Lighthouse at Thy

A lighthouse built with logs at Thy in Denmark.

St. George Reef Light

Maria sent me this nice lighthouse picture postcard. The St. George Reef Light is an inactive lighthouse located six miles (10 km) off the coast of northern California near Crescent City. A rare wave-washed sentinel where the ocean hits from all sides, its beacon and fog signal warned ships of the nearby treacherous rocks and reefs. The light's location was selected because the area had a history of serious maritime accidents and its construction was a direct result of the wreck in 1865 of the Brother Jonathan. However, this site, battered by stormy waters, presented challenges to the designer as well as hazardous conditions for construction workers and, later, for lightkeepers. Unlike the typical lighthouse design by federal architect Ammi B. Young, which consisted of a separate keeper's cottage and light tower, the living quarters and light tower at St. George Reef Light were housed in the same medieval fortress-like structure on top of a 50-foot (15 m) high foundation.

The light was first illuminated on October 20, 1892. It stands 144 feet (44 m) above the waterline. The first complete survey of the rock was done in 1882, and construction began in 1883, with the blasting of the rock into a stepped pyramid to form the core that anchored the caisson to the rock. Construction was erratic for several years due to lack of funds allotted by Congress. Work was finally completed in 1891, but the lighthouse awaited arrival of its lens from France until the following year. When the light finally became operational in 1892, the total construction expense came to $752,000- making it the most expensive lighthouse ever built in the US and more than double the initial estimate.

Paphos Lighthouse

The Paphos Lighthouse can be seen from all over Paphos. It can easily be accessed by visiting the Paphos Archaeological centre in Paphos. The Lighthouse is only a few metres away from the Odeon and so you can take some good pictures from the top of the lighthouse if you are fit enough to climb up to the top. The lighthouse is not the cleanest of places inside and it smells of bird feces and climbing to the top will not be possible for everyone, due to the difficulty of climbing the stairs. From the top of the lighthouse you can see some fantastic views.

Alderney Lighthouse

The Alderney Lighthouse (also known as Mannez Lighthouse) is a stone lighthouse built on the North-East coast of the island of Alderney. It was constructed in 1912 to protect shipping from the dangerous waters of the Alderney Race and the numerous rocks surrounding Alderney.

The Alderney Lighthouse was constructed from granite in 1912 under the guidance of local businessman William Baron. It was electrified in 1976, and automated in 1997, when the last resident lighthouse keeper left. Before its construction there were several notable wrecks off Alderney, including the Leros. It still functions as a lighthouse, but is open for guided tours during the summer months when it is linked with the rest of the island by the Alderney Railway.

In March 2011 the lighthouse was downgraded. The light reduced from 24hrs with a 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) range to dark hours only with a 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi). This downgrade meant that the main beam was switched off, the lens shrouded and the light pulse now provided by a pair of LED lamps fixed to the sides of the tower. The fog signal was stopped at the same time. Thank you Maria for this nice card.

Lighthouse on Vesterålen

This picture is of one of the lighthouses of the Vesterålen (Western Islands) District of Nordland County, located off the north-western coast of Norway just to the north of the Lofoten Islands. (The Vesterålen also extends northeastward across the border into Troms Count. Located entirely north of the Arctic Circle, the mountainous islands have a stunning beauty and attract many visitors. The major islands are connected to each other and to the mainland by bridges. Thank you Maria for this nice card.

Finnish Frigate Osmo

This pretty picture was painted by the famous artist John Sychold.

Bugs Bunny

I was just thinking of posting something which would make all of us laugh a little, when the postman came to the rescue with this delightful card. Bugs Bunny is an American animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic grey hare or rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most notably the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of theatrical short films. His popularity there led to his becoming a corporate mascot of the Warner Bros. Company. Bugs has appeared in more films than any other cartoon character and is the ninth most portrayed film personality in the world.
According to Bugs Bunny: 50 Years and Only One Grey Hare, Bugs was born on July 27, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York in a warren under Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In reality, he was created by many animators and staff, including Tex Avery, who directed A Wild Hare, Bugs' debut role, and Robert McKimson, who created the definitive "Bugs Bunny" character design. According to Mel Blanc, the character's original voice actor, Bugs has a Flatbush accent. Bugs has had numerous catchphrases, the most prominent being a casual "Eh... What's up, doc?” usually said while chewing a carrot. Thank you Barb for starting my day with Good Ole Bugs!