Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 102
October 20, 2019
21 October 2019 - LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE IN NIGERIA
LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE IN NIGERIA
G'day folks,
Welcome to an amazing nature reserve in Nigeria. This nature reserve is home to the longest canopy walkway in Africa.
The Lekki Conservation Center in Lekki, Nigeria, is an oasis of nature within the urban chaos of Lagos, and the suspended canopy walkway that rises over the reserve is the longest in all of Africa.
The canopy walkway features six towers that rise over 22 feet each. They are connected by a series of suspended (and swinging) walkways that offer a unique (if somewhat harrowing) 360-degree view of this part of the world from high above the treetops. The treetop walk stretches about 1,315 feet long (more than three and a half football fields), setting the record for the longest on the African continent.
Founded in 1990 by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the conservation center preserves a large part of the region’s biodiverse coastal ecosystem and educates visitors on the importance of coexisting with nature. The reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife, including monkeys, tortoises, and rare birds.
Clancy's comment: It looks like a great place for photographers to snap wildlife.I'm ...
October 19, 2019
20 October 2019 - NATURE DOES NOT NEED PHOTOSHOP
NATURE DOES NOT NEED PHOTOSHOP
G'day folks,
Although Photoshop has long existed and has become an integral part of the processing and editing method of many photographers, nature is an artist whose work usually doesn’t need any refinement or improvement. Geometric shapes, spectacular colors and amazing sights can prove just how true it is. We invite you to be impressed by the following pictures taken of nature, that prove that it is perfect the way it is, and show you how beautiful the world is, if you only know where to look.
Clancy's comment: Pretty impressive, eh? Many thanks to the photographers for sharing their work. Oh, as a photographer, I don't use Photoshop. If a shot is not good enough, I delete it.
I'm ...
October 18, 2019
19 October 2019 - AMAZING CATACOMBS OF SAN GENNARO
AMAZING CATACOMBS OF SAN GENNARO
G'day folks,
Welcome to an underground paleo-Christian burial site composed of the remains of several cemeteries and Basilicas.
The Catacombs of San Gennaro (St. Januarius) are considered by many to be the most significant paleo-Christian ruins in Italy south of Rome. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte, on a site that is now easily identified by the large church of Madre del Buon Consiglio. In early Christian days, there were actually three cemeteries, dedicated, respectively, to San Gaudioso, San Severo, and San Gennaro. The three grew together and are now known collectively as the Catacombs of San Gennaro.
These Catacombs in Naples are different from their Roman counterparts in that they have more spacious passageways along two levels. The lower level is the oldest, going back to the third or fourth century and may actually be the site of an earlier pre-Christian cemetery later ceded to the new sect.
It became an important religious burial site only after the entombment of Bishop Agrippinus of Naples. The second level was the one expanded so as to encompass the other two adjacent cemeteries. The site was consecrated to Gennaro (Januarius) in the fifth century on the occasion of the entombment of his earthly remains there. The remains were later moved to the nearby Cathedral of Naples, where they are still housed.
Between the 13th and 18th centuries, however, the catacombs were the victim of severe looting. Restoration of the catacombs was made possible only after the transfer of skeletal remains to another cemetery.
Today the catacombs are prized especially for both the length of the period they were in continued use—from the emergence of Christianity until the 10th century—and the well-preserved fresco cycles that decorate their corridors and chapels, spanning from the second to the 10th centuries.
Clancy's comment: I have been in a few, but not this one. I'd be more than interested to visit this amazing place. Amazing art and construction.
I'm ...
October 17, 2019
18 October 2019 - THE WORLD MUSEUM OF INSECTS AND NATURAL WONDERS, THAILAND
THE WORLD MUSEUM OF INSECTS AND NATURAL WONDERS, THAILAND
G'day folks,This extensive collection of dead bugs may be the world's most idiosyncratic and personal insect museum. This Thailand insect museum might not be the largest or most extensive collection in the world, but what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in homespun (not a spider joke) charm.
The World Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders is the work of husband and wife team Manop Ratana Rittirong Gul, and Rattana Rumpa Rittirong Gul, both former contributors to the Smithsonian. Rattana is a world leader in mosquito research and has contributed almost 500 species of mosquito to the world record, while her husband is a malaria expert.
Together they are a husband and wife bug superteam. The walls of their small, multi-floor museum are covered in glass frames full of pinned insects of all varieties including stick insects, beetles, butterflies, and more. Each of the displays is annotated both by scientific info and personal asides. In addition to the insectoid taxidermy, the museum features a number of surreal works of art by the duo. There are paintings of women and horses cavorting with giant mosquitoes and rocks that are described as the eyes and meteors. Together, the eccentric collection is both surreal and a bit creepy. The pieces of art are also given informational plaques, but they are mostly filled with personal bits of mysticism that relate to the making and meaning of the works. 
It’s not every museum that allows such an unvarnished look into the minds of its curators, and the combination of the clinical and personal at the site make for a strange, and unforgettable mixture.
Clancy's comment: Nice to see mosquitos skewered with pins. I'm ...
October 16, 2019
17 October 2019 - UNUSUAL BURIAL GROUNDS IN PARIS
UNUSUAL BURIAL GROUNDS IN PARIS
G'day folks,
Stripes of human ashes cover a back lawn in the most sought-after burial grounds in Paris.
The thin white lines that stretch across a grassy knoll near the crematorium at Père Lachaise Cemetery have confused many onlookers. Though the lines may look like some sort of chalky dust, they’re actually the human cremains of thousands of people. It isn’t free for Parisians to add their ashes to the lines, but it’s a more affordable option for those who wish to be interred in the famous cemetery but don’t want to pay for a costly burial. It’s also a more eco-friendly option. The cremains, which stripe a plot of land near the back of the cemetery, nurture and fertilize the grass as they integrate with the earth.
Being laid to rest in one of the world’s most sought-after cemeteries is no easy task. Over one million bodies, including those of cultural icons and artists like Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison, are buried within the grounds. That number doesn’t even include those whose bodies were cremated, their remains either stored within the columbarium or sprinkled onto the back lawn.
There’s a long waiting list to get in, and only those who are native to the city or happened to die there are accepted. Even Parisians who do manage to score a burial plot will most likely one day be exhumed after a few decades to make room for a new corpse.
Clancy's comment: Wow. I never knew about this.
I'm ...
October 15, 2019
16 October 2019 - PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE WONDERS OF NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE WONDERS OF NATURE
G'day folks,
Our planet can be a truly wondrous place, yet it can be terribly frightening at times too.
This is because Mother Nature can sometimes be a devastating and unpredictable force. After taking a look at the amazing photos below, it should become clear why humanity has a tendency to hide behind the walls of crowded cities instead of braving the wild on their own ... With a camera.
Clancy's comment: Amazing, eh? It's all out there, so get out and check it out. Thanks to the photographers who have shared their work.
I'm ...
October 14, 2019
15 October 2019 - DONNER PASS SUMMIT TUNNELS - ABANDONED
DONNER PASS SUMMIT TUNNELS - ABANDONED
G'day folks,These now-abandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered California. Theodore Judah was a man with a dream, and his was to build a railroad through the Central Pacific, routed via the Sierra Nevada mountains. In the mid-19th century, the civil engineer surveyed a large stretch of the route to be used and found funds to make the transcontinental railroad a reality.
A key part of this route lies at Donner Pass, where the first wagon train made its way into California. A series of now-abandoned tunnels were completed in August 1867, and the first train passed through it in 1868. Unfortunately Judah did not live to see this happen; he died in 1863 during an eastbound voyage in connection with his dream project.
The tunnels at Donner Pass were constructed by Chinese laborers and took more than 15 months of hard work to finish. The dozen tunnels were some of the most treacherous parts of the transcontinental railroad, linking the rail networks of Omaha, Nebraska, to the West Coast at Oakland. They were constructed through the use of hand drilling, black powder, and nitroglycerin (leading to an untold number of worker deaths).The tunnels were used by trains for 125 years, until 1993 when the line was rerouted through a new tunnel running through Mount Judah, named after the railroad pioneer. The Donner Pass and the tunnels are named after the Donner Party, a group of explorers en route to California who became stranded in the Sierra Nevada region due to heavy snow and resorted to cannibalism to survive.
The tunnel and snow sheds now sit abandoned and, despite being on private property, are a popular place for curious hikers and snowshoers. Tunnel #6, which took tens of thousands of hours to complete, is the most famous of the tunnels. Tunnels #7 and #8, along with the China Wall, which was built to hold up the trains as they transitioned between two tunnels, are the other parts of the system that are commonly visited.
A walk through the dark tunnels, with light pouring in only at points where the wall has openings, can be an eerie experience. Ancient petroglyphs can also be found nearby and are marked with a plaque.
Clancy's comment: Yet another abandoned construction, eh? Staggering.I'm ...
October 13, 2019
14 October 2019 - MURCHISON FALLS IN UGANDA
MURCHISON FALLS IN UGANDA
G'day folks,
Welcome to Murchison Falls where the White Nile River dramatically cascades between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert in Uganda.
Also known as Kabalega Falls, Murchison Falls is a spectacular waterfall where the White Nile bursts through a narrow rocky gap and tumultuously tumbles some 140 feet into a pool known as “The Devil’s Cauldron” before flowing into the tranquil Lake Albert.
English explorers Samuel and Florence Baker named Murchison Falls named after the president of the Royal Geographical Society, Roderick Murchison. The local name, Kabalega Falls, is a remnant of Ugandan military officer and former president Idi Amin’s regime. In the 1970s, Amin unofficially renamed Murchison Falls to Kabalega Falls in reference to Kabalega of Bunyoro, the late-19th-century king of Bunyoro, Uganda.
Murchison Falls crown the magnificent surrounding region, which is subsequently known as Murchison Falls National Park. The park is sited in the Albertine Rift Valley’s picturesque northern end. The park was established as a game reserve in 1926, and today, it serves as the oldest and largest reserve of its kind in the nation.
Comprised of the National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, and the Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserve, the Murchison Falls Conservation Area is home to more than 70 mammal species and 450 species of birds. The riverbanks are dotted with buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles, while elephants, lions, leopards, chimpanzees, and giraffes roam the forests and savannas.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited what is now the National Park in 1907, and notably remarked that the landscape reminded him of a wild Kew Gardens. Other visitors of historical significance include Ernest Hemingway, who supposedly crashed a plane near the falls in 1954, and former United States President Theodore Roosevelt. The area also makes an appearance in the 1951 film, The African Queen.
Clancy's comment: Mm ... Definitely a place for photographers, searching for wildlife.I'm ...
October 12, 2019
13 October 2019 - JOHN RIDDLE - GUEST AUTHOR AND GHOSTWRITER
JOHN RIDDLE - GUEST AUTHOR AND GHOSTWRITER -
G'day folks,
Well, here is my interview with a guy who has achieved heaps.
Welcome, John ...
1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.I am the author of 35 books and have worked as a ghostwriter on numerous projects. My byline has appeared in major publications all across the U.S., and I have written articles for over 200 Websites. Since 1996 I have been working out of my home office in Delaware as a full time freelance writer, author, ghostwriter and donut eater.
2. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?I knew when I was 17 years old that I wanted to become a writer! After graduating from HS in 1970, I enlisted in the Navy. A few months later I discovered Writer’s Digest Magazine, which helped me to learn the ABCs of writing and getting published.
3. WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?It’s sort of a combination of both techniques. When I’m working on a non-fiction book, I research a lot of material so that I am confident about what I am writing about.
4. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?It’s a toss up between the variety of assignments and being “in the zone” during a creative process.
5. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?Often times a writer has doubts about their ability, and after 40 years of being published, thankfully that rarely happens to me anymore.
6. WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?After 4 years in the Navy as a Navigator, I worked as a payroll clerk, a manager of an arcade/ice cream parlor, a meeting planner and a fundraising and grant writing person at a few non-profit agencies.
7. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?Self publishing my 35th book (the first 34 were with traditional publishers), “The Flying Nun, Oprah and Me: 40 Years Making Money as a Freelance Writer (Hey, You Can Do It Too!)”
8. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?A series of articles for a mental health publication.
9. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Several things inspire me: the ability to be creative and the variety of assignments that come my way.
10. WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE? I write mostly non-fiction, and lately I have been writing a lot of business, health, medical, self help and parenting related projects.
11. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS? First of all, believe in yourself. You will get rejected; it happens to all writers. Don’t take it personally. And find an area in which you really enjoy writing about, and go after assignments with gusto and excitement! Keep marketing yourself as a writer, and network with other writers, editors, publishers, etc.
12. DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK? Thankfully, I have never had that happen to me.
13. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE? I am an early riser, and prefer to get any creative writing done before mid-morning, or noon at the latest.
14. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE? My home office.
15. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING? Knowing that I am using my gift of creative communication gives me purpose and joy.
16. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY? Stephen King. I especially enjoyed his earlier works. I grew up watching horror movies as a kid, and King seemed to know how to write for that audience.
17. WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER? “You are the best writer on the planet!”
18. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER? “Why did I waste my time reading this?”
19. WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU? No.
20. OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE? Reading. Watching TV shows and movies. And travelling.
21. DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION? My first 34 books were with traditional publishers, and they took care of all of the editing. My 35th book was my first self published title. I edited it until the cows came home, and then had a professional editor give it one last look.
22. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. My perfect day begins getting up at the crack of dawn, checking e-mails from overnight editors and publishers, etc. Then I’ll do a quick review of some of my favorite job boards, looking for new freelance opportunities. Then if I am working on any projects, I start the writing process.
23. IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?Anyone who could build a rock solid raft and get us back to civilization!!!
24. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS? “Get it together! Start serving the people who put you into office!!!”
25. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? To keep writing, having fun and helping others.
26. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS? I don’t have any experience in that area. I have seen a few, and they have gotten me interested in the books they were promoting.
27. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS? I was a ghostwriter on an action adventure novel, and I must confess, I WAS the hero, LOL.
28. DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU? Yes and no. Yes, because these days traditional publishers rely too much on “how much profit will we make” instead of “hey, this is a great book that the reading public needs to read!” No, because if a writer truly wants to get published, they will find a way.
29. DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING? NEVER!!!!
30. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY? I worked on “For God and Country” with my daughter when she was in College. It was awesome to co-write a book with my daughter.
31. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER? A successful writer is one that is happy with what they are writing.
32. WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?The reader should feel a little sad that the book is over, but at the same time feel satisfied for having read it.
33. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY? No and No.
34. HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER? Probably a lot. As I mentioned, my first 34 books were with traditional publishers, and they suggested the covers. For my first ever self published title, I kept it simple.
35. WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?That one of my books “goes viral” and that people will learn about my passion to help other writers get published and succeed.
36. WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?I very much enjoy the challenge of marketing myself and my books. Not many authors enjoy that process, however.
37. ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?Only my 35thtitle.
38. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.Creative; happy, content; determined and curious.
39. WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?The stressed out population everywhere.
40. WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE? “Platinum Faith” by Michelle Medlock Adams and Bethany Jett.
41. WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?If you are reading this, then I must have just died!
42. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE?Being able to inspire people who want to learn how to get published.
43. ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Thank you!
AMAZON
Clancy's comment: Thank you, John. A very enjoyable interview. Keep pumping out those books.
I'm ...
October 11, 2019
12 October 2019 - BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
G'day folks,
Every year, a panel of bird photography enthusiasts comes together to choose the winners of the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year Awards , the problem being that there are just too many stunning pictures to choose from, and only so many awards to give out. Here are some of the most incredible pictures that didn’t get the prize, but did get a nod from the judges, as well as some winners of the previous years.
Clancy's comment: And, these didn't win! Many thanks to the photographers for sharing their work.
I'm ...
