I am far away in my car with a long lens. but the parent kept staring at me and uttering some soft sounds of disapproval. Hence I left quickly without getting a good view of chicks in the nest. The other parent is more tolerant.

A forgotten video I found. Every time I cleaned Mr Beefies tank at times I would have to throw away some of his stash because it was shall we say musty. So Mr Beefies would show his disapproval by trying to tip his house over. I would try to grab him. He scurries inside his home and then pops the roof to peek if Im still around. I hope you all have a very happy Holidays. The place Im renting now does not allow pets. So Im hunting for a new place. Hope all of you have a great Christmas/Chanukah/Holidays!!!

Leona Lewis - Run

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpAgMxhx30

"There existed this impeccable heat

in the heart of your existence

an endlessly combustible faction upon faction

in continuous friction – a war of sorts:

You against the world; you against them;

you against everything that conspired to put you down.

You burned. You were a flame. You were an inferno.

And the universe loved that; I loved that;

I looked to you for light and warmth

I saw wild forests of chaos give in,

consumed fuel for days. Hearty. Earthy.

Fucking constant unapologetic living.

But something got to you,

the world in its cold disapproval

put a damper on your spirit.

Inside out the fires have become embers

dying out slowly and all you have to say is:

“I’m fine.”

…sometimes, often times, most times …you just stop me in my tracks."

infamouslyroggy.tumblr.com/post/133601499538/there-existe...

Blog Post

sllorinovo.blogspot.com/2017/01/stormwood-medieval-fantas...

(I've included what everyone said - well, highlights from them- including Niobe's, who had to leave before she could post what she would say, and notes from the letter Fallon wrote Laz. I also added Artika and Cata's internals, because they pay tribute to Laz - and I'll miss that guy. This RP impacted me harder than any other, and this funeral was one of the most beautiful things of all time. What a fantastic story.)

EAMON CALE:

"I hope... we will do more than mourn this man tonight. I ask that we pay tribute to a lad who was, indeed, larger than life, and far better than this city deserved. For all his... bluster and blow..." He smiles then, melancholy but gentle. "He was a rarity in this day and age, a man who still believed in compassion, in the protection of those who could not protect themselves, in fairness, equality." Eamon Cale's dark eyes linger on each face in turn. "Laz believed in making the world a better place than which he'd found it. Ye can look to his civil efforts to improve Midian's standard of living, his tireless work toward a common cause--that no one, regardless of race, creed, faith or genetics deserves to be locked away by the world, and forgotten here on this island with no chance nor opportunity to improve their lot. He showed others how to find their fecking bootstraps and draw themselves up again."

Eamon Cale's voice quiets again. "But 'tis as Captain of the Watch, guardian of this church, that -I- will remember Laz best. He came to this church, -drawn- here, he said, by a feeling that defied all logic... drawn to a Church and a faith that was not his own. And over the course of our friendship--over many a whiskey where he'd tell me I was mad for half the things I did... or punch me for the same--" He smiles briefly and resists the urge to run his palm over his jaw. "He came to share his belief with me, that God had spared him thus far, because his work was not yet done." Eamon Cale searches their faces. "Redemption," he says softly. "And a chance to be the good man that had been inside him all along. 'Twas this man who became my friend..." His voice catches, quiet now and hoarse. "A far better friend than I will ever deserve. He saved my life, in more ways than one. He defied the Legion for this parish, and for his family, the Pride. He gave me an incredible gift..." He pauses, jaw working. "And stood beside me as brother on the best day of my life." …

Eamon Cale looks to the door at the front of the church. If he tries, he can still see Laz standing there, back to the door, watching over the Mass. That damned cigar poking from the corner of his cocky grin. "'I have fought the good fight,' the Bible says." His gaze comes to rest on those gathered to say goodbye. "And so he did. 'I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.' He did all this and more. And so I say goodnight, ye mad bastard, with no doubt of God's words when ye stand before him." His vision blurs. He doesn't care. "'Well done, good and faithful servant. Lay down your burden. And welcome home.'"

ALRIC BRAVIN:

“…But Lazarus Lowenstark was my friend. Midian, it is said, is a den of evil, a gathering place of the wicked, and a neverending hole of darkness - or those were the first words I ever heard uttered of this place before I arrived. Laz was a light in that darkness. Someone who saw the evil, understood it, and yet, managed to stay good. Even managed to find good in those of us who might think that we were swallowed whole by the cesspool."

"He saw that good in me. When I arrived to this place, I will not lie, the darkness drew me. The promise of anonymity and a cessation to the boredom that I suffered from. I was not a good man. Still do not believe that I am, but Laz was one of a small number of people who told me differently, and perhaps performed the impossible. He made me believe it. It was something he was capable of doing - to show people that they were not their circumstances." He paused, taking another deep breath. "He taught me that sometimes you can't fight destiny. You can't fight fate putting you where you're supposed to be, but how you get there, and what you do when you get there, that's up to you… Laz was - is, one of the greatest men I've ever known, and I will never forget him. He protected my family, stood by my side when I needed someone to slap some sense into me, and became the godfather of my children. I couldn't ask for a better friend. And I know that there are people here who feel the same way. Laz will not be forgotten - the deeds that he has done and the lives that he has touched will ensure that he will live on forever. And though he and I may not end up in the same place, I consider it my greatest pleasure to have known this man for the short time - a blink of an eye, really - that I did." He returned his attention down to the casket, and bowed his head. He was fighting hard not to let the tears that wanted so desperately to form fall. "Rest well, Laz, you've earned it. Eternity awaits you. Enjoy it."

SISTER D:

"There is not much I can say about Laz that has not been said already... True also that I did not know him as well as most, and that will remain one of the biggest regrets of my life." She closed her eyes against their faces, "However, but for the Grace of God and the man we honor tonight, I would not be standing in front of you. The thing that I'll always remember about Laz is his ability to make anything better: a sad or...akward... moment fixed with a word, even up till his final breath, he was trying to console us; many of the city's problems fixed, with the help of his friends, with one of his inovations;" the teen took a deep breath, "a fight won through his skill, wit, and many strengths." Slowly, she opened her eyes... this wasn't right... not quite, she turned to the casket, that was who she needed to talk to, "Laz... I'm so sorry, sorry we didn't get to know eachother as well as we'd have liked, that we didn't get Pop Tarts, Lucky Charms, and cartoons, mostly... sorry that-- that I was up on the roof last week, and sorry these are so smushed." She choked on the last word and set a small, blue box down near the foot of the casket as she turned away. Those close could recognize the framilar Pop Tart brand logo. With that she hurried back to her seat, the napkin back at her dirty eyes.

GUIN FOUROUX:

"Laz and I," she finally says, softly. "We had our moments. The first word I think of when I think of him is 'opinionated.' But the second... well, the third. The second would be 'stubborn.' " She laughs, quick and soft, and glances at the casket. "But the third would probably be 'hero.' "She pauses for a moment, all hint of a tease leaving her voice and posture. "I grew to know Laz during the worst time of my life. And I remember standing, just about right here, when he managed to get a laugh out of me when no one else could. I don't think he knew how much that meant to me. How much it had felt, until that moment, that I wouldn't be able to laugh again, and what a weight he'd lifted…” She smooths a hand along her skirt, then lifts her hand to brush her rosay as she exhales. "Laz also never approved much of anything I did. The people I counted as friends. And he took every opportunity to tell me so. He -also- took every opportunity to defend me, whether through a barb or cutting comment, a laugh or a threat. I always knew he would be at my side if I needed him. And despite all his disapproval... he never missed an opportunity to tell me how much he trusted and respected me, either."

ELISE CAPALINI:

Elise Capalini looks at the coffin before her and then those assembled. "I tried to write something three different times before coming here tonight, and every time I failed," she says. "I think it was only after spending time with Bianca, in the cloister and the house she shared with Laz that I understood what had really been lost here." She looks to the hat retrieved from that house, and gently touches its brim.. "For me, Laz returned part of my family. I met him in this very church--asked him to do a job for me. I thought that would be the end of it--but... He became a brother to me, a protector of the Pride." She draws in a breath, throat gone tight and vision blurry again. "Laz held my hand through the darkest hours I have known in this city. He never flinched, not even in the end." Her hand flattens against the top of the casket. "We'll watch over your girl for you, Laz, until you two can hook back up. I told you--I told you..." There was too much else, she thought; too much to say and no proper words. She moves back to her place near Bianca.

RAVI KARU:

"Lazarus Lowenstark restored my faith in humanity." she paused, for a moment, and brushed the back of a hand over her cheek. "I want to impress how exact, and literal that statement is. Before coming to Midian, the only side of humans I had known was at best a dirty glance, a harsh word, and at worse, outright hatred and murder. When I came here, I met humans that seemed to care for hybrids, that seemed to be able to tolerate us, such as Father Eamon, but I still did not trust them, would not turn my back on them.. it was Lazarus who changed that, who taught me that humans were not all like those I had encountered before, that some, perhaps even most, would live and let live, and even do more. Lazarus Lowenstark helped me learn to trust humans, for the first time in my life.

LINDSAY NOONAN:

"We've all said good things about Laz, but my friend deserves to know I miss him. I genuinely respected him, even loved him. I can't say that about many humans, if you knew my past...She shrugged "...this isn't about me. Lazarus was truly Midian's hero, more than most will even know. Not just in the fight, but in trying to keep us all alive day to day as well. In time we'll see what we've lost here, but all I know is my sister has lost a beloved mate, and I've lost a dear friend. He and I often disagreed, but we were truly friends. I have laid my life on the line for him, and him for me. We worked side by side but I give him the credit for the brains to make it all work." Looks to the casket and smiles "I love you Laz, and I'm gonna miss you a lot. I won't let you or BB down though. Rest easy, you've earned it.

DAMIAN RIGAUD:

Damian Rigaud points with his gloved hand at the casket “The man I knew enjoyed what he did.. and it showed in his work and in his life. He lived and worked passionately and he shared his opinions and his mind the same way…” he smiles wider “Whether you agreed with him or even wanted to hear his thoughts on a particular subject or not.. “ says with a slight chuckle. Damian Rigaud straightens… his gaze settling on the crowd “You here that know me… know that I am not given to displays of emotion… or tortured ramblings about the pain of life and its unfairness… “ he points without looking at the casket “Neither did this man… Lazarus lived as he wished… worked in the field he wished.. took the pleasures that he wished… and *I* believe he even died in the manner he wished.” He says with determined tone at the end.“He died in the defense of the people of this church, a task he volunteered for and preformed in the manner he did everything he put his mind to… with excellence.” He says his voice confident and even. “This man that I call friend did not consider this a chore… or a vain effort.. I will not hear his wisdom debated in my presence.. “ he says with a hard edge to his voice. He looks again at the casket “Grieve as you will for the passing of a man, that stood straight and did not waver, that made no excuse for his way of life or the way he lived it….I send him on his way with my deepest respect…” he says his voice quieter.

BIANCA BENDER:

Bianca Bender she'd speak her voice quiet but strong now echoing against the old stone walls reaching all ears, "I lost the one thing that had meaning to me a week ago. I would have gone with him, if he'd but asked me to. But he wouldn't have done that...he asked me to go on...to be strong for him. I've been trying. It's difficult, he was my lover, my best-friend and my all. I've got to let him go, but for now I'm going to remember him. My..." takes a breath and swallows hard. Finally - finally after this long week she'd speak his name, "...Laz. With his impish grin that could melt me at a glance, that loved me unconditionally for all my faults he saw me as more...always more...he challenged me...every day we were together."

Bianca Bender takes another deep breath eyes sliding close briefly before opening still remaining dry, "You all shared parts of his life, work, friendship, family...." would glance in turn towards each of those that fell into each category the last landing on Alric, Fallon and the girls after passing over Elise. "He loved you all, so much. You all brought joy, pain, and challenge into his life every day." smiles softly, "I know because I had to help deal with some of the knots left behind." smiles softly and she'd turn then resting both hands against the coffin.

Bianca Bender now speaking just for him she'd break lightly the tears falling peacefully from her eyes as she continues, "I love you Laz, given time, I'd hope I would have eventually carried your name proudly as my own. We won't have those moments now, but the moments we did share, I'll cherish. Even your jokes, that I didn't always understand. I've got to go back to our home...soon...I tried earlier this week...I got you your tux you always looked so good in...you still do I'm sure..." smooths a hand over the coffin as if to smooth his tie again, "I will love you always...forever, and if I do find comfort again...the love won't be half of what I feel for you at this moment and always. Go in peace...I don't understand right now...but one day."

ARTIKA:

Artika Muliaina sits quietly now, her eyes forward and face appropriately somber... perhaps thinking of the waste of losing a useful and reliable tool, albeit one whose mind required the utmost care on her part, for such he was, at least in her mind. If she were to rise and speak, she would tell them that the man was not a fool. High praise coming from Artika. But she does not, instead glancing at Cata once more, her expression thoughtful.

CATABOLIS PLUTONIAN:

Catabolis Plutonian watches the cat quietly, for a second, but otherwise his gaze is locked on the coffin. The idea of life ending seemed almost merciful. He had done terrible things, ugly deeds that would not easily be forgiven. To be at the funeral of a man who had stood for something other than himself consumed him, made him wonder what he'd been wasting this cursed existence on. Not altruism - that alone was certain.

FALLON:

Thank you, for what you meant to Alric. You were more than a friend to him, and I'd hoped so much that you'd have become the same for me. I'd hoped you'd be the father of my next child.I know, it's a terrible time to make jokes, but at moments like these, it's either laugh or cry, and I do so hate crying in public. I will make sure Rose knows your face. Your name. What you did for her. That you held her, and kept her safe when I couldn't, and when I thought the world was crashing around us. You earned a place in my heart that night. A mother never forgets moments like those…Knowing you, I know the old saying, Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names, is true.

PORTIA:

Portia Kass exhaled and began her silent thoughts, hoping somehow or other that Laz could hear them "Laz... I wasn't kidding... wasn't just quoting when I said I'd miss you most of all. I don't think I realized exactly how important you were until it was... too late. I can promise you... that I will never take something like that for granted ever again. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for giving me a chance to loosen up and grow up, I'm only sorry I didn't do it sooner. From the very first moment we met, you had my respect and you always will. I love you dearly, I will always consider you my friend, and I will do my best to try and be as good and strong as you were, as much as I know I can be. You'll always be with me, the voice in the back of my head. I'm glad it's yours. Thank you... for everything."

NIOBE:

"It went like that the rest of the time I knew him. Laz was a man with a lot of ideas, and he loved working with other people who also had a lot of ideas. He had a passion to make Midian City a better place to live, not by changing the people who live here, not by enforcing his will on the place, but by the ignoble, simple things that Science - and he was a man to capitalize it - could fix. Clean water. Reliable power. Better technology for the Medical Center. Sustainable food supplies. And getting the subway opened between here and the mainland. Some of those we got done while Laz was with us. Most of them we're still working on. He poured heart and soul into the League, and I'm happy to say that just yesterday, Mayor Rigaud deeded us space for our new lab, which will be named the Lazarus Lawrence Lowenstark Labs. He was one for alliteration. So were his parents, apparently…Laz was good at looking at a situation and saying, ‘What can I do to help?’ and then doing it. More than that, though, he had the ability to look at someone, see something good in them, and nurture it until that good thing grew into something life changing for the person. He did it to me. I'm sure I'm not the only one."

CRAZY STRIPPER GRIEFER:

PrimalChaos Frostbite: Everybody fucky fucky...

The billboard and press campaign, created by advertising agency Teran\TBWA and now running in Mexico, is a colorful map depicting what the Americas might look like in an "Absolut" -- i.e., perfect -- world.

The U.S.-Mexico border lies where it was before the Mexican-American war of 1848 when California, as we now know it, was Mexican territory and known as Alta California.

Following the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo saw the Mexican territories of Alta California and Santa Fé de Nuevo México ceded to the United States to become modern-day California, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. (Texas actually split from Mexico several years earlier to form a breakaway republic, and was voluntarily (voluntary?????) annexed by the United States in 1846.)

The campaign taps into the national pride of Mexicans, according to Favio Ucedo, creative director of leading Latino advertising agency Grupo Gallegos in the U.S., which was not involved in the Absolut campaign.

Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: “Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It’s very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea.”

But he said that were the campaign to run in the United States, it might fall flat.

“Many people aren’t going to understand it here. Americans in the East and the North or in the center of the county -- I don’t know if they know much about the history.

“Probably Americans in Texas and California understand perfectly and I don’t know how they’d take it.”

Meanwhile, the campaign has been circulating on the blogs and generating strong responses from people north of the border.

“I find this ad deeply offensive, and needlessly divisive. I will now make a point of drinking other brands. And 'vodka and tonic' is my drink,” said one visitor, called New Yorker, on MexicoReporter.com.

Reader Paul Green goes into a discussion on the blog Gateway Pundit of whether the U.S. territories ever belonged to Mexico in the first place, and the News12 Long island site invited people to boycott Absolut, with one user, called LivingSmall, writing: “If you drink Absolut vodka, you can voice your approval or disapproval of this advertising campaign with your purchases. I know I will be switching to Grey Goose or Stoli and will never have another bottle of Absolut in my house.

“Hey Absolut ... that's my form of social commentary.”

From Los Angeles Times:

From the Associated Press

6:58 PM PDT, April 5, 2008

MEXICO CITY -- The Absolut vodka company apologized Saturday for an ad campaign depicting the southwestern U.S. as part of Mexico amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S. consumers.

The campaign, which promotes ideal scenarios under the slogan "In an Absolut World"; showed a 1830s-era map when Mexico included California, Texas and other southwestern states. Mexico still resents losing that territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War and the fight for Texas independence.

At this point, we disagree, because, we say it was an invasion, not a "war"

But the ads, which ran only in Mexico and have since ended, came as the United States builds up its border security amid an emotional debate over illegal immigration from their southern neighbor.

More than a dozen calls to boycott Absolut were posted on michellemalkin.com, a Web site operated by conservative columnist Michelle Malkin. The ads sparked heated comment on a half-dozen other Internet sites and blogs.

"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," Absolut said in a statement left on its consumer inquiry phone line.

Some fringe U.S. groups also claim the land is rightfully part of Mexico, while extreme immigration foes argue parts of the U.S. already are being overtaken by Mexico.

"In an Absolut world", a company that produces vodka fires its entire marketing department in a desperate attempt to win back enraged North American customers after a disastrous ad campaign backfires.

A plan for comprehensive immigration reform designed to deal with an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States -- the vast majority from Mexico -- collapsed last summer under the emotional weight of the debate.

Absolut said the ad was designed for a Mexican audience and intended to recall "a time which the population of Mexico might feel was more ideal"

"As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market, and for that we apologize"

Vin & Sprit, Absolut's Sweden-based parent company, will be acquired by French spirit maker Pernod Ricard SA under a deal reached last week.

The scientific name of Common, or Harbour Seal is Phoca vitulina, named by Linnaeus in 1758. Phoca is Latin for seal but vitulina translates as "of the calf", but can also mean veal. So was it named because it looked like a calf, or because it tasted like one? The Handbook of Mammals says that Common Seal was traditionally exploited for food, oil and skins in many parts of Britain. It also appears on the menu of that famous 1465 feast to celebrate the inauguration of George Neville as Archbishop of York, which included "12 Porpoises and Seals" (see below). Linnaeus wasn't averse to naming animals for the way they taste (eg Edible Frog- Rana esculenta), but he was also familiar with the works of the Classical authors. Pliny the Elder (c23-79 CE) wrote a Natural History where he called the Mediterranean Monk Seal "vituli marini", which translates as "calf of the sea". So I think that Linnaeus probably took the name vitulina for Common Seal from the works of Pliny. Though I still don't know whether Pliny called it calf from its look or its edibility, but I would guess look.

I photographed this serious-looking Common Seal at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. The title came to me from the disapproving look, playing on the idiom seal of approval, or maybe it's disapproving of being named after a baby cow.

Incidentally here's more on that famous banquet I mentioned: George Neville's enthronement as Archbishop of York took place in Cawood Castle in September 1465 and to demonstrate the riches and power of his family, twenty eight peers, fifty nine knights, ten abbots, seven bishops, numerous lawyers, clergy, esquires, and ladies, together with their attendants and servants came to the castle. Together with the archbishop's own family and servants there were about 2500 to be fed at each meal. They consumed 4000 pigeons and 4000 crays (i.e. crayfish), 2000 chickens, 204 cranes, 104 peacocks, 1200 quails, 400 swans and 400 herons, 113 oxen, six wild bulls, 608 pikes and bream, 12 porpoises and seals, 1000 sheep, 304 calves, 2000 pigs, 1000 capons, 400 plovers, 2400 'rees' (i.e. ruffs), 4000 mallard and teals, 204 kids and 204 bitterns, 200 pheasants, 500 partridges, 400 woodcocks, 100 curlews, 1000 egrets, over 500 stags, bucks and roes, 4000 cold and 1500 hot venison pies, 4000 dishes of jelly, 4000 baked tarts, 2000 hot custards with a proportionate quantity of bread, sugared delicacies and cakes, and 300 tuns of ale and 100 tuns of wine. The menu gives a valuable insight into 15th century English avifauna.

This female very rarely sits still if you approach her. She takes off, yells out her disapproval and flies to the other side of the preserve. If you follow her, she will do the same in the opposite direction. This day she decided to sit still for several minutes so I could take a nice shot of her. Isn't she sweet?

great blue heron voices his disapproval of the kayak in his lily pads

"It's TABOO that a father can leave his daughter as if she was never born."

Explantion:

The photo on the floor is meant to represent my birth father and his new wife. The wounded, dead body on the floor is me... that's how I felt after I found out that my father had remarried not long after my parents seperation.

This photo is meant to display the inner suffering of so many children around the world who never get to experience having a father in their life.

Also this photo is meant to portray my feelings of the loss I felt when my birth father walked away from me. Virtual or not... what we felt was real and undeniable. And REAL pain, real taboo is what I felt in those moments following the seperation.

NOTE:

This photo has been reworked from it's original state as seen in the previous post. I was simply using a prop that I felt appropriate. The creator of that prop admitted to a disapproval so therefore I reworked the photo. The effect however, is not lost... nor are the feelings replaced just by replacing the faces.

Sydney's 41st Mardi Gras parade celebrates the fearless and the fabulous!

March, 2019

Who amongst us has NOT spent their Saturday night at the Narrows, Virginia livestock auction. As westbound empties head back to the coal fields, about 100 cows were voicing their disapproval at the sound of Gevo horns echoing off the mountains.

This close led to Edinburgh's very first theatre and hall, The Canongate Theatre. The cornerstone was laid in 1746 by John Ryan of London's Covent garden.

Between 1747 to 1786 many performances by famous actors and singers were enjoyed here including the Rev, John Home's tragedy 'Douglas' which had it's premier here in 1756. However the disapproval of The Church of Scotland who opposed all theatre the Rev. Home had to resign from the ministry and the theatre was closed down in 1786.

Scottish author, surgeon and poet Tobias Smollet (1721-1771) lived here while writing his last novel 'The Expedition of Humphry Clinker' from this close.

____

The Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, consisted originally of the main street, now known as the Royal Mile, and a large number of small alleyways that led off it to the north and south. Some of these lead to open courtyards and are therefore called “courtsâ€. Others are open thoroughfare wide enough for a horse and cart, and are called “wyndsâ€, a reference to the way they wind along. But most of these alleyways are called “closesâ€, because they lead to private property and are hence gated and closed to the public.

A vigil was held at Valley Gardens for Sarah Everard who was killed by a police officer who now been charged at the magistrate court in London.

It was planned and special measures were supposed to be in place. However, the authorities objected to the planned vigil resulting in cancellation.

Although it was officially cancelled but many Brightonians arrived to pay tribute. Emotion was high. Police attempted to clear the crowd and made arrest. It also happened at a larger scale in Clapham Common, London.

Next day, the Brightonians stood in solidarity with those at Clapham Common in a sit in protest in front of Brighton’s police station for about an hour before marching in the streets to voice their dissatisfaction and anger of how the authorities had acted. The march ended at the place of vigil to ensure the continuation of what was prematurely disrupted by the police.

As a result of their disapproval, women from across the country joined other 70 groups of various protesters that came together to protest against the new bill that was debated last night in London.

It is reported that another similar protest is taking place in London this evening. Women from other countries also stood in solidarity and protested in their native land.

Brighton 🇬🇧

March 2021

Yep, Horton would have to go under the towel again, and he put on his fierce face to show his disapproval.

If looks alone can impart a sentiment, surely "disapproval" is conveyed by this expression. This lady was sitting on a park bench watching children at play in a fountain. I'm not sure of her relationship to the children, but I would guess she was not approving of their behavior.

A Moroccan man showing his disapproval. I had to take this one off the hip as to not cause further disapproval!

Leica M6

Summarit 35mm

Fujifilm Fujicolor 400

It just goes to show that if you are blessed with an inordinate amount of talent, all you need is a guitar, and maybe a stool

Unfortunately I have neither..............apart from the stool!

youtu.be/My9I8q-iJCI

stretched the ricoh to full zoom again LOL....

.....and he showed his approval?...or is that disapproval???

I composed this photograph of a pleasing Amsterdam canal while visiting this city in May of this year. For those interested in the fascinating history of these waterways, read on.

Amsterdam was founded around 1250 with the building of the Dam that gave it its name. ‘Aeme Stelle Redamme’ is Medieval Dutch for: "Dam in a Watery Area".

The Dam is still there as the heart of the city. But today this former barrier between the River Amstel and the"Southern Sea" is one of the few places in the center of town that you cannot sail a boat to. The last part of the river leading to the dam fell victim to land-traffic in 1922. The street that came in its place is still called "Damrak", which is Dutch for: "Last section of the river, leading to the Dam."

The first canals were dug for water management and defence. As the city expanded in the Middle Ages, successive defence moats ended up inside the walls and lost their function. But they acquired an important new one: local transport of merchandise. The warehouses along the old moats could store enormous quantities of trading goods that could be`pipelined through those moat-canals to a harbour full of ships that sailed all over the world that was known in those days.

Trade exploded in the 17th century, Amsterdam's Golden Age. In one very ambitious expansion project that took 50 years, the 3 main canals of the city were dug and the houses around them were built. Completed around 1660, it made the city grow to 4 times its size and gave it the most intricate and efficient system of navigable waterways in the world. A maze of connecting canals brought merchandise from all over the world to the doorstep of every canalside merchant. A fleet of thousands of small barges carried the goods from the big ships in the harbor to every corner of the city. More than a thousand warehouses on the canal-sides were supplied by these man-powered barges. On top of that, 9 specialized floating markets catered to the daily needs of 17th century Amsterdammers. In those days, more goods were moved on barges in the canals by human power, than would even be possible today with trucks along the canalsides.

The 20th century needed space for cars and other land traffic. Many canals were filled in to make streets and parking spaces. Not without struggle: fierce protest had rescued the famous Seven Bridges of the Reguliersgracht already in 1901.

But in 1955, a local police commissioner still submitted a serious proposal to the City Council to solve all traffic problems by filling up all the canals to make highways. He was almost tarred and feathered for it. Amsterdammers are fond of their Canals.

Almost half of the original water in Amsterdam was lost to landfills, but a full 25 percent of the city's surface still consists of navigable waterways. With 65 miles of ancient canals, Amsterdam is still the most watery city in the world.

In the summertime, the canals can still be dense with sailing traffic. 15000 pleasure boats are registered in Amsterdam and the city is a favourite destination for private yachts from Germany and France. Eight local marina's serve their needs and two big new ones are under construction. A few times a year, at big events like the Queen's Day and the Gay Parade, traffic jams on the canals can get quite serious. Rest assured that on an average day, canal-tour boats dominate the scene on the usually quiet waterways.

In the old days, when the canals were still used for transport of merchandise, living on a houseboat was a sign of poverty in Amsterdam. But as their transport function dwindled in the last century, the old 'industrial' canals became upmarket residential area's. Old warehouses on the canalsides were converted to Deluxe apparment complexes. The barges that supplied them began a new life as comfortable houseboats with ample living spaces in their former cargo holds. They are all quite old. The oldest one was built in 1840 as a waterboat for fresh drinking water (Prinsengracht/Amstelveld). Many have been afloat for more than a century. Relative newcomers are the house-arks, floating bungalows that are usually built on a hollow concrete platform. These meet with increasing disapproval from local residents and Civil Authorities, who would like to see them move to canals with less historcal importance in the suburbs.

Most of the houseboats are private residences. Because of strict regulations, only a few have lodging space for rent legally.

Watermanagement is still the most important function of our canals. Without them, the city would drown. Circulating the water is also vital for sanitary reasons. In the days when windmills had to do the job, the stench of the water could become unbearable in periods with little wind or rain. One canal was even filled in for its stench by Royal Decree, from the only King who ever lived in Amsterdam.

Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Louis was King of Holland between 1806 and 1811. He had City Hall on Dam Square rebuilt to be his palace. The stench of the canal behind the palace kept his wife Constance from her sleep, so he ordered it to be filled in to make a "smart and respectable Avenue" The name of that street is still 'Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal', which translates into: "Front defence moat on the new side".

Today, the water in the canals is cleaner than it has ever been in their history. Three times a week, 14 of the 16 existing waterlocks around the city close up, so clean water can be pumped in from the big lake IJsselmeer. The current that creates pushes the dirty canalwater out through the open locks on the other side of the city. Specialized cleaning boats with big scoops and nets patrol frequently to clean surface dirt. Nowadays, all the houseboats in the city are connected to the sewer system. The cleaner water has attracted life. About 20 different species of fish and crabs live a healthy life below the surface. That bounty attracts waterbirds like herrons, ducks, coots, gulls and recently even cormorants.

Le samedi 1er février, deux manifestations ont eu lieu à Londres. L’une était une marche pour T. Robinson sous le nom de « Stop the Isolation ». L’autre était une contre-manifestation organisée par Stand Up To Racism. Les deux se terminant dans la même rue, ce qui, en France, aurait été synonyme d’émeutes. Mon idée était donc d’assister aux deux manifestations mais la contre-manifestation s’est terminée plus tôt que prévu et par conséquent, je n’ai pu prendre que deux photos de cette dernière.

J’avais lu de nombreux témoignages indiquant les difficultés à photographier ces manifestants. Je suis habituée à ce que mon objectif soit soulevé brusquement ou qu’une main soit placée devant, en signe de désapprobation. Mais je dois dire que j’ai été étonnamment bien accueillie.

On Saturday, February 1st, two protests were held in London. One was a march for T. Robinson under the name “Stop the Isolation”. The other one was a counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism. Both ended in the same street. What would have been, in France, synonymous with riots, was not. My idea was to attend both of protests but the counter-protest ended sooner than I expected and consequently, I was able to take only two pictures.

I had read many testimonies indicating the difficulties in photographing these demonstrators. I'm used to my photo lens being raised abruptly or a hand put in front of it, as a sign of disapproval. But I have to say that I was surprisingly welcomed.

London - United Kingdom

M69B1339

Things just got a whole lot harder

far beyond mere comprehension

way ahead of simple convention

grappling with lost lifelines...

answers to what, I cannot fathom

for today wakes a paralysis

dumbfounding every analysis

now numbness rules supreme

a lifetime is allowed to question

the ethics of hurts stronghold

upon losing our footing to withhold

all we set out to do before all this happened

now so much is so nearly out of reach

I can see it, inhale and speak of it

but now desperately I wish to transmit

a physical body on location

but locked it is with a seal of my disapproval

a landscaped parchment of calligraphic sedge

waving with such an ease of expressive edge

that's the virtue of natural process

yet, Tuesday's cry is a surreptitious beaching

where hopes drowned before they could swim

now landed with a valley full to the brim

of the elemental stuff that my life so strives

if never again able to be magicked by movement

let me at least have one question answered

before I'm done, restoring peace's reign thus augured

in mind, body and soul, my spirit remains in control

by anglia24

11h00: 11/06/2008

©2008anglia24

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We spent quite bit of time in Stilo here in the Piazza Carnovale just off to the right you can see people already gathering at the Gran Caffe home of the eternal scopa match that occupies the time of many retired men of the area. The square is also home to the Church of San Francesco built in a Renaissance style in 1450 some of its outstanding features are the abnormally large bell tower and the beautiful frescos inside by Stilo’s famous son Francesco Cozza. The statue captured here is of Tommaso Campanella the humanist philosopher famous for his Renaissance book “The City of the Sun”, less famous is the person whose inscription you can read below the statue in this shot. Luigi Carnovale born in 1879 left Stilo for America as a youngster becoming one the top experts in the US for Italian language and author of writings on universal peace under the pen name Ercole Colombo but most in Italy know nothing about him. He returned to Stilo as a successful man in 1926 a firm believer in giving back he commissioned the statue of Campanella to commemorate his philanthropic beliefs and Stilo’s most famous son, his gift and other initiatives were met with local disapproval so feeling unappreciated by his people he returned to the US until his death in 1934.

I took this on Sept 18th 2023 with my D850 and Nikon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 at 28mm, 1/250s, f5.6 ISO 1000 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia ,Topaz, and DXO

Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism and still a work in progress

After photographing more Blue Grosbeaks I headed 2 and a half hours away to the coast. I knew the high pressure that was forecasted was going to finally stave the fog off the coast. Upon arriving at the beach we located a couple groups of these Caspians. They were pretty skittish but eventually settled in. We crawled to them slowly that latter part of the afternoon a little after 6 p.m. It was hard finding clear and isolated shots for the fact there were hundreds upon hundreds of Heermans and Western Gulls. The sunny skies brought out lots of people so when you waited and seemed to get the perfect condition someone would walk and spook them away coupled with kids and their parents running purposely to the flocks of gulls flushing everything. Nonetheless, we came away with some great stuff of the Caspians finally!! In this shot this guy was voicing his disapproval to the gull that seemed to get to close while it was attempting to land.

“out there on the road

always doing what you’re told

can you” hold this frame for me? THANKS.*

Fromme toyou.

To all the collectors out there of small and meaningless objects, here’s another one. Treat it as if it’s a painting: applaud in admiration, boo in disapproval and toss tomatoes at, hell, you can even bang your head against The Wall, you are the public, you are entitled. Just don’t shrug, that’s the worse.

My art side has gone e-side. E from erotic, duh! My painting will finally be unleashed upon the world on 29th of August 2157 and available for purchase on Amazon.com for 1,99 ridiculous beans (It’s a fake). Till then you can look at it for free on Flickr. But rather steal one for yourself (and wallow in delicious regret) or even better for your friends, enemies, roommates and send it to them anonymously. As a sign of appreciation. What can you expect in this fake, yet thorn-packed e-painting? Prepare to bleed bad. Here’s one hip (everything else melted into your bones).

The icon: youtu.be/TFjmvfRvjTc (Pink Floyd - Hey you)

_______________________

*Though it has been observed that those who follow orders and always do what they’re told are the most dangerous, the real criminals on this planet.

"My lover's got humour

She's the giggle at a funeral

Knows everybody's disapproval

I should've worshipped her sooner..."

Taken at Redemption sim.

All credits: newpussycat.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/romantic-summer/

Poznan, Poland

Spring

I am not sure what I like more, the final image or the attention, stares and loos of disapproval shooting this draws. :) Both perhaps.

Join me on my personal websiteErik Witsoe or on Facebook

Erik Witsoe Photography

and Behance and Twitter Instagram and also Google +

View On Black

"His face darkened with disapproval, tightened with authority, thrust forward with the expectation of obedience. His voice was that of a heroic captain demanding of his men more than they think they are capable of giving."

“I was a princess made of ashes; there is nothing left of me to burn. Now it's time for a queen to rise.”

― Laura Sebastian, Ash Princess

"My lover's got humor

She's the giggle at a funeral

Knows everybody's disapproval

I should've worshiped her sooner

If the Heavens ever did speak

She's the last true mouthpiece"

Andrew Hozier Byrne

Hozier - 'Take Me To Church'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1wDihZNQyQ

Credits:

Head: LeL EvoX

Body: Maitreya Lara

Hair: Doux - Bianca

Ears: L'Etre - Ringed mesh ears

Skin: Skinnery

Nails: *Merlific* Tera Nails Bento Vista et Maitreya

Outfit: Violent Seduction - Tempeste Set

Rings: V/. VoluptasVirtualis -[Ezhra] 1.1

Tattoo: [ LEPUNK ] Neck Fade II Tattoo +EvoX+ BOM

Viewer: Firestorm

Lighting: FAC ShadowLights Studio v1.1

Made at Sunny's Studio:

Paparazzi - BACKDROP - Gothic Window 3

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunny%20Photo%20Studio/129...

Hi Mary:

Your nesting pictures are beautiful....but. I never take a nesting picture. I do it for the same reason some publications ban those pictures. I think Flickr should do the same as well. Here is the reason:

Nesting shots look beautiful. They attract viewer's attention. They are comparatively easy to shoot, once you know the nest location. So a ban on nesting images may look unfair to some. It is indeed unfair to photographers who are robbed of a chance to showcase their talent. But to the birds, it is lease of life itself!

Nesting is the most critical time in a bird's life. Right from the nest-building activity up to the time when their offspring have left the nest for good, the birds are quite sensitive to intrusions. Birds are known to abandon their nests & eggs if they feel threatened. Shooting nesting images can reveal the nest's camouflaged location or lead predators to the nest.

Therefore shooting a nest picture is fraught with danger for the birds. Publishing a nest picture is even more trouble for the poor birds because many others can get 'motivated' to shoot such nice image! Even if the photographer does not reveal location of the nest while publishing the image, some local photographers can always guess it. You are not the only birder in your town, are you?

I Have Taken Precautions!

We see some photographers argue that they have taken sufficient precautions while shooting a nesting image. That they have used covers & hides, have kept safe distance, they did not harm the birds or their surroundings. We of course respect their claims, but do not have the means to verify any of such claims. At least some percentage of such claims are likely to be false. The photographer may have caused harm either knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore we have no alternative but to ban all nesting images without prejudice to the photographer's integrity and expertise.

When in Doubt...

Sometimes, it may not be crystal clear from an image whether it is a nesting pic or not. The photographer claims it is not, but other experienced birders think it might be a nesting pic. The bird should always get benefit of doubt in such cases. The photographer can click thousand other images and post them on any forum. Photographer won't lose much even if he/she removes one image. But the bird stands to lose a lot if it is a nesting site.

So the photographer will not lose much if he/she willingly removes such doubtful image from the forum, if it is suspected of being a nesting image. On the contrary the member will earn respect from a sincere community of birders. The community will be thankful to him/her for not putting his/her ego before the birds' welfare.

So We Delete...

In cases where the member fails to remove such image due to any reason, the admins may decide to delete it from the forum. Such deletion should not be taken as admin's disapproval of claims (of precaution or of the pic being not a nesting) made by the member. The image may be deleted simply to err on side of birds' welfare, rather than a member's right of posting content. The deletion is not a comment on integrity & expertise of the member.

Like a couple of little old men, these two watch television silently and mostly with disapproval.

Furious back-peddling will not remedy this situation

Sometimes when you go too far you can back peddle and things return to some kind of normality. However, a mistake is when you fail to correct your original error.

Who will snap first?

Will the government blame the media for inciting fear to create headlines to sell advertising space?

Will the media blame the government for over-reacting?

Isn't interesting that BBC's Question Time no longer has an audience just a few weeks after audiences around the country started to show their ever-increasing disapproval of the narrative being peddled by the BBC and ALL major political parties on any given subject?

Don't worry BBC, I don't think anyone has noticed.

Re-run of Escape to Victory anyone?

Hello there. Relevant comments welcome but please do NOT post any link(s). All my images are my own original work, under my copyright, with all rights reserved. You need my permission to use any image for ANY purpose.

Copyright infringement is theft.

Mecha Charizard, I choose you!! My summer hiatus is over; I was going to try to pawn this monster off as a SHIPtember submission (since he could hypothetically fly in space, and has a ~116 stud wingspan) but I could already sense Simon shaking his head in disapproval.

a slightly narcissistic focus here

I cooked a chilli this morning when I got up, and as I was chopping onion a face revealed itself and appeared to cry out in disapproval. I was not to be moved, however, and finely chopped said onion to form the basis of my tea. He leaves behind a Spanish onion and two young shallots.