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Taken at The Rains of Castamere made by Arol Lightfoot.
Summer Season PhotoHUD by Zuza Ritt at 21strom.
Raw photo with ReShade.
What is life? It is a flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. --Crowfoot
What do all of these things have in common, you ask? Besides that of being different things in nature, they all show the brevity of life. They are here for just a moment, and then they are gone. That is what life is to us, as well. Life on this earth is really for such a brief time, especially when we compare it to all of eternity. Eternity is just that--for ever and ever! Life on this earth--in comparison--is just for a moment. If you do not know for a certainty where you will spend eternity, please do not hesitate to send me a message. I would be more than happy to tell you of God's plan of salvation.
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Fox Lake, Wisconsin
011012
© Copyright 2013 MEA Images, Merle E. Arbeen, All Rights Reserved. if you would like a copy of this, please feel free to contact me through my FlickrMail, Facebook, or Yahoo email account. Thank you.
Mountains of Svaneti, Republic of Georgia.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200 F/2.8L USM II IS.
6 vertical shots merged in Photoshop C5, colours and light fixed in Colour Efex Pro 4.
The Dragoon Mountains catch the final rays of sunset. They were once a place of refuge for the Apache. - Coronado National Forest, Cochise County, Arizona
>>> Best Viewed Large! <<<
© All Rights Reserved
Mosses drape themselves over every conceivable surface in the rainforest ~ walking here sounds like bedroom slippers on carpet! This forest feels so dreamy and velvety to me that I simply had to finish this image with a slight Orton effect!
#88: As of 10/26/22, of my 3300+ pics, this is listed as #88 in most # of views.
#255: As of 10/20/21, of my 3000+ pics, this is listed as #255 in most # of faves.
#761: As of 9/10/21, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3000+ pics, this is listed as #761 in "interestingness."
For a fun interlude, this is a close-up/headshot image based off one of my more popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of a close-up of the "1992-August pic3" pic I've posted here. Then I just applied a filter in FA in part to help with the graininess of this close-up - and to have some fun with the look... :-)
Magnificent 'Children of Lir' sculpture (by artist Malcolm Robertson) at Ballycastle, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland -
commemorating the legend of the 4 children of King Lir who were turned into swans by their jealous stepmother Queen and spent 300 years on the Sea of Moyle. The dramatic cliffs of Fair head on the horizon and Scotland beyond that.
Osprey of the Jersey Shore | 2018
The 2017 Osprey Project in New Jersey:
www.conservewildlifenj.org/downloads/cwnj_802.pdf
Despite New Jersey being the most densely populated state, it holds tremendous diversity in preserved open space, especially our coastal salt marshes. The preservation of these wetland areas has played a huge role in the recovery of the osprey population in New Jersey. Today, they are home to the majority of ospreys (86%) who nest along the Atlantic Coast. Osprey nests define our coast and colonies are located along the entire coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May and west on the Delaware Bayshore up the Maurice River to Salem. This year a total of 668 active nests were recorded in New Jersey, with 75 of those being new nests from various regions of the state. This is well above the historic pre-DDT estimate of 500 nesting pairs and goes to show that ospreys and humans can coexist in New Jersey as long as we continue to protect wetland areas and conserve our natural resources, like forage fish, that ospreys need to thrive. The largest population gains in the state, from 2013 to 2017, were observed in both Monmouth and Ocean Counties, from 130 in 2013 to 207 in 2017.
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the Sea Hawk, Fish Eagle or Fish Hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large Raptor, reaching more than 24 inches in length and a 71 inches wingspan. It is brown on the upper parts and predominantly greyish on the head and under parts, with a black eye patch and wings. In 1994, the osprey was declared the provincial bird of Nova Scotia, Canada.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey
Selfie on this windswept frozen lake. My jacket even puffed up with air from the cold blustery breeze.
Hi, my friends! Here it is a blue hour view of the Tree of life at Expo 2015 in Milan.
My family and I dashed off the Expo 2015; not much time and chances to take photographs, nevertheless I tried to capture a moment of the light and water show of the Tree of life, the symbol and arguably the single greatest attraction of the event. Not a masterpiece, admittedly, nevertheless I am glad to share this with you :-)
The Tree of Life, a 37 meters structure made of steel and wood, has a great symbolic appeal and an incredible scenographic impact - especially by night. The lighting system of the Tree, spread over its elaborately woven wooden structure, produces beautiful, everchanging streaks of coloured lights moving along the lines, endowing the whole structure with a pulsating life. During the evening shows the lights and the fountains dance together at the rhythm of the music in an evocative coreography, so that you can imagine to contemplate a magnificent recapitulation of the miracle of life on our Mother Planet :-)
It is interesting to know that the design of the wooden structure of the Tree has its roots deep in the Renaissance, intimately recalling the beautiful paving of Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome ( = Capitoline Hill - not the copy of the White House in Washington), which was designed by Michelangelo in 1534 as a part of his redesign of the whole place. Due to the shape of the square, Michelangelo's decoration is oval-shaped, whereas the Tree of Life is circular.
I hope you will like this shot; we will go back there and I hope to have better opportunities to capture this beautiful Tree of Life.
MIDDLE OF THE WOODS
MIXED MEDIA PAINTING...I call my paintings experiments...because that is the stuff of life...aren't we all ''experimenting with it''??...
It is just beginning to look like a touch of fall in the grasses and trees here in Michigan...some places more than others.
Norfolk Southern (former Southern Railway) EMD GP50 diesel locomotive # 7024, along with other EMD locomotives, are seen while leading a train of TOFC along a main line in Georgia, November 1987. Across the tracks is Florida's noted railfan photographer Fred Clark Jr. with his back turned just after capturing his train image. We were both out and about photographing trains after chasing the N&W steam locomotive # 1218 and its Suwanee Railfan Excursion Train to Valdosta, Georgia.
A better view of what I wore to work last Saturday.
Probably not the choice considering I was doing my real job inspecting accident damaged vehicles for insurance companies.
It was a good experience it has to be said, Imagine if you can being one of my customers a guy in his late forties with a ford ford with front end damage, You walk into the building up to the bodyshop desk and find me! You introduce yourself and i respond by confirming who you are the model and reg of the car you own followed by OK i will be right with you.
You look not really believing what has just happened.
I had that look twice, Not so much the my being trans but more it was me who was going to inspect the damage.
It got even better at the vehicle with me bending over the engine bay, kneeling down to look at the damage and explaining how we were going to repair the damage or advising that the vehicle was a total loss.
Each customer was very good and after the initial reaction they settled and accepted the situation.The reaction would have been same had i been a genetic woman.
So my first customer facing work experience went brilliantly.
However storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. Don't worry nothing bad as such.
The Befreiungshalle ("Hall of Liberation") is an historical classical monument upon Mount Michelsberg above the city of Kelheim in Bavaria, Germany. It stands upstream of Regensburg on the river Danube at the confluence of the Danube and the Altmühl, i.e. the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.
King Ludwig I of Bavaria ordered the Befreiungshalle to be built in order to commemorate the victories against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation that lasted from 1813 to 1815.
@Wikipedia
Sculptures of Musicians on the exterior wall of 12th Century Hoysalesvara Temple, Halebedu, Karnataka, India.
Crown of Thorns: modular origami from 8 units. Each unit is from an 8:1 rectangle of paper and all units can be precreased as a single square only to be cut at the end.
Wild daisy flowers growing in the North of Malta. Taken with the Canon 5D4 and their 50mm 1.4 lens at f/2.0 and converted to black and white in Lightroom.
Castles of South Bohemia - Rožmberk Castle
Considered as one of the oldest castles in Bohemia, the Rožmberk Castle stands on a promotory carved out on three sides by the river Vltava. It was was founded in the first half of the 13th century
It is regarded as the cradle of the House of Rožmberk, also known as the "Lords of the Rose", a historical Czech aristocratic family.
Um dos mais antigos castelos da Boémia, o Castelo de Rožmberk fica situado num promontório esculpido em três lados pelo rio Moldava. Foi fundado na primeira metade do século 13 e é considerado como o berço da Casa de Rožmberk, também conhecida como os "Senhores da Rosa", uma histórica família aristocrática Checa.
The scene of an act of sabotage during the Irish Civil War seems appropriate given world events this week! Long before the advent of drones dealing death from the sky, more mundane methods were used. Was the train destroyed in situ, or were they the victims of a mine set under the permanent way?
Photographers: J. Kilpatrick
Collection: Civil War Infrastructural Damages Photograph Collection
Date: 1922 Tuesday, 16 January 1923,
NLI Ref: NPA CW8
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
End of passion play, crumbling away
I'm your source of self-destruction
Veins that pump with fear, sudden dark is clear
Leading on your deaths construction
Taste me you will see
more is all you need
you're dedicated to
how I'm killing you
Come crawling faster
obey your Master
your life burns faster
obey your Master
Master
Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings
twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Needlework the way, never you betray
life of death becoming clearer
Pain monopoly, ritual misery
chop your breakfast on a mirror
Taste me you will see
more is all you need
you're dedicated to
how I'm killing you
Come crawling faster
obey your Master
your life burns faster
obey your Master
Master
Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings
twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Master, Master, Where's the dreams that I've been after?
Master, Master, You promised only lies
Laughter, Laughter, All I hear and see is laughter
Laughter, Laughter, laughing at my cries
Hell is worth all that, natural habitat
just a rhyme without a reason
Neverending maze, drift on numbered days
now your life is out of season
I will occupy
I will help you die
I will run through you
Now I rule you too
Come crawling faster
obey your Master
your life burns faster
obey your Master
Master
Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings
twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, `cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Master of Puppets, "Master of Puppets" (1986) - Metallica
Workshop of Antwerp - detail of the birth of Mary - altarpiece with stories of the Virgin and childhood of Jesus (around 1535) - Turin, Civic Museum of ancient art in Palazzo Madama
Legno di quercia intagliato, dorato e argentato.
Dall'Abbazia di Staffarda e poi nel Castello di Pollenzo (Cuneo)
Carved, gilded and silvered oak wood.
From the Staffarda Abbey and then to the Pollenzo Castle (Cuneo)
An exploration of Ponce de Leon,
in search of the promise of youth.
Undying, age defying, beauty, and body,
this search for the story’s truth.
He longed to preserve a wonderland,
surrounded by magic, myth, and legends.
The water of immortality existed,
in St. Agustine where his search darkened.
But his tales drew folks of old,
their chiefs and kings explored.
The water of the land of the men with long life,
had been the match that lit stoic wars.
The water was the soul of the living gods,
that outlived all of those they ruled.
Yet their presence may never be found.
for they hid well – with their water and their jewels.
European Reggae Festival.
25 years Walking Together (1994-2018)
Rototom Sunsplash 2018 | 25th anniversary
Benicássim from 16 to 22 of August 2018
www.spurnpoint.com/Spurn_Point.htm
Spurn is a very unique place in the British Islands. Three and a half miles long and only fifty metres wide in places.
Extending out in to the Humber Estuary from the Yorkshire coast it has always had a big affect to the navigation of all vessels over the years. Help to some and a danger or hindrance to others. This alone makes Spurn a unique place.
Spurn is made up of a series of sand and shingle banks held together with mainly Marram grass and Seabuckthorn. There are a series of sea defence works built by the Victorians and maintained by the Ministry of Defence, till they sold Spurn to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in the 1950s. The defences are in a poor state, breaking down and crumbling. This is making Spurn a very fragile place wide open to the ravages of the North Sea.
One of the most striking features of Spurn is the black and white lighthouse near to the end of Spurn. Now just an empty shell not used since it was closed down at dawn on the thirty first of October 1986.
There have been many Lighthouses on Spurn over the years the first recorded at around 1427. The present light was built from 1893 TO 1895. The small tower on the beach on the Estuary side was originally the low light. It was built and put in to operation at around 1852. This light was no longer needed when the present lighthouse was opened in 1895.At a later date the light was removed and it was used as a store for explosives and later as a water tower. The tank can still be seen on the top. When it was operational there was a raised walkway from the shore to the lighthouse so it could be reached at all stages of the tide.
The present lighthouse was built to replace an old lighthouse that was positioned just to the south of the present one. You can still see the round perimeter wall surrounding the old keepers cottages and the base of the old lighthouse which had to be demolished due to it settling on it's foundations making it unsafe.
The only light on Spurn today is a flashing green starboard light on the very end of the point and the fixed green lights marking the end of the Pilots jetty.
Because of Spurns ever moving position there have been many Lighthouses over the years. There is a very good book by George.de.BOAR, called History of the Spurn Lighthouses, produced by the East Yorkshire Local History Society. This is one of a series of books on local history.
www.spurnpoint.com/Around_and_about_at_Spurn.htm
Around and about there are plenty of places to eat and drink. Starting from the north of Spurn at Kilnsea there is the Riverside hotel offering good quality food drink and accommodation. Coming south towards Spurn and still in Kilnsea there is the Crown and Anchor pub. A welcoming place serving bar meals fine beers and offering bed and breakfast at very reasonable rates. At the crossroads before you turn towards Spurn there is the Spurn heritage coast visitors centre. Where there is a small cafe and exhibition. At the entrance Spurn point nature reserve is an information centre and bird observatory selling books pamphlets, etc., and the last toilet on Spurn.
Past the lighthouse is the last car park. Two hundred metres further on you find the Humber Lifeboat and Pilot stations. Near the houses is a Small caravan selling tea, coffee, cold cans, hot and cold food, crisps and sweets.
All are open all year round apart from the heritage centre which is open thought the season.
BIRD WATCHING.
Is a very popular pastime as Spurn is internationally famous for birds. There are up to two hundred species recorded at spurn every year. Some of which are extremely rare. The Marmora's Warbler seen at Spurn In June 1992 was only the third recorded in Britain.
SEA FISHING.
The beaches of Spurn provide some of the best sea fishing in the area, with Cod and Whiting and Flats being caught through the winter and Skate, Flats and Bass through the summer. There is sport to be had all the year.
At the very end of Spurn is deep water ideal for Cod but this only fishes best two hours either side of low water, the tide is to strong at other times. All along the seaward side of Spurn is good for all species of fish at all times though over high water being the better. The riverside of Spurn is very shallow and only produces Flats and the bass over high water.
THE BEACH.
The beaches at Spurn are of soft sand and shingle. Whichever way the wind is blowing you can just pop over the dunes to the outer side. There are fossils and all manners of things to find beach combing. Swimming is not safe any were near the point end as there are very strong tides at up to six knots at times. But in side Spurn around the point car park is perfect at high water. The beach does not shelf to fast and very little tide. You can have the place to your self at times, as Spurn is never really busy weekdays.#
A very popular pastime at Spurn is Fossil hunting. There is a good abundance of fossils to be found in amongst the pebbles and shingle.
The Shark Trust has a very interesting PDF file tell you all about Shark Skate and rays the mermaids purses you find on the beach are egg shells from sharks and Rays. Click the link to down load the Shark Trust Brochure.
WALKING.
Walking or strolling at spurn is very easy, as there are no hills. There are various sign posted paths up and down the point. For the fit a complete walk round the whole point is about 8 miles, taking in all the point round the point end and back to the "warren" information place at the start of Spurn. You will need good footwear, as much of the paths are sand. There is limited access for disabled, but not to the point end, as you have to go via the beach.
You can park your car at the point car park and walk round the point end and back to the car park about a mile, or just stroll around the point were you choose. The only place you are not allowed to go are down the pilot's jetty and the centre square of the Lifeboat houses.
In spring and early summer Spurn is covered with a large amount of wild flowers of all species.
There are common to the not so common; from Orchids to bluebells. I must remind you Spurn is a nature reserve and the picking of all flowers is prohibited. When visiting please enjoy Spurn, as it is a very beautiful place and leave only your footprints.
Horse Riding.
There is riding available nearby at the North Humberside Riding Centre. The stables are ideally located with rides along quiet country lanes, by-ways, plus miles of sandy beach and riverbanks. The cross-country course offers a variety of fences for both the novice and the more experienced rider.
www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/
A Brief History of Spurn Bird Observatory
Following visits to Spurn by several members of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union in the late 1930's, a communal log for ornithological observations was instituted in 1938. This included a roll-call of species, the beginnings of a recording system, which later became standard in bird observatories. Realising the potential of the Spurn peninsula for the regular observation of bird migration a group of enthusiasts, notably Ralph Chislett, George Ainsworth, John Lord and R.M. Garnett, had the idea of setting up a bird observatory, with the Warren Cottage at the northern end of the peninsula as an ideal headquarters. Unfortunately the outbreak of war forced them to put their plans on hold but shortly after hostilities ceased a lease for Warren Cottage was obtained from the War Department and the observatory was established shortly afterwards under the auspices of the Y.N.U. with the four members mentioned above forming the first committee. A preliminary meeting was held in September 1945 to decide on the site for a Heligoland trap, work on which was begun almost immediately and the first bird (a Blackbird) was ringed on November 17th. The first minuted committee meeting was held on March 9th 1946 and the observatory was opened to visitors at Whitsuntide that year.
Initially coverage was limited to the main migration seasons, being extended to winter weekends in the early 1950's to trap and ring some of the large numbers of Snow Buntings which used to occur at that time of year and gradually coverage was increased (whenever possible) to cover the late spring and summer. In 1959 there was an important development when the Yorkshire Naturalists' Trust (now the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) became the owners of the peninsula and thus the observatory's landlord. In 1960 a full time warden was appointed by the Trust, and although having no official connection with the observatory the fact of having an observer on the peninsula year-round inevitably helped to improve the ornithological coverage. This was especially the case from 1964 when the current warden, Barry Spence, was appointed, in conjunction with the fact that an interest in birds and their migrations was steadily growing and more bird-watchers were staying at the observatory, often for longer periods.
When the observatory opened there was accommodation for seven visitors in Warren Cottage and facilities included two chemical toilets, the Warren Heligoland trap and an ex-army hut as a ringing hut. Over the next ten years a further five Heligoland traps were constructed along the peninsula, although today only three remain in existence. In 1959 the observatory gained the use of the Annexe, one of two ex W.D. bungalows built at the Warren during the early 1950's, thus increasing the accommodation capacity to seventeen and providing much improved toilet facilities. Over the years the accommodation and facilities have been gradually improved to try to make the visitor's stay at Spurn as comfortable as possible. Other improvements have also taken place, in 1968 part of one of the derelict buildings at the Point was converted into a ringing laboratory ready for the first B.T.O. Ringing Course, held in autumn of that year and in 1971 part of one of the derelict buildings at the Warren was also converted into a ringing laboratory. The other part of this building became a laboratory for the use of students of Leeds University but this also became available to the observatory in the mid 1980's when the University no longer had a use for it. Subsequently it was converted into a self-contained accommodation unit for two, complete with kitchen facilities, and although officially known by the somewhat unimaginative name of Room F (the rooms in the Annexe being known as Rooms A, C, D & E, - whatever happened to Room B?), it was somewhat irreverently christened "Dunbirdin" by regular visitors to Spurn.
In 1965 a sea-watching hut was erected east of the Warren beyond the line of the former railway track. Due to coastal erosion it became necessary to move this in late 1974, when it was hoped that it would last at least as long as it had in its first position. Alas this was not to be, as the rate of erosion increased dramatically in the mid 1970's, necessitating a further move in early December 1977. In that year a clay bank had been built across the field behind Warren Cottage (Clubley's field) to prevent the flooding of arable land by wind-blown sea water, but on January 11th 1978 Spurn suffered its worst flooding ever when a strong to gale-force north-westerly wind combined with a spring tide. In late 1981 due to extensive construction works at Easington a large quantity of boulder clay became available and this was used to build up and extend the bank across Clubley's field, south towards Black Hut and north beyond Big Hedge to join up with an existing bank (which had been built in 1974) behind the scrape. In 1982 the sea-watching hut was repositioned on top of this bank, where it remained until the bank itself was washed away in the early 1990's.
A number of other changes to the observatory recording area began to take place from the early 1970's, including extensive building operations at the Point, commencing in 1974, with the construction of a new jetty for the Humber Pilot boats, new housing for the Spurn Lifeboat crew and the conversion and renovation of various existing buildings for use by the Coastguard and the Pilots. In 1978 following damage to the existing road south of the Warren area a new tarmac road was laid to the west of the original one, this lasted until 1988 when a second "new road" loop had to be laid, followed in 1991 by the construction of the existing loop road running along the Humber shore from just south of the Warren to just beyond Black Hut. The construction of this road resulted in the destruction of the actual Black Hut, although the area still bears the name. In 1981 the lines of wartime concrete anti-tank blocks running from the seashore to the Canal Zone were removed to fill in a breach at the Narrow Neck. This resulted in the southward extension of the Scrape field by the farmer up to Big Hedge and the start of a gradual decline in the condition of this hedge and its attractiveness to birds. In 1982 a local resident excavated a pond for shooting purposes in the wet area adjoining the Canal Zone. This never really proved successful and the land was later purchased by the Y.W.T. and the pond enlarged to become what is now known as Canal Scrape. In 1984 a famous Spurn landmark, the Narrows "Hut", a wooden migration watch shelter which had stood at the Narrow Neck for twenty-three years, was set fire to by person or persons unknown and completely destroyed, it was replaced the following year by a more solid construction made from breeze-blocks.
A period of considerable change began in 1988 when the Spurn peninsula was designated as part of the Spurn Heritage Coast. Projects undertaken include the enlargement of the Canal Scrape mentioned above and the erection of a hide overlooking it, a hide overlooking the Humber wader roost at Chalk Bank, a public sea-watching hide alongside the observatory one, provision of additional car-parking space, the restoration of the short-turf habitat in the Chalk Bank area, provision of footpaths, etc. A major project was the renovation of the Blue Bell in Kilnsea for use as offices, an information centre and a small cafe, which became fully operational in 1995. Another fairly recent project has been the creation of another scrape/pond on Clubley's field.
In 1996 the observatory celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and for the first time in its history SBO employed a full time seasonal warden. This position has since been expanded and the observatory now enjoys the services of a year- round warden. In 1998, with a view to the future, a small bungalow in Kilnsea was purchased with money bequeathed by the late John Weston, a long time committee member, who regrettably died in 1996. This was followed in 1999 by the purchase of a strip of land adjacent to the property and is now known as the ‘Church Field’, this is planted with a sacrificial crop every year, and has also had several groups of trees planted and a feeding station placed in the north-east corner. Access to this field is available by becoming a member of ‘Friends of Spurn Bird Observatory’, a venture set up in 2003 to eventually help with the building of a new observatory when the old one falls way to the sea.
Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481-1536) - frescoes of the perspective room (1519) - Villa Farnesina - Rome
La vasta aula del primo piano, dove il 28 agosto 1519 Agostino Chigi tenne il suo banchetto di nozze, è uno dei primi esempi di prospettiva nella pittura. Prende il nome dalla decorazione di Baldassarre Peruzzi che nel 1519 affrescò sulle pareti vedute prospettiche aperte con finti colonnati su scorci urbani e campestri.
Essa rappresenta la continuazione ideale delle logge del pianterreno; attraverso il finto loggiato si scorgono vedute paesistiche: paesi arroccati, scorci di campagna, e nel fondo, contro il cielo luminoso, è la città (la Chiesa di Santo Spirito, una basilica romanica, la porta Settimiana).
Nel corso dei recenti restauri, tra le colonne, è venuta alla luce la sarcastica scritta, datata, in lingua tedesca e a caratteri gotici, che registra il passaggio dei Lanzichenecchi: “1528 – perché io scrittore non dovrei ridere: i Lanzichenecchi hanno fatto correre il Papa”.
Nelle nicchie sopra le porte e le finestre sono dipinte figure di divinità. Sotto il soffitto a cassettoni corre un fregio con scene mitologiche, pure del Peruzzi e bottega, e sulla parete nord campeggia un grande camino con la fucina di Vulcano.
The vast hall on the first floor, where on 28 August 1519 the rich banker held his wedding banquet, takes its name from the perspective views of urban and rural landscapes between fictitious columns, painted by Baldassarre Peruzzi.
The artist combined a rich sense of architecture with a gift for perspective and scenography. It represents the ideal continuation of the ground floor loggias; through the imitation columns one can see various views: villages perched on rock, countryside views, and in the background, against an illuminated sky, is the city (The Holy Spirit Church, a Roman basilica, the porta Settimiana).
The 1976-83 restoration brought to light the sarcastic inscription in the centre of the wall towards the Wedding Room. The message dates back to 1528 and documents the passage of the Lansquenets in the Farnesina during the Sacking of Rome in 1527: “Why should I who write not laugh – the Lansquenets have set the Pope on the run”.
Trompe l’oeil niches with figures of gods complete the decoration and an ample frieze with mythological scenes attributed to Peruzzi’s school runs high up around the walls. The panel over the fireplace, Vulcan’s forge, is mediocre and was probably painted at a later date than the other frescoes.
Rotunda of Mosta, The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady or Rotunda of St Marija Assunta. Sometimes called The Mosta Dome is a church in Malta. It is said s miracle happened here during World War 2 when a German 500lb bomb smashed through the roof and into church floor in the middle of 300 worshipers. The bomb did not explode and nobody was killed or seriously injured. Beautiful building.
Decided on an spur of the moment expedition as the weather was good and decided to revisit some old locations. This is an amazing place however, the clouds of midges made me their all you can eat buffet and only got a few shots. Now look as if I have measles!
I shot this during a Maya ritual called the Dance of Fire, which was part of a show on Mayan culture and history. It was performed for spectators at our hotel on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In this part of the show the participants would hold their hands and feet over the flames for extended periods of time and would pick up and pass along lumps of coal that were still ablaze! Amazing! Worth viewing larger.
ISO 2000 on Nikon D300. Many shots were rejected as I had to use slow shutter speeds (no flash), and there was near constant action!!
Changing Images of Man is a 1974 report (revised in 1982) by the Stanford Research Institute (SRI International). This report can be summed up like this:
You have two options: your future can either be 1984 or the Brave New World.
“We have met the enemy and he is us!” We must reform the way we conceptualize the nature of mankind. Indeed, the mind (and body) is a human biocomputer, with programs and coding that can be analyzed, hacked, and altered. Our concepts of free will, freedom, and consciousness must be cast off for man to attain a peaceful, rational, and humane society in the future.
Changing images of man has a double meaning: man’s image has changed throughout history, and man’s image can be changed (manipulated). If we apply this idea to the present, what would be man’s image? Today, man’s image is one of transition. Since we are in the digital age, man’s image would reflect the digital world. Man looks into his screen, and his screen reflects back his digital world. Man’s image is being tokenized into the digital world. His image is becoming digitalized. His image is going to transition into transhumanism (merging man with the digital world). So man’s future image will be one of transhumanism. He will be a techno-slave. Indeed, the image of man is currently being manipulated toward the goals of the elite.
This report warns that our society is heading towards friendly fascism. This form of fascism “will come under the slogans of democracy.” It will be a “techno-urban fascism,” a “friendly sort of totalitarianism.” This is what this friendly fascism will look like: they will use military surveillance technologies to aid the police; they will use behavior-changing drugs and indoctrination in schools; they will attempt to manage the news; they will use personality screening and maintain files on pre-delinquent children, via coordination with school administrations and local, state, and federal authorities; they will use interconnected computer systems to collect peoples personal data like: employment records, criminal records, tax status, credit, insurance, and information about education.
What is their solution to this friendly fascism? They want, instead, to introduce a friendly fascism that has a shiny spiritual veneer. They want man to “evolve” to a higher consciousness, a super consciousness, which lies at the boundary between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind. This evolution of consciousness will be a personal, spiritual, social, and cultural evolution. They want people to tap into this consciousness through their dream states. They want them to evolve into a hivemind, where they can telepathically communicate with one another. This could possibly be achieved through mystical experiences, psychic phenomena, esoteric ideas, occult practices, hypnotism, self-hypnotism, meditation, yoga, psychotherapy, psychology, psychochemical drugs, electrocranial stimulation, and cybernetics. “I think that cybernetics is the biggest bite out of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge that mankind has taken in the last 2000 years.”
This evolved man will see the inequality of the poorer nations. He will willingly give up his comfortable lifestyle. He will lower his living standards. He will share his wealth with the rest of the world. Men will collectively work together to accomplish equality (communism). And if they refuse to give up their wealth, they will be forced to give it up. This evolution is Gnostic in nature; it reminds me of Karl Marx, with his idea of man evolving into the socialist man/communist man. Out of this evolution will come a new system, a “new socialism,” which will be influenced by Freemasonry. “In ‘true Freemasonry’ there is one lodge, the universe-and one brotherhood, everything that exists. Each person has the ‘privilege of labor,’ of joining with the ‘Great Architect’ in building more noble structures and thus serving in the divine plan.”
The architects of this scheme must convince the masses that the earth has limited resources, which they term the “new scarcity.” They must convince the people that the earth is being overpopulated (today, climate change is the big scare they are pushing). With these supposed problems, man must be convinced that he needs to collectively band together. The architects of this scam must bring in a new economic and ecological system (known today as stakeholder capitalism and the green economy). To introduce this alternative way of life, they will introduce “behavior controls that would deprive the individual of freedoms” (which is known today as a social credit score system).
“Thanks to this initiative (the Green Economy Initiative) and the work of other agencies, ‘green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication’ was placed on the 2012 Rio+20 agenda and was acknowledged as a tool for achieving sustainable development.” – United Nations
“A crisis is often the catalyst for the redrawing of one’s preferred map.” A “crisis-oriented transformation” is likely to transform a culture rapidly. We saw some of this during COVID, which greatly affected our society and economy. People accepted a soft form of authoritarianism and the loss of freedoms. During COVID, they pushed vaccine passports. This mimicked Digital IDs. The unvaccinated could not go to certain places, because they didn’t have vaccine passports. The Canadian truckers had their bank accounts frozen. Those with alternative views were censored. These things mimicked a social credit score system with rewards and punishments. Society failed to think critically, thus proving that it was ready for the next step of the plan. Therefore, politicians touted the start of the Great Reset—a plan to build back better. So now we are in a transition period, a transition into a new economic order. As a result, we are being steered towards a major economic crisis. This “crisis-oriented transformation” will bring us into their new system. This system will use digital biometric IDs, CBDCs, and social credit scores.
The elites see multinational corporations as the “most effective mechanisms for husbanding the earth’s resources and optimizing their use for human benefit.” Giving multinational corporations the earth’s resources will supposedly lead to an “equitable sharing of the earth’s resources.” They will pressure corporations to help with the social engineering of society. The methods they will use to get corporations on board resemble those of a corporate social credit score system like ESGs. They will prod corporations, particularly multinational corporations, to shift their goals to line up with those of the (hijacked) public institutions. Indeed, the public institutions will be tools of indoctrination (today, these institutions promote things like DEI). They plan to use “corporations, foundations, political agencies, and voluntary associations” to help with the implementation of their plans. Today, this is called public–private partnerships. They will use networks at the local, regional, national, and world levels. This way, it will be quicker and easier for them to implement their new world order goals. They expect rapid social change, economic decline, and social disruption as they implement their new technocratic socialist order.
“We would thus hope not for a handful, but for a thousand heroes, ten thousand heroes-who will create a future image of what humankind can be.” They need an army of social(ist) justice warriors to bring about change. “The needed transformation cannot occur without both personal and institutional change.” This correlates with the left’s “long march through the institutions.”
They also want to experiment with a variety of family structures. They want to turn the family into “an extended unit,” which will provide “a larger source of meaning and significance.” So basically, the collective (government, schools, neighbors, and society) will raise your children in this new collectivist utopia. This extended family will be a “source of education,” and “a unit for work.” They want to “foster a period of experimentation and tolerance for diverse alternatives, both in life styles and in social institutions.” They also want to use “new experimental curricula.” Today, we have new experimental curricula such as critical race theory and queer theory.
They want the world’s population to embrace this new order. Their end goal is the Brave New World. In reality, those who refuse this new order will live out 1984, and those who accept it will live out the Brave New World. Though, as they admit, no transition will go smoothly. Everyone is going to feel some pain, and in a worst-case scenario, a lot of pain.
The Bible warns us about the Antichrist. Those who refuse the Mark of the Beast won’t be able to buy or sell, and they will be tracked down by the authorities. These people will experience the hell of 1984. But those who take the Mark of the Beast will evolve into transhumans, and they will experience the bliss of the Brave New World. They will be on a high, stimulated by soma frequencies. Thus, they will blissfully worship the Beast. They will evolve to a super consciousness; they will become one with the Beast.
God created man with a soul and free will. Those who accept the Mark of the Beast will lose their free will, because technology will control their allegiance and love for the Beast. Their free will is gonna be controlled by the Beast system. Never again will they have the free will to repent and turn to Jesus Christ. They will give up their free will; they will forfeit their own souls.
Revelation 14:9-11 “A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the Beast and his Image, and takes the Mark on his forehead or his hand, that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the Beast and his Image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the Mark of his name.’”
Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
This shot is further along the old Switzerland Trail, the Denver, Boulder & Western RR, from the last shot after it dips south again at the point where it curves back north again. The grade curves through a cut of almost no point because it could simply have been leveled if they had wanted. Once again, the grade is nearly flat. It appears that shrubs and aspen keep chipping away at the edges of the grade. For the time being, this section is drive-able if you don't mind brush scratching against the sides of your vehicle. I chose to walk anyway. There are places to park a-plenty. These aspen were still colorful because sheltered. Nothing is turning orange-red here this year.
Google maps shows how another route was forged to cut off the curve and head up the side of the hill only to peter out. Other 4WD traces can be seen. Some need to blast away the environment; have 4WD will blaze... just like acquiring bump stocks to allow blazing away.
This year, I was wind blown on my way up to Gold Hill, where I only spent time at the Gold Hill Mill. I got hit by monster snow flakes as I headed west toward Gold Hill Station where it tapered off as you can see. I plunged along the Colorado & Northwestern railroad grade to the Ward mining camp into aspen groves. This looks like the well traveled mountain road is a little rougher. though less than a one-hundredth percent grade.
The D&RG had a 4% grade west of Denver, where they started to gain serious elevation. Well... the grade on most of this section is almost level while there are enough curves to cause slow motion neck whiplash. One of the designers admitted at least one curve was too tight for the engines that were on order. They simply changed the curve labels on the surveys ever so slightly. Apparently, the engine design had that much built in. (source, a mechanical engineering student of one designer) That's why the inner drivers were "blind" and without flanges on the consolidation type engines (2-4-0s).
Portions can be driven in high-centered (not necessarily 4WD, it's level). Get out and walk for an encompassing experience and a lot of shots. Well along the grade from here it's cut off by the Sawmill road. Find the Switzerland Trail on Google maps - Ward, CO then 2 1/2 miles S-E to here. Zoom in, many segments of the grade is marked on Google maps. Take the camera, a snack and hydration. You need the exercise (the current best way, not Amazon's Echo, to insure longevity), the reason for my excursions. Much is missed from the vehicle; park it in a handy spot. On such a trek on the Switzerland Trail, it is impossible to get lost; follow the grade! You'll find a lot of scenes with the Rockies in the backdrop.
It's easy to follow the grade on Google Maps and easier when on the ground. It is pretty darn easy to see the RR grade from this shot. The color was somewhat short of peak but it may not look like it while in the depths. The autumn leaves look like mosaic tile art. Indian Peaks Wilderness Area is the background... at least intil Ryan Zinke sells it off to HIS big money interests.
Caught in the moment of descending to earth (so to speak)! Thank goodness I had a parachute (of sorts)!
This is my first frilly minidress and its really really short! It shows off my legs amazingly well, don't you think? I didn't think I would look that good in frills, but maybe I should reconsider?
To see more pix of me in other tight, sexy and revealing outfits click this link:
www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157623668202157/
DSC_7775-35
ODC topic: "A Macro of Anything."
I don't take my macro lens with me on my morning walks through the marsh, but my 18-200 gets in pretty close, and with a bit of cropping, I guess you could call this a macro, sort of... Maybe a pseudo macro... Anyway, a cheery new blossom against a clear blue sky is a heartening sign that spring is rapidly approaching, and I'm sure that means more to most than whether this is technically a macro or not.
Commentary.
The fifth of November, 2011, and looking south-west across Loch Lochy from near to Bunarkaig Bay towards the vast Leanachan Forest and the Aonach Mor Ski Centre.
The risen sun’s rays pierce the delicate golden fronds of the burnished bracken making for a treasure trove of metamorphosed foliage in this amazing season.
Blocked by branches and tree-trunks the sun’s light breaks up into glistening diamonds off the lustrous surface of the famous loch.
The play of light and the almost iridescent colour creates a warmth and ambience that belies the time of year.
Brilliant light, brilliant aura,
a proverbial pot of gold, indeed.
Lady of Light Explored
Self Portraits in 2012
I have been obsessed with lines of light and these little hard light cracks that fall in between posts and such. last night I did a few instagram shots using a crack in our den door, now on my way into the condo I saw this shaft of light right on our front door. Having an itch already to do something fun today with my camera and the light, I ran outside with Kerry to help me look less like an idiot lol.
The Tower of London was built my the Normans and dates back to 1066 with the White Tower being built in 1078. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cats are aliens, I`m sure of it. Cute, vicious, furry purring delights maybe, but aliens all the same. I read it in a book when I was a kid ... well, ok, it was sci-fi, but that doesn`t mean it`s not true!
(Blinky`s eye is missing, but the socket seems to be healing ok. These are some of about a dozen cats that live in one house up my street.)
Trying to get into the Flickr rhythm. Hasn't quite happened yet. Maybe with practice and a faster interface with all things binary ... until then, most of my stuff is still going up on Fotolog. I'm really not sure what the site admins are doing these days but it's my first webfoto home and besides, i'm a creature of habit (some good, some crippling). But I want to give this Flickr thing a go. It's an entirely different animal.
Santorini is very proud of its local wine, and it would be rude not to sample a bottle (or three!) at one of the many fine dining establishments in Fira. The vines here are crafty little plants - because of the scorching heat endured throughout most of the day, there's very little moisture available to them. As such they survive only on the water vapour which descends from the sky in the form of dew at dusk and dawn. Not being a sommelier, I don't know all the details ... but am led to believe that there's something about this process which yields dry grapes with delicious flavours of sweet lemon and stone fruits.
Niet Ban Tinh Xa - Temple of Nirvana.
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is both the famous pagoda and scenic beauty site, attracting hundreds of visitors daily. People come to the pagoda either to make ceremonial offerings or to enjoy the scenic view to the ocean.
I was not paying attention to our tour guide so not much info to share for this place.