Lightning Striking Volcano (inspirational quotes)

The word "volcano" is used to refer to the opening from which molten rock and gas issue from Earth's interior onto the surface, and also to the cone, hill, or mountain built up around the opening by the eruptive products. This slide set depicts ash clouds, fire fountains, lava flows, spatter cones, glowing avalanches, and steam eruptions from 18 volcanoes in 13 countries. Volcano types include strato, cinder cone, basaltic shield, complex, and island-forming.

Galunggung, Indonesia;07.25 S 108.05 E;2,168 m elevation - This stratovolcano with a lava dome is located in western Java. Its first eruption in 1822 produced a 22-km-long mudflow that killed 4,000 people. The second eruption in 1894 caused extensive property loss. The photo depicts a spectacular view of lightning strikes during a third eruption on December 3, 1982, which resulted in 68 deaths. A fourth eruption occurred in 1984. Photo credit: R. Hadian, U.S. Geological Survey

The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) website is provided as a public service by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS). Information presented on these web pages is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested.

This file is a work of R. Hadian, U.S. Geological Survey, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the file is in the public domain.

Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.

This text is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, are now in the public domain.

This image is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case Plutarch (c. 46 – 120 AD), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from the last day of that year. +sookie tex

Cats playing Chess "White to Move"

THE origin of the cat has puzzled the learned, and the stock from whence it sprang is still, in the opinion of some, a mystery for the zoologist to solve.

Historians tell us that the feline race came into existence about the same time as the horse. Reference is made to the cat in Sanskrit writings over 2,000 years old, and still earlier records are found in the monumental figures, inscriptions, and cat mummies of ancient Egypt. These carefully-preserved relics of the past assist us in answering the question as to how this least tameable of animals became domesticated. There are many legends concerning Puss and the manner in which she first sprang into existence. A surprising account of he cat's creation is found in the works of an Arabian naturalist. It is as follows:

"When Noah made a couple of each kind of animal enter the Ark, his companions, as well as the members of his family, said to him, 'What security can there be for us and for the animals so long as the lion shall dwell with us in the same vessel?' The patriarch betook himself to prayer and entreated the Lord God. Immediately fever came down from Heaven and seized upon the king of beasts, so that tranquility of mind was restored to the inhabitants of the Ark. But there was in the vessel an enemy no less harmful—this was the mouse. The companions of Noah called his attention to the fact that it would be impossible for them to preserve their provisions and their clothes intact. After the patriarch had addressed renewed supplications to the Most High, the lion sneezed, and a cat ran out of his nostrils. From that time forth the mouse became so timid that it contracted the habit of hiding itself in holes."

"White to Move"( Photo: Mrs. S. F. Clarke. )

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1903, are now in the public domain. #Caturday

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Book of the Cat. Authors: Frances Simpson, Frances Simpson (Miss.) Publisher: Cassell and Company, limited, 1903. Original from: the University of Michiga. Digitized: May 22, 2008. Length: 380 pages. Subjects: Cats. Children's apperception test.

John Wesley Hardin

On the 17th I was to meet Jack Helms at a little town called Albukirk in Wilson county. I went there according to agreement, a trusty friend accompanying me in the person of Jim Taylor. We talked matters over together and failed to agree, he seriously threatening Jim Taylor's life, and so I went and told Jim to look out, that Jack Helms had sworn to shoot him on sight because he had shot Bill Sutton and because he was a Taylor. Jim quickly asked me to introduce him to Helms or point him out. I declined to do this, but referred him to a friend that would. I went to a blacksmith shop and had my horse shod. I paid for the shoeing and was fixing to leave when I heard Helms' voice:

"Hands up, you d— s— of a b—."

I looked around and saw Jack Helms advancing on Jim Taylor with a large knife in his hands. Some one hollered

"Shoot the d d scoundrel."

It appeared to me that Helms was the scoundrel, so I grabbed my shot gun and fired at Capt. Jack Helms as he was closing with Jim Taylor. I then threw my gun on the Helms crowd and told them not to draw a gun, and made one fellow put up his pistol. In the meantime Jim Taylor had shot Helms repeatedly in the head, so thus died the leader of the vigilant committee, the sheriff of DeWitt, the terror of the country, whose name was a horror to all law-abiding citizens, meet his death.

He fell with twelve buckshot in his breast and several six-shooter balls in his head. All of this happened in the midst of his own friends and advisors, who stood by utterly amazed. • The news soon spread that I had killed Jack Helms and I received many letters of thanks from the widows of the men whom he had cruelly put to death. Many of the best citizens of Gonzales and DeWitt counties patted me on the back and told me that was the best act of my life.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1896, are now in the public domain.

This image is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (January 16, 1852 – July 2, 1917), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from the last day of that year. +sookie tex 

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1896, are now in the public domain. IMAGE and TEXT CREDIT: The Life of John Wesley Hardin Author: John Wesley Hardin. Publisher: Smith and Moore, 1896. Original from: Princeton University. Digitized: Jan 28, 2009. Length: 144 pages. Subjects: Crime and criminals, Frontier and pioneer life. Graphics by: Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (January 16, 1852 – July 2, 1917)

Tortoiseshell Persian Cats #Caturday

TORTOISESHELL - Tortoiseshell Persian Cats #Caturday

Colour and marking.—The three colours—black, orange, and yellow—to be well broken and as bright and well defined as possible; free from tabby markings, no white. 30.

Coal.—To be silky, very long, and fluffy. 20.

Size and shape.—To be large—not coarse, but massive, with plenty of bone and substance; short legs. 25.

Head.—To be round and broad, with short nose, ears small and well opened. 15.

Eyes.—To be large and full, and bright orange or hazel in colour. 5.

Condition.—10.

They are quite one of the most interesting from which to breed, and experiments can be tried successfully in crossing a tortoiseshell queen with black, cream, orange, and blue cats. The litters will often be a study in variety. I have known one family to consist of a black, a white, a cream, an orange, and a blue! The owner of such a litter would have something to suit all comers. A really good tortoiseshell queen may, therefore, be considered a valuable property. And what of a tortoiseshell tom? A mine of wealth would such a possession be to any fancier. Among short-haired cats a tortoiseshell tom is a rare animal, but I do not think a long-haired specimen has ever been seen or heard of. Several experiments have been tried, but it remains for some skilful and scientific breeder to solve the problem of the manner and means to be employed to produce males of this breed.

Tortoiseshell Persian cats, after a painting by William Luker (1862-1934

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1903, are now in the public domain. #Caturday

This image is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case William Luker (1862-1934) , and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from the last day of that year. +sookie tex

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Book of the Cat. Authors: Frances Simpson, Frances Simpson (Miss.) Publisher: Cassell and Company, limited, 1903. Original from: the University of Michiga. Digitized: May 22, 2008. Length: 380 pages. Subjects: Cats. Children's apperception test.

Helen Gurley Brown

Helen Gurley Brown (February 18, 1922 – August 13, 2012) American author, publisher, and businesswoman. Born: February 18, 1922, Green Forest, Arkansas, US. Died: August 13, 2012 (aged 90) New York City, New York, US. She was editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years.

Title: [Helen Gurley Brown, full-length portrait, sitting on a desk] / World Telegram and Sun photo by John Bottega. Creator(s): Bottega, John, photographer. Date Created / Published: 1964. Medium: 1 photographic print. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-125119 (b and w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory: No copyright restriction known. Staff photographer reproduction rights transferred to Library of Congress through Instrument of Gift.By John Bottega, World Telegram staff photographer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Call Number: NYWTS - BIOG--Brown, Helen G.--Author [item] [P&P] Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C., 20540 USA. Notes: NYWT and S staff photo. Forms part of: New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).

Subjects: Brown, Helen Gurley. Format: Photographic prints--1960-1970. Portrait photographs--1960-1970. Collections: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand. Part of: New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)

New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)

Newsworthy images of the New York city metropolitan area predominate; also covers other United States areas and foreign countries. Emphasis is on personalities in the news, especially actors, artists and literary figures, businessmen, community leaders, criminals, entertainers, government officials, musicians, politicians, religious figures, scholars, socialites, sports figures, and other notable citizens.

Also portrays daily life of American men, women and children: playing, working, getting married, giving birth, coping with illness, and dying. Of note are images related to African-Americans and other ethnic groups. Subject coverage includes such categories as animals, cultural institions, disasters, education, events, health, housing, industry, labor, monuments, politics, transportation, and wars. Geographic coverage depicts countries, states, cities, towns, and natural features.

Black and White Persian Cats #Caturday

Black and White Persian cats, after a painting by William Luker (1862-1934) 

As in the other self-coloured cats, the chief point is absolute uniformity of colour throughout. It is fatal for a black cat to have a brown, rusty tinge; it should be a glossy jet black, betraying no bands or bars in the full light, and having no undercoat of a lighter shade, and, above all, no spot or tuft of white hairs on the throat. This latter is a very common fault amongst black cats, and it is one which takes away enormously from the value of the specimen, for either show or breeding purposes.

In some other varieties of Persian cats two, or even three, colours for eyes are permissible; but a really good black cat must have the full round eyes of deep orange, and very attractive are these gleaming orbs, shining forth from their dense black surroundings. When black cats are changing their coats they often present a very rusty appearance, and newly born kittens are sometimes like balls of brown fluff. These, however, frequently grow up the very best-coloured blacks. This breed is very strong and healthy, and often grow into large, massive cats. A tortoiseshell female is a splendid mate for a black male, and some of the most noted blacks have been bred in this way. Two brown tabbies will generally produce one, if not more, good blacks in a litter.

Black and White Persian cats, after a painting by William Luker (1862-1934)  

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1903, are now in the public domain. #Caturday

This image is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case William Luker (1862-1934) , and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from the last day of that year. +sookie tex

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Book of the Cat. Authors: Frances Simpson, Frances Simpson (Miss.) Publisher: Cassell and Company, limited, 1903. Original from: the University of Michiga. Digitized: May 22, 2008. Length: 380 pages. Subjects: Cats. Children's apperception test.

Blue and cream Persian cats #Caturday

Blue and cream Persian cats, after a painting by William Luker (1862-1934) 

The following notes from Mr. Robert Little, to whom I have alluded as a breeder of black Persians, will be of interest:—

"Few of these cats retain their proper colour throughout the year. The sun and exposure induce rustiness, and in some instances to such an extent that the handsome jet exhibit of October or January is hardly recognisable as the same cat in July or August.

"The kittens seldom become really black until some months old. 'Lady Bruin,' for example, was so named on account of her brown or rusty appearance. Her coat is now, and has long been, of the densest black.

"Long-haired black cats as a class are not so heavily or lengthily coated as some others. In many the coat resembles hair rather than fur, and these I have found the more consistently black and less liable to variation in shade. The tendency in all, however, is for the coat to become blacker with age.

"The eyes of the kittens for the first month are blue. They then gradually change, and by the end of the second month it may be fairly ascertained whether or not they will possess the much coveted orange hue. Several months, though, elapse before the shade is permanently determined; but I have never experienced a lighter shade supervening on a darker.

"It is not necessary for both parents, or even either, to possess deep orange eyes in order to secure such in the kittens. I take it, nevertheless, the desired tint must have been 'in the family.'

Blue and cream Persian cats, after a painting by William Luker (1862-1934)

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1903, are now in the public domain. #Caturday

This image is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case William Luker (1862-1934) , and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from the last day of that year. +sookie tex

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Book of the Cat. Authors: Frances Simpson, Frances Simpson (Miss.) Publisher: Cassell and Company, limited, 1903. Original from: the University of Michiga. Digitized: May 22, 2008. Length: 380 pages. Subjects: Cats. Children's apperception test.