Aspen

Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section Populus, of the poplar genus.

Species

These species are called aspens:

Habitat and longevity

The aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. They are all medium-sized deciduous trees reaching 15–30 m (49–98 ft) tall.

All of the aspens typically grow in large clonal colonies, derived from a single seedling, and spread by means of root suckers; new stems in the colony may appear at up to 30–40 m (98–131 ft) from the parent tree. Each individual tree can live for 40–150 years above ground, but the root system of the colony is long-lived. In some cases, this is for thousands of years, sending up new trunks as the older trunks die off above ground. For this reason, it is considered to be an indicator of ancient woodlands. One such colony in Utah, given the nickname of "Pando", is estimated to be 80,000 years old, making it possibly the oldest living colony of aspens. Some aspen colonies become very large with time, spreading about 1 m (3.3 ft) per year, eventually covering many hectares. They are able to survive forest fires, because the roots are below the heat of the fire, with new sprouts growing after the fire burns out.

Aspen, Colorado

The City of Aspen is the Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 6,658 at the 2010 United States Census. Aspen is situated in a remote area of the Rocky Mountains' Sawatch Range and Elk Mountains, along the Roaring Fork River at an elevation just below 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level on the Western Slope, 11 miles (18 km) west of the Continental Divide.

Founded as a mining camp during the Colorado Silver Boom and later named "Aspen" because of the abundance of aspen trees in the area, the city boomed during the 1880s, its first decade of existence. That early era ended when the Panic of 1893 led to a collapse in the silver market, and the city began a half-century known as "the quiet years" during which its population steadily declined, reaching a nadir of less than a thousand by 1930. Aspen's fortunes reversed in the mid-20th century when neighboring Aspen Mountain was developed into a ski resort, and industrialist Walter Paepcke bought many properties in the city and redeveloped them. Today it is home to three renowned institutions, two of which Paepcke helped found, that have international importance: the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Aspen Institute, and the Aspen Center for Physics.

Aspen (Botkyrka Municipality)

Aspen is a lake of Botkyrka Municipality, Södermanland, Sweden. The lake is crossed by the European route E4/European route E20 and is located about 20 kilometres southwest of Stockholm, the Swedish capital. It has an area of 1,847 km².

During the Stone Age, Aspen was in the ocean, but was uplifted by the time of the Bronze Age. Bronze Age settlements grew up around the lake and for some thousand years Iron Age farms were around the lake. The area developed during this period. A graveyard from that period is preserved in the area.

Skrävsta Ekholmen nature reserve is in the vicinity of the lake with about sixty large oak trees, half of which are centuries old. There are large bats and many other rare animal and plant species. Around the lake is a nature trail at 7½ km length. The path leads through the woods, high above the marsh.

Gallery

Lake Aspen, cultural landscape

Lake Aspen, cultural landscape

Lake Aspen, nature path

Lake Aspen, nature path

Anniversary

An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same date of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints.

Anniversary names

The Latin phrase dies natalis (literally "birth day") has become a common term, adopted in many languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ("legal or statutory birth") of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). Even in ancient Rome, we know of the [dies] Aquilae natalis ("birthday of the eagle", anniversary of the official founding of a legion).

Anniversary (song)

"Anniversary" is a song by American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!. It was released on September 14, 1993, as the second single from their 1993 album Sons of Soul. The song was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and written by group member Raphael Wiggins and keyboardist Carl Wheeler. The bolero-like slow jam features lush strings and moody violin, and is about a mature, lasting love, with lyrics that bestow warmth and respect upon a female subject.

The song became a hit for Tony! Toni! Toné!, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number two on the Hot R&B Singles chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. "Anniversary" was well received by music critics, including Robert Christgau, who named it the 13th best song of 1993. It earned the group Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1994.

Composition

"Anniversary" was recorded for the group's third album Sons of Soul, which was recorded and released in 1993. It was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and written by group member Raphael Wiggins and keyboardist Carl Wheeler.

Anniversary (film)

Anniversary is a 2015 Hong Kong romance film directed by Patrick Kong. It was released in Hong Kong on December 31, 2015.

Plot

The story follows the 10th anniversary of Bo (Stephy Tang) and Keung (Alex Fong). In the ten years, the couple has gone through quite a number of ups and downs. After trying to develop his career in the mainland, Keung has returned to work in Hong Kong while Bo has stayed in Hong Kong to run a wedding consultancy firm. Bo firmly believes that love is forever and has witnessed over the years numerous sweet stories of love bearing fruits. However in private, the love between her and Keung has long turned bland. Keung wants to have children but Bo cannot care less. Once again, the couple is plunged into emotional ebb. Meanwhile, the betrayals years back begin to emerge again…

Cast

Reception

The film has grossed US$1.72 million in mainland China.

References