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boinin · 7 months

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So… who’s King Barou™️ getting shipped with in the CO universe?

You: *asks a really straightforward question*

Me: lemme concoct backstories for fifteen other characters, then I'll get back to you

I wish I was joking 💀 but also I love getting these kind of questions, it lets me be indulgent about my AU! So thank you 💗

For context: I am writing a Kunigiri longfic set in 2033-34. This has involved making up fifteen years worth of post-canon life events for the principal cast. Barou doesn't feature prominently, but Kunigami recently revealed that he had a crush on the King back in their Blue Lock days.

Kunigami has moved on by now (like... reeeallly moved on), but Barou's still around, being his good ol' tsundy self. Does he have a partner? Well...

To figure this out, I had to remind myself who's actually on the national team with Barou and work through their dynamics. So...

Sixteen character backstories under the cut, eventually getting to your question.

The following characters have been named in Cassis Orange as being on the Japanese national team, in order of position/role:

Isagi (FW)

Rin (FW)

Shidou (FW)

Barou (FW)

Bachira (Wing)

Otoya (Wing)

Nagi (CAM)

Hiori (CAM)

Sae (CAM)

Karasu (CDF)

Sendou (CDF)

Aryu (FB)

Niko (CB)

Aiku (CB)

Gagamaru (GK)

Fukaku (GK)

This means that 2018 Blue Lock alumni occupy sixteen places in the squad (which should have 23-25 places). Probably two or three too many—ah well. I've alleged that some of the other squad members participated in the second Blue Lock program (which took place in... 2023, right around now lol). There's likely a few other older players from before Blue Lock's time, but it's really Isagi and friends' team.

Everybody knows team squads are synonymous with dating pools in Blue Lock. So, in considering who Barou might be shipped with, I had to think through where everyone was at in life, come January 2034, in my particular AU. Here's the lowdown:

Aiku (34) is currently working through his second divorce. He has a couple of kids. He remains good friends with his teammate Sendou (33), who plays for a Japanese club normally and does a lot of promotional work with sportwear companies.

Karasu (33), Otoya (32) and Shidou (33) represent something of a clique within the squad. The three play for French clubs, alongside Rin (31), who resents being mentioned in the same paragraph as them. Everyone but Otoya is outwardly single, as far as the media knows. Otoya dates influencers and idols.

Because Rin's home club is in France, he doesn't care to rent or purchase a place in Japan. Hiori (32), a long-time friend and Tokyo resident, agreed to let him stay at his apartment for the duration of the tournament. Hiori is single, and streams part-time. Players enjoy the juxtaposition between his gentle personality and the violent games he plays. He plays for the Kawasaki Breakers.

Sae (33) is based in the UK. He has won the Ballon D'Or twice. Although there's been speculation about the nature of his long-term friendship with Shidou, he refuses to speak about his personal life to the press.

Isagi (32) has lead his home club (Bastard Munchen) to victory in the Champions League twice, and he is widely regarded as one of the finest players of his generation. This World Cup will be the third he's contested, and his first as captain. He has stated publicly that third time's the charm. He is openly single, based in Munich. He started a charity to promote football in developing countries in 2027.

Bachira (32) has played for mostly Spanish clubs over the years. He's an advocate for youth football and does outreach work in schools both in Japan and Spain. He has auctioned his own artworks for charity. Not much is know about his personal life, despite his outgoing personality.

Nagi (32) was the face of Japanese football for the 2030 World Cup, in association with Reo (32). The two of them were inseparable following their days in Blue Lock, choosing to play at the same or neighbouring clubs throughout their careers. However, due to his father's untimely death, Reo stepped down from football two years previously. Since then, Nagi has been media shy. Despite his relative youth, there are rumours circulating that he intends to retire soon.

Niko (31) is a formidable centre-back who (with Aiku) forms the iron defence of the Japanese team. He's open about his neurodivergence and advocates for the inclusion of kids like himself in sports. It's understood he has a partner living in England, where he's based.

Fukaku (34) plays for a Japanese team, and has indicated his intention to retire after the 2034 World Cup tournament. As for Gagamaru (33), the man known as the world's best goalkeeper is notoriously reclusive. He is picky about what clubs he plays for, prioritising proximity to nature and the mountains over salary offers. As a result, he's mostly played for German clubs. Nothing is known about his relationship status.

FInally...

That leaves Barou (33) and Aryu (34). The duo play for Fiorentina. It's reported that the two share a villa together in the city's outskirts. Aryu has dabbled in modelling and fashion for many years, and his self-titled brand is steadily growing in renown.

Aryu speaks of Barou as his glamorous partner... but he calls next to everything glamorous, leaving the media stumped.

Barou, meanwhile, refuses to entertain fluff piece journalists and has neglected to comment on his relationship with the towering wingback. There is no record of any public affection between them both. However, the two are certainly very close. Last year, they both began sporting matching black rings.

#manifesting marriage equality in italy at some point in the next decade 🙌🏳️‍🌈 it's CO canon now #imo barou goes either way for me #I can picture him married to a woman as easily as him dating one of the other characters #and I didn't have a firm idea of who CO!Barou might be involved with #that said I'm a big fan of this particular ship ✨#some of these backstories were already decided but it was fun to flesh out the rest #thanks for the ask!#ask #blue lock #blue lock fanfiction #cassis orange #tokyo 2034 #baro shoei #bllk fanfiction #bllk headcanons #long post #mine #I'm counting this as nanowrimo material 👀

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loiladadiani · 1 year

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The Imperial Coronation Regalia

Since we just went through a coronation, I am posting about the Russian crown jewels and regalia. There is a difference between the two: The Crown Jewels are the most famous of a nation's treasures and may include extraordinary items such as orbs, scepters, crowns, and gemstones…all closely connected with the status and role of the monarch. Regalia is usually a smaller collection consisting of a specific set of emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royal status, rights, prerogatives, and privileges a sovereign enjoys.

What is considered the Coronation Regalia of the Russian Empire changed several times throughout Russian History. From 1723 -1724 it has consisted of:

The Crown of Empress Catherine (the Imperial Crown), the Orb of Peter II, the Imperial Scepter, and the "Small Imperial Crown" made for Maria Alexandrovna. A picture of the rather unique ruby capping the Imperial Crown is included; the ruby is 398.72-carats...

The crown of Empress Anna Ivanova...

The Agraf (buckle of Imperial mantle): You can see the diamond "buckle" (which stretches over her decolletage, holding the edges of Catherine's ermine cape) and also in the black and white picture below, on the lower tier, between two necklaces

The Maltese Crown of Emperor Pavel I...

The State Sword and State Shield...

A little bit about the recent history of the Russian Crown Jewels and Regalia:

When the Great War erupted, the Russian Crown Jewels were packed into eight sealed trunks and sent from Petrograd (St. Petersburg) to the Armoury Chamber in Moscow, where the trunks remained sealed for several years because no one knew what was inside of them.

When the trunks were opened in 1922, the treasures found inside were found to span the reigns of the Russian Emperor Peter I (The Great) in 1698 to Nicholas II in 1917; the imperial regalia were saved and remained in the Kremlin Armoury to this day, along with other major historic jewels associated with the tsars.

The communist government was strapped for cash, and the historical significance of the Russian Crown Jewels was anathema to their tenets. The jewels were exhibited for one month and then cataloged. In 1925 the catalog was published and offered to prospective buyers. But, although a few pieces were sold, the collection was soon taken off the market (somebody in the Bolshevik government must have realized they were giving away their History.) The majority remains in Russia at the Kremlin Diamond Fund in Moscow. And the rest? Nobody knows what was sold, and pieces surface on auction occasionally.

What is considered the regalia is pictured above...but the Russian Crown Jewels and other artifacts are simply amazing...I have included a few below for your viewing pleasure!

#russian history #romanov dynasty #imperial russia #romanovs #imperial regalia #Crown of Catherine the Great #Maltese Crown of Pavel I #Crown of Empress Anna Ivanovna #Agraf #State Sword and State Shield

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ingek73 · 1 year

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Official jewellery gifts to royals worth £80m are not in national collection

Palace refusing to explain why official state gifts worn by Princess of Wales and Camilla are not in the royal collection

David PeggFri 14 Apr 2023 07.29 BST

Buckingham Palace is refusing to explain why 11 pieces of jewellery potentially worth £80m that were official gifts to the royal family are not held in a trove of national heritage.

The jewels, which have been worn by Queen Elizabeth II; Camilla, the Queen Consort, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are not contained in the royal collection, the custodian of culturally significant items held in trust for the nation.

The pieces include a set of aquamarine jewellery, four brooches and six necklaces, including an extraordinary Cartier necklace of emerald- and brilliant-cut diamonds worth at least £40m given to the late Queen by an Indian prince.

At least four of the items were presented by heads of state. The palace’s policy states that “as a general rule” gifts to the sovereign from another monarch or head of state “automatically” become part of the royal collection, a body that manages items held by the sovereign in trust for the nation.

The Royal Collection Trust, which manages the collection, confirmed that it does not have custody of the 11 jewels.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined multiple invitations to explain the current ownership of the 11 pieces. They suggested the royals do not regard the jewellery as their private property and that the items, which were given to the late queen between 1947 and 1979, “may” in the future be added to the royal collection.

“Official gifts are not the personal property of the member of the royal family who receives them, but may be held by the sovereign in right of the crown or designated in due course as part of the royal collection,” the spokesperson said. They declined to explain why the items were not already in the royal collection.

The palace’s policy on official gifts was first formulated in 1995 and updated in 2003. The guidelines state that items received on state visits or in connection with the royal family’s official role are not their private property.

All of the pieces identified by the Guardian were given to the queen before the guidelines were established. There is nothing in the policy that addresses gifts received by the royal family or the monarch before the code was set up.

The potential value of the items is hard to determine. Were anyone else to sell them, they would collectively be worth at least £8m, according to expert valuers.

However, analysis of previous auctions of jewels that were owned or worn by royals suggest the link to the Windsors would add a premium that could easily increase their total value to well over £80m.

‘An exceptional jewel’

Among the gifts identified are pieces of jewellery given to the queen at her wedding in 1947 and at her coronation a few years later by state officials.

It is one of the late queen’s most elaborate diamond necklaces and one she wore regularly. It has also been worn by Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, including at a gala at the National Portrait Gallery in 2014.

Sara Abey, a gemologist and jewellery merchant who estimated the value of several items for the Guardian, said the necklace could be worth more than £4m before considering its association with the British royal family.

“Having a renowned maker, important history and notable provenance, the queen’s Nizam of Hyderabad necklace is an exceptional jewel,” she said.

However her estimate of its value did not take into account what is described as the royal premium, which can dramatically inflate the sale value of an item and could make this necklace worth at least £40m.

Another diamond necklace was given to the queen as a wedding present by distinguished individuals from the City of London.

This, like many of the 11 items identified by the Guardian, was worn regularly by the queen. Other members of the royal family have also been seen wearing some of the gifts.

A diamond necklace presented to the queen during a state visit to the United Kingdom in 1967 by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was lent to Diana, Princess of Wales in 1983. The necklace was originally made by the American jeweller Harry Winston in 1952 and could be worth as much as £9m.

Twelve years later, during a reciprocal visit by the queen to Saudi Arabia, Faisal’s successor, King Khalid, gave her another of Winston’s diamond necklaces, now worth more than £8m.

A necklace of turquoises from the then president of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan, given on a state visit in 1966, and four brooches are among the other official gifts identified by the Guardian. These include the Flame Lily brooch, which was presented to Elizabeth on her 21st birthday by the children of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), who were each asked to donate three pence to pay for it.

The diamond necklaces and brooches were included in a 2012 reference volume published by the Royal Collection Trust or exhibited in Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration display.

The exhibition was described as including “an unprecedented display of a number of the queen’s personal jewels – those inherited by Her Majesty or acquired during her reign.”

Quick Guide

How we estimated the value of the royal jewellery

Valuing the royal family’s private jewellery collection is exceptionally difficult. A professional valuation would require each stone of each item to be inspected for occlusions or other imperfections that cannot be detected by the naked eye.

Even where an estimate can be made, there is then the ‘royal premium’: the association with the royal family, which could multiply the value many times over.

In 1989, Laurence Krashes, a senior assessor for the US jeweller Harry Winston, described the task as ‘like landing a plane in fog without a radar’. He assessed the family’s collection – excluding the royal premium – at £36m for the royal journalist Andrew Morton.

The Guardian has identified several items Krashes did not consider, such as the Cullinan IX ring and a diamond necklace given to the then Princess Elizabeth as a wedding gift in 1947. Sara Abey, a fellow of the Gemmological Association and jewellery merchant, provided the Guardian with estimates for the additional pieces.

Morton multiplied Krashes’ estimates tenfold to try to achieve a more realistic value. However an auction of the late Princess Margaret's jewellery in 2006 suggests this may have been a considerable underestimate. A Guardian analysis found items sold for an average of 18 times the auction house’s top-end estimate.

Since that 2006 auction, the value of royal jewellery has increased further. Fifty of Margaret’s items went on sale again in 2020, with one diamond ring having an asking price of £1.1m, almost 10 times the 2006 sale price of £142,000. This was already higher than the original auction valuation of £70,000

Opting for caution, the Guardian has used a multiplier of 10 to reflect a conservative estimate of the royal premium.

#abolish the monarchy #queen elizabeth ii #duchess of cambridge #kate middleton #camilla parker bowles #brf #cost of the crown #the guardian #jewelry

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londonartgalleryexchange · 20 days

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London Paintings for Sale: Exploring the Art Market in the Heart of the UK

London, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene, is a premier destination for art enthusiasts and collectors. The city’s diverse range of galleries, auction houses, and online platforms offers a plethora of opportunities for those looking to purchase paintings.

The London art market caters to a wide array of tastes and budgets, from contemporary works by emerging artists to classic masterpieces by renowned painters.

The Gallery Scene

London Art gallery scene is bustling with activity, featuring both high-end and more accessible options. Renowned galleries such as the Tate Modern, Saatchi Gallery, and the National Gallery showcase works by world-famous artists, offering a glimpse into the masterpieces that have shaped art history.

While these institutions primarily display works for viewing, many associated galleries and private venues offer London paintings for sale. For instance, the Saatchi Gallery often collaborates with contemporary artists whose works are available for purchase.

Smaller, independent galleries in neighbourhoods like Shoreditch, Soho, and Mayfair provide a more intimate setting for discovering new talent. These galleries often feature rotating exhibitions, giving buyers the chance to acquire unique pieces directly from the artists.

Places like the Whitechapel Gallery and the Flowers Gallery are excellent spots to find contemporary and modern art that might not yet have reached mainstream recognition but hold significant artistic value.

Auction Houses

London’s auction houses are the perfect places to explore for those interested in more prestigious or historic pieces. Leading auction houses like Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams regularly hold auctions that feature a wide range of paintings, from Old Masters to contemporary works.

These auctions offer a chance to acquire rare and valuable pieces, often with a rich provenance.

Attending an auction can be an exhilarating experience, with the possibility of securing a treasured painting at a competitive price. Both seasoned collectors and new buyers can benefit from the expertise of auction house specialists, who provide insights and guidance on the artworks available for sale.

Online Platforms

In the digital age, the online art market has become increasingly significant. Websites like Artsy, Artnet, and Saatchi Art offer extensive catalogs of paintings from London-based artists and galleries.

These platforms provide a convenient way to browse, compare, and purchase artwork from the comfort of your home. Many online platforms also feature virtual tours and detailed artist profiles, enhancing the buying experience.

Art Fairs and Events

London hosts numerous art fairs and events throughout the year, such as the Frieze Art Fair, the Affordable Art Fair, and the London Art Fair. These events bring together a diverse array of galleries and artists, offering paintings that suit all tastes and budgets.

Attending these fairs provides an excellent opportunity to explore a wide range of artworks in one place and to meet artists and gallery owners personally. Art prints UK offer a versatile and affordable way to enjoy and collect artwork.

Available from various sources such as online stores, galleries, and art fairs, these prints feature works by both renowned and emerging artists. They provide an accessible entry point for art enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Art as an investment can yield significant financial returns while providing aesthetic enjoyment. Investors often seek works by established or emerging artists, anticipating appreciation in value over time.

Diversifying a portfolio with art offers a tangible asset that can withstand market fluctuations, making it a unique and potentially profitable investment.

Conclusion

Whether you are a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, London’s vibrant art market offers an abundance of opportunities to purchase beautiful paintings.

From prestigious auction houses and renowned galleries to bustling art fairs and innovative online platforms, the city is a treasure trove for anyone looking to invest in or simply enjoy fine art.

#London Paintings #London Art Gallery #London Art Prints #Paintings #Artwork #artist #art #art print #wall art

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warningsine · 2 months

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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Coyotes are officially headed to Salt Lake City.

The NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to approve a $1.2 billion sale from Alex Meruelo to Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith, clearing the way for the franchise’s move to Utah next season.

The deal includes a provision for Arizona to get an expansion team if a new arena is built within the next five years. The deal will be facilitated through the NHL, with $200 million going to league owners as a relocation fee.

“We expressed our interest publicly with the NHL,” Ryan Smith told The Associated Press. “It’s probably been two years where we’ve said, ‘Hey, look, we really believe Utah can be an incredible hockey town.’ You look at all the demographics, we were just talking about the Olympics and you think about the Olympics coming back. It all kind of made sense.”

Smith will take over the franchise’s hockey operations and Meruelo will maintain his business operations in Arizona in an effort to secure and develop a tract of land for a new arena in north Phoenix.

Meruelo also retains ownership of the Tucson Roadrunners, the franchise’s AHL affiliate, and hopes to move them to Mullett Arena, the Coyotes’ temporary home shared with Arizona State University the past two seasons. He plans to pay back the $1 billion once an expansion team is approved.

“The NHL’s belief in Arizona has never wavered,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “We thank Alex Meruelo for his commitment to the franchise and Arizona, and we fully support his ongoing efforts to secure a new home in the desert for the Coyotes. We also want to acknowledge the loyal hockey fans of Arizona, who have supported their team with dedication for nearly three decades while growing the game.”

Meruelo will retain the Coyotes’ name, logo and trademark, so Smith’s group will have to rename the team. The team will play at Delta Center, home of the Jazz, until a new arena can be built.

“We’ll start with Utah on the jersey and we’ll figure out the logo and everything else, and what it is that we are, but that’s a one-way door,” Smith said. “You’ve got to do it once. And with this timeline, I think both the league feels better and we feel better to just run the process and then we’ll drop it when we drop it.”

The sale ends the Coyotes’ long-running bid to find a permanent home.

The franchise shared an arena with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns after relocating from Winnipeg, moved to Glendale and ended up at Mullett Arena when the city of Glendale backed out of a lease agreement.

Meruelo had been adamant about not wanting to sell the team despite receiving numerous offers since buying the team in 2019. When an auction for the land in north Phoenix got pushed back to June, the Coyotes had no guarantee a deal for a new arena would go through.

With the NHL and players’ association hesitant for the Coyotes to play at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena for a third season, Meruelo opted to sell the team, his focus shifting to the new arena and expansion team.

“I agree with Commissioner Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League, that it is simply unfair to continue to have our players, coaches, hockey front office, and the NHL teams they compete against, spend several more years playing in an arena that is not suited for NHL hockey,” Meruelo said in a statement. “But this is not the end for NHL hockey in Arizona. I have negotiated the right to reactivate the team within the next five years, and have retained ownership of the beloved Coyotes name, brand and logo. I remain committed to this community and to building a first-class sports arena and entertainment district without seeking financial support from the public.”

The Coyotes played their final game in Arizona on Wednesday night, a 5-2 win over the playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers. The players celebrated on the ice with team personnel and a few handed their sticks over the glass to fans, who chanted “We love you Coy-otes!”

“It’s tough to take it all in,” Coyotes rookie forward Logan Cooley said. “A lot of noise, a lot of personal stuff and obviously the organization, you hear you’re going one spot then you’re going to the next spot. We’ve done a good job in this locker room focusing on keeping out the noise and getting better as a team, striving to be the team we want to be one day.”

Officials from Salt Lake City and the city’s 2034 Olympic bid supported Smith’s attempt to bring hockey to Utah, giving the state two major professional franchises.

“This announcement is about more than bringing an NHL team to Salt Lake City — it’s a defining moment in our trajectory, becoming a catalyst for a positive vision that integrates community, connection, and more possibilities for families, residents, and visitors to experience our capital city,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement. “I’m thankful for the close partnership with Ryan & Ashley Smith, and the entire SEG team. This is the beginning of a new era that will generate exciting opportunities for our communities, amplify pride and unlock new potential in our downtown core.”

___

#sports #ice hockey #news tag

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ammg-old2 · 1 year

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In the early 19th century, sailors making their way to Providence, Rhode Island, depended on the signal of the Warwick Neck Light to safely find their way. While it no longer carries the navigational significance it once did, the 51-foot tower continues to preside over Narragansett Bay from its clifftop perch.

Now, this historical property’s dramatic views could be yours.

This year, the General Services Administration (GSA) will give away six of the historic beacons, including the Warwick Neck Light, at no cost. An additional four will be sold via public auction. The goal of the transfers is to preserve the historic buildings, even as technology renders them obsolete.

For hundreds of years, lighthouses have welcomed travelers to the shores of the United States. However, the advent of navigation technologies like GPS has left many of the shore’s sentinels without a practical purpose. Since the passage of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000, the GSA has been transferring ownership of lighthouses “no longer critical to the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission needs” to groups willing to preserve them, according to a statement from the agency.

“People really appreciate the heroic role of the solitary lighthouse keeper,” says John Kelly of the GSA’s office of real property disposition to Mark Pratt of the Associated Press (AP). “They were really the instruments to provide safe passage into some of these perilous harbors which afforded communities great opportunities for commerce, and they’re often located in prominent locations that offer breathtaking views.”

At many lighthouses, upkeep is challenging: Two of the structures up for auction, the Penfield Reef Lighthouse in Fairfield, Connecticut, and the Stratford Shoal Light in the middle of the Long Island Sound, are accessible only by boat.

“They’re such unusual reflections of our history that it takes a certain kind of person who wants to be a part of that,” Robin Carnahan, administrator of the GSA, tells the New York Times’ Michael Levenson.

For now, the lighthouses won’t be available to just anyone. The GSA is first offering them at no cost to federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, educational agencies and community development organizations. To be eligible, interested buyers must be able to maintain the historic property and allow the public to access it. More than 80 lighthouses have found a new owner—and stable future—through this process so far, according to the GSA.

Several of the lighthouses up for grabs this year are already under the care of nonprofits, which can apply to continue their work, Kelly tells the AP. For example, the Nobska Lighthouse in Falmouth, Massachusetts is maintained by the Friends of Nobska Light, which has applied for the transfer of ownership, according to the Cape Cod Times’ Zane Razzaq.

If no owner is found, the lighthouses will be offered for sale to the public via auction. The GSA has auctioned 70 lighthouses to date, in sales ranging from $10,000 to over $900,000, reports NPR’s Emma Bowman.

Other lighthouses going to auction this year include the Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light in Chassell, Michigan. The list of transfer-eligible lighthouses includes Lynde Point Lighthouse in Old Saybrook, Connecticut; Plymouth/Gurnet Lighthouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts; Little Mark Island and Monument in Harpswell, Maine; and Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania.

#current events #lighthouses #usa #I WANT A LIGHTHOUSE............

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compneuropapers · 2 years

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Interesting Papers for Week 33, 2022

Reward Value Revealed by Auction in Rhesus Monkeys. Al-Mohammad, A., & Schultz, W. (2022). Journal of Neuroscience, 42(8), 1510–1528.

Supramodality of neural entrainment: Rhythmic visual stimulation causally enhances auditory working memory performance. Albouy, P., Martinez-Moreno, Z. E., Hoyer, R. S., Zatorre, R. J., & Baillet, S. (2022). Science Advances, 8(8).

Evidence for a cost of time in the invigoration of isometric reaching movements. Berret, B., & Baud-Bovy, G. (2022). Journal of Neurophysiology, 127(3), 689–701.

Rapid odor processing by layer 2 subcircuits in lateral entorhinal cortex. Bitzenhofer, S. H., Westeinde, E. A., Zhang, H.-X. B., & Isaacson, J. S. (2022). eLife, 11, e75065.

Hippocampal sharp wave-ripples and the associated sequence replay emerge from structured synaptic interactions in a network model of area CA3. Ecker, A., Bagi, B., Vértes, E., Steinbach-Németh, O., Karlócai, M. R., Papp, O. I., … Káli, S. (2022). eLife, 11, e71850.

α Phase-Amplitude Tradeoffs Predict Visual Perception. Fakche, C., VanRullen, R., Marque, P., & Dugué, L. (2022). eNeuro, 9(1).

Subjective confidence reflects representation of Bayesian probability in cortex. Geurts, L. S., Cooke, J. R. H., van Bergen, R. S., & Jehee, J. F. M. (2022). Nature Human Behaviour, 6(2), 294–305.

Slowly evolving dopaminergic activity modulates the moment-to-moment probability of reward-related self-timed movements. Hamilos, A. E., Spedicato, G., Hong, Y., Sun, F., Li, Y., & Assad, J. A. (2021). eLife, 10, e62583.

Endocannabinoid‐mediated neuromodulation in the main olfactory bulb at the interface of environmental stimuli and central neural processing. Heinbockel, T., Bhatia‐Dey, N., & Shields, V. D. C. (2022). European Journal of Neuroscience, 55(4), 1002–1014.

Different encoding of reward location in dorsal and intermediate hippocampus. Jarzebowski, P., Hay, Y. A., Grewe, B. F., & Paulsen, O. (2022). Current Biology, 32(4), 834-841.e5.

Sensing complementary temporal features of odor signals enhances navigation of diverse turbulent plumes. Jayaram, V., Kadakia, N., & Emonet, T. (2022). eLife, 11, e72415.

Integration of proprioceptive and visual feedback during online control of reaching. Kasuga, S., Crevecoeur, F., Cross, K. P., Balalaie, P., & Scott, S. H. (2022). Journal of Neurophysiology, 127(2), 354–372.

Rodents monitor their error in self-generated duration on a single trial basis. Kononowicz, T. W., van Wassenhove, V., & Doyère, V. (2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(9), e2108850119.

Earliest Experience of a Relatively Rare Sound But Not a Frequent Sound Causes Long-Term Changes in the Adult Auditory Cortex. Mehra, M., Mukesh, A., & Bandyopadhyay, S. (2022). Journal of Neuroscience, 42(8), 1454–1476.

Mechanisms of distributed working memory in a large-scale network of macaque neocortex. Mejías, J. F., & Wang, X.-J. (2022). eLife, 11, e72136.

Unsupervised learning of haptic material properties. Metzger, A., & Toscani, M. (2022). eLife, 11, e64876.

Cortical and hippocampal dynamics under logical fragmentation of environmental space. Shelley, L. E., Barr, C. I., & Nitz, D. A. (2022). Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 189, 107597.

Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on spiking activity in computational models of single neocortical neurons. Tran, H., Shirinpour, S., & Opitz, A. (2022). NeuroImage, 250, 118953.

Disruption of the grid cell network in a mouse model of early Alzheimer’s disease. Ying, J., Keinath, A. T., Lavoie, R., Vigneault, E., El Mestikawy, S., & Brandon, M. P. (2022). Nature Communications, 13, 886.

A theory of geometry representations for spatial navigation. Zeng, T., Si, B., & Feng, J. (2022). Progress in Neurobiology, 211, 102228.

#science #Neuroscience #computational neuroscience #Brain science #research #cognition #cognitive science #neurons #neurobiology #neural networks #neural computation #psychophysics #scientific publications

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kp777 · 9 months

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated 12:23 PM EDT, September 15, 2023Share

Tens of thousands of climate activists around the world launched protests Friday to call for an end to the burning of planet-warming fossil fuels as the globe suffers dramatic weather extremes and record-breaking heat, with plans to continue through the weekend. The protests — driven by several mostly youth-led, local and global climate groups and organizations, including Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future movement — were taking place in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities worldwide. In Quezon City in the Philippines, activists lay in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in protest, and held signs demanding fossil fuels — from coal to natural gas — be phased out. Outside the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta, Indonesia, protesters held signs calling for end to dirty fuels and greenwashing as police officers looked on. In Sweden, climate activists gathered in front of Parliament, just next to the Royal Palace where Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf was celebrating his 50th anniversary on the throne. Their chants about “climate justice” could be heard in the palace courtyard as the king watched the changing of the guard during the golden jubilee celebrations. And in Democratic Republic of the Congo, dozens joined a protest march through the city of Goma, shouting slogans and waving banners and placards calling for an end to corporate control of fossil fuels. The Congolese government caused an uproar among environmentalists last year by putting 30 oil and gas blocks up for auction, including 13 blocks crisscrossing through protected areas and national parks. The Congo Basin forest absorbs 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide — about 4% of global emissions — some of which would be released into the atmosphere if the areas are cleared for oil and gas drilling. A week before the planned protest, the United Nations warned that countries are way off track to curb warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, as agreed in Paris in 2015. The world has warmed at least 1.1 degrees (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since then.

Over the past few months, Earth broke its daily average heat record several times according to one metric, July was the hottest month ever on record, and the Northern Hemisphere summer was declared the hottest on record. Dozens of extreme weather events — from Hurricane Idalia in the southeastern United States to torrential flooding in Delhi in India — are believed to have been made worse by human-caused climate change. Another major strike is planned to take place Sunday in New York, to coincide with the city’s Climate Week and the U.N. climate summit. Climate activists have organized similar worldwide strikes in recent years, where protesters from different nations join together on a single day.

#climate emergency #climate crisis #climate change #climate protest

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thekotaroo · 1 year

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Profiles of Pride: June 23rd! 🏳️‍🌈Carmen Carrera🏳️‍🌈

Carmen Carrera (born April 13, 1985) is an American reality television personality, model, burlesque performer, and actress, known for appearing on the third season of the Logo reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as its spin-off series RuPaul's Drag U. Carrera is a transgender woman and a transgender rights activist.

Carrera was born in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. In 2011, she appeared in the third season of the reality television competition show, RuPaul's Drag Race. Carrera is the second contestant in the history of the show (after season three castmate, Shangela) to rejoin the cast after being eliminated, and along with Raja, Manila Luzon, and Delta Work, was part of the clique known as the "Heathers", which took its name from the 1988 film, Heathers. In episode 10, "RuPaul-a-Palooza", Carrera was eliminated for her performance while lip-syncing to a reggae-inspired cover of RuPaul's song "Superstar". Judges Michelle Visage, Santino Rice, and Billy Brasfield voted to re-invite Carrera to the competition in episode 12, "Jocks in Frocks". Subsequently, Carrera was eliminated in that episode after styling a muscular male athlete in her own signature "nude"-style of drag.

Carrera has also been active in AIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellow Drag Race co-stars Manila Luzon, Delta Work, Shangela Laquifa Wadley, and Alexis Mateo, the dress she wore was auctioned by Logo in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.

On June 11, 2012, Carrera appeared in an episode of the TLC series Cake Boss, "Bar Mitzvah, Beads & Oh Baby!", in which she unknowingly participated in a prank involving "Cousin Anthony" Bellifemine, the cousin of "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro, who was set up with a date with Carrera. The punchline of the joke had Valastro tell Bellifemine that "... that's a man, baby!" Carrera, however, originally agreed to appear on the program to promote equality for the transgender community, not aware that she would be involved in a joke. Following the airing of the program, Carrera rebuked the situation on Facebook:[

“By calling me a 'MAN' promotes ignorance and makes it ok to call transgender women, men. PEOPLE GET BULLIED, BEAT UP, AND KILLED FOR BEING TRANS BECAUSE OF THIS IGNORANCE! ... I made it VERY clear to the producers on how to use the correct wording before agreeing to filming this but instead they chose to poke fun and be disrespectful. That's not what Im [sic] about! ... I may not have been born a woman, but im [sic] NOT a man. I told them I wouldn't mind if they said 'born male' or 'was a male'. After taking this journey it's not fair at all to be lied to by the producers.”

Valastro subsequently apologized for the incident, saying:

“I owe an apology to the entire LGBT community. It was absolutely not my intention to upset or offend her, or anyone within the community, and I was wrong to use the words I did. I am a supporter of gay rights and equality, and while I regret this situation and my choice of words, I am thankful to have received this feedback and the opportunity to learn from this mistake. I hope that Carmen accepts my sincere regrets.”

In March 2014, Carrera openly criticized RuPaul for use of the pejorative "she-male" on a RuPaul's Drag Race episode. She continued to be critical of RuPaul when the issue arose again in 2015, after Logo pulled the "Female or SheMale" game from DragRace, which prompted RuPaul to defend the use of the word "tranny". Carrera's continued protests led to accusations by others that she was biting the hand that fed her. Carrera responded that, while she appreciates the opportunity to compete on DragRace, she ultimately earned her status through her efforts and those of her agent, friends, fans, and family, and that she was not beholden to support RuPaul's use of transphobic language.

Carrera was featured in the work of photographer David LaChapelle. She posed for a poster for Life Ball, which has two versions; each depicts her with different genitalia to represent the blurring of gender identity.

In 2014, Carrera was included as part of the Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list and made a cameo appearance on Jane the Virgin's premiere episode.

Also in 2014, Carrera was featured on the fifth anniversary cover of C☆NDY magazine along with thirteen other transgender women: Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Geena Rocero, Isis King, Gisele Alicea, Leyna Ramous, Dina Marie, Nina Poon, Juliana Huxtable, Niki M'nray, Pêche Di, Carmen Xtravaganza and Yasmine Petty.

#Carmen Carrera #LGBTQIA+#Pride #Pride Month #Trans Pride #Trans Rights #Trans Rights Are Human Rights #June Pride #June 23rd #Pride 2023

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inspirerae22 · 1 year

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Tomo

Tomo (she/they) is a queer butch leatherdyke who found the leather community during a sunset motorcycle ride with her wife Mel decades ago. She has presented classes, produced events, and served as a judge, keynote speaker, auctioneer, and emcee at leather events since. Tomo has been served by her Majordomo levi for over 15 years.

Tomo is the Owner and Producer of South Plains Leatherfest and the International Master slave Contest. She served as Northwest slave 2015 and International slave 2016/2021. She was a Producer of Northwest Leather Celebration, the Northwest Master slave, Northwest Bootblack, and Northwest Person of Leather Contests. She was also a Producer of International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack for seven years. She co-produces the Ms Sacramento Leather Contest and is a founding member of the D.U.C.

Tomo is the Director of MAsT: Sacramento, is a member and serves as Webmaster for Queer Leather Association Sacramento, has served as the West Coast Curator for the Leather Quilt Project, and is a member of MAsT: San Francisco and The Exiles. She was awarded the 2013 Pantheon of Leather President’s Award, the 2018 Master slave Conference slave Heart Award, and the 2020 Vice President’s Award from the National Leather Association.

Classes:

1. Service With Power A powerful person may be influential, independent, straightforward, and assertive. We will examine personal power, how it can be a tool in our service as slaves, and look at the misconceptions that one with a strong will cannot surrender it. Discover how to serve and yield while embracing the power that is within you. Whether you are powerful and struggle with the concept of combining power and surrender or you seek to find your own internal power, join us as we look at many sides of this issue

2. Pressure Points To Cause Pain Meridians are energy pathways in the body commonly used in martial arts, acupressure and acupuncture. Along these pathways are many points that can cause intense pain without injury or marks. Pressure points can be used with little strength on all body types. We will discover and practice several effective pressure points to get your bottom’s attention, cause pain, takedown, or subdue. The proper and most effective ways to activate these points will be shown, using parts of your own body to press, and other objects to intensify the sensation. Safety and health concerns will be discussed to ensure that this play is fun and safe. Participation is not required; however, this is a hands-on class so get ready to grab somebody willing and watch them make great faces!

3. Hojojutsu – Martial Art of Tying a Prisoner Hojojutsu is a Japanese martial art of securing a prisoner with rope. Ties attack air, energy, and blood pathways. If the prisoner struggles, increased pain and discomfort occur. The techniques are not comfortable, not nice, and highly effective. This class will maintain the martial aspect of Hojojutsu while using technique in a reasonably safe manner for play. A brief history of Hojojutsu, types of ropes used, how to prepare rope for use and several capture ties (hayanawa) will be taught including from tasuki (rope to hold back kimono), torinawa (capture rope, fast rope bundle) and practiced with detail and assistance. If time allows, a honnawa or transport tie will be taught to replace the hayanawa for sustainability. This is a hands-on class though participation is not required. Please bring your own rope, however instructor will have rope to lend.

More information can be found here https://gwnnbash.com/

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leviinbolt · 7 months

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⚡︎ headcanon . the Bearer trade and efforts at liberation

FFXVI never fully details how the trade around the Bearers works, except for a couple of entries that can be consulted when visiting Harpocrates. According to game sources, we know it is: a) a heavily regulated market; b) an international/cross-border one, given the fact that all Valisthean nations agreed on the 'branding' technique to facilitate this trade; and c) and that a lot of people can also make a lot of money in the black market for Bearers.

It is called as 'slavery' in more than one entry from the library tomes, and it has a lot of similarities with the horrifying slave trade of our own world. Considering that one of the drivers - if not the main one - associated to Cid's character is the liberation of the Bearers, I have further established some headcanons which will be used as foundations for interactions, unless plotted otherwise.

In terms of purchasing a Bearer, there are three main ways to do so:

legal acquisition of a Bearer: the usual way to acquire a Bearer is through the auction markets, which are held in cities with either a sizeable population or residents with enough economic means to afford them. Markets are organized and held according to a specific schedule and ran by the city authorities, with a percentage of the sale being due to them as a commission. The commission is supposed to cover their expenses in housing/feeding the Bearers until the auction, a preliminary health inspection and also the supply of the legal documents attesting to the ownership rights of the purchased Bearer.

the black market: another alternative to acquire a Bearer is through the black market - which is not as organized as the legal business and lacks some of the guarantees presented by the authorities. The main advantage is the lack of a commission to be paid, making the Bearer in itself a 'cheaper' commodity - however, they will not be given any ownership documents, and Bearers acquired under this fashion will not be returned to their owners (if caught) as their acquisition was not done through the proper channels.

capturing escaped Bearers: Bearers without a master and/or who have escaped somehow can also represent a chance for someone with no financial means to acquire a Bearer. Capturing one with their masters' mark and molesting them/kidnapping them is considered as a crime in most nations and punishable under the local law as unlawful retainment of a third party's property; but unmarked Bearers (and those without the papers to prove they belong to a specific master) can be freely claimed by the common folk and later formalized as their property through a petition to the authorities. If the Bearer is found to be without a master after the claim is filed, the ownership is generally granted.

Considering the dynamics above, Cid and those working at the hideaway (as well as the alliants) have developed different strategies to help liberate the Bearers, which are the following one:

raising money to acquire Bearers through legal means: this is how Martha operates, for instance, by buying them from legal channels and offering a chance at freedom and recovery. Considering that a Bearer's master is simply acquiring property, no further laws exist to implicate the owner if they choose to set the Bearer free/not work them to the bone.

infiltrating and liberating enslaved Bearers: this is generally where the Cursebreakers are involved; their missions will involve either stealth or direct confrontation with traders and/or masters, where they will seek to liberate those in the service and/or being transported by them for auctions. This can also be done in relation to those serving in the army of a particular nation, although the risks here tend to be too great for the Cursebreakers who lack the numbers and weapons of a state-sponsored army and are therefore done very rarely as official hideaway operations.

locating independent safe havens: some Bearers have escaped their masters on their own and set up small settlements all over the Twins where they might enjoy freedom and some autonomy. This is rather uncommon, as Bearers (particularly those branded as children) will not have the courage to defy their masters and usually are too terrified to do so. But exceptions exist, and some smaller communities are formed every now and then - Cid's scouts are in charge of locating them and then bringing word to the hideaway, so either Cid (or an alliant) can prepare to move them to a safer place (preferably the hideaway) for their own protection and before they are discovered and recaptured.

Finally, one thing that is common to both the trade and the liberation efforts is the focus on a Bearer's skillset. When sold, their abilities (e.g. able to read and write, trained for domestic activities, able to fight, good with numbers etc) will often be advertised and may be fundamental in establishing a price; once they are taken to the hideaway, the same sort of 'triage' is performed but only to assign them roles within their new home that will make sense based on their prior experience.

This is why most of the Cursebreakers were former branded soldiers, for example; but unlike their past lives, the Bearer's own desires are taken into consideration. If one wishes to be a cook, they can be taught; if someone wants to be an apprentice at the forge, that will be arranged. While their past experiences may be helpful, Cid sees that they are never determinant - they now choose their own path, including the work they will pick up as new members of the hideaway.

#⚡︎ headcanons . we're all men and we should not die as anything less #I've been thinking about these dynamics a lot #and how they mirror the sad reality of real slavery #so for the purposes of plotting interactions here #I've decided on fleshing out some routes

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pompanohistory · 1 year

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Dr. Louis B. Fisher Jr. Obit

Benny, a Native Floridian and third generation of Pompano Beach, FL, was born on June 21, 1936 . . . into the Fisher/Lyons family, one of the pioneers of Pompano Beach. He graduated as a “Bean Picker” from Pompano Beach High School and continued his education at the University of Miami, where he was conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1961. Subsequently, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his benevolence with so many humanitarian causes.

Benny was ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor and began his ministry in Loxahatchee, FL. He pastored several churches over the course of 17 years. As the associate pastor for the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Benny was one of the founders of Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1968.

Vocationally, Benny was a member of the 1972 graduating class at Reisch Auction College and a graduate of the Certified Auctioneers Institute in 1981. He turned his father’s real estate company into one of the most renowned auction firms in the country.

Benny served as Board Member, Vice-President, and President of the Florida Auctioneers Association; Director of the National Auctioneers Association; and was a member of The Hundred Club of Broward County since 1988. In 1995, Benny was presented with the Lewis C. Dell Award by his fellow members of the Florida Auctioneers Association. However, the culmination of his career came in 2004 where he was inducted into the National Auctioneers Hall of Fame by 7,000 of his colleagues and peers.

Benny’s other accolades include Florida State Bid Calling Champion twice (1980 and 1985); World Champion of Champions (2000); and the first-ever Businessman of the Year Award from the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce in 1990.

Benny was known for his impeccable fashion sense - he was never seen without his quintessential suit and tie and hat. His charismatic personality led him to never meet a stranger, and he always took the opportunity to share the word of the Lord. In his most recent years, Benny enjoyed writing and delivering speeches, mentoring, socializing and reminiscing with friends and family.

Benny is preceded by his father and mother, Louis B. Fisher, Sr. and Inez Lyons Fisher; his brother, H.L. Fisher; and his loving wife of 58 years, Barbara Blue Fisher. He is survived by his aunt, Barbara Lyons Platts; his sisters, Marilyn Virginia Wolf and Mary Francis Whidden; his nephew, Ben Whidden (Meggan); his sons, Louis B. Fisher III (Mitzi) and Lamar Paul Fisher, Sr. (Suzan); his grandchildren, Louis B. Fisher IV “B.J.”, Patricia Fisher McGrath (Tom), and Lamar “Paul” Fisher, Jr. (Molly); and his great-granddaughter, Madison Sue McGrath.

The viewing will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach, 138 NE 1st St, Pompano Beach, FL 33060.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach, 138 NE 1st Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060.

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busaccagallery · 2 years

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Almost impossible to authenticate. The art of marketing to rich greedy fools. Absolute genius!

Is it true you had the rarest painting in the world by the greatest artist in the world? In one of the most hyped-up marketing campaigns ever seen in the auction world, the numbers ultimately proved all involved wrong. In an ingenious move by Christie’s, the painting was branded the “male Mona Lisa,” drawing a parallel between Salvator Mundi and Leonardo’s most famous portrait. A slick promotional video didn’t show the painting at all, instead focusing on the enraptured faces of viewers, including actor and art collector Leonardo DiCaprio. The auction house’s strategy was to “convince the potential buyer that you’re now buying a celebrity that will play into the power and prestige of your acquisition. And it worked: “It was the trophy to end all trophies!

This painting was sold just like selling a car that has been in an accident! Fixed-up repaired and put back into the collection market.

If the Louvre says it’s an autograph of Leonardo that is a big deal. It’s not just art history it’s world politics. The Louvre came so close to showing the painting that it even produced a book on its technical findings.

The mystery is sort of solved but not really. Compelling questions about restoration expertise (and the associated responsibilities) authenticity and the madness and opacity of the international market. Nobody at the time could predict, The purchase marked the beginning of the painting’s unlikely ascent into the stratosphere.

In 2011 the work went on view at the museum with a wall label identifying it as a rediscovered Leonardo—a move that remains controversial a decade later.

Supposedly all the experts. All involved. Basically, everyone had agreed that the painting was indeed by Leonardo. Expectations are dangerous because you end up by seeing what you want to see. Everybody wanted it to be a Leonardo so everybody took the most optimistic view of it as they could as a Leonardo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNQumby11lc

The story starts when the painting was discovered in 2005 at a small New Orleans auction house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0lXLGgQjYY&t=126s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MFL6RDfCms

One expert convincing himself that it is real!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUP8l7HUWI

Salvator Mundi: Saudi-owned $450m painting is not a Da Vinci museum says the Saudi prince bought the painting for $450m in 2017 but its authenticity has been downgraded by the Prado in Madrid. it was sold by Christie’s auction house as a fully authenticated work by the Italian renaissance polymath.

Vincent Delieuvin curator of the Louvre’s Da Vinci exhibition in 2019 said the $450m work had “details of surprisingly poor quality!

Questions over attribution of Jesus painting, the most expensive ever sold at auction.

The painting has not been exhibited in public, intensifying a mystery about its ownership and whereabouts, and deepening the debate about its authenticity. Many art experts are split over whether the painting is genuine!

Experts come to the conclusion details are of surprisingly poor quality!

The “Salvator Mundi,” said to be painted by Leonardo da Vinci and sold for a record-setting $450 million to a buyer reportedly on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has recently been downgraded by curators at the Prado.

The whereabouts of the painting are currently unknown!

It is to be hoped that a future permanent display of the work will allow it to be reanalyzed with greater objectivity.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/sold-for-450m-to-saudi-prince-salvator-mundi-likely-not-painted-by-leonardo/

Is it 100 percent pure Leonardo da Vinci or is it another story?

It was rediscovered, restored, and included in a major Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery, London, in 2011–2012.

last bid jumped from $370 million to $400 million is indicative of just how amateurish and unorthodox the process was that characterized this entire enterprise.

The painting was allegedly gifted / pledged as a loan.

MBS’s refusal to lend the work since such a reputational downgrade would diminish the value substantially.

London’s National Gallery last month asked if it could cite her as a supporter of Salvator Mundi‘s authenticity—which, seven years after the museum’s Leonardo blockbuster, is a peculiar move at the least, considering this late stage of events. Could the National Gallery be trying to cover its tracks after making the unprecedented move of installing the work in its exhibition—and thereby conferring the National’s imprimatur—without definitive proof the work was by Leonardo?

The London museum’s quandary shows the pitfalls of putting box-office interests above institutional ethics and standard professional practices in the name of blockbuster mongering. They’d make a nice defendant in any lawsuit if MBS seeks a refund in whole or part from Christie’s et.

How do you lose a $450 million newly discovered Leonardo?

Apparently, the work was whisked away in the middle of the night on MBS’s plane and relocated to his yacht, the Serene. What harm could the occasional splash of seawater do?

Wall Street Journal alleged that the world’s most expensive painting had been endangered after having been kept on Mohammed bin Salman’s $600m superyacht.

Saudi Arabia’s impending push into the world of art and entertainment. To add to their penchant for all things bling, the Saudi regime has made a sizable investment into the back catalog of the greatest works of known ART.

The headlong shopping spree for international cultural capital—and global-tourism fodder—that is currently taking place across the region has spurred an art arms race!

https://news.artnet.com/opinion/kenny-schachter-on-the-missing-salvator-mundi-1565674

https://news.artnet.com/market/lost-leonardo-salvator-mundi-documentary-2003257

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-salvator-mundi-not-da-vinci-museum

#Art #Collections #ArtCollections #RareCollections #CrazyArt #ArtGreed

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allthebrazilianpolitics · 2 years

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The doubts hanging over the US$3.5bn concession of Brazil's biggest port

The Brazilian government has taken another step forward in its efforts to hold an auction for the concession of Santos port, the largest in the country, but doubts are growing as to whether the bidding process can still be carried out this year.

President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree authorizing Santos port to be included on the list of the national privatization program (PND), a formal step required before any such auction.

With this decree signed, the documents for the tender notice will be filed for review by the country's audit court (TCU) in late August, the infrastructure ministry said in a statement.

"The deadlines [to hold the auction this year] are very tight. The documents that the government has to send to the TCU have to be faultless to avoid any questions from the court and any delays," Angelino Caputo e Oliveira, the executive director of national port terminals and customs facilities association Abtra, told BNamericas.

#brazil #brazilian politics #politics #economy #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

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xtruss · 3 days

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She’s The World’s Most Expensive Cow, And Part Of Brazil’s Plan To Put Beef On Everyone’s Plate

— By David Biller | June 4, 2024 | Associated Press

A stockman shows off the Nelore cow known as Viatina-19 at a farm in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Friday, April 26, 2024. Viatina-19 is the product of years of efforts to raise meatier cows, and is the most expensive cow ever sold at auction, according to Guinness World Records. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Uberaba, Brazil (AP) — Brazil has hundreds of millions of cows, but one in particular is extraordinary. Her massive, snow-white body is watched over by security cameras, a veterinarian and an armed guard.

Worth $4 million, Viatina-19 FIV Mara Movéis is the most expensive cow ever sold at auction, according to Guinness World Records. That’s three times more than the last recordholder’s price. And — at 1,100 kilograms (more than 2,400 pounds) — she’s twice as heavy as an average adult of her breed.

Along a highway through Brazil’s heartland, Viatina-19’s owners have put up two billboards praising her grandeur and beckoning ranchers, curious locals and busloads of veterinary students to make pilgrimages to see the supercow.

Climate scientists agree that people need to consume less beef, the largest agricultural source of greenhouse gasses and a driver of Amazon deforestation. But the cattle industry is a major source of Brazilian economic development and the government is striving to conquer new export markets. The world’s top beef exporter wants everyone, everywhere to eat its beef.

The embodiment of Brazil’s cattle ambitions is Viatina-19, the product of years of efforts to raise meatier cows. The country’s prizewinners are sold at high-stakes auctions — so high that wealthy ranchers share ownership. They extract the eggs and semen from champion animals, create embryos and implant them in surrogate cows that they hope will produce the next magnificent specimens.

A stockman watches over the Nelore cow known as Viatina-19 at a farm in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

“We’re not slaughtering elite cattle. We’re breeding them. And at the end of the line, going to feed the whole world,” one of her owners, Ney Pereira, said after arriving by helicopter at his farm in Minas Gerais state. “I think Viatina will provide that.”

The cow’s eye-popping price stems from how quickly she put on vast amounts of muscle, from her fertility and — crucially — how often she has passed those characteristics to her offspring, said Lorrany Martins, a veterinarian who is Pereira’s daughter and right hand. Breeders also value posture, hoof solidity, docility, maternal ability and beauty. Those eager to level up their livestock’s genetics pay around $250,000 for an opportunity to collect Viatina-19’s egg cells.

“She is the closest to perfection that has been attained so far,” Martins said. “She’s a complete cow, has all the characteristics that all the proprietors are looking for.”

Ney Pereira and his daughter, veterinarian Lorrany Martins, give an interview inside a stable at his farm in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

A Grand Matriarch

A commodities boom in the 2000s turbocharged Brazilian agriculture, especially with a rising China buying soy and beef. Today, agriculture’s influence extends to Brazil’s Congress and the national consciousness. Country music is booming. TV viewers can watch the massive Globo network’s seven-year campaign exalting the sector. The Cow Channel features live auctions. And Brazil, along with the U.S., is at the forefront of cattle genetics; it does more in-vitro fertilizations than any country in the world, said João Henrique Moreira Viana, genetic resources and biotechnology researcher at the government’s agricultural research corporation.

Viatina-19 won award after award — including “Miss South America” at the Fort Worth, Texas-based “Champion of the World” competition, a bovine version of Miss Universe where cows and bulls from different countries square off. But at 3 years old she hadn’t yet proven that her egg cells, when fertilized and implanted in a surrogate cow, would reliably produce offspring bearing her champion characteristics, said Pereira, an internet executive who moved into elite cow breeding. He needed “a grand matriarch.”

Such cows cost so much that people buy and sell partial ownership, and Pereira’s company Napemo Agriculture paid several million reais (almost $800,000) in a 2022 auction for a 50% stake in Viatina-19. Another rancher kept the other half, so the two would jointly make important decisions and split revenues.

As the auctioneer banged his gavel, the speakers blasted Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” For Pereira, a lifelong Elvis fanatic, it was a sign.

“It gave me butterflies in the stomach,” he said. “We were new breeders. It was a bit of boldness, a bit of feeling and a bit of heart, too.”

Last year, Pereira and the other owner put a 33% stake in the cow up at auction. One bidder paid 7 million reais ($1.3 million), making Viatina-19’s full value break the Guinness record.

Brazilian cow Viatina-19, the world’s most expensive heifer. She is worth an incredible 21 million reais (USD4.2 million). (AP/Mario Lobão, Produced by Tatiana Pollastri)

India To Brazil

In Brazil, 80% of the cows are Zebus, a subspecies originating in India with a distinctive hump and dewlap, or folds of draping neck skin. Viatina-19 belongs to the Nelore breed, which is raised for meat, not milk, and makes up most of Brazil’s stock.

The first Zebus arrived in Brazil in the latter half of the 19th century and they proved far hardier than European stock. They coped well with the sweltering tropical heat, proved resistant to parasites and gained weight faster. A prizewinning Nelore bull named Karvardi arrived from India in 1963, and some breeders still preserve cryogenically frozen doses of his semen, according to Brazil’s Zebu association. Draped in traditional Indian vestments, Karvardi’s preserved body stands in the Zebu Museum in Uberaba, the city in Brazil’s agricultural heartland where Viatina-19 lives.

Uberaba holds an annual gathering called ExpoZebu that bills itself as the world’s biggest Zebu fair. Held several weeks ago, it was a far cry from the Brazil imagined abroad. The dress code was boots, baseball caps and blue jeans. Evening concerts drew 10,000 spectators belting out their favorite country songs. But the main attraction was the daily cattle shows. Ranchers came from as far away as Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Stockmen shaved cows’ ears and the bases of their horns — the equivalent of a fresh human haircut to charm show judges and win prizes that boost an animal’s auction price.

Top: Spectators attend a concert at the ExpoZebu fair in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Bottom Left: A spotter waves a light stick to signal receipt of a new bid at the Elo de Raça auction in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Bottom Right: A Nelore cow named Donna, wearing a number 1 tag, right, and three of her clones are sold at the Elo de Raça auction on the sidelines of the ExpoZebu fair in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Sunday, April 28, 2024.

The most prestigious auction is called Elo de Raça, and Viatina-19 has been sold at increasingly higher prices there. Searchlights shooting into the night sky on April 28 summoned the hundreds fortunate enough to receive invitations. Arthur Lira, the speaker of Congress’ Lower House, drove in followed by a car with his security detail. He was set to offer his 3-month-old calf.

“The auctions always present the best of what each person has and that spreads to other people, other breeders, and the genetics evolve,” said Lira, who ranches in Brazil’s northeast.

As the first cow entered the paddock, speakers blared Queen’s “We Are the Champions.” But that cow was a mere appetizer before the auction of this year’s starlet, Donna, and three of her clones. The final sale price put her total value at 15.5 million reais ($3 million). Presenting Donna, the announcer said that each of the four produces 80 egg cells a month – quadruple an average Nelore – and called them “a factory.”

“Donna shows where we are with the Nelore breed and where we will go!” he shouted.

Bidders attend an Elo de Raca auction preview at the ExpoZebu in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Saturday, April 27, 2024. The Elo de Raça is the most prestigious auction at the annual ExpoZeb, which bills itself as the world’s biggest Zebu fair. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

New Markets

Showstoppers like Donna and Viatina-19 are rarities in Brazil, where there are more than 230 million cows, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. It has the world’s largest beef cattle population, and that’s problematic; of the nation’s total greenhouse emissions, 86% are linked to its food production, mainly for beef and soy, according to a World Bank report published last month. Huge swaths of Amazon rainforest have been slashed to create pasture, releasing carbon stored in trees, and cows belch methane that’s far worse for the climate.

One of the best ways to cut livestock emissions is reducing cows’ age of slaughter, said Rodrigo Gomes, a beef cattle researcher at the government’s agricultural research corporation. Elite cows can gain weight fast enough to be slaughtered significantly younger.

Others say genetic improvements are helpful but limited ways to reduce warming. Simpler, more effective measures include planting better grass for grazing and regularly moving cattle from pasture to pasture, said Beto Veríssimo, an agronomist who co-founded an environmental nonprofit called Imazon. Productivity in Brazil could be at least three times higher, said Veríssimo, who sits on the consultation committee of meatpacking giant JBS’ Amazon fund. He receives no compensation.

Brazil Bests US As Bovine Behemoth

The number of cattle in Brazil has skyrocketed while the U.S. has seen a decline, and the South American nation is now the world’s top beef exporter.

Ranching is here to stay; it’s an economic engine in Brazil, which exported more than 2 million tons of beef in both 2022 and 2023, the most since records began in 1997. The overwhelming majority goes to developing nations, especially China, thanks to rising incomes that have put beef within reach. It’s partly why agriculture and livestock activity grew 3.6% from 2015 to 2023, compared to 0.8% for services and a contraction in industry of 0.6%, according to calculations by LCA Consultores based on official data.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been working to open new markets. Last month, Lula met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, home to the premium, marbled Wagyu beef; he urged his counterpart to taste Brazilian meat and become a believer.

“Please,” he said, addressing his vice president at the event, “take Prime Minister Fumio to eat steak at the best restaurant in Sao Paulo so that, the following week, he starts importing our beef.”

And in April, Lula visited one of the 38 Brazilian meatpacking plants that China authorized to send beef there. He boasted about the billions in revenue they will provide. Lula’s administration last month declared Brazil totally free of foot-and-mouth disease, saying it will request recognition from the World Organization for Animal Health in August. That would open the world’s more restrictive — and lucrative — markets to Brazilian beef, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said at the time.

Cow embryos are stored at the ABS laboratory in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Monday, April 29, 2024. The embryos are used for in vitro fertilization of surrogate cows. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Send In The Clones

Just down the highway from the Elo de Raça auction stands what appears an ordinary farmhouse. But inside, employees in white coats extract DNA from cows’ tail hair and use it to create embryos. Behind that laboratory, sprawling hills of pasture are dotted with some 500 surrogates pregnant with clones.

“All those are rental bellies,” said Geneal Animal Genetics and Biotechnology’s commercial director, Paulo Cerantola, motioning to a hilltop herd as his truck rumbled along a dirt road.

It led to a stable beside a small pen where a cloned calf lay in the sunshine. Born the day before, it was still too unsure of its legs to stand, and a 2-day-old clone set an example by ambling about gamely. Another born 20 minutes earlier by cesarean section was huddled on hay in the rear of a stall, pressing backwards against the wall and unsettled by this strange new world.

Perhaps one-third of fetal clones survive; the pregnancies can fail or a clone can be born with deformities that require euthanasia, Cerantola said. Clones of Viatina-19 are due in a few months, he said.

A cloned calf lays on the grass at Geneal Animal Genetics and Biotechnology in Uberaba, Minas Gerais state, Monday, April 29, 2024. Perhaps one-third of fetal clones survive; the pregnancies can fail or a clone can be born with deformities that require euthanasia, said Paulo Cerantola, Geneal Animal Genetics and Biotechnology’s commercial director. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

But some ranchers wouldn’t even want a big herd of her clones. High-maintenance cows like Viatina-19 aren’t profitable on a commercial scale because they couldn’t meet their energy needs from grass alone, said P.J. Budler, a cattle judge and international business manager for Trans Ova Genetics, an Iowa-based company focused on improving the bovine gene pool.

“For the environment and the resources that it would take to run a cow like (Viatina-19), she fits the mold ideally, but she’s not the answer for all cattle everywhere,” he said.

Another Texas cattleman who traveled to ExpoZebu in 2023 to scope out the genetics scene was more critical, calling Viatina-19, and cows like her, “man-made freaks.”

“In my opinion, she needs a bullet in her head. She’s poison for the industry,” Grant Vassberg said by phone. “We still need cows to be efficient on grass. That’s how you feed the world.”

Viatina-19’s owner, Pereira, said she gets special treatment to boost egg cell production, but would thrive were she put to pasture — where almost all his elite cattle feed.

Meanwhile, Viatina-19 is pregnant for the first time, which helps maintain hormone cycles, Pereira said, and he’s eyeing expansion; her egg cells have sold to Bolivian buyers and he wants to export to the United Arab Emirates, India and the US.

“If she is the best in the world – not just her price, but I believe she is the world’s best – we need to share her around the world,” Pereira said.

His veterinarian daughter, Martins, is looking even farther ahead.

“I hope she is the basis for an even better animal in the future, decades from now,” she said.

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