View allAll Photos Tagged DISCERN
Imaged during the evening of the 21st April 2021 and the rising sun's light has began to illuminate the great crater Copernicus.
The terraced walls of the left side of crater are being strongly illuminated together with the central peaks of Copernicus.
Most of the right hand side of the crater remains in inky darkness with the peaks of the crater's rim forming beautiful silhouettes.
The ejecta blanket surrounding the crater is also nicely highlighted showing a lot of textured detail. About three quarters of the floor of Copernicus is boulder strewn. The top left quadrant (visible in this image) is by contrast comparatively smooth!
Copernicus forms a nice duo with crater Eratosthenes mostly in the frame upper right.
Between the two and slightly to the right the ghostly outline of flooded crater Stadius can be discerned. The crater has been almost obliterated by basaltic lava flows in the millennia since its formation....
Imaged with a Celestron C11 SCT and a ZWO290MM camera/Baader long pass filter.
Thanks for looking!!
Photograph portraying the bivouac Carpano (2.865 m) by night.
Single shot, taken at moonlight, phase 50%. The refuge interior (blankets, cots) can be discerned thanks to the light of some candles.
In the Alps, especially in Italian territory, the term "bivouac" also refers to this kind of tiny structures, permanently unattended, for use by climbers to retreat and overnight.
This is located in a secluded area of the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy).
These shelters always remind me the US mailboxes :-) (just bigger, of course!), or, with a little bit more of imagination, even small spaceships coming from alien worlds. That's why I always try to create an atmosphere like "hey, visitors have arrived among us"… also a sort of TARDIS time machine, as seen in the Doctor Who sci-fi series.
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©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
This digital watercolor beautifully captures the charming and vibrant essence of Dinant, a picturesque town nestled along the banks of the river flowing gently through its cobblestone streets. The artist has skillfully portrayed the unique architecture of this locale, with a particular focus on the gorgeous facades of buildings lining the Meuse River.
The houses are true architectural masterpieces, displaying a diverse array of colors that breathe life into the scene. The warm and cheerful tones of the buildings blend harmoniously, creating a palette that reflects the joy and welcoming character of Dinant. The facades, adorned with intricate details and floral lattice work, enhance the sense of a place steeped in rich history and culture.
The Meuse River winds its way gently through the city, mirroring the magnificent spectrum of colors from the facades in its tranquil waters. Small boats and kayaks float peacefully, adding a touch of life and activity to the scene. The sunlight spilling across the landscape adds a subtle glow to each element, highlighting the texture of the walls and the rippling waters of the river.
On the horizon, the city is framed by lush green hills, creating a natural backdrop that further emphasizes the beauty of Dinant. Somewhere amidst the colorful facades, one can discern the figure of a saxophonist, a visual homage to the fact that this charming town is the birthplace of the saxophone. The scene exudes a sense of serenity, culture, and music, making this digital watercolor a captivating representation of the essence of Dinant.
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Cette aquarelle numérique capture magnifiquement l'essence charmante et vibrante de Dinant, une ville pittoresque nichée le long des rives de la rivière qui s'écoule doucement à travers ses rues pavées. L'artiste a habilement représenté l'architecture unique de cet endroit, en mettant particulièrement l'accent sur les magnifiques façades des bâtiments qui bordent la Meuse.
Les maisons sont de véritables chefs-d'œuvre architecturaux, affichant une palette de couleurs diverses qui insufflent de la vie à la scène. Les tons chauds et joyeux des bâtiments se mélangent harmonieusement, créant une palette qui reflète la joie et le caractère accueillant de Dinant. Les façades, ornées de détails complexes et de treillages floraux, rehaussent la sensation d'un lieu imprégné d'une riche histoire et culture.
La rivière Meuse serpente doucement à travers la ville, reflétant dans ses eaux calmes le magnifique éventail de couleurs des façades. De petites embarcations et des kayaks flottent paisiblement, ajoutant une touche de vie et d'activité à la scène. La lumière du soleil qui se répand sur le paysage ajoute une lueur subtile à chaque élément, mettant en valeur la texture des murs et les eaux ondulantes de la rivière.
À l'horizon, la ville est encadrée par des collines verdoyantes et luxuriantes, créant un fond naturel qui souligne encore davantage la beauté de Dinant. Quelque part entre les façades colorées, on peut deviner la silhouette d'un saxophoniste, un hommage visuel au fait que cette charmante ville est le berceau du saxophone. La scène émane une sensation de sérénité, de culture et de musique, faisant de cette aquarelle numérique une représentation captivante de l'essence de Dinant.
20220612_RX_05635_DINANT
Devocionales diarios | Ya que crees en Dios, deberías vivir para la verdad
El problema común que existe en todas las personas es que entienden la verdad pero no la ponen en práctica. Esto es porque, por una parte, no están dispuestos a pagar el precio y, por otra, su discernimiento es deficiente. Son incapaces de ver más allá de muchas de las dificultades de la vida cotidiana tal y como son, y no saben practicar adecuadamente. Ya que las experiencias de las personas son demasiado superficiales, su calibre muy pobre y el grado en el que entienden la verdad muy limitado, no tienen manera de resolver las dificultades con las que se encuentran en la vida cotidiana. Creen en Dios sólo de palabra y son incapaces de traer a Dios a su vida cotidiana. Es decir, Dios es Dios, la vida es la vida, y es como si las personas no tuvieran relación con Dios en su vida. Esto es lo que piensa todo el mundo. Creyendo así en Dios, en realidad las personas no serán ganadas y perfeccionadas por Él. De hecho, no es que la palabra de Dios haya encontrado una expresión completa, sino que la habilidad de las personas para recibir Su palabra simplemente es demasiado inadecuada. Podría decirse que casi nadie actúa según las intenciones originales de Dios. Más bien, su fe en Dios va según sus propias intenciones, las nociones religiosas que tuvieron en el pasado y su propia manera de hacer las cosas. Pocos son aquellos que sufren una transformación después de aceptar la palabra de Dios y comienzan a actuar de acuerdo con Su voluntad. En lugar de eso, persisten en sus creencias equivocadas. Cuando las personas comienzan a creer en Dios, lo hacen basándose en las reglas convencionales de la religión y viven e interactúan con los demás completamente sobre la base de su propia filosofía de vivir. Podría decirse que este es el caso de nueve de cada diez personas. Hay muy pocos que formulan otro plan y pasan página después de comenzar a creer en Dios. La humanidad ha fracasado al considerar la palabra de Dios como verdad o al tomarla como tal para ponerla en práctica.
Tomemos la fe en Jesús, por ejemplo. Tanto si alguien acabara de empezar a creer como si lo hiciera desde hacía mucho tiempo, todos utilizaban simplemente los talentos que tenían y demostraban las habilidades que poseían. Las personas simplemente agregaron “fe en Dios”, estas tres palabras, a su vida habitual, pero no hicieron ningún cambio en su carácter y su fe en Dios no creció en lo más mínimo. Su búsqueda no era ni caliente ni fría. No decían que fueran a renunciar a su fe, pero tampoco se consagraban por completo a Dios. Nunca habían amado verdaderamente u obedecido a Dios. Su fe en Dios era una mezcla de lo genuino y lo falso, se aproximaban a ella con un ojo abierto y otro cerrado, y no eran sinceros en la práctica de su fe. Continuaban en tal estado de desconcierto hasta acabar muriendo confundidos. ¿Qué sentido tiene esto? Ahora, para creer en el Dios práctico, debes tomar el camino correcto. Si crees en Dios, no debes buscar solo bendiciones, sino amar y conocer a Dios. Por medio de Su esclarecimiento, mediante tu búsqueda individual, puedes comer y beber Su palabra, desarrollar un entendimiento real de Dios y tener un amor real por Dios procedente del fondo de tu corazón. En otras palabras, cuando tu amor por Dios es el más genuino y nadie puede destruirlo o interponerse en el camino de tu amor por Él, entonces estás en el camino correcto de la fe en Dios. Esto prueba que perteneces a Dios, porque Dios ya ha tomado posesión de tu corazón y nada más puede poseerte. Mediante tu experiencia, el precio que has pagado y la obra de Dios, eres capaz de desarrollar un amor espontáneo por Dios y, cuando lo hagas, te liberarás de la influencia de Satanás y llegarás a vivir en la luz de la palabra de Dios. Solo cuando te has librado de la influencia de las tinieblas puedes decir que has ganado a Dios. En tu creencia en Dios, debes intentar buscar esta meta. Esta es la responsabilidad de cada uno de vosotros. Ninguno de vosotros debería estar satisfecho con el estado actual de las cosas. No podéis tener dudas respecto a la obra de Dios ni tomarla a la ligera. Debéis pensar en Dios en todos los aspectos y en todo momento, y hacer todas las cosas por Su causa. Y cuando habléis o actuéis, debéis poner primero los intereses de la casa de Dios. Solo así podéis ser conforme al corazón de Dios.
El mayor defecto de la gente en su fe en Dios es que solo creen de palabra y Dios está totalmente ausente de sus vidas cotidianas. Todas las personas, de hecho, creen en la existencia de Dios; sin embargo, Dios no es parte de su vida diaria. De la boca de la gente salen muchas oraciones a Dios, pero Él tiene poco lugar en sus corazones, y por eso Dios la pone a prueba una y otra vez. Ya que las personas son impuras, Dios no tiene otra alternativa que probarlas para que se sientan avergonzadas y lleguen a conocerse a sí mismas en medio de las pruebas. De otro modo, la humanidad se convertiría en los descendientes del arcángel y se volvería cada vez más corrupta. En el proceso de su fe en Dios, cada persona desecha muchos de sus motivos y objetivos personales bajo la incesante purificación de Dios. De lo contrario, Dios no tendría manera de usar a nadie ni de hacer en la gente la obra que debe hacer. Dios primero purifica a la gente y, mediante este proceso, las personas llegan a conocerse a sí mismas y Dios puede cambiarlas. Solo entonces puede Dios obrar Su vida en ellas y solo así puede el corazón del hombre volverse por completo a Dios. Y por eso digo que creer en Dios no es tan sencillo como dice la gente. Tal como lo ve Dios, si solo tienes conocimiento, pero no tienes Su palabra como vida, y si estás limitado únicamente a tu propio conocimiento, pero no puedes practicar la verdad o vivir la palabra de Dios, esto es prueba de que todavía no tienes un corazón que ame a Dios y muestra que tu corazón no le pertenece. Se puede llegar a conocer a Dios creyendo en Él: esta es la meta final y el objetivo de la búsqueda del hombre. Debes dedicar esfuerzo a vivir las palabras de Dios, para que puedan hacerse realidad en tu práctica. Si solo tienes conocimiento doctrinal, entonces tu fe en Dios se quedará en nada. Solo si luego también practicas y vives Su palabra tu fe puede considerarse completa y de acuerdo con la voluntad de Dios. En este camino, muchas personas pueden hablar de mucho conocimiento, pero en el momento de su muerte, sus ojos se llenan de lágrimas y se odian a sí mismas por haber desperdiciado toda una vida y haber vivido en vano hasta la vejez. Solo entienden doctrinas, pero no pueden poner en práctica la verdad o dar testimonio de Dios; en cambio, simplemente corren de acá para allá y están sumamente ocupados; y solo al borde de la muerte ven finalmente que carecen de un verdadero testimonio, que no conocen a Dios en absoluto. ¿Y no es ya demasiado tarde? ¿Por qué no aprovechas el día y persigues la verdad que amas? ¿Por qué esperar hasta mañana? Si en vida no sufres por la verdad o buscas obtenerla, ¿es posible que desees sentir arrepentimiento en la hora de tu muerte? Si es así, entonces, ¿por qué creer en Dios? En verdad, hay muchos asuntos en los que las personas, si les dedican el más mínimo esfuerzo, pueden poner la verdad en práctica y así agradar a Dios. Por el mero hecho de que los corazones de las personas están poseídos por demonios, no pueden actuar por el bien de Dios y se precipitan constantemente en beneficio de su carne, sin obtener nada al final. Por esta razón, las personas están afligidas de continuo por problemas y dificultades. ¿No son estos los tormentos de Satanás? ¿No es esta la corrupción de la carne? No debes tratar de engañar a Dios hablando sin parar. Más bien, debes actuar de manera tangible. No te engañes a ti mismo; ¿qué sentido tendría eso? ¿Qué puedes ganar por vivir por el bien de tu carne y afanarte por el beneficio y la fama?
De “La Palabra manifestada en carne”
Para conocer más: Por qué creer en Dios
Title.
September beach.
(iPhone 13 Pro shot)
Motosuka Beach. Kujukuri Beach. Sanmu City. Chiba Prefecture. Japan. 2025. … 1 / 1
(Photo of the day. Unpublished.)
Images:
ELLEGARDEN … The End of the World
youtu.be/3hAKmshltDY?si=3dlYv3ccvIMJwnjj
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My new novel
B♭ (B Flat)
Volume 17😄
The following is still in its draft stage and will be revised further.
Key parts are not disclosed.
The order of the content shown here is mixed.
(Of course, this is not the final version.)
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My new novel
B♭ (B Flat)
Columbia Point Residences, a redevelopment of an old warehouse district near the piers of Red Hook that look south over New York Harbor, sat with Williamsburg’s commercial and arts quarter to its north, a reclaimed stretch of landfill between them transformed into a quiet new neighborhood of low-rise detached houses.
On the freshly paved streets the laughter of children echoed, and the soft afternoon sun gently lit the roof tiles and white exterior walls. The wind carried a cool, saline scent from the sea, and, far off in the harbor, a ship’s horn punctuated the calm.
Residents were building new lives here, apart from the city’s daily tumult.
At three in the afternoon the light was still mild, gilding the leaves of the street trees. Mariners’ Row—this new residential enclave—presented itself with almost calculated perfection: rows of white houses, straight sidewalks flanking them. The scent of new construction and still-wet paint hung faintly in the air.
Mark Sanchez stood by the large living-room window and imagined a happy future for his family.
His unit, ERO, was the field force within ICE responsible for immigration enforcement and removals—hardened by the harsh realities of carrying out deportations—contrasted with HSI’s international-crime investigations. But here, behind the glass, he was simply a father and a husband.
Rachel had begun preparing dinner in the kitchen. Children’s voices drifted from the distant school-bus stop.
— Calm. Perhaps life is distilled on a Sunday at three in the afternoon, — he murmured inwardly.
The afternoon light slanted more and more; shadows reflected in the window stretched. On the neighborhood street, an old man walked slowly, pushing a cart as he walked his dog. The crossing laughter of children made that scene seem like an emblem of a gentle, innocent world.
Inside the house, the children were absorbed in play, and Rachel greeted them with a smile. The outside air was mild, the breeze only slightly warm; curtains swayed softly.
Mark opened the front door and checked the mailbox. There were notices about the new school and an announcement for a local disaster-preparedness drill.
At three in the afternoon, as the second hand crept forward, silence deepened.
Beside the house’s foundation concrete there was a faint tremor.
In the afternoon hush, the harbor horn and the rustle of leaves in the breeze filled the soundscape—sounds that masked a subtle detonation so that the surrounding residents did not notice. Smoke rose slowly; there was no fierce blaze at the moment of explosion, only fine dust quietly filling the air. The collapse did not happen all at once but proceeded slowly and inevitably. Part of the exterior wall developed quiet fissures; glass trembled and fractured into fine shards. Wooden posts toppled one by one without a sound, the house crumbling inward as if in a muted dance. A small shock set off a chain reaction of charges that dismantled the structure from within—silently yet surely. The exterior split without fanfare; windows became powder; wooden supports began to fall.
But the noise had been suppressed to the greatest extent possible; the neighborhood’s residents scarcely noticed anything had occurred.
In the distance, silhouettes of buildings slumped and settled. Not only Mark’s house but a blue house about three hundred meters across the street, and a white house further in, kicked up clouds of dust.
Three houses vanished in an instant.
The wind halted for a moment; only the leaves of the street trees trembled.
Mariners’ Row’s afternoon regained its former stillness, as if nothing had happened.
Yet everything had changed.
By planting small, distributed charges of C4 at several points in the foundation concrete and detonating them in precisely timed, ordered sequences, the shockwave could be minimized while the skeleton of the structure was collapsed from the inside.
Rafi’s knowledge of architecture had made possible not mere destruction but a “quiet collapse.”
“Use only the force that’s necessary”—that was his credo.
From a rooftop some distance away, Rafi watched the scene unfold; a deep silence flowed through his chest. For him, it was both an outcry and a prayer. The silence dwelling in destruction was the expression of his tangled feelings.
From childhood, Rafi had found refuge only in silence. The clamor of children playing in Gaza’s dusty alleys, the thunder of airstrikes—these had only wounded him more deeply. In a rundown corner of Gaza, the small Rafi leaned against a wall. When the roar of bombardment receded, the brief stillness was a salvation.
His mother’s tears, his father’s anger—the chaos of it all—the boy sought only a place without sound. He fled inward to a world without noise.
Tinkering with the innards of a broken radio with small hands, Rafi first understood the relation between destruction and quiet. A ruined radio, after it lost its sound, simply remained there in material form, silently.
As he grew, his inner life knotted into complexity. He studied architecture at the Islamic University to make shapes and manipulate structures as a way to steady the disorder within him. Even the days bent over blueprints failed to soothe the quiet madness hidden under his skin. When he faced a building plan, his hands trembled; in his head the calculated beauty of structure mixed with the cool cruelty of demolition.
Then he found a method to produce the silence he had once sought: planting bombs.
For him, it was the only way to externalize his pain. The C4 placed silently at a building’s core crystallized the intersection of his desire to destroy and his thirst for silence. Israel’s attacks on Gaza had stoked his rage, but the true explosion had been nurtured in the quiet of his childhood. For Rafi, releasing explosives without sound was a ritual of severing himself from the world’s noise.
Rafi’s heart could find rest only in the stillness of destruction; he was trapped in a darkness no one noticed.
Without sound, unnoticed by anyone, he broke his world and obtained silence.
And no one knew that his cry was hidden within that quiet destruction.
Construction of Columbia Point Residences had begun in 2024. The three collapsed houses had been occupied by staff of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—ICE—and its Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO.
They took off their uniforms, sat at these tables with their families. By day they detained migrants and sent them out of the country; by night they held children on their laps and drank beer.
To Rafi, those two faces were one mask. Smile and cruelty breathed under the same skin. It was almost impossible to discern the boundary. He had seen the light in those houses many nights—the silhouettes at dinner through the curtains, laughter. There were no faces of the detained among them.
Each night Rafi never missed the five prayers. His fingertips turned sacred pages of the Qur’an; Arabic verses rang in his heart. “True strength lies in patience; vengeance is entrusted to God”—that phrase steadied him, lending calm. His anger was forbidden to flare; it lived quietly inside.
Recent news repeated the same refrain daily—“a million deported annually,” “military bases converted to detention centers,” “raids even on pending family applications”—numbers passing through the broadcast with a dry sound. But behind those numbers were names: his mother’s name, his sister’s name, the old man next door. Those names did not run on the news; they had no voice.
Rafi thought: this is not policy but selection—sorting who to keep and who to cast aside on sheets of paper. His faith taught mercy and justice, yet the world trampled those teachings. “God is the judge; we are only witnesses”—he repeated in his heart, while refusing to look away.
People in the city sought ways to lighten their lives. Yet tariff hikes made the very air heavy. Bread, nails, gasoline rose in price; sighs filled the shopping streets. Oddly, ICE and ERO garages always housed new vehicles; uniforms looked uncreased and shoes had thick soles. It was the result of budget and protection, the payoff for casting others aside.
Rafi kept calm. To erupt in emotion was to feed the enemy’s desire. So he hid his anger. The fire burning within him was tended like a vow to God—silent and steady.
Stories of neighbors taken in the night, a child crying as someone was seized—each one settled into him and became fuel. But it never flared. It only fed the coals and raised the burn temperature. From the outside, he seemed a gentle man. Inside, however, a balanced plan of destruction was quietly taking shape.
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My new novel:
B♭ (B-flat)
There’s still more to come. 😃
(This is not the final draft.)
Set in New York City.
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Soundtrack.
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b-my-novel-soundtrack/pl.u-47...
Note: I gave a brief explanation of this novel in the following video:
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
My new novel:
B♭ (B-flat)
Notes
1. "Bombay Blood Type (hh type)"
•Characteristics: A rare blood type that lacks the usual ABO antigens — cannot be classified as A, B, or O.
•Discovery: First identified in 1952 in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay).
•Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 10,000 people in India; globally, about 1 in 2.5 million.
•Transfusion Compatibility: Only compatible with blood from other Bombay type donors.
2. 2024 Harvard University Valedictorian Speech – The Power of Not Knowing
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3. Shots Fired at Trump Rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
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Title.
九月の海辺。
( iPhone 13 pro shot )
本須賀海岸。九十九里浜。山武市。千葉県。日本。2025. … 1 / 1
(今日の写真。それは未発表です。）
Images:
ELLEGARDEN … The End Of The World（歌詞、和訳付き）
youtu.be/3hAKmshltDY?si=3dlYv3ccvIMJwnjj
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僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
第17弾。 😄
以下は、まだ初稿の段階です。まだ推敲します。
重要な部分は公開していません。
公開している内容の順番はバラバラです。
(もちろん最終稿ではありません。)
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僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
ニューヨーク港を南に望むレッドフックの埠頭に近い、古い倉庫街を開発したコロンビア・ポイント・レジデンシズは、北側にウィリアムズバークの商業・アート地区を背にし、その間の埋立地を再造成した、低層戸建て中心の静かな新興住宅街だ。
新しく舗装された道には、子供たちの笑い声がこだまし、午後の柔らかな陽射しが屋根の瓦や白壁の外壁を優しく照らしている。風は海からの冷たい香りを運び、港湾の遠くで聞こえる船の汽笛が静けさにアクセントを加えた。
住民たちは日常の喧騒から離れ、ここに新たな生活の基盤を築いている。
午後３時の陽射しは、まだ柔らかく街路樹の葉を黄金色に染めていた。
マリナーズ・ロウの新興住宅街は、まるで計算されたように完璧な整列を見せている。白壁の戸建てが並び、まっすぐな歩道が両脇に伸びる。新築の香りと、まだ新しいペンキの匂いが微かに漂っていた。
マーク・サンチェスはリビングの大きな窓から外を眺めながら、家族の幸せな未来を思い描いていた。
彼が属するEROは、ICEを構成する２部門のうちのひとつ、HSIの国際犯罪捜査に比べ、EROの移民の強制執行や送還を行う現場部隊で培った厳しい現実もあったが、ここではただの父親であり夫だった。
レイチェルはキッチンで夕食の準備を始めている。子供たちの声が、遠くのスクールバス停から聞こえてきた。
ー 穏やかだ。日曜日の午後３時に、人生は集約されているかもしれない ー
彼は胸のうちでそうつぶやいた。
午後の光は徐々に斜めになり、窓ガラスに映る影が伸びていく。住宅街の通りでは犬の散歩をする老人が一人、手押し車を押しながらゆっくり歩いていた。子供たちの笑い声が交差するその風景は、穏やかで無垢な世界の象徴のようだった。
家の中では子供たちが遊びに夢中になり、レイチェルがにこやかに声をかけている。外の空気は穏やかで、風はわずかに暖かく、揺れるカーテンが優しく靡いていた。
マークは玄関のドアを開け、郵便受けを確認する。ポストには新しい学校の案内と地域の防災訓練のお知らせが入っていた。
午後三時、秒針がゆっくりと動く中、静寂が深まっていった。
家の中心、基礎のコンクリートのすぐ脇が微かに揺れた。
午後の静けさの中、遠くからは港湾の汽笛と、風に揺れる街路樹の葉擦れの音が響いていた。それらの環境音が、わずかな爆破音をかき消し、周囲の住民が気づくことはなかった。煙はゆっくりと立ち上り、爆発の瞬間に生まれる激しい炎はなく、ただ細かな粉塵が静かに空気を満たした。倒壊は一気ではなく、ゆっくりと、しかし確実に進んだ。外壁の一部が静かに亀裂を生み、ガラスは微細に震えながら割れていく。木製の柱が一本、また一本と音もなく倒れ、家全体が内側から崩れていく様は、まるで静かな舞踏のようだった。爆薬はわずかな衝撃で連鎖反応を起こし、家の構造を静かに、しかし確実に破壊していく。外壁は音もなく割れ、ガラスは粉々になり、木製の柱が倒れ始めた。
しかし、騒音は極力抑えられ、周囲の住民たちは何が起きたのか気づきにくいほどだ。
遠くで小さく崩れ落ちる建物のシルエットがあった。マークの家屋だけでなく、通りを挟んで３００mほど先の青い家、そして、そこからさらに奥へ進んだ白い家から砂埃が舞い上がった。
3軒の家が瞬時に消えた。
風が一瞬止み、街路樹の葉が揺れる音だけが響く。
マリナーズ・ロウの午後は、再び何事もなかったかのように静けさを取り戻した。
しかし、すべては変わってしまったのだ。
基礎のコンクリートに小分けしたC4を複数箇所に埋め込み、微細なタイミングで順序良く起爆させることで、衝撃波を最小限に抑えつつ構造の骨組みを内側から崩していく。
ラフィの建築学の知識が、単なる破壊ではなく「静かなる崩壊」を可能にしていた。
「必要な力だけを使う」——それが彼の信念だった。
ラフィは遠くの建物の屋上からその光景を見つめ、胸に深い静寂が流れた。彼にとって、それは叫びでもあり、祈りでもあった。破壊の中に宿る静寂こそが、彼の複雑な感情の表現だったのだ。
ラフィは幼いころから、静寂の中にしか安らぎを見いだせなかった。
ガザの埃っぽい路地裏で遊ぶ子供たちの喧騒も、爆撃の轟音も、彼の心を深く傷つけるだけだった。廃れたガザの街角で、幼いラフィは静かに壁にもたれかかっていた。爆撃の轟音が遠ざかる瞬間、その静寂は彼にとって一瞬の救いだった。
母の涙、父の怒り、そのすべてが混ざり合う騒乱の中で、彼はただ「音のない場所」を求めていた。彼は音のない世界へと逃げ込んだ。
小さな手で壊れかけたラジオの中身をいじりながら、ラフィは初めて「破壊」と「静けさ」の関係に気づいた。壊れたラジオは、音を失った後に、ただ静かにそこに物質としての形状を保っていた。
成長するにつれ、彼の内面は複雑に絡み合った。
イスラム大学の建築学部に進んだのは、形を作り、構造を操ることで、彼の心の乱れを制御しようとしたからだ。大学で建築を学ぶ日々も、彼の心の奥底に潜む静かな狂気を癒すには足りなかった。建物の設計図に向き合うとき、彼の指先は震え、頭の中で計算される構造の美しさと破壊の冷徹さが入り混じった。
そして彼は、かつて自分が求めた静寂を「作り出す」方法を見つけた。
爆弾を仕掛けること。
それは彼にとって、自分の痛みを外に放つ唯一の手段だった。
建物の中心に静かに仕掛けられたC4は、彼の「破壊への欲求」と「静寂への渇望」が交錯した結晶だった。イスラエルによるガザ攻撃は彼の憎悪を燃え上がらせたが、真の爆発は幼少期の沈黙の中でじわじわと育まれていた。彼にとって、爆薬を音もなく解き放つ行為は、世界の騒音から自分自身を切り離す儀式だったのだ。
ラフィの心は、破壊の静けさの中にしか安息を見出せず、誰も気づかない闇に囚われていた。
音もなく、誰にも気づかれずに、彼は自らの世界を破壊し、静寂を手に入れる。
そしてその静かな破壊の中に、彼の叫びが隠されていることを、誰も知らなかった。
コロンビア・ポイント・レジデンシズは、２０２４年に工事の着工が始まった。崩壊した三棟に住んでいたのは、米国移民税関取締局のICEとその強制退去執行部門であるEROの職員たちだった。
彼らは制服を脱ぎ、この家で家族と食卓を囲む。昼間、移民を拘束し、国外へ送る彼らが、夜には子どもを膝に抱き、ビールを飲む。
ラフィには、その二つの顔がひとつの仮面にしか見えなかった。微笑みと冷酷が、同じ皮膚の下で息をしている。その境目を見極めることは、ほとんど不可能だった。彼は何度も、職員たちの家に灯る明かりを見た。カーテン越しに見える食卓の影、笑い声。そこには、拘束された者たちの顔はひとつもなかった。
ラフィは毎夜、沈黙のなかで五回の礼拝を欠かさなかった。彼の指先は厳かにクルアーンのページをめくり、アラビア語の詩句が心に響いた。
「真の強さは忍耐にあり、復讐は神の手に委ねられる」—その言葉が彼を支え、冷静さを与えた。
怒りは熱く燃え上がることを許されず、静かに内側で息づいていた。
最近のニュースは、毎日が同じ旋律を繰り返していた。
ー 「年間百万人送還」「軍事基地を収容所に転用」「家族申請中でも摘発」 ー
数字は乾いた音を立ててニュースの中を流れていく。
だが、その数字の裏側には名前があった。母の名、妹の名、隣に住んでいた老人の名。それらはニュースには載らず、声にもならなかった。
ラフィは思った。これは政策ではなく、選別だ。残す者と捨てる者を、書類の上で振り分ける作業だ。
彼の信仰は慈悲と正義を説く。だが今の世界は、その教えを踏みにじっていた。
「神は審判者、我らはただ証人」 — 彼は心の中で繰り返しながらも、見過ごすことを拒んだ。
街では誰もが生活を軽くする方法を探していた。だが、関税の引き上げは空気までも重くした。パンも、釘も、ガソリンも値を上げ、ため息が商店街を満たした。
不思議なことに、ICEやEROの車庫にはいつも新しい車が並んでいた。制服は新品のように皺ひとつなく、靴底は厚かった。それは予算と保護の結果であり、他者を切り捨てた見返りでもあった。
ラフィは冷静だった。
感情を爆発させるのは、敵の望むところだ。だから彼は、怒りを表には出さなかった。彼の内に燃える火は、神にささげる誓いのように、静かに、確実に燃え続けていた。
夜中に連れ去られた隣人の話。拘束の最中に子どもが泣き叫ぶ声。その一つ一つが、彼の胸の奥で沈殿し、火種になった。
しかし、決して燃え上がることはない。ただ、確実に燃料をくべ、燃焼温度を上げていく。外から見れば、彼は穏やかな男だった。
だが、内側では均衡の取れた破壊の計画が静かに形を成していた。
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僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
舞台はニューヨークです。
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Soundtrack.
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b-my-novel-soundtrack/pl.u-47...
追記 この小説を多少説明しました。
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
メモ
1
「Bombay型（ボンベイ型、hh型）」
•特徴：通常のABO血液型を持たない（A、B、Oに分類されない）特殊な型。
•発見地：1952年、インド・ムンバイ（旧ボンベイ）で初めて確認。
•発生頻度：インドでは1万人に1人程度だが、世界的には約250万人に1人とも。
•輸血制限：同じBombay型しか輸血できない。
2
2024年ハーバード大学首席の卒業式スピーチ『知らないことの力』
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3
Shots fired at Trump rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
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A receding tide...
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A couple of friends have thought this is a Monochrome, although it wasn’t shot or processed as such. It’s SooC. But I found desaturating it in an editor makes no discernible difference, so it’s “nature’s monochrome”!
...porque, hoy, el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos me recuerda que hay mucho por hacer, porque millones y millones de personas viven desposeídos de todo, despojados de libertad, a merced de la guerra, de las injusticias, del hambre, de intereses políticos... ; sus derechos conculcados, desposeídos de dignidad.
Creo en el poder transformador del ser humano más allá de las utopías; por eso, quiero pedir y pido una mochila de luz para cada uno de nosotros, que nos acompañe, nos ayude a discernir, ver y actuar en pro de un mundo donde no hayan de celebrarse más "Días Internacionales de...."
Liberdade e responsabilidade
Tudo na criação está em permanente processo de transformação e
aprimoramento.
Assim também ocorre com os homens. Em sua condição de espíritos, trilham
marcha ascendente rumo à angelitude.
Foram criados em estado de absoluta simplicidade e ignorância, Mas possuem,
desde o princípio, os embriões de todas as virtudes.
Nas primeiras experiências foram conduzidos grandemente pelos instintos.
Gradualmente tomaram ciência de seu potencial e passaram a fazer opções.
Titubeantes no princípio, desenvolveram a consciência de si próprios e da
sua vontade.
Um elemento primordial do progresso consciente é o livre-arbítrio.
As espécies animais e vegetais são conduzidas pelas forças da natureza, em
suas etapas de elaboração. Já os homens podem escolher os caminhos que
trilham.
O progresso espiritual pressupõe o desenvolvimento da faculdade de discernir
o bem e o mal. Para a aquisição desse senso moral, para crescer em
entendimento e compreensão, são imprescindíveis à liberdade de opção. Quanto
mais o espírito burilam seu intelecto e exerce sua vontade, mais liberdade
tem. Seu leque de opções aumenta. Mas não é somente a liberdade que ganha
expressão.
Com o conhecimento e o lento evoluir do ser, ele se torna mais responsável
pelo que faz. Quando o instinto predomina, a responsabilidade é ínfima.
Quando a vontade e a consciência regem o destino, torna-se inarredável a
responsabilidade.
O homem é intrinsecamente livre em seus atos e pensamentos, mas responde por
tudo o que faz e pensa.
As leis humanas são freqüentemente burladas e enganadas, contudo, nos
estatutos divinos não há qualquer falha.
Sendo as leis divinas inscritas na consciência de cada homem, elas jamais
são burladas. Ninguém escapará de si próprio.
Cada qual é livre para pensar, falar e agir. Mas essa liberdade sempre deve
respeitar os direitos do próximo.
A movimentação do livre-arbítrio jamais deve causar sofrimento e coerção
para outrem.
Quem se permite infelicitar o semelhante, infelicita-se a si próprio.
O desrespeito à dignidade e à felicidade alheias aprisiona o seu autor.
O homem que provoca sofrimento prepara para si um cárcere de sombra e
desgraças. Talvez ele engane a justiça humana. Quiçá logre anestesiar a
própria consciência por um tempo. Mas cedo ou tarde, nesta encarnação ou em
outra, despertará para a realidade. Sua consciência o chamará a prestar
contas de seus atos.
Então, a dor infligida ressurgirá no íntimo do ser. Entre inibições e
complexos, lutas e sofrimentos, ele se acertará com as leis divinas.
Reflita na responsabilidade que você possui, em sua condição de homem livre.
Você pode muito. Pode escolher ser honesto ou desonesto, misericordioso ou
cruel, leal ou traiçoeiro, útil ou inútil. Mas responderá por seus atos. Não
se trata de pecado e castigo, mas de responsabilidade.
Pense nisso!
Textos da Equipe de Redação do Momento Espírita.
Now, this glorious creature turned up just as the ITV lunchtime news was concluding. I noticed him/her just finishing a “bowl” into a cluster of sparrows and landing on top of the hedge in a bit of a pile (undercarriage akimbo) just as the little sprogies sank into it's safe places. It seemed to me he/she was so embarrassed at me witnessing the debacle that he/she fluffed their feathers, flew to the opposite point in the garden and pretended to be looking for some more victims. Had about a minute to get these shots whilst he/she was gathering their dignity, then “poof”, vanished like a magician, not so much as a rocket trail to discern its passing
Job 24:16 "In the dark they dig through houses: they shut themselves up in the daytime; they know not the light."
Hiob 24:16 "Im Finstern bricht man in Häuser ein; bei Tage halten sie sich eingeschlossen, wollen nichts wissen vom Licht."
As it is Sunday today - and the weather was wet and stormy - I deceided to go to church to confess my sins. But in place I had to discern: God doesn't care...
Le transit de Mercure 2019, depuis Boulogne Billancourt et à travers quelques nuages. On aperçoit quand même la planète, minuscule point noir qui se déplace devant le soleil !
Au téléobjectif à 400mm, et avec un sacré recadrage pour rendre Mercure discernable sans zoomer.
All those who lost their lives on that dreadful day.
We can see the One World Trade Center from our apartment and you can discern its reflection here :).
1 "The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent,
And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
Ma vision “iPhonique” de l'emballage de Christo (voir photos précédentes)
Davantage digitalisée et plus proche de la bande dessinée que de la réalité..
Image un peu trafiquée et surréaliste, donc à consommer avec modération !
La vie n’est trop souvent qu’un grand exercice de manipulation des foules, dont la photo fait hélas de plus en plus partie !
Pour apprendre à discerner le vrai du faux, et revenir sagement aux basiques…
EN: Wrapping of Triumph Arch in Paris by artist Christo
For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan: But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen.
-Wisd. 13: 1–15.
www.instagram.com/lightcrafter.artistry
Just a surreal photo shot in my apartment late at night, when our everyday, conscious reality is transformed in the world of our dreams. And yet...dreams are a real conscious experience, taking place in space and time...but what space, and what time? Sometimes it is difficult for us to discern between "real" experiences, and dreams. There is much that is still very strange and mysterious to us about dreams, and the topic is incredibly fascinating.
Anyway, it's late at night now, and I'm soon to drift off into a dreamworld; who knows what strange lands I'll travel to tonight? What bizarre narratives I'll take place in? Perhaps I'll walk through a looking glass, and find myself next to Alice, in Wonderland. Personally, I'm excited with anticipation.
Sweet and strange dreams, to all of you :)
All images © 2017 Daniel Kessel.
All rights reserved
I tried o wait until this "nondescript" flower would turn deep red, but this is as close as this one plant got, deep, deep orange.
Crassula tillaea is a succulent plant known by its common names mossy stonecrop and moss pygmyweed. It is a small fleshy plant growing only a few centimeters in height. It is green when new and gradually turns orange and then deep red when mature. It has tiny triangular pointed leaves only a few millimeters long. A tiny flower or pair of flowers grows between each oppositely-arranged pair of leaves; the flowers are about two millimeters in length and width. The fruit is a minute follicle containing one or two seeds. This plant is native to Eurasia, particularly the Mediterranean Basin, but is known in other regions as an introduced species. Native to the Mediterranean Basin or not, it certainly seemed to have liked some sandy low lands of the mountain here.
This is a good example of difficult flowers to shoot where the stems are hairy and well defined, but with flowers that have no discernable lines on which to focus especially at 20 inches or so. I did finally find a deep red crassula which bears little resemblance. And then, as I was looking through a file, I found six very variable species of crassula. (Maybe I'll let them out for a walk next week.)
Three gulls forage for terrestrial prey by flying over dry land. Their webbed feet are still wet —dripping droplets of freshwater— after having just taken off from the nearby lake Orestiada in Kastoria, Greece.
There are rooftops and chimneys discerned in the background; they belong to the mountainous village called Polykarpē with an altitude of 640 m above sea level.
Taken at 6:10AM as dawn was breaking. This aurora was occurring in a G3 solar storm with a Kp=8.66! It was visible naked eye although the purple color looked more silvery. Rays were discernible
The center bright light is exactly due north..
Picture of the Day
Europe, Portugal, Algarve, Sotavento, Vila Real de Sto Antonio, Estacão, Comboios de Portugal, Personel, UDD's (DMU's) (uncut)
Vila Real de Sto Antonio station is the eastern end of the Linha do Algarve, the Algarve railway line that connnects the Barlavento with the Sotavento. It was updated some 6 years ago - automatic signalling etc, the end of the days of the manual traffic control and switch operation.
The only artisan work that's left is the coupling of trains - no automatic couplers on the 450 series DMU (the mainstay of the Linha do Algarve, the stainless steel Budd legacy still discernable). It generally involves two train drivers, a technician and an overseer (the station master). The technician is pictured here. After coupling the UDD mechanically, he's now engaged in doing it electrically.
The 450 series trains displayed here were built in 1965 and renovated in 1999, by SOREFAME. The trains are equipped with two 14 L 6 cylinder Cummins NTA 855 - R3 engines (Total output: 2 x350 kW).
Train to train (1) is here.
This is number 118 of Train travel fascination and 277 of People at work.
Motor-able road ends near this village "Tosh", in Himachal Pradesh. The picturesque surroundings are the enticement for passengers of the large number of motor vehicle discernible in foreground &right bottom of frame .
Elgin Cathedral, a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, northeast Scotland, was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was established in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II and stood outside the burgh of Elgin, close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie located 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the north, which was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. By 1226, the new and developing cathedral was staffed with 18 canons, a number that increased to 23 by 1242. A damaging fire in 1270 led to significant enlargement. It remained unscathed during the Wars of Scottish Independence but suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 when attacked by Robert III's brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch. In 1402, the cathedral precinct faced another incendiary attack by the Lord of the Isles followers.
As the cathedral grew, so did the number of clerics and craftsmen. Repairs following the fires of 1270 and 1390 resulted in the choir's doubling in length and the addition of outer aisles to both the nave and choir. While some parts of walls retain their full height, others are at foundation level, yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact octagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. The near intact gable wall above the double door entrance linking the west towers was rebuilt after the fire of 1390. It contains fragments of a large rose window with remnants of tracery work. The transepts and the south aisle of the choir contain recessed and chest tombs with effigies of bishops and knights. The now grass-covered floor bears large flat slabs marking early graves. The residences of the dignitaries, canons and chaplains within the chanonry were also destroyed during the fires of 1270, 1390 and 1402, forming part of the overall reconstruction process. Only the precentor's manse remains substantially intact, while two others have been incorporated into private buildings. Both west front towers, part of the initial construction, are mostly complete. A massive protective wall surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only two small sections have survived. Of the wall's four access gates, only the Pans Port remains.
By the time of the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the number of canons had increased to 25. After the Reformation the cathedral was abandoned, and its services transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. The removal of the roof's lead waterproofing in 1567 marked the beginning of the cathedral's steady decay. Although still largely intact in 1615, a winter storm brought down the roof covering the eastern limb. In the spring of 1711, the central steeple above the crossing collapsed, taking the walls of the nave with it. Ownership shifted from the Church to the Crown in 1689, but made no difference to the building's continued deterioration. Conservation efforts began in the early 19th century and continued until the end of the 20th century, with significant improvements to the two western towers.
Echalar (en euskera, Etxalar) es una villa y municipio español de la Comunidad Foral de Navarra, situado en la merindad de Pamplona, en la comarca de las Cinco Villas y a 73,6 km de la capital de la comunidad, Pamplona.
Echalar destaca por su arquitectura popular tradicional, muy cuidada, que le valió el Premio Nacional de Turismo para embellecimiento y mejora de los pueblos. Tanto el pueblo como el entorno son dignos de visitar y disfrutar.
Un lugar interesante para visitar es la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, donde destacan un calvario del año 1600, una pila bautismal del s. XVIII y un bonito órgano de principios del s. XX. En los jardines de la Iglesia se hallan numerosas estelas funerarias, que fueron encontradas en las cimentaciones de las paredes del almacén de la iglesia.
Echalar es muy conocido por las palomeras. En ellas se siguen utilizando el sistema de caza documentado desde el siglo XV y mantenido hasta hoy. En la actualidad, ha sido declarada Bien de Interés Cultural. Entre el 1 de octubre y el 20 de noviembre se mantiene viva la tradición centenaria de caza de palomas mediante redes. Este sistema es único en toda la península ibérica y no necesita ningún tipo de arma para cazar. Estas palomeras se encuentran situadas en el collado de Lizaieta que pertenece al término municipal de Echalar, a 8 km del núcleo urbano, justo en la frontera con el pueblo vasco-francés de Sara y es uno de los pasos de menor altitud de los Pirineos, que millones de aves aprovechan en su migración anual.
El famoso personaje de Carmen, protagonista de la novela homónima de Prosper Mérimée, que a su vez inspiró la ópera de Georges Bizet y que ha dado lugar a numerosas adaptaciones en el mundo del cine y la literatura, era oriundo de Echalar; o al menos como tal se presenta Carmen al navarro José, el otro protagonista principal de la novela. En la novela no se llega a discernir si realmente Carmen es de Echalar, o inventa esa mentira para engatusar a José. En cualquier caso, Carmen, personaje ficticio claro está, sería la echalartarra más universal y conocida.
Esta foto participó en el juego En un lugar de Flickr
El río Mangoky uno de los principales ríos de Madagascar, con 564 kilómetros de largo. Nace en la meseta Central, al este de la ciudad de Fianarantsoa. El río fluye generalmente en dirección oeste desde la sierra, cruza la parte meridional de la meseta Bemaraha, llega a la llanura costera y a su delta, y desagua en el Canal de Mozambique, al norte de la ciudad de Morombe.
La mayoría de Madagascar ha sido objeto de una grave deforestación durante los últimos 40 años, lo que ha llevado a la extrema erosión del suelo en la cuenca del río Mangoky, como lo demuestran los muchos banco de arena situados en el cauce del río. Cargas de sedimentos, de color verde como el lago Ihotry son claramente discernibles al sur del río. El tramo entre el lago y la costa es bastante grande, con zonas de con sedimentos de arena de color blanquecino intercaladas con estanques. La parte meridional del delta está dominado por sucesivas islas de barrera y una formación de espigones. En cambio, el norte, la parte protegida del delta está dominado por las mareas y pantanos de manglar
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_Mangoky
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_of_Madagascar
The Mangoky River is a 564-kilometer-long (350 mi) river in Madagascar in the regions of Atsimo-Andrefana and Anosy. It is formed by the Mananantanana and the Matsiatra. Another important affluent is the Zomandao River.
It rises in the Central Highlands of Madagascar just east of the city of Fianarantsoa. The river flows generally in a westerly direction out of the highlands, crosses the southern extension of the Bemaraha Plateau, reaches the coastal plain and its delta, and enters the Mozambique Channel north of the city of Morombe.
Most of Madagascar has undergone serious deforestation during the last 40 years, chiefly from slash-and-burn practises by indigenous peoples. This loss of forest has led to extreme soil erosion in the Mangoky River basin, as evidenced by the many sandbars located within the river channel. Silt-laden, greenish-tan Lake Ihotry is clearly discernible south of the river. Between the lake and the coast is a rather large, whitish area of sand interspersed with silt-laden ponds. The southern portion of the delta is dominated by successive barrier island and spit formation. In contrast, the northern, protected portion of the delta is dominated by tidal passes and mangrove swamps.
Works of a Mangoky river bridge on the RN 9 will be shortly undertaken. It will be the longest bridge of Madagascar with 880 m. It will be built by CRBC - China Road and Bridge Corporation
The photograph captures a weathered facade, deeply etched by time and weather elements, nestled within a narrow alley in Dijon. Two windows stand prominently amidst the aged surface. One window, adorned with a wooden painting, depicts a cherub playing the cello, its delicate features weathered yet still discernible. Adjacent, the second window bears the unmistakable marks of time's passage, with metal bars showing signs of corrosion and the paint peeling away, revealing layers of history beneath. Together, these elements paint a poignant picture of the enduring charm and resilience of Dijon's architectural heritage.
RX_09357_20240410_Dijon
Union Pacific 9116, 9143, and 3465, with a combined total of 11,000 horsepower, have the hot NPLAZ train at track speed, pulling the 0.8% through Erda, Utah the morning of July 19, 1992. A sliver of the Great Salt Lake and Stansbury Island are on the left frame of the photo. If you look closely, a smudge of pollution can be discerned above the lake from Magcorp, Utah's biggest polluter at the time.
The lighthouse was built in 1881. The height of tower is 9 meters and the height of focal plane is 11 meters. In previous photos next to the lighthouse stands the small house of the lighthouse keeper. Today the lighthouse is automated and looks abandoned. No maintenance and care of the trail is not discernible in the building.
Boisé Ste-Dorothée, Laval.
Il y avait 3 Tortues paintes sur le tronc d'arbre lorsque les canards sont arrivés. Ces tortues savent discerner le danger, elles sont demeurées à leurs place malgré la séance de nettoyage qui a suivi. Moi je réussi rarement à approcher les tortues.
Barron River Falls is one of the highlights of traversing the escarpment to or from Kuranda in Far North Queensland, especially on high flow occasions. My timing was very lucky, with prolonged heavy rain over many weeks prior to my visit overfilling the main river channel. This is a train stop viewpoint. Another viewpoint can just be discerned on the opposite side of the valley; note too the conical peak lower right, for comparison with the next << image. The falls have several levels for a collective fall of 265 metres.
SMC PENTAX (K) 28mm f2 "Hollywood"
When nature adds just enough pastel to create discernible texture. Todays image was captured at Sunrise at over 10k feet. This is in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado as the first snow graces the slopes and the pink hues for the morning sun paints their way into the day.
Have a blessed day everyone
Species: Poecile montanus.
Superficially very similar to Marsh Tit but separable with care. The voice is this species' most useful identification feature. Subtle structural and plumage differences also exist between the species, but these are not always as easy to discern in the field as you might suppose. The two species also favour subtly different habitats. Info: Collins Guide to British Birds.
Many thanks to people who view or comment on my photos.
Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal, with each elephant species having a gestation period of roughly 22 months. However, there's slight variations between the African elephant(640–673 days), and the Asian elephant(623-729)(nbci.gov). As the largest land mammal on Earth, calves are born at about 200 pounds (90 kg). The elephant is a complex organism, with the trunk alone having roughly 40,000 muscles, making development stages very drawn out.
For the development of the calf in the womb, it takes about 62 days for the embryo to be detectable, with a heartbeat detected by 71 days. The placenta is detected by an endometrial reaction on day 80, and the basic shape of the calf(head, rump, and trunk) are detected by day 95(embryology.med.unsw.edu). By day 95, the umbilical cord is also visible. At around day 100, the head makes up half of the length of the calf, and the toes can be discerned on all four limbs. Later on, by day 120, the trunk of an African calf has the two lip-like protrusions seen in adults.
Sometimes I photograph something (from nature!) and am pleased with the result, but then have a challenging time discerning what it is, precisely. So, that's when I put it in the 'Happy Weekend' category...........:)
Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are!
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Il m'arrive de photographier quelque chose (d'après nature !) et d'être satisfait du résultat, mais ensuite, j'ai du mal à discerner précisément ce que c'est. C'est alors que je le mets dans la catégorie « Bon week-end »… :)
Profitez de votre week-end, où que vous soyez !
A footbridge now crosses the river Lha-chu and above it, nestling in the cliff face is the rebuilt Kagyu monastery of Choku Gonpa (4770 m), which was originally founded by Nyepo Drubtob in accordance with a prophesy of Gotsangpa.
The manastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution as whas 99% of all monasteries in Tibet.
The view of the south face of Gangs Rinpo Che, Gangs Ti Se or Kailash mountain, if clear, is striking. Below the monastery, but not discernible, is the Langchen Bepuk (Hidden Elephant Cave) where Padmasambhava stayed and meditated when he came to Mount Kailash
Pensé que lo entendía. Que podía discernirlo. Pero no pude. No realmente. Solo su calidad emborronada. Su entusiasmo contenido y semiprecioso. No caí en la cuenta de que a veces era más que su todo. Que su totalidad era una idea un tanto lujosa. Porque son las mitades las que te parten por la mitad. No lo sabía. No sé acerca de los pedazos que quedan en medio. Los pedazos sangrientos de ti y los pedazos sangrientos de mí.
On sait qu'il est là, mais on ne le discerne pas, on sait qu'il est là et qu'il nous observe, on sait qu'il ne voit pas en nous une proie intéressante, on ne sait pas qu'il ne nous observe que parce qu'il trouve étonnant notre comportement, on sait qu'il est là et qu'il ne fait aucun bruit, on sait qu'il dispose de la mâchoire la plus puissante de tous les animaux terrestres, on sait qu'il nous fait peur et nous fascine à la fois, on sait qu'il est dangereux de le photographier.
inhotim (6300r2000)
053/365,
While walking across a church parking lot on Family Day, talking about an up coming birthday, I spotted this coin, picked it up to discover it was dated with my year I was born!
The 1943-45 Canadian five cent coin, known as the “Victory Nickel,” is unusual in that it contains Morse Code. Most Canadians were unaware that they were carrying a Morse message in their pocket, since the code is discernible only upon close examination with a magnifying glass. It is partially visible on the image shown here. It’s on the reverse of the coin, and runs clockwise along the edge. It begins just to the left of the letter “N” in the word “CENTS”.
The reverse featured the letter V, with a dual significance. In addition to being the Roman Numeral for five (which was used on the U.S. Liberty nickel from 1883-1912), it was also the symbol of victory.
And with little fanfare, it also included the message, in Morse Code, “WE WIN WHEN WE WORK WILLINGLY.”
The 1943 coin was made of tombac (a brass alloy), and the message is more likely to be legible on specimens from that year.
This is a 12-sided Canada Victory 5-cent Piece. It was first introduced on January 1, 1943. The year 1943 coin was yellowish-brown and made from an alloy called tombac consisting of 88% copper and 12% zinc The mintage for this 1943 was 24,760,256 units.
1943 Canadian Nickel, George VI,
Valued at up to C$38
Garden Village, Burnaby, British Columbia
The other side; flic.kr/p/2n5bK9J
It's difficult to discern the size(s) of these feathers but collectively they are no wider than 2". I wanted to show the area around them as I undertook the set-up for the Macro Mondays "Small and Smaller theme.
There are some habits that are just so hard to break. I'm sitting on a large pile of shots from Europe and the Pacific Northwest that I am trying desperately to find enough time to work on while trying to keep up with planning for a new semester....but as I glanced out the window, I just couldn't help it. I pulled up the webcam from one of our Southern California beaches and saw high clouds. Then I glanced at Skyfire which was giving the sunset a weak 50 percent and Sunsetwx which was a bit more bullish...and I cracked. I was in the car with my camera bag and tripod within 10 minutes and down at the coast in 40.
I was a bit curious as to whether I could even make it down to this location as the tide was up. I had never tried the hike down there with a tide higher than 3 feet and tonight I was going to hit high tide at 4.6. But as I arrived, the first thing I noticed was that the sea was flatter than anything I had ever seen before. If there WAS any discernible surf, maybe the waves were coming in at a whopping 6 inches. I rolled my eyes thinking back to last December when they were coming in at upwards of 20 feet in Central Oregon.
I made it down to one of my favorite spots plowing through the surf once or twice but only getting wet up to my knee caps. After forcing myself to really look around for some alternate comps (and I definitely tried a few), I noticed that the color on this particular night was lining up with the cave that I have shot from before. The problem with this particular cave is that it's really pretty tiny. I wanted to use my 12 mm Fisheye but my two problems were 1) I wanted to shoot from two inches off of the cave floor and I don't have a tripod that will do that and 2) I had no idea how to focus stack the fisheye as I've never tried it before.
After some thought, I found a small flat bolder to use as a tripod and I experimented with some focus stacking, shooting almost the entire focal range of the fisheye to pull in some detail in the foreground. What you see here is the result of some exposure blending using a luminosity mask and some further blending with the focus stack.
As I stated earlier, this was the highest tide I have been able to shoot at this location and I might try to go a bit higher in the future, albeit not with high surf. I'm fairly certain if I tried a 4.6 foot tide with waves coming in at three feet or higher, I would have gotten nailed pretty hard. I'm still trying to sort out how to estimate where on the beach those waves will fall and what are "safe" conditions when trying to access that spot. Right now I'm working with the idea that the tide level + wave height = a world of trouble if you pick the wrong day. On this particular day, it was almost eery how still the ocean was.
Still not sure what the official limit is to get down there safely. I guess there's only one way to find out! :)
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A state of nature on which we try to discern or impose order. Chihuly's glass blending into the environment at the Botanical Gardens.
Tonight was clear with no winds and that allowed me to take 10x50s subs at iso 800, f/5.6 with a Fujifilm X-T5 (raw) and Nikkor 180mm lens. This ~9 minute integrated time was long enough to capture the comet with little discernible drift against fixed stars (using PixInsight). Moonlight was 44% and Bortle skies were 5.
When I fixed the comet using 50x50s subs, this was the result: www.flickr.com/photos/cloud_spirit/54888501597
Picture of the day
From an early morning walk today through my neighborhood. An overcast and slightly wet day with a gray, cloudy sky provided beautiful soft lighting to catch this rose still bearing water drops from a light rain. All I had to do was to position myself for a dark background patch to set the rose. Pretty much everything behind disappeared into a blur. The surface of the street can barely be discerned.
25-1027 Gen-0007 (LEICA M11, Summilux-M 1-1.4-50 ASPH.)
From early December, when I got the filter, perfect conditions for IR obviously, but I just had to go out, ..obviously. 😜
Wanted to see what this wavelength does to the fog, but somehow I ended up in a bubble of no fog / clouds while it was all around. This is my own sepia development, but frankly, it looked almost the same in real life, very bleak! I let you discern if or how much of the / our beloved IR features are present in the photo..
I have hardly any AF lenses, however, with the fullspectrum D3300 I've noticed that it actually works starting from ~720nm onwards it seems! Shorter wavelengths (≤600nm) do not work; lens / body focuses, but it's a blur. So IR and AF is a rather new experience for me. What are your insights regarding infrared and autofocus?
Nikon D3300 (APS-C / DX, fullspectrum mod)
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 G prime
heliopan Infrared RG 1000 (87A) 800x filter
ISO100, 50mm, f/8, 0.4sec (-0.7EV)
(therefore 75mm FX / full frame equivalent)
single photo, autofocus, tripod, 3-way head
HN-13 hood, remote (ML-L3)
Self-evidently, this was taken from a plane flying over the very centre of London; I've looked up at them from street level, but have only rarely been on appropriate routes myself, even rarer in suitable weather. There are far too many landmarks to mention, so I'll just pick a few highlights.
The Tate Modern, within the old Bankside Power Station on the Thames' South Bank, is at the extreme lower left, near the twin bridges of Blackfriars Station, its covered platforms extending right across the river, and Blackfriars Bridge, carrying road and pedestrian traffic. The curving facade of Unilever House is at the northern (right) end of the Bridge.
Almost midway between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridge, the next one upstream (away from the camera), the 'spire' atop a redbrick-and-white striped building is the distinctive Oxo Tower. The trees immediately beyond are at Gabriel's Wharf. Just to the left of Waterloo Bridge is the National Theatre; just beyond is the rest of the South Bank complex of performance venues.
Back on the other side of the Thames, the 'wedding-cake' spire of St Bride's church, off Fleet Street, is nearly in the middle of the photo's bottom edge. The area of trees behind, extending almost to the riverbank, comprises Inner- and Middle Temple Gardens, at the heart of 'legal London' (the trees on the riverbank, extending as far as Parliament, line the Victoria Embankment). To the right of Temple, the Royal Courts of Justice (the primary civil, not criminal courts complex) are on the edge of the cloud and the western boundary of the City of London; everything beyond is the City of Westminster.
The obvious spired church beyond the Courts is St Clement Danes, at the junction of the Strand (Fleet Street became the Strand just east of the Courts) and Aldwych, which curves right then back left to rejoin the Strand at the approach to Waterloo Bridge. At the near end of Aldwych, facing St Clement's, is the Australian High Commission; immediately behind is Bush House, the ex-home of the BBC World Service, then behind that is the High Commission of India; the embassies of other Commonwealth nations are further along the Strand and into St James's.
To the left of Bush House, slightly indistinct behind a wisp of cloud, the spired church of St Mary-le-Strand stands on a traffic island in, yes, the Strand. To the left, between the Strand and the river, are King's College London and Somerset House, the latter including the Courtauld Gallery and Institute. Incidentally, as the name implies, the Strand was once the nearest road to the Thames, before Sir Joseph Bazalgette constrained the river to a narrower, faster-flowing channel by 1870.
Staying on the north side of the Thames: the Strand continues to Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square, roughly in line with the Hungerford Bridges (i.e. the Golden Jubilee (pedestrian) Bridges to either side of the Hungerford (railway) Bridge). I can't identify specific buildings in this section of the Strand, but I see the long roofs of Covent Garden market at the far right of the image and the triangle of riverside park is Victoria Embankment Gardens, with Cleopatra's Needle on the river wall.
I can see the spire of St Martin-in-the-Fields church on the near side of Trafalgar Square, but Nelson's Column is surprisingly difficult to discern, as is Admiralty Arch at the entrance to The Mall, the 'processional route' past St James's Park (note the long lake) to the Victoria Monument and Buckingham Palace, fortuitously visible in a gap in the cloud.
To the left of Charing Cross, er, roundabout is Charing Cross railway station, obviously leading to the railway bridge.
Beyond, the Embankment remains tree-lined past Whitehall Gardens to Westminster Bridge (note the RAF Memorial on the riverbank); one 'block' back from the Thames, Whitehall extends from Charing Cross to Parliament Square, lined by the major departments of government, such as the Ministry of Defence Main Building, behind the RAF Memorial.
To catch up on the South Bank: the huge observation Wheel of the London Eye stands opposite the RAF Memorial, with County Hall to its left, beside Westminster Bridge, and the Shell Centre to the left of Jubilee Gardens. Next to the left is the expansive roof of Waterloo Station, the terminus of railway lines snaking away into the distance.
Beyond Westminster Bridge stands St Thomas' Hospital, then Lambeth Palace Gardens and Lambeth Palace itself, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the southern end of Lambeth Bridge.
It's unfortunate that cloud slightly obscures the Palace of Westminster (aka Houses of Parliament), but one can still see the iconic Clock Tower (the 'Elizabeth Tower' since 2012) at the nearer end and the Victoria Tower at the other. Immediately to the right of the Clock Tower is St Margaret's Church then the rather larger Westminster Abbey. To the right of the Abbey's west front, and left of the corner of St James's Park, is the distinctive 'square dome' of Methodist Central Hall; further along Victoria Street, leading diagonally away to the right from the Abbey, one can see the tower and green domes of the catholic Westminster Cathedral.
To the immediate left of Parliament is Victoria Tower Gardens, extending as far as Lambeth Bridge; the large building immediately beyond the trees is Thames House, headquarters of MI5, the domestic 'Security Service'. The high-rise Millbank Tower, to the left, hides the Tate Britain gallery.
The next crossing of the Thames is Vauxhall Bridge, with the headquarters of MI6, the 'Secret Intelligence Service' at its south-eastern end.
Luckily, I've covered the next reach of the Thames in detail elsewhere, so will just mention Battersea Power Station and Battersea Park on the south side of the Grosvenor Railway Bridge and Chelsea Bridge, with the housing estates of Pimlico nearer on the north bank and Chelsea to the right.
The remaining visible bridges are, in sequence upstream, the Albert, Battersea, Battersea Rail and, ~8½ km away, Wandsworth Bridge.
[Image reached no.197 in Flickr Explore on 20/11/15! Thanks!]
Europe, The Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam Zuid, Laan op Zuid, Parkstad, Laanhuizen, Laan op Zuid, (slightly cut from all sides)
Laanhuizen belongs to 'Parkstad', where the RET (Rotterdam’s municipal transport organization) remise used to be.
Another street in the Parkstad development is the Dreverhavenstraat. Dreverhaven was a character created by author F. Bordewijk (1884-1965). He is best known for his short novels Blokken ("Blocks", 1931), Knorrende Beesten ("Growling Animals", 1933) and Bint (1934)', later published together as a trilogy. It was followed by the longer works Rood Paleis ("Red Palace", 1936) and Karakter (1938, translated into English as Character in 1966.
Bordewijk’s compact style is known as ‘nieuwe zakelijkheid’ (new objectivity) and expressionism.
In the placement of the bricks of this façade, there are both Blokken (Blocks) to be discerned and perhaps Dreverhaven’s coarse character too. In the TV adaptation, it was 'incarnated' by Co van Dijk.
Design: Jeroen Geurst (Geurst & Schulze architecten), Joost Kühne (Architektenburo Kühne & Co), Endry van Velzen (De Nijl Architec-ten).
This is number 698 of Rotterdam architecture and 94 of Façades.
A footbridge now crosses the river Lha-chu and above it, nestling in the cliff face is the rebuilt Kagyu monastery of Choku Gonpa (4770 m), which was originally founded by Nyepo Drubtob in accordance with a prophesy of Gotsangpa.
The manastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution as whas 99% of all monasteries in Tibet.
The view of the south face of Gangs Rinpo Che, Gangs Ti Se or Kailash mountain, if clear, is striking. Below the monastery, but not discernible, is the Langchen Bepuk (Hidden Elephant Cave) where Padmasambhava stayed and meditated when he came to Mount Kailash
These two images are left full of grain and photographic character that sometimes I would remove in favour of smoother less noisy end results. Here these pictures are set to show the camera and lens being pushed to record the diminishing light. Photographically there are options of exposure including Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. Here the options have been decided upon so as to create a slightly stressed look, rather than a smooth serene scene there is some strength to gnaw at with a taste of piquant pepper and even a dark sprinkling of crisp crunch to enliven the pictorial munch at every eye bite.
There is a quote and links around the Red sky at night and other weather lore below giving a source from the Gospel of Matthew to show our weather lore and other sayings even beliefs have old roots, not all religious texts.
The Pentland Hills are magnificent and here is a share of their beauty.
© PHH Sykes 2024
phhsykes@gmail.com
Pentland Hills Regional Park
Red sky at night and other weather lore
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/how-weat...
Matthew 16:2-3, King James Version
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Gospel of Matthew 16:2-3, King James Version.