View allAll Photos Tagged PERCEPTIVE
Johanna Schweizer's fiber chrochet sculpture "Glamour Boy".
Size: 61 x 30 x 17 cm, made 2008.
View from the current Strich & Faden art show at Kunstraum Richard Sorge in Berlin-Friedrichshain.
Johanna Schweizer (Netherlands)
Johanna Schweizer is often - lazily - described as the Dutch Louise Bourgeois. This may refer to the surrealist aspects of her work; her perseverance and consistent vision; or the long time it took for the world to catch up with her work.
After impressive presentations at Brutto Gusto fine_arts (Berlin), and her recent participation in the "Just Different" Queer-art exhibition in the Amsterdam Cobra Museum, the interest in Schweizer's oeuvre is now steadily growing.
The artist's extensive collection of crocheted fiber sculptures are made in the last six years. Both profound and witty, it has a wholly un-academic rootedness in contemporary life, alluding to a wide array of themes, from cross-genderness and cross-speciesness; to religious suffering and sexual ritual. Folkloric, pagan, and fairy tale elements are incorporated as well, the sensually playful and the deadly serious going hand in hand.
The artist has a Diane Arbus-like fascination for deformity and otherness, but leaves out the voyeurism. The colorful sculptures offer a perceptive, amused female view of male sexuality and chauvinism that is arguably unique in contemporary art.
From the exhibition "Strich & Faden - Heimat, Folk-art and Travesty"
Artists: Ari Versluis & Ellie Uyttenbroek (Netherlands), Astrid Kuever (Germany), Betty Struemer (Germany), Cross stitch ninja (Sweden), Jn. Ulrick Désert (Germany/USA), Johanna Schweizer (Netherlands), Kathrin Schaedlich (Portugal), Mumbleboy / Kinya Hanada (USA), René Schmalschlger (Netherlands), Sharon Pazner (Israel).
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Outlining a Theory of General Creativity . .
. . on a 'Pataphysical projectory
Entropy ≥ Memory ● Creativity ²
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Etude du jour :
Par puissance perceptive, j'entends la capacité de la Monade à capturer des percepts, à s'in-former de percepts, c'est-à-dire à s'auto-organiser pour percevoir les in-formations qui émergent des différentiels de flux entropiques entre son milieu intérieur et son milieu extérieur.
Par suite, par puissance perceptive, j'entends également la capacité de la Monade à faire l'expérience de sa puissance en adaptant la sensibilité de ses dispositions perceptives pour entretenir la consistance de sa mémoire perceptive et par suite de sa mémoire (endo-)hylétique.
( jef safi - Monadologie, puissance )
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rectO-persO | E ≥ m.C² | co~errAnce | TiLt
Johanna Schweizer's fiber chrochet sculpture "Androgyna".
Size: 60 x 18 x 9 cm, made 2008.
View from the current Strich & Faden art show at Kunstraum Richard Sorge in Berlin-Friedrichshain.
Johanna Schweizer (Netherlands)
Johanna Schweizer is often - lazily - described as the Dutch Louise Bourgeois. This may refer to the surrealist aspects of her work; her perseverance and consistent vision; or the long time it took for the world to catch up with her work.
After impressive presentations at Brutto Gusto fine_arts (Berlin), and her recent participation in the "Just Different" Queer-art exhibition in the Amsterdam Cobra Museum, the interest in Schweizer's oeuvre is now steadily growing.
The artist's extensive collection of crocheted fiber sculptures are made in the last six years. Both profound and witty, it has a wholly un-academic rootedness in contemporary life, alluding to a wide array of themes, from cross-genderness and cross-speciesness; to religious suffering and sexual ritual. Folkloric, pagan, and fairy tale elements are incorporated as well, the sensually playful and the deadly serious going hand in hand.
The artist has a Diane Arbus-like fascination for deformity and otherness, but leaves out the voyeurism. The colorful sculptures offer a perceptive, amused female view of male sexuality and chauvinism that is arguably unique in contemporary art.
Other artists in the show: Ari Versluis & Ellie Uyttenbroek (Netherlands), Astrid Küver (Germany), Betty Stürmer (Germany), Cross stitch ninja (Sweden), Jn. Ulrick Désert (Germany/USA), Johanna Schweizer (Netherlands), Kathrin Schädlich (Portugal), Mumbleboy / Kinya Hanada (USA), René Schmalschläger (Netherlands), Sharon Pazner (Israel).
i'll admit that until very recently i had never heard of "elimination communication" or "infant potty training" which the Always Authoritative ( joking) wikipedia defines as, "...nurturing in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to help an infant address his or her elimination needs, partially or completely avoiding the use of diapers (nappies)." i'll also admit that at first the concept seemed just like one of those trendy, kooky theories that are cooked up to fill shelf space in the parenting section of your local big box bookstore.
i don't know where the "truth" lies but after some investigation, books such as "Early-Start Potty Training" make a compelling case that children can be successfully mostly diaper free much sooner than most people realize ( 6 months?! ) and that there are a raft of problems that can occur from the erring on the side of "convenience" and waiting to potty train until the average age of 3 or 4. and that perhaps there's some plausibility to the argument that the longer a toddler learns that soiling a diaper is "normal", the longer it will take to teach them elimination communication skills. so we thought we'd give it a try and have some semblance of "fun". and if it doesn't eventually work for us, so be it. i suspect that in the end [( ha! pun intended! ), when and how to potty train has religious adherents on both sides and that some things work well for some infants and others do not.
unsurprisingly, one of the first stages in effective elimination communication is learning your toddler's elimination schedule more precisely than his or her diaper changing times. so, today odin wore his first pair of "training pants" and stood and watched as mamma showed him how to baby sign "potty/toilet" right before reading "going to the potty" by mister rogers.
odin is very perceptive and already knows what and where the "potty" is and also clearly understands what a diaper is and that a dirty diaper is No Fun, but if today is any indication i think that putting all the pieces together might take some time and a whole lot of effort!
but then again, we did potty train all of our dogs in a few days, so maybe we should give him a little credit.
Kira is a perceptive tall model with an amazing look for the camera. It was great working with her. instagram @kira.olver
The under-the-sea artwork on the cover features a pair of humans and a pair of amphibious Tritons, genetically-engineered humans. Not so far-fetched given today's technology and incredibly perceptive of Mr. Knight for a story he wrote over 70 years ago.
One of my favorites after exiting the British Museum to be presented with this view.
I've lived in London but never seem Trafalgar from this perceptive.
Osiris Toe Tip and Nail End Freshly Fallen from Isis’s Collection in Glasgow on a trip to a Parking Meter and Back NEVER ask please without recourse to an endless Stellar Shimmering Summer Night from Dusk to Dawn and Some Startling Stark Hours of Winter Solstice Celebration of Dawn to Dusk in a Cromlech, please unless as stipulated it is less traumatic to never ask.
There is an overdose of 11 pictures presented here. Few will see them all and fewer still read this description humbly exhorting you to see some pictures from each of the differing sections as detailed thusly,
2 Distinct Groupings distinctly discovery finely found to be 11 in Total.
5 Toe Pix, 1 in Much Millennia#d Mould-O-visioN.
6 Prettier Pix for your Perceptive Peepers Relief after Toe Trauma.
Of which 6 there being 4 Flowering Formations above The Toe and 2 Perfumery Pictorial Pix revealing the tiny magical elixir that may have triggered The Toe interaction so acting as below images in timeline and in causely effect.
These are not my usual sort of out spurting, well I think not and then I remember that there is some yes to answer along with the no and so also I state that these feature nicely in with some of my edited extravagances.
This both a normal day and as well at the same time not the normal that seems a life away til it returns.
© PHH Sykes 2025
phhsykes@gmail.com
For more information about my craft, please visit my profile page.
WATERFALL MIST is a 150 carat handcrafted blue stripes agate pendant that I created swirling and shaping sterling silver plate wire by hand, adding Swarovski crystals and glass beads to enhance the natural beauty and shape of the stone. This glass-like stone has striations of white throughout its beautiful shade of light sky blue.
It measures 1 1/4" across and 2 1/2" top to tip including the bail.
The bail is designed to be large enough to accommodate your favorite chain, choker or cord. A 17" silver plate chain is included.
All purchases are nicely packaged in a gift box.
The following metaphysical healing properties have been collected from various sources. For more specific information please contact an experienced Crystal Therapist.
Agate's healing effects:
Agate provides for balancing of Yin/Yang energy and for balancing of the physical, emotional and intellectual bodies with the Etheric energies. It stabilises the aura, providing for a cleansing effect that acts to smooth dysfunctional energies and to both transform and eliminate negativity. It further, assists one in the development of precision in examination of oneself and of circumstances relevant to ones well being. Agate can be used to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision. It provides for perceptiveness to situations and awakens ones inherent talents and adroitness. It is also used to produce inspiration from and connectedness with the entities residing in the spiritual worlds. It has been reported to strengthen the sight, to diminish thirst and to promote marital fidelity.
Chakras: Base, Earth Star, Heart, Link, Navel, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Throat, Thymus
Astrological sign: Gemini
The oldest tree in the forest is home to a magical owl who knows the secrets of the universe. The owl is hidden by many leaves and flowers; only those with a perceptive mind will find him.
A flower steampunk assemblage has been arranged in the shape of an owl's face. An antique Elgin watch movement, watch dials, springs, and a Timex watch face create the hypnotic eyes of the owl. The Elgin watch movement is engraved with serial number 11390191, dating from 1904.
An elaborate flourish of gears, vintage flowers, and a repurposed jeweled vine earring cluster together with whimsy. The chain is vintage enamel in plum, violet, grass grass, and dark aqua. The chain has been woven together, resembling a bird's next, and is accented with amber Czech glass beads.
Freelance journalist & Catholic writer Amanda C Dickie made one of many visits to see Stephen B Whatley's current exhibition Paintings From Prayer at Westminster Cathedral, London; on its penultimate day (it ends later today, August 22).
She is photographed next to one of her favourite paintings, The Assumption of Mary; and today August 22, is the Feast Day of The Queenship of Mary.
Miss Dickie discovered the artist's Catholic tributes on a previous showing at St James's Church, Spanish Place, London, when she was sent to review his work for the Westminster Record paper. Writing eloquently and perceptively about Whatley's work she has become a fervent admirer - leading her, as a Friend of Westminster Cathedral to secure this exhibition within the Chapels of St Andrew (pictured here) and St Patrick.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, an admirer of the artist's work and the Cathedral Administrator Canon Christopher Tuckwell warmly welcomed the vibrant show of 30 works; which have been mesmerising the many Cathedral visitors.
The colourful and effervescent Miss Dickie is also an actor who has worked in productions with such lunminaries as Sian Phillips and has acted as publicist for CaAPA ( Catholic Association of The Performing Arts).
PAINTINGS FROM PRAYER by Stephen B Whatley
at Westminster Cathedral, Victoria Street, London. SW1P 1QW
8-22 August 2013
Exhibition displayed in the Chapels of St Andrew & St Patrick (Right hand aisle of Cathedral)
Exhibition open: Mon-Fri: 7-7pm, Sat: 8-7pm, Sun:7-7.45pm.
rcdow.org.uk/news/paintings-from-prayer-at-westminster-ca...
Not only a snarkalogical wizard, Mr. newly-more-comprehensible-moniker is warm, kind and perceptive. Thanks for a great Sunday. (please note: I am not clever enough to create a link to his profile, but fortunately he is and has listed it below)
Lime green is a color between yellow and green, so named because it is a representation of the color of the citrus fruit called limes.
It is the color that is half way between the web color chartreuse and yellow on the color wheel.
Lime green is a color that is 75% yellow and 25% green.
The first recorded use of lime green as a color name in English was in 1905.
It is said that lime green brings a sense of anticipation at all the possibilities and opportunities the world offers.
It a llows us to be perceptive and non judgmental.
This color inspires us to try new things by initiating change.
I took this picture this afternoon at a few meters from Bivi Razaia Masjid, a small mosque, which is in the chawk of Varanasi (Benaras).
I came to give a few pictures that I did last week to Mister Khan who is dyeing sarees.
His son wanted to show me this one which was drying on the upper terrace.
It was a splash of lime green which gave me happiness and energy.
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A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year -old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. ~ author unknown
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Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child’s future.
Auction#122
Dimensions: 10” x 9.75” / 25.4cm x 24.7, framed hanging panel
Tesserae: Yellow copper natural stone, chalcopyrite (peacock ore), pyrite
“The title ‘We Are Not Alone’ is because my husband said it reminded him of a galaxy far away. Working primarily in the abstract with natural materials, I usually start a mosaic with a focal, something to draw the eye into the piece. The focal in this mosaic is the Chalcopyrite which is used in some cultures as a ‘meditation stone’, is believed to increase perceptive abilities and can be used to break up energy blockages. Pyrite is used as accent pieces in the mosaic. Pyrite, also called ‘fool’s gold’ is believed to draw energy from the earth creating a shield against negative energies, guarding against harm and danger.”
Carole Tarr
Virginia, USA
The Seven Heavenly Virtues are righteous qualities that all good mortals should at least try to uphold. They are Charity (counterpart Greed), Chastity (counterpart Lust), Diligence (counterpart Sloth), Humility (counterpart Pride), Kindness (counterpart Envy), Patience (counterpart Wrath) and Temperance (counterpart Gluttony). They are the opposite of the Seven Deadly Sins, and like the sins each have their own representative Archfiends, each of the virtues has its own representative Archangel. Archangels are more powerful than Archfiends, being more comparable to Primal Deities, and exist in similarly limited numbers (to Archfiends). There are no Greater/Lesser Beings/Beasts for the virtues; this is made up for by there being a greater number of non–virtue–related angel types than non–sin–related demon types. Each Archangel has a unique pair of "Charms" that float around it and grant special powers. Here we present three of the seven Archangels in part one of a two–part guide to them.
• Seralphet (Archangel of Temperance): Embodying honor, justice and self–control, as well as aspects of some of the other virtues, the Seralphet is the most powerful of all Archangels. It is a tall, elderly–looking and bearded, floating, legless and winged being that wields powerful Rainbow Energy magic and is immeasurably wise. Not necessarily knowledgeable, like the Conscapt or the Custodian, but rather, mindful, perceptive and able to judge people and things objectively. The Seralphet's "Charms" allow it to look into the soul of any being anywhere (usually they are called upon by the being in question first, as they don't just go around looking into people's souls at random all day) and view the content of their character in its purest form. If the person is relatively pure of heart, the Seralphet may bring good fortune to them. But if they are purely evil, the Archangel will either strike them down then and there or do everything in its power to make their life a living Hell. Note that it only does this when it is truly justified. Most of the time, the Seralphet leaves people alone after looking into their souls.
Its other powers include emitting a blinding glow from the pure golden magical crown on top of its head (which is actually part of its body) and forming powerful supernatural barriers/force fields. In combat, the Seralphet fires massive burning energy blasts from its hands that expand as they move through the air to the point that they could destroy a planet if shot at it from a great enough distance.
The Seralphets are among the few permanent residents of the Temple of Infinity, another being Vaynmizs. They are present at all the great heavenly meetings held by the aforementioned lord. Their durability value is 35,000 and about 200 of them exist.
• Cherumose (Archangel of Kindness): One of two female Archangels. The Cherumose is a benevolent entity that embodies love, compassion and friendship. Some of her qualities are shared with the Archangel of Charity. Beautiful and constantly jovial, Cherumoses have long, tall, floating forms with hollow lower bodies that start out solid and pot–like at the waist, but transition into patchwork cloth near the bottom. Directly below the body is a perpetual cloud of rather colorful smoke that keeps the angel afloat and will immediately reform if disrupted. One eye is located on the face, and another on the forehead. Their arms branch out into three pairs of hands, and they have oversized, sensitive ears. They are somewhat vain, but always good–natured and attentive when someone else needs their help; they assist the souls in Paradise with resolving any problems that come up in the afterlife. The "Charms" of the Cherumose resemble eyes and shoot hot pink beams of love that bring out the kindness and subdue the hostility in anyone they hit for a considerable length of time. This ability is used both to cheer up and comfort people and to neutralize hostiles, and it is next to impossible to kill a Cherumose as a result of the latter function; not to mention that only a horribly despicable monster would ever want to do such a thing. Her durability value is about 20,000, which adds further difficulty to harming her.
• Lavkight (Archangel of Diligence): The other female Archangel, and the most powerful type of female creature in the largely male–dominated Nava–Verse. Lavkights are glowing blue–bodied humanoids with magical armor attached to their bodies and headdresses that are almost as large as the heads themselves. This is not a problem for them, as they are so physically strong that they can carry them on their heads without being encumbered whatsoever. The same goes for their armor, which is also quite heavy. The Lavkights embody enthusiasm for the cause of good, fortitude, willpower and honor in battle. As such, they are dedicated fighters who are at the very top of the Heavenly Realms' hierarchy of warriors and would serve as the high generals in an organized army of angels, directly under Bestamiak. They can fight with their claws, which can cut through the thickest of metals, but are also automatically highly proficient in wielding any and all weapons given to them. Their "Charms" are throwing star–like objects which circle around their heads and can be shot at enemies at will, moving through the air at hundreds of miles per hour. After they hit (or miss) their target, they disappear and re–materialize in their orbit around the Lavkight's head. The black orbs of light surrounding their arms, on the other hand, are just for show.
Unlike other angels, the Lavkight's face is scarred and rugged, which reflects her dedication and sacrifice. Her durability value is 25,000.
This entry will be supplemented with presentations of three additional, lesser angels:
• Dorbuilec: A flying, "drone–like" angel made by Vaynmizs that is considered the "middle child" among the "trinity" of airborne, combative, non–humanoid angels consisting of itself, the Yuyonarf and the Harus–Ovactus; that is, it is in–between the tiny Yuyonarf and the massive Harus–Ovactus in size and strength. It can be found in both the Temple of Infinity and Neo–Skyhold, and, on rare occasions, in the mortal realm. The Dorbuilec has a very unique and rather strange form, but a surprisingly functional one nonetheless. Its upper body is an elaborate, ornate semi–sphere outfitted with several aerodynamic gizmos that allow it to fly, which brings us to one of the first peculiarities of the Dorbuilec: its flying abilities are mechanical, rather than magical as with basically all other flying angels. That being said, though, the mechanisms that provide its flight do seem inordinately powerful given their sizes, and they are considered to have some magical properties, albeit of the kind which boosts driving force, rather than that which inherently, specifically grants flight. Atop the Dorbuilec's upper body is a small "head" with no features besides a single eye that can shoot paralyzing but non–lethal Rainbow Energy beams. Atop this "head" is an attached, aesthetic "crown" piece.
Dorbuilecs' lower bodies are also roughly spherical, but slightly smaller (barring the massive arms which will be elaborated on shortly) and much more compactly solid, lacking any aerodynamic mechanisms or hollowed airways. Near the bottom of this "trunk", and from the lone visible cavity in it, the Dorbuilec's lower eyepiece juts out. Resembling a camera or small telescope, this eyepiece is far more flexible than the one at the very top of the angel's body, and can shoot beams that are smaller than the ones fired from said other eye but also more lethal. Protruding from the sides of the Dorbuilec's lower body are perhaps the most noticeable components of its body, its two large, beefy arms. These arms boast positively extra–mortal strength in terms of both punching and lifting, and end in large, rainbow–crystalline hands that are ingrained with a form of Rainbow Energy that burns demonic and other inherently wicked beings to the touch. While moving on the ground, either by choice or due to its flight mechanisms being damaged, a Dorbuilec will use its arms as "legs", walking lumberingly with them.
The Dorbuilec's exact, extra–corporeal durability value is 2,000; there are few discernible differences between specimens. They are voiceless, possessing only basic sentience/sapience.
• Sibiowich: A female creation of Bestamiak with a perpetually youthful, unique humanoid form and a shy, withdrawn personality that is considered imperfect in a way uncharacteristic of angelic beings and more in line with the nature of mortals. Sibiowiches consider themselves, and are considered by others, their "father" included, to be literal "daughters" of Bestamiak, and they, in the historically small but presently growing numbers in which they exist, reside in large academy–like estates in the innermost circle of Paradise, where all sixteen of the plane's coexisting, parallel versions converge into one. There, they are trained in an art that only they are truly capable of effectively using: White Magic.
White Magic is to Rainbow Energy as Dark Magic is to Infernal Energy, being a separate but related form of power that is usually manifested in the form of "spells" whose only tangibility lies in their effects, as opposed to more "solid" projectiles and other masses of pure energy. Its major applications include healing of both physical and spiritual varieties as well as other beneficial enchantments to living things. White Magic's scarcely–glanced "form" appears to be that of pure, blindingly white light, which contrasts with the multicolored glow characteristic of Rainbow Energy. Though Sibiowiches are the only beings that can utilize White Magic to its full potential, Bestamiak, the Bivangrantes and the Lavkights all possess knowledge of how to use it that the potential users of the unique power themselves initially lack, and these beings were the first to pass that knowledge on to the earliest Sibiowich trainees. Since then, most further instruction has been conducted by older Sibiowiches who have already mastered the art of White Magic, though Bivangrantes, Lavkights and even Bestamiak himself still occasionally step in and participate to ensure that the knowledge originating in them remains fully intact and does not "deteriorate" from being handed down too many times.
Physically, Sibiowiches are consistently near five feet in height, being lean and lanky and with their heads and faces having a particular "longness". They have dimly–glowing pink skin and possess all the bodily features shared among young (twenty–ish) mortal women of most races. Born naked, their "clothing", unlike that of most other angels humanoid which is actually part of those beings' bodies, is truly clothing, and consists of a uniform, originally hand–crafted by Bestamiak himself but subsequently "manufactured" by other skilled angelic beings based on his designs, that has many aesthetic variations but a consistent basic form. The most key feature of the Sibiowich uniform is a tall, distinctively pointed hat with a large, circular brim. The uniforms themselves have no magical properties, their special functions being limited to standard formfitting and the symbolic aspect of their basic design being meant to instill discipline and humility. The bodies of the Sibiowiches themselves are corporeal, with durability values of 700–1,000. While still in the initial stages of her training, a Sibiowich possesses and uses a magical, curved baton to assist in casting spells. By the time she has reached a near–peak level of White Magic mastery, this accessory is no longer needed nor discernibly beneficial and is handed down to another, younger Sibiowich as she begins her own studies. In addition, another magical tool, known as a "Wiccha–Charm", is sometimes temporarily attuned to Sibiowiches during parts of their training, floating above their heads in halo–like fashion and augmenting the potency of any spells they cast while equipped with it. Unlike the training baton, the Wiccha–Charm continues to be useful and provide benefit even when a wearer's natural White Magic proficiency is fully–realized. However, Sibiowiches who have completed their primary training are seldom given access to it outside of emergencies and otherwise heated situations. The Sibiowich specimen pictured here is shown with both of these accessories.
As alluded to previously, the Sibiowich is perhaps the most "mortal–like" of all angels in multiple respects, much like the Labeiqers are considered the most angel–like mortals. As stated above, Sibiowiches are imperfect beings who are almost as prone to fault as most mortals and need to be heavily disciplined in order to become proper adherents of their purpose (that being the practice and mastery of White Magic). There is great nuance and variation among their personalities and learning abilities, and they have tendencies to become bored and/or depressed, though usually only for short whiles. Their corporeal, full–featured bodies which need to be covered with clothing are also atypical of angelic beings. There have been more cases of Sibiowiches "going rogue" than with any other type of angel except the unstable and exploitable Harus–Ovactus, though these cases are still rare overall; far more common are instances of Sibiowiches committing, out of genuine lapses of consciousness rather than deliberately turning to evil, isolated transgressions for which they repent soon after and are eventually forgiven.
• Lomshosia: A (roughly) humanoid angelic warrior that serves as a guard in both Paradise and the Temple of Infinity and, in theory, as a stalwart defensive unit among an angelic army. The Lomshosia is a plump, armored figure with both corporeal and extra–corporeal bodily components. It possesses a halo, a relative rarity among "pure" angels that were never mortal humanoids, which is, in its particular, unique case, surrounded by a small aura of fiery Rainbow Energy which is also present on the angel's shoulders and in its lower legs, the latter of which are literally made out of this unique form of Rainbow Energy. The nature of its legs allows (and requires) the Lomshosia to levitate indefinitely, though it lacks free–flight powers and can only float a few feet above the ground. If subjected to a drop from a high altitude, it would fall like any regular object for most of the vertical distance but stop in midair just short of hitting the ground, going unharmed. Lomshosias carry with them at all times handheld shields of moderate size but unparalleled fortitude, the tools being almost completely unbreakable by virtue of obviously magical properties. However, the body of a Lomshosia itself, while hardier than almost any normal mortal, is not nearly so invincible, and the angel must be skilled in moving its shield around itself to block attacks that come its way. When and if a Lomshosia is killed, its shield swiftly evaporates along with its body, preventing enemies from taking and using the mighty tool. The lone eye socket on this angel's face is empty, its actual visual receptors (of which there are usually far more than a single pair) instead being located on the front surface of its shield. This makes proper shield operation an even greater necessity for the Lomshosia, as the tool constitutes not only its source of protection, but its source of vision as well. Note that this angel's eyes are not a vulnerable point, as they are just as nigh–indestructible as the shield itself. The empty eye socket on its face, however, is quite vulnerable if successfully struck. The Lomshosia's durability value, excluding its shield, is 1,800. Although the organic, corporeal components of all Lomshosias are nearly identical, this is not the case with shield and armor designs, which vary greatly between specimens. These angels are intelligent and fully capable of speech, but not very talkative.
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Description :
Gupta Art
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The Gupta Empire was known for one of the largest political and military empires in the history of ancient India. It was ruled by the Gupta dynasty during the period of around 240 to 550 CE. The area covered by the rulers was comprised of most of the part of northern India, current Pakistan and Bangladesh. The period of the Gupta Empire is marked as Golden age to Indians specially in the field of art. Various subjects covering science, astronomy, religion, and philosophy had reached to the level of excellence during this period. The peace and prosperity were existing in the empire under leadership of Guptas enabled artist to deliver their best. The decimal numeral system, showing the presence of zero was invented in India during the reign of the Guptas. Certainly, to a large extent the Gupta Empire was considered a great power.
This Gupta period is truly marked as the Golden age of Indian culture and art. The examples showing the excellence of their cultural creativity are magnificent through the creative architecture, sculpture, and painting.
The Gupta era was also a golden age for Buddhist art. Uniform artistic standards were set in this period resulted in creation of sculptures at Mathura and Sarnath. Mathura and Sarnath have produced some of the finest specimen of Buddhist art during the Gupta period. Gupta style of art featuring a finished mastery in execution and a majestic serenity in expression was spread to other countries and mainly responsible for influencing Buddhist art in all over Asia.
The period of Gupta dynasty seems to have been a time of relative religious tolerance. This can be pointed out as though the main religion of the Guptas was Hinduism, Buddhism received royal patronage and Jainism appears to have prospered as well.
The sculptures & wall paintings at the Ajanta cave are marvelous example of the greatest and most powerful works of Guptas. The themes of sculptures and paintings from the Ajanta dominate the influence of Buddha. Various art pieces of this place depict about various lives of the Buddha, but apart from it, these are the best source of studying the daily life of in India at the time. Sculptors from Guptas period had carved out of the rock to create these sculptures between 460 and 480 CE. And most of the part is filled with Buddhist sculptures.
The colorful and vibrant art pieces at Ajanta are famous not only for observing details of nature and the urban landscape, but the architecture and furnishing, elegant attire and alluring ornaments on the images are marked with importance. These sculptures carry importance for showing perceptive delineations of a variety of human characters, expressions and moods through its appearance. The most well known work from the Ajanta caves is the "Bodhisattva Padmapani." The colorful image portrays the Buddha in Bodhisattva holding a lotus flower.
The creation of monumental temples during the Gupta period remains as architectural wonders. The cave temples of Elephanta and structural temples of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu are enduring legacy Gupta rulers.
An another masterpiece of Guptas art is the rock temple at Elephanta near Bombay. The temple structure contains a powerful, eighteen-foot statue of the three-headed Shiva, known as Trimurthi. Each head of statue represents one of the roles of Shiva: that of creating, that of preserving, and that of destroying. The Gupta period also saw dynamic building of Hindu temples too. All of these temples followed the tradition of having architecture that comprising of a hall and a tower.
All the sculptures produced throughout the Gupta Empire can be marked for having the appearance of relatively uniform "classic" style. The style was spread in other parts of India and in the countries of South and Southeast Asia. The Gupta style in sculpturing has greatly influenced the art of north Indian kingdoms in later period after the end of the Gupta dynasty. There were two main artistic centers for sculpture production: At Sarnath, the images of Buddha with clinging drapery are produced while at Mathura the image following the pattern of string folds in the drapery are created.
Unfortunately, very few monuments built during Gupta reign are able to survive today. Some more examples of presentation of Gupta architecture are found in the Vaishnavite Tigawa temple at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, which is built in 415 CE and another temple at Deogarhnear Jhansi, which is built in 510 CE. Similarly, at Bhita in Uttar Pradesh has a number of ancient Gupta temples, most of them are in ruins.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empire
Jim is an alpha male and extremely perceptive, he seems to sense things well before they actually happen. This can be a little strange at times. I feel as though he is the Merlin of dogs
Simply look with perceptive eyes at the world about you, and trust to your own reactions and convictions. Ask yourself: "Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream? Can I visualize a print my own personal statement of what I feel and want to convey - from the subject before me?
Ansel Adams
This series is of the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds that took up residence in and around my back yard and garden this past Summer.
I found it amazing how perceptive these little creatures are. They would fly rite up in front of me and hover when I would enter their space . I think to say please leave my space, or hover and feed within a few feet of were I sat or stood, but point a camera in their direction and poof they were gone. Still I have managed to get a few pics of them . here are a few of my favorites.
Or should it be how many Arriva Enviro double-deck buses does it take to fill Saint Georges Hall. I always get a good vibe in Liverpool it's a great city for photography. It's easy to include people too and if you get sick of that there is the wonderful mix of architecture. This view the perceptive I chose reminds me of the Beatles somehow, maybe I watched Yellow Submarine too many times. But humour is always not far away even if it's not intentional like this bus it seems to be called Gaza. Yes it's the sort of place where silly things make you chuckle.
360° panorama of our neighborhood from in front of our house this afternoon near sunset (with a stiff breeze bringing the +5.5°C temperature down to a perceptive 0°C thanks to windchill. Round variant for fun. However, I was too lazy to change the background to black (mainly because flood fill didn't work well with white clouds on the edge).
Returning to the States after more than 20 years in South America would have been a shock for my mother, who had built a complex and fulfilling life for herself overseas.
Luckily, she was able to pursue her love of gardening. On moving back to her home town of Great Bend, Kansas, she turned parts of the lawn into rose beds.
I was her enthusiastic helper, digging the planting holes, adding fertlizer, watering the newly planted bushes, and watching eagerly for buds.
Our sojourn in Kansas was brief, but we returned every so often. For a while, the roses were tended, then neglected, then the rose beds became lawn again.
My enthusiasm for gardening (there was a baseball field at the school next door, but you never saw me there) prompted one of my more perceptive classmates to observe that I was a pansy. He said it without malice and never brought it up again; he was just stating a fact.
1967 was the year I discovered clothes! I shopped for myself for the first time. Even in central Kansas, the times were a-changin', because I was able to find really cool pants and shirts in floral and paisley prints. Check out the print on my pants.
My scan of an original non-digital image in my collection to which I own all rights.June, 1967. Scanned from a Kodachrome print.
There is a school close to where i live, quite big. Passing by to day a class of teenage girls left the school right as I was passing and I found my self right in the middle of the class that ”slumped” out of the school entrance.
Somehow children can be more hurtful than adults and since you can't just beat them up, I braced my self to withstand just about anything. But as it happened, absolutely nothing happened. They didn't even give me a second glance. Just a boring adult, they thought, probably some conservative secretary heading for work, and just kept on chatting and using their smart phones dutifully. Not a single one noticed and I am (mind you) using me very own hair....!!
But looking especially at this third picture.... I (Who my self are VERY, if not extremely perceptive, when it comes to spotting T-girls) wouldn't even notice my self!
Dear spirits, I AM getting better... Noticably!
Transvestit København Danmark
I'll give Dave credit. He put up with my inane bullshit a lot longer than I would have. He was kind enough to let me interrupt his lunch break with a request for a picture. It was fine at first…but then I felt the need to back up, go a little wider, check the exposure, etc…
Dave didn't say a word. He didn't need to. I'm pretty perceptive, and I was starting to get the feeling that I was the last party guest who just doesn't take the hint that it's time to go home. Dave had limited time, and he probably didn't want me taking pictures of him with a mouthful of lunch and then posting them on Flickr.
Most days, I can barely stand being around me, and no matter where I go, there I am. I can only imagine how complete strangers must feel.
The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. Ancient people liked to designate an able person as 'Qianli Ma', a horse that covers a thousand li a day (one li equals 500 meters).
Strengths
People born in the year of the horse have ingenious communicating techniques and in their community they always want to be in the limelight. They are clever, kind to others, and like to join in a venture career. Although they sometimes talk too much, they are cheerful, perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are popular among friends, active at work and refuse to be reconciled to failure, although their endeavor cannot last indefinitely.
Weaknesses
They cannot bear too much constraint. However their interest may be only superficial and lacking real substance. They are usually impatient and hot blooded about everything other than their daily work. They are independent and rarely listen to advice. Failure may result in pessimism. They usually have strong endurance but with bad temper. Flamboyant by nature, they are wasteful since they are not good with matters of finance due to a lack of budgetary efficiency. Some of those who are born in the horse like to move in glamorous circles while pursuing high profile careers. They tend to interfere in many things and frequently fail to finish projects of their own.
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Adam Regecz
Please do not use, copy or edit any of my photographs. However please feel free to contact
with me if you are interested in using any of my images.
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Nikon D5100+Battery grip
Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G DX VR + UV filter
This series is of the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds that took up residence in and around my back yard and garden this past Summer.
I found it amazing how perceptive these little creatures are. They would fly rite up in front of me and hover when I would enter their space . I think to say please leave my space, or hover and feed within a few feet of were I sat or stood, but point a camera in their direction and poof they were gone. Still I have managed to get a few pics of them . here are a few of my favorites.
Ashur Kentoku dumps her shit into the receptacle provided and develops a sour look on her face before moving into the bar....
Ashur Kentoku slips into the chair opposite..."Some guy followed me all the way from downtown," she mews, an annoyed expression on her face.
Taladis Tower just looks over at Ashur as she flomps down on the chair and quirks a brow as he reaches up and scratches the back of his head, "You still seem naked without the armor. Did you shoot him?"
Ashur Kentoku smirks, pulling her box of cigarettes out..."I am still wearing armour," she mews softly...."And no, I didnt. I expected a drink here would be more entertaining than fulfilling whatever martial desires her might have had."
Taladis Tower just nodded his head briefly as he reaches to his side, and pulls out the light once more - holding it out towards her lit, while he pulls out his little box of cigars .. opening them up with one hand.
Ashur Kentoku nips another cigarette betwen her lips and takes the offered light....
"This place is even crappier than when I was here last," she mews, peering around. "I didnt think that was possible."
Taladis Tower just pulls it back as he places a cigar in the side of his mouth, rolling it over a bit before lighting it as well. He leans on the table after a moment, as he places the lighter into his pocket once again. "Yeah? Good for privacy usually, though. Holy crap, you act differently when you're not a Catwalker. I like it." The dark cat said with a smirk on his lips as he looked at her with a curiously quirked brow.
Ashur Kentoku drags on her cig and exhales the smoke in a jetted stream at the ceiling, idly blinking at the filth and smokje encrusted there..."I dont need to be nice to spoiled kittens and ever-vigilant Matrons anymore," she sneers. "That was my...job persona...Anyways, do you really have to remind me Im shit now? I'm kinda annoyed at being treated the way I was yanno."
Taladis Tower just looks at her and grins as he looks at her all the same shaking his head, "If you're shit, then I'm bigger shit for staying with the Catwalkers even if I have no interest in them. The kittens are lacking in lucidity, and intelligence in general." He said as he rolled the cigar in the side of his mouth, just enjoying the taste of this one. "Besides, I'm not really a lapcat anyhow, or I wouldn't come here with you .. and I probably would have smacked you for coming on the roof, wouldn't I have? Besides. What made you quit?"
You: "Bullshit politics and PR exercises gone wrong," Ashy growls, scratching a design into the already scratched table with a talon..."I became outmoded in their New Order it seems. Whatever."
Taladis Tower just nods his head as he looks at Ashur all the same, reaching up he gripped the cigar finally taking a drag off of it. He let his hand down - and leaned over to flick at her talons for some reason. Letting the smoke come from his nostrils he leaned back and just watched her, "Yeah. Are you surprised with who's leading the Catwalkers now that they're a bunch of idiots though. Really?"
Ashur Kentoku flexes a long leg and inspects the buckles on a boot as she listens...she flicks a curtain of hair aside and shrugs..."I'm not too perceptive with politics and social shit...I wasnt trained for it. I was trained for combat...and my programming makes me bond with a group and tend to become more loyal than is safe. Comes with the profile I guess."
Taladis Tower just watches her all the same with those dark eyes. He rolls the cigar in the side of his mouth once, and lets his ears flick a tad. He watched Ashurs' movements and reactions and words, her lips .. he was far more perceptive than her about that it seemed to him at least. "..I understand. Sometimes I wonder why I even am in the Catwalkers anymore. They tend to shy away from any sort of conflict now .. and like to lift their tails without much coaxing."
Ashur Kentoku nods and sighs..."I dont know. I fucking tried. And got pressured and humiliated into having to leave for it. 'Not the army!' Tober whined. 'You're too harsh on our Pridemates!' Fuck that." She concentrated on her scratched design again, a swirling crazy mass of Ogham-like shapes, her face twisting into a frown, of concentration or of anger....
Taladis Tower just nods his head as he looks at Ashur and listens to her, absolutely fascinated by her rage, that much was clear if she had bothered to look back into his eyes. The cat watched her intently as he rolled the cigar into the other side of his mouth, reaching up to take a drag off of it once more, "Mrr.. I actually, well .. I actually agree with you." He said as he watched her all the same, "Everything you've said is the exact reason that I am considering just leaving the Catwalkers. They arent' quite the same as when I was here before .. hell, I was considering going it alone or just picking up a few allies and breaking away from the Catwalkers."
Ashur Kentoku slashes at the scarred table-top, forcing her design onto it with her claws...she her eyes narrow as she takes a drag at her partially forgotten cigarette..."Dont get me wrong, Im not a combat junkie. I prefer a nice chat and snuggle with a loved one than a desperate bloody fight for survival. I just happen to be good at that kind of fight, and so it was my place to protect others who cant or wont fight. So I could relax with someone who cared for me at the end of the day, close the darkness out for a while. Except, there wasnt anyone waiting for me when I came back from patrol. I was alone...my own Pride-mates thought I was bad news or shied away from me." She speaks in a low voice, but an undertone of growling is ever-present. "I began to wonder why I did it. I became angry. Wrathful. And I was punished for it. And here I am."
Ashur Kentoku looks up, her dark eyes flashing..."We all want a place in the sun. I couldnt find mine in the Catwlakers, ultimately."
You: "Anyway, nothing stays the same. Everything changes. SO we find something or make something new. Thats what I have to do now."
Taladis Tower just looks at her for a long few moments as he quirked a brow at the last thing she said, he reached up and took a drag off the cigar once more as he leaned over on the table - folding his arms over one another while watching her. "..so, what did you do?"
Taladis Tower: "Because they said you were considered family, and still allowed in the territory."
Ashur Kentoku shrugs..."I wouldnt know what they said. No one told me anything, spoke to me."
Ashur Kentoku flicks the cigarette ontot he filthy floor and stomps it out with a boot.
You: "And..what do you mean "what did you do?"
Taladis Tower: "You said you became wrathful.. and you were punished for it."
Ashur Kentoku snorts, her whiskers puffing out..."I put a kitten in her place for presuming to dictate to me what our combat procedures should be like. She huffed and left the Pride. Tober invited her back, thus undermining my authority, among other things. I thought, fuck that, after all I've said and done, this is how Im treated? So I packed my shit and left."
Taladis Tower just looks at Ashur for a long few moments as he nods his head briefly, "..justifiable. What "kitten" was it, and why the hell was she dictating to you?"
Ashur Kentoku sneers, her face twisted..."Ayami...and I have noo fucking idea. Seems she wanted to appear as the better cat. Wrong move, with me."
Taladis Tower just nods his head as he looks at Ashur, still with his brow. "Did I mention I love you?" He said as he rolled his cigar in the side of his mouth before leaning back and wrapping his arms behind his head as he looked at Ashur, in awe of her language.
You: "I was told she was...hey?" Ash stops, claws resting on the table, tilting her head, her ears perked. "Haha, you're crazy! I'm fucked-up as they come...you'd do well to forget you ever saw me, nevermind say you love me. Flattering though." She smiles softly...
Taladis Tower just purrs softly as he leans onto the table once more and places his face
into his palms as he watches the cat still in awe of her language, and the honesty that she's displaying, "..I have a thing for brutal honesty. It's severely attractive." He said as he rolled the cigar in the side of his mouth as he watched her with those dark eyes of his. "Yeah, I love you." He said once more in that smoke damaged dark tone of voice, a smirk on his lips.
Ashur Kentoku blinks, then laughs again, softly, her eyes on the dark male..."My kinda honesty can get you killed yeah? Im a fucking walking emo zone mister...my nanites are unstable and could kill me at any moment, and my moods are...well, ask around and you'll find out I didn't make the title of Wrath for my charming nature."
Taladis Tower just looks at her for a long few moments as his ears flicked a little more as he leaned into the table all the same drawing a little nearer to that cat, with his cigar rolling to the other side of his mouth every few moments while he watched her. "...I know, but I still want to throw you over this table." He said rather bluntly as he wrinkled his nose and just curiously watched Ashur.
Ashur Kentoku curls her lips into a quirky smile..."I put my lovers into hospital," she purrs...."I go feral, cant help it....my claws are enhanced and just...hurt. Another reason I was avoided, I think."
"Do you now?" Ash mews, her smile still quirky. "Well, you're a nice cat and all," she purrs, leaning across the table toward him..."but Im kinda of the opinion that everything starts somewhere..." She tilts her head to the side slightly, her eyes lowering some as she moves her face closer to his....
Taladis Tower just quirks a brow as she comes closer towards him, and just lets his tongue free from his lips as he laps at the very tip of her nose with that rough wet warm tip. He leans in and nips at her dark upper lip afterwards as he looked at her, "Everything starts somewhere, and ends somewhere. That's such a vague thing that it's almost deep."
Ashur Kentoku curls her lips into a silent snarl as her nose and lips are nipped...then she suddenly presses her soft lips against his, purring softly, her tongue dipping into his mouth, teasing and tasting, her eyes closed....
Taladis Tower purrs softly as he's kissed by the snowy furred cat, as he closes his own eyes and presses back against her. Tilting his head slightly, his nose rubbing against hers as his tongue moved forward to twist along her's as he tasted her flesh as well. He stood up from the chair, as he kept the kiss - looking rather awkward as he moved over towards her. Turning her towards the table, he continued the warm embrace of their mouths as he pushed her towards the table top - hovering overhead of her still.
[7:08] Ashur Kentoku purrs through her nose as she's enveloped by the dark male, she grips onto him and squirms against him, her tail wrapping around his thigh....she meowrls, the sound low and throaty...
Taladis Tower just continues to purr with a low growl coming up in his throat as his hands moved to her shoulders running slowly along them, as he kept his head tilted and let his tongue explore the female's mouth. His eyes opened into slits as he pulled away from her - still hovering over her as he looked down at her. Having stood up a little more as he grinned down at her - and licked at the tip of her nose once more, "..was that an appropriate beginning to the end?"
Ashur Kentoku shivers and her head turns slightly away, as if she's looking at something only she can see..."Nice to feel a man's kiss, to know whether he can kiss," she mews, and her eyelids flutter momentarily, her gaze still not quite focused where it should be...the effect, if thought about, is strange, if not disconcerting...and then it is gone, as she smiles. "Next, is patience...or perhaps focus."
Taladis Tower just purrs softly as he reaches up and runs his clawed fingertips along her cheek as he leaned in and pressed his lips to her's once more. A vibration coming through the wet skin, as he closed his eyes once more - particularly locking on her lower lip. His crimson locks of hair twisted in her's as he stood there. Continuing to run his clawed fingernails along her cheek, he pulled away once more and placed his forehead to her's. "..focus is more likely."
Ashur Kentoku kisses enthusiastically back, still purring, her claws already digging in as she moves her hands down his sides, and over his chest, not quite hurting but ripping and tearing in some places at his clothing, a foretaste of things to come if she did anything more than caress...she looks into his eyes as his forehead rests against her, her body pressed against his.."Perhaps, we'll see," she murmers and pushes him away with a hand, guiding him back to his seat and pushing him into it. She steps back and very deliberately stands for a moment, watching him....
Taladis Tower just backs up as he's pushed by the female cat. He hits the chair with a whud as he looks up at her with those dark eyes of hers, still purring softly as he watched her. His ears twitching, tail flicking, and seeming quite a bother at the moment. He reaches up with his hand and holds his finger out to make her come closer, as he leans towards her with a curious expression on his face and a quirked brow. "Mrr.. come here .. sit down .. just for a moment. I want to feel your body against mine again.."
Ashur Kentoku smiles..."Patience..and focus." she mews. "Does he have the patience to remember her and the focus to follow once she's gone?" Ash purrs and sits down slowly opposite him, crossing her legs. "You're a fine cat, mister. We could take this further....next time. If you have the patience and focus. And a medcial kit," she adds, grinning.
Taladis Tower just purrs as he looks at her and leans over the table all the same as he watches her .. he had hoped that she'd sit in his lap, but he would take being able to look to her. Wriggling his lips a little he spoke, "..I have a good mind. If I didn't, I doubt you'd have kissed me .. would you have?" He said as he looked at her and quirked a brow, "...when is next time? Because I'll mark it on my calender."
Ashur Kentoku: "No, otherwise I wouldnt have, yeah. Next time? I dunno, really...I'm not a fortune teller!" She smiles quirkily again and signs her design on the table-top with a claw...."Lets not get all date-ish about yah?" She wiggles a claw in the air for emphasis. "I don't think we'll need to anyways. I'l need to keep my pounce-attacks in tune, know what I mean?"
Taladis Tower just purrs softly as he leans in once more and kisses her on the tip of her nose - slipping up from the chair as he did. Reaching up the cat ran his clawed fingertip along her cheek and started to walk off. "I'll disappear then .. so that next time is sooner." He said in that smoke damaged voice, "..I'll just make sure to catch you in an alley and push you up against a wall." He finished as he watched her figure while walking out.
Ashur Kentoku smiles and watches him walk out..."A hunt it is then," she merrs softly, perhaps to herself....
Please read my profile for more information about my craft.
This 125 carat handcrafted blue stripes agate pendant is created swirling and shaping sterling silver wire by hand, adding Swarovski crystals to enhance the natural beauty and shape of the stone. This glass-like stone has striations of white throughout its beautiful shade of light sky blue.
It measures 1 1/4" across and 2 1/2" top to tip including the bail.
The bail is designed to be large enough to accommodate your favorite chain, choker or cord, not included.
All purchases are nicely packaged in a gift box.
Agate's healing effects:
Agate provides for balancing of Yin/Yang energy and for balancing of the physical, emotional and intellectual bodies with the Etheric energies. It stabilises the aura, providing for a cleansing effect that acts to smooth dysfunctional energies and to both transform and eliminate negativity. It further, assists one in the development of precision in examination of oneself and of circumstances relevant to ones well being. Agate can be used to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision. It provides for perceptiveness to situations and awakens ones inherent talents and adroitness. It is also used to produce inspiration from and connectedness with the entities residing in the spiritual worlds. It has been reported to strengthen the sight, to diminish thirst and to promote marital fidelity.
Chakras: Base, Earth Star, Heart, Link, Navel, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Throat, Thymus
Astrological sign: Gemini
This series is of the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds that took up residence in and around my back yard and garden this past Summer.
I found it amazing how perceptive these little creatures are. They would fly rite up in front of me and hover when I would enter their space . I think to say please leave my space, or hover and feed within a few feet of were I sat or stood, but point a camera in their direction and poof they were gone. Still I have managed to get a few pics of them . here are a few of my favorites.
I was looking for a good shot, when I noticed these seagulls fly by me – really close. Thought that it might be really cool if I could get an in-your-face shot. The next seagull that passed by, I was clicking in a flash. This was the first shot of the series. After seeing this in the viewfinder, I was really encouraged and started taking more. Unfortunately, none came out as good as this one.
(edit)
This one hit #5 on Explore!
Sydney, Australia
2007
DANCING WITH SWARMING PARTICLES is an interactive installation and performace that intends to explore the relationship between a physical user/performer and a virtual performer the “avatar” which has the physical characteristics of morphing flocking particles.
The avatar’s body is composed by flocking particles that initially float in the virtual space without any apparent order. It is through the energy of the physical user/performer’s movements that the particles will start to morph into the avatar’s body.
by Rodrigo Carvalho, performer Tamar Regev
coordinator : Anna Mura
Made in Specs [Synthetic Perceptive, Emotive and Cognitive Systems group] - UPF - Barcelona
[25.02.2011 - Barvelona]
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Made in Unity3d, using Kinect and Osceleton [vimeo.com/17966780]for the Skeleton tracking.
check the video here ::
Mister Isambard Kingdom Brunel, engineer, is pleased to announce the unveiling of his latest design, the Traction Engine. This marvellous conveyance can reach speeds in excess of eight miles per hour!
Lest perceptive readers be alarmed, be assured that this photographic image shows the Engine carrying out maneouvres "off road" thus negating the legal requirement for a gentleman to walk ahead of the vehicle with a red flag warning other road users of the Engine's approach.
Visit www.empireofsteam.blogspot.com for the full story behind this and many other LEGO constructions of the Steampunk Age.
Orange the World 2018 - Bangladesh
Orange Day at United Nations in Bangladesh Office of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 27 Nov 2018 Bangladesh: The 16 days of Activism for 2018 was formally celebrated by all United Nations Agencies of Bangladesh on 27 Nov 2018 at IDB Bhaban, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The premises host the United Nation Resident Coordinator’s Office and several other UN agencies in Bangladesh. It was jointly organized by the Gender Thematic Group (GETG) and the UN Communication and Advocacy Group (UNCAG) for United Nations in Bangladesh. This event was open for all UN staff from Dhaka and beyond with its objective being to create awareness amongst UN staff in Bangladesh on VAWG; and its prevention, response, solution and implications, in their everyday lives, beyond the UN offices.
Mia Seppo, Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Several UN Head of Agencies in Bangladesh were present to show solidarity with the UN-RC in the joint initiative. The event was inaugurated by hoisting orange balloons in the air by the UNCT of Bangladesh. It was followed by a perceptive speech from Ms Seppo on the individual responsibility as managers and collective responsibility of all UN staff that their colleagues, esp. females, feel safe and productive at workplace. She stressed the UN Staff to stand up for human rights and that violence against women is a deplorable violation of human rights. She highlighted that feminism is not women’s agenda, it’s everyone’s agenda esp. as members of UN community of Bangladesh and globally. She followed up her speech by going around the crowd, firstly taking joint oaths with individual staff members; and then leading a collective pledge.
This was followed by a joint presentation by three champions of woman’s rights, at three different walks of life from Bangladesh. The presenters were: Farida Yeasmin, Deputy Police Commissioner, Women Support and Investigation Division, Dhaka Metro Police; Zara Jabeen Mahbub, Senior Vice President and Head of Communications and Service Quality, BRAC Bank Bangladesh; and Ms. Jahanara Akter Parul, an Acid Victim Survivor and Canteen Supervisor, at Acid Survivors’ Foundation in Dhaka. The presentations were not only enlightening; but also moved many of the staff to tears due to the passion and pain behind each of the champion’s current success.
It was followed by a street theatre performance by Batighor, a local theatre group, on the theme of both #Metoo and #HearMeToo in context of Bangladesh. It focused on how the perpetrators are people who we meet on our everyday lives; how regardless of age, race or gender, they victimize people whom we know and meet daily; and lastly, probing the audience to stand up for rights of survivors for justice and fair treatment.
In addition to these activities, 16 days merchandise and pledge badges were distributed in the morning to the UN staff, who work at IDB Bhaban. A photo exhibition; and activations at three pledge boards to collect comments and pledges from UN staff; were ongoing throughout the day. IDB premises turned into a vibrant hub of laughter and conversations; with colleagues reuniting from different agencies; all staff dressed in orange elements; and crowds gathering at a photo booth in the cut out of #HearMeToo.
Photo: UN Women/Fahad Kaizer
Read More: www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women
Suspended Animation Classic #94
Originally published Oct. 14, 1990 (#41)
The Shadow
By R. A. Jones
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?
If you answered, “Any woman over the age of 12”, you are undoubtedly a perceptive judge of human nature. The response we were really looking for, however, was, of course, The Shadow knows.
This mysterious fictional character was created for radio in the 1930s, and was portrayed by such illustrious actors as the late Orson Welles. “The Shadow” became a fixture in the pulp magazines of the day, in stories that have since been reprinted in paperback form. Several times through the years, he has also been the star of his own comic book.
In one of his most recent incarnations, the character appears in a hard backed graphic novel that bears his name, “The Shadow”. The story therein is subtitled “Hitler’s Astrologer”, and is set in 1941, before the United States was drawn into World War II.
The script, written by Denny O’Neil, draws its premise from the fact that Adolph Hitler was an extremely superstitious man who, on occasion, turned to astrology to plot his courses of action. The plot presented here postulates that the Shadow and his minions were able to use that flaw to manipulate Hitler into making a military decision that would insure his eventual downfall.
It is certainly not a bad story, no worse than the pulp fiction in which the Shadow appeared sixty years ago. Neither is it exceptionally good, relying heavily on the rather melodramatic writing style that is so common in comic books today.
The saving grace of the book comes in its excellent, beautifully colored artwork. Mike Kaluta and Russ Heath, two respected comics veterans, team up to produce visual images that will remain with you long after the plot of the story has faded from memory.
Lovely art and a moderately entertaining script are just enough to give this book a recommendation, especially for older readers.
“The Shadow” is published by Marvel Comics, sells for $12.95, and is available in comic book specialty stores.
Arisa Uotani (魚谷 ありさ Uotani Arisa?), aged 16, is a former gang member (a "yankee", the Japanese version of the American "thug" image) and one of Tohru's closest friends. Arisa is depicted as tough, brash, and sometimes violent; she wears long skirts, sometimes carries a lead pipe, and often speaks like a man (see Gender differences in spoken Japanese). Arisa is tall for a girl, and once claims she wishes to reach 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. She is especially competitive with Kyo and bickers with him frequently. Her childhood was troubled: her father is an alcoholic and her mother left him for another man when Arisa was young; Arisa joined an all-girl gang called The Ladies in fifth grade, and idolized Kyoko Honda's reputation from her gang days. When Arisa met Kyoko's daughter Tohru in middle school, and then Kyoko herself, she was shocked by the change from gang-leader into doting mother, but became friends after Kyoko helped her escape from her gang. With Saki Hanajima, she swore on Kyoko's grave to look after Tohru, and in their "parental" protection of Tohru, noted by Kyo and Yuki, Arisa is depicted as the brash and direct father-figure. Tohru calls her Uo-chan and her manga symbol is a fish, the meaning of the first kanji (魚) of her family name. Arisa works a couple of different part-time jobs during the series; at one of them, in a convenience store, she meets Kureno Sohma and is immediately attracted to him, though she worries about their nine-year age difference. They meet a second time a few days later, when he nearly kisses her after buying her lunch, but after that he refuses to see her again because of his promise to Akito, and she tries to get over him. When Kureno leaves Akito, Arisa helps him move out, telling him that she has been waiting for him all this time, and in the final chapter she is preparing to move in with him.
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Kureno Sohma (草摩 紅野 Sōma Kureno?), aged 26, is the former Rooster of the Chinese zodiac. He appears only in the manga, but appeared in the anime as the finch constantly in Akito's company. According to Natsuki Takaya, while he was still cursed, he did not like others to see his animal form, which was a sparrow instead of a Rooster. He is depicted as a polite and selfless young man. Arisa Uotani describes Kureno as "like Tohru" because of his over-the-top politeness and scatterbrained idiosyncrasies, and Saki Hanajima and Akito Sohma both compare his selflessness to Tohru's. In his mid-teens, about ten years before the series begins, Kureno's curse was somehow broken, but because of Akito's distress he promised never to leave. Kureno and Akito have a sexual relationship, and when Shigure learned about it, some time before the start of the series, in retaliation he slept with Akito's mother, Ren. Akito keeps Kureno away from the rest of the family to hide that he is no longer cursed, and Kureno does most of Akito's work as the head of the family. As a result, Kureno is so sheltered he is 26 when he first visits a convenience store, where he meets Arisa. Despite their mutual attraction, he stays away from her because, he claims to Tohru, of his promise to Akito. However, when Akito locks Rin Sohma away for stealing her father's box, it is Kureno who frees her. As the zodiac curse begins breaking down, Kureno eventually admits he is partially responsible for keeping Akito coddled and fearful by being too obedient, and Akito angrily stabs him in the back. When Kureno is released from the hospital, he moves out of the Sohma compound with Arisa's help, and in the final chapter, Arisa is preparing to move in with him. In an author's note, Takaya described him as possibly the most lonely of those affected by the curse, because of his isolation. He never blames Akito for his injury and still feels a responsibility to care for her. He says the best thing he can do for her is to erase his existence. Hence his moving out of the Sohma home. Takaya derived his name from the third month of the traditional Japanese calendar, kurenoharu or "late spring"; he was supposed to have been named after the ninth month, the month of the Rooster, but according to the author, she mixed up his and Momiji's positions in the zodiac.
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Saki Hanajima (花島 咲 Hanajima Saki?), aged 16, is a psychic girl who has the ability to sense people's "waves" and send out electric "waves" (denpa in Japanese), and one of Tohru's closest friends. She is depicted as very perceptive, polite, with a usually deadpan manner, and is often seen eating or doing Tohru's or Arisa's hair when not in class. According to an author's note, in contrast with her Gothic Lolita appearance, she likes shōjo manga and novels and bought a copy of Shigure Sohma's Heartthrob. Tohru calls her Hana-chan, and her manga symbol is a small flower, the meaning of the first kanji (花) of her family name. Hanajima had trouble controlling her abilities when she was young, and blamed herself for the near-fatal collapse of a boy who was bullying her. Like Arisa Uotani, Hanajima is extremely protective of Tohru, who was the first person in school that truly accepted her, which helped her gain control of her powers. She wears black fingernail polish and (when not in her school uniform) black dresses, often with a cloak or veil,habits Hanajima started before she met Tohru as a way of signaling her guilt. With Arisa, she promised on Tohru's mother's grave to look after Tohru and in their near-"parental" protection, she acts as the "motherly" figure. She uses her reputation for sending out "poison waves" to shield Tohru from the malice of Yuki's fan club. She has a close relationship with her family, which accepts and nurtures her gifts, especially her younger brother, Megumi, who also has psychic abilities. When Hanajima sees Kazuma Sohma when he comes in for Kyo's parent-teacher conference, she calls him "handsome," and later at the class performance of Sorta Cinderella, she seeks Kazuma out to talk with him. Kyo is disturbed enough at the idea of Hanajima in a relationship with his foster-father, that she and Uotani tease him with the possibility. However, in the final chapter, Hanajima is working as a cook at Kazuma's dojo, and it is implied they are in a relationship.
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Kazuma Sohma (草摩 籍真 Sōma Kazuma?) is a master of karate who runs a dojo near the Sohma family main house, where he teaches several of the younger Sohmas including Kyo, Kagura, Yuki, and Hatsuharu. He is usually addressed as Shishō, meaning "master". In an author's note, Takaya said that although she draws him young, his age is "almost 40."Takaya also claimed he is "clumsy with his hands and has no sense of flavor,"and he is depicted as being so bad at cooking, he does not know how to prepare tea. His daily routine is taken care of by his assistant at the dojo, Kunimitsu Tomoda.
When he was a child, during their only meeting, Kazuma was mean to his grandfather simply because his grandfather was cursed by the cat. His grandfather had offered him a sweet but Kazuma had rejected it, saying it was cursed, and instead of getting angry, his grandfather merely smiled and forgave him. His cruelty from their only meeting haunted him as he grew up and to make amends, after Kyo's mother died, he took in and raised Kyo, the current cat, as his foster son, and has come to think of him as his own son. Kazuma thinks well of Tohru and hopes her love for Kyo is sincere, and not based on pity like his grandmother's was towards his grandfather; both to test Tohru's feelings and to show Kyo he can be accepted by others despite his curse, Kazuma forces Kyo to show Tohru his true form. After Rin is hospitalized the second time during the series, he takes her in to recuperate so that she does not have to live inside the family compound, which he has done before. In the final chapter, Saki Hanajima has taken a job as a cook at Kazuma's dojo and it is implied they are in a relationship.
Wikipedia Quyotes
It may appear that you do not dream, although research shows how REM or rapid eye movement demonstrates that EVERYONE dreams.
To remember your dreams, simply make an effort to start paying attention to them. Once you begin observing clues that come forward, which can accelerate growth, exploring the dream for direction will increase your ability for recall.
Studies show that brain activity increases when you are dreaming. The brain appears more active during dreaming than when you are awake.
Researchers explore how the mind functions like a computer in its ‘back up’ and ‘recycle bin’ processes. As another sensory organ, you revisit experience, explore potential and release outworn perspectives. This is how dreaming becomes a healthy aspect of psychic health.
When you are ‘stuck’ in a transformative cycle, the dream always reveals ‘the way through.’
If your dream recurs, it should be given careful consideration. Once you understand it, you will see that it will not recur.
If you are awakened during REM sleep, you will be able to remember your dreams in more detail than in the morning.
The human body is designed with a paralytic feature that keeps your limbs from acting out on your dreams. The body holds an inherent wisdom that allows it to heal itself, which requires no thought or action on your part. Similarly, the process of dreaming can be viewed as a perceptive or parasympathetic ‘organ’ that achieves a type of ‘healing’ while you sleep.
Dreams often present the exact opposite of what you believe to be true about yourself. Often sharing them with another person will allow you to recognize how the dream reflects what you are ‘missing’ about your current circumstance.
Understanding your dreams can lead to balance and wellness as well as helping you to become more assertive and self-confident.
CREATURES:
• Fibelza: A round aquatic carnivore that is found on the planet Haysfhelt, whose surface consists of more than 80% water, making it the second most watery inhabited planet next to Hulptos. This planet is located in the Beta Octant and is the second planet from Ergnoplis, with Wegneheck in between the two. As for the Fibelza itself, it does not appear for several miles out from the shore of the planet's small, lone continent where its humanoids live, and thus has little interaction with the Emlottbiens. The creature is ferocious, though not to the same extent of the Eevakie, which is bears much resemblance to, being willing to feast on any and all types of fish smaller than it. The Fibelza is a carnivore, not an omnivore, and thus it does not eat plant life whatsoever. They have numerous eyes on their bodies, anywhere from six to ten pairs, and thus have an incredibly wide range of vision. However, any damage to their eyes causes them immense pain, and thus they are especially vulnerable in many places. The Fibelza's durability value is about 600.
• Nicayecid: Large–headed beasts that live in the depression/valley areas of Logdlind, which is also where most of the Boxyobobs live. It is obvious that Nicayecids share a good deal of their DNA with the Boxyobobs due to the jagged bodies of both as well as similar–looking faces, in a case similar to that of the Qendsewn and Uliroohs. However, the deluded Boxyobobs take this as meaning that the Nicayecids came long before them and were "precursors" that their race evolved from. On the creatures themselves, they are six feet tall and have a durability value of 900. They have long arms, acute eyes and sensitive, drooping ears on the sides of their heads, and hop around on a single foot, similar to a few other creatures. In addition, Nicayecids have luscious, humanoid–like lips in the back of their concave mouths, which are otherwise monstrous. Food that is ingested enters the creature's digestive system not through through these very far back lips but through a food pipe to the side of them. This is because the structure featuring these lips is actually the animal's penis. When it mates, this lip–penis becomes erect and juts out, and the two unisexual Nicayecid kiss passionately, which in their case is not just a sexual act but is literally sexual intercourse. They both ejaculate into each other's lips/urethras, and both can potentially become pregnant.
• Emlottbien: The amphibious humanoids of Haysfhelt. They live on the shores of a small continent in the water–covered planet's Northeastern hemisphere but can also safely dwell in the more shallow waters beyond its coast, which contain few dangerous lifeforms unlike the parts of the ocean farther out from the land. Emlottbiens are quite tall, standing at more than five feet, and have very long limbs as well. Their average durability value is 700. Their ability to breathe underwater comes from pairs of appendages on the sides of their heads which may be mistaken for ears by outsiders. Their actual sensors of sound are located on top of their heads. The mouth of the Emlottbien consists of three holes in the same area on the lower face where most beings' mouths are located. This makes eating on dry land difficult and an inconvenience; it is much easier for them to ingest their food underwater, where they can suck things in through their holes (the water nearest to the shores on their planet is freshwater, so they needn't worry about sea salt). All the things on Haysfhelt that are edible to them can be taken underwater without becoming soggy, so Emlottbiens usually go into the sea to eat what they find on land. This is also why they mainly live close to the water's edge rather than inland. Prior to the EndoBubble's destruction, Hulptos served as an alternative home for many Emlottbiens.
TECHNOLOGY:
• Skellen Turret: This device, like the Skellen Abomination, is synthetically derived from natural life forms, and thus straddles the line between "creature" and "technology". Specifically, and oddly enough, it contains living nerves taken from the plants of Gorlune and brain cells from various creatures, which together give the turret the capacity to handle more advanced programming. Skellen Turrets stand on wheels which can be locked in place to keep them from rolling away but which make them easier to move around outside of combat. Thanks to their organic components, they have been programmed to actively detect, aim at and fire upon all targets except Skellen and allied beings such as Errvwarps and Demioids, whose racial DNA is input into the turrets' "brains" making the devices recognize them as "friendlies". Of course, this also gives the turrets a major weakness as if a Skellen, Demioid etc. turns against their kind, they will not be fired at since the devices have been programmed to never attack members of their species. Thus, the turrets are used only in warfare against other creatures and not as local security against criminal/defector Skellen.
• Dynamo Force Field Generator: This device was invented by the Demioid Taekhned in his laboratory complex on Hulptos. It facilitates a perpetual cycle of reactions and combustion involving microscopic samples of several different elements and chemical compounds, which together produce obstructive multi–shaded fields of blue energy. A large number of these generators were used to form a force field around Taekhned's enormous underwater laboratory on Hulptos. Compared to supernatural barriers, the force fields produced by this device can be dissipated comparatively easily when powerful force is exerted upon them (i.e. heavy weapons and explosives can blast through them).
• MetaQuarium Power Generator: These devices are found near MetaQuariums, large containment cells that simulate the environment of another planet. These generators are dually powered by both steam and electricity and pump fresh air, solar energy and simulated weather into the MetaQuariums they are connected to in quantities appropriate for the amount and type of life inside, which they detect automatically. An average–sized MetaQuarium uses around three of them.
MORE CREATURES:
• Daliolet: One of the native creatures of planet Coneforfad in the Gamma Octant. Coneforfad is an unusual planet where refined metal occurs naturally in tremendous quantities and covers much of the surface. Though no humanoids are native to the planet, many races have established colonies on it for the purpose of collecting useful/valuable metals. The creatures there all have some sort of metallic component in them as well a visible antenna that fine–tunes all of their senses, which would be very weak otherwise. The Daliolet is one of the smaller, less complex and least metal–filled of Coneforfad's creatures. It is a three–legged docile mammalian being with a heavily–armored upper body and a large, gaping mouth organ at the top of a brown structure growing from its back which resembles a tumor but is in fact a natural feature. The Daliolets live in a region of the planet where spores that are nutritious to them float around in the air, and they use their mouth organs to inhale these spores. They could not survive in most other environments since it is very difficult if not impossible for them to consume food from the ground.
This is the type of animal that can be reasonably kept as a pet, and more than a few visitors to Coneforfad have either adopted Daliolets of their own or taken them to be sold to others who might want them. The creature's durability value is about 500.
• Menigunge: Another Coneforfadian creature. Resembling a Nirtrid somewhat but being totally unrelated to those creatures biologically, the Menigunge is a surprisingly intelligent and resourceful beast and scavenger that waddles around on two slabs of flesh that serve as its feet and scours the area for food and shelter. It will eat almost anything and everything it can. The creature has a multicolored fatty and blobby lower body and a tall head structure that gradually collects stray traces of electric energy from the air and stores up this energy in the metal rods within the Menigunge's body. When a sufficient amount of said electricity is gathered, it can be discharged at will through the metallic structure on one of the creature's arms, which is its primary method of attack. When it lacks the required amount of energy, it can alternatively attack by butting with its metal–filled head structure. The electric shock mechanism is randomly on either the left or right arm. Menigunges also have not one but two external antennae, with the extra one further enhancing their senses and giving them a considerable advantage over most other creatures in this department. They usually have durability values of between 400 and 600.
• Whaldort: Like the previous two entries, this creature also hails from Coneforfad. The Whaldort is one of Coneforfad's more exciting beasts, as its body consists of almost 50% metal, which shows in its interesting and unique abilities as well as its unusual body shape. In its default, dormant position, it vaguely resembles a disembodied foot and leg. When the Whaldort awakens, two eyes, two stubby arms and four wheels on the "foot" are revealed. These wheels are one of the creature's metal components, and allow it to move around at speeds of sixty miles per hour or more using just two of them. In addition, it can lean itself backward, allowing itself to move on all four wheels. In this form, its speed is even greater, being able to reach the ninety MPH mark with enough acceleration, and it is also able to move through very tight spaces. The other "special abilities" of the Whaldort that derive from its wheels include spinning around with its arms, which are almost completely made of metal, held out, resulting in a powerful attack, and creating a trail of sparks on the ground as it moves, especially on metal surfaces. The Whaldort's durability value is 800, which is augmented by the fact that there is so much metal in its body.
EVEN MORE CREATURES:
• SluthHona: A small and friendly herbivore amphibian creature from the planet Nonfialy, home of the chaotic Ojohkeys. They are stout, hunchbacked animals that dwell in and around the planet's many swamps and marshes, mainly making their homes inside small–moderate sized craters which are the result of an orbital bombardment of Nonfialy that occurred prior to the appearance of life there, and have four limbs like humanoids, though they do not qualify as beast–hominids due to their nonstandard heads, which blend into their upper torsos and thus do not have easily discernible endpoints. These heads can also retract back into said torsos when SluthHonas are threatened. They have three long, slender digits on each hand/foot, complex designs on their bodies (which contain a fiber resembling gold and sometimes even have parts jutting out on the side), antenna–based eyes and ears, plated backs that are harder than the rest of their bodies, and a single glowing thorn on their tops. They are intelligent enough to make distinct, meaningful gestures towards one another, but do not make any verbal noises. SluthHonas' durability values range from 400 to 600, and they are between three and four feet tall, weighing just over one hundred pounds on average.
• Pearloerd: One of God's most violent mortal creations, and one of the only mortal beings that can not only survive in the vacuum of space but actually lives there. The Pearloerd is not native to any planet, for the original spores of its creation were originally dispersed onto several otherwise lifeless moons and asteroids throughout the Prime Galaxy around which the first of its kind made their initial homes. These early Pearloerds dwelled around there for a while before discovering their amazing ability to flat–out defy the normal laws of physics and move through space at several hundred miles per hour. This ability, as well as the ability to breathe in space, is due to magic rather than any biological feature. Given the shape of their bodies (see below), Pearloerds normally would not be able to do these amazing things otherwise. After discovering their powers, they began making their way towards nearby planets in search of substantial food. Being highly efficient omnivores, they were provided by the heavens with simple plants to eat prior to this. However, these just barely kept the Pearloerds alive long enough for them to move on to better sources of food, and from the beginning they craved more, as they were (and still are) ambitiously vicious creatures. The beasts began periodically descending upon various planets throughout the Prime Galaxy, and using their final magical power to be discovered, the ability to emit both fire energy and ice energy from their mouths simply by roaring, to massacre and feast upon local wildlife before returning to space, where they would fly around and explore the galaxy for a time before visiting planets again when they were again hungry. This pattern of behavior continues to this very day. Pearloerds can kill and eat dozens of creatures at one time, for they have very large bellies, and this amount of food keeps them satiated for several days. They only attack and eat non–sapient animals and are disinterested in humanoids, with one notable exception (see below). Conversely, humanoids tend to simultaneously fear and admire the beasts, in part because it is very rare to see one unless one ventures into space.
Physically, the Pearloerds are vaguely draconic monsters with long, thick necks, massive heads and proportionately small bodies with three short, stubby arms. Because of their magical properties, the patterns on their bodies are particularly bright and complex. They average over five meters in length and can weigh up to one thousand pounds, and their durability value is around 3,000. They live for about 200 years and do not reproduce until near the end of their lifespans, so there have been only a limited number of generations of them. Pearloerds also tend to have short, unkempt beards. One special mutant Pearloerd had a particularly pronounced beard and was thus labeled "Balt the Beard". Balt the Beard was the only Pearloerd to ever deliberately attack humanoids, was twice the size of a normal one, and was slain in Age 690 by Connor Thorn.
• Sybruchar: Sybruchars are humanoid demons that are so completely sub–corporeal that they do not exist at all in the physical realm, but only in the mental realm. Roughly 1,200 of them exist. Their experiences take place in an ethereal parallel plane that is empty apart from the detectable presences of the minds of any and all thinking, sentient beings, which are a Sybruchar's only means of interaction with the rest of the Nava–Verse. These demons can usually only enter one's mind when the victim is asleep and the mind cannot focus on shielding itself from interference. However, in rare cases they have been able to enter the minds of subjects who were awake but in states of confusion, severe nervousness or stupidity. Once inside a mind, the Sybruchar launches an attack on its victim's psyche from within, usually manifesting within the dream being experienced by a sleeping victim and assaulting the person's dream avatar. The trauma resulting from this attack can have varying effects, all highly unpleasant, ranging from severe brain damage to comas to insanity to death. The Sybruchar can be stopped by either waking up, or taking control of one's dream and fighting off the demon's manifestation within it. This results in the monster being flung from the person's psyche to a far away point in its native realm. An individual can only be attacked by a Sybruchar once, for one of the fiend's few standards is to not assault the same person more than once. Even if it were to break this unspoken rule, most races' brains develop an immunity to similar experiences after being infiltrated once, even if they were damaged.
The creatures can also interact with other Sybruchars they cross paths with in their native plane of existence, and they make exchanges about their endeavors in an indecipherable gurgling language exclusive to the Sybruchar race, sometimes sharing information about nearby potential victims to prey upon. Sybruchars can float through space at speeds of thousands of miles per hour to accommodate for the vast empty distances between planets, and are extremely perceptive, being able to detect all living things within at least a five hundred mile radius at all times. Their forms are lanky and unnatural in posture, with five–fingered claw on one hand and blood–caked scissor–scythes in place of the other hand. Their faces consist of striated voids with bright, pupilless eyes that are said to stare all the way into the very soul of whoever is looked upon by them. Though the demon itself cannot permanently be killed no matter what, the manifestation of the Sybruchar that appears in dreams and must be destroyed within the dream to avoid being harmed by it has a durability value of about 2,000. Also note that no new Sybruchars appear to have come into being since the demons first appeared, as there is no need for the race to reproduce since they cannot die. No other species of being shares this same immortality.
BONUS WEAPONS:
• Xcythestian Injector Pulse Dagger
• Skellen Arm–Mounted Acid Spitter
GUESS WHAT? STILL MORE CREATURES:
• Gurtittaur: A demon of moderate power that exists in limited numbers on and around the Capitol of Evil within the City of Drenn. It is considered to be a very "direct" minion of Meth Stoph, but is not a direct creation of the brutish demon lord, of which there is no such thing, and is also thought to be one of the oldest types of demon in the Nava–Verse, possibly even predating the Dark Lord it is associated with. Gurtittaurs, of which only about one hundred exist, are inorganically metallic beings that possess roughly humanoid upper bodies but stand and walk on near–flat bases with four legs in a manner similar to typical chairs or tables. While being intelligent and able to comprehend the words and speech of others, they themselves can only vocalize in monstrous growls and bellows.
The role of the Gurtittaurs, and indeed the singular purpose for their very existence, is to serve as the prime smiths and forgers of darkly supernatural weaponry and other equipment for the rest of demonkind, a job which all of their innate skills and abilities lend themselves towards. Touching nearly any part of a Gurtittaur's body will (at a minimum) burn the flesh of basically any mortal, for the demons are filled with and exude a molten form of Infernal Energy that is even more violently fiery than any "normal" flame or lava for most but to whose volatility demonic beings (and the Underworld–native materials used to construct the weapons it crafts) are immune. Their chests in particular act as perpetually–active furnaces, and the Gurtittaur's endless production of molten material is such that the demon will never run out of fire and coal, but will not overflow with excesses of it, either; it automatically consumes and generates its "fuel" at comparable, stable rates. The right "hand" of the Gurtittaur consists of a powerful and unbreakable hammer's head, below which rests a small, fine–streamed welding–and–heating torch, while the left "hand" is a solid yet shapeless flame that can, in accordance with the demon's will, be used both to physically hold onto objects, including additional smithing tools, and as a large blowtorch.
The only discernible physical difference between individual Gurtittaurs are the precise shapes of their right–hand hammers, which vary in form and functionality just as other such tools do. They all share a consistent durability value of 1,500, and have never been known to leave the City of Drenn, let alone enter the mortal realm.
• Bassotso: A relatively small but highly dangerous, at least in proportion to its size, beast–hominid predator present on Lazberon. It has/had long been a major hazard for Latpazats, but this is not so much the case nowadays due to their improved technology and more secure settlements. Bassotsos are upright arthropods standing just under four feet tall on average and usually living in small, roaming packs. With basic horns and claws and standard bodily composition, they are of "merely" average resilience (~600–700 durability value) and attack strength, but boast great speed and stamina as well as even greater tenacity, chasing down intended prey more ruthlessly and over longer distances than the average predatory animal. In addition, male Bassotsos exclusively possess long, segmented tails with large stingers used to impale potential prey and inject a weak venom that actually tends to be less problematic than the physical damage usually caused by the sheer massive size of the stinger itself. A major "weak spot" of the male creature has been observed to lie in a small, red, almost inflamed–looking segment that bridges the outermost "normal" segment of the tail and the stinger piece proper and will register with immense pain if properly struck, though doing so is usually so difficult, given the "weak point"'s obscure position, that taking advantage of it is rarely practical. Besides the absence of the additional asset and potential weakness entailed by the tail and stinger, female Bassotsos are nearly indistinguishable from males on the surface, and are just as strong and vicious in other regards.
Again, Bassotsos are generally hostile to Latpazats; though the all–female humanoids do not seem to actually be on the "diet" of the beasts, the creatures are so easily threatened and aggravated by almost any being besides their own kin that, in terms of practice, they might as well be. As also mentioned above, though, deaths caused by them among the Latpazat population are currently considered to be at an all–time low thanks to better equipment and security in/on/around cities and roads. The initial version of the now–famous "Big Bella" multi–barrel shotgun was originally designed for the specific purpose of fighting off Bassotsos, with the successfully–met goal being to make it feasible to kill more than one of them with a single firing of the weapon.
• Shrigammy: A mostly harmless pudgy omnivore creature found on Ithpinbo. Shrigammies are found in the planet's more moist and mossy regions that are mainly situated in the Southeastern quadrant of its geography, tending to make their homes in caves, ditches or hollowed–out trees. While each adult generally operates alone, the creatures are abundant in these areas, and whenever at least one Shrigammy is visibly present, others are probably nearby. This animal stands around one meter tall, with a fat, rounded torso and a barely–distinct head with a single eye and large, thick, red lips forming the mouth, which often emits a deep vocalization that has often been onomatopoetically labelled as the "WARB". Its ears consist of small protrusions positioned roughly to the sides of its eye, which provide sub–par but adequate hearing. The Shrigammy is hairless except for small patches of fuzz on its belly and chin, and its flesh is squishy and moist, yet hard to puncture due to its flexibility and strong tissue bonds. The average durability value for a grown specimen is about 600.
Shrigammies possess large, jagged, gnarled feet and, more noticeably still, short but very muscular arms with small numbers of large, black cactus–like thorns over their lengths and ending in surprisingly well–developed five–fingered hands. In addition to being a passive–supportive defense mechanism for the creature, these "arm–thorns" also secure major internal blood pockets of the Shrigammy, and will cause major bleeding if ever severed, though they are very firmly rooted, similarly to teeth. The risk of the creature being cut by its own thorny structures is low, due to its aforementioned resistance to puncturing.
Shrigammies tend to be very lazy creatures, often sleeping for more than half of any given day–night cycle's length. They are of limited relevance to the affairs of Wevaracti and other humanoid beings, as they do not seem to care if any jewels in or around their territories are taken so long as they themselves are left alone.
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This 75 carat handcrafted black stripes agate pendant is created swirling and shaping 10kt gold filled wire by hand, adding shells, Swarovski crystals and vintage black coral bead to enhance the natural beauty and shape of the stone. This unusual agate stone has shades of black, white and brown with a glass-like finish.
It measures 1 1/2" across and 2 1/2" top to tip including the bail.
The bail is designed to be large enough to accommodate your favorite chain, choker or cord, not included.
All purchases are nicely packaged in a gift box.
Agate's healing effects:
Spiritually- Inner stability and composure
Subconsciously- Protection, warmth, security
Mentally- Sense of reality
Physically- For the eyes and hollow organs. Protective stone during pregnancy.
Agate provides for balancing of Yin/Yang energy and for balancing of the physical, emotional and intellectual bodies with the Etheric energies. It stabilises the aura, providing for a cleansing effect that acts to smooth dysfunctional energies and to both transform and eliminate negativity. It further assists one in the development of precision in examination of oneself and of circumstances relevant to ones well being. Agate can be used to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision. It provides for perceptiveness to situations and awakens ones inherent talents and adroitness. It is also used to produce inspiration from and connectedness with the entities residing in the spiritual worlds. It has been reported to strengthen the sight, to diminish thirst and to promote marital fidelity.
Chakras: Base, Earth Star, Heart, Link, Navel, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Throat, Thymus
Astrological sign: Gemini
Joni and the wife had never been to Ocean City, Maryland. However, one of our kids had spent a lot of time there dating back to his college days and continuing over the years when he lived and worked in the D.C. area. He recommended that we exchange a time share week that we needed to use or lose for what would ultimately turn out to be an abbreviated week in Ocean City. So we did. Having booked a week in early September a full week after Labor Day, Joni and the wife anticipated still warm weather and relatively empty beaches with kids everywhere back in school. What could go wrong?
The first taste of disappointment occurred during our check in on a Saturday afternoon when we were greeted by a sign in the hotel lobby that informed us that the resort's pool and deck were closing for the season on the next day. . . . We certainly didn't see that coming! Our disappointment was only deepened when we briefly toured the pool deck after we unpacked the car and moved in and saw that it was a fairly nice pool. However, we consoled ourselves with the thought that the beach was only a couple blocks away. We did take a trip later that evening to not too distant Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, yet another unexplored virgin territory for us. That was an interesting trip. . . .
That Sunday was a bright and sunny, but windy, day; not an ideal beach day. With the pool officially closed, we opted to stay in our room and watch NFL football games during the season's opening week, but did take a short stroll on the beach in the late afternoon before heading out to dinner. On Monday morning, Joni's male alter ego set out on a leisurely drive to New Jersey to check into a hotel and then head out to Met Life Stadium to meet up with his other son to see the Jets play their season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. It turned out to be an epic game, but not because the Jets pulled out an upset victory over the Bills with a punt return by a rookie in overtime. Rather the game was highlighted by Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles tendon on only his fourth play of the season, knocking him out for the rest of the season and thereby flushing the Jets' season down the proverbial toilet. . . . I didn't see that coming either! Ironically, I didn't actually see what was destined to be the most consequential play of the Jets' season in real time either, as I was relieving myself in the men's room because my entry into the Stadium was slightly delayed by long lines. Once inside, I had to stop in a nearby men's room to drain some excess beer from a pregame tailgate from my bladder before settling into my seat, but not in time to see Rodgers go down.
I took another leisurely trip back to Ocean City on Tuesday, which was a decent beach day according to the wife, but I arrived too late to join her. We went out to dinner and then Joni got dressed up to drive back to Rehoboth Beach. She arrived shortly after 10:00 p.m. only to discover that the sidewalks had already been rolled up. Virtually, every thing in town was shuttered for the night. Joni was appalled! What kind of respectable beach resort town closes down even on a Tuesday night by 10:00 p.m.??? WTF!! Joni made the most of the situation and was able to find one bar that was still open and bought one beer at last call before hitting the bricks 15 minutes later. She then wandered around the ghost town taking selfies here and there before heading back to Ocean City. It wasn't even midnight yet! . . . Joni didn't see that coming!
Joni took some more photos around the hotel resort when she returned from her ill-fated trip to Rehoboth Beach. However Joni was eventually confronted by a nosy hotel security guard who thought she was trying to steal a motorcycle. . . . Joni didn't see him coming either! Joni was just using the bike for a photo prop. Did I forget to mention that it was "Biker Week" in Ocean City? . . . .Didn't see that coming either when we made our reservations!
If one is beginning to sense that Joni and the wife's week in Ocean City was full of unexpected and unpleasant surprises, you are quite perceptive. . . . So it came as no surprise that Wednesday dawned as cloudy, rainy, windy, and chilly as a cold front arrived in town. . . . We didn't see that one coming either! The rain relented by early afternoon, and the wife and Joni's alter ego decided to try to get in some beach time and brave the elements, but only lasted less than an hour on the inhospitable beach, which seemed more like a frozen tundra. The good news was we didn't get a sunburn. We later took a ride to the amusement area on the boardwalk early in the evening, but given the cold, it wasn't all that amusing.
Thursday was more of the same. It was overcast and chilly and there was no point in trying to go to the beach. Besides, as I previously mentioned, our original plans for the week had been modified by other considerations which necessitated an abbreviated stay in Ocean City from the outset, because we were checking out two days early as we were heading back south to attend "Grandparents Day" on Friday at our two Granddaughters' school in North Carolina. . . . We didn't see that coming either when we made our reservations, but we weren't going to disappoint our granddaughters by being no-shows.
Nevertheless, before checking out on Thursday afternoon, Joni was determined to get in some swimsuit time before she left Ocean City. After all, she had packed two swimsuits for the trip in anticipation of getting in some "Joni time" with some fun in the sun on the beach or the pool deck. With the beach being an impractical option and the hotel's outdoor pool closed, Joni had no choice but to access the hotel's "indoor pool" located in our bathroom. . . . Not much sun, but at least, it wasn't windy or cold, although Joni could make it rain if she wanted. Didn't have to worry about removing any sand either. . . . Not so bad!