Siskin - Carduelis Spinus

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

Taken for the Macro Mondays theme of 'knolling'

Knolling refers to the practice of arranging similar objects in a precise, perpendicular manner. The goal of knolling is to create a sense of order and clarity in a space by aligning and organizing the objects within it

The term was coined by Andrew Kromelow in the late 1980s and later popularized by artist Tom Sachs. Kromelow was a janitor in Frank Gehry’s Santa Monica studio and had a habit of laying out

Knolling is a term coined by Andrew Kromelow in the late 1980s. Kromelow was a janitor in Frank Gehry’s Santa Monica studio at the time, and he came up with the concept of knolling as a way to organize the tools in the workshop when they were not in use. Kromelow observed that the tools in the workshop were often left in disarray, and he saw the potential for a more efficient and organized workspace by aligning and organizing the tools.

Kromelow’s colleague, artist Tom Sachs was intrigued by Kromelow’s method of organizing the tools. Sachs adopted the practice of knolling in his own studio and began incorporating it into his artwork. He has credited Kromelow as the inspiration for his use of knolling in his art.

Since then, the concept of knolling has gained widespread popularity, especially within the art world. It is often used as a way to photograph and display objects, such as tools or art supplies, in a visually appealing manner. Knolling has also been used as a way to organize and declutter workspaces, allowing for a more efficient and productive environment.

The appeal of knolling lies in its simplicity and minimalism. It is a way to showcase the beauty of everyday objects by presenting them in a clear and organized manner. It is also a way to bring attention to the forms and shapes of the objects themselves, rather than their function or purpose.

In addition to its practical applications, knolling can also be seen as a form of art in and of itself. The arrangement of objects in a knolling display requires a keen eye for balance and composition, as well as a sense of aesthetics. It is a way to transform a collection of seemingly mundane objects into a cohesive and visually striking display.

Overall, knolling is a unique and innovative way to approach organization and display. It is a concept that has gained widespread popularity within the art world and beyond, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

(Source: www.knolling.org)

“Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings

Capture and edit by Orchid Arado

::SG:: Lorena Shadow AKERUKA AND OMEGA HEADS (ULTRA Event), ::SG:: Morning Bento Mesh Nails, Cam on Me - Aywin Lelutka Simone Shape, LeLutka Bento Head-SIMONE 2.0 3.2V Updated 11/18, Maitreya Mesh Body, [Glam Affair] Morgana Applier [ Lelutka ] 007 - 14, Pseudo- Paris Bomber Lara Yellow, 18. V/. [Lyn]-(Maitreya) - Short - {Grey}, TRUTH VIP Gift Ciara, (Yummy) Free Spirit Rings, [MANDALA] OUGI Earring-RED, [WL] Cyber Ink GACHA - Cohesive RARE, WESTSIDE. The Selfies VOL2 (Saturday Sale).

ULTRA:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Down%20Under/50/154/2

Slackgirl:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pearl%20Island/108/192/1987

Cam on Me:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Onyx%20Noir/227/124/25

Backdrop City:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Backdrop%20City/175/178/464

…Or how to squeeze flowers into those teeny-weenie drops

I’ve had several people text me about the earlier “Drops of Art (Carney)” post and that they appreciated the explanation of how refractions works. Some requested additional information about creating water drop photos, so I’m posting this older photo and original tutorial:

I have always been drawn to nature and wildlife photography. I love taking my camera way up north to capture images of seldom-seen animals and exotic scenery. Unfortunately, we can’t always plan distant adventures to shoot photographs of moose and northern lights. But we can train our eyes to find the unexpected beauty in our own backyards.

My fascination (some might call it an obsession) with water drops began when I bought a Nikon D200 last summer. Sadly, the lens I wanted was out of stock. There was no way I was going to just look at my camera body while I waited, so I picked up a Nikkor 60mm macro. Through that lens I discovered worlds of complexity hidden within the simplest tiny drops of water.

I’m often asked if the images inside the water drops are real or the product of Photoshop. Let me assure you they are real, and anyone can find them if they know how to look. Simple physics produces these tiny, beautiful and common images. Water is cohesive, it naturally bonds together in the shape of a sphere, and in that shape it functions as a miniature lens that will refract nearby objects. Using that organic lens as seen through your technological lens, will allow you to explore those tiny, complex worlds.

The water drop photos on my stream have been the result of an evolutional process. My most viewed, most faved and most interesting photo (according to flickr) was taken almost by luck, lying flat on my belly using a Diet Coke can as tripod. But after a great deal of trial and error, I’ve come up with a few simple, consistent steps for more easily creating a water drop photograph.

1. Focus

2. Focus

3. Composition

4. Background

1. Focus: No, that's not a typo; focus is listed twice, and for a very good reason. It’s necessary to consider the focus of the water drop itself as well as the focus of the subject displayed within the drop. My initial concern is the water drop itself and the plant on which the drop is located. I like to set my camera to aperture priority to control the depth of field. The trick is to have enough depth of field so the drop and the plant (and maybe some nearby drops) are all in focus, while leaving the background sufficiently blurred so it doesn't compete for attention. I generally use f8 to f10 but I’ll sometimes stop down to f18 if the background does not need as much blur. I also find I get a sharper focus by backing away just a little and cropping the photo, rather than getting as close as possible in an attempt to get maximum magnification.

2. Focus: As seen in the example above, the water drop is in focus as is the image of the flower seen through the water drop, but the flower itself is not in focus. That effect is achieved not by adjusting the camera, but by relying on the water drop to act as a fixed focal lens. In other words, instead of adjusting the camera I adjust the object I want to appear within the water drop. I simply move it back or forward until I've found the clarity of focus I want. Some photos look better with blurred refractions. For the greatest clarity I've found the object should be 3-4 inches behind the water drop. This, of course, may vary if using a different macro lens. Be sure to experiment.

3. Composition: Obviously, the guidelines for good composition apply to water drop photographs. Attention should be given to the Rule of Thirds, to simplicity, to the geometry within the frame, and to all the usual elements of visual composition. It's important to remember, though, when photographing water drops that the very shape of the drop influences compositional decisions. Since the lens of the water drop is spherical (or nearly so), slight adjustments in the camera position…left, right, up, down…can have a radical effect on what is seen within the drop. Again, experiment.

4. Background: If you're working from nature, your control over the background is necessarily limited. You have to work with what you've got. As mentioned earlier, the unique qualities of the organic lens formed by a drop of water allows you to make minor adjustments in the camera position that will have a profound effect on what's seen within the drop. With a few simple props, you can gain better control over the background. For example, I often rely on a large sheet of insulation, which is bright blue on one side. I originally used it to block the wind, but noticed that even on the dreariest of days it can mimic a perfect azure sky.

Other Considerations: Almost every time I set out to take photographs of water drops, I learned something new. There was always some new factor to consider. I learned, for example, I could get bigger, more cohesive and more interesting drops on humid days. I discovered that even the slightest wind could have disastrous effects on macro focusing, as well as on the water drops themselves. I found that very slightly adjusting the exposure (-0.3EV to –0.7EV) would compensate for the natural sheen of the surface of the water drop, keeping it from being somewhat burnt out. Most important, I had to teach myself to remember that because a water drop acts as an organic lens, it presents everything upside down and in reverse (just like a pinhole camera or a large format camera).

So now I’m one of the few people who looks forward to really still, stifling, humid days. And even though my beautiful Nikkor 18-200mm has arrived, I still have my macro on more than half the time. Water drop photos are not only real, but also addicting to try to master.

That's it. That's how it's done. It's as simple as learning how chess pieces move, and just as complex as a game of chess. Good luck and think small.

Thanks!

Steve

Cohesive forces

Water molecules

Contact bond

This is a two-image panoramic photograph taken during my trip to Guatemala in December 1988. Originally captured as two separate photographs using a film camera, likely a Pentax K1000, I have always desired to merge them into a single image. Although I manually merged the images a few years ago, the resulting composite lacked the desired quality due to the significant disparity in exposure and color between the two original photographs.

To address this challenge, I recently aligned the two images side by side in a new Photoshop document and cropped the resulting image to eliminate the uneven borders. However, the color differences persisted, necessitating the application of Photoshop’s Neural Filters Landscape Developer to neutralize the disparities.

While the original photographs did not depict a sunset, I found the effect aesthetically pleasing and incorporated it into the final image. The clouds, mountains, lake, and foreground elements are all original, having been manipulated in Photoshop to enhance their visual appeal and create a cohesive and usable composition.

I have a number of resolutions, not many. One is to lose weight, another is to simplify my sewing projects and to be thoughtful about my hobbies. When I look at my images I see that when I really put thought into it, perhaps on my 365 projects in the past, I have enjoyed what I have created and it has been more cohesive and less random. I’m challenging myself by doing another 365 this year. Not necessarily to publish. My aim is to find my style I guess. Above is not necessarily the best shot I took of this subject but it’s my starting point.

The complex structure of this staytape is incredible under macro

The Phoenicians were a Semitic-speaking people of somewhat unknown origin who emerged in the Levant around 3000 BC. The term Phoenicia is an ancient Greek exonym that most likely described one of their most famous exports, a dye also known as Tyrian purple; it did not correspond precisely to a cohesive culture or society as it would have been understood natively. It is debated whether Phoenicians were actually distinct from the broader group of Semitic-speaking peoples known as Canaanites. Historian Robert Drews believes the term "Canaanites" corresponds to the ethnic group referred to as "Phoenicians" by the ancient Greeks; However, according to archaeologist Jonathan N. Tubb, "Ammonites, Moabites, Israelites, and Phoenicians undoubtedly achieved their own cultural identities, and yet ethnically they were all Canaanites", "the same people who settled in farming villages in the region in the 8th millennium BC.". Wikipedia

Cuiaba River

The Pantanal

Brazil

South America

Giant river otter eating a fish from the Cuiaba River in Brazil.

The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).

Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.

The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.

The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. - Wikipedia

Excerpt from the brochure:

This property is an example of a garden and home that share their space harmoniously. Though the lot is large, the garden projects an intimate ambiance...The use of repetition gives the garden a cohesive look and feel, allowing your eye to move smoothly and one area to the next.

Siskin - Carduelis Spinus (M)

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

Ribersborg beach in Ribersborgsstranden a district of Malmö the capital of Scania, in Øresund, Sweden.

The beach at Ribersborg was originally rocky and shallow, with a sometimes swaying scent of rotten seaweed. The railroad between Malmö and Limhamn had been laid down in the low water and inside it formed puddles of stationary water whose stench was spread across the western parts of Malmö.

To remedy this, a proposal was made for the promenade of Wollf in 1890. In connection with the work of the Castle Park, Edward Glaesel made a more elegant proposal in 1899, but the seafront, ie the current Öresund Park, was not completed until 1924. This was then drafted by Glaesel's student Erstad-Jörgenssen. As a result, it was founded as a leader from Malmö center along the coast to Sibbarp bathing park.

During the post-war period, the plant was expanded to a cohesive beach landscape under the direction of city gardener Åke Steen.

Information Source:

malmo.se/Kultur--fritid/Idrott--fritid/Natur--friluftsliv...

My Board “Pelion coastal and mountainy” on gettyimages

My photos for sale on getty images

Ολοκληρωμένο Full Album

Λαύκος Lafkos

On my Blog Λογεικών Logikon

Τα τελευταία χρόνια που παραθερίζουμε οικογενειακώς στο Λεφόκαστρο του Ν.Πηλίου είχα την ευκαιρία να επισκεφτώ όλα τα γύρω κοντινά και πιο απομακρυσμένα χωριά.

Την εντονότερη εντύπωση μου προξένησε ο Λαύκος, ένα χωριό που δεν συγκαταλέγεται σ’αυτό που θα λέγαμε «κράχτες»,με ιδιαίτερη τουριστική φήμη δηλαδή.

Δεν είναι παραλιακό(το επίνειό του είναι η πολύ γνωστή Μηλίνα),δεν είναι το κλασσικό ορεινό ούτε διαθέτει την οικιστική συνοχή των ξακουστών παραδοσιακών οικισμών του Πηλίου.

Τι είναι,επομένως,το στοιχείο που ασκεί τόση γοητεία στον επισκέπτη του;

Κατά την άποψή μου πρόκειται για την αγάπη των κατοίκων του προς τον τόπο τους η οποία διαχέεται σε κάθε του γωνιά:Σπίτια φροντισμένα(αρχοντικά,λαϊκά,με νεοκλασσικές επιρροές)όχι για τουριστική εκμετάλλευση(υπάρχουν και τέτοια) αλλά κυρίως χτισμένα με και από το προσωπικό μεράκι των πιστών κατοίκων της που δεν τα ερήμωσε η κρίση και η ευκαιριακή χρήση.

Όλα διαφορετικά μεταξύ τους με μόνο συνεκτικό στοιχείο την προσωπική σφραγίδα του μόνιμου ιδιοκτήτη τους.

Γι αυτό και το χωριό σφύζει από ζωή.Οι κάτοικοί του έχουν επίγνωση,σέβονται,εκτιμούν και συνεχίζουν την πλούσια πολιτιστική κληρονομιά τους όχι για το τουριστικό «θεαθήναι» αλλά διότι έτσι έμαθαν να ζούν.

Αποτελεί το ιδανικό μέρος για χαλαρή βολτούλα και περιήγηση στα λιθόστρωτα καλντερίμια του απ’άκρου εις άκρον.

Φρέσκο αεράκι( στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος δεν χωρούν αυτοκίνητα),αξιοθαύμαστη αρχιτεκτονική,ανθισμένες αυλές,πράσινο παντού και ζωντανή πολιτιστική παράδοση σε κερδίζουν δημιουργώντας την ανάγκη της εκεί επιστροφής.

Το χωριό κτίστηκε μεταξύ 15ου και 16ου αιώνα, από τον καπετάνιο Στέργιο Μπασδέκη. Γνώρισε στιγμές μεγάλης οικονομικής άνθισης στα χρόνια της Τουρκοκρατίας ενώ μεγάλη είναι και η παράδοσή του στις τέχνες και τα γράμματα.

Ιδιαίτερη μνεία πρέπει να γίνει για:

-Το Φάμπειο Μουσείο Λειτουργεί στο παλιό κτήριο του σχολείου.Στο προαύλιο θα θαυμάσετε εξαίρετα γλυπτά από λευκό πηλιορείτικο μάρμαρο του ντόπιου ζωγράφου και γλύπτη Θανάση Φάμπα ,στο εσωτερικό του πίνακες του ιδίου ενώ στο ισόγειο στεγάζεται το λαογραφικό μουσείο του συλλόγου «Δράση».

-Το καφενείο-αξιοθέατο του Εμμανουήλ Φορλίδα.Πρόκειται για το αρχαιότερο καφενείο της Ελλάδος το οποίο λειτουργεί αδιαλείπτως από το 1785!!! Την εποχή που ο επάνω όροφος λειτουργούσε ως χάνι, είχε φιλοξενήσει τον Παπαδιαμάντη ντυμένο καλογερόπαιδο, αλλά και τον Βάρναλη όταν ήταν λυκειάρχης στη γειτονική Αργαλαστή.

- το Μουσείο Ραδιοφώνου «Αντώνης Ταβάνης» που πήρε το όνομά του από τον αείμνηστο γλύπτη, ο οποίος λάτρεψε τον Λαύκο κι έζησε εκεί τα τελευταία χρόνια της ζωής του, με τη συλλογή που δώρισε ο Γερμανός Βίλφρεντ Σεπς.

- τις «Μέρες Κιθάρας» Πρόκειται για καλλιτεχνικές εκδηλώσεις που διοργανώνονται κάθε καλοκαίρι και στις οποίες γίνονται σεμινάρια και συναυλίες κλασσικής κιθάρας, ενώ προσκεκλημένοι είναι πολλοί κιθαρίστες και συνθέτες παγκοσμίου φήμης αφού εκλεκτό τέκνο του Λαύκου είναι και ο αντιστοίχου ακτινοβολίας κιθαρίστας Δημήτρης Φάμπας.

Ζητώ συγγνώμη αν κούρασα με τις πολλές αναρτήσεις και την συνοδευτική παρουσίαση αλλά ένιωθα την ανάγκη να μοιραστώ μαζί σας τον αξιολογότατο αυτό τόπο!

The last years to put aside family in Lefokastro of S.Pelion I had the opportunity to visit all the surrounding close and more outlying villages.

The strongest impression I caused Lafkos, a village that is not included in what we would say 'decoys', with particular touristic reputation is.

There are beachfront (the seaport is very famous Milina), not the classic mountain nor has the urban coherence of famous traditional villages of Pelion.

What is therefore the element that carries so much charm to the visitor?

In my opinion this is the love of the people to the place of which pervades every corner: Houses cared (mansions, folk, with neo-classical influences) not for tourist exploitation (there are such) but mainly built with and by personal taste of the inhabitants of the faithful who have not deserted the crisis and occasional use.

All different from each other by only cohesive element the personal stamp of the permanent owner.

That's why the village bustles life. residents are aware, respect, appreciate and continue their rich cultural heritage not for tourist "show" but because that learned to live.

It is the ideal place for relaxed voltoula and browsing the cobbled streets of ap'akrou to end.

Fresh breeze (for the most part not fit cars), admirable architecture, flowered courtyards, green everywhere and vibrant culture to earn creating the need to return there.

The village was built between the 15th and 16th century by Captain Stergios Basdekis. Experienced moments of great economic boom during the Turkish occupation and great is the tradition in the arts and letters.

Particular mention should be made:

-The Fampeio Museum operates in the old building school.In courtyard admire outstanding sculptures from white Pelion marble of the local painter and sculptor Thanasis Fabas, inside panels of the same while the ground floor houses the folklore museum of the association "Action".

-The Cafe-attraction Emmanuel Forlidas.Is the oldest cafe in Greece which operates continuously since 1785 !!! At the time the upper floor served as an inn, she had hosted Papadiamandis dressed as monkchild & Varnalis when he was school director of neighboring Argalasti.

- The Museum of Radio "Antonis ceilings" which was named by the late sculptor, who loved Lafkos and there lived the last years of his life, the collection donated by German Vilfrent Seps.

- The "Guitar Days" These cultural events organized every summer and which are seminars and concerts of classical guitar, and invited many renowned guitarists and composers since fine child of Lafkos is the corresponding radiation guitarist Dimitris Fambas.

I apologize if tired by the many posts and accompanying presentation, but I felt the need to share with you this remarkable place!

Let me tell all of you young couples who are trying to keep things together that I am amazingly proud of and in admiration of how so many of you are able to cope! Please pat yourselves on the back and know that someone, realizes and appreciates all that you are doing! I sincerely hope that your future is much brighter than today!

Stay safe, be strong, and keep the love!!

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.

Previously unpublished shot from May 2017. Sometimes a square crop is needed to remove elements that distract from the story you see before you in the frame. Perhaps it can help us to appreciate the moment even more.

Congratulations to Ukraine for a well deserved Eurovision Song Contest win last night. It can be difficult to pull off a blend of traditional folk music and rap yet make it sound cohesive and modern - outstanding stuff. Congratulations also to Sam Ryder for a well deserved 2nd place in the contest. An awesome vocalist with a banging song can overcome perceived political voting, even for a UK entry! A few too many ballads were in the final for my taste but it was an awesome final as always.

Appreciate the moment.

Enjoy!

"Seeing a flock of starlings fly together [is] like watching a shape-shifting cloud, a single being moving and twisting in unpredictable formations in the sky. But what you are really seeing is thousands, sometimes millions of individual birds. As starlings gather in the evenings to roost, often they will participate in what is called a murmuration — a huge flock that shape-shifts in the sky as if it were one swirling liquid mass. Often the behavior is sparked by the presence of a predator like a hawk or peregrine falcon, and the flock's movement is based on evasive maneuvers. There is safety in numbers, so the individual starlings do not scatter but rather are able to move as an intelligent cloud, feinting away from a diving raptor, thousands of birds changing direction almost simultaneously. The question that has had scientists stumped is how each bird, most of them tens or hundreds of birds away from the danger, senses the shift and moves in unison? The secret lies in the same systems that apply to anything on the cusp of a shift, like snow before an avalanche, where the velocity of one bird affects the velocity of the rest. It's called "scale-free correlation," and every shift of the murmuration is called a critical transition. Because the size of the flock doesn't matter, a huge flock is able to respond to a predator attack as effectively and fluidly as a small flock. No matter the size, the system works. If one bird changes speed or direction, so do the others. The question remains, however, how does an individual bird spark a change if all are busy responding to the movement of everyone else? And more importantly, how do they do it so incredibly quickly?" A research "...team discovered that one bird's movement only affects its seven closest neighbors. Each of those neighbors' movements affect their closest seven neighbors and so on through the flock. This is how a flock is able to look like a twisting, morphing cloud with some parts moving in one direction and at another speed. Why seven? It's one of those numbers that just works in nature, and a systems-theoretic approach to studying starling flocks showed it. 'Interacting with six or seven neighbors optimizes the balance between group cohesiveness and individual effort,' write the researchers in the study." Source: mnn.com>earth matter>animals. Jaymi Heimbuch, Jan 9, 2014.

Upper Lapidarium, Ljubljana castle

1986 - 2012, Ambient architects (Miha Kerin, Marija Magdalena Kregar et al.)

"The Ljubljana Castle lapidarium is a part of a new subterranean public connecting space of the castle complex, which gradually came into being in the course of the renovation. It enriches the programmes and historical testimony of the castle.

Building anti-seismic foundations for the cracked courtyard facing sections with Corten steel supporting pillars set on the rocky ground, the simultaneous removing of the rubble inside the ramparts (dating back to when the courtyard sections were constructed), and the archaeological investigations and finds related to the earlier periods of the smaller Spanheim castle, brought about the idea of presenting and putting to use this new, interesting space.

A space was created for presenting well-preserved, undamaged, buried inner structures of the rampart as well as the archaeological remains of the castle’s earlier stages. The area is adapted to the bedrock terrain and its varying levels as well as the shapes of the sections above it. This is how a picturesque, cohesive, multi-purpose subterranean space around the central service area was created. The service area is sunken into the archaeologically sterile terrain and allows for covered access to most castle sections. It is also connected to the funicular, providing access to the castle from Krekov Square."

(www.arhinfo.si)

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Boulevard between Delaware Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. The district consists of 38 residential properties.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Background Study and Plan discuss the value of the district:

“The St. Clair Park survey, registered in 1911, was one of a number of residential surveys laid out in Hamilton’s east end just after the turn of the century, a boom period for residential construction throughout the City. The St. Clair Park Survey formed part of a middle to upper class residential area comprising a number of surveys, which extended from King Street East to the foot of the escarpment and from Wentworth Street South to Gage Park.

As was common practice in Hamilton at the time, the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions in the form of restrictive covenants registered on deed to the lots. Restrictions on the cost, construction and setback of the house account to a large extent for the cohesive character of St. Clair Boulevard’s urban streetscape.

While the restrictive covenants associated with the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions on its social make-up, the social composition of St. Clair Boulevard was nevertheless very homogenous, comprising middle to upper-middle income families of Anglo-Saxon origins. In the course of its history the boulevard has attracted some of Hamilton’s most prominent citizens; notably, he well-known and highly-respected judge, William F Schwenger and the successful construction company manager, Ralph W. Cooper. The Boulevard is also noteworthy for its social stability, owning to the long-term residence of most of the homeowners and

continuous use of the houses as single-family dwellings”.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Boulevard was initiated by local residents following the designation of the adjacent St. Clair Avenue district. According to the Background Study and Plan, “a petition requesting designation of the area...signed by all 37 homeowners, was presented to LACAC at its December meeting

and was supported by this committee”.

The St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District is protected by By-law 92-140, passed in 1992.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Boulevard between Delaware Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. The district consists of 38 residential properties.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Background Study and Plan discuss the value of the district:

“The St. Clair Park survey, registered in 1911, was one of a number of residential surveys laid out in Hamilton’s east end just after the turn of the century, a boom period for residential construction throughout the City. The St. Clair Park Survey formed part of a middle to upper class residential area comprising a number of surveys, which extended from King Street East to the foot of the escarpment and from Wentworth Street South to Gage Park.

As was common practice in Hamilton at the time, the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions in the form of restrictive covenants registered on deed to the lots. Restrictions on the cost, construction and setback of the house account to a large extent for the cohesive character of St. Clair Boulevard’s urban streetscape.

While the restrictive covenants associated with the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions on its social make-up, the social composition of St. Clair Boulevard was nevertheless very homogenous, comprising middle to upper-middle income families of Anglo-Saxon origins. In the course of its history the boulevard has attracted some of Hamilton’s most prominent citizens; notably, he well-known and highly-respected judge, William F Schwenger and the successful construction company manager, Ralph W. Cooper. The Boulevard is also noteworthy for its social stability, owning to the long-term residence of most of the homeowners and

continuous use of the houses as single-family dwellings”.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Boulevard was initiated by local residents following the designation of the adjacent St. Clair Avenue district. According to the Background Study and Plan, “a petition requesting designation of the area...signed by all 37 homeowners, was presented to LACAC at its December meeting

and was supported by this committee”.

The St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District is protected by By-law 92-140, passed in 1992.

We know that the great thing about mist is that it often obscures the clutter in a scene that we don't want the viewer of our photographs to see. This is certainly the case with this scene looking towards Sawley Marina. The row of poplars has been simplified by the layer of mist and I worked hard to adjust my position so that the smaller plants in the foreground lined up as near as possible in order to create a more cohesive image.

Merchant Street, a block-long commercial street bordered by E. Prairie St. on the north, and E, Main St. on the south, is the heart of the Decatur Downtown Historic District. This view looks to the south from E. Prairie St.

The Merchant Street block consists of the nine structures along the east side of Merchant St. On the west side of Merchant St. are three buildings, all of which have N. Main St. addresses. The original facades of the buildings on Merchant St. are well-maintained and highly cohesive. The same building height - three stories - generally prevails and the same material - brick - is used throughout. Commercial Italianate is the predominant style and exhibits a high degree of architectural detail.

Eleven of the 12 total buildings in this block are significant properties within the historic district. The eleven significant buildings were all constructed between the 1860s and 1910. One modern building, located on west side of Merchant St. near E. Main St., is a non-contributing property. The most interesting of these buildings will be highlighted in future posts.

Decatur is the seat of Macon County. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in central Illinois. Decatur has an economy based on industrial and agricultural commodity processing and production. The city is home of private Millikin University and public Richland Community College.

Decatur's estimated population for 2019 was 70,746, making Decatur the thirteenth-most populous city in Illinois, and the state's sixth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

Siskin - Carduelis Spinus

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

In a bid for Best Restaurant, Le Bistrot du Chimp decided to add an extra flavor to its menu - bagpipes.

@Maison de L'amitie - very, very pretty beach sim. I love how they took houses from different places and stacked them - it looks very cohesive and nice!

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Boulevard between Delaware Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. The district consists of 38 residential properties.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Background Study and Plan discuss the value of the district:

“The St. Clair Park survey, registered in 1911, was one of a number of residential surveys laid out in Hamilton’s east end just after the turn of the century, a boom period for residential construction throughout the City. The St. Clair Park Survey formed part of a middle to upper class residential area comprising a number of surveys, which extended from King Street East to the foot of the escarpment and from Wentworth Street South to Gage Park.

As was common practice in Hamilton at the time, the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions in the form of restrictive covenants registered on deed to the lots. Restrictions on the cost, construction and setback of the house account to a large extent for the cohesive character of St. Clair Boulevard’s urban streetscape.

While the restrictive covenants associated with the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions on its social make-up, the social composition of St. Clair Boulevard was nevertheless very homogenous, comprising middle to upper-middle income families of Anglo-Saxon origins. In the course of its history the boulevard has attracted some of Hamilton’s most prominent citizens; notably, he well-known and highly-respected judge, William F Schwenger and the successful construction company manager, Ralph W. Cooper. The Boulevard is also noteworthy for its social stability, owning to the long-term residence of most of the homeowners and

continuous use of the houses as single-family dwellings”.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Boulevard was initiated by local residents following the designation of the adjacent St. Clair Avenue district. According to the Background Study and Plan, “a petition requesting designation of the area...signed by all 37 homeowners, was presented to LACAC at its December meeting

and was supported by this committee”.

The St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District is protected by By-law 92-140, passed in 1992.

Cuiaba River

The Pantanal

Brazil

South America

A group of otters have been known to chase away caiman.

The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).

Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.

The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.

The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal.

For more info go to:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter

As I contemplate continuing on with my Instagram series of 9 posts I thought I'd add in these 3 moody, dark images from @WaltDisneyConcertHall

I seriously can't wait to go back to Los Angeles for this building and so many others that I did not have time to even see.

So, a question for you all ...

If you notice my feed is done in grids of 9 (for the most part). Personally, I like the aesthetics of it for one. Secondly, it helps me take a look through my images and create a cohesive group of images.

The question is: Do I continue on with my series of 9 and keep the 'look' in my feed. Or do I just start veering off and posting whatever I might have been photographing lately?

A Vic Viper built for DigiLUG's November Monthly Challenge. The theme was Legacy Colours, and it's actually quite hard to make a cohesive colour scheme with only colours that hadn't been used in the past 10 years.

The idea of using brick separators comes from an earlier WIP from this summer.

You can see the 3D model on Mecabricks.

The Pantanal

Cuiaba River

Brazil

South America

The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).

Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.

The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.

The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal.

For more info go to:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter

Dato and Assassin. These are bloody addictive. And having a loose narrative really makes it fun; they don't all have to be cohesive as a group, they can be wacky, dangerous, helpful, cute, whatever direction they need to go in. Probably the biggest constraints are keeping them to this size and having a preference for chunky proportions.

Caravelle

I love vintage cameras because even 150 years old they can still create wonderful images. Similarly, Horology is the study of time and making of clocks. I was given this watch 46 years ago and amazingly I just gave it a wind and it immediately began to work, doing the thing for which it was made … record the passage of time. Vintage watches have a similar allure to that of vintage cameras. In both there are no electronics, no micro processors just a beautiful, intricate and cohesive collection of gears and springs that all work together with incredible precision to capture the passage of time or record an image.

Photo taken on Fuji XT20 with 7Artisans 60mm Macro

Website: www.sollows.ca

Vero: vero.co/jsollows

loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team

________________________________________________

my summer playlist

↠ｍｕｓｉｃｏｔｈｅｒａｐｙ↞

Lena Outfit — Newphe

I slip into Lena the way I slip into a mood—effortless, confident, quietly expressive. This is casual chic with intention: a softly sculpted silhouette that skims the body without constraining it, inviting movement, creativity, and the freedom to be exactly who I feel like being today.

The top is a modern nod to classic corsetry—clean lines, a gently contoured bust, and wide straps that frame the shoulders with understated strength. It hugs just enough to define, never to dictate. The skirt balances it perfectly: a sleek mini with a subtle asymmetric notch that elongates the leg and adds a whisper of flirtation. Together, they speak in harmony—refined, wearable, and quietly bold.

There’s history woven into this simplicity. I feel echoes of 1950s fitted bodices, the mod confidence of ’90s minimalism, and the ease of modern street style—all distilled into something that feels now. Lena doesn’t costume me; it collaborates with me. Fashion, after all, is where self-expression meets imagination. It’s where I decide the story.

✨ Styling & HUD Details

* Top HUD: a rich palette of wearable tones—from classic neutrals to expressive seasonal hues—each with smooth, modern texturing that keeps the look polished day or night.

* Skirt HUD: coordinated color options designed to mix, match, or mirror the top, letting me play with contrast or keep things beautifully cohesive.

Compatible Mesh Bodies

* Legacy

* Legacy Perky

* Bombshell

* Lara X

* Petite X

* Reborn

* Juicy

* Waifu

Where to Find It

The Lena Outfit by Newphe is available at Happy Weekend with a special event price (60–90L$)—a perfect excuse to indulge in creativity without compromise.

Taxi:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Maribella/80/216/2288

I wear Lena when I want my style to feel like a thought I’ve been meaning to say out loud—casual, chic, and entirely my own.

Siskin - Carduelis Spinus

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

🍂 Shades of Fall – LUNA Body Art

As the golden hues of autumn drift around me, my look transforms into something bold, youthful, and luxuriously refined. This season, I let my hands speak in the Shades of Fall Nails by LUNA Body Art—a collection of mesmerizing tones that balance playfulness with timeless elegance.

With every subtle gesture, my nails glimmer in shades inspired by the rich palette of fall—making them the perfect companion for crisp afternoons, glamorous nights, and everything in between.

🌟 The Full Glamorous Effect

Fall beauty is all about synergy—so I pair my nails with the Vicky Jewelry Earrings by JUMO Originals, sparkling with 15 gem colors and 6 radiant metal tones, catching light like fallen dew on autumn leaves. And to seal the look, I kiss the season awake with the Eyleen HD Lips, a six-shade collection of luscious glosses that bring sophistication to every smile. Together, nails, lips, and jewels create a cohesive ensemble of chic indulgence.

🎨 Shades of Fall – Nail HUD Colors

* 🍏 Soft Citron

* 🌿 Olive Moss

* ️ Silver Mist

* 🌸 Blush Petal

* 🌹 Rose Mauve

* 🌊 Deep Teal

* 🌌 Twilight Plum

* 🌑 Obsidian Black

* 🍂 Burnt Chestnut

* 🍷 Bordeaux

💋 Eyleen HD Lips HUD Colors

* Pearl Whisper

* Orchid Glow

* Pink Sorbet

* Mulberry Kiss

* Scarlet Flame

* Crimson Velvet

💎 Vicky Jewelry HUD Options

* 15 Brilliant Gemstone Colors

* 6 Gleaming Metal Finishes

✨ Compatibility

The LUNA Shades of Fall Nails are fully compatible with:

* 💖 Maitreya

* 💖 Legacy

* 💖 Belleza

* 💖 Slink

* 💖 Kupra

* 💖 Reborn

* 💖 Waifu

🚖 Style Taxi

Step into autumn glamour with me at the Swank Designer's Choice Creative Freedom Fashion Event

(September Round):

👉 [Swank Event Taxi]

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swank%20Events/128/123/25

🍂 This season, I don’t just wear fall—I embody it. From my fingertips to my lips, from my shimmered earrings to the confident way I move, I am fall fashion personified.

Ich war schon lange nicht mehr auf einer Sim Erkundung. Durch Zufall bin ich auf Flickr bei einem Bekannten auf ein paar Bilder gestoßen, die mich neugierig machten. Also hab ich in SL gesucht und die passende Sim gefunden. Solltet ihr sie besuchen wollen, nutzt die gemeinsame Umgebung in den Tageseinstellungen. Ich hab es gemacht, und ja, sie ändert sich bei der Hälfte der Sim. Aber sie zaubert ein absolut stimmiges Bild.

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Retrospect/236/29/21

english:

I haven't been on a sim exploration in a long time. By chance, I came across a few pictures on Flickr of an acquaintance that made me curious. So I searched SL and found the right sim. If you want to visit them, use the common environment in the daily settings. I did it, and yes, it changes halfway through the sim. But it really paints a cohesive picture.

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Retrospect/236/29/21

This photograph of a scene in the city of Siena captures a narrow, shadowy street, its cobblestones still glistening with the remnants of a recent rain. The buildings lining the street are painted in shades of terracotta, their warm hues deepened by the dampness and the confined space of the alleyway. Despite the bright sky above, the narrowness of the street and the tall buildings create a dark, intimate atmosphere, drawing the viewer's eye along the wet, reflective path.

The scene beautifully showcases a blend of very old and newer constructions, all adhering to Siena's distinctive architectural style. This harmonious mix of different eras in the city's history is evident in the varying designs and conditions of the buildings, yet they all maintain a cohesive look that is quintessentially Sienese. The photograph captures the timeless charm and the unique character of Siena, where history and modernity coexist seamlessly against the backdrop of a rain-kissed street.

RX_00747_20240422_Siena

Siskin - Carduelis Spinus

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

Pantanal

Brazil

South America

TCuiaba River

The he giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).

Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative.

Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.

The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.

The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. - Wikipedia

I’ve been going through a phase of producing books recently. Not that you’ll be finding anything bearing my name in Waterstones anytime soon you understand, but the coffee table in the living room might start to groan at some point in the future. So far, there is a book full of tales from here in Cornwall, and another of the two trips to Iceland. In fact as far as the latter goes, there are still about thirty oven ready stories to share here. I keep meaning to make a start on uploading those, but the winter season is proving quite bountiful at the moment. Keep watching if you’re an Iceland fan, because it will be back here soon.

Latterly, I took advantage of the fifty percent discount that some of our favourite YouTubers have been peddling on behalf of one particular service in recent months. You probably know the one I’m talking about. I decided to go with all stops removed and selected a professional line book with an acrylic photo cover and leatherette binding. Well if you’re going to have one, you might as well have a big one, I reckoned. The reviews were encouraging, and the idea of seeing one’s own images on high quality printed matter was rather appealing too. Even though printing remains a mysterious other world of photography to me. A shy and retiring cousin who keeps himself to himself if you like. Some of you print your own pictures, and have probably begun to make sense of whether you’re going to reproduce your favourite landscapes on matte, gloss, or even silk. Silk? No I’m not sure either, although it sounds great doesn’t it? “What’s Baryta?” I asked myself. Had I once tried it with the nachos in that Mexican restaurant down the road, or was that something else? And how do you decide between bamboo and hemp? The myriad choices seemed almost as bewildering as the number of bodies and lenses on the market when I started dabbling about with this hobby. One of you had even kindly told me about a printing workshop, partly run by Rachel Talibart, no less. It sounded fascinating, but seeing as I had no plans to invest several hundred pounds in a printer of my own, and probably twice as much on ink cartridges, the mystery continued. Continues in fact. I decided to try gloss. Three hundred and sixty-eight grammes per square metre. Once upon a time I had the responsibility for buying the company’s stationery supplies, so I did at least have a feel for what that means. Anyone need a paperclip? I've still got some around here somewhere.

Then there was the theme for this latest addition to the family library. The email with the unique voucher code had given me just thirty days to create my product, so I needed to be getting on with it fairly swiftly. Iceland would have been the obvious subject, but I’d already done that, albeit on rather less opulent looking materials. In fact that opulence meant this book was just going to be photos. No silly yarns on three hundred and sixty-eight gsm glossy paper at these prices. Half heartedly, I began to compile a collection of images from 2023. But should I confine it to Cornwall, or was I going to add in images from further afield too? It felt like a bit of a hotchpotch, so then I started a second project, called Cornwall in Winter. This seemed a far more cohesive idea, although there would inevitably be some duplication with coffee table book number one.

And then I found myself browsing images from just over a year earlier in Lanzarote. No cross contamination with other books there. I’d taken plenty of shots on that trip and in my own estimation had edited almost enough of them with a reasonable degree of competence. I’d need to return to the fourteen month old raw files and mine some more images if I wanted something rather more substantial than a wobbly pamphlet, but then again it was about time I did that anyway. It became quite fun. The layout options encouraged a deal of experimentation and variation of aspect ratios, and I was surprised to see how effective some shots looked, spread over two pages in a six by seventeen format.

Even at half price it was an expensive bit of work, but I’m impressed with the quality, and what Ali doesn’t yet know is that she’s going to be printing a book next. Then my daughter, then my son after that. I wonder whether they issue coupons to tiny people? If so, my two baby grandchildren might be authoring volumes of their own soon as well.

This week's theme for Mosaic Montage Monday was Cohesive. Bonded together like glue! HMMM!

This rare one off 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 by Bertone is one of seven built by Bertone, and is the only coupe of the seven. Powered by a modified 2.9L, 140hp engine, and seen and photographed at the 2024 Greenwich Concours Show. Here is it's story by Sotheby's:

The tale of Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt II is well-known to sports car enthusiasts, but bears a rapid repeating: The Warsaw, Indiana businessman made his first fortune as a manufacturer of marine engines, then branched into the selling of British automobiles in Chicago in late 1950. In 1952 he commissioned Italian coachbuilder Bertone to build a limited run of custom-bodied MG TDs, known as Arnolt-MGs, for sale through his showroom. This relationship soon expanded, with Bertone collaborating with “Wacky” on, most famously, the Arnolt-Bristol, as well as Bertone-bodied Alfa Romeos, Bentleys, Ferraris, and other fabulous coachbuilt creations.

There were seven Aston Martins dressed by Bertone under Arnolt’s auspices, or, as the relentlessly self-promoting Arnolt would have preferred they be known, Arnolt-Aston Martins. Their designs differed from series to series and car to car, but DB2/4 chassis number LML/765 is the only coupe. It was and remains a thing of beauty, with lines that are more crisp and elegant than some of the other Bertone creations, arguably more finely tailored and cohesive and especially striking as a coupe. As noted by historian Stanley Nowak in his article on the Bertone Astons in Automobile Quarterly, Vol. 26 No. 4, the car’s dramatic creases in its flanks and a pronounced wraparound rear window were both signature touches of Bertone’s Franco Scaglione.

Build records at Aston Martin Dorset indicate that LML/765 was commissioned by Arnolt on 20 August 1954 for “Monsieur Henrey Pagezy” of Paris and delivered on 7 January 1955. Given the somewhat mangled spelling, it is believed that this client was actually Henri Pigozzi, founder of Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile, better-known as Simca. This is likely, as a few features on LML/765, most notably the taillights, were borrowed from Simca automobiles—an impressive signature.

According to Nowak, Arnolt’s Bertone representative claimed that the coupe was intended to have been the first in a small run of cars, but by the time it appeared Aston Martin had refused to supply any more chassis to the effort. Supporting this statement, the car was shown, well after its completion, at both the 1957 and 1958 Turin Motor Shows—finished in white and then in blue, respectively—each time on the Bertone stand. It is believed that the coachbuilder borrowed the car back both years in an effort to entice Aston Martin to consider them as a new firm to develop the upcoming DB4, a role that eventually went to another Italian coachbuilder, Touring of Milan.

The Bertone coupe later made its way to the United States in 1976, into the hands of John G. Gyann. It was subsequently owned by Dr. Jim Pavlatos of Palos Heights, Illinois, and restored under his care, then passed through the hands of Chicago-based sportscar dealer Bill Jacobs and the Blackhawk Collection. In 1987, it was acquired from Blackhawk by Roger Karlson of California, who would own the car for eleven years and spent much time and spared no expense meticulously sorting the mechanicals of the largely cosmetic restoration that had been undertaken prior to his ownership. The car was shown later in 1987 at Pebble Beach while under Mr. Karlson’s ownership.

In 2019, the special Bertone Aston was acquired by the current owner, who commissioned Aston Martin specialists Kevin Kay Restorations in Redding, California to undertake a full concours restoration. As part of this work, the car was faithfully returned to its “show stand-correct” metallic blue shade, matched to traces of the original finish located below the headlight bezels and in the trunk area. In addition, the correct front bumper and taillights, which had been modified over the years, were fabricated to replicate the original 1955 units, as was the bonnet trim, sun visors, and much of the interior trim hardware. Down to the original red exhaust tip, visible in a surviving 1958 color photograph, no small detail was overlooked during this extensive restoration, which cost over $800,000 and was completed just in time for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2023. The restored car retains its original numbers-matching drivetrain, per its build documentation, with the original engine having been rebuilt to a high-output specification with elevated compression, DB MK III-style valves and camshafts, and an uprated oiling system.

At completion of the work, the car was debuted at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it was honored with First in Class, a remarkable achievement. It has yet to be shown publicly since, leaving the door open for the next caretaker to enjoy participation in virtually any top-level concours event on the planet. In fact, the Bertone Aston has already been invited to be displayed and compete at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Accompanying the sale is a document file featuring restoration photographs and invoices, as well as a copy of the Automobile Quarterly article and other historical information, including a detailed letter account by dedicated former owner Roger Karlson.

This unique Aston Martin DB2/4 is a singular and exquisite automobile, representing the epitome of English sporting heritage, but inspired by American ingenuity, passion, and ambition, and styled and built by Bertone and Italy’s finest artisans. In so many ways, the Bertone Aston represents the ultimate iteration of company owner David Brown’s “gentleman’s express.” A lively, smooth performer, it is a consummate English gentleman indeed, but clothed in a bespoke Italian suit.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Boulevard between Delaware Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. The district consists of 38 residential properties.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Background Study and Plan discuss the value of the district:

“The St. Clair Park survey, registered in 1911, was one of a number of residential surveys laid out in Hamilton’s east end just after the turn of the century, a boom period for residential construction throughout the City. The St. Clair Park Survey formed part of a middle to upper class residential area comprising a number of surveys, which extended from King Street East to the foot of the escarpment and from Wentworth Street South to Gage Park.

As was common practice in Hamilton at the time, the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions in the form of restrictive covenants registered on deed to the lots. Restrictions on the cost, construction and setback of the house account to a large extent for the cohesive character of St. Clair Boulevard’s urban streetscape.

While the restrictive covenants associated with the St. Clair Park Survey has building restrictions on its social make-up, the social composition of St. Clair Boulevard was nevertheless very homogenous, comprising middle to upper-middle income families of Anglo-Saxon origins. In the course of its history the boulevard has attracted some of Hamilton’s most prominent citizens; notably, he well-known and highly-respected judge, William F Schwenger and the successful construction company manager, Ralph W. Cooper. The Boulevard is also noteworthy for its social stability, owning to the long-term residence of most of the homeowners and

continuous use of the houses as single-family dwellings”.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Boulevard was initiated by local residents following the designation of the adjacent St. Clair Avenue district. According to the Background Study and Plan, “a petition requesting designation of the area...signed by all 37 homeowners, was presented to LACAC at its December meeting

and was supported by this committee”.

The St. Clair Boulevard Heritage Conservation District is protected by By-law 92-140, passed in 1992.

Siskin - Carduelis Spinus

The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

These birds can be found throughout the year in Central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. They are present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia and they over-winter in the Mediterranean basin and the area around the Black Sea. In China they breed in the Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and in Jiangsu province; they spend summer in Tibet, Taiwan, the valleys of the lower Yangtse River and the south east coast.

The Eurasian siskin is occasionally seen in North America. There is also a similar and closely related North America counterpart, the pine siskin, Spinus pinus.

heir seasonal distribution is also marked by the fact that they follow an anomalous migration pattern. Every few years they migrate southwards in larger numbers and the overwintering populations in the Iberian Peninsula are greatly augmented. This event has been the object of diverse theories, one theory suggests that it occurs in the years when Norway Spruce produces abundant fruit in the centre and north of Europe, causing populations to increase. An alternative theory is that greater migration occurs when the preferred food of alder or birch seed fails. This species will form large flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with redpolls.

It is a bird that does not remain for long in one area but which varies the areas it used for breeding, feeding, over-wintering from one year to the next.

They are very active and restless birds. They are also very social, forming small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. They are fairly trusting of humans, it being possible to observe them from a short distance. During the breeding season, however, they are much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.

Population:

UK breeding:

410,000 pairs

The facade of the house adjacent to the Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine in Noto, Sicily, exudes a sense of timeless simplicity and historical charm. The architectural design is unadorned yet elegant, characteristic of the region's traditional style. The doorway and window are modestly framed, reflecting the straightforward, utilitarian aesthetics that define many Sicilian homes. Despite the wear of centuries, the façade retains its distinct features, showcasing the resilient beauty of its original construction.

Age has left its mark on the building, evident in the ochre paint that has peeled and faded over time. This weathered exterior tells a story of endurance and the passage of years, adding to the house's rustic appeal. The patina of age enhances its character, harmonizing with the historical ambiance of Noto. The soft, earthy tones of the worn paint blend seamlessly with the surrounding architecture, creating a cohesive and authentic Sicilian atmosphere.

The Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine, located in Noto, Sicily, is a historic church with deep roots in the region's religious and architectural heritage. Constructed in the early 18th century, it is a fine example of the Sicilian Baroque style that flourished after the devastating earthquake of 1693. The church was built as part of the extensive reconstruction efforts that transformed Noto into a baroque masterpiece. Its ornate façade, adorned with intricate stone carvings and statues, contrasts with the simple neighboring structures, such as the adjacent house. Over the centuries, the Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine has stood as a testament to the resilience and artistic spirit of the local community, serving as a place of worship and cultural significance.

RX_02666_20240511_Noto

I was walking down the street and I happened to notice this scene. I first noticed the white door with maroon steps, and that's what made me bring out my camera. But then I noticed the way the door/steps played off of the orangish brick wall...then the biscuit-colored blob...then the white framed windows...then the vent/duct...then how they all looked so wonderful together, blending all kinds of shapes, textures, colors, and functions into an oddly cohesive whole.

So naturally it is my photo for today.

This build marks the first time I have fully incorporated my own design language into a LEGO creation. It represents a monster inspired by sapphire, and it is intended as the starting point of a series of creatures based on different gemstones.

Historically, sapphire has been associated with the sky and the blue cosmos, and was often regarded as the gemstone closest to the divine. Drawing from this symbolism, I chose black as the primary color for the monster’s body—representing outer space and the night sky—while adding sapphire-inspired decorations throughout the design. To further emphasize its godlike presence, I incorporated a dragon, a creature often imagined as one of the most powerful beings in fantasy.

To recreate the texture of dragon scales, I used a large number of black diamond-shaped elements, creating a sharp yet cohesive surface. For the sapphire details, my initial plan was to rely mainly on trans-light blue bricks and slopes. However, they felt a bit too cheap and flat visually. Instead, I decided to use marbled elements, which I personally love. Their slightly lower transparency adds depth and richness, better evoking the feel of a gemstone. The name of the creature comes from “Nox,” the Latin word for night, and “sapphirus,” the origin of the word sapphire—reflecting both its visual theme and conceptual roots.

During the design process, the Woomy World blog was incredibly helpful. Through his writing, I learned how to verbalize design intent and translate it into thoughtful part selection. In particular, the line beneath the eyes was inspired by his Sand Beast build, which strongly influenced this model’s facial expression.

San Gimignano, a picturesque medieval town in Italy's Tuscany region, is beautifully captured in this photograph. The image showcases a charming pedestrian street that ascends towards a grand stone arch, flanked by buildings with warm, yellowish stone facades. The street is paved with red bricks, adding a rustic charm that complements the historic ambiance of the town.

The architecture on display is a testament to the town's medieval heritage, with both residential houses and public buildings lining the street. Each structure boasts unique, intricate details that highlight the skilled craftsmanship of the era. The consistency in the use of yellow stone throughout the town creates a cohesive and timeless aesthetic, inviting visitors to step back in time as they explore its streets.

Religious buildings, such as churches and cloisters, are a constant presence, adding to the historical and cultural richness of San Gimignano. These sacred structures, often characterized by their ornate facades and serene courtyards, reflect the town's deep spiritual roots and its significance as a center of faith and pilgrimage during the medieval period. The overall scene is a harmonious blend of historical architecture and natural beauty, making San Gimignano a true gem of Tuscany.

RX_00917_20240422_San Gimignano

Ich war schon lange nicht mehr auf einer Sim Erkundung. Durch Zufall bin ich auf Flickr bei einem Bekannten auf ein paar Bilder gestoßen, die mich neugierig machten. Also hab ich in SL gesucht und die passende Sim gefunden. Solltet ihr sie besuchen wollen, nutzt die gemeinsame Umgebung in den Tageseinstellungen. Ich hab es gemacht, und ja, sie ändert sich bei der Hälfte der Sim. Aber sie zaubert ein absolut stimmiges Bild.

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Retrospect/236/29/21

english:

I haven't been on a sim exploration in a long time. By chance, I came across a few pictures on Flickr of an acquaintance that made me curious. So I searched SL and found the right sim. If you want to visit them, use the common environment in the daily settings. I did it, and yes, it changes halfway through the sim. But it really paints a cohesive picture.

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Retrospect/236/29/21

The Pantanal

Brazil

South America

The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).

Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.

The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.

The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal.

For more info go to:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter