Architekturinszenierung „Colours of Life“

Als absolute Festival of Lights Institution trägt die juristische Fakultät der Humboldt Universität auch dieses Jahr wieder zu einem farbenfrohen Lichtspektakel am Bebelplatz bei. Das einst als königliche Bibliothek dienende Gebäude erstrahlt dieses Jahr mit einer kräftigen und leuchtenden Architekturinszenierung und entfaltet so seine volle Pracht.

Architectural production “Colours of Life”

As an absolute Festival of Lights institution, the Humboldt University Law Faculty is once again contributing to a colorful light spectacle at Bebelplatz this year. This year, the building that once served as the royal library shines with a strong and luminous architectural display, revealing its full splendor.

Architect Elijah E. Myers (1832-1909) designed three state capitols (Michigan, Texas, and Colorado), along with courthouses and other public buildings in the United States and internationally. Both the Macoupin County Courthouse posted yesterday, and the McDonough County Courthouse featured a few months ago, were designed by Myers. Today we'll add Macoupin County's "Cannonball Jail" to Myers distinguished body of work.

According to the Macoupin County website, the jail was built as part of the Macoupin County Courthouse project in 1867. It was constructed using the “cannon ball” method, which stopped jailbreaks by making it nearly impossible to remove the blocks to make an escape. This unique medieval inspired fortress housed many law-breakers during its 119 year history. The Macoupin County Jail is said to look more like a fortress than a small town jail. It’s Gothic Revival design features a scalloped parapet, which served as home to the sheriff and his family.

Completed in 1869, just a few years after the end of the Civil War, Meyers incorporated a unique design feature; each stone was hallowed out at the ends and surplus cannonballs were placed between the stones. The cell block’s ceiling, walls, and floors were constructed of one-inch iron plates with 20 inches of solid stone above and below. This made escape by removing sections of the stone wall a virtual impossibility.

The jail was originally designed to hold 17 prisoners but at times saw twice that many, and lacked any of the amenities found in modern facilities.

Since its retirement in 1988, the jail had been a popular tourist attraction but due to old age and environmental issues the jail has been closed to the public. In 2015, a campaign was started to fund the renovation of the old jail so it could be reopened to the public.

Sitting just south of the courthouse, the Macoupin County Jail contributes significantly to the Carlinville Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. At the 2020 census, the population of Carlinville was 5,710.

This beautiful bungalow was built in 1916 by Walter Crawford, a lumberyard owner. According to the Philip H. Decker book A Window On The Past. Residences of Jacksonville, Illinois: Their History And Design 1833-1925, it is one of the few houses in Jacksonville that was designed and to a large extent built by its original owner.

The one-and-a-half story house has a flat lapped clay tile roof which, according to Decker, was brought from France as ballast in a ship and gives the house something of the feeling of a country cottage. The house also features a country garden on the south and east sides, It is the result of Mrs. Crawford's abiding interest in China, the land where she was born and raised as a child of Methodist missionaries. Note the carved wooden gates on the right leading to the back yard.

The Walter Crawford House is contributing to the Jacksonville Historic District. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district.

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

Source: Decker, Philip H. A Window On The Past. Residences of Jacksonville, Illinois: Their History And Design 1833-1925. Morgan County Historical Society

A street view looking south from Central Park at the 100 block of N. Water Street in downtown Decatur. All but two of the buildings seen on the west (right) side of the street are either contributing or significant buildings in the Decatur Downtown Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The non-contributing buildings are the single story (Murphy & Co.) building on the southwest corner of N. Water and E. Prairie streets, and a three story, modern retail and office building seen at the opposite end of the block on the northwest corner of on the N. Water and E. Main St. The buildings on the east side of the 100 block lie outside the boundaries of the historic district.

All of the architectural contributing and significant buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1915. 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.

View LARGE

Blue-eyed Ground-Dove - Critically Endangered - Endemic to the southwest Brazilian cerrado. Massive and more or less uncontrolled habitat modification within this region has unquestionably contributed to its apparent great rarity, although it seems to have been uncommon even historically; the last, published record dates from no more recently than 1992, although some sources claim that the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove persists in small numbers in the Serra do Espinhaço - MG.

I was very happy to have the privilege to see and photograph this rarity in its environment. They may go extinct soon. So, so sad.

Picture taken in Botumirim - Minas Gerais - a moment of peace to behold - Have a Peaceful Wednesday.

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats

A view of the southern half of the east side of Macomb's Courthouse Square looking south from E. Jackson St. The buildings in this view are inside the boundaries of the Macomb Courthouse Square Historic District anchored by the McDonough County Courthouse. The district covers six full and four partial city blocks and includes 65 contributing buildings.

The surrounding buildings are mainly commercial, though several are government buildings. Brick commercial blocks, often with Italianate or Queen Anne details, dominate the district's architectural landscape; the district's more modern buildings, which date to the first half of the twentieth century, mostly have Art Deco and Moderne styling. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Located in western Illinois, Macomb is the seat of McDonough County and the home of Western Illinois University. The population of Macomb at the 2020 census was 15,051. The city is named after General Alexander Macomb, a general in the War of 1812.

Sources:

Macomb Courthouse Square Historic District, Wikipedia

Macomb, Illinois, Wikipedia

The recent rain and the perfect weather brings out the beauty of the Arizona Desert. Saguaro and Cholla cactus all contributing to the green. #notalwaysthisgreen #afternoonhike

Seen while waiting for dinner in Winona, the festival town we visited...

Thank you for visiting, enjoy rest of the week Flickr Friends....Pat...xo

My own softening techniques, no specific texture used.

*****

For me Flickr, among other things, is an oasis from the craziness going on in our world. I refuse to be negative and at the same time I'm not going to discuss it here. This is where we show the beauty, humor, and just-plain every day shots of humanity. It does something positive for the soul, the spirit. I thank you my friends for contributing to this sense of Goodness!

Excerpt from historicplaces.ca:

DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE

Gairloch Gardens is located at 1306 Lakeshore Road on the south side of Lakeshore Road, along the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Oakville. The property consists of a three storey stone and stucco residence that was constructed from 1923 to 1924.

The property was designated by the Town of Oakville in 1986 for its heritage value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 1986-192).

HERITAGE VALUE

Located at 1306 Lakeshore Road, Gairloch Gardens is a lake estate associated with two prominent Oakville locals. Colonel W.G. MacKendrick had the home built for his family in 1923. Upon his death, Toronto investment banker, James Gairdner, purchased the estate. Gairdner named the estate “Gairloch” after a small Scottish town. Upon Gairdner's death in 1972 the estate was bequeathed to the Town of Oakville for use as a park and gallery for contemporary artists.

Gairloch Gardens is a good example of Tudor style residence. Typical of this style is the stone and stucco exterior and steeply pitched roof. Continuing with this style are the tall narrow fenestrations with multi paned windows. The hip roof features a prominent cross gable with exposed beams between the first and second storey. The estate has many unique attributes such as a meandering stream, pond and formal gardens.

CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of Gairloch Gardens include the:

- proximity to Lake Ontario

- three storey stone and stucco exterior

- hip roof

- prominent cross gable

- original twelve and eighteen paned windows

- two large stone chimneys with decorative chimney pots

- exposed beams

- meandering stream

- pond

- formal garden areas within the park setting

A view of the Washington Elementary School in Jacksonville. Erected in 1932, this beautiful art deco building was designed by the famed Urbana architectural firm of Royer, Danely & Smith. A $13M renovation of the school building is being completed in 2024.

The Washington Elementary School is contributing to the Jacksonville Historic District. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district.

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

Today is the 12th day of Valentine's month of February; I must include laughter in my February love group. Laughter keeps one younger, lightens up everyone's mood, and can change the direction of the general mood from a sad, gloomy one to a happy and joyous one. Laughter in itself is a kind of medicine, one that we cannot live without!

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - The Laughing Song [Live]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C25cTs5J9P4

I Love To Laugh (Sing Along Songs)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvAGNSJ7Wrc

Laughing Song

William Blake

When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,

And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;

When the air does laugh with our merry wit,

And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

when the meadows laugh with lively green,

And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,

When Mary and Susan and Emily

With their sweet round mouths sing "Ha, ha he!"

When the painted birds laugh in the shade,

Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread:

Come live, and be merry, and join with me,

To sing the sweet chorus of "Ha, ha, he!"

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Charlie Chaplin

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

E.E. Cummings

We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.

Ellen DeGeneres

With heartfelt and genuine thanks for your kind visit. Have a beautiful day, be well, keep your eyes open, appreciate the beauty surrounding you, enjoy creating, stay safe, and laugh often! ❤️❤️❤️

Returning across the southern part of Dartmoor from Princetown to Yelverton, we see that the landscape features a number of exposed granite hilltops, or tors, and the remains of numerous ancient settlements, as well as more recent disused quarries. It is a landscape that in pre-historic times contained a relatively large population, for Dartmoor has the largest concentration of Bronze Age remains in the United Kingdom.

The climate at the time was warmer than today, and much of today's moorland was covered with trees. The prehistoric settlers began clearing the forest, and established the first farming communities. Fire was the main method of clearing land and creating pasture. Areas less suited for farming tended to be burned for livestock grazing. Over the centuries these Neolithic practices greatly expanded the upland moors, and contributed to the acidification of the soil and the accumulation of peat and bogs.

After a few thousand years the mild climate deteriorated and the inhabitants were forced to leave the moor. Consequently, since then it has been relatively undisturbed to the present day.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Malus sylvestris, the European crab apple, also known as the European wild apple or simply the crab apple, is a species of the genus Malus, native to Europe and western Asia. Its scientific name means "forest apple"

The wild apple is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree, but can also grow into a multi-stemmed bush. It can live 80–100 years and grow up to 14 metres (46 feet) tall with trunk diameters of usually 23–45 centimetres (9–17+1⁄2 inches), although diameters exceeding 90 centimetres (35 in) have been recorded. The leaves are roundish-oval and sometimes hairy on the underside. The hermaphrodite flowers appear in May, slightly preceding hawthorn, have white or pinkish petals and are insect-pollinated. The small pome-fruits are around 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, ripen in autumn and fall to the ground. The bark is light brown and breaks up in flakes. The branches are thorny, especially in response to pruning or browsing.

In the past M. sylvestris was thought to be the most important ancestor of the cultivated apple (M. domestica), which has since been shown to have been primarily derived from the central Asian species M. sieversii. However, DNA analyses confirm that M. sylvestris has contributed significantly to the genome. They found that secondary introgression from other species of the genus Malus has greatly shaped the genome of M. domestica, with M. sylvestris being the largest secondary contributor. They also found that current populations of M. domestica are more closely related to M. sylvestris than to M. sieversii. However, in more pure strains of M. domestica, the M. sieversii ancestry still predominates.

A view of the north half of the east side of Jacksonville's Square between E. Court and E. State streets. On the far left is the Illinois Theater that sits on the northeast corner of the Square. The square, known as Central Park, and surrounding buildings form the heart of the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2018.

The five buildings shown between E. Court and E. State St. were constructed between 1860 and 1890. All but one of the buildings are contributing properties to the historic district.

From left to right, the five buildings are:

F. Lohman Liquors & Cigars, 62 E. Central Park Plaza.

Completed in 1860 and remodeled in 1960, this one and two-story brick commercial building was originally occupied by F. Lohman Liquors & Cigars. It is the sole non-contributing building in this group due to the alterations made to the structure during remodeling.

Elliott Hockenhull Bank, 64 E. Central Park Plaza

An Italianate-style commercial building constructed in 1879 for the Elliott State Bank. The bank was founded in Jacksonville in 1866.

Hockenhull Building, 66-68 E. Central Park Plaza

A large, three-story rusticated stone, Richardsonian Romanesque style commercial building completed in 1892. Over the decades has been home to a variety of businesses. The second and third floors of the building have also been used as apartments.

Peter Bonansinga Confectionary, 72 E. Central Park Plaza

A two-story brick, Neoclassical style commercial building constructed in 1890 as a confectionary.

Knollenberg Bros. Cigars, 74 E. Central Park Plaza (C)

On the northeast corner of E. Central Park Plaza and E. State St. is this two-story brick, Italianate style building completed in 1880. Knollenberg Bros. Cigars was the original occupant.

Located in West Central Illinois, thirty-five miles west of the State Capitol in Springfield, Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The population of the city at the 2020 census was 18,267.

Rudesheim is situated in the the Rheingau and Rüdesheim Rhine River Gorge winery area.

There are dozens of wine tasting and buying venues in Rudesheim. This is one restaurant, tasting room and wine store in Rudesheim.

The room is the cellar of the hotel Felsenkeller.

There are a total of 380 winemakers in the region marketing their own products. Most are family run companies tending vineyards of between four and eight hectares. There are also three local cooperatives and around two dozen large wine estates (between approx. 10 and 50 hectares). These export a considerable proportion of their production and thus contribute to the fame and reputation of Rheingau Riesling.

We enjoyed an exquisite dinner at Sazon Restaurant in Santa Fe. We started with a Mole sampler of 6 different Mole, each unique and delicious. I had never understood what true Mole is. We loved the Sopa de Amor.

sazonsantafe.com/

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND AN ORDINARY LIFE IS FINDING EXTRAORDINARY PLEASURE IN ORDINARY THINGS" (paraphrasing Véronique Vienne)

Google Gemini AI Review summary:

Diners like this restaurant's unique and flavorful dishes, especially the mole sampler, Sopa de Amor, and signature desserts. They also highlight the attentive and professional staff, who provide excellent service and menu guidance. Guests mention the cozy atmosphere and beautiful artwork contribute to a memorable dining experience.

Sazón is an acclaimed, fine-dining restaurant located near the historic Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Led by Chef Fernando Olea—who won the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest—it is celebrated for its elevated, modern interpretation of traditional Mexican cuisine.

Ambiance & Architecture

The interior offers an elegant, gallery-like fine dining environment with white tablecloths, soft lighting, and sophisticated Spanish music playing in the background.

Art Gallery Setting: The dining rooms display a curated collection of contemporary artwork by prominent Mexican artists (such as Federico León de la Vega), much of which is available for purchase.

Signature Mural: A prominent, detailed mural in the main dining room depicts all the ingredients used in Chef Olea's signature "New Mexican Mole".

Culinary Style & Highlights

Chef Olea combines old-world indigenous Mexican traditions with global ingredients, focusing on a curated, seasonal menu.

Complex Moles: Moles are central to the menu, made with complex combinations of toasted spices, seeds, nuts, chocolate, and dried chiles. Guests are often treated to a pre-meal mole tasting.

Signature Dishes: Popular offerings include the Sopa de Amor (poblano cream soup with blue crab), Dulce Sinfonía (an avocado-jalapeño ice cream palate cleanser), and savory entrees featuring duck, seafood, or tender meats paired with house-made moles.

Degustación Menu: The restaurant offers a multi-course Chef's Tasting Menu (Degustación) alongside an extensive selection of Mexican wines, curated tequilas, and mezcals.

New Mexico 2026

Santa Fe Downtown

Eagles

First Trust Company Building is a historic commercial building located at Broadway and State Street in Albany, New York, United States. It was designed by noted architect Marcus T. Reynolds and built in 1904. Currently, it is the main offices of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also a contributing property to the Downtown Albany Historic District.

A touch of colour hovered over the horizon, while clouds billow in the sky. A rocky shore leaves shaped silhouettes, with a definite line separating the foreground from the background.

My tripod sits on the muddy shore, and I watch it cautiously before it moves on the soft surface. The night light turns the brown sand blue, which contributes to the evening mood.

The top of this pylon its probably the highest point in or just outside the village of Markyate, Hertfordshire. We are getting our electricity from one of these power lines though we cannot possibly say where the energy actually comes from. This is because the National Grid feeds its system from various power stations and because electricity is being generated in diverse ways. Statistics, as we all know, ought to be handled with a degree of suspicion. However, it looks as if renewable sources (wind, solar, hydroelectric, bioenergy) contribute more than 30% of the total. Gas is still at over 40%, followed by coal, nuclear and oil. If it is true what the National Grid says, namely that renewables are now generating half of our electricity - a form of energy not affected by the current rise of the price of gas, how come that we pay as if renewables were gas? Fuji X-E3.

As night falls, I find comfort in the serene moments just before succumbing to sleep. Bathed in the gentle glow of muted lights, my surroundings transform into a sanctuary, signaling the peaceful journey that lies ahead. Beyond my window, the world recedes, making way for a tranquil tableau painted with the muted symphony of the night.

Captured within the frame is a snapshot of this tranquil interlude – a ritualistic pause before entering the realm of dreams. The interplay of shadows and the soft warmth of ambient light create a soothing ambiance, inviting a sense of calm that washes over me.

The image is a visual ode to this serene pause, a conscious moment before surrendering to the embrace of slumber. The unmade bed, carefully arranged essentials, and the quiet stillness all contribute to a delicate symphony of tranquility.

In this captured moment, I embrace the quietude, recognizing the beauty often overlooked in the hustle of the day. It serves as a daily reminder of the importance of finding peace amid chaos, offering a gentle prelude to the dreams awaiting in the realm of sleep.

A huge early nineteenth-century country house built in the style of a Norman castle on the site of much earlier high-status dwellings, set within a wide park on a natural promontory between the Ogwen and Cegin rivers at the eastern end of the Menai Straits. Penrhyn castle dominates the surrounding landscape to an extraordinary degree. The Grand Lodge which forms the entrance to the park, and the high stone walls which surround it, contribute strongly to the sense of a wealthy, aristocratic enclave, yet its proximity to, and visual relationship with, the Quarry (NPRN 40564), the railway systems and Port Penrhyn (NPRN 306314) indicate the source of much of the vast wealth of the owning Pennant and Douglas Pennant families. Now part-owned and entirely managed by the National Trust, the Castle and Park are open to the public.This Neo-Norman residence was built for George Hay Dawkins Pennant (1764-1840), inheritor of the Penrhyn estate, in which work of the period 1827-37 overlays a Medieval hall, itself ‘gothicised’ in the late eighteenth century by Richard Pennant, Lord Penrhyn, the previous owner. The Castle is preserved in its late nineteenth century condition. A remarkable feature of its lavish interior is the use of slate in some furniture – a state bed, a desk, as cisterns and meat cupboard in the kitchen, as inkwell-holders and a billiard table. It is set within extensive grounds which were emparked in the early nineteenth century, and which are surrounded by a high mortared stone wall capped with slate. The grounds include extensive gardens, stabling and a home farm. The setting and relationship of the house to the park and landscape is outstanding. Within the castle stable block is an industrial railway museum which displays locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts from the Penrhyn Quarry Railway and the Dinorwic Quarry Railway.

The present building was created by the architect Thomas Hopper between the years 1822 and 1837 for George Hay-Dawkins Pennant who had inherited the Penrhyn estate from his cousin, Richard Pennant. Pennant himself had married into the Penrhyn family and had subsequently made his fortune through slate quarrying industries in north Wales and slavery in Jamaica.

Text source: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/16687/

Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. The archaeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán State, Mexico.

Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic (c. AD 600–900) through the Terminal Classic (c. AD 800–900) and into the early portion of the Postclassic period (c. AD 900–1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the Northern Maya lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature. The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site.

The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site's stewardship is maintained by Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatán.

Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with over 2.6 million tourists in 2017.

...like something out of a fairy tale. I've waited nearly 10 years to capture a scene like this as it is reminiscent from a scene from the Pixar / Disney movie Brave. The winner of the day was without a shadow of a doubt the lighting; the lighting really enhanced the scene as the sunlight began breaking through the clouds, the mist began making its appearance within the confinements of this delicate yet mysterious forested scene. Other contributing factors which need to be acknowledged are the ferns, scattered fall foliage, the moss and darkened areas throughout the frame. Enjoy.

Photo captured via Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 28-85mm F/3.5-4.5 Lens. Western Cascades Lowlands and Valleys section within the Cascades Range. Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Lewis County, Washington. Late October 2022.

Exposure Time: 1 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/16 * Bracketing: None * Color Temperature: 5400 K

This Kentucky Warbler was pretty shy about coming to take a bath, which seems right in line with their normal secretive behavior. In fact, it’s that furtive nature that contributes a lot to this species desirability with birders. However, patience eventually paid off and some great views were had, a great reward as far as I am concerned.

www.texastargetbirds.com

_MG_4552-web

Geothlypis formosa

Es un placer asistir a las concentraciones de coches clásicos convocadas por el Club Horta Clàssics. En este caso se trata de la XIV Concentración de Coches Clásicos en Torrent, donde hemos podido ver y admirar algunos vehículos clásicos. El que aportamos en esta imagen es un automóvil CADILLAC TORPEDO que data aproximadamente de 1912 (según nos comentaron) y que como siempre presentamos editado con el GIMP.

****************************

It is a pleasure to attend the concentrations of classic cars convened by the Horta Clàssics Club. In this case it is the XIV Concentration of Classic Cars in Torrent, where we have been able to see and admire some classic vehicles. The one that we contribute in this image is a CADILLAC TORPEDO car that dates approximately 1912 (as we were told) and that as we always present published with the GIMP.

On the northeast corner of W. Main and Race St., across the street from the Bennett Building (drug store) featured earlier in this series, is the Cohen Building. Completed in 1907, the classical revival style structure was designed by Urbana architect Joseph W. Royer (1873-1954), a University of Illinois School of Architecture graduate and the man who designed the magnificent Champaign County Courthouse.

When it opened in 1907, the Cohen Building contained many different businesses, such as Nathan Cohen’s cigar factory on the second floor, offices at the street level, an ice cream and candy store on the east side with an adjacent barber shop, and the Urbana Banking Company’s headquarters in the corner. A tailor shop was added in 1909 at the back of the building while the same previous businesses remained After Cohen retired from the cigar business in 1913, the full expansion of the offices, bank and commercial stores was established. The Cohen building continues as a professional office and commercial building.

To the east (right) of the Cohen Building are two single story buildings connected by a common wall. Both buildings were completed in 1885 and are nearly identical in detailing. 130 W. Main, next to the Cohen Building, historically was a millinery shop and barber shop, and is now a legal office. The building next to it at 126 W. Main, historically was a flower shop, and is now a restaurant known as the Dancing Dog Eatery and Juicery.

The Cohen Building, along with 130 W. Main and 126 W. Main lie within the Joseph W. Royer Arts and Architecture District in the heart of old Urbana, and are contributing buildings within the Downtown Urbana Historic District listed in 2019 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Urbana is the seat of Champaign County. Located in east central Illinois, the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign are the home of the University of Illinois. The population of Champaign County at the 2020 census was 205,865.

An eastbound BNSF coal train rolls through Lombard, Montana. A bit of smoke from forest fires to the west contributes to a colorful sunset.

17 de Agosto

Se fundó el 17 de agosto de 1904, coincidiendo con el aniversario de la muerte del General San Martín, por lo que se eligió denominarlo con esa fecha.Se destaca por su prolijidad, siendo admirada por quienes la visitan y orgullo de sus vecinos que, en forma mancomunada, dan vida a esta localidad aportando sus ideas y trabajando a la par de sus autoridades. La estaciòn Pertenece al Ferrocarril General Roca en su ramal entre Darregueira hasta Bahía Blanca. No presta servicios de pasajeros desde 1978, sin embargo por sus vías corren trenes de carga, a cargo de la empresa Ferroexpreso Pampeano

TRASLATOR

17 de Agosto

It was founded on August 17, 1904, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of General San Martin, so it was chosen to name it with that date. It stands out for its prolixity, being admired by those who visit it and the pride of its neighbors who, in a joint manner, they give life to this locality by contributing their ideas and working alongside their authorities. The station belongs to the General Roca Railway on its branch between Darregueira to Bahía Blanca. It does not provide passenger services since 1978, however its routes run freight trains, run by the company Ferroexpreso Pampeano

He is kissing John Lennon.

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney that appears on the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. John Lennon started production of the song, and then Paul McCartney contributed to it in a songwriting session.

Have you seen an image of Pelé hugging some famous in the streets? It is the "Pele Beijoqueiro", a series of lambe-lambs by the artist Luis Bueno, 35, from São Paulo, present in walls and walls of several cities in Brazil.

Pele's Lambe-licks

Bueno has already put Pelé next to the Mona Lisa, of Leonardo da Vinci; characters from the "Star Wars" franchise; the painter Salvador Dalí and even the singer David Bowie, the biggest assembly of the series.

The lamb-lambes, artistic technique of assembly and collage, were inspired by a photo of Pelé embracing Muhammad Ali in 1977, in the United States.

"I fell in love with the image, which brought this gesture of affection and affection of a great symbol of Brazil that is Pelé. Immediately I realized that I could reconstruct the image and enjoy the gesture of the kiss, replacing Muhammad with other people," said Bueno , in an interview with Batanga.

The works are produced in stages. The artist took the photo and started a digital painting process that took months to get ready. Then it is scaled, separated into several parts for printing and cut manually. "Many pieces in the series are hand-painted too, which would be a fourth step," he says.

***

Pelé passed away yesterday in São Paulo, at the age of 82.

Rest in peace, King Pele.

December 29, 2022.

Saint Michael’s Cathedral of Alba Iulia was built between 1247 and 1291, which makes it contemporary to the famous Notre Dame of Paris. Furthermore, it appears that a great French architect, Villard de Honnecourt, contributed to its design. In addition to being the oldest and the longest cathedral in Romania (at 89.16 m measured along its axis), it is also considered the most important monument of Romanesque architecture in Transylvania.

The site is registered in the National Archaeological Repertory of Romania.

The Peacock Flower holds symbolic importance in some cultures, often associated with beauty, pride, and joy.

This plant is often celebrated for its spectacular flowers and its ability to bring a tropical touch to gardens and landscapes.

The Peacock Flower produces beautiful, showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or a combination of these, often resembling a peacock's tail in appearance.

The flowers are large, with long stamens that contribute to their dramatic look.

The plant itself can grow as a shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters), though it can grow taller in ideal conditions.

The leaves are finely divided, giving the plant a feathery or fern-like texture.

Technically inept street capture (I thought I’d mention it before anyone else does)…in mitigation, a combination of icy temps, damp clothes and codeine fuelled dullness of wit, all contributed to the dismal result you see before you.

I’ll not post it to any groups

Fuji XT5 + Viltrox 75mm f1.2 : BLVK look-a-like recipe.

Konyaltii Beach at the west side of Antalya.

Inner peace is not a question of external circumstances, rather of internal readiness.

My platforms of inspiration and sponsoring:

t.me/photosophy Photography meets Philosophy 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.facebook.com/Exquisite.Captivating.Kaleidoscopic Photography meets Philosophy 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.cash-memes.com Get wealthy with MEMES 🇺🇸

www.mememaster.org Most funny MEME collection 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.denniseckart.de/ Fitness & Nutrition 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭 + 🇧🇷🇵🇹

cannergrow.com/r/D5GMZK Smart long- term investment in CBD

You're invited!

1. Sign up with my invite link

2. Deposit and buy €250 in any crypto

3. We both get €50.00 free BTC

www.luno.com/invite/DCDHM2

Contribute to a wonderful Charity:

www.paypal.com/paypalme/mayacatrescue

www.teaming.net/mayacatrescue

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All rights reserved. Copyright ©e-c-k-art

Email: foto@e-c-k-art.de

In case you would like to purchase a license, picture or arrange a exhibition please contact me.

All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission

Misuse is tracked by my.pixsy.com/register?referralcode=D3AA55D9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; Chinese: 苏州), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the most populous city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Administratively, Suzhou is a prefecture-level city with a population of 6,715,559 in the city proper, and a total resident population of 12,748,262 as of the 2020 census in its administrative area.

The city's canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions and liveable cities in China. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou

es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou

Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; chino: 苏州), también romanizada como Soochow, es una importante ciudad del sur de la provincia de Jiangsu, en el este de China. Suzhou es la ciudad más poblada de Jiangsu y un importante centro económico y foco de comercio. Administrativamente, Suzhou es una ciudad a nivel de prefectura con una población de 6.715.559 habitantes en la ciudad propiamente dicha, y una población residente total de 12.748.262 habitantes según el censo de 2020 en su área administrativa.

Los canales, puentes de piedra, pagodas y jardines meticulosamente diseñados de la ciudad han contribuido a su estatus como una de las principales atracciones turísticas y ciudades habitables de China. Los Jardines Clásicos de Suzhou se incluyeron en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en 1997 y 2000. Suzhou es apodada a menudo la "Venecia de Oriente" o la "Venecia de China".

The Christian Temple of the Apostles (Agii Apostoli Solaki, Άγιοι Απόστολοι Σολάκη) since 1000 A.D., in the Southeast corner of Agora. This church along with the Temple of Hephaestus are the only monuments in the Agora to survive intact since their foundation. Agii Apostoli played a significant role in the development of Byzantine architecture being the oldest example of the 'Athenian type' of Byzantine dome in the city. The church contributed to the development of Byzantine architecture by its successful combination of a central plan with a cross-in-square design. It houses several wall frescos.

Some interesting facts about probably the cutest world's rodents (Sciurus vulgaris):

- They do not hibernate;

- They hide nuts and seeds in the ground, which contributes to the growth of the tree population;

- Front teeth grow throughout life;

- They have a multifunctional tail - it helps to keep balance, brake, and even serves as an umbrella;

- If they look anxious, nervously jumping on the branches making high-pitched whistles (and there is no particular threat), it means that in 6-10 hours it will probably rain;

- If they hide in a hollow and their activity decreases, it means that a storm is coming.

Kilka interesujących faktów o tych jakże pociesznych gryzoniach (Sciurus vulgaris):

- Nie zapadają w sen zimowy;

- Ukrywają w ziemi orzechy i nasiona, co przyczynia się do wzrostu populacji drzew;

- Przednie zęby rosną przez całe życie;

- Mają wielofunkcyjny ogon - pomaga utrzymać równowagę, hamować, a nawet bywa parasolem;

- Jeśli wyglądają na zaniepokojone, nerwowo skaczą po gałęziach wydając wysokie gwizdy (a nie widać szczególnego zagrożenia), to znaczy, że prawdopodobnie za 6-10 godzin wystąpią opady;

- Jeśli chowają się w dziupli, a ich aktywność się obniża, to znaczy, że nadejdzie burza.

Two Harvestmen use this cactus as a safe hiding place, I find them there hiding here most days (the cacti grow inside our polytunnel). This one has a large mite attached to it's leg (best viewed Large) HA12 & HBBBT!

If anyone contributing to Arachtober has suitable spider butt shots feel free to add them to the Beautiful Bug Butt Thursday group

Social Isolation: As people age, they may lose friends and family members, which can lead to social isolation. Retirement, the death of a spouse or friends, and children moving away can all contribute to older men feeling lonely.

For my photo of this world-famous mountain range, it absolutely had to be the blue hour! The first snow and beautiful clouds made this evening a photo excursion of the extra class! Since all the huts in the area were already closed, we had to walk back for an hour in the dark. This also contributed to an unforgettable overall experience...

Brede Hilledijk - Rotterdam

Het nieuwe Nederlands Fotomuseum is 7 februari 2026 geopend. De nieuwe locatie is gerealiseerd in een gebouw van bijna 125 jaar oud. Het voormalige pakhuis Santos, gebouwd in 1902, voor de opslag van koffie die vanuit de haven van Santos in Brazilië werd verscheept. Destijds was het, het hoogste en modernste pakhuis van Rotterdam.

Naast de vaste collectie zijn er nu ook twee tijdelijke tentoonstellingen; "Rotterdam in focus". Een reis door foto's die het Rotterdamse landschap laten zien. Die reis begint met een foto uit 1843 en loopt door tot de hedendaagse drone- en panoramafotografie. Meer dan 300 foto's laten de ontwikkeling zien van 180 jaar fotografie. De andere tentoonstelling "ontwaken in blauw" is een ode aan de cyanotypie. Dit is een eeuwenoude fotografische techniek die diepe blauwtinten creëert. Zonlicht, water, schaduw en tijd helpen mee om het beeld te maken.

The new Netherlands Photo Museum opened on February 7, 2026. The new location has been realised in a building that is almost 125 years old. The former Santos warehouse, built in 1902 to store coffee shipped from the port of Santos in Brazil. At the time, it was the tallest and most modern warehouse in Rotterdam.

In addition to the permanent collection, there are now two temporary exhibitions: "Rotterdam in Focus." A journey through photographs depicting the Rotterdam landscape. This journey begins with a photograph from 1843 and continues through to contemporary drone and panoramic photography. More than 300 photographs illustrate the development of 180 years of photography. The other exhibition, "Awakening in Blue," is an ode to cyanotype, a centuries-old photographic technique that creates deep blue tones. Sunlight, water, shadow, and time all contribute to the creation of the image.

Considering our upper level seating for my daughters graduation, this higher perspective rendered an interesting image. The repetition and high contrast of black and white, contributed as its own meaningful element. Do you remember your graduation, wearing the gown and throwing the mortarboard? (The cap)

www.photographycoach.ca/

Palm Beach County is covered with 317 miles of canals, which provide flood coverage due to an overabundance of rain. These man made networks of water management are everywhere, contributing to maintaining the overall health of the county. Besides helping civilization function down here there’s an artistic element in play too. A lot of fascinating photographic possibilities, ponder.

I’ll be conducting some mini shoots now and then to take advantage of these canals and the surrounding landscape around ‘em. This shoot is an example of the aforementioned, showing off the surreal mesh of canals and massive power lines.

Pleasure sharing some samples . . .

The tiny snowman in red was contributed by one of our regulars at The Larder. Thank you Jenny

On the last day of the year in 1994, 302207 rolls into Dagenham Dock station with a Fenchurch Street to Leigh on Sea service.

This line was labelled as the 'misery line' through the late 1990s, with these (by then) ancient trains and elderly signalling contributing to significant delays for the long suffering commuters.

112 sets of these trains were built at British Rail's York and Doncaster works. 20 were used on the Great Eastern lines out of Liverpool Street, but the remainder were the ubiquitous commuting trains from Fenchurch Street from electrification in November 1961 until the mid 1990s.

From the early 1990s, class 310 and class 312 units took over the majority of workings on the line. By the date of this picture, class 302s were limited to some peak hour diagrams.

Note the searchlight signal at the end of the platform (replaced as part of route resignalling in 1996) and the crane from the Dagenham freightliner terminal.

Lisbon, Portugal

Laying the mosaic pavement requires backbreaking labor. It's an arduous job performed in a prostrate position, making this traditional art of calçeteiros both rare and expensive. When wet, the surfaces of "calçadas" tend to be slippery and can contribute to slips and falls. Also, the moisture breaks down the design requiring frequent maintenance. For this reason, today’s government is considering a way of creating a safer pavement for the pedestrian while at the same time maintaining the unique beauty of this art form as an important part of the nation's identity and heritage.

This image, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the colorful "last hurrah" of a star like our sun. The star is ending its life by casting off its outer layers of gas, which formed a cocoon around the star's remaining core. Ultraviolet light from the dying star makes the material glow. The burned-out star, called a white dwarf, is the white dot in the center. Our sun will eventually burn out and shroud itself with stellar debris, but not for another 5 billion years.

Our Milky Way Galaxy is littered with these stellar relics, called planetary nebulae. The objects have nothing to do with planets. Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century astronomers called them the name because through small telescopes they resembled the disks of the distant planets Uranus and Neptune. The planetary nebula in this image is called NGC 2440. The white dwarf at the center of NGC 2440 is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature of more than 360,000 degrees Fahrenheit (200,000 degrees Celsius). The nebula's chaotic structure suggests that the star shed its mass episodically. During each outburst, the star expelled material in a different direction. This can be seen in the two bowtie-shaped lobes. The nebula also is rich in clouds of dust, some of which form long, dark streaks pointing away from the star. NGC 2440 lies about 4,000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Puppis.

The material expelled by the star glows with different colors depending on its composition, its density and how close it is to the hot central star. Blue samples helium; blue-green oxygen, and red nitrogen and hydrogen.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and K. Noll (STScI), Acknowledgment: The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Find us on Instagram

All Rights Reserved ©

Location: Selangor, Malaysia

October 2025.

For more photos, check out www.instagram.com/vinceadam2021/?hl=en

Found quite a few Wallace that night with a friend bringing two guests from Singapore.

Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) represents a remarkable example of arboreal adaptation within the family Rhacophoridae. First described by George Albert Boulenger in 1895 and named in honor of Alfred Russel Wallace, this species exhibits distinctive morphological traits that facilitate an extraordinary mode of locomotion—gliding flight between trees. Native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, R. nigropalmatus possesses extensively webbed feet and a highly specialized patagium, allowing it to exploit the vertical strata of its environment effectively. Its unique locomotor capabilities, coupled with striking green coloration and nocturnal habits, contribute to its ecological success and offer valuable insights into the evolution of gliding mechanisms among amphibians.

Palm Silhouette while the mild spring arrives in Turkey

"Empathy means

seeing with the eyes of the other,

to hear with the ears of the other,

to feel with the heart of the other."

My platforms of inspiration and sponsoring:

t.me/photosophy Photography meets Philosophy 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.facebook.com/Exquisite.Captivating.Kaleidoscopic Photography meets Philosophy 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.mememaster.org Most funny MEME collection 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭

www.denniseckart.de/ Fitness & Nutrition 🇺🇸 + 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭 + 🇧🇷🇵🇹

cannergrow.com/r/D5GMZK Smart long- term investment in CBD

You're invited!

1. Sign up with my invite link

2. Deposit and buy €250 in any crypto

3. We both get €50.00 free BTC

www.luno.com/invite/DCDHM2

Contribute to a wonderful Charity:

www.paypal.com/paypalme/mayacatrescue

www.teaming.net/mayacatrescue

kotorkitties.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All rights reserved. Copyright ©e-c-k-art

Email: foto@e-c-k-art.de

In case you would like to purchase a license, picture or arrange a exhibition please contact me.

All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission

Misuse is tracked by my.pixsy.com/register?referralcode=D3AA55D9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~