Random picture thread for Friday

Ocean creatures means: No squid nor tako (octopus).

@1northcoin said:

FWIW, here is my historical narrative regarding the above which I have titled:

"This Week's [Alaska/Russia] Photo History Lesson - The Oldest Standing Structure n Anchorage and the Origin of the Eklutna Spirit Houses"

Yes, Lincoln's Secretary of State Seward purchased Alaska for 7.2 Million Dollars in 1867 (125 Million Dollars in today's money), but few realize how tenuous Russia's grip on Alaska was. it is estimated that there were less than 400 Permanent Russian settlers in Alaska and Russia was in no position to militarily defend the vast territory having just depleted its forces in the Crimean War. With Captain Cook having made claim to Alaska for England and British Commonwealth Canada next door it was foreseeable that Alaska could be lost to the British Empire anyway. The negotiated deal with the United States avoided that threat.

That said, today the Russian influence in Alaska remains evident by the Russian Orthodox churches consequent from the Russian efforts to bring Christianity to Alaska. Today there are approximately 30,000 members of the Russian Orthodox faith living in Alaska, many of whom are descendants of the then converted Alaska Natives. Its first mission was established in Kodiak Alaska in 1794. Sitka later became its center. Dozens of Russian Orthodox churches were established along the coast of Alaska with some continuing to be built after the United States acquired Alaska. One of those is the Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Eklutna, Alaska built in 1894. Originally it was located in Knik closer to Palmer and moved to Eklutna some 25 plus years later in 1895. Since Eklutna is today part of Anchorage, the building qualifies as the oldest standing structure in Anchorage.

(Anchorage itself first existed as a community beginning in 1915 and was officially established as a city in 1920. Prior to 1915 no one resided in Anchorage proper and at most one of its rivers [Ship Creek] was used as a temporary fish camp from time to time although the Alaska Native term used for the creek was derogatory describing it as home to undesirable sticklebacks.)

Pictured above are photos which include the original Old Saint Nicholas Church in Eklutna which is the structure looking like a log cabin. Near it is a newer church. The Spirit Houses as they are seen are unique to this location and were established as a compromise between traditional Alaska Native practices of cremating the dead and putting their ashes in a Spirit House and the Russian Orthodox tradition of burial. Here the bodies are buried and a Spirit House is erected over the graves.

For most of the states, Starbucks, which originated in Seattle, Washington is the go-to for most coffee lovers. On the Eastern seaboard, Dunkin' Donuts is a contender for second place, with most of the east coast states preferring it. Caribou Coffee in Minnesota gets an honorable mention, as it is the only state that likes that chain.

Poe Returning to Boston is a statue of American author Edgar Allan Poe in Boston, Massachusetts. It was created by the American sculptor Stefanie Rocknak. The statue is located at the corner of Boylston and Charles streets at Edgar Allan Poe Square.

@JWP said:

Runs like a Singer, meep, meep.

@asheland Been awhile since you've treated the forum
to a burrito meal.

Hotel California

Michigan Septic, number one in the number two business!