A Rear Engine All American that was produced during the time when Blue Bird’s quality began to go down the drain, and quantity over quality became the name of the game in Blue Bird’s business strategy.
2003 Blue Bird Transit Bus – Portage Public Schools Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1519026
A 1997 model year Blue Bird TC/1000.
1997 Blue Bird TC1000 School Bus (#49) (15-4620 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1512070
This TC/2000 has a factory-installed clock located right above the AM/FM/Cassette radio and PA System.
1995 Blue Bird TC2000 School Bus (#141) (15-4630 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1511900
A 1994 model year version of the other 3 buses that I’ve posted about in the three prior posts.
1994 Blue Bird TC2000 School Bus (#76) (15-4624 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1512078
A 1993 model year version of the other two buses that I had posted about in the two prior posts.
The term “Handy Bus” is a term that Blue Bird has used and still uses to this day for a bus that can transport both wheelchair passengers and ambulatory passengers in seats.
1993 Blue Bird TC2000 School Bus (#75) (15-4623 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1512076
A 1992 model year 54 passenger TC/2000 that’s a wheelchair bus.
1992 Blue Bird TC2000 School Bus (#71) (15-4622 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1512075
A 1991 54 passenger TC/2000 that’s a wheelchair bus.
1991 Blue Bird TC2000 School Bus(#112) (15-4626 KSD) GV (At Agency Location) – State of Washington Surplus Operations Surplus
Source: Public Surplus: Auction #1512101
These pictures that I have posted of Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang, China are like pictures that my paternal grandmother would have taken had she ever traveled to any of the Soviet Central Asian countries, to Xinjiang, China; or to the Gansu province in China-which neighbors the Xinjiang province to the East.
In contrast to the Xinjiang province, the Gansu province has a large concentration of ethnic Han Chinese, and much smaller concentrations of Hui, Dongxiang; and Tibetan people.
The Dongxiang people’s religion is also Islam. Unlike the Hui people, who are of mixed Han Chinese, Arabic, and Central Asian descent; the Dongxiang people are closely related to the Mongolian, Kalmyk/Oirat; and Buryat peoples.
Some scholars believe that the Dongfeng peoples’ identity as an independent ethnic group arose through contact with Central Asians, due to whom the Dongxiang converted to Sunni Islam in the 13th century. While other scholars believe that One possible origin is that they are descendants of Mongolian troops posted in the Hezhou area by Genghis Khan during his journey westward. Yet another possibility is that they could be a mixture of many peoples including Mongolian, Han, and Tibetan ethnic groups.
To the West and Northwest, the Xinjiang province in China borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan; and Afghanistan. To the Southwest, the Xinjiang province in China borders Pakistan, India; and a disputed region of Aksai Chin. To the North, the Xinjiang province in China borders Russia, and to the South; Tibet. To the Northeast, the Xinjiang province in China borders Mongolia, as aforementioned-the Gansu province to the East; and the Qinghai province to the Southeast.
My paternal grandmother really would have likely traveled to places any of the Soviet Central Asian countries, to the Xinjiang province China; or to the Gansu province in China. She has already traveled to places such as Continental Europe, Japan; and Africa.
As I have mentioned in an earlier post, my paternal grandmother’s travels to Europe are how she could have likely ever met Rick Steves, and how them two could have become friends; with my paternal grandmother loving Rick as if he were her own son.
Rick might also travel to places such as the Soviet Central Asian countries, to the Xinjiang province China; or to the Gansu province in China.
My paternal grandmother has taken pictures like those taken in Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang, China anywhere she has traveled around the world.
Places such as the Soviet Central Asian countries, to the Xinjiang province China; or to the Gansu province in China are of interest to people like myself, Ray, our friend Dennis, and Jan Pol-the veterinarian in Mid-Michigan; and we like to research these types of places.
One of the husbands in this episode of Phil McGraw’s talk show from 2009 whose name was Matt reminds me a lot of Elliott Sadler.
This person whose name is Matt, also seems to be into trucks as much as Elliott Sadler is, had the same type of awful looking longer hairstyle that Elliott Sadler had at this time; and also had the same type of ridiculous-looking facial hair that Elliott Sadler also had wore as of this time.
If I were at the right place at that time, I would have both Elliott Sadler and this Matt person’s hair cut differently and wouldn’t allow either one of them to wear that peculiar facial hair.
I may be into trucks as much as Elliott Sadler and this Matt person, but not as oddly as they are.
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Photos from the Xinjiang autonomous region in China, where there is a large concentration of Hui people.
Hui people are people of mixed ethnic Han Chinese and Arabic descent. They are direct descendants of Silk Road traders from Arabia who have traveled the Silk Road to trade with China. The Hui peoples’ ancestors are Arabic traders who have permanently settled in China.
Islam is the Hui peoples’ religion.
There’s also a large concentration of Uyghur people in Xinjiang, China.
Islam is also the Uyghur people’s religion.
Being in Xinjiang is just like being in any one of the 5 nations in Central Asia-such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan; and Kyrgyzstan, to name a few.
Like how the former Soviet Central Asian nations have teahouses, Xinjiang does to.
Photos of people from the Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz minority populations in Xinjiang:
http://www.slideshare.net/cmfoo2988/china-ethnic-groups
Photos of ancient Tajik remains in Xinjiang:
Even in this area of China where it’s almost like being in Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the people and religion are Hui and Uyghur, and Islam; and not ethnic Han Chinese, Buddhism, and Taoism, and there is more writing in Arabic and in Persian than in Standard Chinese; there is still a statue of Chairman Mao just like how there are statues of Lenin and Stalin in the former Soviet Central Asian countries, throughout the entire nation of Russia; and in other former SSR nations such as the Ukraine and in Belarus.
Sadly, those pictures of destruction that you saw earlier in this post are not of a war zone, but of the historic old town being demolished in favor of the province becoming as modern, dynamic; and fluidic as the rest of China. UNESCO does not particularly favor the condemnation of the old town and the modernization of the town; the Hui and Uyghur people are not fond of it, but the Chinese government feels that it is necessary at all costs to keep every populated corner of the country as dynamic as possible so that China remains ahead of the curve as a world power.
As a consequence of the modernization of the town, the local culture may become extinct; and the Hui and Uyghur peoples’ own culture may also disappear.
Photos of the recently constructed new town:
I have a very keen interest in Turkmenistan, in addition to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan; and Turkmenistan because of these countries formerly being part of Imperial Russia and later by the Soviet Union, and these formerly being governed by Russia.
I think these countries in Central Asia should continue to be a part of Russia. At least the citizens of these countries still speak Russian during daily communication amongst each other.
Photo of Kyrgyz Police and guardsmen walking in true Soviet/Russian fashion-such as when Russia and many other former Soviet countries hold a ‘Changing Of The Guard’:
Statues of Lenin and Stalin are still present throughout Kyrgyzstan (a silver lining for yours truly) such as depicted in the pictures below:
Photos from the northern, totalitarian section of Korea.
The armistice at the conclusion of the Korean War was signed in July, 1953 by William Kelly Harrison, Jr.; which had resulted in the construction of the 20 mile-wide Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
The Koreas were divided at the 38th parallel just before the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950.
The likelihood of the Kim family withdrawing from power, the cessation of the communist, totalitarian regime; and the reunification of both Koreas is dubious. It would be very nice, though; if the two Koreas ever reunite.
It would be wonderful if the northern, totalitarian section of Korea was taken over the southern, Democratic and non-totalitarian section of Korea.
North Korea remains under the influence under the Soviet Union, and stuck in the 1950’s. Personally, I’d rather that North Korea remained stuck in the 1970’s, 1980’s; or the 1990’s. North Korea’s government is modeled after that of the former Soviet Union.
Russia/Soviet Union provided the northern, totalitarian section of Korea with weapons, including the jet-powered MIG aircraft during the modern nation of North Korea’s early years in the 1950’s.
Like how the Soviets and East Germans did, the North Koreans exhibit propaganda paintings and posters at various sites all over the country.
North Korea’s human rights are worse than in the former East Germany/GDR, communist China, and also; Vietnam.
Portrait of Japanese girls of North Korean descent visiting their ancestral land:
North Korean Postal Service P.O Box:
Ugly hair on this young man listening to headphones connected to a boom box:
What seems to be, of all places; a Catholic church:
Outdoor changing room at the film studio in Pyongyang with little or no privacy:
Young Pioneers program modeled after the programs in Russia and other former Soviet countries:
North Korean propaganda posters and mosaics:
Site of a revolution against the Imperial Japanese in Chongbong, North Korea:
What appears to be a young North Korean solider at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ):
A Russian UAZ Jeep-type vehicle in service with the North Korean military:
North Korea’s military also being modeled after the former Soviet Union, for instance; how their soldiers march:
Matthew Parij 