Impressions of Flight CO47
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In a plane you eat, drink, sleep and sometimes you look out of the window.
During the 12 hours non-stop flight CO47 in a Continental Airlines Boeing 767 from Frankfurt to Houston/Texas on March 02, 2010 I have filmed a lot of video sequences.
Enjoy the best:
Map
View Flight CO47 – Impressions – Frankfurt – Houston/Texas in a larger map
Senior @ May 23, 2010
FRA – Frankfurt Airport
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- Travel -
On March 2nd, 2010 we flew back from Germany to Houston, Texas and had to wait some 2 hours on our flight. After the security checks we visited the Tower Lounge in Terminal A. The good weather and the ground traffic motivated me to shoot this series of wonderful videos. During cutting I was inspired to mix them with the Stevedore Stomp Jazz from Chris Barbers Jazz Band, a digitalized 78 rpm version in the style of the Golden Twenties. You can download from his public domain version on: http://www.archive.org/details/ChrisBarbersJazzBand-StevedoreStomp
Enjoy! Or look on YouTube for the HD-Version.
Senior @ May 1, 2010
The route of Rally Dakar 2011 – Jan 1st to 15th
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The Spirit of Rally Dakar is alive. On March 23th, 2010 the organizer ASO has announced that the third adventure would be held in Argentina and Chile.
On April 29th they announced the route for the 3rd edition. I have taken it and transformed it into a Google Map for my own planning and share it with you. Step by step I will actualize it to be prepared for January 1st at Buenos Aires Obelisk and than travelling with the rally through the North of Argentina and Chile.
There will be some new challenges for the drivers, as they (I suppose) will cross the Chilean border at Paso de Llama at nearly 5000 m (16400 ft) above sea level and later they will reach 5200 m (17000 ft) on a paved road or in a very sandy area. This is the highest place that I have ever reached with my old Toyota Hilux pickup. The landscape from Calama (Chile) to Arica is very, very dry. And if you plan to travel here, you must check your fuel, because there are only very few patrol stations. For the 560 km (350 mi) from San Salvador de Jujuy to Calama (Chile) you need some 60 liter (17 gal.) diesel. There is on patrol station on the way in Susques, but if we all will stop there???) From Calama the next petrol station is some 525 km (330 mi) ahead in Iquique and then in Arica, some 450 km (280 mi) more in the North. Travelling directly from Calama without looking the Rally is possible with only 60 liter (17 gal.) diesel. Arica is a beautiful city in the North of Chile at the border to Peru. Well, later I will write more details.
In total the Rally Dakar 2011 will run some 7500 km to 8000 km* (4700 mi to 5000 mi) and goes North.
* Estimation based on the using of roads and not going off-road.
The fuel consumption based on my experience with a Toyota Hilux 4X4 Dob Cab pickup.
View Rally Dakar 2011 in a larger map
Soon I will detail the information.
Feed back it welcome on:
or contact me via www.seniorpress.net.
Regards
Senior
Senior @ May 1, 2010
Elsfleth – Lizzi and quay
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On Feb. 24, 2010 I was visiting Elsfleth (Weser) in Northern Germany, a small city with a long seafaring tradition. In the port I found this smart sailing ship, called Großherzogin Elisabeth, that people call affectionately Lizzi. This “windjammer” was launched on August 19th, 1909 on Schepswerft in Alblasserdam (Netherlands) and has a long varied history from sailing on the Rhine River, in the First and Second World Ware, to Africa, being a yacht and cruise ship in the Caribbean. In 1982 the ship was christens on its name Großherzogin Elisabeth (In commemoration to the Grand Duchess Elisabeth von Oldenburg – Elsfleth was an important port and customs agency of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, today Niedersachsen) and became a training ship in Elsfleth. It has a 294 kw (400 hp) diesel engine, runs 7,5 knots and is used for the training of future captains on modern ships. And if you like, you can book a sailing trip on the Lizzi.
| Length Draft Gross register tons Sail area |
63,70 m 2,70 m 463 GRT 1.010 m² |
Elsfleth has a long seafaring tradition and many captains have visited the nautical college (Seefahrtsschule). Since March 2010 you can visit the new Museum and maybe you will meet the Lissi at the quay, unless it is not on a sailing trip.
You find more info on http://www.grossherzogin-elisabeth.de. I am sorry, but this information is in German. Please be so kind and contact me by tweeting to @seniorpress or sending an me an email. I will answer your questions.
Senior @ April 29, 2010
Amarok – The new Pickup of Volkswagen
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The Inuit call it Amarok, in English they call it wolf. On December 28, 2009 I met it in the Rally Dakar 2010 Camp in Buenos Aires.
The Amarok is a surprising car …
The shown model is a AMAROK TDI 2.0 Highline 4×4 an has a surprising motor concept:
|
Engine: |
2.0 TDI Biturbo |
|
Wheelbase: |
3.095 mm (121,85 in.) |
We hope to have soon a test drive with this amazing car.
Senior @ December 31, 2009
Rally Dakar 2010 – The Spirit is back
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On December 29th the Spirit came back to South America. The Rally Dakar 2010 opened its doors to welcome the teams with their motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks and the spectators. The big event started and the Spirit took some time to arrive, but then he came and entered into the Exposition Center “La Rural” in Buenos Aires, Palermo. And the most important of all he came and fascinates us once more. So enjoy the first images of this great event that is one more time shaking today the famous, beautiful Capital of Argentina Buenos Aires.
Senior @ December 30, 2009
The Spirit of Rally Dakar 2009 II
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On January 2, 2009 the beautiful megacity Buenos Aires experienced one of two peaks of the Spirit of Rally Dakar 2009. At 16:00 o’clock the podium at Buenos Aires Obelisk was opened and all participants of the Rally drove the few kilometers from the Exposition Center “Rural” to the Obelisk at Av. 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires Downtown to be presented officially as participant. We felt that something special would happen, but we had no idea about what would happen.
First you must know that Argentine people are crazy for motorsport. This has its roots in Manuel Fangio, five times World Champion of Formula 1 and Carlos Reuteman, two times World Champion of Formula 1. The TV, the newspapers, all talk about Rally Dakar. But the vacations just started and many people were on vacations and so officials estimated that there will not come too much people.
To have a good place near the Podium I started just after lunch and arrived at 13:30 (1:30 pm) at Obelisk. There were a lot of people. But finally I had a optimal place to observe and film all what will be happen.
We had to wait two hours. Then it started. After presenting some official personalities from the Argentine and Chilean Government some greetings were made to all over the world. The Argentine Air force was greeting with a flyover of Mirage aircrafts and then the waiting was over.
The participants were presented in four groups.
Quads
First the quad driver with their different models were presented and interviewed. In total 27 participants from 11 nations. A young boy on the shoulders of his father behind me was asking with audible voice what many of us were thinking: “They will arrive with that?” Some were laughing but we wished them the best.
Motorbikes
Then the first motorbikes were presented. 225 participants with their motorbikes. Start number 1 to 235. The line was enormous and it seemed that it never would end.
Cars
But finally we saw the first cars. This was another big group of 185 cars.
Every car with pilot and co pilot. My favorites were:
300 Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret on Mitsubishi (FRA)
301 Carlos Sainz and Michel Perin on Volkswagen (ESP)
303 Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard on Mitsubishi (FRA)
305 Ginel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz on Volkswagen (ZAF/GER)
309 Robby Gordon and Andy Grider on Hummer (USA)
and
315 Orlando Terranova and Alain Guehinnec on BMW (ARG)
On this top favorites we had to wait once more some time. But it was amazing to hear and see them. As Robby Gordon was sent out, he first drove some meters back and we were asking: “What is that? Robby please go ahead and not back!” And then he came. He was accelerating very strong and his Hummer jumped down the Podium. Thanks God it was strong enough to support a heavy Hummer jumping on it.
Trucks
As the trucks arrived at 22:30 hours the people were beside themselves with joy. The line was immense. Every truck was honking. The people were applauding and the battery of my digital camera was death. So I enjoyed the atmosphere. More than 400000 people came on the streets and to the Obelisk to celebrate the Podium of Rally Dakar 2009. And now the Spirit of Rally Dakar was not only upon this marvelous megacity, no with the quads, motorcycles, cars and trucks it was reaching the whole Nation.
Video
Finally we documented this marvelous afternoon and evening in a 10 minutes video.
Senior @ December 25, 2009
Flood – 44 mm (1-1/2 in.) Rainfall in 15 minutes
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Technorati-Tags: buenos aires,weather
On Nov. 16, 2009 at 16:00 h (4:00 pm) a cold front from south hits Buenos Aires with 44 mm (1-3/4 in.) rainfall in only 15 minutes. After a couple of years it was the first time that this happened.
The following satellite imagery (taken from NASA) shows the development from 14:00 h (2:00 pm) to 22:00 h (10 pm).
First some clouds came up and the temperature was around 30 °C ( °F). At 15:30 h (3:00 pm) the first rain drops fall down. At the peak of this event at 16:00 h (4:00 pm) the amazing videos were taken. People were hurrying to find a dry place. The were flooded up to 40 cm (15-1/2 in.) and some trash was swimming in the streets. Only some brave people with their cars were still driving on the streets. Many others were waiting for “better weather”.
Senior @ November 14, 2009
Farmers in Argentina: “We are no longer the cow that will be milked to finance wrong politics!”
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Technorati-Tags: argentina farmer kirchner
Since nearly 16 month Argentina lives with the crisis between Farmers and the Government of Christina Kirchner. After the election held on June 28, 2009 the President called for a dialog. Yesterday the Argentine Farmer Associations were invited into the Presidential Palace for dialog.
The farmers are suffering very high duties for the export of soy and wheat. The national export authority for agriculture (ONCCA) built up a high bureaucracy to delay export and so the exports of beef and other commodities dropped down. At last a strong aridity was hitting the main production areas.
The farmers liked to discuss all these problems to find a solution for themselves and for Argentina, but the only answer that they receive was that there is no money to reduce the high export duties.
On other answer was given some days before for small milk farmers: the Government will increase the subsidy for from USD 0,03 to USD 0,06 per liter for the first 3000 liters daily. Up to 12.000 liters daily they receive USD 0,03. But the farmers say that they need higher prices or subsides of round about USD 0,03 more per liter.
Yesterday the farmers leave the Presidential Palace once more with the confirmation, that this government is not interested in finding solutions.
And today on the official opening of the annual Farmers Exposition (La Rural 2009) the farmers gave their answer:
“We are no longer the cow that will be milked to finance wrong politics of this government – whiles thousands of us are in problems”
If this government will not resolve our problems, we will go back to the roads for protest. Our patience is not endless.
The consequence seems to be, that the people will suffer once more last years problems, when no agricultural product were delivered to the supermarkets, when traveling was impossible, … until this government will resolve this important problems or until it resigns or until the people organize once more a “Cacerolazo” to remove this government.
Enjoy the Watchworm-Video of the Rural 2008:
Senior @ August 1, 2009
H1N1 in Buenos Aires
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As influenza A (H1N1) was identified in April in Mexico, de Government of Argentina cancelled all flights for 2 weeks from and to Mexico. On May 7, 2007 the first case was identified in Argentina and the following development occurs:
(Source: Official announcements of Heath Ministry of the Republic Argentina)
Actually Argentina reports 1624 infected and 41 deaths = 2.5% of the infected persons. This is the highest quote worldwide of a country with more than 100 infected persons.
The days before the elections the growth reached some 100 new infected persons per day and the NGO “Medicos sin Banderas” has announced that more than 10000 people may be infected. This wasn’t sufficient for the national government to act. The elections were hold.
On June 29, 2009 the Health Minister, Mrs. Ocaña stepped back.
On June 30 a spokesman of Mrs. Ocaña reports that she had asked the President Cristina Kirchner to suspend the elections and announce the public health emergency because of the high risks for the people. But the elections were held and Mrs. Ocaña stepped back after the elections on June 29, because she hadn’t the political support from President Kirchner to act and protect the people.
The head of government, Mr. Massa, was asked on June 29 about the public health emergency and he answered: “This is not necessary in this moment. We have all under control and this decision has to be taken by the future Health Minister. If we take the decision right now, we don’t respect the Minister”.
The new Health Minister was found, but he will accede his official duties after President Cristina Kirchner is back from her journey to Honduras to support President Zelaya.
(Due to the decision of OAS – Organization of America States to wait 72 hours, the President Cristina Kirchner has put of the journey to Honduras and the new Health Minister Manzur has acceded his official duties today announcing recommendations and actions to reinforce the health system. To to protect the most vulnerable people he liberated children from their compulsory education and pregnant women from their obligation to work.)
On June 30, 2009 the Provinces of Buenos Aires and the city of Buenos Aires saw themselves to force to declared the public health emergency to protect the people. This is an administrative measure to help infected people fast and easy and to force measures like closing of schools, university, theaters, shopping centers, supermarkets, prohibition of events or groups greater than 10 persons.
16 Provinces and the City of Buenos Aires have closed the schools. Some smaller cities in the rural regions in the Provinces of Santa Fe and Buenos Aires have stopped all public activity.
The people was told to stay at home whenever possible and reduce public.
The people have to learn to live with H1N1.
Senior @ July 1, 2009