View allAll Photos Tagged Problem
Last December I bought myself a flash for my camera, as it didn't have one. It arrived just before I left for California, and I stuck it in my camera bag and forgot I had it. But today was dark and rainy, so I decided to try it out. I found out I could adjust the amount of light coming from it, even to minus values. That's great, as the problem with on camera flash pictures is that they provide too much light. So, playing around with different settings, I was able to get a fill-light photo in front of a window, without losing the background. The problem is, the background was a dirty window. So I had to try different textures to make the dirt go away!
New round of Thrive open today at 12:01 AM SLT and WHATEVER has some nice poses for you!
WHATEVER - Not my Problem 2.0
1 Pose | 1 Breathing | Bento | Male | Copy
FATPACK
4 Poses | 4 Breathing | Bento | Male | Copy
After consulting with the interweb bird whizzes I'm pleased to confirm a new species in the yard, the Swainson's thrush. This is a bird whose identification I have probably missed before. Almost certainly I have seen one before and called it a hermit thrush, possibly many times. This is hardly new. I used to have this problem with house and purple finches, a problem I only resolved last spring. In a more embarrassing example, as I was just reviewing the species list for this post I realized that in 2017 I misidentified a cowbird as a brewer's blackbird. So, as we add the Swainson's thrush to the list, we have to subtract the brewer's blackbird, which means we're still at sixty documented bird species in the yard, not counting flyovers.
9. bushtits
12. brown creepers
13. crows
14. stellar's jays
16. flickers
19. starlings
20. mourning doves
24. house finches
25. gold finches
26. purple finches
28. pine-siskins
31. fox-sparrows
33. song-sparrows
34. house sparrows
44. black-throated gray warblers
45. bewick's wrens
46. pacific wrens
47. cedar waxwings
49. cooper's hawks
51. lazuli buntings
52. hutton's vireos
53. warbling vireos
55. western tanagers
57. red crossbills
60. swainson's thrushes
The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017 it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.
Columbia Center was designed by Washington architect Chester L. Lindsey. The base of the building is clad in Rosa Purino Carnelian granite. The building's structure is composed of three geometric concave facades with two setbacks, causing the building to appear like three towers standing side by side.
Ground level elevation on the Fifth Avenue side of the building is higher than on the Fourth Avenue side; the part of Cherry Street it faces was identified as one of the steepest streets in the Central Business District with a slope of 17.1%. The tower was originally designed to be about 306.5 m (1,006 ft), but federal regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow it to be that tall so close to the nearby Sea-Tac Airport. Although city land use regulations at the time were intended to limit skyscrapers to about 50 stories, the developer, Martin Selig, obtained the necessary permits for a 76-story skyscraper due to a part of the law that allowed bonus height for providing retail space with street access. Because three separate stories could access the street on the sloped site, the developers were allowed a bonus for each of the three stories they set aside for retail, which was reportedly an unintended loophole in the law. There is an observation deck on the 73rd floor which offers views of Seattle and environs. The top two floors of the building (75th and 76th) are occupied by the private Columbia Tower Club, which houses a restaurant, bar, library, and meeting rooms. The 40th floor is accessible to the public and features a Starbucks cafe. An underground concourse connects the building to the nearby Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.
The tower, originally proposed as Columbia Center, opened under the name Columbia Seafirst Center after its largest tenant and financier, Seafirst Bank, and then changed to the Bank of America Tower, when Seafirst, which had been owned by Bank of America since 1983, was fully integrated into Bank of America. That name gave it the nickname "BOAT" (Bank of America Tower). In November 2005, the building's name was changed back to Columbia Center after the bank reduced its presence in the building. Bank of America still maintains office space within the building, but has since closed the bank branch at the base of the tower.
Development and construction
Martin Selig, a local real estate developer who had recently opened the Fourth and Blanchard Building, announced plans for a 75-story office building at 4th Avenue and Columbia Street in October 1980. The $120 million project, named the "Columbia Center", would be funded by the Seafirst Mortgage Company and constructed by Howard S. Wright. Selig borrowed $205 million in 1981 to develop the property. The Columbia Seafirst Center, as it came to be known, was constructed by Howard S. Wright starting in 1982 with a 120-foot (37 m) deep excavation hole that required 225,000-cubic-yards of dirt and soil to be removed. This was one of the largest foundations for a building in Seattle along with concrete footings extending 134 feet (41 m) below street level. While the structural steel of the building was built at a rate of 2 floors per week, the building itself was completed on January 12, 1985,[10] and opened on March 2 of that same year. U.S. Steel Corporation was contracted to provide 16,000 short tons (15,000 t) of steel for construction. It was approximately 50% taller than the previous tallest skyscraper in Seattle, the 630-foot (190 m) Seattle First National Bank Building (now Safeco Plaza) that opened in 1969.
Financial issues and height controversy
Selig continued to own and manage the building until 1989, when financial problems forced him to sell it to Seafirst Corporation for $354 million. Management was taken over by the Tishman West Company of Los Angeles.
Controversy regarding the skyscraper's size contributed to the passage of a 1989 law called the Citizen's Alternative Plan (CAP) that enforced more stringent restrictions on the size of buildings in Downtown Seattle. In 1990, after rejecting earlier plans for 300-foot (91 m) antennas, Seattle and the FAA granted permission to erect two 192-foot (59 m) antennas on top of Columbia Center, which were expected to be used for broadcasting radio and television throughout the region. Though the FAA was originally worried about the tower's height encroaching the airspace, they deemed the addition of the antennas not problematic. The antennas were not built before the permits expired in 1994, however.
Ownership changes
EQ Office bought Columbia Center from Seafirst in 1998 for $404 million. The New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a 49.9% stake in the building and then several years later sold its share back to EQ Office. In 2007, Columbia Center was sold by EQ Office to Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners for $621 million; Beacon later defaulted on a loan in 2010, the height of the Great Recession, at a time when vacancies reached 40%. On August 7, 2015, Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners purchased the building for $711 million.
Renovations
On July 1, 2013, the Columbia Center's observation deck, known as the Sky View, was remodeled from 270 degrees to a 360 degree viewing area. The observation deck underwent further renovations in 2018, adding two express elevators and a new lounge. The 4th Avenue entrance was also renovated.
(Wikipedia)
Das Columbia Center ist das höchste Gebäude in Seattle und im US-Bundesstaat Washington. Mit einer Gesamthöhe von 285 Metern war es bei der Fertigstellung 1985 der höchste Wolkenkratzer westlich des Mississippi, wurde allerdings 1989 durch den U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles mit 310 Metern übertroffen. Die Höhe des Columbia Centers beträgt einschließlich einer Antennenkonstruktion auf dem Dach 295 Meter. Diese wird jedoch nicht als Teil des Gebäudearchitektur angesehen, und somit nicht zur formalen Höhe gewertet.
76 oberirdische Etagen dienen als Büroraum, die sieben Kellergeschosse werden vielseitig genutzt. Der Wolkenkratzer sollte ursprünglich etwa 306,5 Meter hoch werden. Die FAA erlaubte die Höhe nicht, da sich das Gebäude dafür zu nah am Flughafen Seattle/Tacoma befände, wodurch ein höheres Sicherheitsrisiko entstünde. Es wurde in das Projekt Raum für die Öffentlichkeit und Einzelhandel einbezogen, damit die zulässige Höhe nicht zu sehr eingeschränkt werden kann. Das 73. Stockwerk dient nun teilweise als Aussichtspunkt, von dem sich Seattle und seine Umgebung überblicken lässt. Der Columbia Tower Club verteilt sich auf die beiden obersten Stockwerke (75 und 76) und besteht aus einem Restaurant, einer Bar, einer Bibliothek und einigen Tagungsräumen. Ein unterirdischer Gang verbindet das Columbia Center mit dem nahegelegenen Seattle Municipal Tower und dem Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.
Mehrere größere Unternehmen mieten Büros im Columbia Center. Dazu zählen vor allem die Bank of America, Heller Ehrman LLP und Amazon.com.
Ursprünglich trug der Wolkenkratzer seinen heutigen Namen. Später wurde er nach der dort ansässigen Seafirst Bank als Columbia Seafirst Center bezeichnet. Diese gehörte seit 1983 zur Bank of America, wurde im Laufe der 1980er Jahre jedoch vollständig integriert. Daher bekam das Gebäude den Namen Bank of America Tower mit dem Spitznamen BOAT. Im November 2005 wurde es wieder in The Columbia Center (TCC) umbenannt.
Am 16. Juni 2004, noch vor Herausgabe ihres 9/11 Commission Report, machte die Untersuchungskommission zum 11. September 2001 nicht in die Tat umgesetzte Pläne der Terroristen bekannt, die vorsahen mit zehn entführten Passagierflugzeugen die höchsten Gebäude in Kalifornien und im Staate Washington zu beschädigen bzw. zu zerstören. Neben dem Columbia Center in Seattle habe auch der U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles zu den Zielen gehört.
(Wikipedia)
I've been studying recent developments in the whole AI/Midjourney technology thing, and discovered a serious problem: some of my images here on Flickr have been used to "train image-generation AI".
There's a site you can use to find out if any of your work has been used to train the Laion-5B and Laion-400M image datasets: haveibeentrained.com I have found my photographs reproduced in whole, clearly without my permission and in violation of my Intellectual Property Rights.
Class Action lawsuits are ongoing to prevent unauthorized use of people's work, because clearly there need to be some rules about what can and cannot be used to train these datasets. You may want to look to see if any of YOUR photos are used in this way.
I'm contacting management at Flickr to find out what my options are. ALL of my images here on Flickr are marked as Copyrighted, and no unauthorized use of them is permitted. I'm curious to see how Flickr responds to this problem. I'm ready to permanently pull the plug on my Flickr account if I am not satisfied with the outcome. @flickr
Until there is some sort of resolution of this problem, either through class action lawsuits or Flickr safeguarding members work from misappropriation, I will only post a blank grey square every day, indefinitely.
Veteran Suicide, is the topic for today. This is going to be another long one folks. As you read; I don’t want you to think of me. I’d like you to think of your husband, your wife, your partner, your son, daughter, grandson, grand daughter. The 1%, having the courage, to serve and defend our nation. I will be covering events that happened yesterday, and the impact it has on the mental health of our veterans.
Again, this is not about me. Its how veterans are treated at VA facilities, and some of the civilian medical facilities, we are sent to.
I had an appointment, with an ophthalmologist, early the other morning. I have intermediate vision loss in my right eye, and now problems in my left eye. Very similar, to the description from a woman, who’s child was a victim of Electronic Weapons (also know as the Havana Syndrome). She, a US Citizen, a child of a person interviewed, on 60 Minutes; 2-20-22. I’ve had problems with my right eye, for over two years now. Bouncing from VA Hospitals, VA Clinics; trying to find someone that gives a shit.
I get ready, lock up the motorhome and head for Grand Junction, Colorado, VA. I’m only 30 minutes away, and not rushed. VA, is an abbreviation for the Veteran’s Administration. A place where Veterans, are supposed to receive medical care. I pull off the National Forest Road, onto the main highway. Just, as I come over the hill, not a mile from our camp; there’s a State Trooper. Waiting, to try and catch me speeding. This happens, over and over again, when I have an appointment. I look at my speedometer, and slow it down a bit. I also see a guy just up the road. This minion, sets along the road, waiting to see which direction I take. Its another act to let me know I’m being watched. An attempt of intimation, along with a physiological attack on my mental health. Koda and I, head on down the road to Grand Junction.
As we pull into the parking lot, a man quickly cuts us off, and takes the last spot, close to the entrance door. It’s early, and hardly anyone is in the office. Once I check in; the perps start rolling in. Koda and I are setting in the lobby. These perps start with their over the top; hand in pocket skit. Then, some start the hair flipping shit. I’m talking 5 women, coming and going, flipping their hair as far int the air as they can. Even the staff chime in. Yes, folks, Koda and I are in a medical facility. As the women flip their hair, the men stair directly into Koda’s eyes. One even comes over, looking as threatening as possible. Wearing a big billed cap, big dark glasses, and a large black mask. He sets down right beside us, bends down, looks directly into Koda’s eyes. Koda, laying at my feet. The man asked if he could pet Koda, as he looks sternly into his eyes. I said no, he a Service Dog. I then asked if he wouldn’t stare into his eyes. I told him; dogs can take it as threatening. Koda, didn’t, because he’s used to it. Many VA staff, do it all the time. Even a Patient Advocate, that is supposed to help Veterans. This person is supposed to help veterans; having problems with the VA.
I stood up for myself and my dog, so now the minions are really pissed. They send in more Village Idiots, Sociopaths and Narcissist. Displaying their Perp Colors, fake coughs, arms flailing, American Flag Face Masks, large dark glasses, and stupidly big headphones. I’m talking big, big headphones. Not earbuds.
After seeing the doctor, a nurse has Koda and I, set in the hallway. She then, brigs over the guy with the stupid big headphones. She tells him to set right beside Koda, on my left. Even though, there are seats to my right. Koda, is getting uncomfortable, but continues to lay by my side, unmoved. He starts to whine a bit, as he looks up to me. He’s getting very uncomfortable, I see it in his face. The guy is playing something through his headphones that’s irritating Koda, intensely. I can’t hear it, and I’m not hard on hearing. The ‘Stupid Big Headphone Skit’, is used on us quite often. Especially, when we go to a laundry mat. They use something that makes Koda, extremely anxious and irritated. Many, actually smile, while doing so. This was at a civilian ophthalmologist office. I will say, the doctor was more thorough in the hour and a half, we were there; than the VA has, in over 2 years. This doctor ordered lab work, and an ultra sound. A skit; is what I call these, conspired, and practiced acts, of Gang Stalking/Domestic Terrorism.
I’m still waiting on an MRI read, from over two moths ago, that I got at the Phoinex VA. The Neuro-Ophithmoligest, at Barrow Neurological Institute. Spent less time with me, than I did filling out a little paperwork. He was dismissive and short. After, over two years of dealing with my right eye; I had to demand an MRI. I’m still waiting for a video call, so he can give me the MRI results. I have no confidence in a diagnosis or prognosis, from this guy. Their office Gaslighting me, leaving repeat message; that I have an in office appointment Monday, in Phoenix. This appointment is a video conference call, I set up before heading back to Colorado. I confirmed it two weeks ago. This week, and today, as I write this; they call with prerecorded messages and text. Wanting me to confirm, an in office visit for Monday. I’ve called them many times, left messages, and got ghosted.
So, now we are headed to the Grand Junction, VA, to get my lab work done. The front parking lot is full, so we head to the parking garage. We have the minions, trolling around to see where we park. We find a spot in the garage and park. I gather my things, and Koda the Magnificent. I open the car door, someone just behind us, honks their car horn 6 times. This wasn’t an alarm, this was one of the minions, letting everyone know; we are getting out of the car. It’s also a psychological stimuli, that lets you know, you are being watched. We get it, all the time, and have recorded it.
We walk to the back entrance. There are two VA Police Officers, and a man; standing in front of the door, blocking our way. We get through these guys, I use the hand sanitizer. The guy with the tan blazer, says something about my “furry friend.
A few years back I had surgery, one of many. I was living and working in Yosemite National Park. I was using the Fresno, California, VA. My daughter flew out, to help me with recovery, and spend Fathers Day with me. What a daughter…. While I was in the hospital, she would come to visit daily. When I was able to walk, she would walk with me down the halls of this beautiful hospital. These hallways filled with pictures of dedication, loyalty and sacrifice. Past wars, and their participants. She’s holding my arm, I look at her, looking at the pictures. Wondering if she can absorb, the depth of the sacrifice behind them. We get to the end of the hall and turn around. I see a young man in the hallway. Kooks to be early 20s. My daughter looked a little blushed. She looked directly at me and said; “Dad, that guy has been following me, every time I visit”. No Shit, my daughter was being stalked at the VA Hospital. All, the while; VA Police, watch on their many cameras. VA Police, will try to bait, intimidate and watch Targets, like a hawk. Yes, folks, this shit really happens at our VA facilities. You have to ask yourself; Is this how our CIA and FBI, train their Minions? They recruit KIDS, while they are in High School!
I knew better than to stop, and respond to these guys. I headed for the lab, with my ophthalmologist lab request. I went to the window, to check in. There was also supposed to a lab request, from the Phoenix VA. I was told last week, it was in the system; when speaking to one of the traveling vet coordinators. It wasn’t. I was told I had to go to the ER, and get a doctors authorization, for the new request. I didn’t have a problem with that, because; its to make sure and verify, its a legit request. What I have a problem with; is the Grand Junction VA Staff, and other minions, intently in wait, to attack my mental health, bait me, harass me, and set me up.
We go back down, to the ER. As we walk towards the check in window, a guy standing a distance from it, steps up to the window. He’s stalling, Gaslighting about the Mental Health Ward, He’s giving more minions time to show up. They weren’t expecting me to come right in today. This also gave the staff time enough time, to come up with excuses, for why my other lab request, was not in the system. When I was told by phone, it was.
I finally check in, and we have a seat. There are a few people in the area, but not too crowded. As soon as we do, a guy close to us; leans over and looks directly into Koda’s eyes. Koda looks away. The man continues this, with extremely stern looks. I asked him please not to, said it’s a threatening act to a dog. He knows this, but is baiting for a confrontation. The simple fuck, is finally called away, but is replaced by two others. One not wearing a mask. The VA requires a face mask at this facility, and I believe all. Koda, has been uncomfortable since we walked in. He knows where we are, and what to expect. We got the same treatment last Friday. He still lays patiently, at my side. A woman comes in, sets a large purse on a seat across from us. Then, sits on our side across from it. I start receiving a light Electronic Weapons attack. I don’t know if its coming from her purse. As she sets there smiling, her mask pulled down, so I can see.
A nurse calls us up to the front. As Koda and I squeeze through the minions sent to bait and harass us. We walk pass the purse, the woman so intently sat in a chair. Koda stops and sniffs it. Seriously, he does. He gets attacked with Electronic Weapons, and audio stimuli, too. Koda and I work are way through the now, packed waiting area. The nurse has my records in his hand. As we walk towards him; several nurses rush to cut us off. When we do reach him; he tells me, I’m the wrong patient, have a seat. Koda and I look for a clear path back to our seat; another nurse comes up and start Gaslighting about the Mental Health Ward. I stood up for a while, because of setting all morning at two different facilities. There was a man in an electric wheelchair. He asked about Koda, so we stopped and talked with him for a while.
He asked about service dogs. I told him; as far as I know, the VA does not provide Service dogs. There are many civilian groups that help veterans obtain a service dog. Many times, at no, or low cost to the veteran. That’s the norm, for our Veterans. They have to reach out to civilian organizations, to get their required medical needs. That’s because the VA, and our government wont. Why is that Mr President? You continually bring up your sons military service, while veterans are reaching out to civilian agencies, because the VA WON’T fulfill their needs. How long have you been in politic? Why don’t you add another 800 Billion to the Defense Spending; while veterans kill themselves.
I told the man I am, an Advance Certified Animal Care Specialist, and trained Koda myself. He asked to pet Koda, and I let him. Koda, licked his hand softly and gave him his sweetest look. I showed him a few hand signals, I’ve taught him. We were both lost in the gentle actions of Koda. For a moment; we forgot about the crowded clinic. That didn’t last long; because the minions, can’t have it. Rick is enjoying himself; we have to do something about it. Nurse, after nurse strolling by. Clicking pens, fake coughs, flailing arms, and Mental Health Ward Gaslighting. Then, one brings out the American Flag. Yep, they have to throw that in our face. When all else fails, they use the American Flag. It’s folded, and just a Gaslighting Prop. They pulled that one two years ago, after I complained to the Patient Advocate. Koda, and I handle ourselves like pros, because we are. This is a small VA Hospital, with very limited doctor staff. Nurses, think they control the show, Many times they do. Free Speech, is not so Free; in the United States of America. It can cost you dearly.
An hour later, I finally got the Ophthalmologist request in. We headed back up to the lab. We had the minions rushing ahead of us, to the elevator. Koda and I entered, one man had a clear plastic bag. This bag had the exact items, I left on our kitchen counter this morning. This, another act of Gaslighting. It also, lets a Target Know, they are being watched, or someone has entered their home. It’s another Gaslighting Tactic; used to attack the mental health of a Target, to bait and discredit them.
Then, there are two others. Dressed in their Bright Perp Colors. The man, working his way, as close to Koda as possible. We stood to the back, but when the elevator opened, they wanted us to exit first. We didn’t, and I told the two by the door to go ahead. As they did, I could see the man in the tan blazer. He was the same man, with the two VA Police, when we first came in. He was standing just to the right of the elevator door. As Koda and I step to the door, I said wait. That’s his command to stop and wait. Knowing that at almost every corner, entrance or exit; a minion, is waiting. Koda, stops and waits. As we do, the man in the tan blazer, walks pass us. As he does, he reaches into the elevator, open handed, fingers separated, right at Koda face. The two that stepped out ahead of us, standing there, in their perp colors, to witness; if I act out. I didn’t, and neither did Koda. I told the man “He’s a service dog, you don’t do that to someones service dog”. He smiles and says “I was just saying hi”. I didn’t start a confrontation, and we left for the lab. We are in a medical facility, the staff is not educated enough, to not reach out, at a Service Dog? Give me a fucking break….
We go into this small room so I can get my blood drawn. The smell of sanitizer and alcohol, was overwhelming. It irritated Koda, immensely. He still, just lay at my left side. I ran labs at two veterinary facilities, and at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; in Colorado. I know what labs and exam rooms smell like. This is a tactic used on Targets. They use the sense of smell to harass and Gaslight Targets. They will use sanitizer, alcohol, auto exhaust, second hand smoke, the smell of gasoline and diesel. You can see them in action, at the Grand Junction Walmart, parking lot. It’s on their cameras.
We finished our labs, and head to the parking garage. Ahead of us, rushes someone from the Hospital. He walks upwind, and lights a cigarette. We get in the car and leave, as the minions come out flipping their hair.
We drive across the street to have lunch. It was literally just across the street. It was a long morning, and our day not even half over. We gather our things, go in. As we enter; there are two young guys setting by the window. Probably in their early twenties, they start fake coughing. There’s a woman ahead of us, she stalling, giving other minions time to show up. Koda and I patiently wait. The guy at the counter disappeared. We are used to this. More minions, come marching in. Yep, its a Stupid Fest; sponsored by the Local Village Idiots Association. I finally get my order in, take my cup, get mobbed at the soft drink fountain. The Coke dispenser didn’t work, I mentioned it to the employee that rushed up there ahead of us. She moved the top of the Coke tap, and said try it. I did, as sprays all over Koda and I.
We have a seat, Koda laying at my left fett, minion after minion, walking by; looking directly down at Koda. Not even giving me a glance; just intently, looking into Koda’s eyes. Koda the Magnificent didn’t even flinch. He was looking at dad, waiting for the delicious morsels, he so well deserved. While we ate, someone blocked the view to our car, with an SUV. It was soon surrounded, by vans, trucks, and SUVs. None of them had an electric car, Mr Transportation Secretary. I don’t know where these Bottom Feeders are getting their gas money from? They don’t seem to be working.
We finished our lunch, headed to the door, as a minion rushes to the bathroom, thinking I may have to pee. They will leave piss all over the floor for Koda to step in. Really, they will. Just ask the Walmart employees in Grand Junction, Colorado, or Buckeye, Arizona. We get in the car, someone has moved my rear view mirror, changed my air conditioning settings (it’s going to be 100 today). Both my back windows were down about an inch. Nothing taken, just shit tampered with. This is the norm, for a Targeted Individual, in the United Sates of America.
Koda and I headed to the River Park. They have several fenced, dog play areas. We got there before noon, not to hot for Koda yet. I took him there often, after I first adopted him. For socialization and other training. There are pictures from two years ago, in our photostream.
When we arrived, there was no one in the three open play areas. I’m thinking great, Koda can be a dog! But, I know what’s coming. He’s looking around, a bit confused, its been two years. He finally realized where he was. He starts skipping across the grass, running, happy as can be. It was short lived; the minions start showing up. First, we had a guy brig in a big pit-bull. Thinking I would be intimidated. I’ve worked with military working dogs for years, pit-bulls are sweethearts; compared. Koda wasn’t intimidated either. His tail wagging, panting, happy to make a new friend. NOT, what they expected. Koda, rushes up to the bruit, as do I, covering his back. I started talking, with the young guy who brought him in. Just basic things, he had questions about his dog, I happily gave him suggestions. His wife (Miss Honey-Pot), setting in the car, joins us. Short-shorts, bending and stretching exposing way to much flesh. I didn’t mind, but didn’t drool over it. It’s Basic Gang Stalking 101.
Then comes in the Red Husky. It was followed by a manly-man. Shaved head, muscles bulging everywhere, tight shirt and pants. Koda rushes to greet the Husky, his happy self. The Husky, a young male, seemed a bit taken. Koda and the Pittie rushing at him. The guy who brought it in, came over to the picnic table. The Perp Couple, still there. The Husky had a Service dog vest, so I asked the guy about him. He told me about a local organization, that trains them and gives them to vets.
Then he tried to repeat some of the same conversation, I had with the guy in the electric wheel chair, this morning. He tried hard, but flubbed it. This is called Street Theater. The guy told me he was a vet with PTSD. I’m not going to question that. I could tell the man was troubled. It showed in his eye contact, facial expressions. I could tell anxiety was setting in. I didn’t fault this man. I didn’t judge him. I’m sure so many have. He told me he was a veteran, I could see he was troubled; that was enough. Some people are recruited into Gang Stalking, even veterans. Often, being offered something that can’t achieve for themselves. Unknowing, of the full picture. Mr President; why don’t you help veterans in need of service dogs? This poor guy tried his best, then went and sat in his truck, with his dog. My heart weighing heavy, knowing this struggling man, has been so wrongly misguided.
As Koda is having a blast; a FedEx Semi pulls into the parking lots. He takes up a ton of parking places. Parking, facing the side of my car. So, he can set in his truck, watch me, and my car. Then a big construction truck pulls in. It has a cherry picker. It parked behind us. This is a small, city parking lot.
I get mobbed, followed, blocked and cut off by FedEx, UPS, and USPS drivers, all the time. No shit folks, many people are afraid to discuss it, but IT IS TRUE. Our Government Agencies; have their minions all over the United States. Spying on, baiting and harassing, Targets. They even have your neighbors spying on you. Some call it the Neighborhood Watch, others call it Gang Stalking. It’s Domestic Terrorism! Just look up he definition if you need to. Educate yourselves, please.
Karen came in, as he was leaving the play area. Her job was to throw balls towards the fence. Close to the outer sidewalk. As she did; local sociopaths, waiting for an opportune moment. They would ride by on a bikes, skates; in their colors. Some, carrying floats for the swimming area (too far away). There’s a parking lot, not full at all. Trying everything to try and get Koda to chase and bark after them. All the while, getting their daily needs, of sociopathic fulfillment. It didn’t work that well. Koda was getting to hot and tired to chase anything. They continued trying, in their bright orange and red colors. Their combined intelligence, far lower, than this amazing dog that has blessed my life. But, they will try and take that away from me. Weekly, daily; sometimes. Koda was getting hot, so it was time for us to leave.
We needed to get a few groceries. I wanted to try a local City Market in Fruita, Colorado. It’s only about 12 miles from our camp. The minions in wait; knowing there are a few things I need. Yep, they really do. I’m sure they did an inventory while I was gone. They tamper with my motorhome, all the time. They like to tamper with my frig in the summer, move things around, sometimes destroy small items. They did this in Yosemite National Park too.
As we pull in; they had the Honey-Pot walking pass me. There were minions waiting to mob and block us at the carts; just like Walmart. Once inside, they started setting up. Using their carts, their bodies; to block me from getting ranch dressing, veggies, salad-mix, bread, butter and water. One woman attempting 4 times, thinking I needed more than I did. I was tempted to ask her to hold my phone, as I start a prerecord, loud, extended fart, on it. But, decided against it. A prank I share with my granddaughters. Yes, I’ve been watching too much YouTube.
We get the same community mobbing show, as we do at Walmart. But, with less intensity; piece of cake. I wanted one, as I walked through the bakery. Koda helps pull my heavy cart, with the water and all. We headed to the checkout. Billy-Bob, was waiting to cut in front of us. The young couple ahead of him, were keeping the cashier occupied by their personal life. Long after they paid. They gave another, time to slip in behind us. Sometimes these people will switch things out; from my cart, or the conveyor. As another keeps me occupied, by harassing Koda. This guy didn’t, he just got smothering close. As we leave, we get blocked at the doors, a bid diesel truck; setting up to accelerate just in front of us, as we step out the doors. As we leave; here comes the Hony-Pot again.
You may ask; who is “they”. “They”, are some of the people you work with. “They”, are some of people working in our VA Hospitals, Clinics. “They”, are some of your neighbors. “They”, may be a relative, someone you may consider as a friend. “They”, are some of the police officers, in your community, your state. “They”, are many, in our government agencies.
Mr President, Mr CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security Directors, as you cower in the Halls of our Nation. Like, the Law Enforcement Officers, in the Halls, of the a Uvalde Texas, Grade School. As teachers and children are slaughtered. How many veterans have have ended their lives today? How many have committed suicide while on your watch? How many can be attributed to the horrific treatment, at VA Facilities; from VA Staff. By the retaliation, mobbing, gaslighting, harassment, dismissal; from VA Staff? How long are you going to pretend that Electronic Weapons; are not being used and tested, on us citizens, on US Soil? How long are you going to pretend Gang Stalking is not real? That this is not Domestic Terrorism! You criticize other Nations on their Human Rights Treatment! You can’t even keep your own houses in order! Look at our History!
There are veterans afraid to speak out. I’ve spoken to some of them. I don’t question their courage, one bit. No one should. So, send you minions my way. The Airplanes, Jets and Helicopters. The Village Idiots, Sociopaths, and Narcissist; that do your bidding. Attack my character, discredit me, destroy my life. My mental health is fine, I can take it; I have for 14 years. There are many that can’t!
And, LEAVE MY DAUGHTER AND DOG ALONE.
Like, many would like you to belive; No, I don't belive everyone is out to get me. Just the Bottom Feeders, trying to destroy our democrocy.
I have spoke to many in the medical field. Gaslighting in our medical facilities (not just veteran), is extremely common. Workplace Mobbing, is at all time highs. Employers, are scratching their heads, wondering why; many don’t want to return to work. It’s the Toxic Work Environment, in the United States. Workplace Mobbing, is rewarded in the United States Workplace. Those that are willing to lie, cheat, steal and ride on the backs of others; are the ones being promoted.
The title, The Morning After; is from the following morning of my last post (Contentment). In that post; I wrote the Gunfire ended. I spoke to soon. When I stepped out the next day, putting our solar panels out; the Gunfire started again. When I took Koda out to pee, at 7 am; there was a motorcycle waiting behind the hill. The one in the picture, the right foreground. He comes flying through the dry creek bed, to the left of our motorhome. You see it in the picture. I took it standing 5 foot, to the left of our motorhome. I play fetch with Koda there. In the mornings and some evenings. That's why they do it. The minion on the motorcycle, does a couple loops around the back of the motorhome, too. That day, we had the Loma, Colorado, Village Idiots firing high powered rifles. When we went out to move solar panels, and our morning walk. I solar for 95% of my electrical needs, and move them to get max output. They use the sun, to judge the time of day, and when I will come out. When I took Koda out to pee, for the evening; here comes another motorcycle, doing the same thing. But yes, Mr FBI Director and Local Law Enforcement; its all just a coincidence. As you would like the United States of America, and the world to think.
I need to move in my solar panels folks. Billy-Bob is waiting by the roadside. He wants to see if I bring Koda out, without a leash. Everything I’ve told you is real, and TRUE. Its not based on my feelings; as a VA staff member, tried to tell me today. It’s based on some of the best, military reconnaissance training, in the world. It’s based on 14 years, of documents, videos, pictures and conversations with other Targeted Individual, in the United States. Gang Stalking is real in the United States of America. Don’t let anyone tell you its not, or just a Conspiracy Theory (their normal Scape-Goat). Violence, is not the answer. Neither, is Mobbing someones house, or workplace. Educate yourself, speak out, us online venues, vote. If you look hard enough, you will find the truth. Please do, before it disappears; like so much, in American History. As I tried to upload this, I couldn’t log onto Flickr. Someone had changed my password. I had to reset it. Someone, also locked me out of my VA, online account. This is what happens when you tell the TRUTH, about the United States of America.
All photos and content, in my photostream are free to download, copy, print and share. All I ask; is you keep all copyright and logos on them. And, try and share something with someone in need. Even, if its time.
Thanks for visiting our photostream.
La Miranda Sensorex II ( credo del 1972 ), è una delle tante reflex giapponesi analogiche di quel periodo ma si mette a fuoco anche dal mirino a pozzetto. Sembra in buone condizioni ma in realtà ha molti problemi, nel primo rullino di prova molte delle foto sono venute divise con altre per problemi di avanzamento della pellicola o nere per metà del fotogramma penso a causa di infiltrazioni di luce. Con il pozzetto ho scattato solo due foto ma non sono venute male e mi è piaciuto. Peccato per tutte le foto rovinate perché l' ho usata quasi sempre in condizioni difficili e senza esposimetro ( non funziona più ) e molte fotografie sembravano venute abbastanza bene. Questa reflex mi è stata regalata da un amico fotoreporter che in questi giorni sta seguendo in Sudamerica la Parigi Dakar.
Seward County Nebraska
I went out to try to get a photo of Comet C/2022 E3. We had finally gotten a clear night. I had read a few accounts saying that the comet was visible if you looked in the right spot and it was easily visible with binoculars. So, I went out knowing that I was violating one of the cardinal rules of astrophotography - the moon has to be below the horizon. On this night the moon was up at sunset and was setting at 6:00 a.m. I had a 7:00 a.m. meeting so going in the early morning was out of the question (and that was getting awfully close to sunrise anyway). Besides this, it was very cold about 10 degrees(F) with a light wind. I hadn't used my star tracker for a few months and it turned out that the battery was dead. No problem. I brought a backup battery. But....... the wrong cord. Darn! Have to get pictures without the tracker. Then the compass function on my star phone app wouldn't work. I don't know if that was due to the cold - did I say it was penetratingly cold? After turning the compass off and getting everything oriented to the right direction I got the stars lined up and figured out the right spot to look. Then my camera did something it's never done before. (I think I did say that it was damn cold) It wouldn't leave the menu page if I was using the back screen. OK. I'll just turn the back screen off and use the eye piece. Of course all of this is happening along with the usual frustrations of trying to do photography in the dark - though it wasn't as bad as usual due to that bright nearly full moon.
So, you can easily see the comet with binoculars right? Wrong. Not with a nearly full moon up. Eventually I had to give up when my fingers were too numb to run any of the camera functions or the knobs on the tripod, but I couldn't leave without getting a photo of something. The choice was easy - the dastardly moon that had foiled me in getting any photo at all of the comet.
Setting standards too high often leads to a feeling of not being enough. If the goal is always to achieve everything extraordinarily, much pressure builds up quickly because not achieving equals failure quite often. A narrow field of vision frequently causes another problem: tunnel vision - a one-way street where compromises are rare.
However, if there is no room to experiment, the beauty of coincidences will always stay unknown. Though the small surprises sometimes sweep through life like a storm and mess things up, they often let everything shine in new splendor that makes being so vibrant.
Remember that....seems such a long time ago now. Basking in glorious sun and glorious and sumptuous satin.
Descobrimos o problema no computador de casa...falta de pagamento!
Perdemos o cartão de crédito e tivemos que solicitar um outro. O pagamento referente ao acesso não foi transferido automáticamente para o novo cartão.
E por falta de pagamento...eles nos "anularam"
Gente boazinha essa, não é?
Mas calma....estamos providenciando o maldito PAGAMENTO!!
Aqui do trabalho é impossível comentar...continuo super atolada.
Saudades!! Muitas saudades!!
Ficar sem fofocar é terrível!!!
"...The problem begins when we try to claim that any belief system is the only solution to every issue and aspect of life ... "
Definitely, this problem destroyed many hopes...Can't we do something about it?
Dedicated to Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud who sacrificed their lives for telling untold stories of our country... inspire us... give us hope for at least another 40 years...
[hope III]
my buddy since secondary school, we used to take the bus down Orchard Road to burger king, pore over maths problems, check out the chicks, and then walk home together.
that was when he still lived down the street, now he lives pretty faraway. though things have changed, our friendship remains.
No racing, no problem...
Decided to go to the zoo here in Philadelphia. Haven't been there since 1989... and that was also a gray, damp, chilly and miserable day then too. It was nice to go back and try some shots of things other than race cars.
Still playing around with this lens and wrestling with getting the 500mm F4 from Sigma. I've noticed that this lens has issues through fences and through glass, as most of the zoo pics were done through. Why I'm still looking to really put it through its paces is because there's a lot of tracks I'll be going to that offer me fence-free views and this lens can be really, really good with no obstructions. Not that a 500 F4 will fix that but it will get me better reach and better quality. I've got time though.
The problem with a lot of these photos is, when the camera looks down, you can see my Boneless Chicken Fillets, so there's a bit of after-the-fact cleavage cropping going on.
Commentary.
Just two miles west of the largest lake, Windermere,
and three miles east of Coniston Water, is this peaceful,
reed-laden lake, renowned for its trout and pike.
Here, the snow-laden fells of Claife Heights,
above Windermere’s western shore form the background.
To the west is Grizedale Forest Park.
To the north is the village of Hawkshead.
In its south-east corner the village of Near Sawrey
contains the house lived in by the children’s writer,
Beatrix Potter, called “Hill Top.”
The house is now conserved and managed by the National Trust.
The Lake District has a warm, cosy, sumptuous beauty,
that indelibly etches itself into one’s psyche, not a problem, an absolute delight.
"La vida sin problemas, sería como conducir por una carretera sin curvas."
Cámara Nikon D300
Exposición 0,02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/13.0
Lente 38 mm
Velocidad ISO 200
Objetivo Tamron 18-250
Mi galería en un solo click // My gallery only in one click
OTRA FORMA DE VER MI GALERIA. Mira todas mis fotos y amplia la que quieras
Mis blogs:
So the problem is not so much to see what nobody has yet seen, as to think what nobody has yet thought concerning that which everybody sees.”
― Arthur Schopenhauer
Yesterday we had storm-warnings all day long, as the weather was very unsettled in Kansas. Luckily, in Topeka, we didn’t have any problems with storms. Shortly before sunset, I went outside to the back edge of our backyard. While I was there, these incredible storm clouds came drifting in from the west. I grabbed my camera and got these photos before it got really dark.
This photo was shot on 6/07/2015, using a Canon PowerShot A1000-IS.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
All rights reserved.
© 2015 Steve Clark
I wanted to state that this is not my house; although I wish it were. When we were kicking around the idea to move to Massachusetts, we flew out during Thanksgiving week to make sure we wanted Massachusetts to become our new home. I had been drooling over this house on a real estate website so we decided to drive out and take a look during an open house. First of all, the house is PINK! I loved the idea of living in a pink house. This house felt so right to me; the owner was selling because his girlfriend (I don't think they were married) had passed away and I believe he wanted to get away and start over. She was an artist and the walls were covered with her art. I will confess, I teared up when I walked inside. It was built in the late 1800's and had charm oozing out of its walls. We weren't in the position to buy at that time (we still had a house in Seattle to sell), but I'll never forget this house. So glad I took photos that day.
Very pleased to have been asked to show some of my photos in this art magazine. Gracias Octavio.
...
New iMac - new problems - stil time to feed my Flickr addiction - will visit your streams later.
Business gets complicated !!!
There are times when the most effective thing is to simplify things and that is what this seller does.
NPK251R seen here posed at Gledhow turning circle in Leeds. This was after Geldards had stopped operating commercial stage carriage services and were concentrating on schoolwork. I only drove this bus a couple of times when i was doing some part time work for them, it was a lively little thing, if somewhat tired.
Sucre's obitsu broke again ... So I played with her head and some ribbons again :D She looks like an easter egg haha
My network seems like got problem again~ i couldn't log in for more than 12 hours until now~~ Please pardon me if i couldn't view,comment, fave your wonderful work.If I suddenly dissappear again, that's must be mean my local area network is down again.
Open water in Clerkenwell is not easy to find, the River Fleet, having become little more than an open sewer, was covered over more than 160 years ago. Few parks or gardens seem to have any water features which begs the question as to what foxes drink.
This summer they will not have had any problems since the rain has been plentiful and the puddles many. Yesterday, the puddles seemed to offer another chance to try and catch foxes' reflections but by the foxing hour, of course, the puddle I had in mind had shrunk to a shadow of its breadth in the afternoon. However there was just enough to experiment with a couple of foxes obliging.
[This is again shot remotely using the Fuji XT-2 wifi connection to my mobile with the camera sitting on the edge of the kerb. The slight lag means chimping is unavoidable but it still gets shots you cannot get, even with a long lens]
The problem was where to put the ice cream.
you can't just toss it into a trash can, it's a hot day, it'll melt, melting was the problem in the first place and now you've got melted ice cream in a trash can you're taking out your trash and there it is, you're not gonna clean it how the fuck do you even clean a trash can out's gotta come the hose and you gotta let it drain and fuck whoever left ice cream to melt in my trash can.
So we didn't want to do that, but do you put it on the grass or on the ground, it's biodegradable, sure, but it's a mess until all the earth's animals come out to take it away in teeny tiny bits and before all that you've got a mess.
And what if someone sees you just dumping ice cream on the ground?
So maybe the gutter, that was my idea, the gutter, just put it in the gutter, it'll wash away, we'll be fine, I'll whistle like we never did nothing and no worries it'll be like we never even had ice cream. What ice cream? What's ice cream? We're just two photographers out for a stroll, I don't know shit about no ice cream.
We have our laughs, Laura and I.
When Aron and Widogast (the monster hunter) met in the Golden Crown Inn in Rindael, Widogast made a deal with Aron (who is known to only go after dragons) to hunt a cockatrice, which is best described as a two-legged dragon, wyvern, or serpent-like creature with a rooster's head, so at least part of it was a dragon.
"Drinks on me when you bring me a cockatrice head." said Widogast.
"Only drinks?" asked Aron.
"Well, you may keep the bounty too." replied Widogast "or are you afraid of it?"
Aron: "No way, I'll get you that cockatrice head, I am not affraid of some chicken."
"Okay, deal, may luck be on your side then." said Widogast jokingly.
"Ha, where I'm going I don't need any luck." replied Aron.
A cockatrice was recently spotted on the border of Faldia and the Daelen near the Whispering Woods.
Aron's preparation included polishing his armor, and putting a special mirror coating on his shield. But when he finally reached the place where the creature was spotted, he couldn't believe his eyes, no report made mentions of the size of the beast. Trampling the fence near the path, the beast almost was the same height of a nearby tree.
"That dammed Widogast, he knew the size of that beast, I'm sure of it..." thought Aron. "Well, here I go..."
--
Another build in the Whispering Woods serie, see: flic.kr/s/aHsmW3WD4h, made for the CCC Crafty Creature
category and capturing character for Brickscalibur.