This morning I took the day off from work. Yahoo! Normal people would sleep in, but being that I like to take pictures of stuff, the best time to do that is either at sunrise or sunset. Today I picked sunrise and my subject was the Pennybacker Bridge in Austin. My reasoning for the morning shot was that most people who shoot the bridge do so in the evening. I thought if I did it in the morning I would get a whole new aspect of it that most don't usually get. I thought I would get the orange glow to the left of the bridge instead of the right during sunset that you see mostly in photos of this lovely bridge. Well, it turned out that I was right in that regard. As well as the light, I was able to get a different look. This morning there was fog all over the bridge so a new aspect was in the making. However, the fog really hid the bridge. I thought I had to pack it in and try another time. But, just as the morning light was getting to that perfect time we call the "golden hour", the fog lifted over the near side of the bridge and I was able to fire off a few brackets before the fog socked it in again. I probably didn't get the best angle for it, but I'm happy with it for the most part.

My blog.

My HDR work-flow.

My gallery.

Inside the Eiffel Tower, with a pinhole, at sunset. There are not too many other places I would care to be. Well.... ok, in a sense there are lots of places I would like to be with a pinhole at sunset, but at the same time, I would be more than content standing right here again looking up and around and marveling at it all. Moments like this were not made for logical reasoning, they were made for the heart to feel and experience them. And sometimes you just have to give in to slack-jawed awe.

La via del cuore è inspiegabile

percorre strade alternative alla nostra ragione

e pur sapendo che sono strette e vicoli ciechi

ci passeggiamo con gioia

consapevoli delle sofferenze che ci arreca .

Un‘altra tacca nell‘anima segna una storia vissuta

I vecchi dopo una lunga vita di gioie e di affanni possono finalmente vedere la realtà della vita, così come è, non esiste più l'inganno della giovinezza ed il falso miraggio dell'immortalità, tutto passa e scorre come le acque del fiume che ormai non possono più seguire se non con gli occhi....

It is impossible to explain the way to the heart

it leads on different ways to our reasoning

and even knowing that they are narrows and close up end

we walk trough them with joy

knowing of the sufferings that it will give us.

Another badge to the soul so to sigh a lived story

Elders, after a long life lived with joy and sorrow, they can finally

see the reality of life, as it is, it does not exist any more cheating of

youth and false mirage of immortality, everything is passing and fade away as the river's waters which only by their eyes will follow

♫ Meeting Ambiece ♫

Previously in Chapter 8: A Convenient Encounter

Lexington peered at the man as he sauntered across the stone floor. He wore an exquisite dark blue wool jacket and a bright powder blue silk vest that shimmered under the candle's glow. Gold filigree adorned the jacket's lapels and along with his fine leather riding boots there was no doubt he was royalty. The man wore his hair long, which was not uncommon for this part of the world and it gleamed black, like a raven's wing. By all accounts Count Pierre Léon Chastain was a handsome man, even striking. And Prince Lexington Jelani detested him.

Ordinarily it wasn't in his nature to hate someone so vehemently. His loss of control troubled him and Lexington had pondered on the matter over the past few days. He didn't trust the Count and why should he? He was a Lycan but then again Lexington had always harbored a certain amount of pity for the werewolf.

So what was it that made him so furious that his hands drew up in a fist when the Count came near?

Truthfully, if he were honest with himself, Lexington knew the real reason he hated this man. It was jealousy and it was obvious to him. These last few days he'd watched his Mistress become more familiar with this man. Her face would light up when the Count walked into the room. She'd laugh and place her hand on his arm when he'd spin one of his ridiculous yarns. And then there were the evening walks in the gardens of the Count's home.

Watching them now, Lexington lowered his head as Tabitha greeted the Count. To keep them both from noticing any emotion in his expression, Lexington turned slightly away from the scene. The sandstone walls of The Red Castle, as it was so aptly named, crept in around him, and he thought for a moment how different this Persian influenced architecture was from that of his home at Belraak. He closed his eyes, gathering his composure but opened them again when he heard the footsteps coming toward him. Gazing into a dark corner of the room where the light from the candles had not reached, time seemed to stop for a few moments before he turned in time to face the Count.

Lexington smiled politely and nodded to his host as he took his outstretched hand. Once the pleasantries had be exchanged, they took their places around a large table where several maps had already been laid out. Tabitha smiled over to Lexington which was his cue to begin and not being one to waste time he immediately informed his Mistress that that afternoon he'd been able to acquire a ship for the coming journey. He'd also taken the liberty of inviting the vessel's Captain to the meeting so that he might share his own insights concerning their voyage. With that, the massive doors on the dark side of the large room clanked and creaked open. Lexington turned toward the doors, motioning for them to approach and introduced their guest, "Lady Kinkade may I present the Captain of the Sealark."

Two figures walked toward them out of the shadows. The taller man was adorned in an outdated but very beautiful military styled coat. The lapels and cuffs were both covered with worn filigree that wasn't nearly as radiant as the gold on the Count's jacket. He wore a white ruffled shirt, commonly worn by fashionable seafarers and his cavalier boots clanked against the stone floor as he walked toward them. The other man, slightly shorter, wore the traditional coat and pants of a still less than modern day military officer which was perhaps less regal and flamboyant than his counterpart. As they approached, both men bowed and introduced themselves. "Good evening my lady. Captain Ambrose Townshend at your service. And this is my first mate William Swann." Tabitha curtseyed formally and introduced the Count, then without further ado the meeting began.

The crux of the conference was to discuss the route the party would take and the length of the voyage. They had not been on a time table before, however Abaddon Baal had been sighted in the city of Rivne in Little Russia two days ago. No one could guess why, not even Count Chastain, however they did know that Baal's lair was in Russian Turkestan. That meant he was moving northwest, or he may have had business in Rivne. No one could know for certain, but with this news they had a possible fix on his whereabouts. It was Tabitha's fervent plan to pursue the illusive werewolf king before Baal was in a position to dictate a less than favorable confrontation. But first they had a promise to keep, and witch to visit. Thankfully, the gypsy caravan was in Romania near Transylvania which would put them on a direct path to Rivne. This latest intellegence had changed things of course, and now a time schedule was much more imperative.

Lexington stated that he'd read reports that a new canal was about to open that would take them through the Khedivate of Egypt on a direct coarse to the Mediterranean Sea. Captain Townshend agreed, and had it on good authority that, although it was not officially open, the canal was ready, and they would be allowed passage. This possible course would save them more than a couple of weeks, perhaps as much at twenty days at sea. Count Chastain however, disagreed stating that as much as he wanted to find a cure for his and his clan's affliction, as he called it, he felt strongly that the canal would not be ready for passage in time. His feeling was that the route around the Cape of Good Hope was the only clear choice because if they were turned away at the canal, it would cost them even more time at sea. With the loss of what might be several days, the gypsy woman would certainly have moved on, and they would most probably lose Baals trail for several weeks or even months. Captain Townshend nodded to Swann, then turned to the group, adding that he agreed with the Count's assesment.

The men continued to discuss the matter each giving sound reasoning behind their convictions. Tabitha however withdrew from the discussions taking a few minutes to herself to ponder the situation. She had always relied on and trusted Lexington's advice and guidance in times such as these. So out of that trust and confidence her decision was easy to come to. Looking back up at the party she tapped one of the calipers on the table to quiet the men.

"Gentlemen I've heard both sides of this argument and I've come to a decision. I'm quite certain sailing back around the cape along the African coast is the most assured route. However we must consider our chance to cut travel time nearly in half. Also, winter will soon be upon us. As it is already mid August, I believe we must take in consideration the snows as well as the cold in Romania by late October. And so, with your blessing Captain Townshend, and yours Mr. Swann, I propose this route. We shall sail south, back around Sri Lanka, north to the Red Sea, through this Suez Canal of yours Prince Jelani, then across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece and Port of Piraeus." Tabitha put the pointing stick down and looked at them all. Captain Townshend nodded and bowed to Tabitha signaling that he thought well of her presentation. Count Chastain held his chin in thought, then looked over at Tabitha with a polite smile and nodded. Tabitha smiled back at the men then looked over to companion, Prince Jelani before making her last formal declaration. "Friends. We have a long journey ahead of us and I have no doubt a perilous one. I realize we haven't all agreed here this evening, but to be successful I believe we must be of one accord after this night. Do I have your oath?" Each man nodded and bowed and went about shaking each other's hands.

It was time for a drink and refreshments before bed and their host Count Pierre Léon Chastain had already made preparations with his servants. He turned and made a motion toward the dark hallway where a man there stood silently and in a couple of minutes they were all being served.

The conversations among them were of far off lands and differences in their cultures. They spoke of fates and how those fates had brought them together. At one point, Tabitha had laughed more than usual at one of the Counts tall tales of wonder and excitement. Glancing over at them, Lexington again found himself back in that dark place in his mind. This journey, although made shorter by this new and uncharted route, would quite possibly the longest he'd ever taken with his Mistress, and he was not looking forward to it.

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been nearly a year since I've visited this story. As much as I love it too. I'm hoping to get this one going again.

I'm so sorry this chapter is so long. I doubted anyone would read it anyway. But in case you tried I apologize for it's length and the lack of talent. I just love to write. Not everyone is good at it.

I'd like to thank some people who were instrumental in helping me with this shot. In alphabetacle order:

Thank you BOARSNOUT aka Swedish Sausage for coming out on short notice and staying up way past your bed time. Sorry it took so long babes but thanks for hanging in there. I appreciate it!♥

Thank you Mr. Phil Conners for being so kind to me and always being there to help out.♥

Thank you Rananarmo Sèitheach McGregor aka Emanuel Müller for letting us use your wonderful McGregor Castle to take this shot. You've been so kind to me and I appreciate it so much.♥

And to my wonderful friend Morgan Talbot who never refuses me and is always so prepared and amazing. Thank you!♥

Sanquinolency: Book I

*** Before I start my "daily thought" to go along with this photo, I'd like to say this IS NOT a request for all to post their hatred for the US, the President, etc. That is not my reasoning for posting this image. I know there is a lot of things wrong in America right now, but I don't want this to be a bashing opportunity, please? Thank you for your consideration! ***

I went to look at the kind comments my friends leave for me on my photos this morning, and saw one that took me by surprise. It was on one of my photos of me with a black lace veil on my face (which I suppose was a good photo to leave it on, with the contents of the comment actually!). The comment was as follows, leaving the identity of the person secret....

"G.W. BUSH is a war monger -alcoholic USA is a very scary place I'm ashamed of it"

I'll be the FIRST to say that EVERYONE has their personal opinions and can state their opinions without fear. It's their Constitutional right!!!. I respect the comment of the person, only because I can understand that fear. I do have to say that I'm one of the minority that supports the President, and may be looked down on because of that. I don't like name-calling, and know that our involvement oversease is questionable, taking the lives of many men and women in our Armed Force, the reason the AMERICAN Flag flies proudly near my front door. There may be a lot of bad that people see here in the US, but LOOK at all the GOOD!! This country is wonderful, beautiful. Where else can people come in from other countries and get the kind of education funded to go to great colleges and start businesses that make money for their families??? If America is so bad, why do people from other countries come here in droves? Because it is the Land of the Free, Home of the BRAVE. I'm proud to be an American. Proud to live here. Glad that people can come here for better lives, better jobs (or own their own businesses), and better education. I don't particularly care if anyone thinks the President is a "doof" and doesn't make the right decisions. As far as I'm can see, this is his last term, and there will be someone new to take over and see if they can make things better. (Remember, the President isn't the ONLY one that can make the decisions up there.....if you want to dog on him, you might as well list the whole gammet of people that work with him = Democrats and Republicans ALIKE!). There hasn't been a President alive yet that has made ALL the people happy ALL the time. Don't think there ever will be. With that being said.....

This is simply a photo of me, the love I have for my country and all the different people that are here. I say the Pledge of Allegiance with hand over heart, and sing the National Anthem misty-eyed. I'm not embarrased or scared to be here. I'm proud my ancestors came here on the Mayflowe, from Germany and from Ireland during the Potatoe Famine to a country of opportunity. When I was younger I actually talked to a recruiter twice to defend my country - Dad had a say in that one though. His only daughter WAS NOT going to go into the Army, but I think he just remembered Vietnam, and was afraid I'd be going through the same thing someday. I give Veterans Day cards to those I know that served our country, and they look at me with surprised faces, and that's sad they aren't appreciated more than they are. I can wear, drive,say,eat,think,believe, and worship whatever I want here. Just a simple picture of me showing love for my Country. That's all. I know that others think differently, and that's okay. I will always respect your opinions and embrace you for your own beliefs! I'm glad I'm here and happy for the friends I've made. I hope you don't think bad of me???? To coin a phrase from a song from Country Singer Aaron Tippin -

"You got to stand for somethin', or you'll fall for anything"

at a stoplight

I have been considering the merits of uploading this, after all it wasn't a technically demanding shot, but I still like it for its colour, lighting and simplicity of form. So there you have it, that is my reasoning, and to me that is why I like photography.

A regular sight in The Hope Valley used to be the returning BOC Oxygen tank train.

25249 and 40082 pass through Bamford Station with the Broughton Lane to Ditton BOC Sidings. Signalling work in progress and no trees hiding the golf course or the view of Stannage Edge.

The train always seemed to be worked by a class 25 and 40 combination....perhaps someone viewing will be able to explain the reasoning for this.

Parvin.

When she came into my life, some 40 years ago, everything changed for ever. Although thinking was becoming my profession and seemed to be my fate I had, until then, never wasted the faintest thought on something like a steady relationship. And yet, without much transition, without any doubt or fear, we immediately merged and became an entity, something entirely new. Maybe for the first time in my life I had completely abandoned thinking, without the slightest hesitation, abandoned the shining path of reason and followed my heart, which I barely had noticed so far.

Of course, I could never really have known what a wonderful life was lying ahead of us because it was not waiting for us as individuals but for us as something we created the moment we met.

Today I sometimes look back almost in disbelief how this miracle actually happened. But the innate tendency for logical reasoning and analysis of cause and effect has lost its rule over me – in a way she cured me of it, she healed me of this sometimes crippling disease – and I happily sail on, lapping it all up while it lasts.

She was a physicist, a thinker herself, but she is so much more. She came from far away (from Iran) like a force of nature to clear the path for “Us”.

Well this shot was a surprise...as 10 minutes previous I had been having one of my classic "adult tantrums" about how I couldn't think of a photo, and there was "no food in the kitchen". Andy was his usual helpful self and spoke to me with reasoning and logic, and eventually persuaded me that this was a good and feasible shot to do on a Sunday night! And for that I am grateful as always :-D.

Strobist: 580exii soft box 1/2 105mm left. 1/8 24mm bare at background.

Continuing my food & drink themed 365

Super busy, so these are unedited pics. I met up with Netty and Allie this morning and showed them my progress at SL5B.

Apparently January 14th is World Logic Day - I struggled to think of something for this list item in the latest ANSH scavenger hunt so I googled logic to see what came up - amongst many things were puzzles and on from that the Rubik's Cube.

Uneseco say this about the creation of World Logic Day (first celebrated in 2019)

'The ability to think is one of the most defining features of humankind. In different cultures, the definition of humanity is associated with concepts such as consciousness, knowledge and reason. According to the classic western tradition, human beings are defined as “rational” or “logical animals”. Logic, as the investigation on the principles of reasoning, has been studied by many civilizations throughout history and, since its earliest formulations, logic has played an important role in the development of philosophy and the sciences.

ANSH 108 (3) logic

228/365

Do you tend to rule by your head or by your heart? 9 times out of ten, I make decisions with my head, using logic and rational reasoning. And then there are those times, so very infrequent (like dropping out of a very sensible degree that will get me a sensible job to study dance, that will not get me a sensible job) when it is all heart.

I was home for a week and decided to finish up some ideas I had laying around on my desk. Not anything revolutionary, I kept it simple this time.

But a quick life update...

I am officially an Industrial Design student! My performance in an intensive design foundations course over the summer determined my placement in the major. I honestly think my experience in Lego building made a huge difference in how I worked. Even without me knowing, Lego building introduced me to the iterative process and improved my spacial reasoning skills.

If any of you are design students or graduated with a design degree, let me know! I imagine it's a fairly common major for those with an aptitude towards Lego building.

I am not comfortable posting a selfie. I suffer from selfie-anxiety, but I am trying to step out of my comfort zone.

According to an article called “There’s A Scientific Reason for Why You Look Weird In Selfies” in Time magazine, the reasoning for the discomfort is as follows: “We are used to identifying with our faces as they would appear in a mirror, but when we take a selfie, the camera captures our faces as strangers would see us from head on rather than we would see ourselves in a reflection. Emotionally unprepared to see our unsymmetrical faces tilting in a slightly different way, we sometimes approach selfies with confusion and disdain.”

77/365

So, there is no message in the bottle, which I was really disappointed about, and if it were not so cold I would have written a note and gone back and put it in the bottle. But it was too cold and too windy and I could not feel my ears. Also, you could almost believe the sea was calm if you only based your reasoning on this image, but the waves were taller than me. I think I like beaches when it is windy and when the waves are tall and when there is nobody there. The summer we went to Ireland, there was this long, sandy beach that we went to one evening, and it was only Kieran and me on the entire beach, playing catch with a baseball, and despite the fact that neither of us went into the water because the waves were so big, we were both soaked from the spray by the time we rejoined Mum and Dad, and our cheeks were red raw from the sand that the wind was blowing at us. We went back the next day and it was so calm you would hardly believe it was the same beach.

I think, however, that the best part of today was not the beach but the two second-hand bookshops we found. If we were not all so cold, I would have stayed there for hours exploring them. To me, a bookshop is more of an adventure than any mountain.

The scientific name of Arctic Tern is Sterna paradisaea which translates as Tern of Paradise. When birds of paradise were first brought back from Papua New Guinea to Europe they were prepared by the locals in such a way that they were just skin, beak and feathers. So western Zoologists thought that these birds had no legs, bones or entrails, and that they must just float about among the clouds (ie the heavens or paradise), and it was even thought that the female laid her eggs in a special cavity in the male's back. When Linnaeus described the first Greater Bird of Paradise in 1758 he called it Paradisaea apoda which translates as legless bird of paradise because his type specimen was without legs, flesh or skeleton. Just five years later in 1763 Erich Pontoppidan, the Norwegian Bishop, Author, Historian and Cryptozoologist described the Arctic Tern as paradisaea. I have not been able to find out why he named it after paradise but they are so short-legged they appear as almost legless and I wonder if this was his reasoning. Pontoppidan also argued for the existence of Sea Serpents, the Kraken and Mermaids in his 2 volume Natural History of Norway in 1752 and 1753 so he might well have believed these birds had no legs like the birds of paradise. If anyone fancies deciphering Pontoppidan's original eighteenth century Norwegian manuscript it is here: gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/id/PPN391287532 . But Pontoppidan's description was considered to be indeterminate, so Morten Brünnich published a description ( in Ornithologia Borealis 1764 p46). However, Arctic Tern was not generally recognised as being distinct from Common Tern until 1819 (by Johann Naumann, who called it Sterna macrura which means large tailed tern, because its tail is longer than Common Tern), but this was 56 years after Pontoppidan's original description. The name macrura persisted from 1819 until the middle of the twentieth century when it was decided that Brünnich's description amending Pontoppidan's original was the earliest valid description and name.

Excerpt from brainproject.ca:

“Acri” is both a cautionary tale and an ode to mankind’s resilience in the midst of degenerative brain diseases. Like these pencils, the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s causes a gradual decline in memory recall, thinking, reasoning skills, and more. It is important to understand the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia in order to better care for and treat loved ones.

The title “Acri,” comes from the Latin for “sharp.” Latin continues to live on in countless books, inscribed into buildings, and printed on U.S. currency. We live as long as the last person who remembers us, and we live forever through the stories written about us. Degenerative brain diseases may take our memories and

lives, but it can never erase our existence.

“Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st.

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

(William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)

Built for the WINTER GOURD PARTY

THEME: JET

This build can be perfectly described by Klee's theme from the hit game Genshin Impact. The building process felt like endless grind and suddenly receiving a quest was comparable to receiving 3 resin in a five-star guaranteed gacha. After a sudden betrayal I’ve sworn that vengeance will be mine – and, just like Klee herself, I decided not to give up, going out with a bang – or, rather, with a Level 2 Sparkling Burst….

Genshin Impact itself, being a game about the eternal struggle of good versus evil, is also pretty similar to Gourd Party, as the true villain of this story were the developers all along.

Quests:

A New New Low - Include a weeb (touhou preferred) theme song for your build (must provide reasoning in min. 100-word short answer).

Crossing Over - Build must be part of a System diorama.

Sabotages:

Kiss-Up - opponent is forced to incorporate a build/aspect of a judge or another contestant’s photostream/moc (the evil jet is based on Student's Jighead)

Some Disassembly Required - Build must visibly incorporate a brick separator (3 croc ones)

Whoops! - “Stress test” video

Ashokan Reservoir, Ulster County, New York.

The goal was a through hike to bag Cornell, Wittenburg and Slide Mountain in the Catskills. We drove, chasing (or being chased by) storms to Woodland Valley. After setting up camp, we chased another storm to the Ashokan Reservoir, hoping for a sunset over the lake. We headed for the dam on a forested road, reasoning it would be one of the few places we could access open space around this upstate water supply for the city. Suddenly out of the woods at the dam, we beheld the rainbow. The rain was passing, down to a sprinkle and then nothing. We took the causeway at a run, looking for a composition while the rainbow lasted. Behind us the sun was setting, throwing mountain shadows of ever-softer blues and bathing the water golden--a rival for the show looking East. And East, the rainbow still arched, above the Esopus where it exited the reservoir heading towards Olive Bridge and, ultimately, the Hudson River. Official sunset finally faded the rainbow, and for awhile longer, the lake view put on a show of its own.

This is an HDR composite of two images, exposing for sky and landscape.

Forgiveness is easy. It's when you say "I am OK with you." following a time when you may not have been. This can be reached through either strength or weakness. Dogma or logic. Kindness or apathy. It isn't exactly a reset of things, nor is it a second chance or clean slate. It's none of those things because you don't forgive a person for their actions; you forgive a person for how the actions affect you. Think of it as the driver who crashes a bus/train/car of people: you don't forgive the driver for his misdeed ... you forgive him for the pain and suffering which you have endured. Justice, punishment, atonement ... these are NOT parts of forgiveness.

Arriving at this state isn't always so easy, however, because sometimes people cannot bring themselves to that level of acceptance. Sometimes, things are NOT OK. There are extremes of non-forgiveness where a person fights against acceptance, apologies, healing time, trust, family bonds, and all of the other things which should help resolve issues. What results from this is a grudge, and it's an ugly thing. It's a bitterness and resentment which feeds itself from stubbornness, grief, unhappiness, blame, or even hatred. I've tried reasoning with people with grudges, and have always ended up backing away slowly with one of those 'omg yikes' looks on my face. Not all unforgiveness is awful, I don't think. You can just walk away from a bad experience, putting it behind you. Or if you can't separate, you can try to coexist ... but it's a chancy move which can lead you down either a path of unhappiness or back on track to actual forgiveness.

Some people think that you have to get over your problem/pain before you forgive. I think that quite often it's the opposite: forgiveness can come first. 'Forgive and Forget', we've all heard. This makes a ton of sense to me, as you forgive (emotionally), then later forget (mentally). Hmmm. I think those can go either way.

As with apologies, it is never to late to forgive.

Have you ever wondered what the summit of a mountain looks like. I know I have. So when I saw this I thought it was a super cool shot. To the people in the Northwest this is the tallest mountain around. Mt Hood. Having seen this mountain from varying distances almost daily for 30 years was another reason why this shot intrigued me. And after knowing the photographer of this shot, Josh Lawrence, for the last several years I also know the reasoning for this to be taken at sunrise. It all has to do with the condition of the snow and the safety involved. That is why they start their final ascent at 1 in the morning. But if it was for no other reason but to get this view, I would take it every time. After seeing this shot and telling Josh he needs to pack a good camera and not just his iPhone ( because in a 35 day span he summited 5 mountains from here to Ecuador ). And after talking about the comp and the glow on the mountain I finally asked who the person was. This shot is a year old and it could have been anybody. As it turns out it is my daughter Cynthia on her third attempt to summit Mt. Hood. After getting over the surprise of not having seen this shot before it immediately became one of my favorite shots. For after she summited Mt. Hood last year I was immensely proud of her for sticking with it that I had to have this picture. And now I do and it sits on my desk.

I had such a strong adverse reaction to the first issue of this mold, Making An Entrance, that I passed on the 2017 version based on the 2016 Design Competition Winning Entry by Salvadore Lopez Arriaga called Alta Moda. Obviously I wasn't alone in this reasoning as there was only 425 in the edition size. When this doll was released, like many other collectors, I totally regretted that decision. My best doll friend is very close friends with Sal as they live near each other in N.C. They rode with me to the 2019 Live From Fashion Week Integrity Toys Convention. After meeting Sal, it made me yearn for this doll even more. (He is a real sweetie!) This doll rarely comes available secondary market, and when it does, it's very expensive. I was able to pick up a "New In Box" version from a collector who had purchased the doll for the ensemble and never redressed her. I made an offer and it was accepted. My great fortune because I think this is the very best version of the mold and truly looks like a runway model going to go-sees. She is wearing the 2009 Monogram Black Party ensemble. LOVE HER!

I am trying to be truthful.

- Carol Ann Duffy

52.6

Insecurity slips in slowly in moments of accomplishment, lingering carefully in illusions of happiness before exploding somewhere further in the future. Find one thing you do not like about yourself and you’ll find several; find several and you’ll discover a dozen. Discover a dozen, and make peace with several hundred. Negativity abounds in reasoning and in gloom.

Spent an afternoon painting John Bubniak's likeness as the original Spider-Man PS4 Peter Parker to add to my Advanced Suit custom from last year. I think I got pretty close!

Haven’t gotten used to the new Ben Jordan version quite yet, and I still don’t fully understand why Insomniac Games needed to recast John Bubniak (their reasoning doesn’t seem to make sense), but I’m still really looking forward to the future of Spider-Man PS4.

Full video is up here!

youtu.be/197jY7niRZA

Is this--they ate each other up.

I must have been around three when my grandmother recited to me the poem "The Duel" by Eugene Field.

My 3 year old mind pondered that over and over for a long time." How did they do that? How could they possibly do that? Did they start on each other's tail? Wouldn't their teeth be left? They couldn't eat each other all up. Something would have to be left"

As far as I know that was my first exercise in abstract reasoning. And today I still love the poem and still wonder "How could they possibly do that?"

This is for my friend Judy whose granddaughter won't be three for a long time to file away for the future.

️ Cancer is a worldwide battle that millions of people fight daily. Though each person may have their own individual reasonings for supporting this cause, we all have one common goal, to help others in their battle. That being said, Grid Wide Fighting Championship would like to give back to the community and provide support just as we have been given since the start of GWFC.

️ In our best efforts to provide support to others, we are holding a boxing event to raise funds that will be 100% donated to The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, which goes towards others who fight their own battles with cancer every single day. Whether attending the event or simply making a donation, we ask for your help in providing support for those who currently battling cancer.

~Councillor Harmann: The Matrix Reloaded

I was simply experimenting with this. See note below.

Download large 1920w x 1080h in pixel.

In my mind....

There are many unfair conditions that other human beings have to endure. I don't agree but I know it has always being like that since the beginning of time. It could be the same mechanism for our own long survival. I don't know. But I just hope we all realize the reasons for everything before it's too late. And don't be so quick to blame, stereotype, have prejudices against others and believe everything the so called "experts" tell us.

“Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.” ~ Antoine Rivarol

Note:

-Lens used: 70-200L mm F/2.8 with 1.4 extender (zoom at 200mm for this shot)

-It was a long exposure and I simply zoomed in/out the lens few times.

-PHOTOSHOP CS4:

     Color Balance

     Shadows Color Levels: -47 0 0

     Midtones Color Levels: 0 0 +25

     Highlights Color Levels: 0 +16 0

_

"In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards. That is a very useful accomplishment, and a very easy one, but people do not practise it much. In the every-day affairs of life it is more useful to reason forwards, and so the other comes to be neglected. There are fifty who can reason synthetically for one who can reason analytically...Let me see if I can make it clearer. Most people, if you describe a train of events to them, will tell you what the result would be. They can put those events together in their minds, and argue from them that something will come to pass. There are few people, however, who, if you told them a result, would be able to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up to that result. This power is what I mean when I talk of reasoning backwards, or analytically."

Steampunk cyclist.

Steampunk is gaining in popularity as more and more people for their own particular reasoning are choosing to follow this genre that revolves around 19th century technology yet at the same time is also futuristic.

Steampunk takes one back into a world that has an alternate reality based on the steam engine in preference to electricity.

It is a genre that successfully blends 19th century technology, aesthetics and crosses over into the world of science fiction.

Steampunk devotees dress in clothing reminiscent of the era and I heard one member of the genre offer the following answer when asked what does it all mean, his response was, "Its art madam, it is art".

I felt that this was a very apt response.

Steampunk Sydney conducted a display at the recent Hunter Valley Steamfest where they attracted a great deal of attention.

This steampunk was preparing to go for a ride around the grounds on his penny farthing, the penny farthing being a popular means of cycling in the 19th century.

Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.

It is windy today.

More in comments.

This is very... me.

so, YES, I decided to do a not-very-strict 365 :) I've explained my reasoning over the past few photographs. You'll be able to catch each and every day on my blog with my favourites being posted on here. :) And I have a companion, Fine, who is a wonderful photographer (see for yourselves) whose progress I shall accompany. :)

2012 thus far (all three days of it!) has been wonderful, I hope yours has been the same x

Facebook Page (nine more likes for a couple of free curves to be given away!)

This is a true B&W, but, it's too late to put it in one B&W group I'm in, or, should I say, WAS in. lol I got banned for posting "Monocameraflage" to the group page. No warning. First offence. It's their rule, so, I'm fine with it. Just seems a bit arrogant when you read the reasoning, but, MEH. An honest mistake on my part, but, no wiggle room to complain. lol Ironically, I've always been a black and white thinker, till the last few years. lol I wanted this shot to feel 'metallic', and to be slightly high key.

Absolute act

Reasoning faculties

Subsequent creation

This is a work in which the message being conveyed is that man can not have negative control animals.

Humans:

______________________________________________________

Capacity to love

Ability to show affection

Ability to perceive

Ability to rejoice

Capacity of contentment

Capacity - Reasoning -

______________________________________________________

Animals:

______________________________________________________

Capacity to love

Ability to demonstrate love

Ability to show affection

Ability to perceive

Ability to rejoice

Capacity of contentment

______________________________________________________

Many differences?

Meeting only one of those listed: Reasoning! That's what sets us apart! What is the difference in the way of life? Humans do suffer with this capability, while the animals when they do, the human hand!

With so many qualities that man has, the reasoning makes the world and this system of things is as it is.

Animals do not have the thinking ability, but have feelings. They have the capacity to love, to show affection and show it, even without the ability to think, unlike humans who have them and not use the remaining capacity in line.

They may be small, but they do see many humans have potential far above them. Do not give up, learn from them ... as they do: stop to "think"!

More jobs in:

- olhares.aeiou.pt/Selvas

- www.behance.net/rafaelvinhas

- www.zphoto.fr/RafaelVinhas

Thanks..

Oudewater is famous for the Heksenwaag (Witches' scales). This Weighing house, an official town building, became famous during the 16th century because people accused of witchcraft were offered an honest chance of proving their innocence. In many cities and countries such trials were usually rigged, resulting in the burning or drowning of hundreds of innocent people.

Many people accused of witchcraft from all over Europe (or at least, those who could afford the trip) made a head-over-heels trip to Oudewater to avoid being burned at a stake. After the weighing, they received an official certificate proclaiming them not a witch. Although nobody was ever found to be an actual witch in Oudewater, the weighings were still a public spectacle. Even today you can get a certificate that "your body weight is in proportion to your build." The reasoning behind this is the old belief that a witch has no soul and therefore weighs significantly less than an ordinary person; this distinction allows the witch to fly on a broomstick.

So in early modern times when accusations of witchcraft (and resultant burnings) were prevalent, the town of Oudewater offered the accused a chance of proving his or her innocence. This was more special than it sounds. It is a sign of the growing power of a third force next to church and nobility, i.e. citizens. In a bid for total domination, the witchhunts were sanctioned by the church to break the power of the local herb doctors (especially the women). The citizens of Oudewater therefore were, simply by being honest, defying the church.

Don't let these eyes fool you, Linus isn't as innocent as he looks. Today he caught a bird again, a great tit, and as usual he brought his prey indoors. He was followed by Fynn who was followed by Cleo and I had a hard time convincing three cats of giving the bird to me. None of them was willing to follow my complex line of reasoning and I had to recourse to unfair means by locking the boys into the bathroom and Cleo into the kitchen. The bird was still breathing and had no obvious injuries. I wrapped him into a towel and after a few moments he started to move again. When I took him outdoors he flew away without any problem but of course you never know if they have internal injuries. Cats are cats and it's in their nature to hunt but I still wish they woudn't do it. I'm glad that my cats aren't as bad as Sethi though who is a serial killer. Cleo doesn't catch birds anymore, she just wants them when the boys bring them home. Fynn and Linus both aren't great hunters and usually only catch birds which land more or less directly in front of their paws.

Was lucky to go one one of the last “photographer-only” tours of Upper Antelope Canyon. I definitely understand their reasoning as it was a MAD house. But it’s easier to be ok since I got to go. I’d probably be very upset since it was too on my shot list for years.

I hope everybody found the time yesterday to get out to vote or caucus.

Last night was the first caucus I’ve ever participated in. I have to say I was very satisfied walking out my polling location last night. The experience of discussing and debating real issues with my neighbors in a town hall atmosphere was very exciting. I even took the opportunity to stand up and express my opinion of why I think Barack Obama is the best choice for the Democratic nomination. The issues and reasoning I raised must have resonated with the room because I got an overwhelming positive response and the loudest applause of the evening. Obama went on the win 59% of the vote in my precinct and 66% of the overall Colorado Democratic vote.

“The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of a new insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miraculous flushes, or short-circuits of reasoning. In fact they may be likened to an immersed chain, of which only the beginning and the end are visible above the surface of consciousness. The diver vanishes at one end of the chain and comes up at the other end, guided by invisible links.”

Arthur Koestler

Another look at the 0ne57 residential tower.I read an article earlier that in March of 2013 the senior president of Sotheby's International,Kevin Brown,announced that he helped an anonymous woman purchase an apartment at this place for $6.5 million,but get this...it was for her 2-years old daughter!The mother's reasoning was that the little girl will most likely end up going to NYU,Columbia,or Harvard and the she'll need to be in the center of the city for an all-pass access to an easy commute home..huh!

US Supreme Court Staircase

As "a bumble" questions Gangie's reasoning for wanting his photo, Yukon Cornelius looks on wondering if he has finally lost it because not only is he talking nonsense but doesn't everyone know it 's Flickr not Flick!

© All Rights Reserved - No Usage Allowed in Any Form Without My Written Consent

Let the new years wash them away

I don't smoke, thus the reasoning for the photoshop smoke. I was going to make real smoke, but didn't feel like making a fire.

You guys have a safe and happy new year

Tumblr

I know for a lot of people this won't seem like all that much of an achievement as some people get that much on single pictures, but for me, right now..It really is =)

That my pictures have gotten even the relatively small amount of attention that they do just seems amazing to me & I thank each and every one of you who've viewed my stream, left comments, made notes & fav'd. You. Are. All. AWESOME!!!

Ahem, now to the pic; this was taken waaay back in april when I went with some friend's university basketball team for a tournament in spain. This was the first picture I took when I got there, taken from the balcony of my hotel room...tbh it makes me laugh cos of the irony of taking a picture like this at SalouFest. XD

It's a pretty simple composite piece made from one picture altered into 3 versions...I kinda made the first, then the 2nd..then went ooh what'd it look like in b&w..then the problem of which to put on here came up lol, couple that with me thinking pics with white background look soooo kool on flickr and TA-DAA!!! [Dontcha just love the reasoning]

View LARGE for betterness =)

Good morning everyone! I want to first express my sincere gratitude to everyone that has shown interest, those that have accepted my invitation and those that have taken a shot on their own. I can not say thank you enough as this challenge is turning out to be one of the best thus far I have hosted. I have been an admirer of many that have said yes, as well as a new fan of many of the photographers in this challenge, whom I've recently had the privilege in following! Second Life is more than a virtual game we've stumbled upon or was recommended by a friend. It has become a place of artistic expression, entrepreneurship for aspiring and successful designers as well as a creative canvas for all our builders! Aye, this is only a few reasons to the meaning of Second Life for all of us.

As this challenge continues through out the month of February, I will continue to send invitations to Flickr artists and seek daily for individuals I do not follow so that they do can be apart of this challenge. Please understand that this challenge is not exclusionary by any means. Yes, in comparison to my other challenges it has been by invitation ONLY, for the purpose of this theme. Does this mean you can't join if not invited? Absolutely not! Does it mean you need to be an expert in photography? Absolutely not! If you haven't been asked and desire to be apart of this challenge please contact me immediately. Flickr is a vast place and I am inviting daily to keep the momentum of this challenge for the month long of February.

So here is my invitation and respectful request. If you are interested in joining or know a friend that loves this style photography, PLEASE, drop me a Facebook message or send me a Flickr email. I would love to have you, as long as you are comfortable with expression imagery, pose manipulation, shadow and light exercises. It would be my honor in speaking with you regarding the details and requirements of this challenge.

However, I respectfully ask, if you have not spoken with me prior to posting your image, please refrain from using the #PryceBodyLanguageChallenge hashtag as well as tagging me in the photo. Each image presented to the photographers whom have completed their challenge has been discussed and agreed upon. So again I extend the invitation to you if you are interested! Please know, I personally may not have invited you but there is no motivation behind my reasoning in not doing so.

Again, I love and support the Second Life photography community and hosting these challenges has been my small contribution in supporting and getting to know each and everyone one of you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this note and please, I'd love to hear from you. If I currently don't follow you, drop me a line, so I may add you to the growing number of individuals I stalk...aye...follow daily. Much appreciation and I look to hear from you soon.

- Law

Email Me By Flickr!

Facebook Message Me!

Inworld Name: LawrenceD Resident

I photographed this Arctic Tern sitting on a small iceberg just below the Magdalena Glacier on Spitsbergen. One distinguishing feature of Arctic Terns is that their legs are so short they appear almost legless.

Bear with me on this because it is relevant. When birds of paradise were first brought back from Papua New Guinea to Europe they were prepared by the locals in such a way that they were just skin, beak and feathers. So western Zoologists thought that these birds had no legs, bones or entrails, and that they must just float about among the clouds (ie the heavens or paradise), and it was even thought that the female laid her eggs in a special cavity in the male's back. When Linnaeus described the first Greater Bird of Paradise in 1758 he called it Paradisaea apoda which translates as legless bird of paradise because his type specimen was without legs, flesh or skeleton. Just five years later in 1763 Erich Pontoppidan, the Norwegian Bishop, Author, Historian and Cryptozoologist described the Arctic Tern as paradisaea. I have not been able to find out why he named it after paradise but they are so short-legged they appear as almost legless and I wonder if this was his reasoning. Pontoppidan also argued for the existence of Sea Serpents, the Kraken and Mermaids in his 2 volume Natural History of Norway in 1752 and 1753 so he might well have believed these birds had no legs like the birds of paradise. If anyone fancies deciphering Pontoppidan's original eighteenth century Norwegian manuscript it is here: gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/id/PPN391287532 . But Pontoppidan's description was considered to be indeterminate, so Morten Brünnich published a description ( in Ornithologia Borealis 1764 p46). However, Arctic Tern was not generally recognised as being distinct from Common Tern until 1819 (by Johann Naumann, who called it Sterna macrura which means large tailed tern, because its tail is longer than Common Tern), but this was 56 years after Pontoppidan's original description. The name macrura persisted from 1819 until the middle of the twentieth century when it was decided that Brünnich's description amending Pontoppidan's original was the earliest valid description and name.

“It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely.”

~Albert Einstein

Indeed it’s the same bike from the previous upload. Saw it first few months ago (August if I’m not mistaken) since then I always planned to take a picture of it. But due to a lot of reasoning, I just had a chance yesterday and so, I take full advantage of my few minutes to snap every angle. But actually the original concept is for me to pose beside the bike and do another self-portrait. And because I’m very shy since birth, I hesitated until my chances are gone as the owner takes it back home. Anyways, here are the top two favorites from the set (see another one @ comments). Cheers everyone! Happy photography!

Meeting point for persons interested in the Rastafarian culture

Traditional reference at the festival for all those who are interested in approaching the Rastafari livity or are simply curious to learn more about it. A space to reflect upon and discuss around this theme.

House Of Rastafari, features Nyabinghi chants, Reasoning Grounds, art and photography exhibits, as well as fundrising activities to support solidarity projects in Ethiopia and Jamaica.

Program:

rototomsunsplash.com/en/area/house-of-rastafari/

Rototom SunSplash 26º European Reggae Festival.

Benicàssim 16-22 August 2019 (Spain)

rototomsunsplash.com/