Plungefest 2011, January 29, 2011
On January 29, 2011, Special Olympics Maryland, the Maryland State Police, and a number of other organizations once again held a polar bear plunge at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis, where people ran into the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for Special Olympics. This year, the event was called "Plungefest", and celebrated the 15th anniversary of the event.
Unlike the 2010 event, where the final plunge of the day was cancelled due to a snowstorm in progress during the event, dropping several inches of snow across the state, in 2011, the weather cooperated. While a significant snowstorm, complete with "thundersnow", did hit the state earlier in the week, causing treacherous road conditions and widespread power outages, by the time the weekend rolled around, the snowstorm had passed, the roads had been cleared, and most of the power outages had been eliminated, and the polar bear plunge event was run to its conclusion. However, the snowstorm did leave the beach covered with a layer of snow, reinforcing the point that this was indeed a winter event, and the water was cold. The nicer weather also meant that, unlike last year when the ongoing snowstorm forced me to stow my main camera, the Canon, and switch to "Duckie", my waterproof camera, I was able to photograph with the Canon, with better picture quality as a result.
The day consisted of three main events: the first plunge at 1:00 PM, a VIP plunge at 2:00 PM featuring Joe Flacco from the Baltimore Ravens, and then the second plunge at 3:00 PM. The biggest change to the event in 2011 was that the polar bear plunge was now an alcohol-free event. Previously, the event had contained a "beer tent", where people could purchase and consume adult beverages. This was eliminated in 2011 for safety reasons, as event organizers determined that cold-water swimming mixed with alcohol was a dangerous combination.
More at The Schumin Web:
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More at The Schumin Web:
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99 photos
Anti-War Anniversary March, March 19, 2011
On March 19, 2011, the eighth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, a number of anti-war groups organized a rally and march in the vicinity of the White House to advocate for the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other potential fronts, such as Libya. The event concluded with a civil disobedience action, where several demonstrators were arrested.
More at The Schumin Web:
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24 photos
Bradley Manning rally, March 20, 2011
Demonstration outside Quantico Marine Corps Base in Prince William County, Virginia, where whistleblower Bradley Manning (now Chelsea Manning) was being held awaiting trial for alleged leaks of classified material to the operators of the Wikileaks website. The demonstration was held near the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway (US 1), Joplin Road, and Fuller Road in Triangle, Virginia. As with other political demonstrations that I've attended in Virginia, there was a heavy police presence.
More at The Schumin Web:
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More at The Schumin Web:
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21 photos
Fraser Mansion, April 2, 2011
The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood that, since its construction in 1890, has served as a private residence, a restaurant, a boarding house, and a religious center. The building currently houses the National Affairs office for the Church of Scientology. At the time that these photos were taken, the building was vacant, following the Founding Church of Scientology's relocation to a new facility nearby, and prior to the renovation of the building for office use.
More information about the Fraser Mansion:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Mansion
21 photos
Space Shuttle Enterprise, April 22, 2011
The Space Shuttle Enterprise, which was on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum until 2012, when it was replaced in the facility by the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Unlike the other shuttles, Enterprise was built as an atmospheric test article, and therefore not fitted for space travel, as the vehicle lacked main engines and a functioning heat shield. While there were plans to refit Enterprise to become spaceworthy, it was ultimately decided to utilize the body frame from static test article STA-099 to create Challenger.
More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/2011/04/23/go-for-main-engine-start-3-...
More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/2011/04/23/go-for-main-engine-start-3-...
4 photos
Afton Mountain, May 19, 2011
Afton Mountain, once the home of several lodging and hospitality businesses at the intersection of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, has declined greatly since the 1990s. Many of the buildings are now abandoned and in ruins, while one business, The Inn at Afton, remains.
More at The Schumin Web:
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More at The Schumin Web:
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40 photos
SlutWalk DC, August 13, 2011
SlutWalk is a movement that manifests itself as protest marches against explaining or otherwise excusing acts of sexual assault by making reference to a person's appearance. The movement began in Toronto after a Toronto Police officer suggested that "women should avoid dressing like sluts" if they wanted to remain safe.
In Washington DC, the event, called "SlutWalk DC", was held on August 13, 2011. The group met up under cloudy skies at Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House. The overarching message was that a person's body is solely their own, and that no one should be allowed to engage in sexual activity with another person if they do not have the other person's consent. The message of the group went further to indicate that consent for sexual activity is something that is expressed – never implied – and that nothing about how a person is dressed is automatic consent for sexual activity, and that rape is never the fault of the victim. The event took a sex-positive stand, but sex-positive only with expressed consent.
While the message of SlutWalk was serious, the mood, however, was light. People were smiling, and the signs were creative and colorful. The participants' attire ranged from plain to, in keeping with the idea that an outfit is not an invitation for sexual activity in and of itself, quite revealing.
More at The Schumin Web:
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More at The Schumin Web:
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27 photos
Silver Spring Zombie Walk, October 22, 2011
The Silver Spring Zombie Walk is an annual event held on a Saturday night before Halloween in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. In the zombie walk, participants dress up as zombies or some other form of the undead, as zombie hunters, or similar, and walk, in character, through the streets along a designated march route.
For the 2011 event, zombies met up at the intersection of Georgia and Sligo Avenues, walked up Georgia Avenue to Ellsworth Drive, walked the block of Ellsworth through the "Downtown Silver Spring" development, and then walked around City Place Mall until reaching the AFI Silver Theatre on Colesville Road, where a horror movie would be shown.
More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/2011/10/26/braaaaaaaaaaains/
More at The Schumin Web:
www.schuminweb.com/2011/10/26/braaaaaaaaaaains/
28 photos
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Paperback book with green cover
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Statue of Andrew Jackson [02]
![Statue of Andrew Jackson [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716230544-32d3dd94-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Statue of Andrew Jackson [02] (876 visits) Statue of President Andrew Jackson in the center of Lafayette Square, a park across from the White H...")
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Former National Bank of Washington building
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Third rail at Metro Center station
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Fraser Mansion [04]
![Fraser Mansion [04]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231247-a62efe80-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [04] (1177 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [03]
![Fraser Mansion [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231253-ed153db5-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [03] (1194 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [10]
![Fraser Mansion [10]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231226-fa47ee5f-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [10] (1195 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [11]
![Fraser Mansion [11]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231220-26536de7-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [11] (1237 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Saturn-Shuttle concept model
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Fraser Mansion [21]
![Fraser Mansion [21]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231316-0c406d67-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [21] (1261 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [05]
![Fraser Mansion [05]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231142-c9dd59a2-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [05] (1273 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [20]
![Fraser Mansion [20]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231321-22e12f2e-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [20] (1278 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Souvenir hoodies
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Fraser Mansion [19]
![Fraser Mansion [19]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231331-0094d1b9-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [19] (1291 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [17]
![Fraser Mansion [17]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231341-e72627cf-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [17] (1301 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [02]
![Fraser Mansion [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231258-6b13dbe0-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [02] (1308 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [12]
![Fraser Mansion [12]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231216-ea549816-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [12] (1310 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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SunTrust building in downtown Washington, DC [02]
![SunTrust building in downtown Washington, DC [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232146-96cb29fa-cu_s9999x250.jpg "SunTrust building in downtown Washington, DC [02] (1313 visits) SunTrust building, historically the headquarters of the National Savings and Trust Company, at 15th ...")
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Fraser Mansion [07]
![Fraser Mansion [07]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231242-04d445f8-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [07] (1314 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [08]
![Fraser Mansion [08]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231237-060e6f56-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [08] (1325 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [18]
![Fraser Mansion [18]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231312-979d0729-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [18] (1326 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [13]
![Fraser Mansion [13]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231211-69010cf0-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [13] (1348 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Fraser Mansion [09]
![Fraser Mansion [09]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231231-15dc596c-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [09] (1370 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Egyptian flag flying outside embassy
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Forever Marilyn statue
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Staunton Amtrak station [02]
![Staunton Amtrak station [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716233149-e78fb15a-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Staunton Amtrak station [02] (1410 visits) Platform at the Staunton Amtrak station, facing approximately east.
Ben Schumin is a professional p...")
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North Lake Shore Drive and ramp from Michigan Avenue
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Fraser Mansion [06]
![Fraser Mansion [06]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231148-c4017a61-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [06] (1434 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Metro Center station [06]
![Metro Center station [06]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716225652-b2ccee7b-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Metro Center station [06] (1459 visits) Red Line platform at Metro Center station, facing westbound direction (Shady Grove).
Ben Schumin is...")
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Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [01]
![Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716230948-94b796a7-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [01] (1459 visits) A man kneels on the ground and prays in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue NW in front of the White H...")
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View from John Hancock Center, facing northwest
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Mercury Sable wagon on US 340
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Fraser Mansion [14]
![Fraser Mansion [14]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231204-995d30b9-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [14] (1501 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Apartment buildings along East Lake Shore Drive
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John Hancock Center [02]
![John Hancock Center [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232644-911e635e-cu_s9999x250.jpg "John Hancock Center [02] (1531 visits) View of John Hancock Center from the plaza on North Michigan Avenue.
Ben Schumin is a professional ...")
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Delaware House main entrance [03]
![Delaware House main entrance [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716225722-6bd63242-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Delaware House main entrance [03] (1545 visits) Main entrance to Delaware House, a rest area in the median of Interstate 95 near Newark, Delaware.
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Fraser Mansion [15]
![Fraser Mansion [15]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231158-a8b87582-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [15] (1545 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Parking meters on H Street NW
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IKEA Series POANG rig
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North Avenue Beach
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Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore station [02]
![Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore station [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231432-335e0a26-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore station [02] (1585 visits) A Red Line train services the platform at Grosvenor-Strathmore on its way to Shady Grove.
Ben Schum...")
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Glenwood Sunday Market [07]
![Glenwood Sunday Market [07]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232732-cd4121bf-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Glenwood Sunday Market [07] (1588 visits) Orange and purple carrots for sale at the Glenwood Sunday Market in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborho...")
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Glenwood Sunday Market [08]
![Glenwood Sunday Market [08]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232741-a48408b1-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Glenwood Sunday Market [08] (1590 visits) Beets for sale at the Glenwood Sunday Market in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
Ben Schumin is ...")
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Fraser Mansion [16]
![Fraser Mansion [16]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231153-80f561eb-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [16] (1594 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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900 North Michigan Avenue
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Glenwood Sunday Market [06]
![Glenwood Sunday Market [06]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232718-24ffde80-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Glenwood Sunday Market [06] (1602 visits) Samples of some of the products at the Glenwood Sunday Market in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood....")
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Chesapeake Bay Bridge from Sandy Point State Park
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Amfleet coachclass car, on the westbound Cardinal train
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View from John Hancock Center, facing southwest
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John Hancock Center [01]
![John Hancock Center [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232500-47c6e64c-cu_s9999x250.jpg "John Hancock Center [01] (1623 visits) The John Hancock Center, a residential, office, and retail building on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.
...")
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Robert E. Lee High School
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Diamond Furniture with windows boarded up
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Mianus River Boat & Yacht Club
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Montgomery Mall, viewed from Sears wing
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Fraser Mansion [01]
![Fraser Mansion [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231303-9e709f84-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Fraser Mansion [01] (1663 visits) The Fraser Mansion is a building at the intersection of 20th and R Streets NW in Washington, DC's Du...")
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Sailboat on Lake Michigan
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Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [03]
![Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716230942-e41d2720-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Man praying on Pennsylvania Avenue NW [03] (1667 visits) A man kneels on the ground and prays in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue NW in front of the White H...")
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Lifesaving rowboat [02]
![Lifesaving rowboat [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232757-79d38bc1-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Lifesaving rowboat [02] (1671 visits) A rowboat used by beach lifeguards sits on the shore while not in use.
Ben Schumin is a professiona...")
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Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [02]
![Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716233201-6af0a456-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [02] (1677 visits) Amtrak's westbound Cardinal train, having completed a passenger stop in Staunton, Virginia, continue...")
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Dead and decaying fish
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Westbound Cardinal train in Staunton, Virginia [01]
![Westbound Cardinal train in Staunton, Virginia [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716233138-a3ec9962-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Westbound Cardinal train in Staunton, Virginia [01] (1718 visits) Amtrak's westbound Cardinal train makes a passenger stop in Staunton, Virginia on its way to Chicago...")
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Demonstrator outside Egyptian Embassy [02]
![Demonstrator outside Egyptian Embassy [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716230554-ee942a78-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Demonstrator outside Egyptian Embassy [02] (1721 visits) A demonstrator waves outside of the Egyptian Embassy on February 12, 2011, his face absolutely beami...")
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Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [01]
![Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716233206-34c64053-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [01] (1727 visits) Amtrak's westbound Cardinal train, having completed a passenger stop in Staunton, Virginia, continue...")
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Carmel Plaza Apartments
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Glenwood Sunday Market [03]
![Glenwood Sunday Market [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232753-a827ddc4-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Glenwood Sunday Market [03] (1732 visits) Mushrooms for sale at the Glenwood Sunday Market in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
Ben Schumin...")
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White House Peace Vigil [03]
![White House Peace Vigil [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716230559-f9af01fd-cu_s9999x250.jpg "White House Peace Vigil [03] (1754 visits) The White House Peace Vigil, at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House since June 3, ...")
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Yellow Line train approaching King Street station
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Dogs in Lake Michigan [01]
![Dogs in Lake Michigan [01]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232822-8708ebe2-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Dogs in Lake Michigan [01] (1771 visits) Two dogs play at the edge of Lake Michigan at Touhy Beach, in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
B...")
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Jackson Graham Building in late afternoon
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Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [03]
![Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716233157-2eff10d2-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Westbound Cardinal train departing Staunton, Virginia [03] (1783 visits) Amtrak's westbound Cardinal train, having completed a passenger stop in Staunton, Virginia, continue...")
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20 Madbury Road
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Taxicab on New York Avenue NW
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Traffic at a signal on North Lake Shore Drive
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Express hawker at Glenmont
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The Inn at Afton [03]
![The Inn at Afton [03]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716231603-605ac3ec-cu_s9999x250.jpg "The Inn at Afton [03] (1859 visits) The Inn at Afton, formerly a Holiday Inn, the only business still operating in this area.
More at T...")
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Madbury Road street signs
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Tomatoes at Eastern Market
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Fallen drywall on abandoned motel guest building
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Grapes at Eastern Market
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Intersection of Main Street and Madbury Road [02]
![Intersection of Main Street and Madbury Road [02]](../../../i/upload/2024/07/16/20240716232403-0d9e8a73-cu_s9999x250.jpg "Intersection of Main Street and Madbury Road [02] (1892 visits) Street signs at the intersection of Main Street and Madbury Road in Durham, New Hampshire.
Altern...")