View allAll Photos Tagged Realization
On a feudal world a calamity is spreading from one village to another. Jar Jar Binks is on the loose and his clumsiness is bringing destruction whenever he goes.
Everything the poor villagers tried to stop him was doomed to failure. Shielded by his unbelievable luck the Clumsy Creature was unstoppable.
In order to stop such plague the local lords hired a legendary Bounty Hunter; so skilled not even Jar Jar’s luck can match him.
In fact he quickly takes care of the annoying creature.
Jar Jar: “Yousa cannot kill mesa! Mesa have plot armor!”
Boba Fett: “Maybe yes or maybe not. But I can hurt you a lot and I’m sure the villagers will enjoy that so much!”
Jar Jar: “Ohi, Ohi!"
The action figure is the Bandai “Samurai Version” of Boba Fett. Actually the full name of that series of Samurai inspired figures (they also have Vader, Stormtroopers and Royal Guard) is Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization and Boba is depicted in the Ronin role.
I’m mostly a Lego fan and so my expertise on actions figures may not be great but that Boba Fett action figure is amazing. A bit expensive for its size to be honest, but it’s epic. They managed to merge the original Star Wars concept with the ancient Japanese style and keep it close to iconic Boba’s look. Truly impressive :)
Like I always say, no real hate intended towards characters, creators of characters etc. This is just a parody scene :)
May the Force be with You :)
(TMS)Ushuaia Luxury JPS
The most beautiful and detailed (TMS)Ushuaia ever seen on Second Life.Interiors and exteriors completely redesigned.A lot of working hours were needed to make this boat and about 50 textures have been applied.
Reflections, luminosity and alpha totally revised, but you do not have to worry because to apply all this you will have to do only one simple operation:
drag a script from the inventory to over your Ushuaia. Just a simple mouse movement and your new boat will be ready to sail in the Linden seas. ⛵⛵⛵
To see this : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Faracity/163/251/25
Marketplace : marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Texture-Ushuaia-Luxury-JPS/1...
There are some moments in your life, when you feel like you're in the exact path you should be. It's not a blatant or obvious moment; it's more like a feeling that creeps up your neck, that fills you with confidence and joy in what you're doing.
For a while, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I went from course (major) to course, got one BA and two post-grads in different fields, until I fell on photography. And when I thought about it, when I put the possibility of becoming a professional photographer on the table, I realized that photography is one of the few things that has always been there. Every year, on my birthday or christmas, I would get a camera. I would always take photos, I'd do that when I was bored, or sad or lonely. And it was so natural that I didn't even realize.
I sort of had the day to myself, today. I went to my dad's boat with him and my cousin, and I just sat and read all day. Sontag. And I thought about a whole lot of things, too. When we were driving back and I had my head halfway out of the window, the wind pushing against my skin and the music loud in my ears, I had that realization that I mentioned a couple of paragraphs ago. I felt like I might turn the world around, I might work at McDonalds or Zara or whatever to keep myself, but someway, somehow, I'll always be a photographer first. And an artist, second. It will always be about art. Like the good people say, "the opposite of war isn't peace: it's creation!"
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How many of you would be interested in a print give away? I've been thinking about doing it for a while, what do you think?
Today I had a realization that went something like this - oh crap I'm leaving thursday and I need to get a photo in now or i'll have to skip a week. So this was sort of last minute. I had no lighting in my room and my walls looked a horrible neon shade in all the pictures I took, so I threw on the 'antique light' preset on LR. I test how that preset looks on most photos that I import into LR and I love it. I don't use it too often. But I am really enjoying it with the tinsel photos :P
Man, Perry's been on a roll lately! This was not easy with him, I made him balance his ass on the stool again, and pose with the dreaded tinsel. Such drama. But it took just a few shots to give a good one, so the torture was short lived and Per survived.
Self-Realization Fellowship Temple on Sunset Blvd in East Hollywood. (Established by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1942.)
The Duel of the Figures continues…
It’s not battle of Jedi vs Sith, it’s not a battle of Good vs Evil, it’s a battle of coolness as the high quality “Samurai” Darth Vader action figure fights against a “mass market” version of Kit Fisto.
Continues from part 4: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/25156534853/in/photos...
You can find the whole series here: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/albums/72157665467242701
Vader release the grip and the lifeless body of his opponent hits the ground and he checks the life signs (it’s always better to be sure, certain figures can be very tricky )
Vader: “All too easy.”
Today he scored another victory for the New Order of High Quality Collectibles but there are more battles to fight…
Samurai Vader is the Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization Samurai Taisho [General] Darth Vader, Death Star Armor action figure.
This image completes the mini series about Vader and Fisto figures.
I hope you like it :)
Your feedback is really appreciated and it will be very useful for my next projects. So feel free to post what you think about this mini series. If you like that format or if you prefer other formats, like for example the comics format etc.
By the way which of the mini series five photos is your favorite?
Any feedback will be very useful, my friends :)
May the Force be with You :)
Frannie was a year behind me in High School. She was so cute and vivacious. She still is...
It's wonderful that we are still friends...
Miss Cecily, my beautiful wife, shot this photo with her iPhone 6 Plus.
Photographed in the Self-Realization Meditation Garden. It is a cliff top garden high above the Pacific Ocean 🌊 in Encinitas California - Cardiff By The Sea
IMG_0584
Jake Hegel Photography Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Jake-Hegel-Photography/21335669868...
Deviantart: www.jakehegel.deviantart.com/
When getting an idea in your head, it won’t let you go at times. If so, it slowly but surely takes over your thoughts and settles in. After a while, such a view might become a feasible venture.
By planing its realization, one embarks on a journey characterized by all sorts of highs and lows: Some things will turn out great while other approaches prove useless, which means that one needs to start over again.
As patience is a high virtue, this path is also a test of whether the initial idea can assert itself in reality. If one makes it to this final goal, the courage it took to come there will be richly rewarded.
While observing this achievement, joy, relief, and satisfaction compensate for all the intense efforts that vigorously took place. Soon after, one realizes that the heavy load which accompanied this journey slowly falls off the shoulders, and that lightness spreads around.
So many of my favorite moments probably look like nothing. But I think I like that they’re not understood. For this, you had to be there. And I'm so glad you were. #sweeterpoetry || Patagonia, Argentina ||
It is crucial to understand that when we die, it is only the death of the human body; the spirit (our soul) lives on. When we die our soul loses its physical connection with the world which we know when we are alive.
Everything we do in this life, we should do with the conscious awareness that the consequences of every action will carry on after we leave this world; that our soul will bear the burden of it.
With this thought should come a realization; what is the purpose for us to be in this world!
Inner peace and happiness actually comes from a clear conscience which keeps our soul at peace!
Let me elaborate this point with an example – If we help someone in times of need, or give food to the poor, these actions will not result in any monetary gain, but these actions will fulfill us at a spiritual level because our soul will reap the rewards of these actions, even after our exit from this life. On the other hand if we cheat or steal money from someone, this action might result in a temporary gain of a monetary benefit, but will lead to a guilty conscience - which is the unrest of our soul. It is our soul which will have to face the consequences of these deeds.
So whatever we do in life, please do keep in mind that every action will result in a positive or negative reaction from our soul. So if you truly want to create a life full of inner peace and happiness, be fair with others, keep your word, and be kind and generous. This approach to life will rid us of corruption and dishonesty & will steer our lives in the direction of success and prosperity.
Maryam Arif
വരണ്ടുണങ്ങിയ മണ്ണില് ഒരായിരം പരുത്തിച്ചെടികളിലൊന്നില് എന്റെ ആത്മാവ് കുടികൊണ്ടു. പരുത്തികള് പൂത്ത് കായ്ച്ചപ്പോള് അവിടെയായിരുന്നു ഞാന്. വെളിച്ചം എന്റെ കണ്ണുകളില് ജന്മ വേദനയോടെ പിറവികൊണ്ടു. രാവിന്റെ നിറഭേദം മാത്രമാണ് പകലെന്നും അത് ചമക്കുന്നതൊരേയൊരു സൂര്യനാണെന്നും മനസിലക്കിയപ്പോഴേക്കും അമ്മയുമായുള്ള പൊക്കിള്ക്കൊടി ബന്ധം മുറിക്കാന് ഞാന് തയ്യാറായിരുന്നു. വിളവെടുപ്പിന്റെ വേദനയിലും നിറങ്ങളിലേക്കുള്ള മോക്ഷമാണിതെന്ന് അമ്മമാര് ഞങ്ങളുടെ കാതുകളിലോതി.
യാത്രകള്, ഇരുട്ട്, വേദന. ഞങ്ങളെല്ലാം വേര്തിരിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. വിധി നിര്ണയിക്കുന്നവന്റെ നെയ്ത്തുശാലകളില് ഞാന് വെറുമൊരു തൂവെള്ള തുണിയായി രൂപപ്പെട്ടു. നിറങ്ങളില്ല. സ്വപ്നങ്ങള് മാത്രം. വീണ്ടും യാത്രകള്, ഇരുട്ടറകള്. ഞങ്ങളില് ചിലര് നിറങ്ങളന്വേഷിച്ചും ചിലര് ലക്ഷ്യബോധമില്ലാതെയും യാത്രയായി. വേദനിച്ചെങ്കിലും നാളെയുടെ നിറച്ചാര്ത്തിനേക്കുറിച്ച്, ഞങ്ങളിലെ ഒരായിരം വര്ണങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചോര്ത്ത് സന്തോഷിച്ചു. തപസ്യ തുടരവേ ഒരു നാള് അരിച്ചെത്തിയ വെളിച്ചം അറിയിച്ചു - നിങ്ങള് നിത്യ ചൈതന്യത്തിനു മുന്പില് തിരിനാളങ്ങളാവേണ്ടവരാണ്. അതാണത്രേ ഞങ്ങള് നിറങ്ങളുടെ വിഷങ്ങളില്ലാതെ സ്ര്യഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെട്ടത്. ആ നുറുങ്ങുവെട്ടം ഞങ്ങളിപ്പോലൊരുവന്റെ സന്തതിയാണത്രേ!
വെളുപ്പിന്റെ നൈര്മലയതയേക്കാല് നിറങ്ങളാണ് നല്ലതെന്ന് പഴകിചെളിപുരണ്ടവരപ്പോഴും മൊഴിഞ്ഞു. നിറങ്ങളുടെ മാലിന്യം തങ്ങളിലെ കറകളെ താല്ക്കാലികമായെങ്കിലും മറയ്ക്കുമെന്ന വ്യാമോഹം ! ചിലരത് കേട്ട് സംശയാലുക്കളായി. ഒരു ദിനം എല്ലിച്ച രണ്ടുകരങ്ങളെന്നെ കോരിയെടുത്ത് ഒരു പഴകിയ ദണ്ഡില് ചുറ്റി, നറുമണമുള്ള എണ്ണയില് മുക്കി എന്നിലേക്ക് അഗ്നി പകര്ന്നു. ചൂട്, വേദന. ശ്വാസം നിലയ്ക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. ഒരുമാത്രകഴിഞ്ഞ് ഇറുക്കിയടച്ച
കണ്ണുകള് തുറന്നപ്പോള് വേദനയില്ല, ഉഷ്ണമില്ല എങ്ങും പ്രശാന്തതമാത്രം. നിറങ്ങളല്ല ഈ പ്രശാന്തതയിലാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ്. കത്തിജ്വലിച്ച് നിത്യതയിലലിഞ്ഞ് ചേരുന്നതാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ്.ഞാന് രാവിനെക്കിറിമുറിച്ച്, ഒരു കൊച്ചു സൂര്യനായി, നനുത്ത കാറ്റുകളോട് മല്ലടിച്ച് ജ്വലിച്ചു നിന്നു.
ഞാന്. ഞാന്. ഞാന്. ഞാന് മാത്രം. ഇന്നു ഞാന് എന്നെയറിയുന്നു. പക്ഷെ എന്റെ ഉടപ്പിറപ്പുകള്ക്ക് അവരെന്തെന്നറിയാന് കഴിയാത്തിടത്തോളം ഞാന് വെറും സ്വാര്ത്നത്രേ. ഈ വെളിച്ചം എല്ലാവരിലേക്കും പകര്ന്നു നല്കേണ്ടിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു തീപ്പന്തമായി, വഴി കാട്ടിയായി കത്തിജ്വലിച്ചമരും മുന്പ് എന്റെ തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് ഞാന് അവരിലേക്ക് പകര്ന്ന് നല്കും.
അന്ന് പതിവുപോലെ കാലം മുറുക്കിത്തുപ്പിച്ചുമപ്പിച്ച ഒരു സന്ധ്യയിലേക്ക് ഞാന് കണ്ണുകള് തുറന്നപ്പോള് എനിക്ക് മുന്പില് ഒരായിരം ചെരാതുകളില് എന്റെയുടെപ്പിടന്നോര് ! നിറങ്ങളാണ് എല്ലാം എന്ന് കരുതിയിരുന്നവരിലേക്ക് ഞാന് സ്വാത്രന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ, മോക്ഷത്തിന്റെ, തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് പകര്ന്ന് നല്കി. ഞങ്ങളൊന്നായി, ഒരേ മനസോടെ, ഇരവിനെത്തോപ്പിച്ച് ഒരായിരം സൂര്യന്മാരായി, ഒരേ സ്വപ്നങ്ങളോടെ, പ്രതീക്ഷകളോടെ, നല്ല നാളെയുടെ പ്രതീക്ഷകളോടെ സുവര്ണ പ്രഭ ചൊരുത്തി കത്തിജ്വലിച്ചു നിന്നു. നേരം വീണ്ടുമിരുളവേ ഒരിളം കാറ്റെത്തി. ഞങ്ങളില് ചിലരെയാക്കാറ്റ് വാരിപ്പുണര്ന്നു. ചിലര് ആടിയുലഞ്ഞു. നിറങ്ങളായിരുന്നു മോക്ഷം. ഇത് തീയാണ്, കാറ്റാണ് ഒരു തിരിനാളം
പരിതപിച്ചു. ഇളം കാറ്റത് കേട്ടത് ആര്ത്ത് ചിരിച്ചു. തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് നഷ്ട്ടപ്പെട്ട് കരിന്തിരി കെടും മുന്പ് മറ്റു ചിലരും പറഞ്ഞു നിറങ്ങളായിരുന്നു മോക്ഷം.
സ്വയം കണ്ടെത്തല് നാമോരുത്തരും സ്വയം എത്തിച്ചേരുന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ്. സ്വയം തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നവനേ ഇളം കാറ്റുകളെപ്പോലും തരണം ചെയ്യാന് പറ്റൂ. സംഘടനകള്ക്ക് നമ്മെ സ്വതത്രനാക്കോനോ കരുത്തരാക്കാനോ കഴിയില്ല (ref 1). അത് സ്വയം നിര്വഹിക്കാന് കഴിയാത്തവന് കരിന്തിരിയണയേണ്ടത് അനിവാര്യതയാണ്. നീയും കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളെ നേരിടാന് പ്രാപ്തനല്ല. നീ വെളിച്ചം പകര്ന്ന ഈ ചെരാതുകളില് ചിലരൊക്കെ നിറങ്ങളല്ല വെളിച്ചമാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിയും. പക്ഷെ നിനക്ക് കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളെ നേരിടാന് ശക്തിയാര്ജ്ജിക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. ഇളം കാറ്റ് ഇത് ചൊല്ലി വിടവാങ്ങുമ്പോള് ഞാനറിയുകയായിരുന്നു അവനാണ് നാളെയുടെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റ്. ഇളം കാറ്റുകള് മോക്ഷം നേടി മഴയും പേമാരിയുമായി തിരിച്ചെത്തുന്നു. ഇവിടെ നഷ്ടങ്ങളില്ല, നേട്ടങ്ങളിലേക്കുള്ള പ്രയാണമാണ് നാമൊരുത്തരുടെയും ജീവിതം. പലപ്പോഴും നാമത് തിരിച്ചറിയാതെ വിട്ടു വീഴ്ചകളുടെ തലച്ചുമടുമായി ജീവിക്കുന്നു. എനിക്ക് യാത്ര തുടരേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. പേമാരികളേയും നേരിടാനുള്ള കരുത്താര്ജ്ജിക്കുവാന്. ഭാവിയുടെ ഭൂതകാലത്തില്, ഇന്നുകളില് ജീവിക്കാതെ ഭാവിക്കുവേണ്ടി കരുത്താര്ജ്ജിക്കുവാന്.
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Indirectly describes the reason for dissolving Malayalikkoottam as it was originally created & here by I announce that the vision and mission of the Malayalikkoottam is unachievable unless the very people involved don't realize themselves. In any case, it seems the realization is something similar to what J Krishnamoorthy had in 1929. I here by quit from Malayalikkoottam and the original intentions for which the group has created seems to be still unachievable. All assets of the group if there is any will be handed over to anyone identified by koottam-manage and I will preserve the photos and other artifacts of the group with atmost care until its handed over to respective individuals. It was a great attempt to create a group which is not for comments and which has a physical existence and which could do many things beyond mere photography. The group still has the best resources and great people and few souls still fighting to make it what it was intended. Those are the ones who knows who they are and the very reason for the issues. I have no words to express my respect for them. It was a great journey I thank every member of the group especially the great souls who are still fighting against the chaos and those who stood from the beginning. But the path is else where. The relationships I earned from the group, often wanted to called itself as a family is precious and may may be, we can put everything back. Looks like for last 2+ years I was fighting with individuals and vendors when they try to take advantage of us. May be its time to relax a bit and stop the never ending fight for a while and give more time to myself than the family / group.
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Ref 1: this sentence is added after originally writting the Malayalam text on November 5th, 2009 and its based on J Krishnamoorthy's "The Order of the Star in the East" dissolution speech.
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DSC_3556_1, Taken at Thrikkakkara Vamana Temple on Thirivonam day & the caption and processing done ages ago. The text / description was written on November 5th 2009.
If you think, you were involved somehow, in the effort to build this community in last 3 years, there is "Add a person" link on the right hand side ! add yourself there. It will be fun
Also it will be interesting to check Honey Moon photos too :-)
Aghori ascetics, while being devotees of the Hindu God Shiva, are monists who adhere to the common Hindu belief in liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation (samsara). This liberation is a realization of the self's identity with the absolute. Because of this monistic doctrine, the Aghoris maintain that all opposites are ultimately illusory. The purpose of embracing pollution through various practices is the realization of non-duality through transcending social taboos, and seeing the illusory nature of all conventional categories.
In essence, Aghoris base their beliefs on two principles. First, that Lord Shiva is perfect. Second, that Shiva is responsible for everything; every rock, tree, animal, and even every thought. Due to this, everything that exists must be perfect, and to deny the perfection of anything would be to deny the Gods.
The Aghori ascetic is himself a symbol of the God Shiva. He goes naked or wears the shroud of a corpse, he covers himself in the ashes of the cremation ground. The corpse upon which he meditates is a symbol of his own body and the corpse devouring ritual is a symbol of the transcendence of his lower self and a realisation of the greater, all pervading self.
The Aghoris distinguish themselves from other Hindu sects and priests by their alcoholic and cannibalistic rituals. The corpses, which may be either pulled from a river [including Ganges] or obtained from cremation grounds, are consumed raw as the Aghoris believe that what others consider as a "dead man" is, in fact, nothing but a natural matter devoid of the life force it once contained. Therefore, while for ordinary folks it may be called cannibalism, for them it's using what is useless for the rest of the world. In fact, they claim to be scientists trying to discover how matter converts from one form to another. (source: wiki)
My friend Amit mailed me one fine evening. He said this photograph inspired him to write a poem. Sharing the poem here:
The Astrologer
One sun in the sky
and a million others shining up
from the railway tracks
that lead unto me, everyday
like the million lines on my face
each line for the million times i have prayed
exhaling a million plumes of smoke
that fill the million braids of my hair
You ask me a question, i close my eyes
i crease my brow, and nod my ashen-face
as though i've always known you'd come
but all i do
is take a long drag
and stare at you
as your faith stares back
and snares me between the million lies, tracks
that lead away from what is true
I quietly put my conscience away
"Son, you have sinned", I say,
And you grow pale
"Maharaj, is there a way?"
you ask
as you tremble with the memories of that frightful day
Another drag; you wait,
as i close my eyes and negotiate
"Sure, but there'll be a price to pay"
And you are happy
to trade your guilt for a hundred rupees
and thank God for deal-makers under trees
as i hoard my own guilt,
and hope to find a deal-maker for me
By Amit Bhatia
© Ayan Khasnabis All Rights Reserved
Unauthorized use or reproduction for any reason is prohibited
The Duel of the Figures continues…
It’s not battle of Jedi vs Sith, it’s not a battle of Good vs Evil, it’s a battle of coolness as the high quality “Samurai” Darth Vader action figure fights against a “mass market” version of Kit Fisto.
Continues from part 3: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/25093753264/in/photos...
You can find the whole series (the last part will be posted soon) here: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/albums/72157665467242701
Vader maintains his hold on Fisto figure.
Fisto: “You…are deluded to think your kind actually means something…cough.. You have just a niche market…your kind are so expensive…we are so affordable…cough… we can swarm the market and be forever remembered…”
Vader: “You are a fool to think you can leave a mark in the history of collectibles. Quality does matter and while my kind may be expensive, you are annoyingly overpriced for a figure of your quality! We'll be a prized possession in a collection but you… you will be forgotten. It’s time to sink into oblivion.”
With a swift movement Vader plunges his Lightsaber into his opponent’s chest.
To be continued…
No action figure has been harmed during the making of this photo; this is just a simulation of violence/combat etc, etc :) It’s obvious but a little disclaimer never hurts lol :)
Samurai Vader is the Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization Samurai Taisho [General] Darth Vader, Death Star Armor action figure :) I know it’s as long as a Hyperspace route lol :)
Fisto figure lacks his right arm because he lost it earlier in the fight.
I hope you are enjoying this little series :)
May the Force be with You :)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: President Hollande, Mr. Secretary General, fellow leaders. We have come to Paris to show our resolve. We offer our condolences to the people of France for the barbaric attacks on this beautiful city. We stand united in solidarity not only to deliver justice to the terrorist network responsible for those attacks but to protect our people and uphold the enduring values that keep us strong and keep us free. And we salute the people of Paris for insisting this crucial conference go on -- an act of defiance that proves nothing will deter us from building the future we want for our children. What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it? Nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week -- a declaration that for all the challenges we face, the growing threat of climate change could define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. What should give us hope that this is a turning point, that this is the moment we finally determined we would save our planet, is the fact that our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it.Our understanding of the ways human beings disrupt the climate advances by the day. Fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have occurred since the year 2000 -- and 2015 is on pace to be the warmest year of all. No nation -- large or small, wealthy or poor -- is immune to what this means. This summer, I saw the effects of climate change firsthand in our northernmost state, Alaska, where the sea is already swallowing villages and eroding shorelines; where permafrost thaws and the tundra burns; where glaciers are melting at a pace unprecedented in modern times. And it was a preview of one possible future -- a glimpse of our children’s fate if the climate keeps changing faster than our efforts to address it. Submerged countries. Abandoned cities. Fields that no longer grow. Political disruptions that trigger new conflict, and even more floods of desperate peoples seeking the sanctuary of nations not their own. That future is not one of strong economies, nor is it one where fragile states can find their footing. That future is one that we have the power to change. Right here. Right now. But only if we rise to this moment. As one of America’s governors has said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.”I’ve come here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest economy and the second-largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it.Over the last seven years, we’ve made ambitious investments in clean energy, and ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions. We’ve multiplied wind power threefold, and solar power more than twentyfold, helping create parts of America where these clean power sources are finally cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. We’ve invested in energy efficiency in every way imaginable. We’ve said no to infrastructure that would pull high-carbon fossil fuels from the ground, and we’ve said yes to the first-ever set of national standards limiting the amount of carbon pollution our power plants can release into the sky.The advances we’ve made have helped drive our economic output to all-time highs, and drive our carbon pollution to its lowest levels in nearly two decades. But the good news is this is not an American trend alone. Last year, the global economy grew while global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels stayed flat. And what this means can’t be overstated. We have broken the old arguments for inaction. We have proved that strong economic growth and a safer environment no longer have to conflict with one another; they can work in concert with one another.
And that should give us hope. One of the enemies that we'll be fighting at this conference is cynicism, the notion we can't do anything about climate change. Our progress should give us hope during these two weeks -- hope that is rooted in collective action. Earlier this month in Dubai, after years of delay, the world agreed to work together to cut the super-pollutants known as HFCs. That's progress. Already, prior to Paris, more than 180 countries representing nearly 95 percent of global emissions have put forward their own climate targets. That is progress. For our part, America is on track to reach the emissions targets that I set six years ago in Copenhagen -- we will reduce our carbon emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. And that's why, last year, I set a new target: America will reduce our emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels within 10 years from now.So our task here in Paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework for human progress -- not a stopgap solution, but a long-term strategy that gives the world confidence in a low-carbon future.Here, in Paris, let’s secure an agreement that builds in ambition, where progress paves the way for regularly updated targets -- targets that are not set for each of us but by each of us, taking into account the differences that each nation is facing. Here in Paris, let’s agree to a strong system of transparency that gives each of us the confidence that all of us are meeting our commitments. And let’s make sure that the countries who don’t yet have the full capacity to report on their targets receive the support that they need. Here in Paris, let’s reaffirm our commitment that resources will be there for countries willing to do their part to skip the dirty phase of development. And I recognize this will not be easy. It will take a commitment to innovation and the capital to continue driving down the cost of clean energy. And that’s why, this afternoon, I’ll join many of you to announce an historic joint effort to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation on a global scale.Here in Paris, let’s also make sure that these resources flow to the countries that need help preparing for the impacts of climate change that we can no longer avoid. We know the truth that many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its most destructive effects. For some, particularly island nations -- whose leaders I’ll meet with tomorrow -- climate change is a threat to their very existence. And that’s why today, in concert with other nations, America confirms our strong and ongoing commitment to the Least Developed Countries Fund. And tomorrow, we’ll pledge new contributions to risk insurance initiatives that help vulnerable populations rebuild stronger after climate-related disasters.And finally, here in Paris, let’s show businesses and investors that the global economy is on a firm path towards a low-carbon future. If we put the right rules and incentives in place, we’ll unleash the creative power of our best scientists and engineers and entrepreneurs to deploy clean energy technologies and the new jobs and new opportunities that they create all around the world. There are hundreds of billions of dollars ready to deploy to countries around the world if they get the signal that we mean business this time. Let’s send that signal.That’s what we seek in these next two weeks. Not simply an agreement to roll back the pollution we put into our skies, but an agreement that helps us lift people from poverty without condemning the next generation to a planet that’s beyond its capacity to repair. Here, in Paris, we can show the world what is possible when we come together, united in common effort and by a common purpose.And let there be no doubt, the next generation is watching what we do. Just over a week ago, I was in Malaysia, where I held a town hall with young people, and the first question I received was from a young Indonesian woman. And it wasn’t about terrorism, it wasn’t about the economy, it wasn’t about human rights. It was about climate change. And she asked whether I was optimistic about what we can achieve here in Paris, and what young people like her could do to help.I want our actions to show her that we’re listening. I want our actions to be big enough to draw on the talents of all our people -- men and women, rich and poor -- I want to show her passionate, idealistic young generation that we care about their future. For I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that there is such a thing as being too late. And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us. But if we act here, if we act now, if we place our own short-term interests behind the air that our young people will breathe, and the food that they will eat, and the water that they will drink, and the hopes and dreams that sustain their lives, then we won't be too late for them.And, my fellow leaders, accepting this challenge will not reward us with moments of victory that are clear or quick. Our progress will be measured differently -- in the suffering that is averted, and a planet that's preserved. And that’s what’s always made this so hard. Our generation may not even live to see the full realization of what we do here. But the knowledge that the next generation will be better off for what we do here -- can we imagine a more worthy reward than that? Passing that on to our children and our grandchildren, so that when they look back and they see what we did here in Paris, they can take pride in our achievement. Let that be the common purpose here in Paris. A world that is worthy of our children. A world that is marked not by conflict, but by cooperation; and not by human suffering, but by human progress. A world that’s safer, and more prosperous, and more secure, and more free than the one that we inherited. Let’s get to work. Thank you very much.
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/30/remarks-pr...
Nearly 150 global leaders are gathering in Paris amid tight security for a critical UN climate meeting.The conference, known as COP21, starts on Monday and will try to craft a long-term deal to limit carbon emissions.Observers say that the recent terror attacks on the French capital will increase the chances of a new agreement.Around 40,000 people are expected to participate in the event, which runs until 11 December.The gathering of 147 heads of state and government is set to be far bigger than the 115 or so who came to Copenhagen in 2009, the last time the world came close to agreeing a long term deal on climate change.Rallies call for action.While many leaders including Presidents Obama and Xi Jinping were always set to attend this conference, the recent violent attacks in Paris have encouraged others to come in an expression of solidarity with the French people.Unlike at Copenhagen, the French organisers are bringing the leaders in at the start of the conference rather than waiting for them to come in at the end, a tactic which failed spectacularly in the Danish capital.On Sunday thousands of people took part in demonstrations worldwide to demand they take firm action.Considerable differencesDelegates are in little doubt that the shadow cast over the city by the attacks will enhance the chances of agreement."I believe that it will make a deal more likely, because what I feel from the parties is that they are very eager to move," said Amjad Abdulla from the Maldives, who chairs the Alliance of Small Island States in the negotiations.A former UK government adviser on climate change and now chairman of environmental think tank E3G, Tom Burke, believes that some leaders will push the line that, by tackling rising temperatures, you remove one of the causes of terrorism.One key problem is what form an agreement will take. The US for instance will not sign up to a legally binding deal as there would be little hope of getting it through a Senate dominated by Republicans."We're looking for an agreement that has broad, really full participation," said US lead negotiator Todd Stern at a news briefing earlier this week."We were quite convinced that an agreement that required actually legally binding targets would have many countries unable to participate."Many developing countries fundamentally disagree. As does the European Union."We must translate the momentum we have seen on the road to Paris into an ambitious, operational, legally binding agreement," said EU commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, in a statement.As well as the form there are also many issues with the content.There are a wide range of views on what the long-term goal of the agreement should be.While it will ostensibly come down to keeping temperatures from rising more than 2C above the pre-industrial level, how that will be represented in the text is the subject of much wrangling.Some countries reject the very notion of 2C and say 1.5C must be the standard. Others want to talk about decarbonising the world by the middle or end of this century.For major oil producers the very idea is anathema.While the fact that more than 180 countries have put forward national plans to cut emissions is a major strength of this conference, there are still big questions marks about how to verify those commitments that will actually be carried out."People in the negotiations, people outside the negotiations are going to be looking for the capacity to have trust and confidence in what countries say they are doing," Todd Stern told reporters."[You] can't run the system without that."COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - will see more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.While there is some consensus among the parties that the plans will need to be reviewed every five years, there is no question of punitive restrictions if a country doesn't meet its targets.And among the many other issues in dispute, almost inevitably, is money. While rich countries promised they would give $100bn by 2020 to the developing world back in 2009, the cash has been slow in coming. Right now there is no agreement about what happens after 2020.While there is a general air of optimism and a willingness to get a deal done, success isn't guaranteed this time round. Many believe that a country such as India, with close to 300 million people without electricity, will refuse to sign up to a strong agreement that limits future fossil fuel use.If that happens, the whole process could come unstuck, as nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.Tom Burke for one believes that going against the flow will be particularly difficult this time round."I think one of the reasons people will find it hard to hold out at the end will be because of the level of political capital that Obama has invested in climate change, making it clear it is a primary legacy issue for him," he said.
www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34950442
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world as a result of increased CO2 from human activities. This is causing Greenland's ice sheets and glaciers to melt, contributing to sea level rise.On average, global sea level has risen almost 8 inches since 1901, coming from two main sources: rising ocean temperatures that cause water to expand, and melting glaciers and ice sheets which add water to the oceans.The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded the oceans will continue rising in coming decades, conservatively projecting up to a 3 foot increase in global mean sea level by 2100. Other studies project an even higher sea level rise if we stay near our current emissions path for carbon pollution. In our stories, we explore how sea level rise impacts homes, livelihoods, economies, and families around the world.In just 2012, the ice that melted in Greenland and flowed into the ocean was equivalent to the amount of water flowing over Niagara Falls for 5 straight years.
yearsoflivingdangerously.com/topic/sea-level-rise/
Adapting to Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Zone. Rising sea level settles border dispute.In an unusual example of the effects of global climate change, rising sea levels in the Bay of Bengal have helped resolve a troublesome territorial dispute between two of the world's most populated countries, a leading Indian oceanographer says.Sugata Hazra, the head of oceanography at Kolkata's Jadavpur University, says a flat muddy patch of land known as South Talpatti in Bangladesh and New Moore Island in India has disappeared under the Bay of Bengal. The landmass had been claimed by both countries but Professor Hazra says satellite images prove it has gone.''It is now a submerged landmass, not an island,'' Professor Hazra told the Herald.Sea-level rise caused by climate change was ''surely'' a factor in the island's inundation, Professor Hazra said.''The rate of sea-level rise in this part of the northern Bay of Bengal is definitely attributable to climate change,'' he said.
''There is a close correlation between the rate of sea-level rise and the sea surface temperature.''The island was once about 3.5 kilometres long and three kilometres wide and situated four kilometres from the mouth of the Hariabhanga River, the waterway that marks a stretch of the border between south-western Bangladesh and India.Scientists believe the disputed island was formed following a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in 1970 and both countries laid claim to the land.
Bilateral negotiations were inconclusive and in 1981 the Indian government sent gunboats to the island and members of its Border Security Forces planted an Indian flag there.
The island was not inhabited but Bangladeshi fishermen were reportedly sighted there frequently during the dry season.
''This is a unique instance of how climate resolves a dispute,'' said Professor Hazra.''It also goes to show how climate can affect all of us beyond geographical boundaries.''The Indian government had once sent ships with guns to guard the island.''Now one will have to think of sending submarines to mount a vigil there.''Professor Hazra said sea-level rise, changes in monsoonal rain patterns which altered river flows and land subsidence were all contributing to the inundation of land in the northern Bay of Bengal.The low-lying delta region that makes up much of Bangladesh and the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal are acutely vulnerable to climate change.The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts rising sea levels will devour 17 per cent of Bangladesh by 2050, displacing at least 20 million people. More than 155 million people live in the country.The Bangladesh non-governmental organisation Coastal Watch says an average of 11 Bangladeshis are losing their homes to rising waters every hour.Professor Hazra predicts that 15 per cent of the Indian Sundarbans region on the northern shore of the Bay of Bengal will be submerged by 2020.''A lot of other islands are eroding very fast,'' he said.The cyclone-prone region is also likely to experience more frequent and extreme storms as the sea-water temperature in the Bay of Bengal rises due to global warming
Read more: www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/rising-sea-leve...
Can we stop the seas from rising? Yes, but less than you think.
One of the main concerns with climate change is that it's causing the oceans to advance. Global sea levels have risen about seven inches over the past century and that pace is accelerating. Not only does this threaten coastal regions, but it also makes storm surges much worse — both for huge hurricanes like Sandy and for smaller storms too.And the oceans are likely to keep creeping up. Scientists project that if we keep warming the planet at our current pace, sea levels could rise between two and seven feet by 2100, particularly as the world's glaciers and ice caps melt. So that raises the question: Is there anything we can do to stop sea-level rise? How much would cutting greenhouse-gas emissions help?As it turns out, reducing our emissions would help slow the rate of sea-level rise — but at this point, it's unlikely that we could stop further rises altogether. That's the upshot of a recent study from the National Center on Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The study estimated that aggressive steps to cut emissions could reduce the amount of sea-level rise by somewhere between 6 and 20 inches in 2100, compared with our current trajectory. That's quite a bit. But sea levels will keep rising for centuries no matter what we do. We can't stop it entirely. We can only slow the pace.As NCAR's Gerald Meehl, a co-author of the study, explained to me by e-mail, it's a lot easier to stabilize global temperatures by cutting carbon emissions than it is to stabilize sea-level rise. The carbon-dioxide that we've already loaded into the atmosphere will likely have effects on the oceans for centuries to come. "But with aggressive mitigation," Meehl added, "you can slow down the rate of sea level rise, which buys time for adaptation measures."There are two ways that global warming causes sea levels to rise. First, as carbon-dioxide traps more heat on the planet, the oceans get warmer and expand in volume. Second, ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica as well as other glaciers start melting, pouring more water into the oceans. Once these processes get underway, they won't stop quickly, even if we ceased putting carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere tomorrow.The NCAR paper estimated that if emissions go unchecked, we could warm the planet 4°C over pre-industrial levels by 2100, causing sea levels to rise between two and five feet. By contrast, if we get really proactive at cutting emissions, we could probably keep the temperature increase below 2°C. But sea levels would still rise by between 11 inches and 3.5 feet. (The wide range is due to the uncertainties in modeling the behavior of glaciers and ice sheets—if the ice sheets destabilize, a bigger rise is possible.) That's progress, but not total victory.We're going to need to adapt to sea-level rise no matter what we do on carbon emissions. Even the "optimistic" scenario in the NCAR paper still envisions sea-levels rising roughly 11 inches by 2100. That's assuming we cut emissions drastically and the ice sheets don't do anything too unpredictable. Even then, New York City will have a bigger flood zone than it does today. Storm surges on the coasts will be much larger. Low-lying areas will be at greater risk. In Bangladesh, for instance, the area prone to severe flooding would increase by 69 percent (pdf) with just a foot of sea-level rise.That said, cutting emissions can make a significant difference this century. Keeping sea-level rise a foot or two lower than it otherwise might be is nothing to sneeze at. As this map of New York City shows, the flood zone increases dramatically with each additional foot of sea-level rise. A city like Norfolk, Va. could get swamped entirely by a Category 3 hurricane if ocean levels rose by two to five feet. Florida's adaptation costs go up by billions of dollars with each additional foot of sea-level rise. Every little bit helps.Sea-level rise is likely a much bigger problem for future generations. Not to get too morbid, but I'll probably be dead by 2100. So will most people reading this blog. So the main question at issue here is whether we want to leave our descendants a relatively stable coastline or an unstable one. According to NCAR projections, sea levels could rise as much as 34 feet, or nine meters, by 2300 if emissions continue unchecked (though modeling projections that far out have very large uncertainties, so don't take this as a definitive number). To get a sense of what a nine-meter rise would look like, check out this interactive map. South Florida would be underwater. So would New Orleans. And Shanghai. And the Netherlands. And Bangladesh. But this is also 200 years in the future. That's a big reason why climate change is such a difficult problem to deal with.
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/11/01/can...
Les pays du monde entier vont vivre au rythme des négociations climatiques du 29 novembre au 11 décembre 2015. Un accord entre 195 pays doit être trouvé pour maintenir le réchauffement climatique en dessous des 2 degrés, d’ici à 2050. Mais comment se déroulent les négociations derrière les portes du Bourget, où 150 chefs d’états et plus de 40 000 personnes sont attendus? Nous suivons Caroline Tubercule, membre de l’équipe française de négociation dans son marathon pour sauver la planète.
En savoir plus sur www.lemonde.fr/cop21/video/2015/11/29/en-patates-comprend...
Malgré l'interdiction de manifester, 10.000 personnes se sont réunies dimanche à Paris pour participer à une chaîne humaine contre le réchauffement climatique, selon les organisateurs."cette chaîne humaine, c'est un contre-pouvoir citoyen à la conférence officielle qui sera contre-productive car elle est faite avec des industriels dont les intérêts sont contraires à l'écologie."
www.lesechos.fr/paris-climat-2015/actualites/021518198440...
Drifter; development 2008 to 2016, realization 2017
In addition to early designs, the exhibition features new, previously unseen work by the Dutch duo Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta – the founders of Studio Drift. Specially for the presentation at the Stedelijk, Studio Drift will create the largest-ever installation of Fragile Future. At the core of the installation will be Fragile Future Chandelier 3.5 (2012) acquired by the museum in 2015. Another highlight is Drifter, a floating concrete monolith measuring four by two by two meters. After making its world première at New York’s Armory Show in 2017, this magical installation will be on display in the IMC Gallery at the Stedelijk. The film Drifters (2016) and the installation Materialism (2018) go on view for the first time. In total, the presentation comprises eight of Studio Drift’s room-filling installations, together with a selection of films.
The work of Studio Drift occupies a unique place at the interface between tech art, performance, and biodesign. As a museum that has always placed great importance on both art and design, and performance, the Stedelijk Museum is the perfect venue to display this transdisciplinary work. Gordijn and Nauta engage with contemporary topics such as sustainability, the meaning of natural processes for today’s environment, and issues raised by the use of augmented reality. Their work focuses attention on a society in flux, shaped by the impact of fast-paced innovations, without judging.
Lately I've come to the realization that I really only have to go out to my backyard to find an interesting subject to shoot. With the aid of a macro lens, some of the simplest things become very interesting photos.
This is the center of a Nasturtium flower growing in a pot near our greenhouse. I thought the details were pretty nice!
Best viewed on black or large press L to view
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There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
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Hair:
.Entwined. - Blythe -
Outfit:
Vanilla Bae - Serena Knotted Shirt & Serena Shorts - COLLABOR 88
♥ Info ♥
Serena Knotted Top & Serena Shorts Sold separately
Serena Knotted Top
• Strippable Top with 3 steps Strip + fully nude
• Strip me menu access includes: Private, Public, Add Master
• PG Option (step 1 only, non strip)
Serena Shorts
• Shorts with 3 steps of wear + fully nude
• Strip me menu access includes: Private, Public, Add Master
• PG Option (step 1 only, no strip scripts)
• White band is not color changeable
Poses:
FOXCITY Play Ball Set
Backdrop:
Basketball Gym Skybox
~ in bloom are the tulips purchased this past Friday...
~ and so is the realization that happiness is a decision...
A happy, creative, wonderful Monday & new week ahead in all possible ways for everyone!
P.S1: the picture is almost SOOC, really loving Northen light in Spring ~
P.S2: the album of our new home has been undergoing quite a few changes, until it reaches to a name fully representing itself. It seems that borrowing the name of this English wallpaper, with which the main living room wall left as we enter has been covered, fits more appropriately than anything so far. So The Pearl Birches House it is for now therefore :) Some more pictures here ~
Some info:
~ mirror: vintage 50s scored on ebay 3 years ago
~ storage system: 3 Besta / Ikea units 120 x 40 cm with white shiny doors, horizontally adjusted next to each other.
~ glass candle holders: Bloomster / Ikea {on my wish list since about 4 years, happy to have got them this Christmas for myself}
~ wishbone from a birch tree in the garden of the house I grew up in Greece. Belongs to my tiny collection & it's the medium sized one.
~ paper bag: for various household uses found in almost every supermarket.
~ handwriting: done with a permament silver marker
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A night view of Cesenatico port canal, whose design and realization is usually attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (I am not sure how solid the foundation of this claim are). The canal is provided with a modern water gate to protect it from the incoming waves when necessary (but such a device could well have been present since the beginning, as Leonardo was an expert hydraulic engineer).
On the left there is St. James church (a XIV century church rebuilt in the XVIII century). In the canal you can see some of the traditional boats parked there as part of the exposition at the Marine Museum (sorry, it looks like the site is only in Italian). Since 1986, during Christmas time, these boats become populated with 50 wooden life-size sculptures creating a very peculiar Marine Nativity scene.
During this photographic session I was thinking of Leonardo conceiving, designing and surveying the realization of this canal. I found myself brooding over the fact that ordinary people dream by night, whereas a genius is always dreaming - especially when she is awake :-)
I have blended three HDR images derived from a 3-bracketing, -1.67 ev/0/+1.67 ev, generated and tonemapped with Luminance HDR 2.4.0 (Fattal, Reinhard05, and Mantiuk06 operators).
I am not fully satisfied with the result of this scene (especially the spot lights, which have proved to be beyond recovery (grrr!), so I hope to receive useful comments, suggestions and critics helping me to understand what are its weak points (and possibly how to avoid them in the future).
Luminance HDR 2.4.0 tonemapping parameters:
Operator: Fattal
alpha: 1.49
beta: 0.92
Saturation: 0.81
Noiseredux: 0.05
fftsolver: 1
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PreGamma: 1.55
Operator: Reinhard05
Brightness: 1.0
Chromatic adaptation: 0.28
Light adaptation: 1.0
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PreGamma: 1.18
Operator: Mantiuk06
Contrast Mapping factor: 0.88
Saturation Factor: 0.5
Detail Factor: 2.2
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PreGamma: 0.48
"Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky."
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
* will catch up with ur beautiful pics...stayed up really late just 2 view the quadrantids meteorite shower.....so i'll post & fly 4 now....later dearhearts!
^i^
First printing resin giraffe, and makeup during the first realization BJD create handmade by jesliedolls: jesliedolls.weebly.com/
So, I'm sitting at a table outside the coffee house, and this gal comes and sits at the other side. Her boyfriend is sitting at another table, and she's telling him how stupid he is - she's really pissed. All the while I'm sitting there with electronic shutter going. Finally, she catches on (after 200-300 frames). :-)
X-T2 & the excellent Fujinon 18-55!
It's a strange realization, how white a white home isn't in the winter. With the contrast of snow, every bit of yellowed wear and bare wood beneath shows through. It's such an unlikely beauty, the utter lack of purity, the pretty improbability. There's a misery overhanging, a looming blueprint to the blues, like a meandering story no one thought to edit. You can always make a new addition, but should you? Someone has to say too much, build too far, overdo it. How would you know the difference if everyone was restrained? I think of this structure like a Tower of Babel, someone went overboard between here and Noah's Ark. It's all just fables now, dereliction and dilapidation, slowly slipping to the place called beyond repair. Don't stare too long, you just might turn to rot.