Latest news with #JohnKnox
Daily Record
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Walking trail covering Edinburgh's historic churches and cathedrals unveiled
The route stretches from the Royal Mile to the New Town and West End, offering a self-guided tour of some of the city's most significant ecclesiastical landmarks. A new walking trail celebrating some of Edinburgh's most historic and iconic churches has officially launched, taking visitors on a journey through the city's spiritual and architectural heritage. Created by representatives of Scotland's three largest Christian denominations, the Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail features ten churches across the capital. The route stretches from the Royal Mile to the New Town and West End, offering a self-guided tour of some of the city's most significant ecclesiastical landmarks. Among the highlights are all three of Edinburgh's cathedrals. St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile, where Queen Elizabeth II lay at rest in 2022, is one of the focal points. Founded in 1124, it was once the parish church of John Knox and has played a central role in Scottish history, including the announcement of Bonnie Prince Charlie's arrival in 1745. It is still used for civic services today and houses a modern Austrian-built Rieger Orgelbau organ installed in 1992. St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on York Place is another prominent stop. Originally opened in 1814 as the Chapel of St Mary, it became a pro-cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 1878. It was later enlarged in 1896, with a raised roof added in 1932. The cathedral features a Matthew Copley organ built in 2007, incorporating pipes from an 1882 Wilkinson instrument. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral during his 1982 visit to Scotland. Also included is St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, near Haymarket. Consecrated in 1879, it is Edinburgh's tallest building and boasts a spire added between 1913 and 1917. Designed by architect George Gilbert Scott, the cathedral houses a Willis organ from 1879 and a Song School adorned with murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair, which can be viewed by appointment. Smaller but equally significant churches on the trail include Canongate Kirk, built in 1690 at the order of James VII/II to replace the Abbey at Holyrood. The church, which serves as the parish church for the Palace of Holyrood House, features a 1989 organ by Frobenius & Sons, the Danish firm's 1000th instrument. St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, originally an Episcopalian chapel from 1774 known as the 'English Chapel', was inspired by London's St Martin-in-the-Fields. The building features apse paintings by Alexander Runciman. In 1856, it was purchased by the growing Irish Catholic community after a brief period under the Presbyterian Relief Church. Greyfriars Kirk is another important site. Completed in 1620, it was the first church built in Scotland after the Reformation. The National Covenant was signed here in 1638. A second church was built in 1722 and joined to the original in 1929. The current organ was built by Peter Collins in 1990. Other featured churches include Old St Paul's, built in 1883 on the site of Scotland's oldest Episcopal church; The New Town Church, completed in 1784 with its tower added in 1787; and St John's Episcopal Church, a neo-Gothic structure designed by William Burn and consecrated in 1818. Inside, it features a plaster ceiling inspired by Westminster Abbey's Henry VII Chapel and a 1900 Willis organ. The final stop is the Parish Church of St Cuthbert, built on an ancient site. The present church was completed in 1894, incorporating the steeple of its 18th-century predecessor. Its interior includes Tiffany stained glass and a ring of ten bells. The Hope-Jones organ, installed in 1899, adds to the church's historical value.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Flying Bounce Houses - A Potentially Deadly Hazard For Kids
In this June 4, 2011, photo, participants in an Oceanside, N.Y., soccer tournament run from an ... More airborne inflatable "bounce house" after high winds sent it flying, scattering spectators and injuring 13 people, one critically. Saturday's inflatable mishap is the latest in a growing series of similar accidents, experts say. (AP Photo/Kim LoPiccolo) This week large inflatables were blown onto one of Atlanta's busiest roadways. I drive in that busy corridor frequently, and it is stunning that the city was spared a major incident. According to media reports, owners blamed the early installation phase for the lack of anchoring. This latest episode of 'flying inflatables' was relatively harmless, but other incidents have led to injuries or fatalities. Is it time to ban inflatable bounce houses? A boy plays in the bounce house at a pumpkin patch Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, in Seal Beach, Calif. (AP ... More Photo/Jae C. Hong) The answer to that question is probably 'no,' but experts are calling for changes. My colleague Dr. John Knox is a meteorology professor at the University of Georgia. He is one of the world's foremost experts on atmospheric sciences, including aviation meteorology. I suspect he did not have 'flying bounce houses' on his scholarly bingo card alongside his work on clear-air turbulence. However, Knox and his collaborators have become the foremost research group in the world documenting windy conditions and large inflatable structures. According to a UGA website, 'Over a decade ago, Dr. John Knox saw a joke on Facebook comparing the phenomenon of runaway bounce houses to the scientific study of dust particles in the atmosphere. Several years and hundreds of hours of intensive, intricate research later, Dr. Knox now admits that bounce houses are no joke.' In 2022, he and colleagues published a study in The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society entitled, "Wind-Related Bounce House Incidents in Meteorological, Regulatory, and Outreach Contexts." At the time of publication, their analysis revealed 479 weather-related bounce house injuries and 28 deaths. The study also found that bounce houses are especially dangerous for children because they are often improperly anchored or parents are inattentive during play. Using data mining techniques and cartography, the team identified meteorological causes and connected them to incidents using geographical and social science methods. I asked Knox what needs to be done short of banning inflatables. He told me, 'What should happen? Federal regulations on their use in windy weather (or in all weather) would be a good start.' He pointed out, however, that their 2022 study found that many incidents occur where the nearest weather observations show winds under typical thresholds used in the states that do have regulations. During the warm season when bounce houses are popular, thunderstorms or windy conditions can happen suddenly. Knox went on to say, 'So even national regulations wouldn't be perfect. But the process of implementing federal regulations would raise public awareness of the dangers.' The rings represent outflow boundaries moving away from thunderstors. They can cause gusty ... More conditions suddenly that pose hazards for improperly secured bounce houses and inflatables. Knox continues to maintain what is likely the most robust database of bounce house incidents in the world. The website also includes safety recommendations and information about how different states regulate bounce house activity. Some interesting facts found on the website as of May 31st, 2025 include: The website also has accessible information on all known events spanning 2000 to 2025 and the associated weather types. What are some of the typical weather types connected to the events? They include cold fronts, dust devils, outflow boundaries, thunderstorms, Santa Ana winds, and sea breezes. Researchers are increasingly questioned about the value of scientific research. Knox and his team's work is an exemplar of how multidisciplinary research spanning meteorology, cartography, geography, and other social sciences disciplines can inform decisionmakers and save lives. Knox said, 'This research is a prototype for the kind of work geographers can do…. And then the website development exhibits the community outreach angle that is classic geography. So, this is what geography looks like--no siloes, everything together.' PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 30: A dust devil blows amongst the fans during the final round of the Ford ... More Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass 2025 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Wild Horse Pass on March 30, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by)
