Previous submission removed - with some justification.

Maybe I should have posted this one!

HMM!

I'm really pleased this has done well on explore because it gives some justification for being dragged out from under the duvet at 6.30am on a cold Sunday morning.

“Without faith, hope and trust, there is no promise for the future, and without a promising future, life has no direction, no meaning and no justification.”

~ Adlin Sinclair

Double exposure on a beach. A ghostly bystander’s emotions are killed, so they appear colourless. Even after their death, the already killed emotions carry on with being as intense as the neighbouring rough sea because once it had all been about love…

Shot attempting to represent an abstract impression, inspired by Freddie Mercurie’s lyrics:

“…Love just won’t stand still

Love kills, drills through your heart

…

It’s just a living pastime

Ruining your heart line

Stays for a lifetime, won’t let you go

…

Hey, Love don’t give no justification

It strikes like cold steel…”

A few of my highly esteemed contacts have recently taken to publicly shaming and embarrassing me in front of God and everyone in the Flickr universe by suggesting that my photos had consistently become too dark. (You know who you are!)

Looking back, they are probably correct, my justification twofold:

1) I am a huge fan of the Hudson River artists and they tend to be "darkish" resulting in a conscious (or subconscious) effort to mimic them, however ineffectively; 2) More likely and with far less pretentiousness, I found a new processing thing which has obviously taken over my initial click.

For those of you who have endured this period of dreary output, I appreciate both your forebearance and your loyalty. I understand that the world today needs some brightening for cripes sake, so here is an attempt to lighten things up a bit, along with a promise that I'll make every attempt to avoid such ruts in the future. As always, public humiliation and brutal criticism is something I eagerly anticipate as insightful in my continuing efforts to try to please, and I encourage continued exposure of my shortcomings.

____________________

[Ed.Note: As I have occasionally had some "misunderstandings" with my sense of humor, I reckon I should add that this entry is totally "tongue-in-cheek"...or for those that don't understand that, sarcastic. In other words, not to be taken seriously.]

º

G.A.S. issues and test. I came across this really great condition 'piano black' edition Pentax SL. I definitely don't need another camera or lens - but it was in such good shape. Lame excuse/justification I know - and it will need a slight CLA as its really quite hard to advance. But otherwise - just a few marks on the body and a bit of that sexy brassing😛

The clear and uncluttered viewfinder and body style of the SL - this is definitely my favourite model of all.

º

Pentax SL

Super Takumar 55mm ƒ1.8

Arista Premium 400@400 [exp. 2011]

Adox Neutol NE_1:50_12:30min_gentle agitation - slightly overdeveloped

º

The Val D'Orcia at Dawn of a new day CF004718

Cambo WD + Phase One IQ140

Lens : Schneider APO-Digitar 35mm f/5.6 XL

Exposition 0,6 sec; F11 ISO 50

Filter : Formatt Hitech Glass Fog 1/2 and Lee 03 Soft

Post production: Capture One 8 Pro & PS

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your visit and support ..

All Right Reserved. Pictures can not be used without explicit permission by the creator Fabrizio Massetti

28COM 14B.51 - Nominations of Cultural Properties to the World Heritage List (Val d'Orcia)

Val d'Orcia

The landscape of Val d’Orcia is part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated in the territory of the city-state in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The landscape’s distinctive aesthetics, flat chalk plains out of which rise almost conical hills with fortified settlements on top, inspired many artists. Their images have come to exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes. The inscription covers: an agrarian and pastoral landscape reflecting innovative land-management systems; towns and villages; farmhouses; and the Roman Via Francigena and its associated abbeys, inns, shrines, bridges, etc.

Justification for Inscription.

Criterion (iv): The Val d’Orcia is an exceptional reflection of the way the landscape was re-written in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing pictures.

Criterion (vi): The landscape of the Val d’Orcia was celebrated by painters from the Siennese School, which flourished during the Renaissance. Images of the Val d’Orcia, and particularly depictions of landscapes where people are depicted as living in harmony with nature, have come to be seen as icons of the Renaissance and have profoundly influenced the development of landscape thinking.

Source: Advisory Body Evaluation

Another experimental lith print image. I am working with the copper sulfate bleach look, and trying to analyze both how it works and what it does to images sort of viscerally. Perhaps most interesting in a high-rez world of what is the emotional impact of the sacrificed information?

Having done a little darkroom and other alternative process photography before, I know that it is sometimes kind of a luxury to just let the vagaries and vicissitudes of the process make decisions, and it can be surprisingly challenging as you lean more, to in a way take creative responsibility for the final image to a greater degree.

This is a step in a larger process for me. Learning to see another way. And it feels weird to do something that is both so satisfying and feels so at risk of being outgrown and so then despised.

But making art is about embracing tensions like these, isn't it? About finding ways to surf that wave.

In a few years I will either still like these, or they will have helped me to grow into someone who is capable of seeing differently. This gives me the courage to show them, but not quite enough comfort to do so without making my long justifications. Somewhere.

Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.”

Ernest Hemingway,

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

Plato

Two armies that fight each other is like one large army that commits suicide.

Henri Barbusse

War does not determine who is right – only who is left

Bertrand Russell

All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.

John Steinbeck

There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.

Howard Zinn

If we don’t end war, war will end us.

H.G. Wells

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

Ward has died now yet his shop is still here of a reminder of past times. I had some blacksmith work done by Ward back in the 1970’s. If he had waited for me to return for more work he would have gone out of business. In our current age everything passes. Take time to remember old things, In our current lives almost no one looks back. Why the rush, we will all be dead and gone soon enough. Does anything really matter? Do the everyday lives of ordinary people mean anything in the total sceme of life or are we just chaff in the wind?

Looking like real winter has arrived near the house. Studded tires now tubeless and working real well on the local single track. Will be riding it to work tomorrow. Need the fat tires, because it appears my town doesn't plow the bike path to Madison any longer. 4 snow falls and no plowing so far. Great justification for a second wheel set and a few hundred dollars later I can throw the studded tires on in 5 minutes.

potent resuscitation

I talked to you

about what went wrong.

Mega-phoned it until the echo was

unbearable. We sorted things into deep pockets,

rallied against justification and unexamined mishaps:

calcification by another word. It felt like torn

filaments that ribboned away so I was only

able to take small steps, parading down

the escalator while it was moving.

set

www.sjfinn.com

Saturday morning at the First Congregational Church in Tomper. Erin, Monica, and Trajetta have come in from the city* and stayed the night at the Calvins. For Holy Saturday they attended the study led by CJ, Pastor Calvin's son.

Erin: That was a great study!

Monica: Pastor CJ, I loved how you tied the third day of creation into the resurrection.

CJ: Ah, praise God, Miss Monica. If you were blessed by that truth, that's His doing, not mine. And I'm, um, not a pastor. My Pa is.

Bitsy Calvin grins as her brother shuffles awkardly under the feminine attention. Never mind that the tall, strong Toolen Warner is, as always, right at her side.

Monica: Well you should be! No doubt you will be. So, the seed of Adam or the seed of Christ.

CJ: Aye, Miss Monica, we're all born as the seed of Adam. We must be born again in Christ. Each seed bears fruit according to it's kind. Romans 5 is a challenging passage to be sure. It's one of the most studied passages of Scripture. It shows how one man's death can provide salvation for many. To begin, Adam is used to establish the principle that it is possible for one man's actions to inexorably affect many other people.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Not a particular sin, but the inherent predisposition towards sin by the human nature. Adam passed to all his descendants the inherent sinful nature he possessed because of his first disobedience. This nature means that in our natural state, we do not live in a way pleasing to God. (Ephesians 2:3; Psalm 51:5)

Sin brings death as the penalty. (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:22) Death includes physical death, spiritual death, and the eternal death of torment.

for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Adam was a progenitive type of Christ. The type fell short of the reality. What we have failed to do, live righteously before God, Christ Jesus did. So, the contrasts:

But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Many... many. All... all. In a contrastive parallelism we see that we all will end as one seed or the other, Adam or Christ. Many will be saved though the atoning work of Jesus, many more will reject this and perish.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12-21

Jesus' life of perfect righteousness, 30+ years without a sinful act, a sinful word, or even a stray sinful thought, is the life of holiness that God demands. That is, we are to be perfect because He is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Since we have all failed to meet this standard that God requires, the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to take our sin upon Himself and pay it in full. For those who will repent and believe in Christ for their salvation, they are set free of this penalty. They have been moved by God from the seed of Adam (the first birth of the flesh) to the seed of Christ (the new birth of the Spirit.)

•───────────︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵────────────•

From left to right: Trajetta Nicastro, Toolen Warner, Bitsy Calvin, Monica Murphy, Charles 'CJ' Calvin Jr., Erin Carroll, Ezra McNeill, Betsy Calvin.

* As seen on Good Friday!

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/54460782166

Previous Resurrection Day celebrations at Paprihaven:

2016:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/25962038802/

2017:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/34054141545/

2018:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/41096879842/

2019:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/32688654147/

2020:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/49797426658/

2021:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51092700833/

2022:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52008563496/

2023:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52802498693/

2024:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53620608508/

Muito obrigado à Graziele Noronha (ZIELE), Rasmus Boegh e Cuckooroller, pela identificação desta ave.

Maria-faceira (Syrigma sibilatrix), fotografada em Brasília, Brasil.

Classe: Aves

Ordem: Ciconiformes

Família: Ardeidae

Nome científico: Syrigma sibilatrix

Nome vulgar: Maria-faceira

Categoria: Vulnerável

Mede 53 cm. Tem face azul-clara, bico róseo. Habita campos secos, arrozais, lugares pouco alagados. Anda a passos largos e bem calculados, como se observasse um perigo ou uma oportunidade. Espécie insentívora. Faz ninhos sobre as árvores, ou arbustos, em ilhas, e põe ovos levemente manchados. Muito diferente das outras espécies de família. Sua voz é um sibilo melodioso repetido sem pressa, que é emitido com o bico largamente aberto e o pescoço esticado.

completamente insetívora, vivendo longe da água, nos cerrados abertos e campos limpos formados após a baixa das águas (foto). Os casais permanecem juntos a maior parte do tempo, mantendo contato em vôo com um chamado especial, um sibilo melodioso e longo. O som produzido é semelhante ao de maria-fumaças de brinquedo. No final da tarde, desloca-se para dormir pousada em árvores altas, geralmente em terreno seco. No início da manhã seguinte retorna ao local de alimentação, onde permanece no solo a maior parte do tempo, caçando os insetos em caminhadas lentas. Sua batida de asas é muito característica, por ser de baixa amplitude e alta velocidade, dando a impressão que voa somente com o deslocamento da ponta extrema da asa.

O nome comum está ligado às cores espetaculares da cabeça. As cores do juvenil são mais esmaecidas, mas, fora isso, é idêntico aos adultos.

Reproduz-se também em casais isolados, sem formar colônias.

Mede 53 cm. Face azul - clara, bico róseo.

Habita campoa secos, arrozais, lugares pouco alagados.

Ocorre do Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais à Argentina, Paraguai e Bolívia, também na Venezuela e Colômbia.

Andam a passos largos e bem calculados, como se observassem um perigo ou uma oportunidade.

Insentívora, caça também insetos no seco.

Fazem ninhos sobre as árvores, ou arbustos, em ilhas, ovos levemente manchados.

Muito diferente das outras espécies de família. A sua voz é um sibilo melodioso repetido sem pressa "i,i,i"; que é emitido com o bico largamente aberto e o pescoço esticado.

A text, in english, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistling_Heron

The Whistling Heron, Syrigma sibilatrix, is a medium-sized, often terrestrial heron of South America. There are two subspecies, the southern S. s. sibilatrix and the northern S. s. fostersmithi.

Description:

The Whistling Heron measures 53 to 64 cm in length and weighs 521 to 546 g. The southern subspecies is bigger but has a shorter bill in proportion to the body.[1]

The overall impression of standing birds is gray, with flying birds showing conspicuous white rear parts (lower back, belly, and tail). In both subspecies, adults' upperparts except the lower back are blue-gray.[1][2] The feathers of the sides of head, sides of the neck, breast, and scapular area are basically white but are stained gold to buff, perhaps by the powder down typical of herons or by secretions of the preen gland; the color varies from bird to bird. In the nominate subspecies, the crown and crest (separate plumes up to 4 cm long on the nape) are black and the upper wing coverts are cinnamon-colored; the crown and crest are slate-gray and the upper wing coverts are honey-colored (or "chamois"[2]) in fostersmithi.[1] The bill is pink with blue to violet at the base and the distal third black, the legs are greenish and rather short, and there is a fairly big area of bare bluish skin around the eye.[1][2]

Juveniles have the same overall pattern but are duller than adults, with the crown lighter, the breast light gray, and the throat and sides unstained white.[1][2] Chicks are undescribed.[1]

The bird is named for its most common call, a "loud, flute-like whistled kleeer-er"[2] or "a high, reedy, complaining whistle, often doubled or uttered in a ser[ies], wueeee, wueeee,.…, easily imitated" [3] or "a distinctive, characteristic, far-carrying, melodious whistle" that "can be rendered 'kee, kee, kee.'"[1] It may also give "a slow, drawn-out whistle" when taking off.[1] The alarm call is a harsh quah-h-h.[2]

Unlike other herons, in flight it has fast, duck-like wingbeats and usually does not retract its neck fully.[1]

Range and habitat

The subspecies fostersmithi inhabits the Llanos and the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela. There are no breeding records "yet" from Colombia.[1][2] The subspecies sibilatrix inhabits eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, western and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and northeastern Argentina. Recent records suggest that it may be expanding its range northward and eastward in Brazil. It makes seasonal movements at least in northeastern Venezuela, where it does not occur from November to January, but remains all year in other areas, such as Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.[1]

It occurs at altitudes up to 500 m (with a sight record from 2300 m[3]) in seasonally flooded savanna, often in drier grassy situations than other herons, but also in a wide variety of open waterlogged or shallowly submerged terrain. Because it roosts in trees, it particularly likes regions where open areas are mixed with woodlots. It has no objection to human-altered habitats such as pastures and roadsides, and it often perches on fenceposts.[1]

Although patchily distributed, it is common in many areas, with no population considered vulnerable. It benefits from deforestation and some agriculture.[1] As a successful heron of dry tropical country, it has been compared to two species originating in the Old World: the Cattle Egret and the Black-headed Heron.[4]

Behavior

Feeding

This species eats any small dryland and marsh animals it can catch, or even pirate[1] (as from an Aplomado Falcon in one reported incident[4]). It often holds still[1][2][3] but also walks very slowly[4] and may use more active techniques, even running after prey or catching flying insects (notably dragonflies[3]) from a standing position.[1] It may allow humans to approach fairly closely rather than leave a good feeding spot.[1] It typically feeds alone or in pairs, but is sometimes seen in groups up to 100,[2] especially before roosting for the night.[1]

Reproduction

In a courtship display, the birds fly back and forth and glide in circles. A captive pair displayed by raising their plumes.[1]

This species nests alone, unlike most herons, which nest in colonies. It may nest in mature trees such as araucarias or exotic trees.[1]. One nest in Argentina was loosely built of sticks about 4m up in a eucalyptus.[3] The eggs are pale blue and speckled, about 4.7 × 3.6 cm, and the normal clutch is three or four. Incubation lasts about 28 days, and young fledge 42 days after hatching. Egg survival has been measured at 28% and nestling survival at 40%; storms that destroy nests are an important cause of losses. Based on observations of family groups, only two young normally fledge. Unlike most heron species, Whistling Herons care for young after leaving the nest; juveniles beg for food by hissing with their wings drooped.[1]

Taxonomy

Skeletal resemblances to the night herons have led to a debate about whether the Whistling Heron is related to them, but since the 1980s it has been at least provisionally considered a relative of the genus Egretta, with little doubt that it belongs in a genus of its own.[1][5]

Cultural significance

Indigenous peoples formerly used its neck plumes as trade items, though not so heavily as to reduce populations.[1]

References

* BirdLife International (2004). Syrigma sibilatrix. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 02 April 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Kushlan, James A.; Hancock, James. A (2005). Herons. Oxford University Press, pp. 208–214. ISBN 0-19-854981-4. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hilty, Steven L.; Brown, William L. (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, p. 66. ISBN 0-691-08371-1. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

3. ^ a b c d e Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, p. 213–214. ISBN 0-691-09250-8. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.

4. ^ a b c Kushlan, James A.; Hancock, James A.; Pinowski, J.; Pinowska, B. (1982). "Behavior of Whistling and Capped Herons in the Seasonal Savannas of Venezuela and Argentina" (pdf). Condor 84: pp. 255–260. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.

5. ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr.; C. D. Cadena; A. Jaramillo; M. Nores; J. F. Pacheco; M. B. Robbins; T. S. Schulenberg; F. G. Stiles; D. F. Stotz; K. J. Zimmer. A classification of the bird species of South America [Version 2007-04-05]. American Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.

Another text, in english, from www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/whistling heron.html

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix), photographed at the City's Park (Parque da Cidade), in Brasília, Brazil.

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)

There are two subspecies of Whistling Heron, S. s. sibilatrix found in Bolivia, SE Brazil and NE Argentina and S. s. fostersmithi found in E Colombia and Venezuela which is smaller and paler.

It is quite distinctive with its red bill with black tip, its blue bare skin around the eyes, its golden neck and its blue-grey back.

Whistling Heron, Brazil, Sept 2000 - click for larger image It gets its name from the rather melodious whistle that it makes in contrast to the coarse calls of most herons.

It feeds during the day on grasshoppers, frogs, eels, etc. and is probably less dependant on water for its food than any other heron.

The Brazilians call it "Maria-faceira" or "Mary the coquette".

Book: www.lulu.com/shop/giles-watson/pearl/paperback/product-20...

The story so far: The Dreamer loses his Pearl in a grassy mound - evidently her grave. He swoons with grief, and awakens in an earthly paradise, through which there runs a beautiful stream. The land on the opposite bank seems even more beautiful. He wanders further down the stream, hoping to find a bridge or a ford. Just when he starts to become afraid of the dangers that may be in store for him, he sees a young woman sitting at the foot of a crystal cliff on the opposite bank, and instantly recognises her as his lost Pearl. He hails his Pearl and expresses his relief that she still exists, but she begins to reprove him for his lack of faith. She criticises him for only believing that her soul is immortal now that he can see her, and is shocked by his suggestion that he - a mortal man - has a hope of joining her in Paradise without first experiencing death.

The Dreamer admits that she is stupendously beautiful, but wonders how she can have won the title of Queen and bride of Christ, in the face of stiff competition: all those other women who have gone to heaven. Her reply draws upon the Old Testament prophets and the Book of Revelation: the Lamb which was slain in Jerusalem will return to govern the New Jerusalem as its King, with a company of a hundred and forty-four thousand wives – one of whom is the Pearl. She describes the state of bliss experienced by all the brides of the Lamb, and the worship that is offered to him. The Dreamer asks her for a boon: he wants to see the heavenly city or fortress where she lives. She describes the spotless city of the New Jerusalem, and he is so entranced by the glory she describes that he repeats his request to be taken to see it. She grants his request, even though he will not be able to set foot inside the city, and he follows her upstream until he can see the heavenly City. At first, he cannot lift his eyes beyond the twelve tiers at its base, each one wrought of precious stones – with the exception of one, which is fashioned out of pearl. Now, he begins to look up at – and through – the City itself, awed beyond belief by its beauty. He realises that no mortal could ever enter the city and survive its sublime excess – and sees a throng of a hundred thousand and more women, all dressed and jewelled like his Pearl, approaching the throne of God in the company of the Lamb.

Pearl: Part 19

Just as the rising, marvellous moon

Drives the ebbing day-gleams down,

It shakes the very soul of man

To know this City – of rich renown –

Is thronged with retinues of women:

All virgins, wearing the same gowns,

Answering the same unseen summons

As my own bejewelled and blissful one –

And all of them are likewise crowned,

Dripping pearls, and draped in white.

In each one’s breast is firmly clasped

A blissful pearl of great delight.

In great delight they glide together

On golden, glinting, glassy roads;

A hundred thousand of them gather,

All rigged out in matching robes,

Each as radiant as the other.

The splendid Lamb before them rides

With seven horns – a lather

Of priceless pearls encrusts his clothes,

And without clamour, the virgins close

In upon the throne, their ranks all white.

Like maidens at Mass, they rise in rows,

Pouring forth with great delight.

The delight the Lamb’s coming brings

Is too intense for me to tell:

The aldermen, when he arrives,

Swoon at his feet. No pen could spell

Out how that angel-legion throngs,

With thuribles, the delightful smell

Of incense eternally on the rise,

And for that Jewel, their praises swell:

They quake the Earth and cleave Hell.

The virtuous orders of angels smite

My heart. I long to sing as well,

And lose my soul in their delight.

Delighting in the Lamb, I reel,

Rapt in wonder. Just out of reach

He seems: more regal and real

Than prophets could spell out in speech,

His garments all glorious, the seal

Of graciousness upon his face. I search

With wild eyes the wound that spills

His heart’s blood, in a great gush,

The skin so torn. I swoon and lurch,

Sick to think that sin and spite

Thrust in the spear and raised the lash.

Can men do this, and take delight?

And yet, delight is on his face

Despite that open, gushing sore:

The agony has left no trace

On his expression – an exultant stare.

Around him, his retinue of grace,

Lambent with life, enough to sear

My eyes. And there, looking utterly in-place,

My little Queen. Did she stand near

Me in that glade? Christ! I can hear

Her laughter, mingling with the mass, all white.

I must wade these waters, face my fear

With love, and longing for delight.

Late fourteenth century poem, written in a north-west midland dialect of Middle English, paraphrased by Giles Watson.

I took about a million close-ups right before I broke my 18-55 lens this weekend. I have another five days before I can have someone check it out to see if it can be fixed. Part of me wants a justification to just get a new camera!

Muito obrigado à Graziele Noronha (ZIELE), Rasmus Boegh e Cuckooroller, pela identificação desta ave.

Maria-faceira (Syrigma sibilatrix), fotografada ao lado do Ginásio de Esportes Nilson Nelson, em Brasília, Brasil.

Classe: Aves

Ordem: Ciconiformes

Família: Ardeidae

Nome científico: Syrigma sibilatrix

Nome vulgar: Maria-faceira

Categoria: Vulnerável

Mede 53 cm. Tem face azul-clara, bico róseo. Habita campos secos, arrozais, lugares pouco alagados. Anda a passos largos e bem calculados, como se observasse um perigo ou uma oportunidade. Espécie insentívora. Faz ninhos sobre as árvores, ou arbustos, em ilhas, e põe ovos levemente manchados. Muito diferente das outras espécies de família. Sua voz é um sibilo melodioso repetido sem pressa, que é emitido com o bico largamente aberto e o pescoço esticado.

completamente insetívora, vivendo longe da água, nos cerrados abertos e campos limpos formados após a baixa das águas (foto). Os casais permanecem juntos a maior parte do tempo, mantendo contato em vôo com um chamado especial, um sibilo melodioso e longo. O som produzido é semelhante ao de maria-fumaças de brinquedo. No final da tarde, desloca-se para dormir pousada em árvores altas, geralmente em terreno seco. No início da manhã seguinte retorna ao local de alimentação, onde permanece no solo a maior parte do tempo, caçando os insetos em caminhadas lentas. Sua batida de asas é muito característica, por ser de baixa amplitude e alta velocidade, dando a impressão que voa somente com o deslocamento da ponta extrema da asa.

O nome comum está ligado às cores espetaculares da cabeça. As cores do juvenil são mais esmaecidas, mas, fora isso, é idêntico aos adultos.

Reproduz-se também em casais isolados, sem formar colônias.

Mede 53 cm. Face azul - clara, bico róseo.

Habita campoa secos, arrozais, lugares pouco alagados.

Ocorre do Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais à Argentina, Paraguai e Bolívia, também na Venezuela e Colômbia.

Andam a passos largos e bem calculados, como se observassem um perigo ou uma oportunidade.

Insentívora, caça também insetos no seco.

Fazem ninhos sobre as árvores, ou arbustos, em ilhas, ovos levemente manchados.

Muito diferente das outras espécies de família. A sua voz é um sibilo melodioso repetido sem pressa "i,i,i"; que é emitido com o bico largamente aberto e o pescoço esticado.

A text, in english, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistling_Heron

The Whistling Heron, Syrigma sibilatrix, is a medium-sized, often terrestrial heron of South America. There are two subspecies, the southern S. s. sibilatrix and the northern S. s. fostersmithi.

Description:

The Whistling Heron measures 53 to 64 cm in length and weighs 521 to 546 g. The southern subspecies is bigger but has a shorter bill in proportion to the body.[1]

The overall impression of standing birds is gray, with flying birds showing conspicuous white rear parts (lower back, belly, and tail). In both subspecies, adults' upperparts except the lower back are blue-gray.[1][2] The feathers of the sides of head, sides of the neck, breast, and scapular area are basically white but are stained gold to buff, perhaps by the powder down typical of herons or by secretions of the preen gland; the color varies from bird to bird. In the nominate subspecies, the crown and crest (separate plumes up to 4 cm long on the nape) are black and the upper wing coverts are cinnamon-colored; the crown and crest are slate-gray and the upper wing coverts are honey-colored (or "chamois"[2]) in fostersmithi.[1] The bill is pink with blue to violet at the base and the distal third black, the legs are greenish and rather short, and there is a fairly big area of bare bluish skin around the eye.[1][2]

Juveniles have the same overall pattern but are duller than adults, with the crown lighter, the breast light gray, and the throat and sides unstained white.[1][2] Chicks are undescribed.[1]

The bird is named for its most common call, a "loud, flute-like whistled kleeer-er"[2] or "a high, reedy, complaining whistle, often doubled or uttered in a ser[ies], wueeee, wueeee,.…, easily imitated" [3] or "a distinctive, characteristic, far-carrying, melodious whistle" that "can be rendered 'kee, kee, kee.'"[1] It may also give "a slow, drawn-out whistle" when taking off.[1] The alarm call is a harsh quah-h-h.[2]

Unlike other herons, in flight it has fast, duck-like wingbeats and usually does not retract its neck fully.[1]

Range and habitat

The subspecies fostersmithi inhabits the Llanos and the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela. There are no breeding records "yet" from Colombia.[1][2] The subspecies sibilatrix inhabits eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, western and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and northeastern Argentina. Recent records suggest that it may be expanding its range northward and eastward in Brazil. It makes seasonal movements at least in northeastern Venezuela, where it does not occur from November to January, but remains all year in other areas, such as Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.[1]

It occurs at altitudes up to 500 m (with a sight record from 2300 m[3]) in seasonally flooded savanna, often in drier grassy situations than other herons, but also in a wide variety of open waterlogged or shallowly submerged terrain. Because it roosts in trees, it particularly likes regions where open areas are mixed with woodlots. It has no objection to human-altered habitats such as pastures and roadsides, and it often perches on fenceposts.[1]

Although patchily distributed, it is common in many areas, with no population considered vulnerable. It benefits from deforestation and some agriculture.[1] As a successful heron of dry tropical country, it has been compared to two species originating in the Old World: the Cattle Egret and the Black-headed Heron.[4]

Behavior

Feeding

This species eats any small dryland and marsh animals it can catch, or even pirate[1] (as from an Aplomado Falcon in one reported incident[4]). It often holds still[1][2][3] but also walks very slowly[4] and may use more active techniques, even running after prey or catching flying insects (notably dragonflies[3]) from a standing position.[1] It may allow humans to approach fairly closely rather than leave a good feeding spot.[1] It typically feeds alone or in pairs, but is sometimes seen in groups up to 100,[2] especially before roosting for the night.[1]

Reproduction

In a courtship display, the birds fly back and forth and glide in circles. A captive pair displayed by raising their plumes.[1]

This species nests alone, unlike most herons, which nest in colonies. It may nest in mature trees such as araucarias or exotic trees.[1]. One nest in Argentina was loosely built of sticks about 4m up in a eucalyptus.[3] The eggs are pale blue and speckled, about 4.7 × 3.6 cm, and the normal clutch is three or four. Incubation lasts about 28 days, and young fledge 42 days after hatching. Egg survival has been measured at 28% and nestling survival at 40%; storms that destroy nests are an important cause of losses. Based on observations of family groups, only two young normally fledge. Unlike most heron species, Whistling Herons care for young after leaving the nest; juveniles beg for food by hissing with their wings drooped.[1]

Taxonomy

Skeletal resemblances to the night herons have led to a debate about whether the Whistling Heron is related to them, but since the 1980s it has been at least provisionally considered a relative of the genus Egretta, with little doubt that it belongs in a genus of its own.[1][5]

Cultural significance

Indigenous peoples formerly used its neck plumes as trade items, though not so heavily as to reduce populations.[1]

References

* BirdLife International (2004). Syrigma sibilatrix. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 02 April 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Kushlan, James A.; Hancock, James. A (2005). Herons. Oxford University Press, pp. 208–214. ISBN 0-19-854981-4. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hilty, Steven L.; Brown, William L. (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, p. 66. ISBN 0-691-08371-1. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

3. ^ a b c d e Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, p. 213–214. ISBN 0-691-09250-8. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.

4. ^ a b c Kushlan, James A.; Hancock, James A.; Pinowski, J.; Pinowska, B. (1982). "Behavior of Whistling and Capped Herons in the Seasonal Savannas of Venezuela and Argentina" (pdf). Condor 84: pp. 255–260. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.

5. ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr.; C. D. Cadena; A. Jaramillo; M. Nores; J. F. Pacheco; M. B. Robbins; T. S. Schulenberg; F. G. Stiles; D. F. Stotz; K. J. Zimmer. A classification of the bird species of South America [Version 2007-04-05]. American Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.

Another text, in english, from www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/whistling heron.html

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix), photographed at the City's Park (Parque da Cidade), in Brasília, Brazil.

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)

There are two subspecies of Whistling Heron, S. s. sibilatrix found in Bolivia, SE Brazil and NE Argentina and S. s. fostersmithi found in E Colombia and Venezuela which is smaller and paler.

It is quite distinctive with its red bill with black tip, its blue bare skin around the eyes, its golden neck and its blue-grey back.

Whistling Heron, Brazil, Sept 2000 - click for larger image It gets its name from the rather melodious whistle that it makes in contrast to the coarse calls of most herons.

It feeds during the day on grasshoppers, frogs, eels, etc. and is probably less dependant on water for its food than any other heron.

The Brazilians call it "Maria-faceira" or "Mary the coquette".

I took the same shot with two different cameras using the same lens and camera settings. I processed them both in the same way.

One of these was shot with a cheap Sony A6000 and the other was shot with the Sony A7RII. There's a $3000 difference between the costs of both cameras.

Which one do you think is from the cheaper camera? 1 or 2?

---------------------------------------

I really enjoyed reading your comments. Most people chose #2 correctly. #1 is with the cheaper camera. I guess the point here is that you really don't need to spend the extra $3000 to get good photos if you know what you're doing.

There may be some justification for better image quality and resolution if you're printing large images but for web only, you might as well save the money and go travel.

Thanks for looking

Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Fall is finally on it's way! I'm starting to make some plans for seasonal tabletops... Logic: If I post these, it will pressure me into actually completing some dioramas. Right? In the background - Some of my teasets which I, of course, purchased under the justification that I would use them in dioramas. Shame me into actually doing something with them.

Playing around with the processing on this shot and I found this which I really liked.

Castle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton, Devon, England. Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was the last castle to be built in England. The client was Julius Drewe, the hugely successful founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. Drewe chose the site in the belief that it formed part of the lands of his supposed medieval ancestor, Drogo de Teigne. The architect he chose to realise his dream was Edwin Lutyens, then at the height of his career. Lutyens lamented Drewe's determination to have a castle but nevertheless produced one of his finest buildings. The architectural critic, Christopher Hussey, described the result: "The ultimate justification of Drogo is that it does not pretend to be a castle. It is a castle, as a castle is built, of granite, on a mountain, in the twentieth century".

The castle was given to the National Trust in 1974, the first building constructed in the twentieth century that the Trust acquired. The castle is a Grade I listed building. The gardens are Grade II* listed on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Sadly a no fly zone above Ukraine seems unlikely since NATO jets would need to be able not only to engage directly with Russian fighters but to neutralise Russian Surface To Air missile batteries on Ukrainian territory. That would risk wider conflict and throw the justification to Putin perhaps to fulfil his veiled threat to use a tactical nuclear missile at a NATO airbase or on Ukrainian military concentrations. Putin and his gangster government are now a pariah state internationally and may soon face an internal backlash leaving them with little to lose by following through on his grotesque threat.

[PS As these days have passed, and the brutality and killings increase exponentially, it does raise the question fully as to whether a no-fly zone is declared by NATO to stop or limit air attacks. The problem is that would cause direct conflict with Russia by NATO potentially and even with it fully enforced, Russia can shell and use missiles to bombard the cities of Ukraine.

Putin is genuinely unhinged and so the nuclear threat, even if "only" battlefield nuclear weapons, has to be considered a likely risk. Putin once told of an event in his childhood when he killed rats. He cornered one rat and with nowhere to go the rat flew at him and escaped. Whether the story is true or not is irrelevant but it does reveal his likely approach if cornered. Only the people of Russia or the Oligarchs who have relied on him for their wealth can unseat him. Hopefully there is a Mussolini lamppost in Moscow waiting for him very soon.]

Pathetic/BENIGN/Accept it/UNDERMINE

Your opinion/MY JUSTIFICATION

Happy/SAFE/Servant/CAGED

Malice/UTTER WEAKNESS

No toleration - invade

COMMITED/Enraged/ADMIT IT

Don't condescend/DON'T EVEN DISAGREE

Destroy/DECAY/Disappoint/DELAY

You've suffered then/NOW SUFFER UNTO ME

Obsession - take another look

Remember - every chance you took

Decide - either live with me

Or give up - any thought you had of being free

(Don't go) I never wanted anybody more

than I wanted you...

(I know) The only thing I ever really loved

was hate...

Anyone/NO/Anything/YES/Anyway/FALL/Anybody/MINE/

Anybody/TELL ME

I want/YOU/I need/YOU/I'll have/YOU/I won't/

LET ANYBODY HAVE YOU

Obey/ME/Believe/ME/Just trust/ME/Worship/ME/

Live for/ME

Be grateful/NOW/Be honest/NOW/Be precious/NOW/

Be mine/JUST LOVE ME

Posession - feed my only vice

Confession - I won't tell you twice

Decide - either die for me

Or give up - any chance you had of being free

(Don't go) I never wanted anybody more

than I wanted you...

(I know) The only thing I ever really loved

was hurting you...

(Don't go) I never wanted anybody more

than I wanted you...

(I know) The only thing I ever really loved

was hate...

Stay inside the hole - let me take control

Dominate

You are nothing more - you are something less

Innocent

Something has to give - something has to break

Omnipresent

Fingers in your skin - let me savage in

You deserve it

(Don't go) I never wanted anybody more than I wanted you...

(I know) The only thing I ever really loved was hurting you...

(Don't go) I never wanted anybody more than I wanted you...

(I know) The only thing I ever really loved was hate...

You're mine (I KNOW WHO YOU ARE) - Slipknot

model: me

place: Carnival of Doom

pose: 5ifth Order

OK, I've never heard of Laobull, and neither has Google. I'd guess it would be translated as Old Bull, which is sort of what it is! I immediately saw a rolling countryside in this bathroom travertine limestone tile, and my wife saw the same, as in an ancient Chinese painting. Not much justification for "Laobull," but it's all I've got.

Sitting here at my desk, nervous, with a heartbeat far too fast, waiting for something to happen … But for what? My fingers hardly obey my mind’s instructions on typing the words in the correct order of letters. Typos by the score, yet at the same time my writing is rapid, as if I needed to catch something that’s trying to escape my grip. But then again: what is it? Listening to the steady hum of my computer and the steady clicking of my fingers on the keys, the silence around me feels all the more solid. If I switched on my external hard disk drive now and played some music from my vast collection, maybe this would drown the silence around me. But inside, I would still hear the silence. The silence you hear, when you’re alone, only with your thoughts for company. Thoughts that keep racing through your head, chasing each other or more often chasing their own tails. They come and go without waiting to be beckoned in. Like vampires: once you opened a window for them, they can enter freely and feed on you. They know that they are stronger than I am. They don’t need to ask. But what if …?

What if I shut them out? Put a good fast lock at the entrance of my mind, and a sign, which says: No entry permitted without passport. Then when some thought came and wanted to enter my mind, I could look at it and check its justification. Reasonable thoughts might enter, but those, which only came to cause trouble and confusion, would receive a good kick in the a…

Wish it were so simple. Or is it?

I know, what I’m waiting for: I’m waiting for this lock to suddenly appear like magic, for it to appear to be at my service, just like that. Now wouldn’t that be nice? Only that it won’t happen. Too easy. How does the saying go: If you want help, then help yourself. But how could I possibly do this? Oh, I guess that I’m already on my way, because I’ve come aware. Aware of the fact that I need help. So at least I have the advantage of not just feeling miserable without a clue, but in fact realizing that I feel miserable, like starting to see vague outlines in the mist, which is surrounding me and filling me. Outlines, which might turn into more recognizable shapes and even solid and touchable objects, if I pushed harder. But what if I did? Would I like, what I got to see then?

I’m afraid.

Can you please take my hand, so that I won’t feel so alone?

© Ines Langs, January 29, 2008

Highest position in Explore on Wednesday, March 12, 2008: # 80

I had to crack up at the expression this elk gave me. Almost like justification for the snow on it's head and nose. Right by the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. More frosting.

In terms of favourite types, the Southdown PD3 'Queen Mary' is up there with the Northern Routemaster; and the fact that OK hung onto its final three well into the OK Travel era seems justification enough to give it the stripey treatment (even though it never happened in real life). Traditional types can sometimes look rather silly in modern liveries but I think that this one works well. The vehicle depicted is BUF 279C, the final survivor after the other two had been pensioned off as driver trainers to Northumbria Motor Services. It was photographed whilst working a free service in connection with a bus rally at Washington in 1988. An interesting aside is that the company intended to have a batch of ex-Leeds AEC Regent Vs rebodied by Northern Counties to the original Queen Mary design, before abandoning the project and selling them off to Tyne & Wear PTE (29-Mar-11).

All rights reserved. Not to be re-posted anywhere without prior written permission. Please follow the link below for additional information about my Flickr collection and the techniques used:

www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/6046035749/in/set-7..

Malta: Charles Bray took this picture from another painting where you could see Admiral Horatio Nelson in Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta, coming ashore from his Battleship. As Horatio Nelson was leaving Toulon, Napoleon was approaching Malta. The Knights of St. John, a last remnant of the crusades, still held the island, but it was a shadow of its former self. Their resolve was weakened by French knights, who refused to fight fellow Frenchmen, and it was ended by a revolt amongst the Maltese. Napoleon now reorganised the island, abolishing the Knights, and plundered their fortress. After a week of intense activity, he sailed on towards Alexandria. Nelson was also heading in the same direction, having heard news of the fall of Malta when he reached Naples. Nelson met Keith on 20 January 1800. They both returned to Palermo, from where they moved on to Malta, still in French hands. On the trip to Malta, the fleet got separated in heavy fog. On 18 February, his small squadron encountered a French force attempting to take supplies to the besieged island. Keith and Nelson came back together off Malta. Lord Keith ordered Nelson to take personal command of the blockade, but claiming ill health (a constant theme with Nelson), he returned to Palermo, leaving Captain Berry to conduct the blockade. This was probably the final straw for his superiors, and Nelson was quietly ordered to return home. Tsar Paul was strongly anti-British (and only marginally sane). Tension over the fate of Malta also played a role in his change of alliance. On 27 August 1800, Tsar Paul issued a declaration inviting Sweden, Denmark, and Sweden to join with Russia in Armed Neutrality. The aim of this was to use force to defend convoys of neutral ships. In Britain it was seen, with some justification, as a move that could only help the French. Tsar Paul had been murdered on 24 March, before the battle had been fought, and replaced by his son Alexander. The new Tsar was less anti-British than Paul, although he was later to ally with Napoleon, at least for a period. Nelson had replaced Parker as commander in chief in the Baltic on 5 May, placing him in charge of the Russian negotiations. The French had to close themselves up behind the fortifications of Valletta and the surrounding Grand Harbour cities and outlying major forts besieged by the Maltese who in due course asked for and found support and protection from King Ferdinand IV of the Kingdom of the two Sicilians and from King George III of England through the Royal Navy. Napoleon himself only stayed for 6 days, time enough to load his flagship, L'Orient with as much booty as he could. Much of it was sunk at the Battle of the Nile and lost forever. He left military garrisons in Mdina and Valletta. He abolished the Inquisition and slavery. Rapid administrative and legislative change followed some of which, to Malta’s credit, survives to the present day. The French needed funds to support their European war and further looting and confiscation of property became commonplace. After 3 months, relief at the departure of the Knights had turned to anger, and the Maltese rose up in Mdina when Church property was stolen. They killed the French garrison, and laid siege to the French in Valletta. Help was sought from the British who had just won the Battle of The Nile under Lord Nelson. Their reinforcements blockaded the harbour and the French, many of whom had already died from starvation and disease, surrendered in 1800. Lord Nelson's fleet blockaded the French garrison within the walls of Valletta, thereby cutting off maritime routes for the supply of provisions and munitions. The French capitulation opened a new chapter of Malta's history and led to the island's long period of association with the British Crown. After the French were expelled from Malta in 1800, British rule was established for over 150 years. Horatio Nelson, the first Sea Lord of the navy visited the Islands in the early 19th century before proceeding towards Egypt for the Battle of the Nile. The British Era was one of peace and prosperity during which the Maltese were gradually granted a say in the running of their own country, until the attainment of independence in 1964.

In October 21st 1805, Horatio Nelson was struck down by a French sniper's bullet, in which he died on the first day of Battle of Trafalgar. He was buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral in London, after a colourful state funeral starting in Greenwich. He is commemorated by Nelson’s Column, one of London’s most famous landmarks. It was planned in 1838 and finished 11 years later. It stands in Trafalgar Square, named after Nelson’s greatest triumph. Vice-admiral Villenneuve In 1800 he was the French naval officer who represented the French by the armistice of Malta. In 1805 he became Commander in Chief Armada, but was captured in the battle and later sent back to France against a captured British sea officer.

Note: Thanks to Frank Carrick in which he suggested that I should write about Horatio Nelson when he was in Malta at Marsaxlokk Bay, well known by the Navy Boys and other ex-service men, specially the 100 SU Tas-Silg Boys.

Copyright PS

G London A Hall [left] (Foster) and Thames from Tower Bridge..........

Near some new flowing glass structures, and alongside the river, comes Foster's experiment -- new Headquarters for the Greater London Authority and the Mayoral Office. This is one of the capital's most symbolically important new buildings. The assembly chamber faces north across the river to the tower of London. The asymmetric glass egg is claimed to symbolise transparency in local government. (Actually the new GLA has limited power). But would a transparent building mean transparent government? Anyway, in reality it doesn't have the literal see-through of Foster's model either. Open by implication.

Nonetheless, the tilted egg is a fascinating, or at least eye-catching building. It's so quirky it could only fit in open park space as it does. It claims environmental agenda in its form, though that may have an element of shape-justification. Analysis of sun applied onto a sphere resulted in the stepped floor plates, and the egg gives minimal surface area. The internal arrangements are a clever articulation of locking parts and theoretical democracy linked with a void atrium and ever-rising rampway. The form seems far from truly "organic", however. But what is of special interest is the computer ability used to produce such otherwise impossibly complex construction -- every one of the thousands of double-glazed panels are of different dimensions --- the whole thing set up with advanced laser surveying. Bold, intriguing, but an ego-shape egg-shape.

Later I returned to the GLA Hall for a public conference on in the main Assembly space showing key part of the building's use. The careful interior completion, the imaginative space and light, and the free usage warmed me to this at-first wonky looking building. It includes the Assembly Chambers, committee rooms, public facilities including cafetaria, together with offices for the Mayor and support staff. It provides 17,000 sq metres of accommodation on ten levels. the Chamber faces across the river to the City.

The public are invited to share the building on programmed dates. A flexible space on the top floor --- "London's Living Room" -- can be available for exhibitions or small functions, and there's a small terrace for views across London. Some further work was being done to this area 2007.

At the base is a piazza and scooped amphitheatre with public cafe. Vertical circulation throughout the building is with lifts and a continuous spiral ramp allowing universal access and opening the space in a dynamic way. A building that may appear externally a shape-gimmick, works smoothly inside. Staff I spoke to about it were wholly positive in pride.

Externally, the 31deg lean intends that on the sun side each floor shades the office below. (Dubious at that latitude.) More importantly though, I thought it effective in giving direction and addressing the river and City. Cladding is 7,300 sq m in clear low-emissivity glass, smooth as an egg. The visionary form is a strong landmark in the new south bank development continuity.

The asymmetric tubular space frame enabling this new form and space --- by Arup engineers.

Enlarge

Click diagonal arrows upper-right, then press F11 Fullscreen.

wikimapia

London City Hall:

www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/London_City_Hall.html

Panoramic 360deg GLA Hall surroundings (wait to load):

www.panoramicearth.com/72/London/City_Hall_-_Greater_Lond...

Panoramic 360deg Tower Bridge (part cityhall) (Java):

www.urban75.org/vista/cityhall.html

Galinsky:

www.galinsky.com/buildings/cityhall/index.htm

Link to Tower Bridge:

www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Tower_Bridge.html

.

In 768 A.D., the young Charles I of Francia would assume the Frankish throne. He like many Christians during that time was very devout. Charles I goal in life was to expand the Frankish realm and to convert the pagans to Christianity. He wanted to create a new Christian Roman Empire. This opportunity would soon come knocking on his door. In 772 A.D. a group of pagan Saxons sacked and burned the church of the city of Deventer in what is now the Netherlands. This would be the casus belli for the first war waged by Charles I against the heathens. He would attack soon after launching an invasion of Saxony and the opening blow against the Saxons in the war would be his destruction of an Irminsul. The Saxons believed that if the Irminsul fell, the sky would fall on their heads and the world would end. Fortunately for the world, that didn't happen. This gave Charles I further justification for his cause to expand his realm and convert the Saxons to Christianity as he believed God was with him.

There would be serious setbacks in his quest to conquer Saxony. A Saxon noble named Widukind would rally many pagan Saxons to rise up and drive out the franks and kill the Saxons who converted. He would be a thorn in Charles I side until 785 A.D. when he decided to surrender and convert to Christianity. Legend says he had a divine vision while observing a Frankish mass taking place disguised as a beggar. However this did not end the rebellion. There would be more uprisings until at least 804 A.D. that mainly consisted of back and fourth engagements, forced conversions and massacres between the pagan Saxons and the Franks.

Charles I would later become known as Charlemagne (Charles the Great) for his conquests and for kick starting the Carolingian renaissance which saw an increase of literature, writing, the arts, architecture, jurisprudence, liturgical reforms, and scriptural studies.

I have more builds on the way so stay tuned!

The name "Top of the World" has no geographic justification, but it comes from the exhilarating view gained after either a long hike or a long, challenging drive. This view of the Fisher Towers shows the Corkscrew Summit (the tower just left of center foreground--use a higher resolution) and the Titan, the tallest (700 feet), free standing tower in the US.

In the moderate distance are Professor Valley and the Colorado River, about 20 miles upriver of Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

On the horizon, the San Rafael Swell is on the right, the Henry Mountains left of center, and more than 100 miles away, the Little Rockies to the left.

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

A text, in english, from Birdlife International:

Justification

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Taxonomic source(s)

del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

SACC. 2006. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: #http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html#.

Population justification

The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'common' (Stotz et al. (1996).

Trend justification

This species is suspected to lose 15.9-17.6% of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations (12 years) based on a model of Amazonian deforestation (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). It is therefore suspected to decline by <25% over three generations.

References

Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Further web sources of information

Explore HBW Alive for further information on this species

Search for photos and videos,and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers

Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.

IUCN Red List evaluators

Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation

BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Thalurania furcata. Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 14/12/2015. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2015) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 14/12/2015.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Beija-flor-tesoura-verde

Texto, em português, da WikiAves:

O beija-flor-tesoura-verde é uma ave da ordem dos Apodiformes, da família Trochilidae.

Também é conhecido como beija-flor-de-barriga-violeta. No livro Aves do Brasil, edição Pantanal e Cerrado, consta como beija-flor-de-ventre-roxo.

Seu nome significa: do (grego) thalos = criança, descendente de; e ouranos céu, celeste, referente ao azul do céu; e do (latim) furcata, furcatus = bifurcada. ⇒ Pássaro filho do azul celeste com cauda bifurcada.

Mede cerca de 9,7 cm de comprimento. Macho com partes superiores esverdeadas, garganta verde-metálica, peito e barriga azul-violeta-brilhante; fêmea com as partes inferiores cinza.

Possui doze subespécies:

Thalurania furcata furcata (Gmelin, 1788) - ocorre no extremo Leste da Venezuela, Guianas e Norte do Brasil, ao norte do Rio Amazonas;

Thalurania furcata refulgens (Gould, 1853) - ocorre no Nordeste da Venezuela, na Península de Paría e na Serra de Cumaná;

Thalurania furcata fissilis (Berlepsch & Hartert, 1902) - ocorre no Leste da Venezuela, e na região adjacente no extremo Oeste da Guiana e Nordeste do Brasil;

Thalurania furcata nigrofasciata (Gould, 1846) - ocorre do Sudoeste da Colômbia até o extremo Sul da Venezuela e Noroeste do Brasil;

Thalurania furcata viridipectus (Gould, 1848) - ocorre do Leste da Cordilheira dos Andes na Leste da Colômbia até o Nordeste do Peru;

Thalurania furcata jelskii (Taczanowski, 1874) - ocorre na região tropical Leste do Peru e na região adjacente no Brasil;

Thalurania furcata simoni (Hellmayr, 1906) - ocorre na Amazônia ao Sul do Rio Amazonas no extremo Leste do Peru e no Oeste do Brasil;

Thalurania furcata balzani (Simon, 1896) - ocorre na região Norte e Central do Brasil ao sul do Rio Amazonas;

Thalurania furcata furcatoides (Gould, 1861) - ocorre no baixo Rio Amazonas, na região Leste do Brasil ao Sul do Rio Amazonas;

Thalurania furcata boliviana (Boucard, 1894) - ocorre nos sopés da Cordilheira dos Andes no Sudeste do Peru e no Nordeste da Bolívia;

Thalurania furcata baeri (Hellmayr, 1907) - ocorre da região Central e Nordeste do Brasil até o Sudeste da Bolívia e no Norte da Argentina;

Thalurania furcata eriphile (Lesson, 1832) - ocorre do Sudeste do Brasil, Leste do Paraguai até o Nordeste da Argentina, na região de Misiones.

Alimenta-se em flores à pouca altura, buscando também insetos na vegetação ou capturando-os no ar.

Faz ninho em forma de taça profunda, preso por teias de aranha a forquilhas ou pequenos ramos, a cerca de 2 m de altura. Põe 2 ovos brancos. Os filhotes deixam o ninho após 18 a 24 dias.

Comum no sub-bosque de florestas altas, capoeiras e florestas de várzea. Vive solitário, defendendo seu território de maneira agressiva.

Distribuição Geográfica:

Quase todo o Brasil, da Amazônia ao Paraná. Encontrado também do México à Bolívia, Paraguai e Argentina.

Referências:

Portal Brasil 500 Pássaros, Beija-flor-tesoura-verde - Disponível em webserver.eln.gov.br/Pass500/BIRDS/1birds/p159.htm Acesso em 09 mai. 2009

CLEMENTS, J. F.; The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Cornell: Cornell University Press, 2005.

Classificação Científica

Reino: Animalia

Filo: Chordata

Classe: Aves

Ordem: Apodiformes

Família: Trochilidae

Vigors, 1825

Subfamília: Trochilinae

Vigors, 1825

Espécie: T. furcata

Nome Científico

Thalurania furcata

(Gmelin, 1788)

Nome em Inglês

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Estado de Conservação

(IUCN 3.1)

Pouco Preocupante

More and more people wonder who is actually running the American government, with justification. There seems to be a lack of interest in helping the people or doing any serious problem solving on the part of the chief executive.

The original photo was A.I. generated. Photoleap was used to create this version. I leave it to you to name the actual people that the two figures represent.

As per usual, at around the halfway-point into climbing this rock, I asked myself what the hell I was doing. It's a strenuous climb, I'm always lugging a ton of gear and it's usually at night or very early morning. Oh, and it's always cold.

Anyway, this was the first opportunity for me to properly test out my new toy, a 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye; so that was the justification.

The Moon was setting at 2:40am this morning and the plan was for an hour or so of star trails.

Left camp at 1:25am and accompanied by a howling wind, I reached the top at 2:05am.

So after starting this exposure, I light painted the foreground and then attempted to shelter from the wind. After about 30 minutes of being cold, boredom set in and I decided to spoil my shot with steel wool.

Realising that the the cold was affecting my battery and that I still had to complete the in-camera noise reduction, I decided to cut this short at roughly 50 minutes. I need not have worried though, the battery made it through and I still had enough juice to shoot the sunrise on the way back to camp.

Castle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton, Devon, England. Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was the last castle to be built in England. The client was Julius Drewe, the hugely successful founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. Drewe chose the site in the belief that it formed part of the lands of his supposed medieval ancestor, Drogo de Teigne. The architect he chose to realise his dream was Edwin Lutyens, then at the height of his career. Lutyens lamented Drewe's determination to have a castle but nevertheless produced one of his finest buildings. The architectural critic, Christopher Hussey, described the result: "The ultimate justification of Drogo is that it does not pretend to be a castle. It is a castle, as a castle is built, of granite, on a mountain, in the twentieth century".

The castle was given to the National Trust in 1974, the first building constructed in the twentieth century that the Trust acquired. The castle is a Grade I listed building. The gardens are Grade II* listed on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

I normally don’t take images of human objects in natural landscapes unless they are old and nature has begun to reclaim them. Its kind of an obsession of mine, based in the resentfulness of human disrespect for the environment. Selfishness and greed are continually used for justification in the destruction of our natural environment and it pisses me off in a big way! Its kind of like footprints in fresh snow, I’d prefer to see the snow without them. Anyway I’ll get off my soapbox.

For some time now I’ve been interested in the way photography is a time-based medium. I think it’s to do with my love of animation that I keep trying to look for movement in unusual areas. This shot for me is trying to juxtapose the formal human geometric stones against the natural long trails of the scum, as it ebbs and flows graciously down the river. (Created by white water further up stream). I find the soft and hard forms work well juxtaposed against each other. They bring to the table more power than the sum or their parts.

This shot was taken at Thruscross Reservoir (or just down from it). When the reservoir was built and subsequently filled in 1966, an unfortunate village was sacrificed and flooded. When I was a kid we had a sever drought and I remember going there and walking around its streets. Even walked over the bridge and went in the dilapidated church. Quite a strange experience, knowing it use to be a real place. Felt a bit like the shots of the titanic underwater.

‘Apparently’ until recently the buildings were complete and when the water level went down you could see the church steeple (with bell still intact) kind of like a ghost story, or it could be an urban myth. I also I seem to remember as a kid, one of my family members telling me that my grandfather had something to do with it. He was an electrician / builder and probably sorted out something to do with the houses. I kind of want to write this down before I forget and its lost in history. Anyway let me keep this short, hope you like it!

It took me too long to understand that no matter how much I explain my side, some people will twist it to fit their narrative. I used to pour my heart out, desperately hoping they’d see the truth, but I’ve learned the hard way—if someone truly wanted to understand, they wouldn’t make me beg for it.

If you’ve already decided I’m the villain in your story, fine. I’m not going to keep bending over backwards trying to prove I’m good enough, worthy enough, or innocent enough. The truth is, the more I explain, the more power I give to someone who doesn’t want to hear it.

Let them believe what they want.

Let them say it was all my fault.

Let them stay stuck in their version of events.

LET. THEM.

I won’t defend myself anymore. Because I’ve realized something crucial—explaining myself over and over doesn’t bring peace. It only exhausts me. It only reinforces their narrative, because if they really cared to understand, they would’ve listened the first time.

I’m reclaiming my energy. I’m walking away from the endless loop of justification and debate. I deserve connections where I don’t have to fight for my truth to be seen.

If my silence makes you uncomfortable, then be uncomfortable.

If my choice not to explain feels like defeat to you, that’s on you.

I’m no longer concerned with trying to win a battle I never agreed to fight.

I’m done begging to be understood.

I’m done begging for kindness, respect, and empathy that should’ve been given freely.

I’m done putting myself on trial in a court that was never fair to begin with.

I'M. DONE.

The only explanation I owe is to myself: that I choose peace over their noise.

I choose to move on without the weight of constantly trying to be heard by people who are committed to misunderstanding me.

Let them think what they want.

LET. THEM. GO.

I will not explain myself again.

Because, honestly, I don’t need to.

Words © Amanda Weston

Near Fort William, Scotland

I don't really like this shot for composition (confused) and light but I would like receive your comments, maybe you like it :-)

Very difficult situation: it's early 5.20 AM, rain and several drops were up on the filters, the tide rises and the water bathed my legs = few time for composition.. but this is not a justification! :-)

Update: Front Page of Explorer on 9 Jul 2010! thanks all!

One shot, no HDR. I use only one filter for the correct exposure and polarizer.

I do not like to add my picture in many groups, please do not ask.

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission.

It's roads like this that make an STi put a big smile on your face, and it gives you the justification for the money we put into them!

I like the angle of the road better in this one.

Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona, United States, near the town of Page. The 710-foot (220 m) high dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) from 1956 to 1966 and forms Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. with a capacity of more than 25 million acre-feet. The dam is named for Glen Canyon, a series of deep sandstone gorges now flooded by the reservoir; Lake Powell is named for John Wesley Powell, who in 1869 led the first expedition to traverse the Colorado River's Grand Canyon by boat.

A dam in Glen Canyon was studied as early as 1924, but these plans were initially dropped in favor of the Hoover Dam (completed in 1936) which was located in the Black Canyon. By the 1950s, due to rapid population growth in the seven U.S. and two Mexican states comprising the Colorado River Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation deemed the construction of additional reservoirs necessary. Contrary to popular belief, Lake Powell was not the result of negotiations over the controversial damming of the Green River within Dinosaur National Monument at Echo Park; the Echo Park Dam proposal was abandoned due to nationwide citizen pressure on Congress to do so. The Glen Canyon Dam remains a central issue for modern environmentalist movements. Beginning in the late 1990s, the Sierra Club and other organizations renewed the call to dismantle the dam and drain Lake Powell in Lower Glen Canyon. Today, Glen Canyon and Lake Powell are managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Since first filling to capacity in 1980, Lake Powell water levels have fluctuated greatly depending on water demand and annual runoff. The operation of Glen Canyon Dam helps ensure an equitable distribution of water between the states of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Colorado, Wyoming, and most of New Mexico and Utah) and the Lower Basin (California, Nevada and most of Arizona). During years of drought, Glen Canyon guarantees a water delivery to the Lower Basin states, without the need for rationing in the Upper Basin. In wet years, it captures extra runoff for future use. The dam is also a major source of hydroelectricity, averaging over 4 billion kilowatt hours per year. The long and winding Lake Powell, known for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities including houseboating, fishing and water-skiing, attracts millions of tourists each year to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

In addition to its flooding of the scenic Glen Canyon, the dam's economic justification was questioned by some critics. It became "a catalyst for the modern environmental movement," and was one of the last dams of its size to be built in the United States. The dam has been criticized for the large evaporative losses from Lake Powell and its impact on the ecology of the Grand Canyon, which lies downstream; environmental groups continue to advocate for the dam's removal. Water managers and utilities state that the dam is a major source of renewable energy and provides a vital defense against severe droughts.

The Öresund or Øresund Bridge (Danish: Øresundsbroen, Swedish: Öresundsbron) is a combined railway and motorway bridge across the Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden. It is the longest in Europe with both roadway and railway combined in a single structure, running nearly 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the Swedish coast to the artificial island Peberholm in the middle of the strait. The crossing is completed by the 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) Drogden Tunnel from Peberholm to the Danish island of Amager.

The bridge connects the road and rail networks of the Scandinavian Peninsula with those of Central and Western Europe. The international European route E20 crosses via road, the Øresund Line via railway. The construction of the Great Belt Fixed Link (1988–1998), connecting Zealand to Funen and thence to the Jutland Peninsula, and the Øresund Bridge have connected Central and Western Europe to Sweden by road and rail.

The bridge was designed by Jorgen Nissen and Klaus Falbe Hansen from Ove Arup and Partners, and Niels Gimsing and Georg Rotne.

The justification for the additional expenditure and complexity related to digging a tunnel for part of the way, rather than raising that section of the bridge, was to avoid interfering with air traffic from the nearby Copenhagen Airport, to provide a clear channel for ships in good weather or bad, and to prevent ice floes from blocking the strait. Construction began in 1995, with the bridge opening to traffic on 1 July 2000. The bridge received the 2002 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

Rampageous Hill.

Einzelne Prämisse Ernsthaftes Wetter ängstliche Eindrücke bürgerliche Umstände bewusster graderste Anstiege,

exprimer une essence graphique épuisante manipuler des voyages prolongés à la recherche de justifications artistiques nature durable,

ազդեցություն մեխանիկական քայլերին էական լուծումներ ամենաբարձր պայմանները խեղված խթան անխուսափելի թարմություն,

kreativ dedikasjon uavhengige kunstnerfornemmelser styrker kritiserende elementer for kunst konstant utvikling,

vznikajúce symboly prírodné formy ilustrujúce rozmery farby napätie Zelené usporiadanie vertikálne žlté,

,ιερογλυφικά αλληλοσυνδεόμενα μαγευτικές αρμονίες τολμηρές διαγώνιες δύσκολα οράματα εξαιρετικό δυναμισμό

perioadă ambițioasă volum strălucitor torential delicatese fenomene multiple fenomene durabile rezistente la atmosferă,

結晶化する機会が集まる形知的なバランス形式的な感受性現代の活動不可解な制御できないハイキング戦時の肖像.

Steve.D.Hammond.

Met Chief, Sir Paul Stephenson on this controversial kettling tactic,"people were cordoned for their own vulnerability"

Yeah right.

The Police van was left 'abandoned' by the police to give justification for their controversial kettling tactics, and so the BBC and the rest of the worlds media can discredit the protest and focus on the violence, just as Royal Bank of Scotland in the City of London was mysteriously the only building in the area during the G20 protests not to be boarded up and subsequently smashed.

On my typical daily walk, there is a stretch where I have tripped on the same branch for...oh...maybe the last 17 times I've passed the spot. Repeated reminders to pick up my feet and mutterings of how this wouldn't happen to a younger hiker were of no purpose as yesterday in moving past, I stumbled again. Looking back in something akin to a combination of disbelief and disgust, I cleverly determined that the solution to this awkward dilemma might lie in moving the branch off the path, which I proceeded to do in a quick and overly dramatic fashion. "That'll teach that damn branch!" thought I...and I swear I heard it snickering in the brush it now occupied, knowing full well that other branches would repeatedly appear to torment me.

In any event, while leaning down to pick it up for relocation, I spotted this fall gathering of items posed and seemingly patiently waiting to be photographed. This I did, the results shown. Perhaps the entire purpose of this episode was for me to spot this autumnal group and record it for posterity. A fine alternative explanation and justification, methinks, for what otherwise might be deemed simple clumsiness.

TAKEN FROM THE NORTHERN ECHO.

In these days when statues are toppling on a daily basis, Darlington should say a word in praise of Mr Pease who stands on a plinth in High Row.

In 2008, this statue, erected in 1875, was one of 21 across the country to have their listing schedules enhanced because of their importance to the anti-slavery movement.

Four friezes on Joseph Pease’s plinth tell his life story. On one of those friezes, a slave writes the word “freedom” above the heads of a rejoicing crowd.

The Peases were Quakers, who believed that all people were equal before God. Joseph’s uncle, also called Joseph, lived at Feethams where the Town Hall is today, and from the earliest years of the 19th Century, he led a national campaign against slavery in India.

He fired his daughter, Elizabeth, with enthusiasm for the cause of fairness, and she founded the Darlington Ladies Anti-Slavery Society in the mid-1830s – it was one of the first women’s political movements in the country.

In 1840, Elizabeth was one of six women to attend the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London where, to her horror, she discovered that because she was female she was not only forbidden from speaking but she had to sit behind a bar and a curtain. This unfairness fired her further and she became a feminist, arguing that women should be equal also.

In 1853, though, she married a Glasgow university professor of astronomy who was not a Quaker. “Marrying out” was still frowned upon and so broke ties with Darlington and lived the rest of her life in Edinburgh, campaigning for women to get the vote.

In 1832, Elizabeth persuaded her cousin Joseph to break with Quaker tradition and stand for Parliament so he could further the cause of anti-slavery. He won the South Durham seat, and became the first nonconformist MP in the Commons for 200 years.

Joseph joined fellow MP William Wilberforce in campaigning to free slaves.

In his longest speech, Joseph appealed to other MPs "on behalf of their poor brethren of colour whose sufferings under the present system were of a nature to stimulate every feeling bosom to concede to them a paramount consideration”.

The speech covers 40 pages in Hansard, the Parliamentary record, and as Joseph delivered it, he became increasingly wrapped up in the emotion of it, much to the delight of the Whig MPs opposite him.

Hansard records: "He felt the inadequacy of his powers in pleading such a cause. (Here, the hon gentleman was so affected he was obliged to pause for a moment. Much cheering.)

"The house will pardon me (concluded Mr Pease) for having so long trespassed upon their attention. I am unable to go on. But when the great and solemn day shall come, when I shall myself stand in need of mercy, I hope it will be meted to me in the same measure as I am disposed to mete it to others."

Despite the ridicule, Joseph's speech was widely regarded by anti-slavery campaigners as for providing moral justification for the cause, and the Abolition of Slavery Act received Royal Assent on August 28, 1833.

Unfortunately, Wilberforce never lived to see it – he died a month earlier, just as the Stockton & Darlington Railway was taking delivery of its engine No 23.

The Wilberforce engine crossing the Gaunless.

It was designed by Timothy Hackworth, but had been built by Robert Stephenson & Co in Newcastle. It was a major step forward for the railway: Locomotion No 1 of 1825 had been able to pull 250 tons of coal per mile per hour but locomotive No 23 was able to pull 1,250 tons of coal per mile per hour, and it was the first engine in the dark green paint that the S&DR then adopted for all of its locos.

No 23 was named Wilberforce in honour of the anti-slavery campaigner.

One of the most precious songs to the Reformed Praise writers, this hymn, based on Psalm 130, was penned by Martin Luther himself. Luther was a Monk in the Roman church who diligently sought peace with God through his holy life. As he studied the Bible, he became confronted with the doctrine of justification and imputed righteousness and understood and accepted the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ alone, apart from the works of the Law.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEiCOlWrsVo - David Ward

Out of the depths I cry to You,

Lord, hear my voice of pleading;

Bend down Your gracious ear, I pray,

Your humble servant heeding.

If You remember each misdeed,

And of each thought and word take heed,

Who can remain before You?

Only by grace, by grace alone.

Your pardon is a gift of love,

Your grace alone must save us,

Our works will not remove our guilt,

The strictest life would fail us.

Let none in deeds or merits boast,

But let us own the Holy Ghost

for He alone can change us:

Only by grace, by grace alone.

Though great our sins and sore our woes

His grace much more aboundeth;

His helping love no limit knows,

Our utmost need it soundeth.

Our kind and faithful Shepherd He,

Who will set all His people free

From all their sin and sorrow:

Only by grace, by grace alone.

Words by Martin Luther (1483-1546) and David Ward. Music by David L. Ward. Based on Psalm 130.

329/365

Trying out some different editing. I've been getting far more picky with uploading, which is really not in the 365 spirit, but I figure if I'm still taking photos everyday and only uploading ones I like and counting them towards the 365 then I'm kind of over achieving in a way? That's my justification.

Thanks to Rachel for shutter bursting for me!

I was hoping to renew my pro account by now, but my bank account is doing weird things. Anybody want to do that for me ;P jklol but secretly not jk.