Martinez (1998) cites that in December 1997, John Case, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region, but that of the 2,300 cases, the 243 cases of serious allegations of abuse were down in 1997. These serious cases are considered to be distinct from less serious complaints, such as "verbal abuse, discrimination, extended detention without cause."[29] [edit] Corruption Incidences of corruption in the U.S. Border Patrol include: Pablo Sergio Barry, an agent charged with one count of harboring an illegal immigrant, three counts of false statements, and two counts of making a false document.[30] He plead guilty.[31] Christopher E. Bernis, an agent indicted on a charge of harboring an illegal immigrant for nine months while employed as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.[32] Jose De Jesus Ruiz, an agent whose girlfriend was an illegal immigrant, he was put on administrative leave pending an investigation.[32] Oscar Antonio Ortiz, an illegal immigrant[33] who used a fake birth certificate to get into the Border Patrol admitted to smuggling more than 100 illegal immigrants into the U.S., some of them in his government truck,[34] and was helping to smuggle illegal immigrants and charged with conspiring with another agent to smuggle immigrants. An unidentified patrol agent who was recorded on a wire tap stating that he helped to smuggle 30 to 50 immigrants at a time.[33] [edit] National Border Patrol Council National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) is the labor union which represents over 14,000 Border Patrol Agents and support staff. The NBPC was founded in 1968, and its parent organization is the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO. The NBPC's executive committee is staffed by current and retired Border Patrol Agents and, along with its constituent locals, employs a staff of a dozen attorneys and field representatives. The NBPC is associated with the Peace Officer Research Association of California’s Legal Defense Fund.[35] [edit] National Border Patrol Museum The National Border Patrol Museum is located in El Paso, Texas. The museum exhibits uniforms, equipment, photographs, guns, vehicles, airplanes, boats, and documents which depict the historical and current sector operations throughout the United States. [edit] In popular culture [edit] Books Border Patrol by Alvin Edward Moore The Border Patrol by Deborah Wells Salter EWI: Entry Without Inspection (Title 8 U.S.C. § 1325 Improper entry by alien) by Fortuna Testarona Valiente Tracks in the Sand: A Tale of the Border Patrol by Kent E Lundgren, On The Line: Inside the U.S. Border Patrol by Alex Pacheco and Erich Krauss Patrolling Chaos: The U.S. Border Patrol in Deep South Texas by Robert Lee Maril The U.S. Border Patrol: Guarding the Nation (Blazers) by Connie Collwell Miller My Border Patrol Diary: Laredo, Texas by Dale Squint Holding the Line: War Stories of the U.S. Border Patrol by Gerald Schumacher The Border Patrol Ate My Dust by Alicia Alarcon, Ethriam Cash Brammer, and Ethriam Cash Brammer de Gonzales The Border: Exploring the U.S.-Mexican Divide by David J. Danelo Beat The Border: An Insider's Guide To How The U.S. Border Works And How To Beat It by Ned Beaumont West of the Moon: A Border Patrol Agent's Tale by D. B. Prehoda The Journey: U.S. Border Patrol & the Solution to the Illegal Alien Problem by Donald R. Coppock Border patrol: With the U.S. Immigration Service on the Mexican boundary, 1910-54 by Clifford Alan Perkins Border Patrol: How U.S. Agents Protect Our Borders from Illegal Entry by Carroll B. Colby In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America's Border and Security by Tom Tancredo [edit] Film Border Patrolman, a 1936 film in which a Border Patrolman Bob Wallace, played by George O'Brien, resigns in protest after being humiliated by the spoiled granddaughter of a millionaire. Border Patrol, a 1943 film starring William C. Boyd, Andy Clyde, George Reeves, and Robert Mitchum Borderline, a 1950 film noir starring Fred MacMurray about drug smuggling across the U.S./Mexico border Border Patrol, a 1959 syndicated television series, starring Richard Webb as the fictitious deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Borderline, a 1980 movie starring Charles Bronson about a Border Patrol Agent on the U.S./Mexico border The Border, a 1982 film starring Jack Nicholson El Norte, a 1983 film portraying Central American Indian peasants traveling to the United States. Flashpoint, a 1984 film starring Kris Kristofferson Last Man Standing, a 1996 film starring Bruce Willis and Ken Jenkins as Texas Ranger Captain Tom Pickett who is investing the killing of an unnamed Immigration Inspector (played by Larry Holt) across the border in Mexico. Men in Black, a 1997 science fiction comedy action film starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The Border Patrol was portrayed as Immigration Inspectors The Gatekeeper, a 2002 film by John Carlos Frey about the struggles of migrants at the Mexican/US border. The Shepherd: Border Patrol, a 2007 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme Linewatch, a 2008 film starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., as a Border Patrol agent defending his family from a group of Los Angeles gang members involved in the illegal trade of importing narcotics into the United States. [edit] Documentaries Border Patrol: American's Gatekeepers A&E with former United States Attorney General Janet Reno Investigative Reports: Border Patrol: America's Gatekeepers A&E Investigates History the Enforcers : Border Patrol History Channel [edit] See also Border Protection Personnel United States portal Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal List of United States federal law enforcement agencies Immigration and Customs Enforcement Border control Ignacio Ramos Illegal immigration H.R. 4437 Minuteman Project MQ-9 Reaper No More Deaths Office of CBP Air United States Mexico barrier United States-Canadian Border la migra [edit] References ^ "Reinstatements to the northern border". CPB.gov. US Customs and Border Protection. 2008-05-19. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/reinsta.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_... ^ a b c d e f "Boarder Patrol overview". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-08-22. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ a b "Who we are and what we do". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-09-03. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/who_we_.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Gaynor, Tim (2008-01-23). "U.S. turns to horses to secure borders". Reuters. www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSN2323280820080124.... Retrieved 2008-01-24. ^ www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/border_security/border_patro...[dead link] ^ Nuñez-Neto, Blas (2006-010-25) (PDF). Border security: The role of the U.S. Border Patrol. Congressional Research Service. p. 35. digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs//data/2006/upl-meta-c.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Coyle, Marcia (2008-03-03). "Waivers for border fence challenged: Environmental groups take their complaints to Supreme Court". The Recorder. ^ Archibold, Randal C. (2008-04-02). "Government issues waiver for fencing along border". New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/us/02fence.html. Retrieved 2008-04-02. ^ "Conservation groups call for an immediate halt to construction of border fence in San Pedro National Conservation Area". US Newswire. 2007-10-05. ^ Gordon, David George (May 2000). "A 'grande' dispute". National Geographic World: p. 4. ^ Cohn, Jeffrey P. (2007). "The environmental impacts of a border fence". BioScience 57 (1): 96. doi:10.1641/B570116. www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1641/B570116. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Expansive border fence stirs fights over land". Tell Me More. NPR. 2008-03-03. ^ 2007 State of the Border Patrol video[dead link] ^ a b "FAQs: Working for the Border Patrol-basic training". CPB.gov. US Customs and Boarder Protection. 2008-05-29. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_career.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Spagat, Elliot (2007-08-16). "Border Patrol uniform gets first makeover since the 1950s". North County Times. www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/17/news/sandiego/18_64_3.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Border Patrol Inspector Theodore L. Newton Jr.". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=9933. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Border Patrol Inspector George F. Azrak". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=1368. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Rostien, Arthur H. (2005-06-09). "Border Patrol horses get special feed that helps protect desert ecosystem". Environmental News Network. www.enn.com/top_stories/article/1731. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Border Patrol". The Officer Down Memorial Page. www.odmp.org/agency/4830-united-states-department-of-home.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Meyers, Jim (2008-08-06). "Mexican troops cross border, hold border agent". Newsmax.com. newsmax.com/insidecover/mexican_troops_border/2008/08/06/.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Glenn Beck: Ramos & Compean - the whole story". The Glenn Beck Program. Premiere Radio Networks. 2008-07-29. www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/13098/. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Ramos-Compean. ramos-compean.blogspot.com/. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "2 Border Patrol agents face 20 years in prison". WorldDailyNet. 2006-08-07. www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51417. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Ramos and Campean - court appeal". www.scribd.com/doc/219384/Ramos-and-Campean-Court-Appeal. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ (Google video) The illegal immigration invasion. October Sun Films. 2006-04-06. video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1451035544403625746. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Jesus A. Trevino (1998). "Border violence against illegal immigrants and the need to change the border patrol's current complaint review process" (PDF). Houston Journal of International Law 21 (1): 85–114. ISSN 0194-1879. www.hjil.org/ArticleFiles/21_1_10.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ United States of America: Human rights concerns in the border region with Mexico. Amnesty International. 1998-05-19. web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510031998. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Huspek, Michael; Roberto Martinez, and Leticia Jimenez (1998). "Violations of human and civil rights on the U.S.-Mexico border, 1995 to 1997: a report" (Reprint). Social Justice 25 (2). ISSN 1043-1578. findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3427/is_n2_v25/ai_n28711.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. The data compiled in this report suggest that law enforcement in the southwest region of the United States may be verging on lawlessness. This statement receives fuller support from announcements emanating from the INS. In December 1997, John Chase, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region. Over 2,300 complaints were filed in 1997 as opposed to the 1,813 complaints filed in 1996. Another 400 reports of "minor misconduct" were placed in a new category. Chase was quick to emphasize, however, that the 243 "serious" allegations of abuse and use of excessive force that could warrant criminal prosecution were down in 1997, as compared with the 328 in 1996. These "serious" cases are considered to be distinct from less serious complaints, such as "verbal abuse, discrimination, extended detention without cause. ^ June 23, 2005 "Border agent accused of hiding an illegal entrant". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-06-23. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/81082.php June 23, 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "Border agent pleads guilty to harboring illegal entrant". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-09-22. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/94491.php. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ a b "U.S. border agent indicted". Arizona Daily Star. 2005-03-11. www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/65117.php. Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ a b "Boarder agent said to also be smuggler". SignOnSanDiego.com. Union-Tribune Publishing. 2005-08-05. www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20050805-9999-.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ Spagat, Elliot (2006-07-28). "Border agent gets 5 years for smuggling". The Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. ^ "About NBPC". National Border Patrol Council. 2008-08-14. www.nbpc.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&a.... Retrieved 2009-06-01. [edit] External links Official US Border Patrol website US Border Patrol history National Border Patrol Strategy(PDF) Border Patrol official recruiting page Border Patrol Supervisor's Association (BPSA) Border Patrol agents killed in the line of duty Large Border Patrol site Border Patrol Museum official site National Border Patrol Council official site National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers Friends of the Border Patrol Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the U.S. Border Patrol Civilian Border Patrol Organizations: An Overview and History of the Phenomenon by the Congressional Research Service. Border Patrol hiring forums and information for potential agents National Border Patrol Museum Pictures of Border Patrol vehicles Crossing Guards in Training LA Times report on Border Patrol training. The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration Border Patrol unofficial Auxiliary NOT a Government Agency and not affiliated with the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [edit] External Video Border Stories [edit] GAO and OIG Reports GAO Report: Border Patrol - Southwest Border Enforcement Affected by Mission Expansion and Budget August 1992 GAO Report: Border Control - Revised Strategy is Showing Some Positive Results December 1994 g96065.pdf GAO Report: Border Patrol - Staffing and Enforcement Activities March 1996 GAO Report: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - Southwest Border Strategy Results Inconclusive; More Evaluation Needed December 1997 USDOJ OIG Report: Operation Gatekeeper July 1998 GAO Report: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - Status of Southwest Border Strategy Implementation 1999 GAO Report: Border Patrol Hiring December 1999 GAO Report: Southwest Border Strategy - Resource and Impact Issues Remain After Seven Years August 2001 National Border Patrol Strategy March 2005 GAO Report: Effectiveness of Border Patrol Checkpoints July 2005 DHS OIG Report: An Assessment of the Proposal to Merge Customs and Border Protection with Immigration and Customs Enforcement November 2005 [hide]v • d • eBorder guards Asia Bangladesh · China · Israel · Hong Kong · India (Border Security Force · Indo-Tibetan Border Police · Rashtriya Rifles · Indian Home Guard · Special Frontier Force · Assam Rifles) · Pakistan (Frontier Corps · Rangers) · Singapore · Taiwan · Thailand Europe Estonia · European Union · Finland · France · Germany · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Norway · Poland · Romania · Russian Federation · Switzerland · Ukraine · United Kingdom North America Canada · United States of America Oceania Australia (Department of Immigration and Citizenship · Australian Customs and Border Protection Service) · New Zealand (Immigration New Zealand · New Zealand Customs Service) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Border_Patrol" Categories: Federal law enforcement agencies of the United States | Border guards | Specialist law enforcement agencies of the United States | History of immigration to the United States | United States Department of Homeland Security | Borders of the United States Hidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from June 2009 | Articles with broken citations | Articles needing cleanup from December 2009 | All pages needing cleanup | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007 | All accuracy disputes | Articles with disputed statements from December 2009 | Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2005 | All articles containing potentially dated statements

Kuala Lumpur (/ˈkwɑːləˈlʊmpʊər/ or /-pər/; Malaysian pronunciation: [ˈkwalə ˈlumpʊr]) is the national capital and most populous global city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, covering similar area as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.5 million people as of 2012. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population and economy. Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The city was once home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999. Some sections of the judiciary still remain in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in Kuala Lumpur. Rated as an alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city. Kuala Lumpur was ranked 48th among global cities by Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index and was ranked 67th among global cities for economic and social innovation by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index in 2010. Kuala Lumpur is defined within the borders of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and is one of three Malaysian Federal Territories. It is an enclave within the state of Selangor, on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia's futuristic development. In May 2015, Kuala Lumpur was officially recognized as one of the New7Wonders Cities together with Vigan City, Doha, Durban, Havana, Beirut, and La Paz. HISTORY Kuala Lumpur means "muddy confluence", although it is also possible that the name is a corrupted form of an earlier but now unidentifiable forgotten name. It was originally a small settlement of just a few houses at the confluence of Sungai Gombak (previously known as Sungai Lumpur) and Sungai Klang (Klang River). The town of Kuala Lumpur was established circa 1857, when the Malay Chief of Klang, Raja Abdullah bin Raja Jaafar, aided by his brother Raja Juma'at of Lukut, raised funds to hire some Chinese miners from Lukut to open new tin mines here. The miners landed at Kuala Lumpur and continued their journey on foot to Ampang where the first mine was opened. Kuala Lumpur was the furthest point up the Klang River to which supplies could conveniently be brought by boat; it therefore became a collection and dispersal point serving the tin mines. The identity of the founder of Kuala Lumpur has however not been confirmed: Raja Abdullah bin Raja Jaafar and his role in founding the city do not appear in the earliest account of the history of Selangor. On the other hand, the Sumatrans Abdullah Hukum and Sutan Puasa, arrived in Kuala Lumpur at least in 1850. Raja Abdullah only came around 1857 and Yap Ah Loy, also regarded as the founding father of Kuala Lumpur, arrived in 1862. In addition, the Chinese men employed under Raja Abdullah worked in Ampang, 64 kilometres away from the main land. Meanwhile, efficient drainage and irrigation systems (bondar saba) were introduced in Kuala Lumpur by the technologically advanced Mandailing, improving the mining industry. In the early history of Kuala Lumpur, the Minangkabaus of Sumatra were considered to be one of the most important groups of people who involved in trading. Utsman bin Abdullah and Haji Mohamed Taib were influenced tycoon in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding area. Haji Taib, one of the wealthiest figure at that time, was an important person in the early development centre of city: Kampung Baru. Beside as merchants, the Minangkabaus also overwhelmingly on socio-religious figures, such as Utsman bin Abdullah was the first kadi of Kuala Lumpur as well as Muhammad Nur bin Ismail. Although the early miners suffered a high death toll due to the malarial conditions of the jungle, the Ampang mines were successful, and the first tin was exported in 1859. The tin-mining spurred the growth of the town, and miners later also settled in Pudu and Batu. The miners formed gangs among themselves; there were the Hakka-dominated Hai San in Kuala Lumpur, and the Cantonese-dominated Ghee Hin based in Kanching in Ulu Selangor. These two gangs frequently fought to gain control of best tin mines. The leaders of the Chinese community were conferred the title of Kapitan Cina (Chinese headman) by the Malay chief, and Hiu Siew, the owner of a mine in Lukut, was chosen as the first Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur. As one of the first traders to arrive in Ampang (along with Yap Ah Sze), he sold provisions to the miners in exchange for tin. In 1868, Yap Ah Loy was appointed the third Chinese Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur. Yap, together with Frank Swettenham, were the two most important figures in the development of Kuala Lumpur in the early days of Kuala Lumpur. In 1880, the state capital of Selangor was moved from Klang to the more strategically advantageous Kuala Lumpur by the colonial administration, and Swettenham was appointed the Resident in 1882. Kuala Lumpur was a small town with buildings made of wood and atap (thatching) that were prone to burn. It suffered from many problems, including the Selangor Civil War which devastated the town; it was also plagued by diseases and constant fires and floods. The war and other setbacks led to a slump which lasted until 1879, when a rise in the price of tin allowed the town to recover. In 1881, a flood swept through the town, following a fire that had engulfed it earlier. As a response, Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor, required that buildings be constructed of brick and tile.[33] Hence, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy bought a sprawling piece of real estate to set up a brick industry, which spurred the rebuilding of Kuala Lumpur. This place is the eponymous Brickfields. Hence, destroyed atap buildings were replaced with brick and tiled ones. He restructured the building layout of the city. Many of the new brick buildings mirrored those of shop houses in southern China, characterised by "five foot ways" as well as skilled Chinese carpentry work. This resulted in a distinct eclectic shop house architecture typical to this region. Kapitan Yap Ah Loy expand road access in the city significantly, linking up tin mines with the city, these roads include the main arterial roads of the present Ampang Road, Pudu Road and Petaling Street. As Chinese Kapitan, he was vested with wide powers on par with Malay community leaders. He implemented law reforms and introduced new legal measures. He also presided over a small claims court. With a police force of six, he was able to uphold the rule of law. He built a prison that could accommodate 60 prisoners at any time. Kapitan Yap Ah Loy also built Kuala Lumpur's first school and a major tapioca mill in Petaling Street of which the Selangor's Sultan Abdul Samad had an interest. A railway line between Kuala Lumpur and Klang, initiated by Swettenham and completed in 1886, increased accessibility which resulted in the rapid growth of the town. The population grew from 4,500 in 1884 to 20,000 in 1890. As development intensified in the 1880s, it also put pressure on sanitation, waste disposal and other health issues. A Sanitary Board was created on 14 May 1890 which was responsible for sanitation, upkeep of roads, lighting of street and other functions. This would eventually became the Kuala Lumpur Municipal Council. Kuala Lumpur was only 0.65 km2 in 1895, but it expanded to 20 km2 in 1903, and by the time it became a municipality in 1948 it had expanded to 93 km2, and then to 243 km2 in 1974 as a Federal Territory. In 1896, Kuala Lumpur was chosen as the capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States. A mixture of different communities settled in various sections of Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese mainly settled around the commercial centre of Market Square, east of the Klang River, and towards Chinatown. The Malays, Indian Chettiars, and Indian Muslims resided along Java Street (now Jalan Tun Perak). The Padang, now known as Merdeka Square, was the centre of the British administrative offices. During World War II, Kuala Lumpur was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on 11 January 1942. They occupied the city until 15 August 1945, when the commander in chief of the Japanese Seventh Area Army in Singapore and Malaysia, Seishirō Itagaki, surrendered to the British administration following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kuala Lumpur grew through the war, the rubber and tin commodity crashes and the Malayan Emergency, during which Malaya was preoccupied with the communist insurgency. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained its independence from British rule. Kuala Lumpur remained the capital through the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. On 13 May 1969, the worst race riots on record in Malaysia took place in Kuala Lumpur. The so-called 13 May Incident refers to the occurrence of violence between members of the Malay and the Chinese communities. The violence was the result of Malaysian Malays being dissatisfied with their socio-political status. The riots resulted in the deaths of 196 people, and led to major changes in the country's economic policy to promote and prioritise Malay economic development over that of the other ethnicities. Kuala Lumpur later achieved city status in 1972, becoming the first settlement in Malaysia to be granted the status after independence. Later, on 1 February 1974, Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory. Kuala Lumpur ceased to be the capital of Selangor in 1978 after the city of Shah Alam was declared the new state capital. On 14 May 1990, Kuala Lumpur celebrated 100 years of local council. The new federal territory Kuala Lumpur flag and anthem were introduced. On 1 February 2001, Putrajaya was declared a Federal Territory, as well as the seat of the federal government. The administrative and judicial functions of the government were shifted from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur however still retained its legislative function, and remained the home of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Constitutional King). GEOGRAPHY The geography of Kuala Lumpur is characterised by the huge Klang Valley. The valley is bordered by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east, several minor ranges in the north and the south and the Strait of Malacca in the west. Kuala Lumpur is a Malay term that translates to "muddy confluence" as it is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Located in the centre of Selangor state, Kuala Lumpur was previously under the rule of Selangor State Government. In 1974, Kuala Lumpur was separated from Selangor to form the first Federal Territory governed directly by the Malaysian Federal Government. Its location on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which has wider flat land than the east coast, has contributed to its faster development relative to other cities in Malaysia. The municipality of the city covers an area of 243 km2, with an average elevation of 21.95 m. CLOMATE AND WEATHER Protected by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east and Indonesia's Sumatra Island in the west, Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af), which is warm and sunny, along with abundant rainfall, especially during the northeast monsoon season from October to March. Temperatures tend to remain constant. Maximums hover between 32 and 33 °C and have never exceeded 38.5 °C, while minimums hover between 23.4 and 24.6 °C and have never fallen below 14.4 °C. Kuala Lumpur typically receives minimum 2,600 mm of rain annually; June and July are relatively dry, but even then rainfall typically exceeds 131 millimetres per month. Flooding is a frequent occurrence in Kuala Lumpur whenever there is a heavy downpour, especially in the city centre and downstream areas. Smoke from forest fires of nearby Sumatra sometimes cast a haze over the region. It is a major source of pollution in the city together with open burning, emission from motor vehicles and construction work. POLITICS Kuala Lumpur is home to the Parliament of Malaysia. The hierarchy of authority in Malaysia, in accordance with the Federal Constitution, has stipulated the three branches, of the Malaysian government as consisting of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches. The Parliament consists of the Dewan Negara (Upper House / House of Senate) and Dewan Rakyat (Lower House / House of Representatives). ECONOMY Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding urban areas form the most industrialised and economically, the fastest growing region in Malaysia. Despite the relocation of federal government administration to Putrajaya, certain government institutions such as Bank Negara Malaysia (National Bank of Malaysia), Companies Commission of Malaysia and Securities Commission as well as most embassies and diplomatic missions have remained in the city. The city remains as the economic and business centre of the country. Kuala Lumpur is a centre for finance, insurance, real estate, media and the arts of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is rated as an alpha world city, and is the only global city in Malaysia, according to the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC). The infrastructure development in the surrounding areas such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at Sepang, the creation of the Multimedia Super Corridor and the expansion of Port Klang further reinforce the economic significance of the city. Bursa Malaysia or the Malaysia Exchange is based in the city and forms one of its core economic activities. As of 5 July 2013, the market capitalisation stood at US$505.67 billion. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Kuala Lumpur is estimated at RM73,536 million in 2008 with an average annual growth rate of 5.9 percent.[66] The per capita GDP for Kuala Lumpur in 2013 is RM79,752 with an average annual growth rate of 5.6 percent. The total employment in Kuala Lumpur is estimated at around 838,400. The service sector comprising finance, insurance, real estate, business services, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, transport, storage and communication, utilities, personal services and government services form the largest component of employment representing about 83.0 percent of the total. The remaining 17 percent comes from manufacturing and construction. The average monthly household income for Kuala Lumpur was RM4,105 (USD 1,324) in 1999, up from RM3,371 (USD 1,087) four years prior, making it 66% higher than the national average. In terms of household income distribution, 23.5% of households in the city earned more than RM5,000 (USD 1,613) per month compared to 9.8% for the entire country, while 8.1% earned less than RM1,000 (USD 323) a month. The large service sector is evident in the number of local and foreign banks and insurance companies operating in the city. Kuala Lumpur is poised to become the global Islamic Financing hub with an increasing number of financial institutions providing Islamic Financing and the strong presence of Gulf's financial institutions such as the world's largest Islamic bank, Al-Rajhi Bank and Kuwait Finance House. Apart from that, the Dow Jones & Company is keen to work with Bursa Malaysia to set up Islamic Exchange Trade Funds (ETFs), which would help raise Malaysia's profile in the Gulf. The city has a large number of foreign corporations and is also host to many multi national companies' regional offices or support centres, particularly for finance and accounting, and information technology functions. Most of the countries' largest companies have their headquarters based here and as of December 2007 and excluding Petronas, there are 14 companies that are listed in Forbes 2000 based in Kuala Lumpur. Other important economic activities in the city are education and health services. Kuala Lumpur also has advantages stemming from the high concentration of educational institutions that provide a wide-ranging of courses. Numerous public and private medical specialist centres and hospitals in the city offer general health services, and a wide range of specialist surgery and treatment that caters to locals and tourists. There has been growing emphasis to expand the economic scope of the city into other service activities, such as research and development, which supports the rest of the economy of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur has been home for years to important research centres such as the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia and the Institute of Medical Research and more research centres are expected to be established in the coming years. DEMOGRAPHICS Kuala Lumpur is the most populous city in Malaysia, with a population of 1.6 million in the city proper as of 2010. It has a population density of 6,696 inhabitants per square kilometre , and is the most densely populated administrative district in Malaysia. Residents of the city are colloquially known as KLites. Kuala Lumpur is also the centre of the wider Klang Valley conurbation (covering Petaling Jaya, Klang, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Gombak and others) which has an estimated metropolitan population of 7.2–7.5 million as of 2012. Kuala Lumpur's heterogeneous populace includes the country's three major ethnic groups: the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, although the city also has a mix of different cultures including Eurasians, as well as Kadazans, Ibans and other indigenous races from East Malaysia and Peninsula Malaysia. Historically Kuala Lumpur was a predominantly Chinese, but recently the Bumiputra component of the city has increased substantially and they are now the dominant group. Most of Malays who considered as Bumiputra came from Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia archipelago. The majority of them Javanese, Minangkabaus and Buginese began arriving in Kuala Lumpur in the mid 19th century, in addition to Acehnese who arrived in the late 20th century. The population of Kuala Lumpur was estimated to be around three thousand in 1880 when it was made the capital of Selangor. In the following decade which saw the rebuilding of the town it showed considerable increase, due in large part to the construction of a railway line in 1886 connecting Kuala Lumpur and Klang. A census in 1891 of uncertain accuracy gave a figure of 43,796 inhabitants, 79% of whom were Chinese (71% of the Chinese were Hakka), 14% Malay, and 6% Indian. Another estimate put the population of Kuala Lumpur in 1890 at 20,000. In 1931, 61% of Kuala Lumpur's 111,418 inhabitants were Chinese, and in 1947 63.5%. The Malays however began to settle in the Kuala Lumpur in significant numbers, in part due to government employment, as well as the expansion of the city that absorbed the surrounding rural areas where many Malays lived. between 1947 and 1957 the population of Bumiputras in Kuala Lumpur doubled, increasing from 12.5 to 15%, while the proportion of Chinese dropped. The process continued after Malayan independence with the growth of a largely Malay civil service, and later the implementation of the New Economic Policy which encouraged Malay participation in urban industries and business. In 1980 the population of Kuala Lumpur had reached over a million, with 52% Chinese, 33% Malay, and 15% Indian. From 1980 to 2000 the number of Bumiputras increased by 77%, but the Chinese still outnumbered the Bumiputras in Kuala Lumpur in the 2000 census at 43% compared to Bumiputras at 38%. By the 2010 census, according to the Department of Statistics and excluding non-citizens, the percentage of the Bumiputera population in Kuala Lumpur has reached around 45.9%, with the Chinese population at 43.2% and Indians 10.3%.A notable phenomenon in recent times has been the increase of foreign residents in Kuala Lumpur, which rose from 1% of the city's population in 1980 to about 8% in the 2000 census, and 9.4% in the 2010 census. These figures also do not include a significant number of illegal immigrants. Kuala Lumpur's rapid development has triggered a huge influx of low-skilled foreign workers from Indonesia, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Vietnam into Malaysia, many of whom enter the country illegally or without proper permits.Birth rates in Kuala Lumpur have declined and resulted in the lower proportion of young people falling below 15 years old category from 33% in 1980 to slightly less than 27% in 2000.[69] On the other hand, the working age group of 15–59 increased from 63% in 1980 to 67% in 2000. The elderly age group, 60 years old and above has increased from 4% in 1980 and 1991 to 6% in 2000. Kuala Lumpur is pluralistic and religiously diverse. The city has many places of worship catering to the multi-religious population. Islam is practised primarily by the Malays and the Indian Muslim communities. Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are practised mainly among the Chinese. Indians traditionally adhere to Hinduism. Some Chinese and Indians also subscribe to Christianity. As of 2010 Census the population of Kuala Lumpur is 46.4% Muslim, 35.7% Buddhist, 8.5% Hindu, 5.8% Christian, 1.1% Taoist or Chinese religion adherent, 2.0% follower of other religions, and 0.5% non-religious. Bahasa Malaysia is the principal language in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur residents are generally literate in English, with a large proportion adopting it as their first language. It has a strong presence, especially in business and is a compulsory language taught in schools. Cantonese and Mandarin are prominent as they are spoken by the local majority Chinese population. Another major dialect spoken is Hakka. While Tamil is dominant amongst the local Indian population, other Indian languages spoken include Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi and Hindi. Beside the Malay language, there are a variety of languages spoken by Indonesian descent, such as Minangkabau and Javanese. EDUCATION According to government statistics, Kuala Lumpur has a literacy rate of 97.5% in 2000, the highest rate in any state or territory in Malaysia. In Malaysia, Malay is the language of instruction for most subjects while English is a compulsory subject, but as of 2012, English is still the language of instruction for mathematics and the natural sciences for certain schools. Some schools provide Mandarin and Tamil as languages of instruction for certain subjects. Each level of education demands different skills of teaching and learning ability.Kuala Lumpur contains 13 tertiary education institutions, 79 high schools, 155 elementary schools and 136 kindergartens. WIKIPEDIA

1990 Following the Iraq invasion of Kuwait on August 2nd Desert Shield Begins as the United States and UK send troops to Kuwait. The US enters a bad recession which will have repercussions over the next few years throughout the world. This is also the year "The Simpsons" is seen for the first time on FOX & SKY TV. Following the Berlin Wall falling East and West Germany reunite. In technology Tim Berners-Lee publishes the first web page on the WWW and it shown that there is a hole in the Ozone Layer above the North Pole, also the First in car GPS Satellite Navigation System goes on sale from Pioneer. Britain 1990 Thatcher quits as prime minister Margaret Thatcher is to stand down as prime minister after her Cabinet refused to back her in a second round of leadership elections. She will remain in office until a successor is elected, but will not continue to fight Michael Heseltine for the Conservative Party leadership. The former secretary of state for the environment threw down the gauntlet after a string of serious disputes over Britain's involvement in the European Union. The prime minister said pressure from colleagues had forced her to conclude that party unity and the prospect of victory in the next general election would be better served if she stepped down. Labour leader Neil Kinnock said the prime minister's decision showed she amounted to more than those who had recently turned against her. But the outgoing Tory leader refused a request from Mr Kinnock to hold a general election so the British people could make their own choice about her successor. Tributes flooded in from admirers and opponents around the world, including Neil Kinnock and President Bush, who called her a staunch ally to the United States and added: "I'll miss her." But the Stock Market rose at the news. Mr Kinnock savaged Conservatives who had abandoned a leader they had supported through "11 oil-rich years with a recession at each end and a miracle in between". Tories choose Major for Number 10 John Major is to be Britain's new prime minister after winning the Conservatives' leadership election. Mr Major, 47, will visit the Queen at 1030 BST tomorrow to be formally appointed and will return to Downing Street as the youngest British leader this century. Currently serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Major did not achieve the majority required for an absolute victory, but the margin was clear enough for his rivals to withdraw and a third ballot was avoided. Mr Major - who has been in parliament for only 11 years - said he was enormously encouraged so many had voted for him and would discharge his responsibilities to the best of his ability. Violence flares in poll tax demonstration This was a day of protest against Margaret Thatcher’s poll tax that had turned into the most serious riot central London had seen for a century. As missiles flew and police horses charged. An anti-poll tax rally in central London has erupted into the worst riots seen in the city for a century. Forty-five police officers are among the 113 people injured as well as 20 police horses. A total of 340 people have been arrested in the heart of London's West End, popular with musical and theatre goers, as cars have been overturned and set alight. Four tube stations have been shut for safety reasons as police try to clear the streets, with much of central London now cordoned off. Demonstrators have attacked police with bricks and cans. Fire fighters attempting to extinguish the blazes have been hit with wood and stones. Restaurants have been forced to close early by the violence which left shop windows smashed and many businesses with their contents looted. Eyewitness reports describe a cloud of black smoke over Trafalgar Square. UK temperatures reach record high At the beginning of August 1990 there was a widespread hot spell, during which a new UK temperature record was set. A maximum of 37.1 °C was measured at Cheltenham on the 3rd, beating the record of 36.7 °C set at Raunds (Northamptonshire), Epsom (Surrey) and Canterbury (Kent) on 9 August 1911. Temperatures exceeded 32 °C over large areas of southern, central and eastern England and east Wales from the 1st to 4th, peaking on the 3rd with over 35 °C recorded in several large swathes of England. Across England and Wales, the heat placed strains on every day life. Transport was affected with road closures as surfaces melted, a runway at Heathrow airport suffered similar problems and, as a precaution, speed restrictions were in force for some inter-city trains in case rails buckled. There was also a surge in hospital admissions with heat-related conditions, and an increased mortality rate. The fire services were kept busy tackling heath and farmland fires that broke out in dry conditions that had prevailed since March. On 3 and 4 August there was a spate of drownings as people turned to swimming as a way of keeping cool. The entire stock of a Liverpool chocolate factory melted and at Stansted Mountfichet Castle, Essex a waxwork knight melted into a puddle. Although the sweltering temperatures are being enjoyed by holidaymakers and sun seekers, they are not good news for everyone. Fire crews are battling countryside fires in North Yorkshire and more than 100 square miles (259 square kilometres) of the Peak District National Park will be closed from midnight on Sunday to protect the moorland from careless visitors. Penguins at Bristol zoo and a herd of rare pigs from Ludlow in Shropshire, are receiving daily cold showers of water to prevent them from dehydrating. Many roads around the country are clogged as motorists make their way to coastal resorts and some intercity trains will be running at reduced speeds because of possible distortion of the rails in the intense heat. Reservoir levels are also falling but officials are confident that supplies are not yet at risk. Rioting inmates take over Strangeways Up to 1,000 prisoners are running amok in Strangeways Prison in Manchester in a violent riot in which at least three prisoners are reported to have been killed. The rioting began this morning during a service in the prison chapel, attended by about 300 inmates. It is believed the action may have been planned in advance as a protest against conditions at the jail. Prisoners quickly gained access to the chapel roof and broke into the living accommodation in the main prison. The inmates have taken up positions on the main prison roof, tearing off slates and pelting prison officers, police and emergency services with them. They have set fire to the chapel and gymnasium, and wrecked prison cells. The riot at Strangeways turned into a siege lasting 25 days - the longest in British penal history. Early reports of high casualties proved unfounded. Two men died - one prisoner, and a prison officer. Almost 200 inmates and staff were injured. The prison was damaged so badly it cost £55 million to rebuild. It has since been renamed HMP Manchester. A major inquiry into the riot was set up under a senior judge, Lord Woolf. He said severe overcrowding was to blame, and recommended several practices should end, including "slopping out" and putting prisoners two or three to a cell. Slopping out - the use of chamber pots in cells without sanitation - officially came to an end in 1996, although it still continues in some parts of the prison service. A major prison building programme has now begun in an effort to solve the continuing problem of overcrowding. Meanwhile, the prison population has been steadily rising. In 1990, there were 45,000 prisoners in England and Wales. By 2005 there were more than 73,000. Tony Adams Just before Christmas in 1990, the former Arsenal captain staggered away from a drinks party and drove his car into a telegraph pole at 70mph. He was four times over the limit and served 56 days in prison for his misdemeanour. As he was sent down, he was handcuffed to another prisoner who groaned in dismay. When Adams asked him what was wrong, the man apparently replied: "This is a nightmare. I'm a Tottenham fan." When he just missed the cut for the World Cup squad in May 1990, Tony Adams was hailed as a future England captain by the manager Bobby Robson. He wasn't wrong, but Adams' journey would not be a smooth one: the same month, Adams drove into a wall while drunk, and was jailed for four months in December 1990. He served two before returning to help Arsenal win the league that season and, though his drink problems were still lingering, he conquered them once and for all in 1996. The stories of drinking among George Graham's men in the early part of the decade are legendary - Paul Merson, Tony Adams and Ray Parlour were among those who regularly attended Arsenal's infamous "Tuesday club" - but other excesses are perhaps less well known."We used to have eating contests on the way up to games," Merson confessed in a recent television documentary. "You know, who could finish the most pies on the coach up to Newcastle or somewhere like that." With Arsenal players bloated and most likely hungover before they even warmed-up for matches, it is hardly surprising Manchester United were able to wrestle the initiative from them prior to Arsène Wenger's arrival at the club. Britain and France connected France and the UK were not always separated. Thousands of years ago they were connected by land but a humongous flood carved out a break and changed Britain’s landscape and the course of history forever and Britain became an island. Estimates say that as short a time ago as 6000 BC you could walk to France from Britain at certain times of the year! Just think – if that flood hadn’t happened and we were still joined together – would the French be British or the British French?! It doesn’t bear thinking about does it? The two countries have been good friends at times and not so good at others and getting across to see each other was by boat for thousands of years until people started to think about new, better ways to visit each other and one of those ways was by tunnel. On December 1, 1990, a historic meeting between British and French building workers took place when they met in the middle and toasted the event with champagne. Four years later on May 6, 1994, a year behind schedule and way over budget, Queen Elizabeth II and President Mitterand declared the Channel Tunnel - the longest undersea tunnel in the world – open. France and Britain were once more connected. It may already be too late for Tesco and Sainsbury's, the rise of Aldi and Lidl looks unstoppable The "big four" supermarkets took their eye off Aldi and Lidl, and now British shoppers can't get enough of them. The German discounters Aldi and Lidl arrived in the UK in 1990 and 1994 respectively. But after two decades of highs and lows, they have finally built a proposition that resonates with UK consumers, and they are reshaping how we shop. 5 April – Aldi, a German discount food supermarket chain, opens its first store in Britain, in Stechford, Birmingham. Poundland, a supermarket chain selling all items for £1, opens its first store at Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. Netto, a Danish discount food supermarket chain, opens its first store in Britain in Leeds. But perhaps the clearest evidence that the momentum behind discount retailing is unstoppable was provided by Sainsbury’s. The company is to relaunch Netto as its own discount chain. If you can’t beat them, join them. 1990 Shopping Basket dozen eggs - 90p Cadbury' s Freddo Frog - 10p pint of milk - 25p oven-fresh loaf of bread - £1 oven-ready chicken - £1 pork shoulder - £1.50 pint of beer - 99p 100g jar of instant coffee - 1.75 1990 Timeline January – Vauxhall enters the coupé segment of the car market with the launch of its Cavalier-based Calibra, which is the first coupé built by General Motors in Europe since the demise of the Opel Manta in 1988. 1 January - Glasgow begins its year as European Capital of Culture, the first designated in the British Isles. Television debut of Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean in a Thames Television special. 13 January – Some 50,000 people demonstrate on the streets of London to support of Britain's ambulance workers, as the ongoing ambulance crew strike continues four months after it began. 18 January – The first MORI poll of the decade shows that Labour have a 12-point lead over the Conservatives with 48% of the vote. Liberal support is at its lowest for more than a decade as the Liberal Democrats gain just 5% of the vote. 19 January – Police in Johannesburg, South Africa, break up a demonstration against the cricket match played by rebel English cricketers led by Mike Gatting. 25 January – Burns' Day storm: hurricane-force winds are reported to have killed 39 people in England and Wales. 29 January – Lord Justice Taylor publishes his report in the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 95 Liverpool F.C. supporters on 15 April last year. He recommends that all top division stadiums are all-seater by 1994 and that the rest of the Football League follows suit by 1999, but rules out the government's proposed ID card scheme to combat football hooliganism as "unworkable". 9 February – Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran renews his fatwa on British author Salman Rushdie, which he imposed last year following controversy over the author's book: The Satanic Verses. 15 February - The UK and Argentina restore diplomatic relations after eight years. Diplomatic ties were broken off in response to Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Neil Kinnock's dream of being prime minister appears closer to becoming reality as the latest MORI poll shows Labour on 51% with a 17-point lead over the Conservatives. 20 February – Three people are injured in Leicester city centre by a bomb explosion. 26 February – Fourteen people are killed as storms hit Britain. One of the worst-hit areas is Towyn in North Wales, where approximately 2,000 people are evacuated from their homes after huge waves smash a 200-yard hole in the sea wall and cause a major flood. 27 February – Economists warn that house prices could fall by up to 10% this year. 1 March – The Official Secrets Act 1989 comes into force. 7 March – Halifax Building Society reveals that house prices rose by 0.3% last month – the first monthly rise since July last year. 9 March – 37 people are arrested and 10 police officers injured in Brixton, London, during rioting against the new Community Charge. 13 March – The ambulance crew dispute ends after six months when workers agree to a 17.6% pay rise. 15 March - Iraq hangs British journalist Farzad Bazoft for spying. Daphne Parish, a British nurse, is sentenced to fifteen years in prison for being an accomplice to Mr Bazoft. Britain's unemployment is now down to 1,610,000 – the lowest since 1978. However, it is a drop of just 2,000 on January's total and economists fear that a sharp rise in unemployment could soon begin as there are widespread fears of a recession. 20 March – Chancellor John Major delivers the first budget to be shown on television. 21 March – Allan Roberts, Labour MP for Bootle, dies of cancer aged 46. 23 March – The Duke and Duchess of York's second child, another daughter, is born. 28 March – ITV broadcasts the Granada Television documentary drama, Who Bombed Birmingham?. The programme, which looks at the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings and the conviction of the Birmingham Six names several people believed to have actually been behind the bombings. 31 March – 200,000 protesters in Poll Tax Riots in London in the week preceding official introduction of the Community Charge. 1–25 April – 1990 Strangeways Prison riot in Manchester. 2 April – An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale and centred on the Shropshire town of Bishop's Castle is felt throughout much of England and Wales. 4 April – Dr Raymond Crockett is struck off the medical register for using kidneys from Turkish immigrants who had been paid to donate them. 5 April – Aldi, a German discount food supermarket chain, opens its first store in Britain, in Stechford, Birmingham. 9 April – Four Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers are killed by an IRA bomb in County Down. 10 April – With nineteen inmates at Strangeways Prison in Manchester still staging a rooftop protest against prison conditions, rioting has broken out at prisons in Cardiff and Bristol. 11 April – Customs and Excise officers seize parts of an Iraqi supergun in Middlesbrough. 19 April – Labour now have a 23-point lead over the Conservatives in the latest MORI poll. 29 April – Stephen Hendry, 21, becomes the youngest ever world snooker champion. May – Rover Group launches a heavily facelifted version of its Metro, which has been the best-selling car of the combine previously known as British Leyland and more recently Austin Rover since its 1980 launch. 3 May – The end of House price inflation is declared by Halifax Building Society, two years after the housing market peaked. 4 May – The local council elections see Labour win more local council seats than the Conservatives. Neil Kinnock's hopes of victory in the next general election are further boosted by the fact that Labour have finished ahead in most of the last year's opinion polls. 7 May – The Prince and Princess of Wales travel to Budapest for the first postwar British royal visit there. 8 May – Billy Cartman, a 33-year-old grouter, becomes the sixth Briton to die in the construction of the Channel Tunnel when he is crushed by heavy machinery. 11 May – Inflation now stands at 9.4% – the highest level for eight years. 19 May - British agriculture Minister John Gummer feeds a hamburger to his 5-year-old daughter to counter rumours about the spread of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its transmission to humans. Unemployment is reported to have risen for the first time in four years, though it is still only just over 1,600,000 compared to the high of more than 3,000,000 that was on record in 1986. Helen Rollason becomes the first female presenter on BBC1's Grandstand. 25 May – The "rump" Social Democratic Party (consisting of members who backed out of the merger with the Liberal Party which formed the Liberal Democrats two years ago) finishes behind the Monster Raving Loony Party in the Bootle by-election, where Labour retain power under new MP Michael Carr. 30 May – France bans British beef and live cattle imports as a precaution against fears of BSE being spread. 1 June – An army recruit is shot dead and two others are wounded by two suspected IRA gunmen in Lichfield, Staffordshire. 3 June – The Social Democratic Party is wound up after nine years in existence. 7 June – France, Italy and West Germany lift bans on British beef imposed during the BSE outbreak. 14 June - The proposed high-speed rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel is shelved. Unemployment rises for the second month running, though by just over 4,000 to a total of 1,611,000 in May. 20 June – Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major proposes the "hard ecu", a currency which would ciruclate into parallel with national currencies as an alternative to full monetary union. 2 July – Girobank Plc privatised by sale to the Alliance & Leicester Group. 11 July – Labour MP's accuse the Conservative government of "fraud" amid allegations that the 1,600,000 fall in unemployment since 1986 included a million people leaving the list without finding work. 14 July – Trade and Industry Secretary Nicholas Ridley resigns following an interview in The Spectator in which he likened the European Union to Hitler's Germany. 16 July - An official report reveals that High Street sales are at their lowest since 1980, sparking further fears of a recession. Nigel Mansell, Britain's most successful racing driver of the last 10 years, announces that he is to retire from Grand Prix races at the end of the 1990 season. 17 July – German food superstore chain Aldi opens its first British store in Birmingham and plans to have up to 200 stores across the country by 1993. 19 July – Saddam Hussein, dictator of Iraq, frees Daphne Parish from prison for "humanitarian reasons" and she returns to Britain. 20 July - An IRA bomb explodes at Stock Exchange Tower, the base of the London Stock Exchange. Michael Car, Labour MP for Bootle, dies after just 57 days in parliament from a heart attack at the age of 43. 24 July – A Roman Catholic nun and three police officers are killed by an IRA landmine in County Armagh. 30 July – IRA car bomb kills British MP Ian Gow, a staunch unionist, after he assured the IRA that the British government would never surrender to them. 31 July – The England cricket team defeats the India national cricket team in a high-scoring Lord's test match totalling 1,603 runs. 1 August – British Airways Flight 149 is seized by the Iraqi Army at Kuwait International Airport following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 3 August – Heat wave peaks with a temperature of 37.1°C (98.8°F) recorded at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. 5 August – Margaret Thatcher announces her desire for a new Magna Carta to guarantee basic rights for all European citizens. 14 August – A survey carried out by the BBC reveals that 20% of taxpayers in England and Wales had not paid their Community Charge by 30 June this year. 16 August – A MORI poll shows that Labour now has a 15-point lead over the Conservatives with 50% of the vote, while support to the Liberal Democrats has doubled to 10% over the last seven months. 22 August – James MacMillan's symphonic piece The Confession of Isobel Gowdie premieres at The Proms in London. 23 August – British hostages in Iraq are paraded on TV. Ford launches the new version of its Escort hatchback, estate and cabriolet, and Orion saloon, two cars with combined sales figures which account more than 10% of new cars sold in Britain. Sales of the two cars begin in Britain and the rest of Europe next month. 24 August – Irish hostage Brian Keenan is released in Beirut, Lebanon, after being held a hostage there for more than four years. 27 August - Four found guilty in the Guinness share-trading fraud trial. The BBC begins broadcasting on Radio 5, its first new station for 23 years. 2 September – The long-running animated series The Simpsons is broadcast in the United Kingdom for the first time, making its début on Sky1. Call of the Simpsons is the first episode to be shown on Sky. 3 September – Rosie and Jim first airs on ITV. 5 September – New BBC building at White City opens. 7 September – After an 8-year absence, The Generation Game returns on BBC1 with Bruce Forsyth as returning host and Rosemarie Ford as hostess. 10 September – Pegasus, a leading British travel operator, goes bankrupt. 18 September – Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Terry survives a murder attempt by IRA terrorists at his home near Stafford. 22 September – John Banham, a leading British industrial minister, warns that most of Britain is now affected by a recession and that there is worse to come. The latest CBI prediction is also the gloomiest since 1980, the last time Britain was in recession. Fears of a recession have been growing across most of the world since the autumn of last year. However, chancellor John Major denies that Britain is on the verge of a recession. 26 September – Margaret Thatcher joins in with the politicians who are denying that the British economy is slumping into recession, despite manufacturers reporting their biggest drop in output since 1982 and a growing number of bankruptcies. 2 October – Neil Kinnock cites education and training as key areas needing an improvement in standards when he addresses his party's conference in Blackpool. 8 October - Pound Sterling joins the Exchange Rate Mechanism. First members of the Women's Royal Naval Service to serve officially on an operational warship board Type 22 frigate HMS Brilliant. 18 October – Eastbourne by-election in East Sussex. 19 October – David Bellotti for the Liberal Democrats wins the "safe" Eastbourne Conservative seat. 23 October - Treasury officials speak of their belief that a "brief, technical" recession in the British economy is now inevitable. Edward Heath, the former British prime minister, leaves Baghdad on a plane bound for Heathrow Airport with 33 freed hostages. Saddam Hussein has promised to release a further 30 hostages in the near future. David Lynch's critically acclaimed serial drama Twin Peaks receives its British television debut at 9.00pm on BBC2. 27 October – Economists predict that the current economic downturn will be confined to the second half of this year. 29 October - Premier of Keeping up Appearances on TV. November - British Sky Broadcasting founded as a merger between Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting. Government produces Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning to advise local authorities on the treatment of archaeology within the planning process. Site developers are required to contract with archaeological teams to have sites investigated in advance of development. Neil Kinnock, who has been leader of the Labour Party since October 1983, is now the longest serving opposition leader in British political history. 1 November - Geoffrey Howe, Deputy Prime Minister, resigns over the government's European policy. Broadcasting Act makes bidding for independent television franchises more commercially based and relaxes regulation of television and radio broadcasting. Courts and Legal Services Act introduces major reforms of the legal profession and Courts of England and Wales. 2 November – Neil Kinnock announces his support for the adoption of a single European currency. 8 November – The second Bootle by-election of the year sees Labour hold onto the seat once more with new MP Joe Benton gaining nearly 80% of the votes. 12 November – The Football Association penalises Arsenal two points and Manchester United one point and fines both clubs £50,000 for a mass player brawl in a Football League match between the two clubs last month at Old Trafford. 13 November – Geoffrey Howe makes a dramatic resignation speech in the House of Commons, attacking the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher's hostility towards the EC. 14 November – The CBI confirms that the whole of Britain is now in recession, with every region now reporting a fall in output. Former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine announces that he will challenge Margaret Thatcher's leadership. 15 November – Despite constant disputes in the government and widespread doubt over Mrs Thatcher's position as prime minister and party leader, as well as the economy sliding into recession, the Conservatives have cut Labour's lead in the opinion polls to four points as they gain 41% of the vote in the latest MORI poll. 19 November – Major job cuts are reported to be on the way at the Rover Group as the recession affects demand for the company's Rover and Land Rover products. 20 November – Margaret Thatcher fails to win outright victory in a leadership contest for the Conservative Party. Broadcaster John Sergeant's famous encounter with Margaret Thatcher on the steps of the British embassy in Paris. He was waiting for Thatcher in the hope of hearing her reaction to the first ballot in the party leadership contest of 1990, only to be pushed aside by her press secretary, Sir Bernard Ingham, when Thatcher emerges from the building. Sergeant later wins the British Press Guild award for the most memorable broadcast of the year. 22 November – Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation as Leader of the Conservative Party and therefore as Prime Minister, having led the government for more than 11 years and the Conservative Party for nearly 16 years. She was the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century. 26 November – Plastic surgeons Michael Masser and Kenneth Patton are murdered in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. 27 November – John Major is elected Leader of the Conservative Party, defeating Douglas Hurd and Michael Heseltine. 28 November – John Major appointed Prime Minister by the Queen, as Margaret Thatcher officially tenders her resignation after leaving 10 Downing Street for the last time. 1 December - Channel Tunnel workers from the United Kingdom and France meet 40 metres beneath the English Channel seabed, establishing the first land connection between the United Kingdom and the mainland of Europe for around 8,000 years. With the media watching, the two ends of the service tunnel of the Channel Tunnel are joined together, linking Britain and France for the first time since the Ice Age. A handshake then takes place between Englishman Graham Fagg and Frenchman Phillippe Cozette, after which British and French workers board trains to complete the first journey between the two countries. The CBI predicts that the recession will last longer than predicted, and that GDP is likely to fall by at least 1% in 1991. 3 December – The mother of Gail Kinchin is awarded £8,000 in High Court, a decade after her pregnant 16-year-old daughter was killed by a police marksman who intervened with a siege at the Birmingham flat where she was being held hostage by her boyfriend. 6 December - Saddam Hussein announces that all British hostages in Iraq are to be released. House price inflation has returned and stands at 0.2% for November, the first year-on-year rise in house prices since February. 8 December – The UK grinds to a halt following heavy snow overnight. Large parts of the country are without power after snowfall brings down power lines, disrupting the electricity supply. Many rural areas are cut off for several days, while the Army is called out to help restore power. There is grim news for the retail industry as a CBI survey reports that retail sales have hit a standstill and High Street employment will fall. 9 December – Cilla Black hosts Happy Birthday Coronation Street, an evening of entertainment on ITV to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the long–running soap. 11 December - The first British hostages in Iraq released by Saddam Hussein arrive back in the UK. The government makes £42 million compensation available to the 1,200 British haemophiliacs infected with the AIDS virus through blood transfusions. 12 December – The new chancellor Norman Lamont rules out an early cut in interest rates which critics, including opposition MP's, claim would be a quick route out of recession. 13 December - Russell Bishop is sentenced to life imprisonment (with a recommended minimum of 15 years) for the abduction, indecent assault and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl in Brighton earlier this year. Bishop, 24, was cleared of murdering two other girls in 1987. Poundland, a supermarket chain selling all items for £1, opens its first store at Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. Netto, a Danish discount food supermarket chain, opens its first store in Britain in Leeds. The sharpest rise in unemployment since 1981 has taken it to more than 1,700,000, with 155,000 jobs having been lost in Britain since April. Economists blame high interest rates; a government method to combat inflation. 19 December – Tony Adams, the Arsenal captain and England defender, is sentenced to four months in prison for a drink-driving offence committed in Southend-on-Sea on 6 May this year. 20 December - British women Karyn Smith (aged 19) and Patricia Cahill (aged 20) receive 25-year prison sentences in Thailand for heroin smuggling. Their lawyers are planning to ask for a Royal pardon. An era ends in the Rhondda, South Wales, when the last coalmine closes after more than 100 years of heavy coalmining in the region. 300 miners have lost their jobs and just seventeen will remain employed in the industry elsewhere. 23 December – The nine-month-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York is christened Eugenie Victoria Helena. 25 December – Storms on Christmas Day leave more than 100,000 British homes without power. 26 December – The fatwa (order to kill) against Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie is upheld by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than one year after it was first issued. Rushdie is still living in hiding. 27 December – The latest MORI poll shows that Conservative support has been boosted by the appointment of John Major, with his party now just four points behind Labour – eight months after Labour had peaked with a 23-point lead. 29 December – Leading economists warn that the recession creeping upon Britain will deepen during 1991 and unemployment is likely to increase to well over 2,000,000 from the current total of over 1,700,000. 30 December – An opinion poll shows Labour slightly ahead of the Conservatives for the first time since John Major became prime minister. 31 December – 88-year-old author Barbara Cartland becomes a Dame in the New Year's Honours. Inflation reached 9.5% for the first time since 1981. 0.1% of the UK population (some 60,000 people) now have access to the internet. Television BBC1 4 January – One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000) 26 March – Turnabout (1990–1996) 21 April – 8:15 from Manchester (1990–1992) 28 June – Waiting for God (1990–1994) 2 July – MasterChef (1990–2001, 2005–present) 29 October – Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995) BBC2 2 July – MasterChef (1990–2001, 2005–present) 28 September – Have I Got News for You (1990–present) 3 October – The Mary Whitehouse Experience (1990–1992) 8 November – Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1990–1998) ITV 1 January – Mr. Bean (1990–1995) 1 January – Nellie the Elephant (1990–1991) 7 February – El C.I.D. (1990–1992) No Job for a Lady (1990–1992) 28 February – Spatz (1990–1992) 6 March – Chancer (1990–1991) 16 April – You've Been Framed! (1990–present) 22 April – Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993) 23 April – Families (1990–1993) 1 May – The Upper Hand (1990–1996) 1 June – The $64,000 Question (1990–1993) 15 June – Art Attack (1990–2007 ITV, 2011–present Disney) 21 July – Stars in Their Eyes (1990–2006, 2015–present) 7 September – The Piglet Files (1990–1992) 25 September – The Dreamstone (1990–1995) 26 September – How 2 (1990–2006) 29 December – The Widowmaker Channel 4 February – Cutting Edge (1990–present) 15 February – The Crystal Maze (1990–1995) 9 August – Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998) Sky One 2 September – The Simpsons (1990–present) Music Charts Number-one singles "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid II "Hangin' Tough" - New Kids on the Block "Tears on My Pillow" - Kylie Minogue "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor "Dub Be Good to Me" - Beats International "The Power" - Snap! "Vogue" - Madonna "Killer" - Adamski featuring Seal "World in Motion" - New Order "Sacrifice / Healing Hands" - Elton John "Turtle Power" - Partners in Kryme "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Timmy Mallett with Bombalurina "The Joker" - Steve Miller Band "Show Me Heaven" - Maria McKee "A Little Time" - The Beautiful South "Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice "Saviour's Day" - Cliff Richard

1996 In the UK Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales get divorced and Mad Cow Disease hits Britain ( BSE ) causing the mass slaughter of Herds of Cows and new laws to stop beef being sold on the bone. A severe Meningitas Epidemic occurs in West Africa. In technology DVD's are Launched in Japan and the number of users on the Internet exceed 10 million This is also the year Ebay and Ask Jeeves is started and the first ever cloning of a mammal Dolly the sheep. Martina Hingis became the youngest person to win a Wimbledon tennis final, in the music world, an estimated 3.5 million people applied for tickets for two Oasis concerts at Knebworth. There were only 250,000 tickets issued. ITV airs the final episode of the long running satirical puppet show Spitting Image. The Spice Girls release their début single "Wannabe" in the United Kingdom.The song proves to be a global hit, hitting number 1 in 31 countries and becoming not only the biggest-selling début single by an all-female group but also the biggest-selling single by an all-female group of all time. July - The Spice Girls appear in Top of the Pops magazine, where each member is given a nickname based upon her image: "Posh Spice", "Baby Spice", "Scary Spice", "Ginger Spice", and "Sporty Spice". Jarvis Cocker disrupts a performance by Michael Jackson at the BRIT Awards. During an elaborate staging of "Earth Song" Cocker and Peter Mansell (a former Pulp member) invade the stage; Cocker lifts his shirt and points his bottom in Jackson's direction before getting into a scuffle with security. He is arrested and taken for questioning (with Bob Mortimer acting as his solicitor), but is released without charge. Cocker later states that his actions were "a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing". www.dailymotion.com/video/xalpov_brit-awards-1996-jarvis-... Weather Notes: 5th-7th February - Heavy snow from Lancashire through the Lake District to southwest Scotland with 2m drifts in places. 7th June - Violent thunderstorms in Dorset and Hampshire, and through the south and east Midlands to East Anglia. Golf ball sized hail was reported, with over 70mm of rain recorded at Wantage (Oxfordshire). 28th/29th August - Windy and wet in Norfolk with over 100mm of rain at Coltishall (Norfolk). There was a short intense heatwave during the first week of June 1996, where maxima got as high as 33.1C in London on the 7th, however by that Friday evening, some really severe thunderstorms developed and the worst affected areas was an area from Weymouth to western parts of Norfolk. Golf ball sized hail fell widely in this area and in an area from south Oxfordshire to west Berkshire, rainfall totals exceeded 40mm. Lightning was widely seen across England in one of the most brilliant and widespread displays of recent times. In Manchester, the Friday was clear and not especially hot but during the evening heavy rain and thunder suddenly spread up from the south. Quite a turn around from during the day. GM, food The first genetically modified, or GM, food goes on sale today in British supermarkets. Genetically modified tomato puree, which will be available in Safeway and Sainsbury stores, has been produced from fruit which has had the rotting gene removed. It means the tomatoes remain firmer and last longer than conventionally-grown ones and the puree they produce is subsequently cheaper. However, supermarket giant Tesco said it would not be stocking the GM puree because the new product did not offer any additional benefits to customers compared to normal puree. IRA ceasefire ends The IRA has admitted planting the bomb that exploded in the Docklands area of London last night. One man was found dead by police sifting through the wreckage today and another person has been reported missing. Five of the 39 casualties - including three police officers - remain in hospital, one of them in a critical condition. The bombing marks the end of a 17-month IRA ceasefire during which Irish, British and American leaders worked for a political solution to the troubles in Northern Ireland. They have all condemned the attacks. Three people are feared dead and eight have been hurt after a bomb exploded on a double decker bus in the heart of London's West End. The front of the bus was destroyed by the force of the blast on the Aldwych near the Strand. The bus had travelled over Waterloo Bridge along Lancaster Place and was passing a Ministry of Defence building and turning onto Aldwych when the bomb exploded. The explosion comes just nine days after the IRA ended its ceasefire with a bombing in the Docklands area of London, which killed two people. A massive bomb has devastated a busy shopping area in central Manchester. Two hundred people were injured in the attack, mostly by flying glass, and seven are said to be in a serious condition. Police believe the IRA planted the device. The bomb exploded at about 1120 BST on Corporation Street outside the Arndale shopping centre. It is the seventh attack by the Irish Republican group since it broke its ceasefire in February and is the second largest on the British mainland. Massacre in Dunblane school gym A lone gunman has gone on a shooting spree at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and their teacher. The killer sprayed shots at random around the school gym in an attack that lasted just three minutes, but caused carnage in a class of five and six year olds. He then turned the gun on himself. Twelve other children were taken to hospital in Stirling, where one is reported to have later died of his injuries. The killer has been named as Thomas Hamilton, 43, a local man, who had once - briefly - been a scout master before being sacked by the Scout Association. Seven slashed in school machete attack Three young children and four adults have been attacked by a man with a machete at an infant school in Wolverhampton. They were enjoying a teddy bears' picnic at St Luke's Church of England school in the Blackenhall area. Emergency services received reports of the attack at about 1515 BST and paramedics arrived on the scene within seconds. Police are looking for a black man with a beard, in his mid-30s, 5ft 9in (1.75m) tall and of slim build. They have named a man they would like to question. The victims were taken by West Midlands Ambulance Service to New Cross Hospital where they are being treated for stab wounds. Their conditions are not life threatening but some have serious head injuries. In just a couple of minutes the knifeman had attacked a parent barring his entrance into the school and launched a frenzied assault on the nursery group in the garden. Wolverhampton education chairman Bob Jones has praised the bravery of parents and staff for preventing any loss of life. After searches by riot police Horrett Irving Campbell was found in Villiers House and charged with seven counts of attempted murder. In March 1997 Campbell, 33, was found guilty and sent to a secure mental hospital for an indefinite period. He was suffering from severe schizophrenia. 1996 Timeline 10 January – Terry Venables announces that he will resign as manager of the England national football team after this summer's European Championships, which will be hosted in England. 12 January – Gaby Roslin presents her final edition of The Big Breakfast after three years as co-presenter, weeping live on air. 13 January – NUM leader Arthur Scargill announces that he is defecting from the Labour Party to set up his own Socialist Labour Party. 15 January – Zoe Ball takes over as co-presenter of The Big Breakfast. 19 January - The first MORI poll of 1996 shows Labour still comfortably ahead of the Conservatives with a showing of 55% and a lead of 26 points. Ian and Kevin Maxwell, sons of the late media mogul Robert Maxwell, are cleared of fraud at the Old Bailey after an 11-day trial. 23 to 26 January – Much of Britain is struck with sub zero temperatures and snow storms. Schools and transport is affected. 1 February – A brand new Friday entertainment show TFI Friday begins on Channel 4. The show ran for over 4 and a half years with 6 series. 4 February – First two passenger train operating companies begin operation of their service franchises as part of the privatisation of British Rail: South West Trains (part of the Stagecoach Group) and Great Western Trains (management buyout). 5 February – The first genetically modified food products go on sale in the UK. 9 February - A large bomb explodes in the London Docklands area, near to South Quay DLR station, injures around 40 people. The bomb was the responsibility of the IRA, and marks the end of a 17-month ceasefire. The Parole Board announces that Moors Murderer Myra Hindley could soon be moved to an open prison. Hindley, 53 and in her 30th year of imprisonment, is currently being held at Durham Prison, but if Home Secretary Michael Howard backs the Parole Board's recommendation, Hindley could soon be transferred to a prison with a more relaxed regime. 10 February – The bodies of two men are discovered at Canary Wharf, the only fatalities of the IRA bombing – of which it was initially believed there were no fatalities. 13 February – Take That, the most successful British band so far this decade, announce that they are splitting up. 15 February – A report on the Arms-to-Iraq affair is critical of government ministers. 18 February – A bomb explodes on a bus in Central London, killing the IRA bomber transporting the device, and injuring several people. ITV airs the final episode of the long running satirical puppet show Spitting Image. 19/20 February – Approximately 1000 passengers are trapped in the Channel Tunnel when two Eurostar trains break down due to electronic failures caused by snow and ice. 19 February – At the 1996 BRIT Awards, subsequently aired by ITV, Pulp lead singer Jarvis Cocker invades the stage during Michael Jackson's performance of his "Earth Song". Jackson, surrounded by children, was dressed as a Christ-like figure, an image which Cocker found objectionable. 22 February – Conservative MP Peter Thurnham announces his resignation from Parliament, reducing the party's majority to just 2 seats. Resignations and by-election defeats have cost the Conservatives 19 seats since the general election just under four years ago. 28 February - The Princess of Wales agrees to give The Prince of Wales a divorce, more than three years after separating. Sandra Gregory, a British teacher, is sentenced to 25 years in prison in Thailand for drug smuggling, three years after her arrest at Bangkok airport. Her co-accused, Robert Lock, is cleared of the same charge and returns home. 13 March – The Dunblane massacre – A gunman kills 16 children, their teacher and himself at a primary school in Dunblane, Stirling. The killer, who wounded 13 other children and another teacher, is quickly identified as 43-year-old former scout leader Thomas Hamilton. It is the worst killing spree in Britain since the Hungerford massacre in August 1987. 20 March – Home Secretary Michael Howard unveils plans to give courts the power to hand down heavier prison sentences, including sending burglars to prison for at least three years after a third offence and all drugs to prison for at least six years. The plans spark controversy, with some critics pointing out that it will increase the prison population by at least 20%. 22 March – The European Union prohibits exports of British beef as a result of the BSE crisis. 24 March – ITV airs Coronation Street – The Cruise, something which proves to be controversial as the film had only been released on VHS a few months earlier to celebrate the show's 35th anniversary. 29 March – Three British soldiers, all in their twenties, are sentenced to life imprisonment in Cyprus for the abduction, attempted rape and manslaughter of Danish woman Louise Jensen. The three soldiers are Allan Ford from Birmingham, Justin Fowler from Falmouth and Jeffrey Pernell from Oldbury. 1 April – The Local Government etc. (Scotland) and Local Government (Wales) Acts of 1994 come into effect, creating new unitary authorities. 16 April – South East Staffordshire by-election: In a 22-point swing, Labour wins the Staffordshire South East seat from the Conservatives in a by-election, cutting the government's majority to three seats almost exactly four years after they began the current term of parliament with a 21-seat majority. 17 April – The Duke and Duchess of York are divorced after ten years of marriage and four years after their separation. 2 May – The Conservatives lose 578 seats in local council elections, while Labour increases its total number of councilors nationally to almost 11,000. The Football Association announces that Glenn Hoddle, the current Chelsea manager, will succeed Terry Venables as manager of the England national football team after next month's European Championships, which England is hosting for the first time. 5 May - Manchester United win the FA Premier League title for the third time in four seasons. 11 May – Manchester United win the FA Cup for a record ninth time by beating Liverpool 1-0 and also become the first team to win the double of the league title and FA Cup twice. 17 May – Timothy Morss and Brett Tyler are found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Daniel Handley, who disappeared near his London home in October 1994 and whose body was found near Bristol five months later. The Old Bailey trial judge sentences them to life imprisonment and recommends that neither of them are ever released. 25 May – Paul Doody wins the seventh series of Stars in Their Eyes, performing as Marti Pellow. He is the second Grand Final winner to portray the singer. 27 May – Doctor Who, an American television movie continuation of the famous British series of the same name, airs on BBC One. This television movie is regarded as being a part of the same story as the original series and is an unsuccessful pilot for a new, American co-produced series. Paul McGann stars as the Eighth Doctor. Doctor Who does not return as a full series until 2005. 30 May - The Duke and Duchess of York complete their divorce proceedings. The former Duchess loses the style HRH and becomes Sarah, Duchess of York. Sara Thornton, a Warwickshire woman who was jailed for life in 1990 for the murder of her abusive husband Malcolm the previous year, is released from prison after the Court of Appeal reduces her conviction to manslaughter. 8 June – The European Football Championships begin in England, with the host nation drawing 1–1 with Switzerland in the opening game. 13 June - The parliament of Guernsey, Channel Islands, votes to legalize abortion 86 years after it was made illegal. 15 June – A massive IRA bomb explodes in Manchester city centre, devastating the city's retail district. 19 June – The government selects the Greenwich Peninsula site on the banks of the River Thames as the location for the Millennium Dome exhibition which is set to open for the year 2000. 21 June – The latest MORI poll shows the Conservatives on 31%, their best showing for three years, but they are still 21 points behind Labour with just under a year to go before an election has to be held. 26 June – England's hopes of being European champions of football for the first time are ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Germany after a 1–1 draw in the semi-final. 30 June – Germany wins the European Championship final with a 2–1 victory over Czech Republic at Wembley. 5 July – Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult cell, is born at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. 8 July – The Spice Girls first single Wannabe is released. 12 July – South African president Nelson Mandela visits Britain. 18 July – Howard Hughes, 31, is found guilty of the murder of seven-year-old Sophie Hook at Llandudno, North Wales, 12 months ago. He is sentenced to life imprisonment at Chester Crown Court and the trial judge Mr Justice Curtis recommends that he is never released. 19 July – 9 August – Great Britain and Northern Ireland compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and win 1 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals. 24 July – Buckingham Palace ends the BBC's monopoly on producing the Royal Christmas Message, which has been the sole responsibility of the broadcaster for 63 years. It is produced by ITV from 1997, before returning to the BBC in 1999, then ITV again from 2001. The two year changeover continues to the present day. 26 July – The BBC and Hat Trick Productions are fined £10,000 each in the High Court for contempt of court over comments made on a 1994 edition of Have I Got News for You, in which presenter Angus Deayton referred to Ian and Kevin Maxwell as "two heartless, scheming bastards" ahead of their trial. 30 July – Alan Shearer becomes the most expensive footballer in the world in a £15million transfer from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United. 14 August – Unemployment has fallen to 2,126,200 – its lowest level since the summer of 1991. 28 August – The Prince and Princess of Wales complete their divorce proceedings after 15 years of marriage. Their separation was first announced nearly four years ago. The former Princess of Wales loses her style of Royal Highness and assumes the style, Diana, Princess of Wales. September - Ford launches its revolutionary new Ka city car, which makes use of a shortened Fiesta chassis. A revamped Mondeo goes on sale next month. Launch of the second generation Nissan Primera, built at Nissan's Sunderland factory. BBC Two shows first episode of lifestyle reality television show Changing Rooms. 5 September – Matthew Harding, vice-chairman of Chelsea football club, makes a £1million donation to the Labour Party – the largest donation made to the party by any individual. 20 September – 53-year-old jockey Willie Carson is badly injured after being kicked by a horse at Newbury, Berkshire. 12 October – The Conservative government's majority has dwindled to a single seat with the defection of Peter Thurnham to the Liberal Democrats. 13 October – Racing driver Damon Hill wins the Japanese Grand Prix thus clinching the Drivers' World Championship. 14 October – 2 new programmes both on the best-selling toys. (Sky Dancers and Dragon Flyz) 16 October – The Government announces plans to make possession of handguns illegal in the UK, following the Dunblane massacre. 25 October – 11 VCI children's titles – out now on video. 3 November – Barry Porter, Conservative MP for Wirral South, dies of cancer aged 57. 8 November – With the next general election no more than six months away, Labour still look set for a return to power after eighteen years, but the Conservatives have cut their lead to seventeen points in the latest MORI opinion poll – one of the narrowest gaps seen between the two leading parties in any opinion poll over the last three years. 18 November – Channel Tunnel fire – the Channel Tunnel is closed when a truck on a transporter wagon catches fire, disrupting Eurotunnel Shuttle and Eurostar services. 30 November – The Stone of Scone is installed in Edinburgh Castle 700 years after it was removed from Scotland by King Edward I of England. 7 December – Sir John Gorst, 68-year-old Conservative MP for Hendon North in London, announces his resignation, leaving his party without a majority in the House of Commons. 10 December - James Mirrlees wins the Nobel Prize in Economics jointly with William Vickrey "for their fundamental contributions to the economic theory of incentives under asymmetric information". Harold Kroto wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley "for their discovery of fullerenes". 18 December – Unemployment has fallen below 2,000,000 for the first time in almost six years, four years since it peaked at nearly 3,000,000 in the recession. Despite the strong economic recovery and falling unemployment, the Conservatives are still trailing behind Labour in the opinion polls, a stark contrast to their performance at the last election, where they retained power despite Britain being in recession. Lawyer and politician John Taylor is made a Life Peer as Baron Taylor of Warwick, the first black Conservative peer. More than 4% of the UK population (some 2.5million people) now have internet access. New car sales in the United Kingdom are above 2 million for this year, a level last seen in 1990. Television BBC1 2 January – The Demon Headmaster (1996–1998) 1 February – Ballykissangel (1996–2001) 21 February – Silent Witness (1996–present) 8 March – Muppets Tonight (1996–1998) 16 March – Dalziel and Pascoe (1996–2007) 4 September – Changing Rooms (1996–2004) BBC2 15 January – Our Friends in the North (1996) 18 March – This Life (1996–1997) 2 May – Airport (1996–2005) 12 November – Never Mind the Buzzcocks (1996–present) ITV Wake Up in the Wild Room (1996–1998) Power Rangers Zeo (1996–1997) 4 May – Man O Man (1996–1999) 18 August - Cadfael The Devil's Novice (1996 Season 2 Episode 2) 25 August - Cadfael A Morbid Taste for Bones (1996) 1 December - Percy the Park Keeper (1996-1999) Channel 4 6 January - The Adam and Joe Show (1996-2001) 9 February – TFI Friday (1996–2000) Cartoon Network 27 April – Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003) Charts Number-one singles "Earth Song" - Michael Jackson "Jesus to a Child" - George Michael "Spaceman" - Babylon Zoo "Don't Look Back in Anger" - Oasis "How Deep Is Your Love" - Take That "Firestarter" - The Prodigy "Return of the Mack" - Mark Morrison "Fastlove" - George Michael "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" - Gina G "Three Lions" - Baddiel & Skinner and The Lightning Seeds "Killing Me Softly" - The Fugees "Forever Love" - Gary Barlow "Wannabe" - Spice Girls "Flava" - Peter Andre "Ready or Not" - The Fugees "Breakfast At Tiffany's" - Deep Blue Something "Setting Sun" - The Chemical Brothers "Words" - Boyzone "Say You'll Be There" - Spice Girls "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted / Saturday Night At the Movies / You'll Never Walk Alone" - Robson & Jerome "Breathe" - The Prodigy "I Feel You" - Peter Andre "A Different Beat" - Boyzone "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" - Dunblane "2 Become 1" - Spice Girls

Trendy concept restaurant and bar by ZEN.. They have fantastic view of Bangkok city, nice interior ambiance. Food catered by a mix of famous restaurants in Bangkok. Thai cuisine by White Café, Italian Food by Gianni, Japanese cuisine by Kikusui, Indian taste by Red Restaurant. Don't forget to bring enough money. @ ZEN World Lobby (at CentralWorld) 17th floor, Zense open daily for lunch at 11.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. and for dinner at from sunset till midnight. Interesting find. The world's most expensive cities in 2008 Index (New York = 100) 1 London 120.2 2 Oslo 112.3 3 Dublin 105.2 4 Copenhagen 102.6 5 New York 100.0 6 Zurich 97.7 7 Geneva 96.0 8 Tokyo 94.4 9 Helsinki 92.8 10 Paris 92.8 11 Luxembourg 91.9 12 Stockholm 90.8 13 Vienna 88.3 14 Amsterdam 86.2 15 Munich 84.9 16 Frankfurt 82.4 17 Sydney 82.2 18 Chicago 81.8 19 Brussels 81.7 20 Milan 81.2 21 Los Angeles 80.8 22 Madrid 80.7 23 Rome 80.5 24 Toronto 80.4 25 Montreal 80.0 26 Barcelona 79.9 27 Nicosia 79.2 28 Lyon 78.5 29 Istanbul 76.6 30 Berlin 76.4 31 Seoul 76.0 32 Lisbon 74.6 33 Miami 73.1 34 Dubai 72.8 35 Hong Kong 72.3 36 Auckland 71.8 37 Moscow 71.2 38 Singapore 70.5 39 Athens 70.0 40 Caracas 68.6 41 Rio de Janeiro 66.5 42 Sao Paulo 64.9 43 Tel Aviv 64.6 44 Warsaw 63.5 45 Tallinn 63.0 46 Budapest 62.0 47 Ljubljana 60.2 48 Santiago de Chile 59.7 49 Taipei 56.4 50 Prague 55.9 51 Riga 54.8 52 Manama 54.8 53 Bucharest 53.7 54 Bratislava 53.5 55 Sofia 52.8 56 Mumbai 49.6 57 Bogota 49.4 58 Mexico City 49.1 59 Vilnius 48.3 60 Kiev 48.0 61 Bangkok 47.2 62 Nairobi 46.3 63 Jakarta 45.9 64 Johannesburg 45.5 65 Beijing 43.4 66 Manila 43.3 67 Shanghai 43.2 68 Delhi 41.4 69 Lima 39.3 70 Buenos Aires 34.4 data from ECA International survey

Viadukt (der, auch das Viadukt; Schweiz, Österreich: das Viadukt) kommt aus dem Lateinischen (via = Weg + ducere = führen; PPP ductum) und bedeutet Wegleitung oder Wegführung oder sehr frei übersetzt Trasse. Als Viadukt werden auch mehr oder minder hohe und lange Straßenbrücken oder Brücken für Eisenbahnen bezeichnet, die steigungsarm ein Tal oder eine Senke mit Pfeilern und oft Bögen überspannen. Bereits im Altertum, vor allem bei den antiken Römern, finden sich zahlreiche Viadukte. Aber erst mit der Entstehung der Eisenbahnen um 1830 setzte wieder verstärkt der Bau und Gebrauch dieser Bauwerke ein. Neben den bedeutenden, auf einer Höhe verlaufenden Aquädukten, gibt es noch die gewölbten Viadukte in der pränestinischen Heerstraße zwischen Rom und Gabii mit Halbkreisgewölben und Pfeilern aus Tuffquadern sowie die der Appischen Heerstraße bei Aricia. Der südfranzösische Pont Serme erreichte eine beachtliche Länge von 1500 Metern. Es gibt keine allgemeingültige Definition des Begriffes Viadukt. Jeder Viadukt ist auch eine Brücke, und wird aus bautechnischer Sicht auch zusammen mit Brücken in dieselben Kategorien eingeteilt (Bogenbrücken, Balkenbrücken usw.). Der Begriff Viadukt hat mehr mit der Wirkung auf die Umgebung und mit seiner Funktion zu tun, bedeutende Verkehrswege möglichst umwegs- und steigungsarm zu führen. Ein Viadukt überquert nicht nur, er verbindet auch. Deshalb ist es meist von der lokalen Gegebenheiten abhängig, ab wann eine Brücke als Viadukt bezeichnet wird. In der Regel werden mehrfeldrige Brücken, die mehrheitlich über ein Gewässer führen, als Brücke und nicht als Viadukt bezeichnet. Ein Viadukt überquert also mehrheitlich Land, und könnte theoretisch – zumindest teilweise – durch einen Damm ersetzt werden.[2] Ein Viadukt wird in der Regel von keinem Hauptbogen bestimmt, sondern besteht aus mehreren meist gleichmäßigen Bögen oder Öffnungen. Selbst wenn es eine Hauptöffung hat, macht diese nur einen kleinen Teil der Gesamtlänge des Viaduktes aus. Sehr häufig verwendet man die Bezeichnung Viadukt für ein Brückenbauwerk, das aus mehreren direkt aneinander gebauten Brücken besteht. So besteht beispielsweise das Lorraineviadukt aus vier hintereinander folgenden Brücken. Gemäß Duden ist der Begriff Viadukt auch ein Synonym für Talbrücke und Überführung. Viadukte werden aus Stein, Ziegeln, Beton, Eisen oder Holz gebaut. Im engeren Sinn versteht man unter Viadukt auch die kleineren Überführungen und Unterführungen von Straßen oder Eisenbahnen mit einer bis drei Öffnungen, welche überwölbt oder mit eisernen, auf steinernen Pfeilern ruhenden, massiv gewalzten oder aus Blech und Fassoneisen zusammengesetzten Trägern überspannt sind. Steinerne Viadukte haben zumeist Halbkreisgewölbe, schlanke Pfeiler und mit zunehmenden Höhen zwei, drei und vier Ebenen, die durch Zwischengewölbe gebildet werden. Entweder sind die Zwischenpfeiler gleich stark oder schwächer. Gruppenpfeiler sind dann vorhanden, wenn mehrere Zwischenpfeiler sich mit stärkeren Pfeilern abwechseln. Der Viadukt von Millau wurde am 14. Dezember 2004 von Präsident Jacques Chirac eröffnet und ist eine der imposantesten Brücken der Welt: Von sieben Pfeilern getragen quert sie mit einer Länge von 2460 Metern und maximal 270 Metern Höhe als Autobahnbrücke das Tal des Tarn fünf Kilometer westlich von Millau. Steinerne Viadukte Die Ravennabrücke im Höllental (Schwarzwald) ist 58 m hoch und 225 m lang. Die Bogenweite der acht Bögen beträgt je 20 Meter. Der Eisenbahnviadukt wurde 1927/28 errichtet. Der Ruhr-Viadukt bei Herdecke ist etwa 30 m hoch. Der Ruhr-Viadukt bei Witten ist gut 800 m lang. Der Altenbekener Viadukt wurde bereits 1853 eingeweiht. Der Burtscheider Viadukt von 1838 bis 1840 ist eine der ältesten noch genutzten Eisenbahnbrücken Deutschlands. Der Desenzanoviadukt bei Verona ist einstöckig und weist eine Höhe von 60 m auf. Der Viadukt El Puente Nuevo in Ronda, Spanien, ist 120 m hoch. Den Lockwoodviadukt in England zeichnen seine Pfeiler mit einem Schlankheitsgrad von 1/30 aus. Der Viadukt über das Elstertal in Sachsen ist zweistöckig und weist eine Höhe von 69,75 m auf. Der 1940 zerstörte Viadukt über das Göhltal bei Aachen war zweistöckig. Der Viadukt von Chaumont ist dreistöckig und weist eine Höhe von 50 m auf. Der Viadukt über das Göltzschtal bei Reichenbach im Vogtland in Sachsen ist teilweise vierstöckig, war bei ihrem Bau mit 80,37 m die höchste Eisenbahnbrücke der Welt und gilt bis heute als größte Ziegelsteinbrücke. Einige Viadukte der Semmeringbahn weisen auch zusätzlich eine Krümmung im Grundriss auf. Die Stadtbahnbögen entlang des Wiener Gürtels wurden als eigene Verkehrsebene für den Öffentlichen Nahverkehr errichtet. Heute hat sich in den Bögen eine rege Lokal-Szene entwickelt. Der Himbächel-Viadukt der Odenwaldbahn. Der Landwasserviadukt der Rhätischen Bahn. Der Viadukt von Bolesławiec (Bunzlau) in Polen über den Bober ist 450 m lang und wurde von 1844 bis 1846 erbaut. Der gemauerte Bogen der Salcanobrücke auf der Wocheinerbahn ist mit einer Spannweite von 85 m der größte jemals für einen Viadukt gebaute Bogen. Über die beiden Viadukte bei Plein (Eifel) führt heute ein Radweg. Der Hangviadukt bei Pünderich an der Mosel Der Viadukt in Apolda ist 95 m lang, 23 m hoch und wurde am 2. Dezember 1846 fertiggestellt. Die Einweihungsfeier fand am 16. Dezember 1846 statt. Der Bietigheimer Eisenbahnviadukt (Wahrzeichen der Stadt Bietigheim), erbaut von 1851 bis 1853 von Karl Etzel, Höhe circa 30 m, Spannweite 287 m. Er verfügt über 21 Bögen. Der Viadukt stellt die Verbindung zwischen Bietigheim-Bissingen und Bruchsal sicher. Die zweite Lorzentobelbrücke im Kanton Zug (Schweiz) wurde 1910 als Bogenviadukt erbaut. Er hat Länge von 187 und eine maximale Höhe von 58 Metern. Die Stadtbahntrasse in Berlin ist ein über 8 km langer Steinviadukt, der zwischen 1875 und 1882 errichtet wurde. Der Viadukt ist das längste Baudenkmal Deutschlands.[3] Der Luxemburger Viadukt Pulvermühle wurde 1862 eingeweiht. Der Castielertobel-Viadukt der Arosabahn von 1914 (bis 1942) Eiserne Viadukte weisen meist steinerne Pfeiler auf wie der Viadukt bei Znaim oder eiserne Pfeiler auf steinernen Sockeln wie der Crumlinviadukt bei Newport in Südwales, das Saaneviadukt bei Freiburg im Üechtland, das Sitterviadukt bei St.Gallen, die Viadukte der Orleansbahn bei Baufseau d'Ahun und über die Cere, der Viadukt über die Gravine bei Castellaneta, der Pfrimmtalviadukt bei Marnheim in der Pfalz. Auf der Bahnstrecke Erfurt–Ilmenau ist der eingleisige Talübergang bei Angelroda mit einem gusseisernen Viadukt errichtet worden, sowie in der Bahnstrecke Friedberg–Hanau der Viadukt über das Nidda-Tal. Weitere eiserne Viadukte: Castielertobel-Viadukt zwischen Calfreisen und Castiel Firth-of-Tay-Brücke in Schottland „Kentucky High Bridge“ der Cincinnati Southern, heute Norfolk Southern. Portage-Viadukt der Erie Railroad, der an der Stelle eines abgebrannten hölzernen Viadukts in 86 Tagen über den Genesee River erbaut wurde. Müngstener Brücke zwischen Remscheid und Solingen Viadukt über das Tal der Aqua de Varrugas bei Lima in Peru mit einer Pfeilerhöhe von 76,8 m. Fachwerkviadukte Kübelbach-, Ettenbach- und Stockerbachviadukt der Gäubahn Eutingen–Freudenstadt und das Sitterviadukt der Schweizerischen Südostbahn im Kanton St. Gallen mit ihrem markanten eisernen, halbparabligen Fachwerkträger (Fischbauchträger) gilt mit 99 m als die höchste Eisenbahnbrücke der Schweiz. Viaduc de Millau über das Tal des Tarn (stählernes Fahrbahndeck) Der Castielertobel-Viadukt im Schanfigg (bis 1942 Steinbogenbrücke) Die Viadukte aus Holz hatten eine geringe Bedeutung und waren meist nur eine Zwischenlösung, da sie leicht durch den Funkenflug der Dampflokomotiven Feuer fingen und abbrannten. Dennoch wurden sie gebaut, da sie kostengünstig in der Errichtung waren. Als historische Beispiele können die abgebrannten Viadukte über den Genesee River bei Portage in den Vereinigten Staaten mit 57,4 m hohen Holzpfeilern und die Viadukte über die Msta in Russland mit 21,34 m hohen Holzpfeilern, beide auf gemauerten Sockeln, genannt werden. Viadukte aus Stahl- und Spannbeton Das Lehnenviadukt Beckenried in der Schweiz. Das Neckartalviadukt bei Reutlingen (Baden-Württemberg) Das Viadukt von Schengen ist die Überquerung der A 8 über die Mosel zwischen Perl und Schengen Das Moselviadukt bei Vandières führt die Überquerung der französischen Schnellfahrstrecke LGV Est européenne Paris-Straßburg über die Mosel Der Viadukt von Millau (auch Viaduc de Millau) über die französische Tarnschlucht ist die höchste Autobahnbrücke der Welt. Der Langwieser Viadukt und der Gründjitobel-Viadukt bei Langwies waren bei ihrer Eröffnung 1914 die größten Stahlbeton-Eisenbahnbrücken der Welt Der Schildescher Viadukt in Bielefeld. Kreisviadukt Eine besondere Form des Viadukts ist das Kreis- oder Kreiskehrviadukt. Es bewältigt ähnlich einem Kreiskehrtunnel einen Höhenunterschied, wobei die Höhendifferenz im Freien (auf dem Viadukt) und nicht im Berg überwunden wird. Das berühmteste Kreiskehrviadukt findet sich bei der Berninabahn in Brusio. Ein Hangviadukt schafft in erster Linie eine (ggfs. schiefe) Ebene an einem Berghang, auf der ein Verkehrsweg errichtet werden kann. Eventuelle Einschnitte an der Hangflanke werden hier eher „nebenbei“ überbrückt. Ein bekannter Hangviadukt in Deutschland befindet sich bei Pünderich an der Mosel. Über ihn verläuft die Trasse der Moselstrecke. A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans[1] for crossing a valley or a gorge.The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere, to lead. However, the ancient Romans did not use the term; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct.[4] Like the Roman aqueducts, many early viaducts comprised a series of arches of roughly equal length. Viaducts may span land or water or both. The longest viaduct in antiquity may have been the Pont Serme which crossed wide marshes in southern France.[6] In Romance languages, the word viaduct refers to a bridge which spans only land. A bridge spanning water is called ponte. Over land Viaducts are commonly used in many cities that are railroad centers, such as Chicago, Atlanta, Birmingham, London, and Manchester. These viaducts cross the large railroad yards that are needed for freight trains there, and also cross the multi-track railroad lines that are needed for heavy railroad traffic. These viaducts keep highway and city street traffic from having to be continually interrupted by the train traffic. Likewise, some viaducts carry railroads over large valleys, or they carry railroads over cities with many cross-streets and avenues. Many viaducts over land connect points of similar height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river valley or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys had roads descending either side (with a small bridge over the river, where necessary) that become inadequate for the traffic load, necessitating a viaduct for "through" traffic.[7] Such bridges also lend themselves for use by rail traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes.[8] Some viaducts have more than one deck, such that one deck has vehicular traffic and another deck having rail traffic. One example of this is the Prince Edward Viaduct in Toronto, Canada, that carries motor traffic on the top deck as Bloor Street, and metro as the Bloor-Danforth subway line on the lower deck, over the steep Don River valley. Others were built to span settled areas and crossed over roads beneath - the reason for many viaducts in London. Over water Viaducts over water are often combined with other types of bridges or tunnels to cross navigable waters. The viaduct sections, while less expensive to design and build than tunnels or bridges with larger spans, typically lack sufficient horizontal and vertical clearance for large ships. See the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux, in collaboration with architect Norman Robert Foster, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft)—slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004 and opened to traffic two days later. The viaduct Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is the longest bridge in the world according to Guinness World Records as of 2011. Land use below viaducts Where a viaduct is built across land rather than water, the space below the arches may be used for businesses such as car parking, vehicle repairs, light industry, bars and nightclubs. In the United Kingdom, many railway lines in urban areas have been constructed on viaducts, and so the infrastructure owner Network Rail has an extensive property portfolio in arches under viaducts.[10] Past and future[edit] Elevated expressways were built in rich cities such as Boston (Central Artery), Seoul, Tokyo, Toronto (Gardiner Expressway).[11] Some were demolished because they were ugly and divided the city.[citation needed] However in developing nations such as Thailand, India (Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway), China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, elevated expressways have been built and more are under construction to improve traffic flow, particularly as a workaround of land shortage when built atop surface roads.[citation needed] In Indonesia viaducts are used for railways in Java and also for highways such as the Jakarta Inner Ring Road. Quelle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viaduct de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viadukt Fotografie oder Photographie (aus griechisch φῶς, phos, im Genitiv: φωτός, photos, „Licht (der Himmelskörper)“, „Helligkeit“ und γράφειν, graphein, „zeichnen“, „ritzen“, „malen“, „schreiben“) bezeichnet eine bildgebende Methode,[1] bei der mit Hilfe von optischen Verfahren ein Lichtbild auf ein lichtempfindliches Medium projiziert und dort direkt und dauerhaft gespeichert (analoges Verfahren) oder in elektronische Daten gewandelt und gespeichert wird (digitales Verfahren). das dauerhafte Lichtbild (Diapositiv, Filmbild oder Papierbild; kurz Bild, umgangssprachlich auch Foto genannt), das durch fotografische Verfahren hergestellt wird; dabei kann es sich entweder um ein Positiv oder ein Negativ auf Film, Folie, Papier oder anderen fotografischen Trägern handeln. Fotografische Aufnahmen werden als Abzug, Vergrößerung, Filmkopie oder als Ausbelichtung bzw. Druck von digitalen Bild-Dateien vervielfältigt. Der entsprechende Beruf ist der Fotograf. Bilder, die für das Kino aufgenommen werden. Beliebig viele fotografische Bilder werden in Reihen von Einzelbildern auf Film aufgenommen, die später mit einem Filmprojektor als bewegte Bilder (Laufbilder) vorgeführt werden können (siehe Film). Der Begriff Photographie wurde erstmals (noch vor englischen oder französischen Veröffentlichungen) am 25. Februar 1839 vom Astronomen Johann Heinrich von Mädler in der Vossischen Zeitung verwendet.[2] Bis ins 20. Jahrhundert bezeichnete Fotografie alle Bilder, welche rein durch Licht auf einer chemisch behandelten Oberfläche entstehen. Mit der deutschen Rechtschreibreform 1901 wurde die Schreibweise „Fotografie“ empfohlen, was sich jedoch bis heute nicht ganz durchsetzen konnte. Gemischte Schreibungen wie „Fotographie“ oder „Photografie“ sowie daraus abgewandelte Adjektive oder Substantive waren jedoch zu jeder Zeit eine falsche Schreibweise. Allgemeines Die Fotografie ist ein Medium, das in sehr verschiedenen Zusammenhängen eingesetzt wird. Fotografische Abbildungen können beispielsweise Gegenstände mit primär künstlerischem (künstlerische Fotografie) oder primär kommerziellem Charakter sein (Industriefotografie, Werbe- und Modefotografie). Die Fotografie kann unter künstlerischen, technischen (Fototechnik), ökonomischen (Fotowirtschaft) und gesellschaftlich-sozialen (Amateur-, Arbeiter- und Dokumentarfotografie) Aspekten betrachtet werden. Des Weiteren werden Fotografien im Journalismus und in der Medizin verwendet. Die Fotografie ist teilweise ein Gegenstand der Forschung und Lehre in der Kunstgeschichte und der noch jungen Bildwissenschaft. Der mögliche Kunstcharakter der Fotografie war lange Zeit umstritten, ist jedoch seit der fotografischen Stilrichtung des Pictorialismus um die Wende zum 20. Jahrhundert letztlich nicht mehr bestritten. Einige Forschungsrichtungen ordnen die Fotografie der Medien- oder Kommunikationswissenschaft zu, auch diese Zuordnung ist umstritten. Im Zuge der technologischen Weiterentwicklung fand zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts allmählich der Wandel von der klassischen analogen (Silber-)Fotografie hin zur Digitalfotografie statt. Der weltweite Zusammenbruch der damit in Zusammenhang stehenden Industrie für analoge Kameras aber auch für Verbrauchsmaterialien (Filme, Fotopapier, Fotochemie, Laborgeräte) führt dazu, dass die Fotografie mehr und mehr auch unter kulturwissenschaftlicher und kulturhistorischer Sicht erforscht wird. Allgemein kulturelle Aspekte in der Forschung sind z.B. Betrachtungen über den Erhalt und die Dokumentation der praktischen Kenntnis der fotografischen Verfahren für Aufnahme und Verarbeitung aber auch der Wandel im Umgang mit der Fotografie im Alltag. Zunehmend kulturhistorisch interessant werden die Archivierungs- und Erhaltungstechniken für analoge Aufnahmen aber auch die systemunabhängige langfristige digitale Datenspeicherung. Die Fotografie unterliegt dem komplexen und vielschichtigen Fotorecht; bei der Nutzung von vorhandenen Fotografien sind die Bildrechte zu beachten. Fototechnik Prinzipiell wird meist mit Hilfe eines optischen Systems, in vielen Fällen einem Objektiv, fotografiert. Dieses wirft das von einem Objekt ausgesendete oder reflektierte Licht auf die lichtempfindliche Schicht einer Fotoplatte, eines Films oder auf einen fotoelektrischen Wandler, einen Bildsensor. → Hauptartikel: Fototechnik Fotografische Kameras → Hauptartikel: Kamera Der fotografischen Aufnahme dient eine fotografische Apparatur (Kamera). Durch Manipulation des optischen Systems (unter anderem die Einstellung der Blende, Scharfstellung, Farbfilterung, die Wahl der Belichtungszeit, der Objektivbrennweite, der Beleuchtung und nicht zuletzt des Aufnahmematerials) stehen dem Fotografen oder Kameramann zahlreiche Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten offen. Als vielseitigste Fotoapparatbauform hat sich sowohl im Analog- als auch im Digitalbereich die Spiegelreflexkamera durchgesetzt. Für viele Aufgaben werden weiterhin die verschiedensten Spezialkameras benötigt und eingesetzt. Lichtempfindliche Schicht Bei der filmbasierten Fotografie (z. B. Silber-Fotografie) ist die lichtempfindliche Schicht auf der Bildebene eine Dispersion (im allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch Emulsion). Sie besteht aus einem Gel, in dem gleichmäßig kleine Körnchen eines Silberhalogenids (zum Beispiel Silberbromid) verteilt sind. Je kleiner die Körnung ist, umso weniger lichtempfindlich ist die Schicht (siehe ISO-5800-Standard), umso besser ist allerdings die Auflösung („Korn“). Dieser lichtempfindlichen Schicht wird durch einen Träger Stabilität verliehen. Trägermaterialien sind Zelluloseacetat, früher diente dazu Zellulosenitrat (Zelluloid), Kunststofffolien, Metallplatten, Glasplatten und sogar Textilien (siehe Fotoplatte und Film). Bei der Digitalfotografie besteht das Äquivalent der lichtempfindlichen Schicht aus Chips wie CCD- oder CMOS-Sensoren. Entwicklung und Fixierung Durch das Entwickeln bei der filmbasierten Fotografie wird auf chemischem Wege das latente Bild sichtbar gemacht. Beim Fixieren werden die nicht belichteten Silberhalogenid-Körnchen wasserlöslich gemacht und anschließend mit Wasser herausgewaschen, sodass ein Bild bei Tageslicht betrachtet werden kann, ohne dass es nachdunkelt. Ein weiteres älteres Verfahren ist das Staubverfahren, mit dem sich einbrennbare Bilder auf Glas und Porzellan herstellen lassen. Ein digitales Bild muss nicht entwickelt werden; es wird elektronisch gespeichert und kann anschließend mit der elektronischen Bildbearbeitung am Computer bearbeitet und bei Bedarf auf Fotopapier ausbelichtet oder beispielsweise mit einem Tintenstrahldrucker ausgedruckt werden. Bei der Weiterverarbeitung von Rohdaten spricht man auch hier von Entwicklung. Der Abzug Als Abzug bezeichnet man das Ergebnis einer Kontaktkopie, einer Vergrößerung, oder einer Ausbelichtung; dabei entsteht in der Regel ein Papierbild. Abzüge können von Filmen (Negativ oder Dia) oder von Dateien gefertigt werden. Abzüge als Kontaktkopie haben dieselbe Größe wie die Abmessungen des Aufnahmeformats; wird eine Vergrößerung vom Negativ oder Positiv angefertigt, beträgt die Größe des entstehenden Bildes ein Vielfaches der Größe der Vorlage, dabei wird jedoch in der Regel das Seitenverhältnis beibehalten, das bei der klassischen Fotografie bei 1,5 bzw. 3:2 oder in USA 4:5 liegt. Eine Ausnahme davon stellt die Ausschnittvergrößerung dar, deren Seitenverhältnis in der Bühne eines Vergrößerers beliebig festgelegt werden kann; allerdings wird auch die Ausschnittvergrößerung in der Regel auf ein Papierformat mit bestimmten Abmessungen belichtet. Der Abzug ist eine häufig gewählte Präsentationsform der Amateurfotografie, die in speziellen Kassetten oder Alben gesammelt werden. Bei der Präsentationsform der Diaprojektion arbeitet man in der Regel mit dem Original-Diapositiv, also einem Unikat, während es sich bei Abzügen immer um Kopien handelt. Geschichte der Fotografie → Hauptartikel: Geschichte und Entwicklung der Fotografie Vorläufer und Vorgeschichte[Bearbeiten] Der Name Kamera leitet sich vom Vorläufer der Fotografie, der Camera obscura („Dunkle Kammer“) ab, die bereits seit dem 11. Jahrhundert bekannt ist und Ende des 13. Jahrhunderts von Astronomen zur Sonnenbeobachtung eingesetzt wurde. Anstelle einer Linse weist diese Kamera nur ein kleines Loch auf, durch das die Lichtstrahlen auf eine Projektionsfläche fallen, von der das auf dem Kopf stehende, seitenverkehrte Bild abgezeichnet werden kann. In Edinburgh und Greenwich bei London sind begehbare, raumgroße Camerae obscurae eine Touristenattraktion. Auch das Deutsche Filmmuseum hat eine Camera obscura, in der ein Bild des gegenüberliegenden Mainufers projiziert wird. Ein Durchbruch ist 1550 die Wiedererfindung der Linse, mit der hellere und gleichzeitig schärfere Bilder erzeugt werden können. 1685: Ablenkspiegel, ein Abbild kann so auf Papier gezeichnet werden. Im 18. Jahrhundert kamen die Laterna magica, das Panorama und das Diorama auf. Chemiker wie Humphry Davy begannen bereits, lichtempfindliche Stoffe zu untersuchen und nach Fixiermitteln zu suchen. Die frühen Verfahren Die vermutlich erste Fotografie der Welt wurde im Frühherbst 1826 durch Joseph Nicéphore Nièpce im Heliografie-Verfahren angefertigt. 1837 benutzte Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre ein besseres Verfahren, das auf der Entwicklung der Fotos mit Hilfe von Quecksilber-Dämpfen und anschließender Fixierung in einer heißen Kochsalzlösung oder einer normal temperierten Natriumthiosulfatlösung beruhte. Die auf diese Weise hergestellten Bilder, allesamt Unikate auf versilberten Kupferplatten, wurden als Daguerreotypien bezeichnet. Bereits 1835 hatte der Engländer William Fox Talbot das Negativ-Positiv-Verfahren erfunden. Auch heute werden noch manche der historischen Verfahren als Edeldruckverfahren in der Bildenden Kunst und künstlerischen Fotografie verwendet. Im Jahr 1883 erschien in der bedeutenden Leipziger Wochenzeitschrift Illustrirte Zeitung zum ersten Mal in einer deutschen Publikation ein gerastertes Foto in Form einer Autotypie, einer um 1880 erfolgten Erfindung von Georg Meisenbach. 20. Jahrhundert Fotografien konnten zunächst nur als Unikate hergestellt werden, mit der Einführung des Negativ-Positiv-Verfahrens war eine Vervielfältigung im Kontaktverfahren möglich. Die Größe des fertigen Fotos entsprach in beiden Fällen dem Aufnahmeformat, was sehr große, unhandliche Kameras erforderte. Mit dem Rollfilm und insbesondere der von Oskar Barnack bei den Leitz Werken entwickelten und 1924 eingeführten Kleinbildkamera, die den herkömmlichen 35-mm-Kinofilm verwendete, entstanden völlig neue Möglichkeiten für eine mobile, schnelle Fotografie. Obwohl, durch das kleine Format bedingt, zusätzliche Geräte zur Vergrößerung erforderlich wurden, und die Bildqualität mit den großen Formaten bei Weitem nicht mithalten konnte, setzte sich das Kleinbild in den meisten Bereichen der Fotografie als Standardformat durch. Analogfotografie → Hauptartikel: Analogfotografie Begriff Zur Abgrenzung gegenüber den neuen fotografischen Verfahren der Digitalfotografie tauchte zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts[3] der Begriff Analogfotografie oder stattdessen auch die zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits veraltete Schreibweise Photographie wieder auf. Um der Öffentlichkeit ab 1990 die seinerzeit neue Technologie der digitalen Speicherung von Bilddateien zu erklären, verglich man sie in einigen Publikationen technisch mit der bis dahin verwendeten analogen Bildspeicherung der Still-Video-Kamera. Durch Übersetzungsfehler und Fehlinterpretationen, sowie durch den bis dahin noch allgemein vorherrschenden Mangel an technischem Verständnis über die digitale Kameratechnik, bezeichneten einige Journalisten danach irrtümlich auch die bisherigen klassischen Film-basierten Kamerasysteme als Analogkameras[4][5]. Der Begriff hat sich bis heute erhalten und bezeichnet nun fälschlich nicht mehr die Fotografie mittels analoger Speichertechnik in den ersten digitalen Still-Video-Kameras, sondern nur noch die Technik der Film-basierten Fotografie. Bei dieser wird aber weder digital noch analog 'gespeichert', sondern chemisch/physikalisch fixiert. Allgemeines Eine Fotografie kann weder analog noch digital sein. Lediglich die Bildinformation kann punktuell mittels physikalischer, analog messbarer Signale (Densitometrie, Spektroskopie) bestimmt und gegebenenfalls nachträglich digitalisiert werden. Nach der Belichtung des Films liegt die Bildinformation zunächst nur latent vor. Gespeichert wird diese Information nicht in der Analogkamera sondern erst bei der Entwicklung des Films mittels chemischer Reaktion in einer dreidimensionalen Gelatineschicht (Film hat mehrere übereinander liegende Sensibilisierungsschichten). Die Bildinformation liegt danach auf dem ursprünglichen Aufnahmemedium (Diapositiv oder Negativ) unmittelbar vor. Sie ist ohne weitere Hilfsmittel als Fotografie (Unikat) in Form von entwickelten Silberhalogeniden bzw. Farbkupplern sichtbar. Gegebenenfalls kann aus solchen Fotografien in einem zweiten chemischen Prozess im Fotolabor ein Papierbild erzeugt werden, bzw. kann dies nun auch durch Einscannen und Ausdrucken erfolgen. Bei der digitalen Speicherung werden die analogen Signale aus dem Kamerasensor in einer zweiten Stufe digitalisiert und werden damit elektronisch interpretier- und weiterverarbeitbar. Die digitale Bildspeicherung mittels Analog-Digital-Wandler nach Auslesen aus dem Chip der Digitalkamera arbeitet (vereinfacht) mit einer lediglich zweidimensional erzeugten digitalen Interpretation der analogen Bildinformation und erzeugt eine beliebig oft (praktisch verlustfrei) kopierbare Datei in Form von differentiell ermittelten digitalen Absolutwerten. Diese Dateien werden unmittelbar nach der Aufnahme innerhalb der Kamera in Speicherkarten abgelegt. Mittels geeigneter Bildbearbeitungssoftware können diese Dateien danach ausgelesen, weiter verarbeitet und auf einem Monitor oder Drucker als sichtbare Fotografie ausgegeben werden. Digitalfotografie Die erste CCD (Charge-coupled Device) Still-Video-Kamera wurde 1970 von Bell konstruiert und 1972 meldet Texas Instruments das erste Patent auf eine filmlose Kamera an, welche einen Fernsehbildschirm als Sucher verwendet. 1973 produzierte Fairchild Imaging das erste kommerzielle CCD mit einer Auflösung von 100 × 100 Pixel. Dieses CCD wurde 1975 in der ersten funktionstüchtigen digitalen Kamera von Kodak benutzt. Entwickelt hat sie der Erfinder Steven Sasson. Diese Kamera wog 3,6 Kilogramm, war größer als ein Toaster und benötigte noch 23 Sekunden, um ein Schwarz-Weiß-Bild mit 100x100 Pixeln Auflösung auf eine digitale Magnetbandkassette zu übertragen; um das Bild auf einem Bildschirm sichtbar zu machen, bedurfte es weiterer 23 Sekunden. 1986 stellte Canon mit der RC-701 die erste kommerziell erhältliche Still-Video-Kamera mit magnetischer Aufzeichnung der Bilddaten vor, Minolta präsentierte den Still Video Back SB-90/SB-90S für die Minolta 9000; durch Austausch der Rückwand der Kleinbild-Spiegelreflexkamera wurde aus der Minolta 9000 eine digitale Spiegelreflexkamera; gespeichert wurden die Bilddaten auf 2-Zoll-Disketten. 1987 folgten weitere Modelle der RC-Serie von Canon sowie digitale Kameras von Fujifilm (ES-1), Konica (KC-400) und Sony (MVC-A7AF). 1988 folgte Nikon mit der QV-1000C und 1990 sowie 1991 Kodak mit dem DCS (Digital Camera System) sowie Rollei mit dem Digital Scan Pack. Ab Anfang der 1990er Jahre kann die Digitalfotografie im kommerziellen Bildproduktionsbereich als eingeführt betrachtet werden. Die digitale Fotografie revolutionierte die Möglichkeiten der digitalen Kunst, erleichtert insbesondere aber auch Fotomanipulationen. Die Photokina 2006 zeigt, dass die Zeit der filmbasierten Kamera endgültig vorbei ist.[6] Im Jahr 2007 sind weltweit 91 Prozent aller verkauften Fotokameras digital,[7] die herkömmliche Fotografie auf Filmen schrumpft auf Nischenbereiche zusammen. Im Jahr 2011 besaßen rund 45,4 Millionen Personen in Deutschland einen digitalen Fotoapparat im Haushalt und im gleichen Jahr wurden in Deutschland rund 8,57 Millionen Digitalkameras verkauft.[8] Siehe auch: Chronologie der Fotografie und Geschichte und Entwicklung der Fotografie Fotografie als Kunst Der Kunstcharakter der Fotografie war lange Zeit umstritten; zugespitzt formuliert der Kunsttheoretiker Karl Pawek in seinem Buch „Das optische Zeitalter“ (Olten/Freiburg i. Br. 1963, S. 58): „Der Künstler erschafft die Wirklichkeit, der Fotograf sieht sie.“ Diese Auffassung betrachtet die Fotografie nur als ein technisches, standardisiertes Verfahren, mit dem eine Wirklichkeit auf eine objektive, quasi „natürliche“ Weise abgebildet wird, ohne das dabei gestalterische und damit künstlerische Aspekte zum Tragen kommen: „die Erfindung eines Apparates zum Zwecke der Produktion … (perspektivischer) Bilder hat ironischerweise die Überzeugung … verstärkt, dass es sich hierbei um die natürliche Repräsentationsform handele. Offenbar ist etwas natürlich, wenn wir eine Maschine bauen können, die es für uns erledigt.“[9] Fotografien dienten gleichwohl aber schon bald als Unterrichtsmittel bzw. Vorlage in der Ausbildung bildender Künstler (Études d’après nature). Schon in Texten des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde aber auch bereits auf den Kunstcharakter der Fotografie hingewiesen, der mit einem ähnlichen Einsatz der Technik wie bei anderen anerkannten zeitgenössische grafische Verfahren (Aquatinta, Radierung, Lithografie, …) begründet wird. Damit wird auch die Fotografie zu einem künstlerischen Verfahren, mit dem ein Fotograf eigene Bildwirklichkeiten erschafft.[10] Auch zahlreiche Maler des 19. Jahrhunderts, wie etwa Eugène Delacroix, erkannten dies und nutzten Fotografien als Mittel zur Bildfindung und Gestaltung, als künstlerisches Entwurfsinstrument für malerische Werke, allerdings weiterhin ohne ihr einen eigenständigen künstlerischen Wert zuzusprechen. Der Fotograf Henri Cartier-Bresson, selbst als Maler ausgebildet, wollte die Fotografie ebenfalls nicht als Kunstform, sondern als Handwerk betrachtet wissen: „Die Fotografie ist ein Handwerk. Viele wollen daraus eine Kunst machen, aber wir sind einfach Handwerker, die ihre Arbeit gut machen müssen.“ Gleichzeitig nahm er aber für sich auch das Bildfindungskonzept des entscheidenden Augenblickes in Anspruch, das ursprünglich von Gotthold Ephraim Lessing dramenpoetologisch ausgearbeitet wurde. Damit bezieht er sich unmittelbar auf ein künstlerisches Verfahren zur Produktion von Kunstwerken. Cartier-Bressons Argumentation diente also einerseits der poetologischen Nobilitierung, andererseits der handwerklichen Immunisierung gegenüber einer Kritik, die die künstlerische Qualität seiner Werke anzweifeln könnte. So wurden gerade Cartier-Bressons Fotografien sehr früh in Museen und Kunstausstellungen gezeigt, so zum Beispiel in der MoMa-Retrospektive (1947) und der Louvre-Ausstellung (1955). Fotografie wurde bereits früh als Kunst betrieben (Julia Margaret Cameron, Lewis Carroll und Oscar Gustave Rejlander in den 1860ern). Der entscheidende Schritt zur Anerkennung der Fotografie als Kunstform ist den Bemühungen von Alfred Stieglitz (1864–1946) zu verdanken, der mit seinem Magazin Camera Work den Durchbruch vorbereitete. Erstmals trat die Fotografie in Deutschland in der Werkbund-Ausstellung 1929 in Stuttgart in beachtenswertem Umfang mit internationalen Künstlern wie Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham und Man Ray an die Öffentlichkeit; spätestens seit den MoMA-Ausstellungen von Edward Steichen (The Family of Man, 1955) und John Szarkowski (1960er) ist Fotografie als Kunst von einem breiten Publikum anerkannt, wobei gleichzeitig der Trend zur Gebrauchskunst begann. Im Jahr 1977 stellte die documenta 6 in Kassel erstmals als international bedeutende Ausstellung in der berühmten Abteilung Fotografie die Arbeiten von historischen und zeitgenössischen Fotografen aus der gesamten Geschichte der Fotografie in den vergleichenden Kontext zur zeitgenössischen Kunst im Zusammenhang mit den in diesem Jahr begangenen „150 Jahren Fotografie“. Heute ist Fotografie als vollwertige Kunstform akzeptiert. Indikatoren dafür sind die wachsende Anzahl von Museen, Sammlungen und Forschungseinrichtungen für Fotografie, die Zunahme der Professuren für Fotografie sowie nicht zuletzt der gestiegene Wert von Fotografien in Kunstauktionen und Sammlerkreisen. Zahlreiche Gebiete haben sich entwickelt, so die Landschafts-, Akt-, Industrie-, Theaterfotografie und andere mehr, die innerhalb der Fotografie eigene Wirkungsfelder entfaltet haben. Daneben entwickelt sich die künstlerische Fotomontage zu einem der malenden Kunst gleichwertigen Kunstobjekt. Neben der steigenden Anzahl von Fotoausstellungen und deren Besucherzahlen wird die Popularität moderner Fotografie auch in den erzielten Verkaufspreisen auf Kunstauktionen sichtbar. Fünf der zehn Höchstgebote für moderne Fotografie wurden seit 2010 auf Auktionen erzielt. Die aktuell teuerste Fotografie "Rhein II" von Andreas Gursky wurde im November 2011 auf einer Kunstauktion in New York für 4,3 Millionen Dollar versteigert.[11] Neuere Diskussionen innerhalb der Foto- und Kunstwissenschaften verweisen indes auf eine zunehmende Beliebigkeit bei der Kategorisierung von Fotografie. Zunehmend werde demnach von der Kunst und ihren Institutionen absorbiert, was einst ausschließlich in die angewandten Bereiche der Fotografie gehört habe. Photography (see section below for etymology) is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film, or electronically by means of an image sensor.[1] Typically, a lens is used to focus the light reflected or emitted from objects into a real image on the light-sensitive surface inside a camera during a timed exposure. The result in an electronic image sensor is an electrical charge at each pixel, which is electronically processed and stored in a digital image file for subsequent display or processing. The result in a photographic emulsion is an invisible latent image, which is later chemically developed into a visible image, either negative or positive depending on the purpose of the photographic material and the method of processing. A negative image on film is traditionally used to photographically create a positive image on a paper base, known as a print, either by using an enlarger or by contact printing. Photography has many uses for business, science, manufacturing (e.g. photolithography), art, recreational purposes, and mass communication. The word "photography" was created from the Greek roots φωτός (phōtos), genitive of φῶς (phōs), "light"[2] and γραφή (graphé) "representation by means of lines" or "drawing",[3] together meaning "drawing with light".[4] Several people may have coined the same new term from these roots independently. Hercules Florence, a French painter and inventor living in Campinas, Brazil, used the French form of the word, photographie, in private notes which a Brazilian photography historian believes were written in 1834.[5] Johann von Maedler, a Berlin astronomer, is credited in a 1932 German history of photography as having used it in an article published on 25 February 1839 in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung.[6] Both of these claims are now widely reported but apparently neither has ever been independently confirmed as beyond reasonable doubt. Credit has traditionally been given to Sir John Herschel both for coining the word and for introducing it to the public. His uses of it in private correspondence prior to 25 February 1839 and at his Royal Society lecture on the subject in London on 14 March 1839 have long been amply documented and accepted as settled fact. History and evolution Precursor technologies Photography is the result of combining several technical discoveries. Long before the first photographs were made, Chinese philosopher Mo Di and Greek mathematicians Aristotle and Euclid described a pinhole camera in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE.[8][9] In the 6th century CE, Byzantine mathematician Anthemius of Tralles used a type of camera obscura in his experiments,[10] Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) (965–1040) studied the camera obscura and pinhole camera,[9][11] Albertus Magnus (1193–1280) discovered silver nitrate,[12] and Georg Fabricius (1516–71) discovered silver chloride.[13] Techniques described in the Book of Optics are capable of producing primitive photographs using medieval materials. [14][15][16] Daniele Barbaro described a diaphragm in 1566.[17] Wilhelm Homberg described how light darkened some chemicals (photochemical effect) in 1694.[18] The fiction book Giphantie, published in 1760, by French author Tiphaigne de la Roche, described what can be interpreted as photography.[17] The discovery of the camera obscura that provides an image of a scene dates back to ancient China. Leonardo da Vinci mentions natural cameras obscura that are formed by dark caves on the edge of a sunlit valley. A hole in the cave wall will act as a pinhole camera and project a laterally reversed, upside down image on a piece of paper. So the birth of photography was primarily concerned with developing a means to fix and retain the image produced by the camera obscura. The first success of reproducing images without a camera occurred when Thomas Wedgwood, from the famous family of potters, obtained copies of paintings on leather using silver salts. Since he had no way of permanently fixing those reproductions (stabilizing the image by washing out the non-exposed silver salts), they would turn completely black in the light and thus had to be kept in a dark room for viewing. Renaissance painters used the camera obscura which, in fact, gives the optical rendering in color that dominates Western Art. The camera obscura literally means "dark chamber" in Latin. It is a box with a hole in it which allows light to go through and create an image onto the piece of paper. First camera photography (1820s) Invented in the early decades of the 19th century, photography by means of the camera seemed able to capture more detail and information than traditional media, such as painting and sculpture.[19] Photography as a usable process goes back to the 1820s with the development of chemical photography. The first permanent photoetching was an image produced in 1822 by the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce, but it was destroyed in a later attempt to make prints from it.[7] Niépce was successful again in 1825. He made the View from the Window at Le Gras, the earliest surviving photograph from nature (i.e., of the image of a real-world scene, as formed in a camera obscura by a lens), in 1826 or 1827.[20] Because Niépce's camera photographs required an extremely long exposure (at least eight hours and probably several days), he sought to greatly improve his bitumen process or replace it with one that was more practical. Working in partnership with Louis Daguerre, he developed a somewhat more sensitive process that produced visually superior results, but it still required a few hours of exposure in the camera. Niépce died in 1833 and Daguerre then redirected the experiments toward the light-sensitive silver halides, which Niépce had abandoned many years earlier because of his inability to make the images he captured with them light-fast and permanent. Daguerre's efforts culminated in what would later be named the daguerreotype process, the essential elements of which were in place in 1837. The required exposure time was measured in minutes instead of hours. Daguerre took the earliest confirmed photograph of a person in 1838 while capturing a view of a Paris street: unlike the other pedestrian and horse-drawn traffic on the busy boulevard, which appears deserted, one man having his boots polished stood sufficiently still throughout the approximately ten-minute-long exposure to be visible. Eventually, France agreed to pay Daguerre a pension for his process in exchange for the right to present his invention to the world as the gift of France, which occurred on 19 August 1839. Meanwhile, in Brazil, Hercules Florence had already created his own process in 1832, naming it Photographie, and an English inventor, William Fox Talbot, had created another method of making a reasonably light-fast silver process image but had kept his work secret. After reading about Daguerre's invention in January 1839, Talbot published his method and set about improving on it. At first, like other pre-daguerreotype processes, Talbot's paper-based photography typically required hours-long exposures in the camera, but in 1840 he created the calotype process, with exposures comparable to the daguerreotype. In both its original and calotype forms, Talbot's process, unlike Daguerre's, created a translucent negative which could be used to print multiple positive copies, the basis of most chemical photography up to the present day. Daguerreotypes could only be replicated by rephotographing them with a camera.[21] Talbot's famous tiny paper negative of the Oriel window in Lacock Abbey, one of a number of camera photographs he made in the summer of 1835, may be the oldest camera negative in existence.[22][23] John Herschel made many contributions to the new field. He invented the cyanotype process, later familiar as the "blueprint". He was the first to use the terms "photography", "negative" and "positive". He had discovered in 1819 that sodium thiosulphate was a solvent of silver halides, and in 1839 he informed Talbot (and, indirectly, Daguerre) that it could be used to "fix" silver-halide-based photographs and make them completely light-fast. He made the first glass negative in late 1839. In the March 1851 issue of The Chemist, Frederick Scott Archer published his wet plate collodion process. It became the most widely used photographic medium until the gelatin dry plate, introduced in the 1870s, eventually replaced it. There are three subsets to the collodion process; the Ambrotype (a positive image on glass), the Ferrotype or Tintype (a positive image on metal) and the glass negative, which was used to make positive prints on albumen or salted paper. Many advances in photographic glass plates and printing were made during the rest of the 19th century. In 1884, George Eastman developed an early type of film to replace photographic plates, leading to the technology used by film cameras today. In 1891, Gabriel Lippmann introduced a process for making natural-color photographs based on the optical phenomenon of the interference of light waves. His scientifically elegant and important but ultimately impractical invention earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1908. Black-and-white See also: Monochrome photography All photography was originally monochrome, or black-and-white. Even after color film was readily available, black-and-white photography continued to dominate for decades, due to its lower cost and its "classic" photographic look. The tones and contrast between light and dark shadows define black and white photography.[24] It is important to note that some monochromatic pictures are not always pure blacks and whites, but also contain other hues depending on the process. The cyanotype process produces an image composed of blue tones. The albumen process, first used more than 150 years ago, produces brown tones. Many photographers continue to produce some monochrome images, often because of the established archival permanence of well processed silver halide based materials. Some full color digital images are processed using a variety of techniques to create black and whites, and some manufacturers produce digital cameras that exclusively shoot monochrome. Color Color photography was explored beginning in the mid-19th century. Early experiments in color required extremely long exposures (hours or days for camera images) and could not "fix" the photograph to prevent the color from quickly fading when exposed to white light. The first permanent color photograph was taken in 1861 using the three-color-separation principle first published by physicist James Clerk Maxwell in 1855. Maxwell's idea was to take three separate black-and-white photographs through red, green and blue filters. This provides the photographer with the three basic channels required to recreate a color image. Transparent prints of the images could be projected through similar color filters and superimposed on the projection screen, an additive method of color reproduction. A color print on paper could be produced by superimposing carbon prints of the three images made in their complementary colors, a subtractive method of color reproduction pioneered by Louis Ducos du Hauron in the late 1860s. Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii made extensive use of this color separation technique, employing a special camera which successively exposed the three color-filtered images on different parts of an oblong plate. Because his exposures were not simultaneous, unsteady subjects exhibited color "fringes" or, if rapidly moving through the scene, appeared as brightly colored ghosts in the resulting projected or printed images. The development of color photography was hindered by the limited sensitivity of early photographic materials, which were mostly sensitive to blue, only slightly sensitive to green, and virtually insensitive to red. The discovery of dye sensitization by photochemist Hermann Vogel in 1873 suddenly made it possible to add sensitivity to green, yellow and even red. Improved color sensitizers and ongoing improvements in the overall sensitivity of emulsions steadily reduced the once-prohibitive long exposure times required for color, bringing it ever closer to commercial viability. Autochrome, the first commercially successful color process, was introduced by the Lumière brothers in 1907. Autochrome plates incorporated a mosaic color filter layer made of dyed grains of potato starch, which allowed the three color components to be recorded as adjacent microscopic image fragments. After an Autochrome plate was reversal processed to produce a positive transparency, the starch grains served to illuminate each fragment with the correct color and the tiny colored points blended together in the eye, synthesizing the color of the subject by the additive method. Autochrome plates were one of several varieties of additive color screen plates and films marketed between the 1890s and the 1950s. Kodachrome, the first modern "integral tripack" (or "monopack") color film, was introduced by Kodak in 1935. It captured the three color components in a multilayer emulsion. One layer was sensitized to record the red-dominated part of the spectrum, another layer recorded only the green part and a third recorded only the blue. Without special film processing, the result would simply be three superimposed black-and-white images, but complementary cyan, magenta, and yellow dye images were created in those layers by adding color couplers during a complex processing procedure. Agfa's similarly structured Agfacolor Neu was introduced in 1936. Unlike Kodachrome, the color couplers in Agfacolor Neu were incorporated into the emulsion layers during manufacture, which greatly simplified the processing. Currently available color films still employ a multilayer emulsion and the same principles, most closely resembling Agfa's product. Instant color film, used in a special camera which yielded a unique finished color print only a minute or two after the exposure, was introduced by Polaroid in 1963. Color photography may form images as positive transparencies, which can be used in a slide projector, or as color negatives intended for use in creating positive color enlargements on specially coated paper. The latter is now the most common form of film (non-digital) color photography owing to the introduction of automated photo printing equipment. Digital photography Main article: Digital photography See also: Digital camera and Digital versus film photography In 1981, Sony unveiled the first consumer camera to use a charge-coupled device for imaging, eliminating the need for film: the Sony Mavica. While the Mavica saved images to disk, the images were displayed on television, and the camera was not fully digital. In 1991, Kodak unveiled the DCS 100, the first commercially available digital single lens reflex camera. Although its high cost precluded uses other than photojournalism and professional photography, commercial digital photography was born. Digital imaging uses an electronic image sensor to record the image as a set of electronic data rather than as chemical changes on film. [25] An important difference between digital and chemical photography is that chemical photography resists photo manipulation because it involves film and photographic paper, while digital imaging is a highly manipulative medium. This difference allows for a degree of image post-processing that is comparatively difficult in film-based photography and permits different communicative potentials and applications. Photography gained the interest of many scientists and artists from its inception. Scientists have used photography to record and study movements, such as Eadweard Muybridge's study of human and animal locomotion in 1887. Artists are equally interested by these aspects but also try to explore avenues other than the photo-mechanical representation of reality, such as the pictorialist movement. Military, police, and security forces use photography for surveillance, recognition and data storage. Photography is used by amateurs to preserve memories, to capture special moments, to tell stories, to send messages, and as a source of entertainment. High speed photography allows for visualizing events that are too fast for the human eye. Technical aspects Main article: Camera The camera is the image-forming device, and photographic film or a silicon electronic image sensor is the sensing medium. The respective recording medium can be the film itself, or a digital electronic or magnetic memory.[26] Photographers control the camera and lens to "expose" the light recording material (such as film) to the required amount of light to form a "latent image" (on film) or RAW file (in digital cameras) which, after appropriate processing, is converted to a usable image. Digital cameras use an electronic image sensor based on light-sensitive electronics such as charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The resulting digital image is stored electronically, but can be reproduced on paper or film. The camera (or 'camera obscura') is a dark room or chamber from which, as far as possible, all light is excluded except the light that forms the image. The subject being photographed, however, must be illuminated. Cameras can range from small to very large, a whole room that is kept dark while the object to be photographed is in another room where it is properly illuminated. This was common for reproduction photography of flat copy when large film negatives were used (see Process camera). As soon as photographic materials became "fast" (sensitive) enough for taking candid or surreptitious pictures, small "detective" cameras were made, some actually disguised as a book or handbag or pocket watch (the Ticka camera) or even worn hidden behind an Ascot necktie with a tie pin that was really the lens. The movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film. In contrast to a still camera, which captures a single snapshot at a time, the movie camera takes a series of images, each called a "frame". This is accomplished through an intermittent mechanism. The frames are later played back in a movie projector at a specific speed, called the "frame rate" (number of frames per second). While viewing, a person's eyes and brain merge the separate pictures together to create the illusion of motion.[27] Camera controls are interrelated. The total amount of light reaching the film plane (the 'exposure') changes with the duration of exposure, aperture of the lens, and on the effective focal length of the lens (which in variable focal length lenses, can force a change in aperture as the lens is zoomed). Changing any of these controls can alter the exposure. Many cameras may be set to adjust most or all of these controls automatically. This automatic functionality is useful for occasional photographers in many situations. The duration of an exposure is referred to as shutter speed, often even in cameras that do not have a physical shutter, and is typically measured in fractions of a second. It is quite possible to have exposures from one up to several seconds, usually for still-life subjects, and for night scenes exposure times can be several hours. However, for a subject that is in motion use a fast shutter speed. This will prevent the photograph from coming out blurry.[29] The effective aperture is expressed by an f-number or f-stop (derived from focal ratio), which is proportional to the ratio of the focal length to the diameter of the aperture. Longer lenses will pass less light even though the diameter of the aperture is the same due to the greater distance the light has to travel; shorter lenses (a shorter focal length) will be brighter with the same size of aperture. The smaller the f/number, the larger the effective aperture. The present system of f/numbers to give the effective aperture of a lens was standardized by an international convention. There were earlier, different series of numbers in older cameras. If the f-number is decreased by a factor of √2, the aperture diameter is increased by the same factor, and its area is increased by a factor of 2. The f-stops that might be found on a typical lens include 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, where going up "one stop" (using lower f-stop numbers) doubles the amount of light reaching the film, and stopping down one stop halves the amount of light. Image capture can be achieved through various combinations of shutter speed, aperture, and film or sensor speed. Different (but related) settings of aperture and shutter speed enable photographs to be taken under various conditions of film or sensor speed, lighting and motion of subjects and/or camera, and desired depth of field. A slower speed film will exhibit less "grain", and a slower speed setting on an electronic sensor will exhibit less "noise", while higher film and sensor speeds allow for a faster shutter speed, which reduces motion blur or allows the use of a smaller aperture to increase the depth of field. For example, a wider aperture is used for lower light and a lower aperture for more light. If a subject is in motion, then a high shutter speed may be needed. A tripod can also be helpful in that it enables a slower shutter speed to be used. For example, f/8 at 8 ms (1/125 of a second) and f/5.6 at 4 ms (1/250 of a second) yield the same amount of light. The chosen combination has an impact on the final result. The aperture and focal length of the lens determine the depth of field, which refers to the range of distances from the lens that will be in focus. A longer lens or a wider aperture will result in "shallow" depth of field (i.e. only a small plane of the image will be in sharp focus). This is often useful for isolating subjects from backgrounds as in individual portraits or macro photography. Conversely, a shorter lens, or a smaller aperture, will result in more of the image being in focus. This is generally more desirable when photographing landscapes or groups of people. With very small apertures, such as pinholes, a wide range of distance can be brought into focus, but sharpness is severely degraded by diffraction with such small apertures. Generally, the highest degree of "sharpness" is achieved at an aperture near the middle of a lens's range (for example, f/8 for a lens with available apertures of f/2.8 to f/16). However, as lens technology improves, lenses are becoming capable of making increasingly sharp images at wider apertures. Image capture is only part of the image forming process. Regardless of material, some process must be employed to render the latent image captured by the camera into a viewable image. With slide film, the developed film is just mounted for projection. Print film requires the developed film negative to be printed onto photographic paper or transparency. Digital images may be uploaded to an image server (e.g., a photo-sharing web site), viewed on a television, or transferred to a computer or digital photo frame. Every type can be printed on more "classical" mediums such as regular paper or photographic paper for examples. Prior to the rendering of a viewable image, modifications can be made using several controls. Many of these controls are similar to controls during image capture, while some are exclusive to the rendering process. Most printing controls have equivalent digital concepts, but some create different effects. For example, dodging and burning controls are different between digital and film processes. Other printing modifications include: Digital point-and-shoot cameras have become widespread consumer products, outselling film cameras, and including new features such as video and audio recording. Kodak announced in January 2004 that it would no longer sell reloadable 35 mm cameras in western Europe, Canada and the United States after the end of that year. Kodak was at that time a minor player in the reloadable film cameras market. In January 2006, Nikon followed suit and announced that they will stop the production of all but two models of their film cameras: the low-end Nikon FM10, and the high-end Nikon F6. On 25 May 2006, Canon announced they will stop developing new film SLR cameras.[34] Though most new camera designs are now digital, a new 6x6cm/6x7cm medium format film camera was introduced in 2008 in a cooperation between Fuji and Voigtländer.[35][36] According to a survey made by Kodak in 2007 when the majority of photography was already digital, 75 percent of professional photographers say they will continue to use film, even though some embrace digital.[37] The PMA say that in the year 2000 nearly a billion rolls of film were sold each year and by 2011 a mere 20 million rolls, plus 31 million single-use cameras.[38] Quelle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fotografie

Craftsman F E Algar Craftsman; R.E.M.E.; 21st August 1943 (RoH) Name: ALGAR, FRANK EDWARD Rank: Craftsman Regiment/Service: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Age: 30 Date of Death: 21/08/1944 Service No: 7616876 Additional information: Son of Percy James Algar and Ethel Daisy Algar; husband of Doreen Algar, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. D. 5. Cemetery: AREZZO WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2096915 Note incorrect date quoted on the Roll of Honour Page - the invasion of mainland Italy didn’t even start until the 3rd September 1943, (barring the possibility that Frank was a POW). ******************************************************************* ANDREW Lieutenant (name not on memorial but on plaque (b)); Royal Navy; At Sea Possibly Name: ANDREW, PETER LE MESURIER Rank: Sub-Lieutenant Service: Royal Naval Reserve Unit Text: H.M.S. Vortigern Age: 21 Date of Death: 15/03/1942 Additional information: Son of Captain Bertram Le Mesurier Andrew and Mary Andrew. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 71, Column 1. Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2490953 (Only Navy Officer with this surname) HMS Vortigern - 15th March 1942 Sunk off Cromer by E-Boat S104 during defence of Coastal Convoy with HM Corvette GUILLEMOT. Casualty List was published on 16th May 1942. (Note : 110 of ships’ company were killed with only 14 survivors. This was the heaviest loss of life of RN personnel in any one ship in defence of an east coast convoy.) www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-09VW-Vortigern.htm On 15 March 1942 HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. Ronald Stanley Howlett, RN) was torpedoed and sunk off Cromer in position 55º06'N, 01º22'E by the German motor torpedo boat (E-boat) S-104. HMS Vortigern was escorting coastal convoy FS-749 at the time of her loss. The wreck lies in 17 meters of water in position 53º13'06"N, 01º06'54"E. www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4701.html The loss of HMS VORTIGERN In the early hours of 15th March 1942 convoy FS49 was proceeding South. When near the 57D buoy seventeen miles north of Cromer they were attacked by E boats. S 104 (Captain Oberleutnant Roeder) of the German 4th MTB Flotilla, sank HMS VORTIGERN with torpedoes. The other escort vessel HMS GUILLEMOT, a corvette based in Harwich following Naval Orders. ignored the survivors in the water and continued with her duty of escorting the convoy. At dawn, the GUILLEMOT turned round and found the wreck with two survivors clinging to the stern. The VORTIGERN had been torpedoed forward and had plunged down with her bow on the sea bed. The sea all round was strewn with bodies several of which were later recovered by the Cromer and Sheringham lifeboats. The search by the GUILLEMOT recovered only 14 men. 147 men lost their lives, making this the worst incident recorded off the east coat during the Second War. At a later board of enquiry it was found that contrary to standing regulations most if not all the Carley Floats had been lashed down and few of the crew had been wearing lifejackets. Surprisingly the wreck site has never been declared an Official War Grave. Nicholas Monsarrat who served on GUILLEMOT as an officer described the event in his book “Three Corvettes” . Details of the VORTIGERN are included in "Ship-Wrecks off North Norfolk". www.ship-wrecks.co.uk/know.html ******************************************************************** Sergeant Robert Arthur George Bailey Sergeant (Air Gunner) 3006845, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died in Morayshire, Scotland 14th August 1944. Aged 19. Son of James Robert and Gladys Emily Bailey, of Bungay. Buried in BUNGAY CEMETERY, Bungay, Suffolk. Section O. Grave 85. (RoH) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720330 No match on Lost Bombers ********************************************************************* Able Seaman John Neville Boland Royal Navy; At Sea; 1940 (RoH) Name: BOLAND, JACK NEVIL Rank: Able Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Willamette Valley Date of Death: 29/06/1940 Service No: C/SSX 22470 Grave/Memorial Reference: 35, 1. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2465038 The HMS Willamette Valley was actually a “Q”ship, the Edgehill, a converted merchant seaman with hidden guns out hunting for U-Boats. She was torpedoed on this day and sank with the loss of 68 lives. www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1940-06JUN2.htm www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a3588140.shtml kearns.fogbugz.com/default.asp?ahoy.2.495.15 At 0012, decoy ship HMS Edgehill was hit by one torpedo from U-51 amidships and stopped but did not sink due to her buoyant cargo. The U-boat surfaced and fired a coup de grâce at 0106, but it needed a third torpedo at 0124 to let the vessel sink slowly by the stern. Built as motor ship West Lynn (4702 tons), 1931 renamed Willamette Valley for Sir William Reardon Smith and Sons Ltd, Cardiff. On 17 Sep 1939 requisitioned by the Royal Navy and converted to a decoy ship, commissioned as special service vessel (SSV) HMS Edgehill (X 39). The ship had a concealed armament of nine 4in guns and four torpedo tubes and carried a buoyant cargo to help keep her afloat if hit. homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/1940/06/29.htm 49.27N, 15.25W - Grid BE 3476 www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/394.html www.uboat.net/boats/u51.htm *********************************************************************** Lance-Corporal Godfrey Nicholas Hammond Brill Lance-Corporal; 2nd Bn. Irish Guards; Normandy; 3rd August 1944 (RoH) Name: BRILL, GODFREY NICHOLAS HAMMOND Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Irish Guards Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Age: 25 Date of Death: 03/08/1944 Service No: 2719764 Additional information: Son of Herbert Francis and Beatrice Ann Christobel Brill; husband of Florence May Brill, of Westfield, Woking, Surrey. Grave/Memorial Reference: V. F. 11. Cemetery: ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2062367 On 1 August, the Guards were called up to continue the rapid advance that the 11th Armoured had created against the two German infantry divisions (326. and 276.). The next two weeks would see intense bocage fighting as the Germans, reinforced with the 21. Panzer, 1., 9. and 10. SS-Panzerdivisions, fought for every mile of French ground. By 15 August, the German 7th Army began to withdraw only to be caught in the infamous Falaise Pocket. The Guards were able to withdraw for refit, rest and restructuring. www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=502 ********************************************************************* W.O. Walter Randall Cook W.O. Flight Engineer; Royal Air Force; Venloo; 24th May 1943 (RoH) Name: COOK, WALTER RANDALL Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 101 Sqdn. Age: 31 Date of Death: 24/05/1943 Service No: 1116625 Additional information: Son of Harry and Rosemond Cook, of Lowestoft, Suffolk; husband of Winifred Maud Cook, of Lowestoft. Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 16. C. 4-7. Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2645291 Lancaster W4919 Information Type....................................................Lancaster Serial Number..................................W4919 Squadron..........................................101 X1D....................................................SR-A Operation..........................................Dortmund Date 1................................................23rd May 1943 Date 2................................................24th May 1943 W4919 was delivered to 101 Sqdn ex-5MU Feb43, loaned to 207 Sqdn - no dates. No other key Operations traced. No record of total hours. W4919 was one of two 101 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See ED775. Airborne from Holme-on-Spalding Moor. Shot down by a night-fighter, crashing 0233 24May43 at Bergen (Limburg), a small town on the E bank of the Maas and about 4 km inside Holland from the border with Germany. The crew were initially buried in the temporary Military Cemetery at Venlo. They have been subsequently re-interred in the Jokerboos War Cemetery. F/S J.H.T.Hayes RAAF KIA Sgt W.R.Cook KIA Sgt P.G.Eames KIA Sgt J.Park KIA Sgt J.W.C.Evans KIA Sgt O.H.Sibson RCAF KIA Sgt L.G.Smith RCAF KIA 'Air Battle of the Ruhr', A.Cooper, records Sgt O.H.Sibson as Sgt O.H.Gibson. www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=6630 ********************************************************************* Sergeant Stanley Ecclestone Sergt (Navigator); Royal Air Force; Berlin; 1st/2nd January 1944 (RoH) Name: ECCLESTONE, STANLEY Rank: Sergeant (Nav.) Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 207 Sqdn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 02/01/1944 Service No: 1268286 Additional information: Son of Emma Ecclestone, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 6. J. 1-7. Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2198620 Lancaster DV370 Information Type..........................................................Lancaster Serial Number........................................DV370 Squadron.................................................207 X1D...........................................................EM-L Operation................................................Berlin Date 1......................................................1st January 1944 Date 2......................................................2nd January 1944 DV370 was a Mk.1 and was delivered to 207 Sqdn 11Nov43. DV370 took part in the following key Operations: Berlin 18/19Nov43- aborted; Berlin 22/23Nov43; Berlin 23/24Nov43; Berlin 2/3Dec43; Berlin 16/17Dec43; Berlin 23/24Dec43n Berlin 29/30Dec43; Berlin 1/2Jan44-Lost When lost this aircraft had a total of 95 hours. P/O Bottrell and his crew flew all eight Berlin ops with DV370. DV370 was one of two 207 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: W4892 Airborne 0003 1Jan44 from Spilsby. P/O Bottrell is commemorated on Panel 204 of the Runnymede Memorial; his crew are buried in Hannover War Cemetery. P/O W.J.Bottrell KIA Sgt F.Holland KIA Sgt S.Ecclestone KIA Sgt J.C.O'Mahony KIA Sgt F.W.Porteous KIA Sgt K.H.H.Wardle KIA Sgt R.Clark KIA " www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2397 www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/rollofhonour/207cemeteries... *********************************************************************** Petty Officer Henry Guy Flatt Engine Room Petty Officer; Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.D. "Boy Andrew"; Granton Harbour; 9th November 1941 (RoH) Name: FLATT, HENRY GUY Rank: Engineman Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service Unit Text: H.M. Drifter Boy Andrew. Age: 27 Date of Death: 09/11/1941 Service No: LT/KX 106767 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Flatt, of Bungay, Suffolk; husband of Kathleen Flatt, of Bungay. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 6, Column 3. Memorial: LOWESTOFT NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2367801 Built in 1918 she was originally named Sunburst and served with the Royal Navy during WWI. In 1940 she was renamed Boy Andrew and used as an Admiralty Drifter. On 9 November 1941 Boy Andrew was heading East along a swept channel in the Firth of Forth. Sailing along the same channel was the steamship St Rognvald. The steamship was gradually overtaking Boy Andrew at a lateral distance of about 100 feet. With the St Rognvald on her starboard quarter Boy Andrew suddenly swerved to starboard and both ships collided. Boy Andrew sank with the loss of her skipper George F Ball and 11 crewmen. This included two brothers, Frederick and Robert Goodwin from Edinburgh. The National Archives has a file on this collision, TS32/479 www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-cemeteries-war-memorial-researc... The “Boy Andrew” had become famous in 1936 when it won the Madame Prunier trophy for the biggest shot of herring during the East Anglican Autumn season www.scalan.co.uk/caravanpilgrim.htm www.gorlestonhistory.org.uk/pruniertrophy.html www.scotfishmuseum.org/factsheets/g.pdf ************************************************************************ Able Seaman Douglas Alan Honeywood Able Seaman; Royal Navy; Mediterranean; 17th June 1944 (RoH) Name: HONEYWOOD, DOUGLAS A. Rank: Able Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Copra Age: 24 Date of Death: 17/06/1944 Service No: D/JX 216869 Additional information: Son of Mrs. D. Honeywood. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV, G, 5. Cemetery: BOLSENA WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1707232 HMS Copra was a base name for ratings, (mid-shipman and below), who were assigned to Combined Ops -- essentially manning the various landing craft and small support craft required for an amphibious assault such as D-Day or Anzio & Salerno. Able Seaman Honeywood appears to have lost his life in the Italian Campaign - a number of the graves at Bolsena were re-located from the Island of Elba which was taken from the Germans by an amphibious assault which commenced on the 17th June 1944. www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/84/a1982784.shtml A very full account of the destruction suffered by the landing crafts, (later there were allegations of a major security breach), and the fate of the RN ratings who helped with the capture of a German warship in the harbour can be read about here. www.combinedops.com/Elba - Op Brassard.htm ******************************************************************** Seaman Hubert Thomas Honeywood Ordinary Seaman; Royal Navy - H.M.S. "Neptune"; Off Crete; 19th December 1941 (RoH) Name: HONEYWOOD, HUBERT THOMAS Rank: Ordinary Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Neptune Age: 21 Date of Death: 19/12/1941 Service No: P/SSX 33974 Additional information: Son of Charles Henry Honeywood, and of Elsie Honeywood, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 50, Column 3. Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2494482 The Cruiser HMS Neptune ran into an uncharted minefield in the Mediterranean off Tripoli, and sank with the loss of 764 officers and men. Just one man was rescued by an Italian torpedo boat, after 5 days in the water www.hmsneptune.com/history1.htm www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Neptune.htm www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/10/a8609510.shtml en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Neptune_(20) uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4004.html ********************************************************************* Engineer William Frederick Hutchinson 3rd Engineer; Merchant Navy - S.S. "Victoria"; At Sea; 1940 (RoH) Name: HUTCHINSON, WILLIAM FREDERICK Rank: Fourth Engineer Officer Service: Merchant Navy Unit Text: S.S. Victoria City (Bideford) Age: 20 Date of Death: 02/12/1940 Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 114. Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2790332 The U-140 only had one raiding patrol, under her first captain, Hans-Peter Hinsch. He took her round the north of Scotland in December 1940 following her work-up program, and it was here she sank her first victim, twelve days into the cruise. He sank two more six days later north of Ireland before he headed home towards retirement for the boat. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterseeboot_140_(1940) (The first ship sunk, on the 2nd December, was the SS Victoria City) At 21.42 hours on 3 Dec, 1940, the Victoria City (Master Alfred Longstaff), a straggler from convoy HX-90, was hit underneath the bridge by one G7a torpedo from U-140 and sank by the bow within 15 seconds west of the North Channel. The master and 42 crew members were lost. uboat.net/allies/merchants/693.html ******************************************************************** Lance-Bombardier Robert Alexander Hutton Lance-Bombardier; Royal Artillery; Italy; 22nd October 1944 (RoH) Name: HUTTON, ROBERT ALEXANDER Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 7 Mountain Field Regt. Age: 22 Date of Death: 22/10/1944 Service No: 1461426 Additional information: Son of Robert and Flora Hutton, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. E. 1. Cemetery: FAENZA WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2237418 ********************************************************************** Lt Frederick John Ingram Lieutenant; R. Engineers Bomb Disposal Sectn; Wales; 10th September 1940 (RoH) Name: INGRAM, FREDERICK JOHN Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers Age: 36 Date of Death: 10/09/1940 Service No: 136316 Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. QQ. Grave 313A. Cemetery: BRISTOL (CANFORD) CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2450704 The night of the 10th September saw raids on South Wales, the first for several days. This may of course be a co-incidence - Lt Ingram may have died from natural causes, accident or dealing with a bomb from earlier raids. ********************************************************************** A/Sqdn Leader George Francis Henry Ingram A/Squadron. Leader (Pathfinder), D.F.C.; Royal Air Force; Nienwpoort; 23rd/24th June 1944 (RoH) Name: INGRAM, GEORGE FRANCIS HENRY Rank: Squadron Leader Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 35 Sqdn. Age: 22 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 116714 Awards: D F C Additional information: Son of Frederick George Hubert Ingram, and of Elizabeth Anne Ingram, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 200. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1800890 Lancaster ND734 Information Type..................................................Lancaster Serial Number................................ND734 Squadron........................................35 X1D..................................................TL-H Operation........................................Coubronne Date 1..............................................23rd June 1944 Date 2..............................................24th June 1944 ND734 was delivered to No.35 Sqdn, ex-32MU Mar44. ND734 took part in the following Key Raids: Berlin 24/25Mar44; Nuremberg 30/31Mar44; Montdidier 3/4May44; Dortmund 22/23May44. ND734 was rammed on the ground at Graveley on return from Essen 27Apr44 by a Mosquito - NL977 - No.692 Sqdn. Killing the Tail Gunner and badly injuring the MU Gunner. Repaired and re-issued to No.35 Sqdn. When lost this aircraft had a total of 77 hours. Airborne 2344 23Jun44 from Graveley to ground-mark a flying-bomb site. Homebound was shot down by a night-fighter from 11,000 feet near Dunkirk. S/L Ingram is commemorated on Panel 200 of the Runnymede Memorial. P/O Weatherill, whose father served as Speaker of the House of Commons, gained his DFC with No.158 Squadron, details being Gazetted 23May44, but that awarded to F/S Gill was not Gazetted until 25Jan46. S/L G.F.Ingram DFC KIA F/S D.B.Gerrard DFM PoW F/O V.J.Murphy RCAF PoW F/L G.W.Rushbrook PoW F/O M.J.Spencer Inj F/S S.Jackson PoW F/S R.H.J.Gill DFM PoW P/O D.A.Weatherill DFC KIA Note the eight-man crew. F/S D.B.Gerrard was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.215. DFM Gazetted 23May44 (10 Sqdn). This was his 48th operation. F/S R.H.J.Gill in Camp L7, PoW No.216. DFM Gazetted 25Jan46. F/S S.Jackson also in L7, PoW No.225. F/O V.J.Murphy in Camp L3, PoW No.6503 with F/L G.W.Rushbrook, PoW No.6505. F/O M.J.Spencer was confined in Hospital due injuries. No PoW No. " www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=562 There are six claims for “4-engined aircraft” in the Luftwaffe records in the early hours of the 24th June, all in the BelgiumPas de Calais area. www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm *********************************************************************** Sergeant Eric Noel Jolly Sergt.; Royal Air Force; Settin Raid; 16th/17th August 1944 (RoH) Name: JOLLY, ERIC NOEL Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 17/08/1944 Service No: 1871640 Additional information: Son of Herbert and Lottie Elizabeth Jolly, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 917. Cemetery: KIRKEBY CHURCHYARD www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2271334 Lancaster PB239 Information Type............................................................Lancaster Serial Number..........................................PB239 Squadron..................................................405 X1D.............................................................LQ-D Operation..................................................Kiel Date 1.......................................................16th August 1944 Date 2.......................................................17th August 1944 PB239 was a Mk.111 and was delivered to 405 Sqdn ex-32MU Jul44 PB239 also took part in the tactical support of the Normandy Battle Area 7/8Aug44. When lost this aircraft had a total of 56 hours. Airborne 2115 16Aug44 from Gransden Lodge. Crashed in the sea off the W coast of Denmark. F/O Fisher, a veteran of 53 sorties, and WO1 Billingsley are buried in Kiel War cemetery; three are buried in Danish Cemeteries, while F/L Bruce who was a Master Mariner from sour lake, Texas, and F/S Carter are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/O C.h.Fisher DFC RCAF KIA Sgt E.N.Jolly KIA F/L J.S.Bruce KIA F/O K.D.Kemp RCAF KIA WO1 F.D.Billingsley RCAF KIA F/O K.a.Nordheimer RCAF KIA F/S J.W.Carter RCAF KIA www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2711 This site is from a survivor of 405 Squadron, Frank Miseferi, who flew during 1943/1944 with a crew that included an Englishman called “Erik” Jolly who was the engineer. The skipper was a Canadian called Charlie Fisher. Sometime after D-Day the crew was broken up following a crash which left Frank unable to carry on. www.effieswarmemoirs.com/thecrew.htm There are pictures of Kemp, Carter & Nordheimer here, www.flensted.eu.com/1944097.shtml *********************************************************************** W. O Herbert Alfred William Jolly DFM Warrant Officer (Wireless Operator) 629823, 35 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died in England 25th January 1944. Aged 22. Son of Herbert and Lottie Elizabeth Jolly, of Bungay. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (D.F.M.). Buried in BUNGAY CEMETERY, Bungay, Suffolk. Section P. Grave 84. (RoH) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720331 No match on Lost Bombers Using a search engine, I can find no other 35 Squadron casualties on the CWGC database on this day. ************************************************************************ Lance Corporal Alfred Knowles Lance-Corporal; 4th Bn R. Norfolk Regiment; Thailand; 22nd September 1944 (RoH) Name: KNOWLES, ALFRED Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 27 Date of Death: 21/09/1944 Service No: 5772045 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Knowles, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 48. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2136095 The 4th Battalion were captured with the Fall of Singapore, with many prisoners subsequently being worked to death by the Japanese. www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/armedforces_r_norfolk.html www.britain-at-war.org.uk/WW2/royal_norfolks_in_far_east/... *********************************************************************** Private Reginald George Locke Private; The Loyal Regiment; Florence, Italy; 25th August 1944 (RoH) Name: LOCKE, REGINALD GEORGE Rank: Private Regiment: The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 25/08/1944 Service No: 14216960 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Locke, of Bungay, Suffolk; nephew of Robert Charles and Alice Amelia Wilby, of Bungay. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. K. 11. Cemetery: FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2614482 ************************************************************************ Sergeant J Moores Sergt.; No. 2 Commando, C.M.F.; C. Mediterranean; 1944 (RoH) Name: MOORES, JACK ERNEST Rank: Serjeant Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Secondary Regiment: Commando Secondary Unit Text: and No. 2 Age: 37 Date of Death: 29/07/1944 Service No: 5767479 Additional information: Son of Walter and Alice Moores; husband of Vera Lucy Moores, of Cambridge. Cemetery: TIRANA PARK MEMORIAL CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2241615 Sergeant Moores may well be amongst the group shots of No 2 Commando held here: www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/main.php?g2_view=slid... Albania On Jul 28 1944 a small party of 40 porters drawn from No 9 Commando was involved with No 2 Commando, a company from the HLI and others, in a raid on Albania, codename 'Healing II.' It was designed to open up the coastline south of the Linguetta Peninsula because the partisans were in desperate need of supplies. The action against the 150 strong German garrison at Spilje was designed to create a relatively safe landing area. However, a combination of events conspired against the raiding party. Albanian Quislings had alerted the Germans so the element of surprise was lost and they were well prepared. In addition radio communications were adversely affected by surrounding trees with predictable consequences in not achieving the best use of the resources available. Machine gun nests took an increasingly heavy toll and, with time running out, the Commanding Officer, Colonel Fynn, had no choice but to withdraw his exhausted men including the wounded. 20 men were killed in this action and 60 wounded. However, the result was better than had first appeared. Many of the German defenders had been killed and wounded together with a number of Quislings. The garrison strength had been weakened to such an extent that local partisans had rounded up the remaining Germans thus taking control over the coastal strip in the area. Brigadier Davey, in a note to Colonel Fynn, considered the mission a 'complete success' notwithstanding the casualties. www.combinedops.com/No 9 Commando.htm *********************************************************************** Seaman Cyril George Peck 3rd. Seaman; Royal Navy - H.M.S. "Fiji"; Off Crete; 23rd May 1941 (RoH) Name: PECK, CYRIL GEORGE Rank: Ordinary Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Fiji Date of Death: 23/05/1941 Service No: C/JX 218937 Additional information: Son of William G. and Rosanna Peck, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: 44, 3. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2471272 On 22 May 1941 she was acting in company with the destroyers HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston shortly after the loss of HMS Gloucester. She had already expended all of her AA ammunition fighting off numerous air attacks that persisted for two hours. She was attacked and hit by several bombs from Messerschmitt Bf 109s before an aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 77 dropped a bomb close alongside to port. This blew in Fiji’s bottom plates and caused a list to port. Fiji lost power and came to a standstill. She was now largely defenceless, having practically exhausted her 4 inch ammunition. She was then hit by three bombs dropped by a Junkers Ju 87. Captain William-Powlett gave the order to abandon ship and at 2015 Fiji rolled over and sank. The destroyers dropped floats and withdrew to the south. They returned after dark to pick up 523 survivors. 241 men had gone down with the ship. On 30 May 1941, in a letter to the First Sea Lord, Sir Dudley Pound, Admiral Cunningham wrote, "The sending back of Gloucester and Fiji to the Greyhound was another grave error and cost us those two ships. They were practically out of ammunition but even had they been full up I think they would have gone. The Commanding Officer of Fiji told me that the air over Gloucester was black with planes." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Fiji_(58) www.angelfire.com/ri/georgev/hmsfiji.html/ www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a7122070.shtml home.freeuk.net/johndillon/airattack.htm www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pag... On 22 May, 1941, HMS Fiji (58) (Capt P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, RN) was bombed and sunk by German aircraft southwest of Crete in 34º35N, 23º10E. www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/507.html ******************************************************************** Seaman R G T Powley [Listed on memorial as Thomas but on plaque as R G T (b)] Ord. Seaman (Cook); Royal Navy - H.M.S. "Curacoa; Off N. Ireland; 2nd October 1942 (RoH) Name: POWLEY, THOMAS JAMES Rank: Cook Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Curacoa Age: 23 Date of Death: 02/10/1942 Service No: C/MX 65032 Additional information: Son of John and Edith Powley; husband of Joan May Powley, of Beccles, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: 64, 2. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2471496 From Alfred Johnson It was 1942 and I was 22 years old and a Seaman in the Merchant Navy on the Queen Mary. We were returning to Glasgow from New York, which was a four / five day journey. The Queen Mary was carrying about 20,000 American Troops to join the Allied Forces. She was known as a 'hornets nest' in the war as there were lots of nationalities on the ship. There were 2 of us on the poop deck on the aft of the ship and we were manning the 6 inch gun - incase we came under attack. What good we could have done with one gun, I've no idea! A cruiser called HMS Curacao met us 200 miles off the coast to escort us into Greenock. I could see her clearly as I was on the aft. We could see our escort zig-zagging in front of us - it was common for the ships and cruisers to zig-zag to confuse the U-boats. In this particular case however the escort was very, very close to us. I said to my mate "You know she's zig-zigging all over the place in front of us, I'm sure we're going to hit her." And sure enough, the Queen Mary sliced the cruiser in two like a piece of butter, straight through the six inch armoured plating. The Queen Mary just carried on going (we were doing about 25 knots). It was the policy not to stop and pick up survivors even if they were waving at you. It was too dangerous as the threat of U-Boats was always present. www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a2733013.shtml www.roll-of-honour.com/Ships/HMSCuracoa.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Curacoa_(D41) www.rna-carmarthen.org.uk/hms_curacoa.htm ****************************************************************** W O. Leslie George Remblance Warrant Officer; Royal Air Force, Coastal Command; North Sea; 1st October 1944 (RoH) Name: REMBLANCE, LESLIE GEORGE Rank: Warrant Officer Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 461 Sqdn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 01/10/1944 Service No: 619992 Additional information: Son of George and Emily Remblance, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 214. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2940089 In February 1944 No. 461 Squadron was equipped with the more advanced Mark III Sunderland. This aircraft allowed the Squadron to operate at night. Equipped with these improved aircraft the Squadron continued to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic, including patrols in support of the Allied landing in Normandy. During 1944 the squadron sank three submarines and damaged a further three. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._461_Squadron_RAAF With the liberation of southern France the submarine threat emanating from ports there declined, and in turn, so did the intensity of the 461 Squadron’s operations. At the end of September 1944, six of its aircraft were deployed to Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands to conduct operations along the Norwegian Coast. Beginning on 30 September, these lasted until 29 October, when the detachment returned to Pembroke Dock. www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11165.asp From 461 Squadron’s Operational Record Book. 1st November. The first operational sortie of the month brought, after a period of ten months, the loss of an aircraft and crew, F/O, (A/F/LT) H M Godsall and his crew in ML 735, (‘A’), failing to return from patrol, (flown from SULLOM VOE), 30 miles west of Bergen in Norway. In spite of search in the area, nothing has been seen or heard of the crew or aircraft, and it must be presumed that the crew were taken by surprise and shot down before a signal could be got off. F/Lt Godsall and seven of his crew had previously been in action together in March last, when they successfully fought off a twenty minute attack by four JU88s in the Bay of Biscay, and the majority of the crew have been together for a considerable time. naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1359213&I=1&am... The minutiae of disposing of effects, letters of condolence to next of kin, etc have also been digitised at the Australian Archive. naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1966138&I=1&am... The crew were Flight Lieutenant H M Godsall www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1798477 Flight Sergeant G L Toose RAAF (AUS 423627) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1808926 Pilot Officer E B Willis RAAF (AUS 419103) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1531745 Sergeant F Reed 619357 www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2939998 Warrant Officer P H Brewin RAAF (AUS 418247) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1530400 Flying Officer D J Jennings RAAF (AUS 418152) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1802066 Flying Officer H H Turnbull RAAF (AUS 418211) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1809097 Flight Sergeant J C Cottier RAAF (AUS 423654) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1085044 Sergeant J Cottam 1147382 www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1085038 Fight Sergeant Percival Richard Criddle RAAF (AUS 417621) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1085234 There do not appear to be any Luftwaffe claims for a Sunderland shot down during this time on any of the usual sources. www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm ******************************************************************* Pilot Officer Norman Charles Arthur Simms Pilot Officer (Pilot) 152100, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died at Darby, Staffordshire 25th September 1943. Aged 20. Son of Charles Robert and Gladys Rose Simms, of Bungay. Buried in BUNGAY CEMETRY, Bungay, Suffolk. Section DX. Grave 102. (RoH) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720332 There are no specific incidents on this day on my normal source for air crashes in the Midlands area, although there was a collison on landing between two training unit Wellington’s at RAF Bramcote on the 24th. The website has no details of injuries or of the crews involved. www.couplandbell.com/marg/crashes1943.htm ****************************************************************** Pilot Noel Geoffrey Sprake B A Pilot Officer; Royal Air Force Vol. Reserve; Duisb.; 21st July 1942 (RoH) Name: SPRAKE, NOEL GEOFFREY Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot) Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 142 Sqdn. Date of Death: 26/07/1942 Service No: 109943 Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. B. 6. Cemetery: KVIBERG CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2187061 Wellington Z1287 Information Type......................................................Wellington Serial Number....................................Z1287 Squadron............................................142 X1D......................................................QT-Q Operation.............................................Duisburg Date 1..................................................25th July 1942 Date 2..................................................26th July 1942 Airborne 0039 26Jul42 from Grimsby. Presumed lost in the North Sea. P/O Sprake was washed into the Baltic and he was buried 13Sep42, at Ko_n. though he is now buried at Kviberf Cemetery, Sweden. The others have no known graves. P/O N.G.Sprake KIA P/O B.N.Ward KIA Sgt O.Kedgley KIA Sgt R.A.mansell KIA Sgt D.W.Moss KIA " www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=10608 Pilot Officer Sprake had joined the squadron on the 9th April 1942. www.couplandbell.com/marg/men_of_142.htm There are four Wellington’s claimed by Luftwaffe Pilots as shot down in this raid. www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm However Pilot claims are usually exaggerated, with the same plane being claimed by several. Lost Bombers has 8 Wellington’s lost on this raid - one ditched due to engine failure, one shot down by night fighter, one shot down by flak and one crashed on landing after having to abort due to mechanical issues. The cause of loss of the rest is not known. ******************************************************************** Pilot Officer George Roland Tart Pilot Officer; Royal Air Force Vol. Reserve; Bay of Biscay; 1942 (RoH) Name: TART, GEORGE ROLAND Rank: Pilot Officer Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Date of Death: 15/10/1942 Service No: 123966 CasualtGrave/Memorial Reference: Panel 71. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1808446 No match on Lost Bombers. There are various Luftwaffe claims for Whitleys and a Wellington, two of which are definitely in the Bay of Biscay, but Pilot Officer Tart’s name does not come up as a crew member. In the summer of 1942, through a combination of new technology, the transfer of obsolescent aircraft from Bomber Command such as earlier marks of the Wellington Bomber, and a growing number of air-crew being produced by the Dominion Air Schools, Coastal Command achieved notable successes in the war against the U-Boats , as they sailed from France via the Bay of Biscay to their huntings grounds on the Atlantic seaboards of North and South America. However, from September the pendulum swung the other way. The U-Boat losses prompted the dispatch of long-range fighter units, principally flying JU-88’s to provide air-cover and re-establish German control. Coastal Command losses rose dramatically. On the 15th October 1942, the official Luftwaffe claims include a Whitley bomber shot down by Lieutenant Heinz Olbrecht at 17.23, in a position which if I’ve interpreted the grid position correctly corresponds to the Bay of Biscay. Lost Bombers has no Whitley recorded as lost on that day, which makes it likely that the plane was from Coastal Command. None of this proves that Pilot Officer Tart was on board, so the search will need to continue. (See Comments below for more information on the fate of Pilot Officer Tart) ******************************************************************* Corporal John Leslie Alexander Twiddy Corporal; Royal Army Service Corps; Normandy; 9th August 1944 (RoH) Name: TWIDDY, JOHN L. Rank: Corporal Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps Age: 41 Date of Death: 09/08/1944 Service No: T/14301334 Additional information: Son of William and Clara Twiddy; husband of Gertrude Mary Twiddy, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: III. E. 4. Cemetery: LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2340288 ******************************************************************* Flt Lt David Frank Walker Flight Lieutenant; Royal Air Force Vol. Reserve; Trondheim Raid; 6th February 1942 (RoH) Name: WALKER, DAVID FRANK Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 608 Sqdn. Age: 28 Date of Death: 07/02/1942 Service No: 72415 Additional information: Son of Reginald Hope and Kathleen Walker; husband of Monica Walker, of Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. B.A. (Oxon.). Grave/Memorial Reference: A IV British. K. 6. Cemetery: TRONDHEIM (STAVNE) CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2186340 608 Squadron was flying Hudson’s at the time. www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h608.html There are no claims for a Hudson shot down in the official Luftwaffe records for this day. www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm An Andrew Dawson was seeking information about David Walker, for whom he was intending to write a biography. He describes him as the “the Oxford University and Norfolk cricketer. …..David was killed in February 1942 when his Hudson was shot down off the Norwegian coast. He is buried in the military cemetery at Trondheim” www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/11/a2104011.shtml en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Walker_(cricketer) content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/22664.html ****************************************************************** Private Bernard Cecil Watson Private; 4th R. Norfolk Regiment; Singapore; 11th February 1942 (RoH) Name: WATSON, BERNARD CECIL Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 11/02/1942 Service No: 5774015 Grave/Memorial Reference: 17. B. 12. Cemetery: KRANJI WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2821932 The 4th Battalion were trapped in Singapore at this point, subject to constant attack and without air cover. Three days later, Singapore would surrender, with many prisoners subsequently being worked to death by the Japanese. www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/armedforces_r_norfolk.html www.britain-at-war.org.uk/WW2/royal_norfolks_in_far_east/... ****************************************************************** Leading Aircraftman Timothy Gurney Whiteland Leading Aircraftman; Royal Air Force; Carberry, Manitoba; 3rd December 1943 (RoH) Name: WHITELAND, TIMOTHY GURNEY Rank: Leading Aircraftman Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age: 20 Date of Death: 03/12/1943 Service No: 1399640 Additional information: Son of Arthur and Una Whiteland, of Bungay, Suffolk, England. Grave/Memorial Reference: Lot 4. Block B. Sec. 27. Cemetery: BRANDON CEMETERY, Manitoba www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2851054 Carberry was an Elementary Flying Training School, where new aircrew learnt the basics of flying. This was many bases set up in Canada, South Africa and Australia, as well as secretly in the US prior to December 1941. A taste of what these training camps involved can be read here users.cyberone.com.au/clardo/td_taylor.html ********************************************************************** Private Peter George Whyte Private; 4th Bn. Wiltshire Regiment; Normandy; 6th August 1944 (RoH) Name: WHYTE, PETER GEORGE FRANK Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 06/08/1944 Service No: 14577121 Additional information: Son of Herbert Frank and Doris Elizabeth Whyte, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. C. 13. Cemetery: ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2062943 St Charles de Percy War Cemetery is the southernmost of the Normandy cemeteries. The majority of those buried here died in late July and early August 1944 in the major thrust made from Caumont l'Evente towards Vire, to drive a wedge between the German 7th Army and Panzer Group West. The cemetery contains 809 Second World War burials. www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=200500... The 4th Battalion had been heavily engaged since landing in Normandy, including this action at Hill 112 which Private Whyte possibly took part in and survived. history.farmersboys.com/Battle_Honours/hill_112.htm They then took part in Operation Bluecoat, which would culminate with the capture of Pinchon on the 6th August. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bluecoat www.43wessexassociation.com/history/mont_pincon.html Later in August the unit would be tasked with establishing the first crossing of the Seine. ********************************************************************** Private Ernest Arthur Wilson Private; 4th R. Norfolk Regiment; Off Singapore; 21st September 1944 (RoH) Name: WILSON, ERNEST ARTHUR Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 21/09/1944 Service No: 5774378 Additional information: Son of Arthur and Edith Wilson; husband of Muriel Mabel Wilson, of Bungay, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 54. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2538580 At first I assumed Ernest was lost in the sinking of the Toyofuku Maru on this day, but that was sunk by US warplanes of the Philipines in an attack which left over 1,000 Allied PoW dead. There is an E V Wilson listed but the rank is Corpoal and the service number is completely different. www.cofepow.org.uk/remembrance/Toyofuku_Maru/index.htm ******************************************************************** LAircraftman Dennis Wood Leading Aircraftman (Radio Operator) 956838, No. 24 Air Sea Rescue Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died off Lowestoft 28th June 1944. Aged 28. Son of Thornton and Sarah Wood; husband of Eva Andelinda Wood, of Ipswich. B.A., Hons. (Bristol). Buried in BUNGAY CEMETERY, Bungay, Suffolk. Section DX. Grave 101. (RoH) Name: WOOD, DENNIS Rank: Leading Aircraftman Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 24 Air Sea Rescue Sqdn. Age: 28 Date of Death: 29/06/1944 Service No: 956838 Additional information: Son of Thornton and Sarah Wood; husband of Eva Andelinda Wood, of Ipswich. B.A., Hons. (Bristol). Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. DX. Grave 101. Cemetery: BUNGAY CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720333 Note slight discrepancy in date of death. Throughout the Second World War No.24 Squadron served as a communications and transport squadron, operating a wide range of aircraft. When war broke out it had been planned to replace the mixed bag of aircraft then in use with twenty Miles Mentors, but this plan had to be abandoned, and the squadron would not begin to concentrate on a single type until April 1942. As the senior transport squadron it often carried V.I.P.s. In March 1943 it was given the task of operating Churchill's personal Avro York, soon named "Ascalon". The first two production Yorks were also given to the squadron, also as V.I.P. transports. The month after the arrival of the first York, the squadron began to standardise on the Douglas Dakota. The smaller aircraft remained with the squadron until August 1943, when they were transferred to No.512 Squadron. The scope of the squadron's operations reflects the nature of the war. From 1939 until the summer of 1940 No.24 frequently flew into France. From 1940 until April 1942 the majority of flights were within Britain. In that month the squadron joined Ferry Command and began to operate between Britain and Malta. In the last few years of the war the squadron was used to transport Churchill and other key personnel to the wartime conferences. www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/24_wwII.html ******************************************************************** Lance Corporal Harry Theodore Woodhouse Lance-Corporal; France; 16th September 1944 (RoH) Name: WOODHOUSE, HARRY THEODORE Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Date of Death: 16/09/1944 Service No: 7634710 Additional information: Son of Eustace Charles and Constance Alice Woodhouse; husband of Joyce Woodhouse. Grave/Memorial Reference: Divn. 67. Row R. Grave 4. Cemetery: STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2095301 ******************************************************************* Glider Pilot J H Woodland [Listed on memorial as J H but as J J on the plaque (b)] Glider Pilot; Royal Air Force (RoH) There is no J H or J J listed on the CWGC site. Most likely is Name: WOODLAND, HERBERT JAMES Rank: Serjeant Regiment/Service: Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C. Unit Text: 1st Age: 27 Date of Death: 09/07/1943 Service No: 5778071 Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 12. Memorial: CASSINO MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2099202 Within the cemetery stands the CASSINO MEMORIAL which commemorates over 4,000 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in the Italian campaign and whose graves are not known. As mainland Italy wasn’t invaded until the 3rd September 1943, it is a bit of a mystery why Serjeant Woods is remembered here as it was actually the invasion of Sicily that took place on this date. The British 1st Airlanding Brigade mounted in 137 gliders, were the first to land. They were to seize the Ponte Grande Bridge south of Syracuse. These landings were, on the whole, unsuccessful. Of the 137 gliders, 69 came down in the sea, drowning some 200 men. A further 56 landed in the wrong area of Sicily and just 12 reached the target area and managed to take the bridge. www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/husky1943/defau... www.paradata.org.uk/events/sicily-operation-husky www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/husky1943/paget... www.ww2incolor.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-7432.html ******************************************************************** Flt Lt Charles Woodward Flight Lieutenant; R. Canadian A.F., Coastal Command; English Channel; 23rd December 1942 (RoH) CWGC details for above Name: WOODWARD, CHARLES WALTER Rank: Flying Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force Unit Text: 407 Sqdn. Date of Death: 23/12/1942 Service No: J/6867 Additional information: Son of Alfred and Amelia Woodward, of Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 99. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1532062 At the time 407 Squadron was flying the Hudson III/V There are no claims in the Luftwaffe records for a Hudson shot down on this day. www.rafbnmp.org.uk/407squadron.htm ****************************************************************** Private Frederick [George] Woolner Private 5957986, the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Died at Roehampton 10th December 1943. Aged 32. Son of Henry William and Alice Woolner, of Bungay. Buried in BUNGAY CEMETERY, Bungay, Suffolk. Section DX. Grave 76.(RoH) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720334 See brother William below ********************************************************************* Private William Woolner Private; 4th Bn. Suffolk Regiment; Singapore; 14th June 1943 (RoH) Name: WOOLNER, WILLIAM Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Army Catering Corps Secondary Regiment: Suffolk Regiment Secondary Unit Text: attd. 4th Bn Age: 30 Date of Death: 14/06/1943 Service No: 5824779 Additional information: Son of Henry William and Alice Woolner; husband of Violet Lily May Woolner, of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. L. 74. Cemetery: KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2195723 See brother Frederick above The 4th Battalion were captured with the Fall of Singapore, with many prisoners subsequently being worked to death by the Japanese. www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/armedforces_r_norfolk.html www.britain-at-war.org.uk/WW2/royal_norfolks_in_far_east/... ******************************************************************** Guardsman Reginald Ernest Wooltorton Guardsman; The Grenadier Guards; North Africa; 4th May 1943 No Wooltorton or Woltorton matches - CWGC has Name: WOOLTERTON, REGINALD ERNEST Rank: Guardsman Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards Unit Text: 5th Bn. Date of Death: 04/05/1943 Service No: 2616401 Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. F. 17. Cemetery: OUED ZARGA WAR CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2822845 Guardsman Woolterton was one of 5 fatalities the 5th Battalion was to suffer on this day. In one source he is recorded as having Died of Wounds. www.thegrenadierguards.co.uk/Alpha%20List%20W%20-%20Based... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign ************************************************************************* www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/Bungay.html BUNGAY ROLL OF HONOUR. THE SECOND WORLD WAR. 1939 - 1945.

See more photos of this, and the Wikipedia article. Details, quoting from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning In the P-38 Lockheed engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and his team of designers created one of the most successful twin-engine fighters ever flown by any nation. From 1942 to 1945, U. S. Army Air Forces pilots flew P-38s over Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific, and from the frozen Aleutian Islands to the sun-baked deserts of North Africa. Lightning pilots in the Pacific theater downed more Japanese aircraft than pilots flying any other Allied warplane. Maj. Richard I. Bong, America's leading fighter ace, flew this P-38J-10-LO on April 16, 1945, at Wright Field, Ohio, to evaluate an experimental method of interconnecting the movement of the throttle and propeller control levers. However, his right engine exploded in flight before he could conduct the experiment. Transferred from the United States Air Force. Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Company Date: 1943 Country of Origin: United States of America Dimensions: Overall: 390 x 1170cm, 6345kg, 1580cm (12ft 9 9/16in. x 38ft 4 5/8in., 13988.2lb., 51ft 10 1/16in.) Materials: All-metal Physical Description: Twin-tail boom and twin-engine fighter; tricycle landing gear. Long Description: From 1942 to 1945, the thunder of P-38 Lightnings was heard around the world. U. S. Army pilots flew the P-38 over Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific; from the frozen Aleutian Islands to the sun-baked deserts of North Africa. Measured by success in combat, Lockheed engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and a team of designers created the most successful twin-engine fighter ever flown by any nation. In the Pacific Theater, Lightning pilots downed more Japanese aircraft than pilots flying any other Army Air Forces warplane. Johnson and his team conceived this twin-engine, single-pilot fighter airplane in 1936 and the Army Air Corps authorized the firm to build it in June 1937. Lockheed finished constructing the prototype XP-38 and delivered it to the Air Corps on New Year's Day, 1939. Air Corps test pilot and P-38 project officer, Lt. Benjamin S. Kelsey, first flew the aircraft on January 27. Losing this prototype in a crash at Mitchel Field, New York, with Kelsey at the controls, did not deter the Air Corps from ordering 13 YP-38s for service testing on April 27. Kelsey survived the crash and remained an important part of the Lightning program. Before the airplane could be declared ready for combat, Lockheed had to block the effects of high-speed aerodynamic compressibility and tail buffeting, and solve other problems discovered during the service tests. The most vexing difficulty was the loss of control in a dive caused by aerodynamic compressibility. During late spring 1941, Air Corps Major Signa A. Gilke encountered serious trouble while diving his Lightning at high-speed from an altitude of 9,120 m (30,000 ft). When he reached an indicated airspeed of about 515 kph (320 mph), the airplane's tail began to shake violently and the nose dropped until the dive was almost vertical. Signa recovered and landed safely and the tail buffet problem was soon resolved after Lockheed installed new fillets to improve airflow where the cockpit gondola joined the wing center section. Seventeen months passed before engineers began to determine what caused the Lightning's nose to drop. They tested a scale model P-38 in the Ames Laboratory wind tunnel operated by the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) and found that shock waves formed when airflow over the wing leading edges reached transonic speeds. The nose drop and loss of control was never fully remedied but Lockheed installed dive recovery flaps under each wing in 1944. These devices slowed the P-38 enough to allow the pilot to maintain control when diving at high-speed. Just as the development of the North American P-51 Mustang, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and the Vought F4U Corsair (see NASM collection for these aircraft) pushed the limits of aircraft performance into unexplored territory, so too did P-38 development. The type of aircraft envisioned by the Lockheed design team and Air Corps strategists in 1937 did not appear until June 1944. This protracted shakedown period mirrors the tribulations suffered by Vought in sorting out the many technical problems that kept F4U Corsairs off U. S. Navy carrier decks until the end of 1944. Lockheed's efforts to trouble-shoot various problems with the design also delayed high-rate, mass production. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the company had delivered only 69 Lightnings to the Army. Production steadily increased and at its peak in 1944, 22 sub-contractors built various Lightning components and shipped them to Burbank, California, for final assembly. Consolidated-Vultee (Convair) subcontracted to build the wing center section and the firm later became prime manufacturer for 2,000 P-38Ls but that company's Nashville plant completed only 113 examples of this Lightning model before war's end. Lockheed and Convair finished 10,038 P-38 aircraft including 500 photo-reconnaissance models. They built more L models, 3,923, than any other version. To ease control and improve stability, particularly at low speeds, Lockheed equipped all Lightnings, except a batch ordered by Britain, with propellers that counter-rotated. The propeller to the pilot's left turned counter-clockwise and the propeller to his right turned clockwise, so that one propeller countered the torque and airflow effects generated by the other. The airplane also performed well at high speeds and the definitive P-38L model could make better than 676 kph (420 mph) between 7,600 and 9,120 m (25,000 and 30,000 ft). The design was versatile enough to carry various combinations of bombs, air-to-ground rockets, and external fuel tanks. The multi-engine configuration reduced the Lightning loss-rate to anti-aircraft gunfire during ground attack missions. Single-engine airplanes equipped with power plants cooled by pressurized liquid, such as the North American P-51 Mustang (see NASM collection), were particularly vulnerable. Even a small nick in one coolant line could cause the engine to seize in a matter of minutes. The first P-38s to reach the Pacific combat theater arrived on April 4, 1942, when a version of the Lightning that carried reconnaissance cameras (designated the F-4), joined the 8th Photographic Squadron based in Australia. This unit launched the first P-38 combat missions over New Guinea and New Britain during April. By May 29, the first 25 P-38s had arrived in Anchorage, Alaska. On August 9, pilots of the 343rd Fighter Group, Eleventh Air Force, flying the P-38E, shot down a pair of Japanese flying boats. Back in the United States, Army Air Forces leaders tried to control a rumor that Lightnings killed their own pilots. On August 10, 1942, Col. Arthur I. Ennis, Chief of U. S. Army Air Forces Public Relations in Washington, told a fellow officer "… Here's what the 4th Fighter [training] Command is up against… common rumor out there that the whole West Coast was filled with headless bodies of men who jumped out of P-38s and had their heads cut off by the propellers." Novice Lightning pilots unfamiliar with the correct bailout procedures actually had more to fear from the twin-boom tail, if an emergency dictated taking to the parachute but properly executed, Lightning bailouts were as safe as parachuting from any other high-performance fighter of the day. Misinformation and wild speculation about many new aircraft was rampant during the early War period. Along with U. S. Navy Grumman F4F Wildcats (see NASM collection) and Curtiss P-40 Warhawks (see NASM collection), Lightnings were the first American fighter airplanes capable of consistently defeating Japanese fighter aircraft. On November 18, men of the 339th Fighter Squadron became the first Lightning pilots to attack Japanese fighters. Flying from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, they claimed three during a mission to escort Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers (see NASM collection). On April 18, 1943, fourteen P-38 pilots from the 70th and the 339th Fighter Squadrons, 347th Fighter Group, accomplished one of the most important Lightning missions of the war. American ULTRA cryptanalysts had decoded Japanese messages that revealed the timetable for a visit to the front by the commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. This charismatic leader had crafted the plan to attack Pearl Harbor and Allied strategists believed his loss would severely cripple Japanese morale. The P-38 pilots flew 700 km (435 miles) at heights from 3-15 m (10-50 feet) above the ocean to avoid detection. Over the coast of Bougainville, they intercepted a formation of two Mitsubishi G4M BETTY bombers (see NASM collection) carrying the Admiral and his staff, and six Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters (see NASM collection) providing escort. The Lightning pilots downed both bombers but lost Lt. Ray Hine to a Zero. In Europe, the first Americans to down a Luftwaffe aircraft were Lt. Elza E. Shahan flying a 27th Fighter Squadron P-38E, and Lt. J. K. Shaffer flying a Curtiss P-40 (see NASM collection) in the 33rd Fighter Squadron. The two flyers shared the destruction of a Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor maritime strike aircraft over Iceland on August 14, 1942. Later that month, the 1st fighter group accepted Lightnings and began combat operations from bases in England but this unit soon moved to fight in North Africa. More than a year passed before the P-38 reappeared over Western Europe. While the Lightning was absent, U. S. Army Air Forces strategists had relearned a painful lesson: unescorted bombers cannot operate successfully in the face of determined opposition from enemy fighters. When P-38s returned to England, the primary mission had become long-range bomber escort at ranges of about 805 kms (500 miles) and at altitudes above 6,080 m (20,000 ft). On October 15, 1943, P-38H pilots in the 55th Fighter Group flew their first combat mission over Europe at a time when the need for long-range escorts was acute. Just the day before, German fighter pilots had destroyed 60 of 291 Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses (see NASM collection) during a mission to bomb five ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany. No air force could sustain a loss-rate of nearly 20 percent for more than a few missions but these targets lay well beyond the range of available escort fighters (Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, see NASM collection). American war planners hoped the long-range capabilities of the P-38 Lightning could halt this deadly trend, but the very high and very cold environment peculiar to the European air war caused severe power plant and cockpit heating difficulties for the Lightning pilots. The long-range escort problem was not completely solved until the North American P-51 Mustang (see NASM collection) began to arrive in large numbers early in 1944. Poor cockpit heating in the H and J model Lightnings made flying and fighting at altitudes that frequently approached 12,320 m (40,000 ft) nearly impossible. This was a fundamental design flaw that Kelly Johnson and his team never anticipated when they designed the airplane six years earlier. In his seminal work on the Allison V-1710 engine, Daniel Whitney analyzed in detail other factors that made the P-38 a disappointing airplane in combat over Western Europe. • Many new and inexperienced pilots arrived in England during December 1943, along with the new J model P-38 Lightning. • J model rated at 1,600 horsepower vs. 1,425 for earlier H model Lightnings. This power setting required better maintenance between flights. It appears this work was not done in many cases. • During stateside training, Lightning pilots were taught to fly at high rpm settings and low engine manifold pressure during cruise flight. This was very hard on the engines, and not in keeping with technical directives issued by Allison and Lockheed. • The quality of fuel in England may have been poor, TEL (tetraethyl lead) fuel additive appeared to condense inside engine induction manifolds, causing detonation (destructive explosion of fuel mixture rather than controlled burning). • Improved turbo supercharger intercoolers appeared on the J model P-38. These devices greatly reduced manifold temperatures but this encouraged TEL condensation in manifolds during cruise flight and increased spark plug fouling. Using water injection to minimize detonation might have reduced these engine problems. Both the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and the North American P-51 Mustang (see NASM collection) were fitted with water injection systems but not the P-38. Lightning pilots continued to fly, despite these handicaps. During November 1942, two all-Lightning fighter groups, the 1st and the 14th, began operating in North Africa. In the Mediterranean Theater, P-38 pilots flew more sorties than Allied pilots flying any other type of fighter. They claimed 608 enemy a/c destroyed in the air, 123 probably destroyed and 343 damaged, against the loss of 131 Lightnings. In the war against Japan, the P-38 truly excelled. Combat rarely occurred above 6,080 m (20,000 ft) and the engine and cockpit comfort problems common in Europe never plagued pilots in the Pacific Theater. The Lightning's excellent range was used to full advantage above the vast expanses of water. In early 1945, Lightning pilots of the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, flew a mission that lasted 10 ½ hours and covered more than 3,220 km (2,000 miles). In August, P-38 pilots established the world's long-distance record for a World War II combat fighter when they flew from the Philippines to the Netherlands East Indies, a distance of 3,703 km (2,300 miles). During early 1944, Lightning pilots in the 475th Fighter Group began the 'race of aces.' By March, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Lynch had scored 21 victories before he fell to antiaircraft gunfire while strafing enemy ships. Major Thomas B. McGuire downed 38 Japanese aircraft before he was killed when his P-38 crashed at low altitude in early January 1945. Major Richard I. Bong became America's highest scoring fighter ace (40 victories) but died in the crash of a Lockheed P-80 (see NASM collection) on August 6, 1945. Museum records show that Lockheed assigned the construction number 422-2273 to the National Air and Space Museum's P-38. The Army Air Forces accepted this Lightning as a P-38J-l0-LO on November 6, 1943, and the service identified the airplane with the serial number 42-67762. Recent investigations conducted by a team of specialists at the Paul E. Garber Facility, and Herb Brownstein, a volunteer in the Aeronautics Division at the National Air and Space Museum, have revealed many hitherto unknown aspects to the history of this aircraft. Brownstein examined NASM files and documents at the National Archives. He discovered that a few days after the Army Air Forces (AAF) accepted this airplane, the Engineering Division at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, granted Lockheed permission to convert this P-38 into a two-seat trainer. The firm added a seat behind the pilot to accommodate an instructor who would train civilian pilots in instrument flying techniques. Once trained, these test pilots evaluated new Lightnings fresh off the assembly line. In a teletype sent by the Engineering Division on March 2, 1944, Brownstein also discovered that this P-38 was released to Colonel Benjamin S. Kelsey from March 3 to April 10, 1944, to conduct special tests. This action was confirmed the following day in a cable from the War Department. This same pilot, then a Lieutenant, flew the XP-38 across the United States in 1939 and survived the crash that destroyed this Lightning at Mitchel Field, New York. In early 1944, Kelsey was assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England and he apparently traveled to the Lockheed factory at Burbank to pick up the P-38. Further information about these tests and Kelsey's involvement remain an intriguing question. One of Brownstein's most important discoveries was a small file rich with information about the NASM Lightning. This file contained a cryptic reference to a "Major Bong" who flew the NASM P-38 on April 16, 1945, at Wright Field. Bong had planned to fly for an hour to evaluate an experimental method of interconnecting the movement of the throttle and propeller control levers. His flight ended after twenty-minutes when "the right engine blew up before I had a chance [to conduct the test]." The curator at the Richard I. Bong Heritage Center confirmed that America's highest scoring ace made this flight in the NASM P-38 Lightning. Working in Building 10 at the Paul E. Garber Facility, Rob Mawhinney, Dave Wilson, Wil Lee, Bob Weihrauch, Jim Purton, and Heather Hutton spent several months during the spring and summer of 2001 carefully disassembling, inspecting, and cleaning the NASM Lightning. They found every hardware modification consistent with a model J-25 airplane, not the model J-10 painted in the data block beneath the artifact's left nose. This fact dovetails perfectly with knowledge uncovered by Brownstein. On April 10, the Engineering Division again cabled Lockheed asking the company to prepare 42-67762 for transfer to Wright Field "in standard configuration." The standard P-38 configuration at that time was the P-38J-25. The work took several weeks and the fighter does not appear on Wright Field records until May 15, 1944. On June 9, the Flight Test Section at Wright Field released the fighter for flight trials aimed at collecting pilot comments on how the airplane handled. Wright Field's Aeromedical Laboratory was the next organization involved with this P-38. That unit installed a kit on July 26 that probably measured the force required to move the control wheel left and right to actuate the power-boosted ailerons installed in all Lightnings beginning with version J-25. From August 12-16, the Power Plant Laboratory carried out tests to measure the hydraulic pump temperatures on this Lightning. Then beginning September 16 and lasting about ten days, the Bombing Branch, Armament Laboratory, tested type R-3 fragmentation bomb racks. The work appears to have ended early in December. On June 20, 1945, the AAF Aircraft Distribution Office asked that the Air Technical Service Command transfer the Lightning from Wright Field to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, a temporary holding area for Air Force museum aircraft. The P-38 arrived at the Oklahoma City Air Depot on June 27, 1945, and mechanics prepared the fighter for flyable storage. Airplane Flight Reports for this Lightning also describe the following activities and movements: 6-21-45 Wright Field, Ohio, 5.15 hours of flying. 6-22-45Wright Field, Ohio, .35 minutes of flying by Lt. Col. Wendel [?] J. Kelley and P. Shannon. 6-25-45Altus, Oklahoma, .55 hours flown, pilot P. Shannon. 6-27-45Altus, Oklahoma, #2 engine changed, 1.05 hours flown by Air Corps F/O Ralph F. Coady. 10-5-45 OCATSC-GCAAF (Garden City Army Air Field, Garden City, Kansas), guns removed and ballast added. 10-8-45Adams Field, Little Rock, Arkansas. 10-9-45Nashville, Tennessee, 5-28-46Freeman Field, Indiana, maintenance check by Air Corps Capt. H. M. Chadhowere [sp]? 7-24-46Freeman Field, Indiana, 1 hour local flight by 1st Lt. Charles C. Heckel. 7-31-46 Freeman Field, Indiana, 4120th AAF Base Unit, ferry flight to Orchard Place [Illinois] by 1st Lt. Charles C. Heckel. On August 5, 1946, the AAF moved the aircraft to another storage site at the former Consolidated B-24 bomber assembly plant at Park Ridge, Illinois. A short time later, the AAF transferred custody of the Lightning and more than sixty other World War II-era airplanes to the Smithsonian National Air Museum. During the early 1950s, the Air Force moved these airplanes from Park Ridge to the Smithsonian storage site at Suitland, Maryland. • • • Quoting from Wikipedia | Lockheed P-38 Lightning: The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Named "fork-tailed devil" by the Luftwaffe and "two planes, one pilot" by the Japanese, the P-38 was used in a number of roles, including dive bombing, level bombing, ground-attack, photo reconnaissance missions, and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings. The P-38 was used most successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations as the mount of America's top aces, Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories). In the South West Pacific theater, the P-38 was the primary long-range fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the appearance of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs toward the end of the war. The P-38 was unusually quiet for a fighter, the exhaust muffled by the turbo-superchargers. It was extremely forgiving, and could be mishandled in many ways, but the rate of roll was too slow for it to excel as a dogfighter. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbor to Victory over Japan Day. Variants: Lightning in maturity: P-38J The P-38J was introduced in August 1943. The turbo-supercharger intercooler system on previous variants had been housed in the leading edges of the wings and had proven vulnerable to combat damage and could burst if the wrong series of controls were mistakenly activated. In the P-38J model, the streamlined engine nacelles of previous Lightnings were changed to fit the intercooler radiator between the oil coolers, forming a "chin" that visually distinguished the J model from its predecessors. While the P-38J used the same V-1710-89/91 engines as the H model, the new core-type intercooler more efficiently lowered intake manifold temperatures and permitted a substantial increase in rated power. The leading edge of the outer wing was fitted with 55 gal (208 l) fuel tanks, filling the space formerly occupied by intercooler tunnels, but these were omitted on early P-38J blocks due to limited availability. The final 210 J models, designated P-38J-25-LO, alleviated the compressibility problem through the addition of a set of electrically-actuated dive recovery flaps just outboard of the engines on the bottom centerline of the wings. With these improvements, a USAAF pilot reported a dive speed of almost 600 mph (970 km/h), although the indicated air speed was later corrected for compressibility error, and the actual dive speed was lower. Lockheed manufactured over 200 retrofit modification kits to be installed on P-38J-10-LO and J-20-LO already in Europe, but the USAAF C-54 carrying them was shot down by an RAF pilot who mistook the Douglas transport for a German Focke-Wulf Condor. Unfortunately the loss of the kits came during Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier's four-month morale-boosting tour of P-38 bases. Flying a new Lightning named "Snafuperman" modified to full P-38J-25-LO specs at Lockheed's modification center near Belfast, LeVier captured the pilots' full attention by routinely performing maneuvers during March 1944 that common Eighth Air Force wisdom held to be suicidal. It proved too little too late because the decision had already been made to re-equip with Mustangs. The P-38J-25-LO production block also introduced hydraulically-boosted ailerons, one of the first times such a system was fitted to a fighter. This significantly improved the Lightning's rate of roll and reduced control forces for the pilot. This production block and the following P-38L model are considered the definitive Lightnings, and Lockheed ramped up production, working with subcontractors across the country to produce hundreds of Lightnings each month. Noted P-38 pilots Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire The American ace of aces and his closest competitor both flew Lightnings as they tallied 40 and 38 victories respectively. Majors Richard I. "Dick" Bong and Thomas J. "Tommy" McGuire of the USAAF competed for the top position. Both men were awarded the Medal of Honor. McGuire was killed in air combat in January 1945 over the Philippines, after racking up 38 confirmed kills, making him the second-ranking American ace. Bong was rotated back to the United States as America's ace of aces, after making 40 kills, becoming a test pilot. He was killed on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, when his P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter flamed out on takeoff. Charles Lindbergh The famed aviator Charles Lindbergh toured the South Pacific as a civilian contractor for United Aircraft Corporation, comparing and evaluating performance of single- and twin-engined fighters for Vought. He worked to improve range and load limits of the F4U Corsair, flying both routine and combat strafing missions in Corsairs alongside Marine pilots. In Hollandia, he attached himself to the 475th FG flying P-38s so that he could investigate the twin-engine fighter. Though new to the machine, he was instrumental in extending the range of the P-38 through improved throttle settings, or engine-leaning techniques, notably by reducing engine speed to 1,600 rpm, setting the carburetors for auto-lean and flying at 185 mph (298 km/h) indicated airspeed which reduced fuel consumption to 70 gal/h, about 2.6 mpg. This combination of settings had been considered dangerous; it was thought it would upset the fuel mixture and cause an explosion. Everywhere Lindbergh went in the South Pacific, he was accorded the normal preferential treatment of a visiting colonel, though he had resigned his Air Corps Reserve colonel's commission three years before. While with the 475th, he held training classes and took part in a number of Army Air Corps combat missions. On 28 July 1944, Lindbergh shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" flown expertly by the veteran commander of 73rd Independent Flying Chutai, Imperial Japanese Army Captain Saburo Shimada. In an extended, twisting dogfight in which many of the participants ran out of ammunition, Shimada turned his aircraft directly toward Lindbergh who was just approaching the combat area. Lindbergh fired in a defensive reaction brought on by Shimada's apparent head-on ramming attack. Hit by cannon and machine gun fire, the "Sonia's" propeller visibly slowed, but Shimada held his course. Lindbergh pulled up at the last moment to avoid collision as the damaged "Sonia" went into a steep dive, hit the ocean and sank. Lindbergh's wingman, ace Joseph E. "Fishkiller" Miller, Jr., had also scored hits on the "Sonia" after it had begun its fatal dive, but Miller was certain the kill credit was Lindbergh's. The unofficial kill was not entered in the 475th's war record. On 12 August 1944 Lindbergh left Hollandia to return to the United States. Charles MacDonald The seventh-ranking American ace, Charles H. MacDonald, flew a Lightning against the Japanese, scoring 27 kills in his famous aircraft, the Putt Putt Maru. Robin Olds Main article: Robin Olds Robin Olds was the last P-38 ace in the Eighth Air Force and the last in the ETO. Flying a P-38J, he downed five German fighters on two separate missions over France and Germany. He subsequently transitioned to P-51s to make seven more kills. After World War II, he flew F-4 Phantom IIs in Vietnam, ending his career as brigadier general with 16 kills. Clay Tice A P-38 piloted by Clay Tice was the first American aircraft to land in Japan after VJ-Day, when he and his wingman set down on Nitagahara because his wingman was low on fuel. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Noted aviation pioneer and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry vanished in a F-5B-1-LO, 42-68223, c/n 2734, of Groupe de Chasse II/33, out of Borgo-Porreta, Bastia, Corsica, a reconnaissance variant of the P-38, while on a flight over the Mediterranean, from Corsica to mainland France, on 31 July 1944. His health, both physical and mental (he was said to be intermittently subject to depression), had been deteriorating and there had been talk of taking him off flight status. There have been suggestions (although no proof to date) that this was a suicide rather than an aircraft failure or combat loss. In 2000, a French scuba diver found the wreckage of a Lightning in the Mediterranean off the coast of Marseille, and it was confirmed in April 2004 as Saint-Exupéry's F-5B. No evidence of air combat was found. In March 2008, a former Luftwaffe pilot, Horst Rippert from Jagdgruppe 200, claimed to have shot down Saint-Exupéry. Adrian Warburton The RAF's legendary photo-recon "ace", Wing Commander Adrian Warburton DSO DFC, was the pilot of a Lockheed P-38 borrowed from the USAAF that took off on 12 April 1944 to photograph targets in Germany. W/C Warburton failed to arrive at the rendezvous point and was never seen again. In 2003, his remains were recovered in Germany from his wrecked USAAF P-38 Lightning. • • • • • Quoting Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay": Boeing's B-29 Superfortress was the most sophisticated propeller-driven bomber of World War II and the first bomber to house its crew in pressurized compartments. Although designed to fight in the European theater, the B-29 found its niche on the other side of the globe. In the Pacific, B-29s delivered a variety of aerial weapons: conventional bombs, incendiary bombs, mines, and two nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, this Martin-built B-29-45-MO dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, Bockscar (on display at the U.S. Air Force Museum near Dayton, Ohio) dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Enola Gay flew as the advance weather reconnaissance aircraft that day. A third B-29, The Great Artiste, flew as an observation aircraft on both missions. Transferred from the United States Air Force. Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Co. Martin Co., Omaha, Nebr. Date: 1945 Country of Origin: United States of America Dimensions: Overall: 900 x 3020cm, 32580kg, 4300cm (29ft 6 5/16in. x 99ft 1in., 71825.9lb., 141ft 15/16in.) Materials: Polished overall aluminum finish Physical Description: Four-engine heavy bomber with semi-monoqoque fuselage and high-aspect ratio wings. Polished aluminum finish overall, standard late-World War II Army Air Forces insignia on wings and aft fuselage and serial number on vertical fin; 509th Composite Group markings painted in black; "Enola Gay" in black, block letters on lower left nose.

The outset of World War II saw a progression of American aircraft carrier design leading to larger and more heavily armored battle carriers. CVB-41, the lead ship of the Midway class, was ordered on August 7, 1942. She was the first fleet carrier to have the distinction of being named after a WWII battle. The carrier battle of Midway Island in June 1942 turned the tide of World War II and proved conclusively the potential of naval aviation. CVB-41 was the third American ship and the second aircraft carrier to bear the name of Midway. The name of the first USS Midway, a fleet auxiliary, was changed to the USS Panay in April, 1943. The second ship bearing the name was a jeep carrier USS Midway, CVE-63, which was changed to the USS Saint Lo in September 1944. The product of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, she was the lead ship of three 45,000-ton Midway class CVBs, followed by USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVB-42 and USS Coral Sea, CVB-43. Two additional ships were canceled. Midway's keel was laid on October 27, 1943. The Midway class hull arrangement was modeled on the canceled Montana class battleships and was a new, much larger design intended to correct certain problems in the Essex class design. They had armored flight decks, requiring a much larger hull and lower freeboard, to reduce top weight. They also carried a very heavy AA battery of 5/54 weapons. The armor requirement was originally meant to counter 8" cruiser gunfire, but by the time the ships were laid down the focus had shifted to defending against aircraft attack. Launched on March 20, 1945, she was sponsored by Mrs. Bradford William Ripley, Jr. Commissioned on September 10, 1945, with Captain Joseph F. Bolger in command, Midway was the largest warship in the world for the first decade of her service. Every aspect of her construction included the most modern design innovations possible. Twelve Babcock and Wilcox boilers powered four Westinghouse geared turbines which developed 212,000 horsepower for a maximum speed of 33 knots. Midway was designed with two catapults, fourteen arresting cables, and six barriers. Her design aircraft compliment was 137. In their early years, the Midway class carriers were the only ships capable of operating nuclear strike aircraft. Midway was first underway on October 12, 1945 and performed her first arrested landing of an F4U-4 Corsair. Her Caribbean shakedown cruise lived up to all expectations, the only negative being a pronounced proclivity to drench the flight deck and the bow 40mm quad mount with green water in moderately heavy seas. Seriously overweight, Midway tended to plunge through, rather than ride over, heavy seas. The result of wartime demands that had continually added more tonnage, Midway quickly earned a reputation as a "wet" ship with her forward flight deck, gun galleries and hangar spaces frequently awash. In her final years, crewmembers described this plunging as "Rock & Roll." In late February 1946 Midway became flagship for Carrier Division 1, operating in the Atlantic where she commenced flight training exercises in earnest. A few months late she embarked on her first major operational assignment, which included Operation FROSTBITE, conducted from March 1 to 28, 1946. Operating in the Labrador Sea and Davis Strait, MIDWAY, three destroyers and a fleet oiler conducted a cold weather evaluation of aircraft, personnel and ships. Embarked onboard Midway was a Coast Guard helicopter and crew, which signified the first use of a helicopter for plane guard duty. Helicopter air-sea rescue techniques were refined and the infamous "poopy suit" was evaluated. Midway conducted flight and refueling operations during these tests despite heavy weather damage to elevator hangar doors and having two to four inches of snow on the flight deck at various times. Early in 1947, operating off the East Coast with her recently redesignated battle group, CVBG-1, Midway operated F4U-4B Corsairs and SB2-C-5 Helldivers. She conducted three training cruises in the Caribbean before sailing from her homeport at Norfolk, Virginia, on another experimental mission. On that landmark cruise, she was accompanied by scientific observers as her crew fired a captured German V-2 rocket from the flight deck on September 6, 1947. The purpose of Operation SANDY was to see if a large rocket could be launched from the deck of an aircraft carrier with little to no modifications. The actual ship launch test was only conducted once. There were prior tests carried out at White Sands on a simulated aircraft carrier deck to see what effects the rocket would have if it were to explode on the deck. This test marked the first time such a weapon was fired from a ship at sea or a moving platform. It decisively demonstrated the potential of large rocket fire from surface ships. On October 29, 1947, Midway departed on her first deployment to the Mediterranean. Her air wing group was CVBG-1, made up of two fighter squadrons, which flew F4U-B Corsairs and AD-1 Skyraiders. Port calls during this cruise included Gibraltar, Algeria (Bone), Malta (Marsaxlokk Harbor), Italy (Genoa, Naples, and Taranto), Sicily (Augusta), and France (Gulf D'Hyeres). On February 18, 1948, a Midway launch capsized off Hyeres, France, killing eight. The deployment concluded in Norfolk, Virginia in March of 1948. A return trip to the Mediterranean was made from January to March 1949. This time, two Marine fighter squadrons were aboard. This cruise was hallmarked when a P2V-3 Neptune launched from Midway off the coast of Norfolk, flew to the Panama Canal, then over Corpus Christi, Texas and on to San Diego, California. This 4,800 mile non-stop flight was completed in 25 hours and 40 minutes. This operation was part of the Navy's determination to develop a carrier-based nuclear strike capability. The Navy modified twelve Lockheed P2V Neptunes to carry the 9000-lb Mk VIII atomic bomb. All three Midway carriers participated in extensive tests that saw this 70,000-lb long-range patrol bomber clear the deck with JATO-assisted rolling takeoffs. Unable to be launched by the ship's hydraulic catapults because of the aircraft's weight, the P2V's wingspan barely cleared the ship's island during its takeoff run. A "make do" aircraft modification too heavy to land on the carriers, the P2Vs turned in impressive performances flying mock "A-bomb" runs. Soon replaced by the more suitable folding-wing AJ-1 Savage, the Navy nevertheless proved that its carriers had nuclear delivery capability. Midway departed Norfolk in October 1949 once again bound for cold weather operations. She operated in the Arctic Circle, gaining membership in "The Royal Order of the Blue Nose," and returned to Norfolk on December 22, 1949. Midway deployed to the Mediterranean for a third time in January 1950 with Air Group Four. Port calls included Istanbul, Cyprus, Malta, Cannes, Oran and Lisbon. She returned to Norfolk in May of that year. On June 26, a Naval airship piloted by Lt. John Fahey, landed and then took off from the Midway during a demonstration for the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet who were aboard Midway. With less than two months to turn around, Midway redeployed in July, exchanging Air Group Four for Air Group Seven. She arrived in Gibraltar with an upgraded fighter capability consisting of F9F-2 Panthers and F8F-1B Bearcats. On October 17th LTJG H. Urban, a pilot from VC-4 became Midway's first Centurion. He made his 100th Midway trap (his 207th career carrier landing) while flying an AD-3N. On this cruise, Midway served as the flagship of COMCARDIV Six and returned to Norfolk in November. The first two years of Midway class carrier operations revealed several shortcomings which were progressively addressed with refits and modifications to maintain the ships' first-line assault carrier status. Their flight decks were reinforced to accept the landing weight of the new 45,000-lb twin-engined, jet-augmented AJ-1 Savage. At this time the process of reducing wartime armament began when four of their eighteen five-inch/54 DP guns were removed. Also begun was the gradual replacement of 40mm Bofors with twenty new three-inch/50 fast-firing semi-automatic AA guns. The test of rigorous steaming soon revealed several other deficiencies which could not be ignored. Skippers complained that the Midway's bridge area was too cramped. This was corrected during construction by extending the island structure on the Coral Sea, and retrofitting enlarged areas to the Midway and Franklin D. Roosevelt during overhaul. These changes also afforded better placement of the gun directors. Later, the three ships would be fitted with "hurricane" bows that enclosed the forward flight deck and hull. From November 1950 until April 1951, Midway was in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for reinforcement of the flight deck to accommodate heavier aircraft. After conducting brief carrier qualifications off the Carolina coast, she steamed south for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After completing refresher training Midway returned to Norfolk in July. In January 1952, Midway made her fifth Mediterranean cruise with Air Group Six embarked. During this cruise, Midway participated in Operation GRAND SLAM, a multi-national English, French, Italian and U.S. exercise. Upon completion of this exercise, she operated in the eastern Mediterranean before returning to Norfolk in May 1952. From 26 to 29 May 1952, the feasibility of the angled deck concept was demonstrated in tests conducted on a simulated angled deck aboard Midway by Naval Air Test Center pilots and Atlantic Fleet pilots in both jet and prop aircraft. In August 1952, Midway departed Norfolk for NATO exercises in the North Sea. This was a combined exercise with USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, USS Wasp, and USS Wisconsin. On October 1, upon her return to Norfolk, Midway was redesignated as attack carrier CVA-41. Again with less than two months preparation, Midway departed on her sixth Mediterranean cruise in December of 1952. The basic composition of the air group remained unchanged. Participating in NATO Operation RENDEZVOUS from March 15 - 24, Midway was the flag ship of Carrier Division Four and made port calls at Gibraltar, France (Golfe Juan and Marseilles), Italy (Taranto, Naples, Genoa, and LaSpezia), Algeria (Algiers and Oran), Sicily (Augusta), Greece (Rhodes and Salonika), Golfe Juan, and Spain (Barcelona & Palma). Returning to Norfolk in May 1953, Midway entered a five-month regular overhaul. In January 1954, Midway deployed to the Mediterranean for the seventh time. Just before entering port in Athens for a state visit, Midway collided with a replenishment ship, USS Great Sitkin, AE-17. Occurring in the Aegean Sea about 1700 on a Sunday, the ships were conducting side-by-side transfer of materials in rough seas. Swells were reported to be about 15 feet between the ships. Upon casting off the last securing lines, the Great Sitkin began a sharp starboard turn. This caused her port stern area to sideswipe the Midway's aft starboard side, just above the waterline, crushing one of the starboard weather deck 5" gun mounts. There was no fire and damage control made temporary repairs while underway. Also during this cruise, a major fire on the flight deck occurred when an F2H bounced over the barrier and went into the pack. Casualties were four pilots and approximately four crew. This cruise was extended an additional month due to their relief, USS Bennington having a catastrophic port catapult machinery explosion, which killed about 100 of the crew. The Bennington had to return to CONUS for repairs before finally departing for the Mediterranean. Midway returned to Norfolk in August of 1954. In December 1954, with Air Group One aboard, Midway departed Norfolk on a world cruise, which culminated in her transfer to the Pacific Fleet. Joining the Seventh Fleet off Taiwan in February 1955, she became the flagship of COMCARDIV Three, operating off the Philippine Islands and Japan. Shortly after her arrival in the area, Midway participated in the evacuation of 24,000 military and civilian personnel of the Republic of China from the Tachen Islands, off the China coast. She remained in the area patrolling the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea until June. For this operation, Midway was awarded the China Service Medal. Midway left Yokosuka, Japan and returned to NAS Alameda, California in July 1955. She entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington and was decommissioned for the first time in October 1955. While the gradual removal of armament helped to curtail the burden of excessive weight, the advent of the angled carrier deck not only added additional tons of displacement, but became a serious factor in stability. Built as axial, or straight-deck carriers, the problem of cycling and spotting aircraft for either launching or recovery operations remained a detriment to combat efficiency since only one function could be performed at a time. The angled flight deck, pioneered by the British, changed all that. After being decommissioned, Midway underwent a modernization project to give her the capability to operate high performance jet aircraft. She was fitted with two steam catapults on the bow and a shorter steam catapult in the new angle deck. The purpose of the third catapult was to allow ready deck launches while keeping the landing area clear for recoveries in an "alert" situation. Additional improvements included the installation of a hurricane (enclosed) bow, moving elevator number three to the starboard deck edge aft of the island, enlarging the number one elevator to accommodate longer aircraft, new arresting gear, jet blast deflectors, and the largest aviation crane ever installed on an aircraft carrier. On recommissioning in September 1957, Midway's load displacement had grown from 55,000 to 62,000 tons. Midway was soon underway in December heading south for shakedown and refresher training. In August 1958, she was underway on her first deployment as an angle deck carrier. With Midway's increased combat capabilities, CVG-2 was composed of two supersonic fighter squadrons and three attack squadrons. On 8 December 1958, the first firing of a Sparrow III air-to-air missile by a squadron deployed outside the U.S. was conducted by VF-64, based aboard Midway. During this cruise, she operated off Taiwan in support of the Quemoy-Matsu crisis as the flagship of COMCARDIV Five. She returned to Alameda in March of 1959. In August 1959, after a one-month turn around period, Midway redeployed to the Far East. During this cruise, she recorded 8,000 landings, including her 80,000th arrested landing. On November 09, 1959, during a port visit to Subic Bay in the Philippines, a fire broke out in the pump room aboard the carrier. While the reason was never clear, official sources named arson. Her eleventh deployment ended with arrival at Alameda in March 1960. Following a five-month overhaul, Midway underwent refresher training, operating from Long Beach, California. During this training, the McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II and the North American A3J-1 Vigilante were aboard for their carrier qualifications prior to entering actual service. Upon completion of her refresher training, Midway was underway in February 1961. With Air Group Two aboard, she operated off the coast of Vietnam during the Laotian crisis, eventually returning to Alameda in September 1961. In April 1962, Midway departed for another Far East tour. During this deployment, her aircraft tested the air defense systems of Japan, Korea, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Taiwan. The 100,000th arrested landing was made during this cruise which ended upon arrival at Alameda in October 1962. After a regular overhaul extending until April 1963, Midway continued its role as a research and development platform. On 13 June 1963, Lt. Cmdr. Randall K. Billins and Lt. Cmdr. Robert S. Chew Jr., of Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, piloting an F-4A Phantom II and an F-8D Crusader respectively, made the first fully automatic carrier landings with production equipment on board Midway off the California coast. The landings, made "hands off" with both flight controls and throttles operated automatically by signals from the ship, highlighted almost 16 years of research and development. Midway made her fourteenth and sixth straight WESTPAC deployment in November 1963. Her most significant improvement was increased jet fighter capacity with the addition of Mach 2.2 F-4B Phantom IIs. She returned to Alameda in May 1964 to replace the number three elevator which had been destroyed and lost during extremely heavy seas. This incident happened while Midway was taking on supplies, using the elevator as the transfer point. A wave hit the elevator, lifting it and cocking it in the runners. The wave partially went over the elevator, nearly washing off the sailors who were moving supplies. A second wave hit the elevator, causing it to drop out the bottom of the runners, lifted it higher, and then dropped it, snapping the cables. The elevator fell behind the ship and eventually sunk. On February 27, 1965, an aircraft from the Midway was inadvertently shot down by a USS Preble (DLG-15) missile when it over flew a missile range during southern California maneuvers for the SILVER LANCE exercise. The pilot was killed. March 1965 marked a milestone in Midway's life as she left Alameda for her first combat cruise. From mid-April, while operating as part of Task Force 77 in the Tonkin Gulf, Midway's aircraft flew 11,900 combat missions over Vietnam. On 17 June 1965, while escorting a strike on the barracks at Gen Phu, North Vietnam, Cmdr. L. C. Page and Lt. J. E. Batson, flying F-4B Phantoms of VF-21, deployed aboard Midway, intercepted four MiG-17s. Cmdr. Page shot down one, scoring the first U.S. victory over MiGs in Vietnam. In the same engagement, Lt. Batson shot down a second MiG with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile. An unconfirmed report shows that debris from the destroyed aircraft was ingested by that MiG's wingman, possibly giving Lt. Batson a double kill. On 20 June, four A-1H Skyraiders from VA-25 were on a mission to locate downed pilots. The Skyraiders were carrying survival canisters and rocket canisters on the wing racks. A support ship detected two enemy aircraft coming from the north and warned the Skyraiders. The Skyraiders immediately dropped all ordnance, including fuel tanks, and went down to treetop level. Finding a small mountain, they started circling it, using it for cover. Two MiG-17s came down and made a pass at the lead Skyraider. The two Skyraiders behind the lead aircraft rolled up and fired at the MiGs with their 20mm cannons. Missing the first MiG, they hit the second with their guns, shooting it down. The pilots were Lt. C. B. Johnson and Ltjg. C. W. Hartman III and each were awarded a half credit for the kill. The nine-month combat cruise ended in November when Midway returned to Alameda. For their performance on this cruise, Midway and her air wing, Attack Carrier Air Wing Two, received the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and, in addition, Midway received the Battle Efficiency "E," marking her as the outstanding carrier in the Pacific Fleet. February 1966 saw Midway decommissioned once again in order to undergo the most extensive and complex modernization ever seen on a naval vessel. This upgrade would take four years to complete, but yielded a much more capable ship and made Midway operationally equivalent to the newest conventionally powered carriers. The flight deck was increased in surface area from 2.82 acres to 4.02 acres. The addition of three new deck-edge elevators could now lift 130,000 pounds compared with 74,000 pounds of her sister ships, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Coral Sea. Two powerful new catapults on the bow, three new arresting gear engines, and one barricade were installed and rearranged to accommodate a change of 13 degrees to the angle deck. The smaller waist catapult was removed since it was ineffective in launching the now heavier aircraft. Modern electronic systems were installed, a central chilled water air conditioning system replaced hundreds of individual units, and Midway became the first ship to have the aviation fueling system completely converted from aviation gas to JP-5. Delays, caused partially by the simultaneous construction of USS Horne and modernization of USS Chicago, and unscheduled repairs to the fire damaged USS Oriskany, drove the initial modernization estimate from 87 million dollars to 202 million dollars. 1970 was a year of preparation for Midway . Now capable of operating the most modern fleet aircraft, Midway was expected to deliver at least another 15 years of service life. After recommissioning on January 31 and underway in March, Builders Trials, Refresher Training and a Post Shakedown yard period helped bring the ship and crew to a peak of readiness. This was reflected in outstanding performances by the ship in early 1971 during the Interim Refresher Training, a fleet exercise, several Carrier Qualification periods and an Operational Readiness Inspection. On April 16, 1971, Midway began her sixteenth deployment 13,000 tons heavier than her original full load displacement. Arriving off the coast of South Vietnam with Air Wing Five embarked and a crew of 4,500, she relieved USS Hancock, CVA-19 on May 18. This was the beginning of single carrier operations, which lasted until the end of the month. During this time, the ship launched over 6,000 missions in support of allied operations in the Republic of Vietnam. Departing Yankee Station on June 5, she completed her final line period on October 31. Midway returned to Alameda on November 6th, after spending 146 consecutive days at sea. For this deployment, Midway was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Due to a sudden North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam, Midway left on April 10, 1972, for a third Vietnam deployment, seven weeks prior to her scheduled deployment date. On this deployment, Air Wing Five aircraft played an important role in the effort of U.S. forces to stop the flow of men and supplies into South Vietnam from the North. On May 11, aircraft from Midway along with those from USS Coral Sea, CVA-43, USS Kitty Hawk, CVA-63, and USS Constellation, CVA-64 continued laying minefields in ports of significance to the North Vietnamese: Thanh Hoa, Dong Hoi, Vinh, Hon Gai, Quang Khe, and Cam Pha, as well as other approaches to Haiphong. Ships that were in port in Haiphong had been advised that the mining would take place and that the mines would be armed 72 hours later. On August 7, an HC-7 Det 110 helicopter, flying from Midway, and aided by other planes from the carrier and USS Saratoga, CVA-60, conducted a search and rescue mission for a downed aviator in North Vietnam. The pilot of an A-7 aircraft from Saratoga had been downed by a surface-to-air missile about 20 miles inland, northwest of Vinh, on 6 August. The HC-7 helo flew over mountainous terrain to rescue the pilot. The rescue helicopter used its search light to assist in locating the downed aviator and, despite receiving heavy ground fire, was successful in retrieving him and returning to an LPD off the coast. This was the deepest penetration of a rescue helicopter into North Vietnam since 1968. HC-7 Det 110 continued its rescue missions and by the end of 1972 had successfully accomplished 48 rescues, 35 of which were under combat conditions. In October, an aircraft crash landed on Midway's deck. This aircraft ran into a group of parked aircraft and destroyed eight of them, killed 5 crewmen and injured 23 others. On January 12, 1973, an aircrew flying from Midway was credited with downing the last MiG of the war. Upon the signing of the cease-fire on January 15, Midway returned home. The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to Midway and Carrier Air Wing Five for exceptional heroism for the period April 30, 1972 to February 09, 1973. This award was a rare presentation during the Vietnam War. During this time Midway was on her third Vietnam combat cruise and spent 208 line days on Yankee Station. CVW-5 had five air combat victories including the last downing of a MiG during the Vietnam hostilities. CVW-5 suffered 15 combat and five operational losses in this period. On September 11, 1973, Midway left Alameda on one of her most important voyages to date. Arriving in Yokosuka, Japan on October 5, 1973, Midway and Carrier Air Wing Five marked the first forward-deployment of a complete carrier task group in a Japanese port as the result of an accord arrived at on August 31, 1972 between the United States and Japan. Known as the Navy's Overseas Family Residency Program, Midway's crew and their families were now permanently home ported in Japan. In addition to the morale factor of dependents housed along with the crew in a foreign port, the move had strategic significance because it facilitated continuous positioning of three carriers in the Far East at a time when the economic situation demanded the reduction of carriers in the fleet. It also effectively reduced the deployment cycles of her sister Pacific Fleet carriers. In April 1975, Midway returned to the waters of Vietnam. On April 20, all fixed-wing aircraft of CVW-5 were flown off to NAS Cubi Point and ten USAF 40th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron H-53's were embarked. Midway, along with USS Coral Sea, CVA-43, USS Hancock, CVA-19, USS Enterprise, CVAN-65 and USS Okinawa, LPH-3, responded to the North Vietnamese overrunning two-thirds of South Vietnam. On April 29, Operation FREQUENT WIND was carried out by U.S. Seventh Fleet forces. As South Vietnam fell, the H-53's from Midway flew in excess of 40 sorties, shuttling 3,073 U.S. personnel and Vietnamese refugees out of Saigon in two days, bringing them onto the ship. Midway's HC-1 Det 2 Sea Kings then transported the evacuees to other ships. One South Vietnamese pilot flew a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog observation plane with his wife and five children out to Midway. He passed a note asking permission to land. The angle deck was cleared and the pilot made a good approach and landed with room to spare. The crew of Midway met him with cheers. For her role in the operation, Midway was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Immediately following Operation FREQUENT WIND, Midway steamed south into the Gulf of Siam to Thailand and brought aboard over 100 American built aircraft preventing them from falling into communist hands. When they were aboard, the ship steamed at high speed to Guam, where the planes were offloaded by crane in record time. After the offload in Guam and a brief stop in Subic Bay, Midway entered the Indian Ocean and operated there from October until the end of November. On November 25, 1975, during post "MIDLINK" exercises, a fatal accident occurred. While attempting to land on the Midway, an aircraft struck the ramp, bolted, impacted the barricade, and struck another aircraft. Flying debris injured two crewmembers. Midway returned to Yokosuka in time to celebrate the 1975 Christmas holiday. In June 1976, Midway participated in Exercise TEAM SPIRIT, an exercise in intense electronic warfare and bombing missions over South Korea. In August 1976, a Navy task force headed by Midway made a show of force off the coast of Korea in response to an unprovoked attack on two U.S. Army officers who were killed by North Korean guards on August 18. Midway's response was in support of a U.S. demonstration of military concern vis-à-vis North Korea. 1977 saw Midway participating in MIDLINK '77, a two-day exercise hosted by the Iranian Navy, and included representatives of Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. February 1978 saw Midway joining in with the JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force) for the largest combined exercise to that date. On May 31, 1978, while docked in Yokosuka, Japan, a fire which originated in the exhaust ventilation system, quickly spread through the 3A boiler uptakes on the second deck, and terminated in the main uptake space. The cause of the fire was later thought to be from welding in a vent system containing a fine oil mist which ignited and spread. TEAM SPIRIT '79, exercised in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan, was highlighted by numerous encounters with Russian aircraft. Midway relieved USS Constellation, CV-64 as the Indian Ocean contingency carrier on April 16, 1979. Midway and her escort ships continued a significant American naval presence in the oil-producing region of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. On August 09, while berthed in Yokosuka, Japan, a fire, caused by a broken acetylene line, broke out killing one worker and injuring 17 sailors. Also in August, the Vice President of the United States boarded Midway in Hong Kong for a courtesy visit. On November 18, she arrived in the northern part of the Arabian Sea in connection with the continuing hostage crisis in Iran. Militant followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini, who had come to power following the overthrow of the Shah, seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4 and held 63 U.S. citizens hostage. Midway was joined on November 21 by USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, and both carriers, along with their escort ships, were joined by USS Nimitz, CVN-68 and her escorts on January 22, 1980. Midway was relieved by USS Coral Sea, CV-43 on February 5, 1980. Following a period in Yokosuka, Midway was again on duty on May 30, 1980, this time relieving USS Coral Sea on standby south of the Cheju-Do Islands in the Sea of Japan following the potential of civil unrest in the Republic of Korea. On July 29, Midway collided with the Panamanian merchant ship Cactus while transiting the passage between Palawan Island of the Philippines and the coast of Northern Borneo 450 nautical miles southwest of Subic Bay enroute to Singapore. While Midway sustained no serious damage, two sailors working in the liquid oxygen plant were killed, three were injured, and three F-4 Phantom aircraft parked on the flight deck were damaged. On August 17, Midway relieved USS Constellation, CV-64 to begin another Indian Ocean deployment and to complement the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-69 task group still on contingency duty in the Arabian Sea. Midway spent a total of 118 days in the Indian Ocean during 1980. On March 16, 1981, an A-6 Intruder from VA-115 aboard Midway sighted a downed civilian helicopter in the South China Sea. Midway immediately dispatched helicopters from HC-1 Det 2 to the scene. All 17 people aboard the downed helicopter were rescued and brought aboard the carrier. The chartered civilian helicopter was also plucked out of the water and lifted to Midway's flight deck. In September 1981, the Chief of Naval Operations kicked off a tour of Far East Naval Units when he visited Midway while in port Yokosuka. In December, 1983, Midway deployed to the North Arabian Sea and set a record of 111 continuous days of operations. From 1976 until 1983, Midway made six Indian Ocean cruises accounting for 338 days. She made 28 port calls in Subic Bay for 167 days, nine port calls in Hong Kong for 40 days, seven port calls in Pusan, Korea for 32 days, seven port calls in Sasebo, Japan for 28 days, three port calls in Perth, Australia for 16 days, three port calls in Mombassa, Kenya for 14 days, three port calls in Singapore for 11 days, one port call in Karachi, Pakistan for three days, and one port call in Bandar Abbas, Iran for two days. Perhaps it was the exotic nature of Midway's liberty ports that contributed to the "Midway Magic". After several years of dependable overseas service, on December 2, 1984, Midway and her crew were awarded their second Meritorious Unit Commendation, for service rendered from July 27, 1982, until May 1, 1984. On March 23, 1986, Midway collided with a Korean fishing boat in the Yellow Sea. The boat was hit with elevator number one, damaging it but leaving the carrier unscathed. (I have received a report that the boat was North Korean instead of South Korean, as many histories tell it. The basis behind this is that Midway could not send the crew home to the North and were reluctant to give them to the South, which was their enemy.) On March 25, the final fleet carrier launchings of an A-7 Corsair II and an F-4S Phantom II took place off Midway during flight operations in the East China Sea. The Corsairs and Phantoms were being replaced by the new F/A-18 Hornets. On March 31, Midway moored to Dry Dock 6 at Yokosuka Naval Base to begin the "most ambitious work package in its 40-year history." EISRA-86 (Extended Incremental Selected Repair Availability) condensed the workload of a major stateside carrier overhaul from the usual 12-14 months, into an eight-month modernization. This included the addition of the catapult flush deck nose gear launch system, the additions of MK7 MOD1 jet blast deflectors, restack and rereeve of arresting gear engines, installation of larger rudders, the addition of new fire main system valves and pumps, new air traffic consoles, a new viable anti-submarine warfare capability, the construction of intermediate maintenance avionics shops to support the F/A-18 aircraft, and the removal of over 47 tons of unusable cable. Blisters were also built and mounted to the sides of Midway. With this monumental task being completed three days ahead of schedule, the first Air Wing Five F/A-18 Hornet trapped aboard Midway on November 28, 1986. On January 9, 1987, Midway was reactivated with Battle Group ALFA and departed Yokosuka. On May 22, while enroute to Eastern Australia, Midway trapped a VMA-331 AV-8 Harrier operating off USS Belleau Wood, LHA-3. These Harrier operations were the first in Midway's history. On this cruise, Midway was the first U.S. Navy carrier to visit Sydney, Australia since 1972. Over 7,000 visitors toured the ship during the 10 day port call. On July 10, the launch of a VFA-195 Hornet marked the 76,000th catapult shot from the port catapult since Midway's recommissioning in 1970. On November 14, the EA-3B "Whale" made its last run from the deck of Midway. The Whale was replaced by a C-2 Greyhound from VRC-50, which embarked aboard Midway on November 9 for an Indian Ocean deployment. During 1987 and 1988, the ship deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of Operation ERNEST WILL, earning the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. At the time of her refit in 1986, hull bulges had to be added to create additional buoyancy to compensate for the increased tonnage. However these ungainly appendages seriously effected Midway's stability. During sea trials in 1986, excessive rolls in moderate seas took green water over her flight deck, thereby hampering flight operations. A 1988 Senate committee, outraged by the inept modifications carried out in the shipyard, voted to retire Midway early as a cost-saving measure. However, after considerable Navy lobbying the committee was overruled, with $138 million voted to remedy her stability dilemma. On March 13, 1989, Midway participated in Exercise TEAM SPIRIT in the waters off South Korea for the second consecutive year. From June 7-8, Midway was put on standby after the massacre in Tiananmen Square for possible evacuation of American citizens from the People's Republic of China. Midway's dependability for rapid response was reaffirmed on August 16, 1989 as she celebrated her 44th year of service by deploying again to the Indian Ocean. On August 28, Midway participated in Exercise THALAY, a three day exercise with Royal Thai Navy ships. On September 9, Midway logged its 200,000th catapult shot since being recommissioned in 1972. On September 30, an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from the Midway mistakenly dropped a 500-pound bomb on the deck of the USS Reeves, CG-24, during training exercises in the Indian Ocean 32 miles south of Diego Garcia, creating a five-foot hole in the bow, sparking a small fire, and injuring five sailors. On November 10, Midway became the first Navy carrier to pull pier side in Fremantle, Australia. While returning from this cruise, Midway participated in Operation CLASSIC RESOLVE, supporting the Philippine government of President Corazon Aquino against a coup attempt. The operation, run in conjunction with the Air Force and assisted by the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) lasted from December 2 to December 9. For this action, she earned another Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 1989 and 1990 saw extensive sea time, including deployments to the Northern Arabian Sea and trips to Australia, Diego Garcia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. From 1973 to 1991, Midway's history is hallmarked by Indian Ocean cruises and port calls at some of the most exotic Far East ports. Being America's first forward deployed ship, Midway remained on the "knife's edge" of readiness and maintained a highly visible presence in the region in support of U.S. policy. Midway no longer went in for overhauls, rather her upkeep was managed through periods of EISRA (Extended Incremental Ship's Restricted Availability). These brief periods allowed Midway to be serviced, but also available at any time. In the post-Vietnam era prior to 1990, Midway earned four Battle Efficiency Ribbons, the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal and two Meritorious Unit Commendations. Midway's last two years in commissioned service would prove to be perhaps her most historic. In 1990, while celebrating 45 years of service, Midway received official announcement on her decommissioning. An announcement in February confirmed that she was scheduled to decommission in 1991. Even with this announcement, Midway continued to maintain her seagoing reputation by being underway more than most other aircraft carriers. With her unique combination of modernized strength and years of experience, she strived to maintain peace and stability in the Western Pacific. Disaster struck the Midway on June 20, 1990. While conducting routine flight operations approximately 125 nautical miles northeast of Japan, the ship was badly damaged by two onboard explosions. These explosions led to a fire that raged more than ten hours. In addition to damage to the ship's hull, three crew members died and eight others were seriously injured in the line of duty. All 11 crewmen belonged to an elite fire-fighting team known as the Flying Squad. When Midway entered Yokosuka Harbor the next day, 12 Japanese media helicopters flew in circles and hovered about 150 feet above the flight deck. Three bus loads of reporters were waiting on the pier. About 30 minutes after Midway cast its first line, more than 100 international print and electronic journalists charged over the brow to cover the event. The news media made a major issue out of the incident, as it happened amid other military accidents. It was thought that the accident would lead to the ship's immediate retirement due to her age. Despite the announced decommissioning and the fire, Midway's role as a potent member of the U.S. Naval forces was again reaffirmed when she departed Yokosuka, Japan on October 2, 1990 in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. On November 2, 1990, MIDWAY arrived on station in the North Arabian Sea, relieving USS Independence, CV-62. For the DESERT SHIELD portion of the campaign, Midway was the only carrier in the Persian Gulf. She was the first carrier to operate extensively and for prolonged periods within the mined waters of the Gulf itself. On November 15, she participated in Operation IMMINENT THUNDER, an eight-day combined amphibious landing exercise in northeastern Saudi Arabia, which involved about 1,000 U.S. Marines, 16 warships, and more than 1,100 aircraft. Midway also made the first Persian Gulf port call for an aircraft carrier when she visited Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for Christmas of 1990. Midway was also the flagship of the Persian Gulf Battle Force Commander, Rear Admiral Daniel P. March (Commander Task Force 154). Admiral March was the operational commander for all coalition naval forces within the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, the United Nations set an ultimatum deadline of January 15,1991 for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. After steaming for two and a half months in the North Arabian Sea, Operation DESERT STORM, the fight to liberate Kuwait, began on January 17, 1991. Aircraft from Midway flew the initial air strikes of Operation DESERT STORM. An A-6E Intruder from the "Nighthawks" of VA-185 flying from Midway became the first carrier-based aircraft "over the beach" during that first strike. During the conflict, Midway's aircraft flew 3,339 combat sorties, an average of 121 per day during the war. Midway aircraft dropped 4,057,520 pounds of ordnance on targets in Iraq and occupied Kuwait. The jet aircraft aboard Midway were not alone in taking the fight to the Iraqis. HS-12 conducted two Combat Rescues, rescued and captured a total of 25 Iraqi sailors, destroyed nine mines, and captured the first piece of Kuwaiti soil - a small island (the only property captured or liberated by the Navy). HS-12 also recovered the body of an Iraqi Naval Officer who had apparently been killed by his crew. At the end of the war, HS-12 chased down an escaping speed boat and forced it ashore on another island. The four captured occupants turned out to be members of the Iraqi Secret Police. After 43 days of combat, Kuwait had been liberated with a resounding defeat of Iraqi forces. Operation DESERT STORM ended at midnight on February 27, 1991. Midway was the only one of the four carriers operating in the Persian Gulf to lose no aircraft or personnel. Midway departed the Persian Gulf on March 10 and returned to Yokosuka, Japan. For her actions during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, Midway again received the Battle Efficiency Award and the Navy Unit Commendation. Midway's versatility was again demonstrated in June of 1991 with her participation in Operation FIERY VIGIL. On June 16, Midway was given one day's notice to sortie from her berth in Yokosuka, Japan and steam at high speed for Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines to assist with the evacuation of military personnel and their families following the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Prior to departing, Midway crewmen worked through the night loading enough food and supplies to provide for 5,000 people for two weeks. Items included 1,100 cots, pet food, and baby diapers and bottles. Within 24 hours of receiving notice of the emergency, Midway was underway with the helicopters of HS-12 as the sole representative of Air Wing Five embarked. Midway made her best speed toward Subic Bay, slowing briefly near Okinawa to embark six helicopters from HMH-772 and a contingent of Marines. The ship arrived at Subic Bay June 21 and brought aboard 1,823 evacuees, almost all of them Air Force personnel leaving Clark Air Base. Additionally, Midway brought aboard 23 cats, 68 dogs, and one lizard, pets of the evacuees. Midway's guests were greeted with a clean bed, a hot shower, and a steak dinner, their first hot meal in more than a week. In a trip which included a high-speed night transit of the Van Diemen Passage, Midway took the evacuees to the island of Cebu in the Philippines. On arrival, HS-12 and HMH-772 flew them to Mactan International Airport. There, the evacuees boarded Air Force transport planes for flights that would eventually take them to the United States. In August 1991, Midway departed Yokosuka, Japan for the last time, steaming towards her first United States port call in almost 18 years. She had been the first carrier to be "forward deployed" in a foreign country, sailing for 17 years out of Yokosuka, Japan. Arriving in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Midway turned over the duty as the "Tip of the Sword" to USS Independence, CV-62. Independence would be replacing Midway as the forward deployed carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. This turnover included swapping CVW-5 for CVW-14, the first air wing change for Midway in 20 years. After leaving Hawaii, Midway made a brief visit to Seattle, Washington, where more than 50,000 people visited the ship during a three-day open house. On September 14, 1991, Midway arrived at her final homeport, Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. Her crew then began the tremendous task of preparing the ship for decommissioning and preservation as part of the Ready Reserve Fleet. As part of her decommissioning preparation, the Navy sent out a Board of Inspection and Survey team to assess the ship's material condition and evaluate her capabilities. To perform this inspection, the ship got underway for one last time on September 24, 1991. On this day, the ship successfully completed a rigorous series of tests, including full-power sea trials. Midway trapped and launched her last aircraft that day, with the honor falling to Commander, Carrier Air Wing Fourteen, Captain Patrick Moneymaker, flying an F/A-18 Hornet. At the completion of the day's events, Midway headed for home at 32 knots. Despite her age and imminent decommissioning, the inspection team found Midway fully operational and fit for continued service, a testimonial to the men who maintained the ship throughout her many years. At the end of her career, Midway's last embarked flag officer, Rear Admiral Joseph W. Prueher noted, Midway had "sprinted across the finish line." Midway was decommissioned for the last time at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California on April 11, 1992. She was stricken from the Navy List on March 17, 1997 and was stored at the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington. On September 30, 2003, a long awaited event happened... after eleven years, Midway was finally underway again! Although only under tow by the Foss Maritime Company's tugs Lauren Foss and Lindsey Foss, she was heading back out to sea for another voyage. With the Lindsey Foss only assisting during the harbor transit, the Lauren Foss continued towing Midway on her journey to Oakland, California. October 07, 2003 saw Midway arriving at the Charles P. Howard Terminal in Oakland, California. Restoration work was performed before Midway was again taken under tow on December 31. The Foss Maritime Company's Corbin Foss towed Midway down the coast of California, arriving in San Diego Bay on January 05, 2004. Midway was temporarily berthed at NAS North Island to load restored aircraft and also add ballast and equipment in preparation for her move across the bay to Navy Pier. Midway's final journey occurred on January 10, 2004. Several hundred guests were aboard as she was towed across San Diego Bay to her new home at Navy Pier. With much celebration and ceremony, Midway was berthed at Navy Pier, where she officially opened as the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum on June 07, 2004. Once again, Midway's popularity showed as 3,058 visitors went aboard on opening day. Conceived and built during the desperate days of World War II, the carriers of the Midway class carried a crew of 4,500 and up to 70 aircraft. The 1,000 foot-long Midway was once the largest carrier afloat, growing from 45,000 tons in 1945 to 74,000 tons in 1991. However, she had a displacement about two-thirds that of contemporary nuclear-powered flattops. When operating at sea the ship was refueled every three days, burning approximately 100,000 gallons of oil a day. When first built, the Midway's bow was open to the sea, and was enclosed in 1957 as part of a major overhaul. The ability to adapt to new technologies, systems, platforms, and operational needs is nowhere better exemplified than in the design and 50-year operational history of the USS Midway. Designed during World War II, in 1945 this "flattop" initially operated piston-driven propeller aircraft, yet returned from her last deployment in 1991 with the Navy's most modern, multipurpose strike-fighters. Her original axial-deck design was modified to an angled-deck layout, her original hydraulic catapults were replaced with more powerful steam catapults, and the most basic electronics replaced by advanced sensors and communications equipment. USS Midway Aircraft Carrier CV-41 Museum-San Diego Ca.