View allAll Photos Tagged Conclusion
sin espacios por lo q la conclusion fue no pintar......pero las paredes te gritan y te obligan a darle q quiere......
esta produ la hice con mi hermano skipy...
evento del Recreo.." Pinta la pared q siempre Soñaste"
Peter: "GWEN UR AN AGWENGER THATS SOO COOL WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
Gwen: "HECK YA AND YOU CAN CALL ME HUMAN SCARLET TORCHWITCH"
Uncle Charles (Ben) Xavier: I pronounce you HUSBAND AND FRIGGIN' WIFE WOOT WOOT"
Nick Fury: Peter, I'm here to recruit you to the AGwengers Initiative. We have a HUGE problem in CANADA with HOWARD THE DUCK"
Peter: "Well, that honeymoon will have to wait, Human Scarlet TorchWitch. AGwengers, ASSEMBLE!"
The End.
I am going to talk about a topic most would consider to be very sensitive and that is pornography. So if you don’t feel comfortable reading about it please stop whenever you like to. Of course I will talk about it from my personal experience. I will try not to focus on porn or talk about it in details, as my goal is not to assist others to indulge in sin but to glorify God for the freedom He has given me. I will start by talking about the photo first.
First of all I want to say that talking about being addicted to porn is not easy. I had considered talking about for some time but didn’t really want to do so. So I decided, like I do often, is to lie down and talk to God and think about why I didn’t want to write about it. The reason was simple: I didn’t want people to have a bad idea about me. The final point was: I wanted to keep my image “clean” like so many of us Christians like to do. However, after some thought I came to this conclusion:
1) I was born a sinner and I am as sinful in my nature as anybody else ever lived on earth, so there is no point in acting like I am better than anybody else.
2) I am who I am because of who I am in Christ, and that’s because of His perfect and finished work on the Cross: His death for my sins. Not because of anything good in me or about me.
3) When I accepted Jesus I basically gave Him ownership over me. In other words, there is no more “my reputation”, “my name”, “my this” and “my that”. Everything belongs to Him now. Of course I thought that I could simply avoid talking about this topic and “act” as if there is something special about me. But the truth is that He is special and I am special only because the Holy Spirit, who is special, lives in me.
4) For Christ to be lifted through me I must be lowered. For Him to be glorified I must tell the world about who I was before Christ.
5) I didn’t want to be a hypocrite! Of course, as we all know, being a hypocrite is much easier than a lot of things in life. (And believe me it is much easier to be a hypocrite than to live the Christian life, but only through living the Christian life we can find true fulfillment in Jesus.) But if I claim that I belong to Christ and that my identity is wrapped up in who I am in Him, a prince and a child of the living and holy One, then I have to act upon this claim. Otherwise I am simply being a hypocrite. I cannot say that my value and worth are in Him, when I value myself in how others see me.
So I will start my story now…
When I was in my teens back home, and I would be taking the bus in the evening sometimes I would look at my hand and be completely amazed by the orange sun light reflecting off of it, especially the amount of details God has put in the skin! And because I like to draw, shadows have always amazed me. Until now I try to emphasize shadows and contrast in my photos. So a couple of days ago I was studying when it was sunset and I looked at my hand and again I loved the amount of details in the skin. So I took few photos and after some editing, I realized this photo can be very fitting to talk about Jesus Christ’s favour in setting us free from sin. So here is my final product. I hope you like it. (Special thanks to Gimp!)
I didn’t soak the hand with orange colour and dark shadows because I want to talk about a light that’s brighter than the sun’s: the light of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That’s why I kept the light white.
I was not familiar with pornography until I came to Canada, and especially after I bought my first computer. Like so many others I started watching porn because of curiosity. I accepted Jesus in my life before I came to Canada though. Being still an immature Christian, spiritually like a few days old infant, I was an easy prey to Satan’s lies.
Then porn turned to more than just curiosity—it became a habit. Then from a habit it became an addiction. It pretty much consumed hours of my daily life, and all my energy. It cost me a lot in school as my marks dropped dramatically. My relationship with God was reduced to “hi” and “bye”!
I tried to quit many times but I couldn’t. I knew it was wrong but by then it was too strong of an addiction to break free from. I hated it and loved it at the same time. I hated it because it ruined every aspect of my life. I loved it because I was emotionally dependent on it: it was my idol. (For more on Idols you might be interested in reading: www.flickr.com/photos/001fj/2334638980/
Pornography was a very strange affair. I mean, when I went out I tried not to lust after women but when I came home I entertained the worst thoughts for hours! One of the worst things about porn is that it gets worse overtime. You never start at a low level and stay there; you stoop to lower levels because after a while those materials are not satisfying anymore. Can you imagine the helplessness people who are addicted to porn feel? Can you imagine the feeling of entrapment? Can you imagine not only seeing yourself in a very bad situation but also seeing yourself heading toward a worse situation and you are going by your own will simply because you couldn’t resist doing the thing that is hurting you and eventually will destroy you!
It is like standing in a hole and digging it to make it deeper and deeper and deeper.
One summer break I spent it pretty much editing photos using Photoshop and listening to Dr. Charles Stanley. In one sermon he was talking about how God sets us free and the bottom line was that we have to:
1) Realize and admit our situation and helplessness
2) Trust that God can free us
3) Surrender ourselves, lives and hearts to Him
So I tried it. I went to pray and told God all those three points and I meant them—I truly believed and knew that I couldn’t free myself from this sin, and I knew that God was a good God who loved me and cared about me….but, I didn’t know how to surrender! I mean if I was in a war then I could take a piece of white cloth and put it on a stick, raise it up and walk toward the enemy. They would see the white piece of cloth and would know that I am surrendering, but how do you do that spiritually? I mean, it is more than words just as in the scenario of the battlefield above: I have to raise (action word) the stick, and walk (another action word) toward the enemy. But how do you surrender spiritually?
Needless to say after that prayer I went back to pornography as if I had not even prayed it! I knew Dr. Stanley is a godly man so I knew he wouldn’t teach something false, but I simply didn’t know how to apply it. So I kept trying to break free from pornography using all methods I knew from self-control (emphasis on the word “self”; I am not talking about the self-control we have by focusing on Christ and putting Him first in our lives), to using filters to always keeping the windows and door open, etc…nothing worked.
God wasn’t completely silent in those couple of years when I was addicted to porn. I can recall some other time when God completely cut all communication with me until I obeyed Him in a certain matter (thank God He did that!), but that was not the case in those two years. I think God knew that I was helpless against breaking free from porn. He knew I was too young spiritually to abandon me completely to my weakness and leave me completely at Satan’s mercy (as if he has any!)
A particular scary moment was when one night after indulging in sin for hours I stood and planned to go carry out a sinful act. After a couple steps it was as if God slapped me so hard that He woke me up from a nightmare; the only thing is that I was not dreaming--it was real life! I had so foolishly bought Satan’s lies to the degree that I was going to carry them out! I froze and couldn’t move for few seconds because it was as if God had blocked my way. Then I realized that I was basically a slave of Satan if I kept believing what he told me. I was like a zombie having all sense sucked out of me and so dead in my sins.
Nothing can explain God's intervention in that moment better than this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_SjhKJgqGg
I also realized that I was not so different from Ted Bundy or any other serial killer and rapist. I was a step away from going that road if it wasn’t for God mercy, grace, love and compassion. I can never be thankful enough for Him for intervening in that moment. We were all born sinners, and according to God holiness that demands divine justice we all deserve the death penalty. That’s why our Lord had to die for our sins to be forgiven. So please, next time you hear about a criminal so “evil” ask yourself those two questions: 1) Can Jesus’ blood forgive all his sin? Yes, or no? 2) Can God change him? Yes, or no? The answer is yes to both questions. (Check this man’s testimony if you like to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIfQ-aBham4
One time I managed to stay away from pornography for 18 days! I was so happy but when I fell to sin again I was more miserable than ever before! I knew that I couldn’t do better than that. That was about half a year after listening to Dr. Stanley’s message.
So sometime in March of 2003 I went to pray at night. And I basically told God that I had enough and that I wasn’t going to pray anymore. I was ending my relationship with Him! I didn’t know better at the time that He paid a high price to adopt me into His family and He wasn’t just going to let me go! I was so tired of pretending that my religion works when it didn’t! I became a Christian not looking for a religion, but because the God of the Bible was so real I wanted to know Him…I wanted to experience what He did and said He would do. But it was not working! It was also so repulsive to me to come pray to God when I had so disgustingly disobeyed Him! It was like lusting after women all day long then going home and kissing my wife and pretending that everything is “fine”, (by the way, it is NOT “fine” with God and His opinion is the only opinion that matters if not now then later!). I simply couldn’t carry a relationship with a Holy God when I was so steeped into sin. I was crying when I told Him “good-by” because I had really wanted Christianity to work since it was the only faith that held its own claims and its God was so real that it would require more faith for me not to believe in Him than to believe in Him! (How much faith does it take to believe in gravity? None, because we know it exists! That’s the same case with our God.) So I told Him that I don’t care anymore. I give up. I can’t break free from pornography’s hold on me, and He isn’t helping me. So I give up and won’t try to resist porn anymore. I was too tired to try to please a God who wasn’t willing to help me with my burdens.
I don’t remember exactly what day it was that I prayed that prayer but I know it was in the last 10 days of March, 2003. So I stood up and thought that was the end…that all those prayers I had prayed and He answered, the peace He has given me, the joy, and the awesome awareness of His presence I had experienced before…were all things I had imagined.
Next day I didn’t watch porn, and I thought because I was busy with school work. The day after I didn’t watch porn either and I thought because the whole week was a busy week with school work! After a week I realized that I didn’t watch porn for the last week nor did I think about it or desired to watch it! That’s when it hit me: I was free! Hallelujah, Jesus set me free! Christianity works! My wonderful God is real! Everything He did before was real! So I went to pray again, and asked Him what I should do now! He put on my heart to go to www.settingcaptivesfree.com/home/our_courses.php and register! So I did, and went through the online program for 2 months. And I have been free from pornography since that March night until today. I had a friend in high school was struggling with pornography too. He was from Pakistan and when I told him that I was free he didn’t understand how. I couldn’t explain it more to my friend than the blind man, whom our Lord Jesus healed, answered in John 9:25:
He replied, "…One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
It took me a while to realize that the Biblical principle in Dr. Stanley’s sermon works! What I did in that prayer is simply I gave up: surrendered. I stopped trying to do it in my own strength. I stopped trying to fight God’s war for Him. I stopped trying to earn His favour. I stopped trying to win my way according to my timing. I ceased striving.
If you read Gideon’s story, the story Dr. Stanley based his sermon outlines on, you will realize God did the same thing with Gideon and His army. I truly encourage you to read it. You can find it in the book of Judges.
Why did God free me this way? Well there are many reasons, here are some:
1) He wants to bring Himself the glory. If we do it on our own and succeed what does that tell the world about Him? Nothing. Then I could’ve written this whole story without a mention of Him. But the fact is I couldn’t break free from pornography on my own in a million years. It was all His work.
2) He desires to grow our faith. My faith wouldn’t have grown in a God that stands idle while I did everything myself. But now I know He is more than able to do everything He said will do.
3) God wants us to trust Him and know that He can handle His own affairs and wars. It is good to defend God and fight for Him, but we must let Him fight His own battles so the world to know that He is a mighty and powerful God, and that He is real.
Let me ask you some questions: if you are always fighting for your god, protecting it, speaking on its behave, defending it, what makes you think it is a real god? If your god can’t speak, what makes you so convinced it could create your mouth? If your god can’t fight its own battles against evil, what makes you think it can give you victory? If your god can’t defend itself, what makes you think it can protect you?
4) For others to see, hear, believe and come to know Him. If I was able to free myself from porn by myself, how would that draw people to Him?
You can say whatever you want about God. You can say that you don’t like Him. That you don’t believe in Him. You can say that you would rather live your life without Him, and spend eternity in Hell than in Heaven with Him. But you can’t tell me that I was not addicted beyond human hope to pornography and He freed me from it. You can’t tell me that my God isn’t real or that He is dead. You can’t tell me that my God is not powerful, or that He doesn’t love me and cares about me.
I remember a couple of years ago I was waiting for the bus (isn’t it strange how I realize a lot of things while waiting for the bus!), and thought to myself, “What is so horrible about pornography anyway?” (That was a couple of years after God freed me from it!) Then suddenly I had this very empty feeling in my chest when I remembered how spiritually thirsty I was when I was addicted to porn. I remember how horrible it felt to chase after something that does not satisfy and that it leads to more chasing…but it still does not satisfy! Ever since then until now, I would like to think that I have a healthy fear of pornography, and sin in general. (Remember, God created fear to protect us, just like pain. But how we view fear and respond to is what makes the difference between a protective fear and an enslaving fear.) Of course, porn’s destruction is much more than the chasing after something that does not satisfy. But I won’t go into how much it has actually ruined countless lives, because many websites and statistics are available for those who are truly seeking to know the truth about porn’s destructive power.
1 John 4:4 says:
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
It is sad how many Christians have opinions about sin that are not based on God Word. I read things such as, “It is my motives that count…so even though I do this and that, I do them without lusting…” Really? Where does the Bible teaches that? When our Lord talked about motives he was talking about fasting, praying, and giving to the poor not about sin! You can’t sin with pure motives! It doesn’t make sense! You can fool me, and you can fool your church congregation! But how can you live with yourself knowing that you are lying to yourself! And how are you going to fool God? Rather, how are you going to face Him?
And some Christians even say “it is natural to do so and so”. Yes, you are correct, but since when does the Bible talk about our nature as if it is holy! Our nature is corrupt and sinful, so why do we say “natural” as if it is a good thing! It is natural to get angry and want to get revenge; it is natural to lie when accused of something; it is natural to cheat when we want to get our way…but what does the Bible teach about all those examples of “natural behaviour”? They are all sin and do not fit us as sons and daughters of the living God!
No, I am not talking about people who are addicted to drugs, porn, alcohol, and so on. I am not even talking to the unbelieving world here. I am talking to us, Christians. I truly believe that there is a huge difference between someone who is sinning—because he or she are addicted to a certain sin, regardless of how they got themselves into this mess—but they absolutely hate that sin and want to be free from it, and between someone who knows he is sinning but has no problem with it--welcomes sin in his life.
I am going to say something here that I think will make a lot of people dislike me, but I am going to say it anyway and hope that you take it with an attitude knowing that I am not judging anybody here:
If you are a woman who has Christ in her life, please re-consider the way you dress. Not according to my standards, or the church you attend. Certainly not according to the standards of the latest fashion or to “that is the only thing available in stores nowadays”. Don’t go to someone else asking their opinion or read an article about it. Go directly to God’s Word and ask God directly, and if you are honestly seeking to follow Him He will show you His way. But I must warn you: once He makes His will clear you won’t have peace until you obey Him.
You might be wondering why I am talking about women’s dressing in a topic about porn! Well, men are very visual so they sin by lusting (even women do that, but I am not sure they do so as much as men do) and so porn is a naturally attractive sin to them. Women desire to feel beautiful, desired, wanted and so she tries to meet those need by dressing in a way that attracts men’s attention. And that’s how she gets her momentarily (short-lived: like all the promises Satan makes in regard to sin) emotional high by noticing a man looking at her. But what I want to ask you is this: if you go home and you are all by yourself and have nothing to do, how do you feel: empty, far from your heavenly Father; or peaceful and your heart is flowing with love and adoration for Him?
Causing to Sin, Mark 9:42-50:
"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where
" 'their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.' Everyone will be salted with fire.
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
If you are a man who has Christ in his life, please take some time, be quiet with God, and think about where you were yesterday spiritually, where you are today, and where you are heading tomorrow! Evaluate your life. Evaluate your ways. Seek to know God better. Make decisions, daily decisions, to live for Him. Live a pure life starting with your heart and mind. Think about your future wife (or present wife), think about your kids. You are going to be the leader of the house who represents Christ to the whole household! Will they see Him through you? Or will your daughters grow up thinking that they have to look beautiful, sexy, and act in certain ways to get a man’s attention and love? Think about God’s awesome and wonderful purpose that He desires to accomplish through you. Think about God’s reputation among the people who know you. Please don’t settle for less. We are not going to be given another chance after this life!
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)
If you realize you are sinning against God while you are on your way home then repent right away and seek to follow Him! It is never too late to make a decision to live for Him, even if you just realized that at the end of the day. Daily surrender yourself to Him if that’s what it takes for you to live a pure and blameless life.
I will stop here. All I ask is that if you claim to believe something about God put it into practice. Whether in regard to your identity in Him, your personal agendas vs. His plans and purposes, or if you claim to believe that Christ died for someone else’s sin then why not forgive them? Remember, John 13:17:
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
What things? The things that are written in God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit reveals to you.
And don't ever lose focus of this fact: all things are done through His goodness, grace and mercy—it, life here on earth and eternal life, is all about Him. However, for Him: it is all about you. It is the "Lord's favour" and not our own works whether in being saved or the power to live for Him: it is all about His grace.
Nothing But the Blood
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wej1jHtiH-M
(Toronot, ON; winter 2008.)
Carlo Maderno
Bajo el pontificado de Pablo V, gana el concurso para la conclusión de la Basílica de San Pedro del Vaticano, en la que plantea, para dar una mayor cabida a los fieles, transformar el proyecto de Miguel Ángel de planta de cruz griega centralizada en una planta de cruz latina, longitudinal. La solución de Maderno debía ser un compromiso que no alterara el concepto fundamental planteado por Miguel Ángel, la cúpula, como elemento dominante y organizador del espacio, así al levantar la monumental fachada, esta se desarrolla en la medida de lo posible longitudinalmente y no en altura, pese a su gran monumentalidad.
La cúpula de Miguel Ángel, en cualquier caso queda desplazada hacia el fondo, debido a los nuevos volúmenes introducidos. Sin embargo, está reconocido el mérito de Maderno al haber obrado con un gran respeto por la obra de Miguel Ángel, y haber articulado el edificio, con todos los condicionantes que se le planteaban, teniendo muy en cuenta el espacio que lo precedía y preparando la gran solución urbanística dada por Bernini para la plaza.
Number: CT-8421
Nickname: Sourpatch
Rank: 3rd Regiment Sergeant
///Log Entry///
“This whole temple gave me the creeps! Everywhere I turned there was some type of branch or leaf swinging at me! It scared me since I heard the rumors that this staff we’re going to destroy has the power to take control of people. The boys and I were walking through it all when we heard loud screams come from deeper within the temple. We immediately ran toward the holler to see what terrible thing was happening, and sure enough we found two troopers laying against the wall. I asked what their numbers were, and sure enough they were apart of the rescue squad. Needless to say I was skeptical about the two of them since we hadn’t heard any transmissions from the squad at all since the last one. I thought maybe they were already consumed by the staff. They told us there was something lurking through the temple that took the other members of their squad. I believed them until the trooper said that statues came alive and attacked them and pulled the men away, but they never found their bodies. We made our way toward the last known location of the staff, and sure enough it was still there. The area was old and worn out, but still quite clean. The only thing that seemed to be wrong with the structure was a small hole above. We quickly unpacked the explosives, but then, THE STATUES CAME ALIVE! They grabbed hold of a member of the rescue squad and I couldn’t believe my eyes! He was turning to stone! The trooper froze and was consumed by the other statues. I told everyone else to make their way to the top of the temple and get away from the blast area. I had to set the charge before the staff took control of us all. I felt a pull drawing me closer to it, as almost as if I would become the most powerful being in the universe! The statues now cut off my escape through the hole in the ceiling so I took a skeleton lying beside and chucked it at the statues and sure enough I made a hole big enough to jetpack through. I blew the charge shortly after and everyone made it out alright, except for that one squad member, CT-7940. Now CT-9449 had no squad to return to, so with request I accepted him into our team. He did one fine job keeping focused and staying on task. 9449 will be a valuable addition to the team!
Objective Status: Complete
///Log End///
That’s it! I have come to a conclusion that I have to make me a box to go in the trunk of my van…it’s a must. I need boots, umbrella, chauffeur :-), rags, bags, tripod….ya da-ya da…anything I can think that I might need when I am out.
You see I have been on the hunt for a sunflower this week. I found some out and about today with a friend…let me tell you ..it was a baaaad day to stop..Between dodging the storm clouds of rain, the bees, the mud, the big ditch, me only having only flip flops on…goodness, I was lucky to have gotten the few shots that I did. The good news is….I will be back. Let’s just hope they are not all wilted away before I can. I can tell that they are heading down hill.
BUT HEY...my very FIRST sunflower...yippy. Have a good night friends! Andrea
Given the short notice, it’s difficult for the League to muster everyone to the call, but eventually the League manages to assemble in Gotham. What catches all six of them off guard though is the reason I called them in. They all expected that I was hoping to use them to oppose Ra’s and his forces. It is a logical conclusion, but that’s not what I called upon them for.
They’re crowd control.
Given West’s reluctance to Jim’s warnings, the GCPD is unprepared for leading the evacuation of the city. So if it’s going to be successful we need more than just the police. We need the Justice League.
Superman: Bruce, I really think we have more pressing issues than crowd control given the threat made against Gotham.
Flash: Especially given the escalation caused by the deployment of the national guard. How long before they get here, Vic?
Cyborg: Last reports had the estimated time of arrival at just under two hours.
Superman: Not a huge window to evacuate a whole city.
Flash: Worried you’re too slow, Clark?
Superman: Just because you got lucky during our last race Barry, doesn’t mean you’ll get lucky again.
Flash: Is that a challenge?
Aquaman: Stop it, both of you. We don’t have time to indulge in your rivalry.
Green Lantern: It’s always a weird day when I agree with Arthur.
Wonder Woman: Perhaps a more reasonable strategy would be to anticipate where this Ra’s Al-Ghul will make his first move from, so we can halt this assault with a preemptive strike.
Aquaman: Diana does raise a valid point. Severing the head of this beast before it has a chance to take root would be the best course of action.
Flash: Not to mention it sounds like an easier job.
Green Lantern: Not up to the challenge, Barry?
Flash: What? No, I was just pointing out that it’d be a damn sight easier taking on a small unprepared army than it would be evacuating a whole city.
Cyborg: Not to mention it would avoid us potentially overstraining the Watchtower’s systems in the process.
Inevitably, they all come to the same conclusion. My decision is the foolish decision. Understandable given the circumstances.
On any other day, I’d be obliged to agree.
Why make more of a challenge for yourself when you can end a problem when it’s only in its infancy?
Thankfully, I have an appropriate answer to that question.
Batman: No. We press ahead in leading the evacuation of the city.
Green Lantern: I thought he was the supposed smart one here? Even I can tell you that’s the wrong move to make.
Batman: Usually yes, it would be. We’ve faced countless villains with ambitions of taking lives on a large scale. But in this case, we’re facing something different. This is a man who knows full well his capabilities as well as those of his opponents. If he suspects your involvement, he’ll go to ground again. Or worse still, he’ll have ways to combat you all.
Superman: We can take him.
Green Lantern: We’re the Justice League. We can take anyone.
Cyborg: Don’t tempt it. You know how well things work out when you say something like that.
Flash: Especially after that mess with Hades.
Wonder Woman: You mean Ares.
Aquaman: Not to mention Amazo.
Superman: Guys, this isn’t the time.
It’s funny really. Clark was always one of the most reluctant members to join the League following the conclusion of the Star incident, and yet to the public he’s the one who leads us. The reality of the situation couldn’t be further from the truth. There is no leader of the Justice League. At least, not one that the seven of us are aware of.
Some would say that’s crazy, for a team with such diverse abilities as ours you’d need some form of a command chain to stop the clashing of egos. It’s a valid point. But probably the main thing that’s kept the Justice League together for so long is its flexible command structure. Given the diversity of problems we encounter, it makes perfect sense why the structure would change accordingly. After all, someone such as Diana and Arthur are more adept at combating magic users than Barry and I. Just as Clark and Hal are more experienced in combating threats from space.
But every once in a while, one of us has to take charge and usually, whether he likes it or not, that’s Clark. Well….when it’s not me that is.
Batman: Thanks Clark. Look. This fight isn’t your fight. It’s my fight. Ra’s hasn’t come all this way for the Justice League, he came here for Bruce Wayne, and that’s exactly what I intend to give him.
Wonder Woman: You can’t fight him alone, Bruce. As you said, he has an army of followers at his command.
Batman: So do I.
Flash: A few birds don’t really count as an army Bruce.
Green Lantern: No matter who trained them.
Batman: Who says that’s all I have?
Wonder Woman: Sounds like you’ve been busy.
Cyborg: When you’ve actually stepped out of your cave that is.
Eventually, they relent and agree to focus on safely evacuating people from the city. It’s clear as day that they’re not content with this, hoping instead to do more as is there, I couldn’t be more honoured to call them my friends. But they cannot be a part of this. This my battle, and mine alone.
I’ve known it was coming for years. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how. But I knew what, and that gives me an unusual advantage.
Often warring armies would rely upon the genius of their generals to lead them to victory. A similar situation is now presenting itself here between Ra’s and myself. The sole difference? We’re aware of each other’s methods to some degree or another. So then the question becomes what separates my tactics from his? The answer to that question is simple.
Home field advantage.
Not to mention the fact that whilst Ra’s’ tactics are unlikely to have changed given how he’s spent hundreds of years refining them, mine have evolved. Where Ra’s will rely on the Lazarus Pit’s restorative powers to keep him in prime physical condition, I shall be relying on the arsenal I carry in my belt, as well as the blade Hephaestus forged for me. I had also hoped to be able to use the sample of Lucifer I tasked Jason with retrieving, but it appears he won’t be back before Ra’s gets here, assuming he’s still alive. I hope he’s alright.
But I can’t worry about him right now.
The battle ahead will be difficult, and it needs my full attention. They’re counting on me. They need me, and I need them.
I can’t guarantee that any of us walk away from this unscathed.
I can’t even guarantee if anyone of us will walk away alive
As I active the war room protocol for my office, I walk outside to greet the team. To my surprise, there are two extras I didn’t expect. A man and a woman. The woman appears familiar for some reason.
It’s not until I look at the man that I realise why she seems familiar to me.
Batman: Jason?
It’s at that moment that it all becomes clear to me.
Whilst the odds are not in our favour, we have one advantage that Ra’s does not.
His army are simply soldiers. Loyalists. Servants.
Mine are family, and we will do anything to help one another.
Some come with all that you can muster, Ra’s.
Your fight isn’t just with me.
Your fight is with us.
All of us.
Made this photo for an old friend that I haven't seen in years. It was great fun and a good opportunity to test my new polarization filter. Unfortunately the endorphines released made me forget my 23 year old tripod on that playground...
When I came back 2 h later the tripod vanished of course (4kg worth approx. 20 bucks, but it belonged to my father and had a high intangible value for me).
So today I went out to look for something new and came to the conclusion that I will buy a Manfrotto 055XPROB with a Novoflex Ball 30 head. Any thoughts on that from users of this equipment?
Recently I somewhat did a re-shoot. I have grown older so I can't jump that high anymore, but in exchange our gang has four members meanwhile. Check it out.
Before changing ends and heading to the east side of the Cambria yard, 3872 is cleaned from the drifts battled earlier in the afternoon.
With this photo, I close out my Cambria Subdivision project, for now. While I certainty failed at getting every single grade crossing and every single angle imaginable, my hope is that I accomplished to convey the general feel of winter railroading on the Cambria Subdivision through these 18 photos (wow, I typically post fewer than 18 photos in a year). While I am concluding this project for now, I hope I have the opporuntity in the future to add more shots in varying seasons.
And some final closing words. I've had the great pleasure of being a member of this community of railroad photographers on Flickr. My inspiration for this small project came from this community after discovering many deep bodies of work that have faithfully documented all sorts of subjects. To many, not every individual shot in these collections would be considered a "banger". But to me, when you zoom out and look at the work as a whole, those shots are essential in conveying what that place, railroad, or subdivision is all about; otherwise, it would simply be a highlights reel.
In total, these collections inspired me to at least try and do something similar in my little slice of this community. Whether or not I achieved this is up to you. But if I can inspire even a single fan, in the sea of people who see this railroad as overshot, to take a little interest in the Cambria Sub or to at least attempt building their own small body of work, then my mission is accomplished.
So that's it.
Now I've rounded out my Cambria Subdivision Album to a whopping 20 photos. Guess that's it from me for the rest of the year!
Jan Karski
Jan Karski was a member of the Polish Resistance during WWII and acted as a courier between the resistance and the Polish government in exile in London. He was captured by the Gestapo and tortured and then rescued by the resistance. Karski tried to meet with allied leaders such as Churchill who claimed he didn't have time to meet with him. Karski did meet with President Roosevelt and was among the first to bring knowledge of the concentration camps to the attention of allied leaders. His evidence in his reports and microfilm was mostly ignored and he wrote “I learned that people in power are more than able to disregard their individual conscience if they come to the conclusion that it stands in the way of what they see as their official duty.” After WWII Karski taught at Georgetown University where one of his students was the future president Bill Clinton. He died in Washington, DC in 2002
(text from Trish Mayo's site, with thanks)
Cuanto desconocimiento tengo del flash, es la primera conclusión que he sacado después de tratar de hacer alguna prueba y me explico:
Este es el resultado tras haber intentado capturar un trozo de naranja, que suelto yo mismo, antes de entrar en el recipiente y después quería capturarle a medida que caía en él.
El Flash está montado en la zapata de la cámara en modo repetición con tres disparos y de manera que rebote en el techo.
El resultado es lo que decía al principio ¡Cuanto desconocimiento tengo del uso del flash!.
Eso si lo seguiré intentando pero otro día. Os dejo el resultado mientras voy a recoger la cocina.
¡Ah!, se me olvidaba estoy abierto a cualquier ayuda, sugerencia que tengáis a bien aportar.
My poor dreams/
of love blessed /
in the best of joy you perished /
you arose proud but unfortunate /
like birds /
in the woods you perished.
Poveri sogni miei/
d'amor beati /
nel meglio del gioir siete periti /
sorgeste fieri ma sfortunati /
come gli uccelli /
nei boschi siete periti.
----------------------------------------------------------------
click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Gesualdo Bufalino, an expert connoisseur of Sicily, wrote that the Sicilies are many, it is impossible to count them all, in Sicily "everything is mixed, changing, contradictory, as in the most composite of continents" ... and again " There is a "babba" Sicily, that is mild…a “crafty” Sicily, that is smart…there is a lazy Sicily and a frenetic one…”; but why so many Sicilies? Bufalino explained “because Sicily has had the good fortune to act as a link over the centuries between the great Western culture and the temptations of the desert and the sun, between reason and magic, the temperatures of feeling and the heat of passion. Sicily suffers from an excess of identity, and I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing." Even Leonard Sciascia, an immense Sicilian thinker, said "I continue to be convinced that Sicily offers the representation of many problems, of many contradictions, not only Italian but also European, to the point of being able to constitute the metaphor of today's world". This start to introduce the character whose life (and violent death) I wish to recall with some of my photographs (except for two images, belonging to the weekly "Epoca"), with information taken both from the WEB and from direct testimonies that I have collected in years, in summary a character who seems to embody the many faces of Sicily, his name is Salvatore Giuliano, known as the Bandit Giuliano; there are many Salvatore Giulianos, it changes according to who knew him, according to the many facts told by others or by himself (in his memoirs), he is described now as a "Robin Hood" with a noble heart, now as a ferocious brigand unscrupulous, but in any case, in this story, the use of all the "adverbs of doubt" that we know is always mandatory, because speaking of him, knowing the real truth is an illusion ... this is a story in which the pain of the many dead is the background. In speaking of him I will try to use almost telegraphic language. Salvatore Giuliano was born in Sicily in Montelepre (November 16, 1922), the son of a farmer who emigrated to America, and then returned to Sicily for the birth of his son; Salvatore soon left school to work in the fields, privately continuing to cultivate his studies. These are the years of the Second World War, the fascist regime has introduced bread rationing (the real problem is the grinding of wheat, with the mills controlled by the army, the Giulianos have a small clandestine mill), the clandestine trade in necessity becomes common, even Salvatore becomes a small smuggler, he is inexperienced when he is stopped with two sacks of wheat by two carabinieri and two country guards, they take everything from him including his documents, a distraction by the guards and quickly Salvatore tries to escape, the a few shots are fired at him, two hit him at his side, a carabiniere approaches him (Salvatore describes what happened in one of his memoirs) who is shot to death by him: from this moment on he will always be the Bandit Salvatore Giuliano ( or Turiddu, which in Sicilian means Salvatore). According to some Turiddu is a hero of the people, he hopes for a civil redemption of the Sicilian people, establishes relations with the political world, with the deviated secret services, with the Sicilian separatist movement whose initials are MIS (Sicilian Independent Movement) of which, also pushed by a colonel of the American army who deluded him that Sicily could be annexed as a state of the U.S.A. , joins his armed wing, the E.V.I.S. (Volunteer Army for Sicilian Independence), fighting with the rank of colonel against the Italian army in the two-year period 1945/46: the EVIS was commanded by the lawyer Antonio Canepa, who was killed on 17 June 1945 in a clash with the carabineer in the town of Randazzo. During this period the legend of the Bandit Giuliano was born, the peasants, the poor people in general, see in him a hope of redemption from a life of hardship and sacrifices, he is seen as a fiery lover with many fleeting stories, with women who join him in his lair by passing "the filter" of his men (he hosted a young Swedish journalist, Maria Cyjliakus, she was interested in interviewing him, with whom he also had a relationship), but he himself could reach to love the women while running many risks: in the collective imagination the idea of a brigand with a kind and good heart was developing, he often gave to the poor what he stole from the rich; but there was the dark and brutal side of his personality, he tended ambushes and assaults on the forces of order, he killed whoever he considered to be an informer of the carabinieri; the bandit was elusive, there were numerous ambushes and roundups from which he and his men managed to escape, indeed, every action carried out by the military was always followed by a retaliatory reaction, with the consequence that the killed soldiers always increased by more. The descending phase of Giuliano begins to appear on the horizon, the M.I.S. enters legality being recognized as belonging to the Sicilian Special Statute, Giuliano does not accept the agreement by continuing with his men to wage war against the state, in 1946 the new Italian government grants a pardon to the EVIS guerrillas, in this way Giuliano loses his army and his role as colonel (thus the female component of EVIS was dissolved too, with about 20 women, his sister Mariannina was also part of it); with the first institutional referendum the monarchy falls, the Republic is born, the peasant movement hopes for change and agrarian reform, the struggle in defense of their rights leads to the killing of trade unionists (Miraglia, Rizzotto, Carnevale) whose instigators will never be discovered ; Giuliano establishes relations with the mafia, meets men of the institutions, leading to suspect that behind many (villainous) actions of Giuliano and behind his death, many responsibilities and mysteries are hidden, on which no light has yet been shed. We arrive on May 1, 1947, in the countryside of Portella della Ginestra near Piana degli Albanesi (PA), there is a large crowd of peasants gathered to celebrate Workers' Day, there are also many women and children, suddenly the The festive atmosphere is dramatically interrupted by the shots of a machine gun and other weapons of various kinds, including the launch of grenades, 11 people remain lifeless on the field (including two children), and many injured on whose number there is no concordance; the massacre began the "crisis of May 1947" with attacks on the headquarters of left-wing parties and labor chambers in the area, the reasons for which would be linked, it has been said ... to Giuliano's aversion to the Communists ... but also to the will of the mafia powers to maintain the old balance in the new institutional framework (editor's note: it seems that Giuliano a Portella only wanted to teach a lesson to Girolamo Li Causi, leader of the communists, who was warned of the ambush, and did not show up in Portella, in my opinion Giuliano's aforementioned aversion to the Communists does not stand up, he who always found warmth, protection and complicity precisely on the part of those peasants who were slaughtered; whoever organized the massacre was a criminal and refined mind, he frightened peasant movements, and at the same time decreed the unpopularity of the bandit Giuliano who saw scorched earth around him: mafia men extraneous to Giuliano's gang equipped with 9-gauge rifles fired, while the men of the the band had 6.5 caliber weapons, just as Giuliano's men did not possess grenade launchers; Giuliano tried to exculpate himself by writing his "Memorial on the events of Portella della Ginestra" in the newspapers, claiming that he was in possession of documents that would have demonstrated who were the real culprits of the massacre). The circle was tightening around Giuliano, the forces of order made use of the mafia to convince his trusted lieutenant Gaspare Pisciotta to collaborate with them, they made use of informants, such as Salvatore Ferreri, known as frà Diavolo, head of the anti-banditry forces was the colonel of the carabinieri Ugo Luca; on July 5, 1950 Salvatore Giuliano was killed, it seems there was a firefight with the carabinieri in the courtyard of the house of the lawyer. De Maria in Castelvetrano (TP), however it is a staging, the journalists who immediately rushed to the place where the body lies notice it, the blood impregnates the undershirt on the back, no blood comes out of several holes, on the side of the arm there is a " laceration of the skin" (as if the limb had been in contact with ice), one of the journalists who notices these and other details, Tommaso Besozzi, writes his journalistic article by titling it "certainly there is only that he died ” (l'Europeo n. 29, year 1950), actually to kill him while he was sleeping with a pistol shot, perhaps stunned by a drug put in the wine, it would have been his most trusted man, Gaspare Pisciotta, who was subsequently arrested, and during the Viterbo trial he would scream from the cage "we were one body, bandits, police and mafia, like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" , he is ready to name names, revelations, but he won't have time, inside the Ucciardone prison in Palermo, to deliver a lethal dose of strychnine put in a medicine prescribed for his tuberculosis (not in coffee) he will kill him sooner trying to vomit. The story does not seem to have to end when, following a report from Professor Giuseppe Casarrubea, an important historian, who had Giuliano's body exhumed in 2010 with his complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office, assuming that the tomb held the corpse of a double, the However, DNA tests would have shown a genetic profile compatible with that of a nephew of Giuliano. On Salvatore's tomb, a month later, the verses sent by letter to his mother by a woman who signed herself “Santuzza” were carved, verses which declared that she had received them personally from her son Salvatore: “My poor dreams/of love blessed /in the best of joy you perished /you arose proud butunfortunate/like birds /in the woods you perished”. Santuzza was the pseudonym of Maddalena Lo Giudice, when she was young she is described as a beautiful, shy, reserved girl, she was the daughter of the Podestà of her town (during the fascist regime, the Podestà was the head of the municipal administration), it seems they met in a hospital in Catania, each visiting an acquaintance of their own, Maddalena would have had from Giuliano: a son (she was subjected to a gynecological examination to ascertain its veracity against her will), a box with valuables, and a memorial, in which Giuliano would have wrote very important things about his relationships with "men of the state and not"; Maddalena later said that she had handed everything over to a trusted person, who would have bricked everything up, later perhaps frightened by the great clamor that had arisen around her, in a journalistic interview she declared that she had dreamed and invented everything… (note of the editor: I have always tried much emotion for this poor woman, it would be interesting to be able to trace a psychological profile, her father was the Podestà of the town, always benefiting from the doubt, as in all this story, people told me that His father as Podestà took away from the poor people even what little they had, who knows if the poor Maddalena fell in love with Giuliano also because he represented her antithesis, giving to the poor what she took away from the rich people...), Maddalena went to give birth in secret from the well-meaning eyes of the town (not being a married woman it would have created a scandal) in Calabria, that son to protect him was immediately placed in an orphanage (all the forces of order in Sicily were looking for the bandit Giuliano, who knows what would have happened if he had come to know of a son of him ..! they would have used it as one does with a lamb tied to a post, waiting for the arrival of the fair…); upon Giuliano's death, this woman was joined by Salvatore's mother (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) and sister (Mariannina Giuliano), to have all that Salvatore had left to Maddalena, who certainly had sworn not to give anyone what she had received from him, certainly until when Maddalena would have kept "the treasure" hidden with her (certainly not the jewels, the true value was her memorial!), no one would have hurt her; however, Maddalena took this secret of hers with her to her grave. In her old age Maddalena lived secluded, she was a solitary type, she had to resort to dialysis for a serious kidney infection, for which she had to be accompanied several times a week by a driver to the hospital, she had severe pain for which she had to resort to powerful analgesics, the only ones who gave her any affection were her many dogs, the only ones who managed to reassure her, she never had the affection of that only son she had from Salvatore, of whom nothing was ever known (there were a couple of characters who declared themselves the children of the bandit, but nothing has ever been ascertained). In conclusion, I learned of a Sicilian film operator, who worked for Incom Week (it was an Italian newsreel, distributed weekly in cinemas), who at the news of the killing of the bandit Giuliano (like many journalists) immediately went to Castelvetrano to the house of the lawyer De Maria, where he allegedly found Salvatore's body, he said that when Salvatore's mother arrived, she kissed him in a heartbreaking, terribly moving way, including the parts covered in blood, that Incom operator said, that the emotion was so great for him to seeing that Mother …he did not have the courage to continue filming: I would like to end by saying that the tremendous pain of that Mother was the tremendous pain of All those Mothers who saw their son (or their husbands) to perish in that so dark not so far period of history of Sicily.
………………………………………….
Scriveva Gesualdo Bufalino, esperto conoscitore della Sicilia, che le Sicilie sono tante, impossibile contarle tutte, in Sicilia “tutto è mischiato, cangiante, contraddittorio, come nel più composito dei continenti”…ed ancora ” Vi è una Sicilia “babba”, cioè mite…una Sicilia “sperta”, cioè furba…vi è una Sicilia pigra ed una frenetica…”; ma come mai così tante Sicilie? Bufalino spiegava “perché la Sicilia ha avuto la sorte di ritrovarsi a far da cerniera nei secoli fra la grande cultura occidentale e le tentazioni del deserto e del sole, tra la ragione e la magia, le temperie del sentimento e le canicole della passione. Soffre, la Sicilia, di un eccesso d'identità, né so se sia un bene o sia un male.” Anche Sciascia, immenso pensatore siciliano, diceva “Continuo ad essere convinto che la Sicilia offre la rappresentazione di tanti problemi, di tante contraddizioni, non solo italiani ma anche europei, al punto da poter costituire la metafora del mondo odierno”. Questo incipit per introdurre il personaggio del quale desidero rievocarne la vita (e la morte violenta) con alcune mie fotografie (tranne due immagini, appartenenti al settimanale “Epoca”), con notizie prese sia dal WEB, sia da testimonianze dirette che ho raccolto negli anni, in sintesi un personaggio che sembra incarnare i tanti volti della Sicilia, lui si chiama Salvatore Giuliano, noto come il Bandito Giuliano; sono tanti i Salvatore Giuliano, cambia in base a chi lo conobbe, in base ai tantissimi fatti raccontati da altri o da lui stesso (nei suoi memoriali), viene descritto ora come un “Robin Hood” dal cuore nobile, ora come un feroce brigante privo di scrupoli, però in ogni caso, in questa storia, è sempre obbligatorio l’uso di tutti gli “avverbi di dubbio o dubitativi” che conosciamo, perché parlando di lui conoscere la vera verità è una utopia…una vicenda questa, nella quale il dolore dei tanti morti, fa da sfondo. Nel parlarne cercherò di adoperare un linguaggio quasi telegrafico. Salvatore Giuliano nasce in Sicilia a Montelepre (il 16 novembre 1922), figlio di un contadino emigrato in America, e poi rientrato in Sicilia per la nascita del figlio; Salvatore abbandonò presto la scuola per lavorare nei campi, continuando privatamente a coltivare i suoi studi. Sono gli anni della seconda guerra mondiale, il regime fascista ha introdotto il razionamento del pane (il vero problema è la macinazione del grano, coi mulini controllati dall’esercito, i Giuliano hanno un piccolo mulino clandestino), il commercio clandestino degli alimenti di prima necessità diviene comune, anche Salvatore diviene un piccolo contrabbandiere, è inesperto quando viene fermato con due sacchi di grano da due carabinieri e da due guardie campestri, gli prendono tutto incluso i suoi documenti, una distrazione delle guardie e lestamente Salvatore tenta la fuga, gli vengono sparati contro alcuni colpi, due lo raggiungono ad un fianco, gli si avvicina un carabiniere (Salvatore descrive l’accaduto in un suo memoriale) che viene da lui colpito a morte: da questo momento in poi sarà per sempre il Bandito Salvatore Giuliano (o Turiddu, che in siciliano significa Salvatore). Secondo alcuni Turiddu è un eroe del popolo, egli spera in un riscatto civile del popolo siciliano, allaccia rapporti col mondo politico, coi servizi segreti deviati, col movimento separatista siciliano la cui sigla è MIS (Movimento Indipendentista Siciliano) del quale, spinto anche da un colonnello dell’esercito americano che lo illuse che la Sicilia poteva essere annessa come stato degli U.S.A. , entra a far parte del suo braccio armato, l’E.V.I.S. (Esercito Volontario per l’Indipendenza Siciliana), combattendo col grado di colonnello contro l’esercito italiano nel biennio 1945/46: l’EVIS era comandato dall’avv. Antonio Canepa, che viene ucciso il 17 giugno del 1945 in uno scontro coi carabinieri nel paese di Randazzo. Durante questo periodo nasce la leggenda del Bandito Giuliano, i contadini, la povera gente in generale, vede in lui una speranza di riscatto di una vita di stenti e di sacrifici, viene visto come un focoso amante dalle tante fugaci storie, con donne che lo raggiungono nel suo covo oltrepassando “il filtro” dei suoi uomini (ospitò una giovane giornalista svedese, Maria Cyjliakus, interessata ad intervistarlo, con la quale ebbe anche una relazione), ma poteva egli stesso raggiungere le amate pur correndo molti rischi: nell’immaginario collettivo si andava maturando l’idea di un brigante dal cuore gentile e buono, egli spesso donava ai poveri quello che sottraeva ai ricchi; però c’era il lato oscuro e brutale della sua personalità, egli tendeva agguati ed assalti alle forze dell’ordine, uccideva chi considerava essere un informatore dei carabinieri; il bandito era imprendibile, numerosi erano gli agguati ed i rastrellamenti ai quali lui ed i suoi uomini riuscivano a sottrarsi, anzi, ad ogni azione condotta dai militari, faceva sempre seguito una reazione di rappresaglia, con la conseguenza che i militari uccisi aumentavano sempre di più. La fase discendente di Giuliano incomincia ad apparire all’orizzonte, il M.I.S. entra nella legalità venendo riconosciuta come appartenente allo Statuto Speciale Siciliano, Giuliano non accetta l’accordo continuando coi suoi uomini a fare guerra allo stato, nel 1946 il nuovo governo italiano concede l’indulto ai guerriglieri dell’EVIS, in tal modo Giuliano perde il suo esercito ed il suo ruolo di colonnello (viene così sciolta la componente femminile dell’EVIS, con circa 20 donne, vi faceva anche parte sua sorella Mariannina); col primo referendum istituzionale cade la monarchia, nasce la Repubblica, il movimento contadino spera nel cambiamento e nella riforma agraria, la lotta in difesa dei loro diritti porta alla uccisione di sindacalisti (Miraglia, Rizzotto, Carnevale) dei quali non si scopriranno mai i mandanti; Giuliano stringe rapporti con la mafia, incontra uomini delle istituzioni, inducendo a sospettare che dietro molte azioni (scellerate) di Giuliano e dietro la sua morte, si celino tante responsabilità e misteri, sulle quali non si è fatto ancora luce. Arriviamo al 1° Maggio del 1947, nelle campagne di Portella della Ginestra nei pressi di Piana degli Albanesi (PA), c’è una gran folla di contadini riuniti per celebrare la festa dei lavoratorI, ci sono anche tante donne e bambini, improvvisamente l’atmosfera festosa viene interrotta drammaticamente dai colpi di una mitragliatrice e di altre armi di vario genere, tra queste anche lancio di granate, sul campo restano senza vita 11 persone (tra queste due bambini), e molti feriti sul cui numero non c’è concordanza; la strage dette inizio alla “crisi del maggio 1947” con assalti alle sedi dei partiti di sinistra e delle camere del lavoro della zona, le cui motivazioni sarebbero legate, si è detto… all’avversione di Giuliano per i comunisti…ma anche alla volontà dei poteri mafiosi di mantenere i vecchi equilibri nel nuovo quadro istituzionale (n.d.r. sembra che Giuliano a Portella volesse solo dare una lezione a Girolamo Li Causi, leader dei comunisti, il quale fu avvisato dell’agguato,e non si presentò a Portella, secondo me non regge la citata avversione di Giuliano per i comunisti, lui che trovava sempre calore, protezione e complicità proprio da parte di quei contadini che furono trucidati; chi organizzò la strage era una mente criminale e raffinata, spaventò i movimenti contadini, e nel contempo decretò la subentrata impopolarità del bandito Giuliano che vide farsi attorno terra bruciata: spararono uomini mafiosi estranei alla banda di Giuliano dotati di fucili calibro 9, mentre gli uomini della banda avevano armi calibro 6,5, così come gli uomini di Giuliano non possedevano lanciagranate; Giuliano tentò di discolparsi scrivendo sui giornali un suo “Memoriale sui fatti di Portella della Ginestra”, sostenendo di essere in possesso di documenti che avrebbero dimostrato chi erano i veri colpevoli della strage). Il cerchio si andava stringendo attorno a Giuliano, le forze dell’ordine si avvalsero della mafia per convincere a collaborare con loro il suo fidatissimo luogotenente Gaspare Pisciotta, si avvalsero di informatori, come Salvatore Ferreri, detto frà Diavolo, a capo delle forze antibanditismo c’era il colonnello dei carabinieri Ugo Luca; il 5 luglio del 1950 viene ucciso Salvatore Giuliano, sembra ci sia stato un conflitto a fuoco coi carabinieri nel cortile della casa dell’avv. De Maria a Castelvetrano (TP), però è una messinscena, se ne accorgono i giornalisti accorsi immediatamente sul luogo dove giace il corpo, il sangue impregna la canottiera sul dorso, da diversi fori non fuoriesce sangue, sul lato del braccio è presente una “lacerazione della cute” (come se l’arto fosse stato a contatto con del ghiaccio), uno dei giornalisti che si accorge di questi ed altri dettagli, Tommaso Besozzi, scrive il suo articolo giornalistico intitolandolo “di sicuro c’è solo che è morto” (l'Europeo n. 29, anno 1950), in realtà ad ucciderlo mentre dormiva con un colpo di pistola, forse stordito da una droga messa nel vino, sarebbe stato il suo uomo più fidato, Gaspare Pisciotta, il quale successivamente viene arrestato, e durante il processo di Viterbo dalla gabbia urlerà “noi eravamo un corpo solo, banditi, polizia e mafia, come il Padre, il Figlio e lo Spirito Santo”, Pisciotta è pronto a fare nomi, rivelazioni, ma non farà in tempo, all’interno del carcere dell’Ucciardone di Palermo, una dose letale di stricnina messa dentro un medicinale prescrittogli per la sua tubercolosi (non dentro il caffè) lo stroncherà prima che possa tentare di vomitare. La storia sembra non dover finire, quando, in seguito ad una segnalazione del professore Giuseppe Casarrubea, importante storiografo, che fece riesumare con un suo esposto in Procura la salma di Giuliano nel 2010, ipotizzando che la tomba custodiva il cadavere di un sosia, il test del DNA avrebbe però dimostrato un profilo genetico compatibile con quello di un nipote di Giuliano. Sulla tomba di Salvatore, un mese dopo, vennero scolpiti i versi inviati per lettera a sua madre (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) di una donna che si firmava “Santuzza”, versi che dichiarava di averli avuti personalmente da suo figlio Salvatore: “Poveri sogni miei d’amor beati, nel meglio del gioir siete periti, sorgeste fieri ma sfortunati, e come uccello nei boschi siete spariti”. “Santuzza” in realtà si chiamava Maddalena Lo Giudice, quando era giovane viene descritta come una bellissima ragazza, timida, riservata, era la figlia del Podestà del suo paese (durante il regime fascista, il Podestà era il capo dell'amministrazione comunale), sembra si conobbero in un nosocomio di Catania, visitando ognuno un proprio conoscente, Maddalena avrebbe avuto da Salvatore un figlio (fu sottoposta suo malgrado a visita ginecologica per appurarne la veridicità), un cofanetto con dei valori, ed un memoriale, nel quale Giuliano avrebbe scritto cose importantissime circa i suoi rapporti con “uomini dello stato e non”; Maddalena successivamente disse di aver consegnato tutto ad una persona fidata, la quale avrebbe murato tutto, successivamente forse impaurita dal grande clamore che si era alzato attorno a lei, in una intervista giornalistica dichiarò che si era sognato ed inventato tutto…(n.d.r. ho sempre provato molta commozione per questa povera donna, sarebbe interessante poterne tracciare un profilo psicologico, suo padre era il Podestà del paese, beneficiando sempre del dubbio, come in tutta questa storia, mi dissero che toglieva ai poveri anche quel poco che avevano, chissà se la povera Maddalena si innamorò di Giuliano anche perché lui ne rappresentava l’antitesi, dando ai poveri quel che toglieva ai possidenti…), Maddalena andò a partorire di nascosto dagli occhi benpensanti del paese (non essendo una donna sposata avrebbe creato scandalo) in Calabria, quel figlio per proteggerlo fu messo subito in un orfanotrofio (tutte le forze dell’ordine della Sicilia cercavano il bandito Giuliano, chissà cosa sarebbe accaduto se si fosse venuto a sapere di un figlio suo..! lo avrebbero usato come si fa con un agnello legato al palo, aspettando l’arrivo della fiera…); questa donna alla morte di Giuliano fu raggiunta dalla sua mamma (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) e da sua sorella Mariannina (Mariannina Giuliano), per avere tutto quello che Salvatore aveva lasciato a Maddalena, la quale sicuramente gli aveva fatto un giuramento, di non dare a nessuno quanto da lui aveva ricevuto, certamente fino a quando Maddalena avrebbe tenuto nascosto con se “il tesoro” (non certo i gioielli, il vero valore era il suo memoriale !), nessuno le avrebbe fatto del male; comunque, Maddalena si è portata con se nella tomba questo suo segreto. In vecchiaia Maddalena viveva appartata, era un tipo solitario, doveva fare ricorso alla dialisi per una grave infezione renale, per la qual cosa doveva farsi accompagnare varie volte la settimana da un autista in ospedale, aveva forti dolori per i quali doveva fare ricorso a potenti analgesici, gli unici a darle un po’ di affetto, erano i suoi molti cani, gli unici che riuscivano a rasserenarla, non ebbe mai l’affetto di quell’unico figlio avuto da Salvatore, del quale non si è mai saputo nulla (ci furono un paio di personaggi che si autodichiararono i figli del bandito, ma non si è mai appurato nulla). Concludo, seppi di un operatore cinematografico siciliano, che lavorava per La Settimana Incom (essa era un cinegiornale italiano, distribuito settimanalmente nei cinema), il quale alla notizia dell’uccisione del bandito Giuliano (come tanti giornalisti) si recò immediatamente a Castelvetrano in casa dell’avv. De Maria, dove avrebbe trovato il corpo di Salvatore, egli raccontò che quando arrivò la madre di Salvatore, lo baciò in maniera struggente, terribilmente commovente, incluse le parti coperte di sangue, quell’operatore Incom disse, che fu talmente grande la commozione che provò nel vedere quella Madre, che non ebbe il coraggio di continuare le riprese: vorrei terminare dicendo, che il dolore tremendo di quella Madre, è stato il dolore tremendo di Tutte quelle Madri che hanno visto perire i loro figli (od i loro mariti) in quel periodo così buio della storia di Sicilia.
……………………………………………………………………………..
May 19, 2012
"Following the conclusion of the G8 Summit, the President plays a game of pool in the Holly Cabin at Camp David." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Not only the conclusion to this chase, but the 2014 railfanning year. An appropriate train to go out with in 2014 - NS 14G. The Veteran's Unit brings 14G over the Conemaugh River in Bolivar, PA, as the last bit of golden sun shines down on the train.
I tried your way, I vanished from home again. You swear you have fixed things and now you know your path, our path.
We are looking the raging waves, looking the dike and its security, looking how safety they feel despite the power of the brave sea.
I believe you.
But, after a nomadism, only a real truth remains: I will never be the same person as when I left.
The crew access arm is swung into position for the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-2 mission, Thursday, May 21, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission is the first launch with astronauts of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test will serve as an end-to-end demonstration of SpaceX’s crew transportation system. Behnken and Hurley are scheduled to launch at 4:33 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 27, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to low-Earth orbit for the first time since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
After using lard once and making quite a lot of conclusions, I figured a way to make very soft, fluffy and cheap bun that might just be best thing I ever made. This recipe contains poolish preferment. Recipe:
---Preferment---
70g all purpose flour (11.5%)
70g water
Pinch of yeast
---Dough---
230g all purpose flour (11.5%)
110g warm water
3g yeast
6g salt
6g sugar
30g pork lard
---Glaze---
1 medium egg
Splash of milk ~1 tbs
160°C, 30-35 minutes, fan off.
NOTE: because I was aiming for a lighter crust, my preheated surface was not making good contact with baking tray, I used some steam, bun turned out fully cooked and easly reached 94°C internal without getting huge rise, losing 14% of weight in process (104g from 120g). Bottom was dry and just starting to get some colour. Smell of 2 day poolish (14°C kitchen), pork lard and egg glazed sesame seeds tempted me to just eat warm bread without making a sandwich out of it.
Mission: SPACE is meant to simulate astronaut training for the first manned mission to Mars aboard the fictional X-2 Deep Space Shuttle in 2036, the seventy-fifth anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first man in space. (The year 2036 can be deduced from plaques in the attraction's queue celebrating 75 years of human spaceflight, including two faux milestones in the future.) Riders are "trainees" at the fictional International Space Training Center (ISTC), where they are arranged into crews of four before watching an introductory video featuring actor Gary Sinise.
Before boarding the simulators, each rider is assigned an on-board role (navigator, pilot, commander or engineer) and given two tasks to perform during the mission (pressing a specific button when told). For example, one of the commander's buttons initiates the rocket's first-stage separation, and the other activates manual flight control. The spacecraft's on-board self-automated pilot will perform each task if the rider does not respond to his or her prompt from Mission Control or if there is no one to perform the task. Also featured are various labeled buttons and switches which the rider may play with but do nothing; they are only there to add to the realism aspect of the ride.
The mission includes liftoff from the ISTC, a slingshot around the moon for a gravity-assisted boost, a brief period of simulated hypersleep (to pass the lengthy time required to reach Mars) and a descent for landing on the Martian surface. As a training exercise, the mission contains several unexpected situations that add to the drama.
The futuristic X-2 vehicle is a three-stage rocket which is said to use several technologies in development today, including aerospike engines, solid hydrogen fuel, an aerobrake and carbon nanotubes.
The attraction queue contains several items and commemorative plaques from past, present and fictional future space missions. Among the items on display are props from the 2000 film Mission to Mars, including the rotating "gravity wheel" from the predecessor X-1 spacecraft, a model of which hangs from the ceiling, and a replica of a NASA moon rover from the Apollo program.
Upon conclusion of the training exercise, guests are invited to participate in activities at the Advanced Training Lab, a post-show area containing a group game called Mission: SPACE Race in which players perform tasks as Mission Control technicians aiding two X-2 spacecraft racing to return to Earth; a space-themed play area for toddlers; a single-person, arcade-style game in which an astronaut explores Mars on foot; and a kiosk where brief video postcards can be created and sent via e-mail.
Except from wikipedia.org
Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en
This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2017 - European Parliament".
(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu
Wien - Oberes Belvedere
The Belvedere is a historic building complex in Vienna, Austria, consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the south-eastern edge of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy.
The Belvedere was built during a period of extensive construction in Vienna, which at the time was both the imperial capital and home to the ruling Habsburg dynasty. This period of prosperity followed on from the commander-in-chief Prince Eugene of Savoy's successful conclusion of a series of wars against the Ottoman Empire.
Upper Belvedere
The construction of the Upper Belvedere began as early as 1717, as testified by two letters that Prince Eugene sent from Belgrade to his servant Benedetti in summer 1718, describing the progress of work on the palace. Construction was so far advanced by 2 October 1719 that the prince was able to receive the Turkish ambassador Ibrahim Pasha there. The decoration of the interior started as early as 1718. In 1719 he commissioned the Italian painter Francesco Solimena to execute both the altarpiece for the Palace Chapel and the ceiling fresco in the Golden Room. In the same year Gaetano Fanti was commissioned to execute the illusionistic quadratura painting in the Marble Hall. In 1720 Carlo Carlone was entrusted with the task of painting the ceiling fresco in the Marble Hall, which he executed from 1721–23.
The building was completed in 1723. The Sala Terrena, however, was at risk of collapsing due to structural problems, and in the winter of 1732–33 Hildebrandt was forced to install a vaulted ceiling supported by four Atlas pillars, giving the room its current appearance. Salomon Kleiner, an engineer from the Mainz elector's court, produced a ten-part publication between 1731 and 1740 containing a total of ninety plates, entitled Wunder würdiges Kriegs- und Siegs-Lager deß Unvergleichlichen Heldens Unserer Zeiten Eugenii Francisci Hertzogen zu Savoyen und Piemont ("Wondrous war and victory encampment of the supreme hero of our age Eugene Francis Duke of Savoy and Piedmont"), which documented in precise detail the state of the Belvedere complex.
(Wikipedia)
Das Schloss Belvedere (von italienisch „schöne Aussicht“; traditionelle xenographische Aussprache ohne Schluss-e und auf „der“ betont: [belveˈdeːɘ]) in Wien ist eine von Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt (1668–1745) für Prinz Eugen von Savoyen (1663–1736) erbaute Schlossanlage (seit 1850 im Bezirk Landstraße). Das Obere Belvedere und das Untere Belvedere (benannt aufgrund ihrer Lage auf einem südlich der damaligen Stadt ansteigenden Hang) bilden mit der verbindenden Gartenanlage ein barockes Ensemble. Die beiden Schlossbauten beherbergen heute die Sammlungen des Belvedere (Österreichische Galerie Belvedere) und Räumlichkeiten für Wechselausstellungen. Am 15. Mai 1955 wurde im Oberen Belvedere der Österreichische Staatsvertrag unterzeichnet.
Oberes Belvedere
Das Obere Belvedere war ursprünglich nur als kleines Gebäude konzipiert, das den Garten optisch abschließen sollte. Nach weiteren Grundkäufen des Prinzen erweiterte Hildebrandt die Planung und baute das Obere Belvedere 1720–1723 im heutigen Umfang; der Abschluss der Bauarbeiten erfolgte 1725 / 1726. Der Prinz lebte aber weiterhin im Unteren Belvedere, während das Obere Belvedere der Repräsentation diente. Östlich des Oberen Belvederes wurde auch die Menagerie des Prinzen in einem halbkreisförmigen Areal (der Grundriss ist heute noch gut zu sehen) untergebracht, die nach Eugens Tod in den kaiserlichen Tiergarten Schönbrunn gelangte.
Die Alleinerbin des Prinzen, Anna Viktoria von Savoyen, seit 1738 verehelichte Prinzessin von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, ließ das gesamte Inventar und die Bibliothek versteigern, sodass heute nichts mehr an die ursprüngliche Ausstattung erinnert.
Das obere Schloss wurde in Kommunikation mit der umgebenden Natur 1721 bis 1723 gebaut, ursprünglich gab es auch viel mehr offene Säle und Galerien. Vor der südlichen Eingangsseite befindet sich ein Teich, in dem sich das Schloss spiegelt. Das Gebäude löst sich in mehrere Blöcke auf („Pavillonsystem“), dadurch erhält die Silhouette einen sehr bewegten Eindruck. Jeder dieser Blöcke ist mit einer eigenen Dachkonstruktion versehen, wodurch mancher Beobachter schon an „Türkenzelte“ erinnert wurde.
(Wikipedia)
Rien ne change, tout se transforme. L'esprit Inca reste.
Nada muda, tudo se transforma. O espírito Inca fica.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydl_0KUItU8&feature=related
Machu Picchu 2009 (Perú)
Houston, TX, 2014.
Some need to meditate for years under a tree and some need to travel the world, to reach the same conclusion.
At the conclusion of a day of excursions in August of 2009, the Huckleberry Railroad's former Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 #464 runs light from the station area at Crossroads Village, back to the shop area, a distance of just over half a mile. The 464 is one of two operable steam locomotives maintained by the narrow-gauge tourist operation, which is located just north of the City of Flint, MI, on the shores of Mott Lake. The other locomotive is US 152 is a 36" gauge, inside frame, Baldwin 10-Wheeler, built in 1920 for the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC). The railroad typically operates one locomotive for 15 years, while it gradually performs the FRA 1,472 Service Day Inspection on the other. Over its history, there have been brief windows of time when it was possible to see both engines running at the same time as there is typically a little bit of overlap between one engine completing its inspection and the FRA Form 4 expiring on the other.
The sunrise on Tuesday morning started out with shades of mauve and purple, but quickly evolved to a bright orange and golden conclusion!
Been needing to post, haven't gotten around to it!
I'm gonna post my IG exclusive content for a few days until I run out :)
Thanks y'all
Ayer tocó sacar foto al travesero con la Alco,hoy tocó sacar fotos a la zona donde se realizaran los cambios.
La cosa parece que van cambiar todas las traviesas bibloque por las monobloque.
En este caso,vemos la boca lado Betanzos del tunel de Franza,y las traviesas están colocadas hasta unos 300m mas adelante de Barallobre lado Ferrol,unos 3km mas o menos
How do you feel about coming back here tonight to the Blue Ribbon to sample their 16 ounce New York Strip(m) and sipping a nice Oaky Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Bourbon? Can you think of a better way to celebrate the conclusion of another delightful Vegas Vacation? ☺️
In the meantime, how are you doing?
You don’t know this yet because it’s only the first week of April, but when you return home tonight, you are going to miss two days of work because of a slow moving Spring blizzard. You are going to get a second Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot because the new and much more contagious BA.5 variant of COVID-19 will overtake both the Delta and the Omicron variants in infection rates across the country. You will book your next Vegas Vacation for the middle of October to attend the Jimmy Buffett Show at the MGM Grand Resort & Casino. Your long time Flickr Friend & Mentor, and his very lovely lady, will also be visiting the Las Vegas Strip in the middle of October. And although your very lovely lady will get her second Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot, she will still be too afraid of the Coronavirus Global Pandemic to get on an airplane with 120 other passengers! But October hasn’t arrived yet — so your lovely woman still has two months to change her mind. 😏
So enjoy your next six months! 😁😏
This was one of the most vibrant sunsets I had seen in awhile, in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, last month.
#myrtlebeach #northmyrtlebeach #horrycounty #southcarolina #sunset #landscape #zeiss #16mm #sony #sonyimages #vibrant #beach #ocean #shore
See the ladybird on the road to nowhere Large On Black
I don't really have the lens to do these kinda shots justice, but it doesn't stop me occasionally trying.* But, again, wrapping it up in a texture gives it a different atmosphere and masks some of its technical flaws! : ) So, I thought, 'What the hell. I'll post a few anyway.'
* Moments later it took off. I got a shot of an entirely out-of-focus departing arse and a pin sharp blade of grass. ;-)
la conclusione di un giorno normale e freddo scandito dallo scomparire di ogni singolo raggio di sole lasciando la terra nelle mani del gelo.
My last day of the festive hols today back to the grindstone tomorrow. In the house on my own just doing bits of jobs for the Mrs who's back at work, The radio is on but in my head are thoughts of how lucky I've been in my life time, I've never really been ill, I have a lovely wife, two great lads who are doing well in life, like it or not I've always been in work, I live a modest life style that a bricklayer can provide with the house & hols that go with hard work & a little luck, I don't think there's much more I can ask for but it would be nice to think that I could pass on a little bit of my so called luck to someone out there who might just need it, who ever gets it i wish you well ;-))))
Members of the steam crew at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum perform some afternoon maintenance on their locomotive, after the conclusion of the day's passenger runs. The two gentlemen pictured are using something similar to an Alemite Grease Gun to "shoot" the rod bearings on WP 165, before putting her away for the day.
Oil-fired locomotives, such as this one, are a fair bit noisier than coal-burners as they sit like this in the yard. In addition to the dynamo whine and air pump activity that folks are used to with coal-burners, these engines have an atomizer, which uses steam to break the oil stream up into small droplets, so they can burn more readily. That atomizer makes a continuous rumbling noise, which makes the fire sound like it is roaring, to an even greater degree than it is. And of course, these locomotives also have to have their blower running continuously, in order to create a draft and keep the fire hot. Blower essentially shoots a stream of steam up through the smoke box and up the stack, creating a low-pressure area around the front tube sheet, which puts a draft on the firebox and keeps oxygen flowing in from below. When the fire is extinguished on an oil-burner, things suddenly get very quiet.