View allAll Photos Tagged Realizations
Hindu Salvation is known as SELF REALIZATION ....meaning realizing one is indeed the immortal soul (Atman ) within the body and relinguishing the false belief that one is the perishable material body.
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What is Hindu Salvation?
Hindu Salvation is the process by which a person realizes that he/she is NOT the perishable body but the Atman-the immortal soul within.
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That is the reason why Hindu Salvation is known as Self Realization or Moksha (means emancipation, liberation or release from the cycles of birth, death and rebirth). realizing one is indeed the Atman (the immortal soul within the body) and giving up the false belief that one is the perishable body.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state Salvation is for all.
How can one achieve Salvation ?
Through one of the four paths
1 ----Jnana Yoga –path of knowledge
2---Karma Yoga -- path of selfless actions.
3 ---Bhakti Yoga -- Path of Devotion
4 – Raja Yoga – path of breath control and Pranayama.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state Salvation is for all.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state
Salvation is for the BEST among us as well as for the WORST among us.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state
You don't have to be a Hindu to attain Salvation.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state
Nobody irrespective of someone is Hindu or not is not denied SALVATION.
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Unlike scriptures of other religions, Hindu scriptures state
There is no such thing someone will rot in hell for eternity in Hinduism.
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Am I A Hindu? is an international Best Seller about Hindu Culture. It is a very lively discussion between a 14 year old American born Indian teenager and his middle aged father about every aspect of Hinduism in very simple question and answer format in 90 chapters. Highly recommended for all libraries by LIBRARY JOURNAL and BOOKLIST magazines in USA….This book is used in many universities in USA and Canada in their world religion classes.
www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&A...
www.amazon.com/Am-Hindu-The-Hinduism-Primer/dp/1879904063...
A sad realization has come to me over the last few months, with NS starting to pull the 9400 and 9500 series Dash 9's out of service for conversion to AC44C6M's, it's only a matter of time before the thoroughbred painted Dash 9's (without the white stripe on the roof) will be nothing but a memory. I'm starting to now go out of my way to shoot these things, most of them well worn with parts of their paint melted, filthy and rusty. But it provides a look back to NS' better days, before all of the PSR and corporate shenanigans took place within the last few years.
With that being said, here we see thoroughbred Dash 9 #9709 heading east by Millbury with intermodal train 264 (formerly 22K) in tow.
10/53 Realization
Today I finally surfed again, paddled out to Rockaway beach, 51 degree water, winds offshore, 3-4ft waves and it just hit me, Happiness. My heart is so full. I realize that it doesn't take much to be happy, serving Jah, a Board and some waves:) so forget about that girl and Gaining her affections, forget about what those people think of your decisions and the ways you want to go with your life, forget about what people say, Forget about what you don't have right now, forget about your problems that you cant solve right this instant, and be happy. We have a long way to go in this life, so why not walk the road happy, Jah will bless you with that special someone, you will stick to Jehovah and live the life that makes you happy, not anyone else, you will have what you need and more, and those problems will be solved when that day comes. i know that this moment of clarity might become clouded in time again so thats why i write this to remember and to help me realize this again when i need it. All this will require work, but being Happy is worth it.
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reasons for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality." - Albert Einstein
My entry for the www.diyphotography.net/bag-o-goodies-assignment-sports.
This young lad had what should have been a calk-walk, the closest opposing player was #24 (green & white jersey) some 30 ft away and open field behind him to the end-zone. The ball arching beautifully through the evening sky into this young man's hands, or so we all thought.
I still recall Coach Pyne's calm, but sardonic tone echoing across the field "We catch the ball with our hands...remember?".
Strobist how-to / setup / lighting info:
No on or off-camera flash used, this is standard community college football field stadium lighting (read: awful!). Using a Canon 1D Mk III with EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM (fast lens), cranked up to ISO 3200 aperture wide-open I was lucky to squeeze out a half decent image at 1/400th sec.
-Rolleiflex Automat 6x6 - Model K4B
-Agfa APX 100
-Gelatin silver lith print 16"x20" ©2000
-Kentmere Fineprint VC F.G. Warmtone Matte
I just created a blog. Why? Well because I have decided to pick up my cross and take up a challenge for me to take a verse of the bible every week ponder upon it and then make a design for it. Yes wish me luck no there is no such thing but there is God. Also I have no real knowledge of how to use Illustrator so I will try my best! Enjoy
Canon EOS Rebel X 35mm
Kodak BW400CN Film
His mouth was frozen open in a silent scream of horror as he realized that was the last breath he would ever take...
In the early 1950s, air forces around the world came to the realization that it made little sense to train pilots on older piston-engined trainers, then expect them to go from those aircraft to high-performance jets without a high accident rate. Most nations with an aviation industry then embarked on designing jet trainers and a training syllabus entirely with jets.
For the Soviet Union, it would not only need a jet trainer, it would need thousands of them, to equip not only its own air force, but those of the Warsaw Pact and client states. The Khrushchev regime learned that two of the Pact nations were working on their own trainers--Aero of Czechoslovakia was designing the L-29 Delfin (Dolphin), while PZL of Poland was working on the TS-11 Iskra (Spark). Surprisingly for the Soviet Union, it issued a requirement for the jet trainer and opened it up to a competition between the two aircraft.
Aero's L-29 was designed to be everything a trainer should be: easy to fly, easy to maintain, forgiving of mistakes, and capable of simple aerobatics. As Soviet doctrine called for aircraft capable of operating from austere airstrips, the L-29 was given a strengthened landing gear, and for either weapons training or in emergencies, could be equipped with four underwing hardpoints for bombs, rockets or gunpods. It was not particularly fast and considered underpowered, but that was less important in a trainer.
The L-29 would first fly in 1959, and went up against the TS-11 in 1961. To the surprise of many, considering the TS-11 was faster, the L-29 was declared the winner. Suspecting politics and wishing to keep some independence, the Polish Air Force would never use the Delfin, and would make the Iskra its primary jet trainer. For the rest of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union, the L-29 would go into production. NATO would give it the reporting name of Maya.
Some 27 nations would eventually fly L-29s, as trainers, but occasionally in combat as well: Egyptian L-29s were pressed into service during the 1973 Yom Kippur (October) War as ground attack aircraft, and they were also used in the Biafran War of 1967-1970 and the First Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1988-1994 between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In these cases, the Delfin did not do well, but it was never intended to fight against modern air defenses. Saddam Hussein reportedly converted a number of his L-29s to drones, intended to carry poison gas towards Coalition forces in 2003, though they never flew.
While the L-29 was adequate, as aircraft got faster and more manueverable, the Delfin was becoming obsolete. In response, Aero designed the L-39 Albatros, a more advanced trainer, and L-29 production ended in 1974 after 3665 had been produced. Though most L-29 users replaced it with the L-39, some continued with the Delfin, and Angola and Georgia would use it as late as 2016. After the end of the Cold War, many Delfins became available on the open market, and while not as common as its Western equivalent--the T-33 Shooting Star--or its successor the L-39, L-29s are found in small numbers in the warbird community, and a few have raced in the Reno Air Races.
Both of these L-29s belong to the Prop and Jet Museum at Hemet-Ryan Field, California. Both are former Czech Air Force examples, sold off after the Cold War to private American collectors, and were acquired by the museum around 2013. Both are still listed as flyable.
Arsenal (Vienna)
The Vienna Arsenal, object 1
(Pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
The Arsenal in Vienna is a former military complex in the southeast of the city, located in the 3rd district of Vienna. The mighty, consisting of several brick buildings facility is located on a rectangular plan on a hill south of the Country Road Belt (Landstraßer Gürtel).
Meaning
The Arsenal is the most important secular assembly of Romantic Historicism in Vienna and was conducted in Italian-Medieval and Byzantine-Moorish forms. Essentially the complex is preserved in its original forms; only the former workshop buildings within the bounding, from the the outside visible wings were replaced by new constructions.
History to 1945
Bird's eye view of the complex, arsenal, lithography Alexander Kaiser, 1855
Vienna Arsenal (Museum of Military History)
Arsenal, with HGM (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) from the East
The complex, with a total of 31 "objects" (buildings) was built from 1849 to 1856 on the occasion of the March Revolution of 1848 and was the first building of the fortress triangle, replacing the old Vienna's city walls, with the Rossauer Barracks and the now-defunct Franz Joseph barracks at Stubenring. These buildings should not serve to deter foreign enemies from the city, but to secure state power in the event of revolutionary upheavals in Vienna. The decision to build the Arsenal, it came from the 19-year-old Emperor Franz Joseph I who on 2 December 1848 had come to the throne.
The design for the Imperial Artillery Arsenal came from General Artillery Director Vincenz Freiherr von Augustin, to which, subsequently, the site management had been transferred. Under his leadership, the buildings under assignment of sectors have been planned of the architects Carl Roesner, Antonius Pius de Riegel, August Sicard von Sicardsburg, Eduard van der Nüll, Theophil von Hansen and Ludwig Förster and built by the company of the architect Leopold Mayr.
From 1853 to 1856, Arsenal church was built by the architect Carl Roesner. The K.K. Court Weapon Museum, later K.K. Army Museum, now Museum of Military History, housed in a separate representative free-standing wing, was completed structurally in 1856, but was only in 1869 for the first time accessible.
For the construction of the Arsenal 177 million bricks were used. Construction costs totaled $ 8.5 million guilders. In the following years, there have been extensions. During the two world wars, the complex served as a weapons factory and arsenal, especially as barracks.
The record number of employees in Arsenal was reached in the First World War, with around 20,000 staffers. After 1918, the military-industrial operation with own steel mill was transformed into a public service institution with the name "Austrian Factories Arsenal". However, there were almost insoluble conversion problems in the transition to peacetime production, the product range was too great and the mismanagement considerable. The number of employees declined steadily, and the company became one of the great economic scandals of the First Republic.
By the fall of 1938, the area belonged to the 10th District Favoriten. However, as was established during the "Third Reich" the Reich District of Greater Vienna, became the arsenal complex and the south-east of it lying areas in the wake of district boundary changes parts of the 3rd District.
During the Second World War, in the Arsenal tank repair workshops of the Waffen-SS were set up. In the last two years of the war several buildings were severely damaged by bombing. During the Battle of Vienna, in the days of 7 to 9 April 1945, was the arsenal, defended by the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf", focus of the fighting, the Red Army before its victory facing heavy losses.
History since 1945
Ruins of the object 15 after the air raids 1944
Deposits at the Arsenal Street
After heavy bomb damages during the Second World War, the buildings of the Arsenal were largely restored to their original forms.
In the southern part and in the former courtyard of the arsenal several new buildings were added, among them 1959-1963 the decoration workshops of the Federal Theatre designed by the architects Erich Boltenstern and Robert Weinlich. From 1961 to 1963, the telecommunications central office was built by the architect Fritz Pfeffer. From 1973 to 1975 were built operation and office building of the Post and Telephone Head Office for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (now Technology Centre Arsenal of Telekom Austria) with the 150-meter high radio tower in Vienna Arsenal according to the plans of architect Kurt Eckel. In the 1990s, a rehearsal stage of the Castle Theater (Burgtheater) was built according to plans by Gustav Peichl.
Also the Austrian Research and Testing Centre Arsenal, now Arsenal Research, which has made itself wordwide a celebrity by one of the largest air chambers (now moved to Floridsdorf - 21st District), was housed in the complex. A smaller part of the complex is still used by the Austrian army as a barracks. Furthermore, the Central Institute for Disinfection of the City of Vienna and the Central Chemical Laboratory of the Federal Monuments Office are housed in the arsenal. The Military History Museum uses multiple objects as depots.
In one part of the area residential buildings were erected. The Arsenal is forming an own, two census tracts encompassing census district, which according to the census in 2001 had 2.058 inhabitants.
End of 2003, the arsenal in connection with other properties of the Federal Property Society (BIG - Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft) was sold to a private investor group. Since early 2006, the lawyer of Baden (Lower Austria, not far away from Vienna) Rudolf Fries and industrialist Walter Scherb are majority owners of the 72,000 m2 historic site that they want to refurbish and according to possibility rent new. Fries also plans to enlarge the existing living space by more than a half (about 40,000 m2).
An architectural design competition, whose jury on 28 and 29 in June 2007 met, provided proposals amounting to substantial structural changes in the complex. Such designed competition winner Hohensinn a futuristic clouds clip modeled after El Lissitzky's cloud bracket, a multi-level horizontal structure on slender stilts over the old stock on the outskirts of the Swiss Garden. The realization of these plans is considered unlikely.
Some objects are since 2013 adapted for use by the Technical University of Vienna: Object 227, the so-called "Panzerhalle" will house laboratories of the Institute for Powertrains and Automotive Technology. In object 221, the "Siemens hall", laboratories of the Institute for Energy Technology and Thermodynamics as well as of the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and High Power Laser Technology are built. In object 214 is besides the Technical Testing and Research Institute (TVFA) also the second expansion stage of the "Vienna Scientific Cluster" housed, of a supercomputer, which was built jointly by the Vienna University of Technology, the University of Vienna and the University of Agricultural Sciences.
Accessibility
The arsenal was historically especially over the Landstraßer Gürtel developed. Today passes southeast in the immediate proximity the Südosttangente called motorway A23 with it connection Gürtel/Landstraßer Hauptstrasse. Southwest of the site runs the Eastern Railway, the new Vienna Central Station closes to the west of the arsenal. Two new bridges over the Eastern Railway, the Arsenal Stay Bridge and the Southern Railway bridge and an underpass as part of Ghegastraße and Alfred- Adler-Straße establish a connection to the on the other side of the railway facilities located Sonnwendviertel in the 10th District, which is being built on the former site of the freight train station Vienna South Station.
On the center side is between Arsenal and Landstraßer Gürtel the former Maria Josefa Park located, now known as Swiss Garden. Here stands at the Arsenal street the 21er Haus, a branch of the Austrian Gallery Belvedere, on the center-side edge of the Swiss Garden has the busy suburban main railway route the stop Vienna Quartier Belvedere, next to it the Wiener Linien D (tram) and 69A (bus) run.
Sometimes all you need is a walk in the woods. There is not much it can't fix! There is an energy in nature that is all to often missing in modern society. It is a primordial need that we should feed. Spending time in nature regularly needs to become a bigger focus of our society.
I've been to this location twice before, so I knew exactly what to expect (?). I knew it was a very tight canyon, so a long lens whould be useless. I only brought a 24-120 zoom and a 10-20 zoom, and I fully expected to do 90% of my images with the wide angle zoom. Imagine my surprise when I encountered this fellow. After a few images, I came to the realization that a 10-20 zoom is not an ideal bird lens. So most images are at 120mm.
After encountering this bird, I very slowly advanced towards him, not wanting to freak him out. However, each time I took steps forward, so did he. For a period of about 25 minutes we continued upstream, maintaining a constant distance between us. There were small fish and tadpoles in the stream, and he was constantly fishing and enjoying a snack as he continued upstream.
Whenever we came to a deeper pool, he would just fly over it. I, on the other hand, being genetically disadvantaged do not possess the gift of flight, so I had to wade across the pools. The deepest of the pools were at mid chest level on me (and I'm not a short person). I had to pack away my camera into the pack before each of these pools, so I would have my hands free to balance myself against the walls. Occasionally, the pack was a few inches below the waterline, but the camera never got wet.
He eventually turned around, and flew back downstream, right over my head. Unfortunately the camera was in the pack, while I was climbing up a small waterfall, so no photos of that - dang!
A totally waterproof pack and a 70-200 2.8 VR are now on the wishlist.
I finally made it out to downtown Ishinomaki with a friend on April 3rd, 2011. Although we made it out quite late, we were able to help a little by distributing water and food to a few people. Although downtown Ishinomaki was hit very hard by the tsunami, it was very uplifting to see the progress that had already been made. Military supply camps, squads of police, and groups of volunteers were all working tirelessly in restoration. The downtown area seemed to be getting far more attention than any of the other areas I've visited, but rightfully so, since it has a far higher population density.
Despite the incredible progress that had been made, there is clearly still a lot to do. The chorus of destroyed boats, cars, and houses again echoed throughout the town. Oil-logged muck permeated through the hills of debris and toxic smells wafted through the air, but people managed to keep their spirits up regardless.
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The most somber part of the day for me, was after we left the downtown area and made our way up to Hiyoriyama park. I would sometimes come up to Hiyoriyama to view the cherry blossoms, watch the sunrise, or relax after archery. Every time I went up to the park, I was stunned by the natural beauty and panoramic view of this sprawling city creeping to edge of the ocean. This time, however, I felt as though I was punched in the gut with the starkest realization of utter destruction that I had experienced until this point. The once beautiful view of a thriving city reaching out into the ocean, was replaced with the surreal image of toppled homes and bare foundations. A handful of cars weaving through nearly impassable roads created the only movement in what could easily be confused with a garbage dump or wasteland.
I know that eventually the area will be restored, but it will take a lot of work and time to heal the wounds. If you would like to donate to Red Cross Japan, please visit their website here:
www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html
Also, I have decided to donate all of the profits from any of the pictures sold on my website until at least March 11, 2012.
carstenknoche.com/march-25-2011-japan-earthquake-disaster/
Lastly, you can read more stories and see more pictures from a variety of different people by purchasing Quakebook. All revenue from the book will also be donated to Red Cross Japan. Here is their website:
Thank you for facing this tragedy with us.
Carsten Knoche
A beautiful, joyous place. Be sure to see for yourself if you have the opportunity.
www.yelp.com/biz/self-realization-fellowship-hermitage-an...
realization of the day: removing the battery alone doesn't make it safe to open hardware. capacitors are evil.
Geomag realization of a large Stewart Toroid. This one is inspired by the Drilled Truncated Dodecahedron, but widened by bands of squares (and other polygons). The original Drilled Truncated Dodecahedron has pairs of triangular faces that have a too-small-for-geomag angle between them. This model inserts a square between them so that the geomags can handle it.. This model probably has an official name somewhere, probably by Stewart, but I don't have his (hard-to-find) book and can't find it online.
The white triple triangles (plus three surrounding metallic blue rods) are supposed to be hexagons, but I don't like to use the rhombic geomag panels to make hexagons -- they end up too floppy and fragile. I ended up leaving them unpanelled, leaving places that are easy to open up to view the true interior of this Toroid.
* The outer shell of this Toroid is a Truncated Icosidodecahedron with Pentagonal Cupolae Excavations, with central Pentagonal Holes.
* The inner shell of this Toroid is a Small Rhombicosidodecahedron with Pentagonal Holes.
* The twelve holes connecting the inner shell and outer shell of this Toroid are Pentagonal Antiprisms with missing Pentagons.
* For comparison, the original Toroid that inspired me to build this one is the Drilled Truncated Dodecahedron, which has a Truncated Dodecahedron (with Pentagonal Cupolae Excavations with central Pentagon Holes) for an outer shell; a Dodecahedron inner shell (missing all pentagons); connected by the same Pentagonal Antiprisms (missing the pentagons).
* Thanks for the inspiration to explore the Drilled Truncated Dodecahedron are given to Karl Horton.
Harpa color series. The Iceland landscape was phenomenal, but I continued to be fascinated by the Harpa, which is the performing arts center. The architecture is stunning and inspired a burst of creativity.
---- looking for Lady Florence .... ----
The mausoleum of Lady Florence Trevelyan: this is the bust on which the mold was made for the realization of the bronze bust which is located in the public garden of Taormina.
Mrs. Maria, nice and very kind person, is the owner and affectionate guardian of the mausoleum where lie the mortal remains of Lady Florence (location "Francisi" Castelmola). (Originally the tomb of Florence was about 50-100 meters from here, looking like a tomb from the Roman era, then partly collapsed, perhaps following the terrible earthquake of Messina in 1908 ).
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Il mausoleo di Lady Florence Trevelyan: questo è il busto sul quale venne realizzato il calco per la realizzazione del busto i bronzo che si trova nel giardino pubblico di Taormina.
La signora Maria, persona squisita e gentilissima, è la proprietaria e custode affezionatissima del mausoleo dove giacciono le spoglie mortali di Lady Florence (località "Francisi", Castelmola). (Originariamente la tomba di Florence si trovava a circa 50-100 metri da qui, assomigliante ad una tomba di epoca romana, come se ne trovano diverse nei dintorni di Taormina, successivamente in parte crollò, forse in seguito al terribile terremoto di Messina del 1908).
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This is a short and long collection of photographs, almost all made in Taormina (Sicily), and is divided into two parts: the first part I have included a few pictures, I put a few moments I catched in the alleys of the small Sicilian town, in the second part (the first to appear on Flickr) in which I tried to rebuild and at the same time to remember the singular feminine figure of Lady Florence Trevelyan, an English noblewoman, lover of art, botany, ornithology, travels, the arts magical and esoteric; she loved animals, but actively helped a lot of people; Taormina is to her that owes much of its luck; this Lady, hosting famous people of the time, contributed not a little to make known the beauty of this village Siculo to the whole world (and she improved and embellished much Taormina).
Lady Florence was born in Hallington On February 7, 1852, but soon became an orphan at the age of two years (his father committed suicide in 1854); his mother Catherine Anne was the maid of honor of Queen Victoria: the Queen which became attached enormously to Florence, and the Queen loved her like a true daughter. Florence at age 27, in 1879 was forced to leave everything to face a long journey lasting more than two years (Lady Florence fell prey to the notorius charms of the future Edward VII, who was already married; this sort of thing never went over well with Victoria, so Florence was asked to leave England). Lady Florence returned to his homeland for a short period, to be again driven out for an exiled perennial: She never returned to England (though, a generous monthly annuity was given hers on the orders of the Queen Victoria). Florence traveled widely, reached India, went to Burma, arrived in Australia she performed as a singer, and then finally arrive in February 1884 in Taormina: here you will stay until the end of his life (she died October 4, 1907 ). At Taormina she met the then mayor, the rich prof. Salvatore Cacciola, doctor, passionate student and Grand Master of Freemasonry: it is said that Lady Florence fell in love when she sought his help to cure "Sun", one of his dogs; from here to their wedding was a short step.
Lady florence bought several lots of land, created the current Public Garden of Taormina, planted olive trees, cypresses, exotic trees, and built those features buildings in oriental style; She bought by the former mayor the "Isola Bella" (She built an house and She planted trees and exotic plants, Mediterranean pines, as well as the inevitable cypress); She bought many arid and barren lands around Taormina (Mount Venus, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) and they become rich in vegetation, with many farmers she had taught the art of the English garden. Many people went knocking to her door, in financial difficulties, usually farmers and fishermen (also Oscar Wilde, disgraced by charges of homosexuality, received financial aid from Lady Florence), She made a major sewing school for young girls of Taormina, and instituted for their 87 wedding dowries. Fate was once again mocking her: the only child she had named Edward, died in childbirth. It was in use at the time, bathing in bathtubs filled with cold water of the sea (even the photographer Von Gloeden was addicted to this habit), but this proved fatal, Lady Florence died of pneumonia at the age of 55. For her express wish, She was buried in a district of Castelmola (accompanied by large numbers of Sicilian people, it tells of an endless line, to the sound of "ciaramelle", which reminded her bagpipes of her distant Scotland), district called "Francisi" in her memory (this term according to a medieval custom). In her will, Lady Florence forced heirs not to hunt in his vast possessions, not to build, and to accept and to help dogs and birds. Lady Florence was the first woman (not only in Sicily) to be allowed to be part of Freemasonry.
The writer Guido Gozzano, was inspired by Lady Florence, when he wrote the novel "Alcina".
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Questa è una raccolta di fotografie breve e lunga, quasi tutte realizzate a Taormina (Sicilia), raccolta che ho diviso in due parti: nella prima parte ho inserito alcuni ritratti, ho messo alcuni momenti colti nei vicoli del piccolo paese Siciliano, nella seconda parte (la prima ad apparire su Flickr) ho tentato di ricostruire, ed al contempo ricordare, la singolarissima figura di Lady Florence Trevelyan, una nobildonna Inglese amante dell'arte, della botanica, della ornitologia, dei viaggi, delle arti magiche ed esoteriche; lei, che fu una convinta animalista ante litteram, non si limitò ad amare solo gli animali, ma aiutò fattivamente persone di ogni ceto sociale, ebbe ricchezze ma al tempo stesso pagò prezzi altissimi in sofferenza e dolore: Taormina deve a lei molta della sua fortuna, poichè questa Lady, ospitando nei suoi possedimenti illustri e famosi personaggi dell'epoca, contribuì non poco a far conoscere al mondo intero le bellezze di questo paesino Siculo (ella stessa migliorò ed abbellì ancor più Taormina).
Lady Florence nacque in quel di Hallington il 7 febbraio del 1852, divenne ben presto orfana all'età di due anni ( il padre morì suicida nel 1854); sua mamma Catherine Anne era la dama di compagnia della regina Vittoria, la quale regina si affezionò enormemente a Florence, sì da amarla come una vera figlia. All'età di 27 anni, nel 1879 venne imposto a Florence di lasciare l'Inghilterra per affrontare un lungo viaggio, che sarà della durata di più di due anni (si ipotizza per farle dimenticare una relazione che non sarebbe mai dovuta accadere, col figlio della regina Vittoria, il futuro re Edoardo VII, che a quel tempo era già sposato; sembra che non sia stata affatto la gelosia della moglie di Edoardo, bensì la rigidità della madre Vittoria a decretarne l'esilio). Lady Florence dopo questo primo viaggio ritornò nella sua Inghilterra, ma vi restò ben poco, infatti dopo un brevissimo periodo Lady Florence venne nuovamente allontanata in esilio, e questa volta lo sarà per sempre: Florence non ritornerà mai più nella sua Inghilterra (un generoso vitalizio mensile le fu dato comunque su ordine della stessa Regina Vittoria, ovvio che ciò le fu indispensabile, essendo così lontana da casa). Florence viaggiò molto, raggiunse l'India, andò in Birmania, giunta in Australia si esibì come cantante, per poi infine giungere nel febbraio del 1884 a Taormina: qui vi resterà fino all'ultimo dei suoi giorni (lei morirà il 4 ottobre 1907). A Taormina ebbe modo di conoscere l'allora sindaco, il ricco prof. Salvatore Cacciola, medico, appassionato studioso e Gran Maestro della Massoneria: si racconta che Lady Florence se ne innamorò quando lei cercò l'aiuto del medico per curare "Sole", uno dei suoi cani; da qui al loro matrimonio, il passo fu breve.
Lady florence acquistò numerosi lotti di terreno, realizzò l'attuale Giardino Pubblico, vi piantò ulivi, cipressi, alberi esotici, costruì quelle caratteristiche costruzioni in stile birmano-orientale; acquistò dall'ex sindaco L'Isola Bella (vi costruì una casetta, e l'Isola, che altro non era che un ammasso brullo di scogli, divenne rigogliosa come la vediamo oggi, vi piantò alberi e piante esotiche, pini mediterranei, nonchè gli immancabili cipressi, così presenti in quasi tutta la cittadina); acquistò numerosi terreni intorno a Taormina (Monte Venere, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) sicchè da aridi e brulli che erano, li fece diventare ricchi di vegetazione (infatti aveva al soldo numerosi contadini ai quali aveva insegnato l'arte del giardino all'Inglese). Alla sua porta andarono a bussare numerose persone in difficoltà economiche, in genere contadini e pescatori, mai fu chiusa loro la porta... (anche Oscar Wilde, caduto in disgrazia per l'accusa di omosessualità , ricevette un aiuto finanziario dalla Lady); realizzò una importante scuola di cucito per le giovanette di Taormina, dando loro la possibilità di potersi mantenere da sole; istituì 87 doti di matrimonio per le ragazze Taorminesi (all'epoca una ragazza senza dote non aveva molte possibilità di formarsi una famiglia). Il destino infine fu ancora una volta beffardo con lei: l'unico figlio che lei ebbe, di nome Edoardo, morì durante il parto, il padre era un medico, tentò di rianimarlo, ma non ci fu nulla da fare. Era in uso all'epoca, fare bagni nelle vasche da bagno ricolme di acqua gelata di mare (anche il fotografo Von Gloeden era dedito a tale usanza, ma lui usava immergersi in acqua di mare calda, riuscendo a trovare in questa forma di talassoterapia una cura per la tisi, della quale era affetto): questa usanza fu fatale a Lady Florence, che morì di broncopolmonite a 55 anni di età . Per suo esplicito desiderio, la Trevelyan fu seppellita in una contrada di Castelmola (accompagnata da tantissima gente del luogo, si racconta di una fila interminabile di persone, al suono delle zampogne, che le ricordavano le cornamuse della sua lontana Scozia); la contrada dove fu seppellita (in quella la Lady aveva un'altra dimora), fu chiamata "Francisi" in sua memoria (tale termine indicava, secondo una usanza medioevale, una generica provenienza straniera, qualinque essa fosse). Nel suo testamento Lady Florence obbligò gli eredi a non cacciare nei suoi vasti possedimenti, a non costruire, ad accogliere e curare cani ed uccellini. Lady Florence fu la prima donna ad essere ammessa a fare parte della massoneria. Importò in Sicilia les tableaux vivants (i quadri viventi) e anche le sfilate dei carri in fiori a Palermo. Lo scrittore Guido Gozzano scrisse il romanzo "Alcina" ispirandosi a Lei.
Changing.
Coming to terms with the realization that I'm not as perky as I perceive that I am...physically anyway. Sometimes I'll see a reflection of a tired looking woman when we're walking around the mall or in the village and then I have to take a stunned moment to realize she's me. Even without the less than perfect reflection I sense the shift: tight pants, lack of feet when gazing downward, chin not resting quite so flush on my chest when I droop my head, less elasticity in my skin. And then there's my abdomen, or as author Anne Lamott calls it, the sub-continent. Sheesh! what's up with that. (Nevermind that I love candy and late night bowls of cereal...)
I want to embrace aging, and do so gracefully as the old adage goes, but I'm having a bit of a hard time. I've always been a feisty one so this shouldn't be so shocking. I keep hearing the lines from 'Mr Jones and Me' (Counting Crows), "Wishin' I was someone just a little more funky... when everybody'd love me..."(sic-I'm sure I'm off- misquoting lyrics is a gift of mine :) I still feel funky, as in eclectic and cool, but man, I don't look it most days.
So anyway-all this to say I'm learning to readjust my view of who I am to accomodate the "more ample and character lined" me. I'm hoping this project will help me in doing so by making me comfortable enough in my skin so that I don't forget to let the light that dwells within out. Great grace has been given to me and I need to be more gracious to Him who has bestowed it. I can begin by not belittling the physical part of this creation that makes me, well...me.
Let the journey begin...
Museu Blau, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Spain
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron, project 2009-2010, realization 2010-2012
Relocating the Museum of Natural Sciences into the Forum Barcelona building signals the beginning of a new life cycle for both institutions: one where each mutually benefits from the space, program and potential of the other. With its large exterior and interior spaces and its reference to natural processes and shapes, the architecture of the Forum is a particularly appropriate new home for the relocated Museum. And the Museum of Natural Science promises to energetically revitalise the existing building, replacing vacant space with intense new public activities.
The open public space that marks the approach from the Diagonal and extends under the triangular body of the building is now diversified and activated, engaging with the life of the city. The corner addressing the city centre retains its function as the main public approach. This is enhanced by the three existing pavilions which are reconfigured to provide meeting places for groups and general information along the approach to the museum entrance. The second corner, further along the Diagonal is enlivened with lush external planting and the basin under the water patio. And finally, the corner addressing the sea is activated by a new exterior dining area for students and groups, adjacent to a bar which opens onto the plaza. The interior of the elevated triangular building, which is like a vast interior landscape, structured by patios, creates a specific space well suited to an exhibition of Natural science and to the Museum’s demand for growth and need to display more of its outstanding collection.
Architecture and Museography
The core of the Museum is its permanent exhibition. This consists of an outstanding collection of rocks and minerals, taxidermy, microbes, plants and herbariums, meteorites, scientific drawings, diagrams, fossils and skeletons, sounds and dioramas, gathered together over centuries in Barcelona. The exhibition consists of elements from the permanent collection structured around the concept of Gaia – the idea of a living planet which forms and is, in turn, transformed by life.
This exhibition arrangement follows the logic of the existing space and at the same time radically transforms it. It frees the visitor to explore any number of individual routes while still ensuring an overall logical sequence. It also extends into the museum lobby, where the main stair and the dramatically hung whale skeleton forms the central arrival and departure point for all public programs, including shop, restaurant, media library, classrooms, event spaces and temporary exhibition, as well as administration and support areas. The lobby extends down to the plaza connecting to the large covered public space of the Museu Blau, allowing for the visitor to invigorate the rapidly developing area where the Diagonal reaches the sea.
We set out to do a two hour hike to a small, secluded beach in the hard to reach Cala Tuent. There we wanted to swim a bit, then head back the way we came. Two hours in, and after a 200 meter drop, we realized we had badly miscalculated, though the full extent was still unknown to us. A signpost around here said "Cala Tuent 2,5 hours". We laughed.
about a year and a half after he first did this - created a play-doh interpretation of a transformers robot, the constructicon devestator. except this time around it has a lot more detail.
copyright © 2011 sean dreilinger
view play-doh re-realization of decepticon constructicon devastator - MG 0911 JPG on a black background.