One of the most prolific and recognizable artists alive today, Ron English has bombed the global landscape with unforgettable images, on the street, in museums, in movies, books, and television. English coined the term POPaganda to describe his signature mash-up of high and low cultural touchstones, from superhero mythology to totems of art history, populated with his vast and constantly growing arsenal of original characters, including MC Supersized, the obese fast-food mascot featured in the hit movie “Supersize Me,” and Abraham Obama, the fusion of America’s 16th and 44th Presidents, an image widely discussed in the media as directly impacting the 2008 election.

With artist Ron English’s Elefanka and Mousezilla mural, the intersection of Erie and 16th streets is anything but boring. This fun pop of color and whimsy depicts cartoon critters at an impressive height of 60 feet.

The Meathook Galaxy, or NGC 2442, is an easily recognizable

spiral galaxy with its bright northern arm and starkly contrasting dust lane. In typical spiral galaxy coloration, it has a warm yellow core with blue outer arms speckled with pink clouds of ionized, glowing hydrogen gas associated with star formation. A small, but conspicuous background galaxy is also peeking through just left of the nucleus.

This was an unlikely mosaic. Since late 2006, Hubble has been looking at this galaxy with its Advanced Camera for Surveys and Widefield Camera 3 in bits and pieces, usually involving supernovas and their progenitors. So the telescope looked here and there, but never at the whole galaxy in one sitting. Last year, enough observations had been made to nearly cover the galaxy in 3 channels. I've gathered them up into what I think is a decent result.

If you zoom in, you may notice some areas that have some odd or no coloration near the edges and dark parts. These are places where fewer observations were taken, and I couldn't generate proper or perfectly matching color. I'm glad most of the galaxy was covered, though, because it's really not noticeable. There is a place in the northeast arm right under that dark, dark dust lane where data were completely absent, and I filled it with a brightness-matching blank patch and some fake noise. Two other less obtrusive blank places are in the lower left and lower right corners. There is also a small spot where only older WFPC2 data were available, so it looks a little blurry. Other than that, nice data!

Special thanks to Bill Keel, who freely offered up his data to try and help fill the gaps. I ended up using his H-alpha data in places where there was none available from HST. Mostly the upper half, and a little on the right side. I also removed the stars and galactic nucleus from his data, leaving (hopefully) just the star-forming regions.

Data from the following proposals were used to create this image:

Detecting the progenitors of core-collapse supernovae

Understanding the Progenitor Systems, Explosion Mechanisms, and Cosmological Utility of Type Ia Supernovae

Going gently into the night: constraining Type Ia supernova nucleosynthesis using late-time photometry

Continuing a Snapshot Survey of the Sites of Recent, Nearby Supernovae: Cycles 25 & 26

One last peek at SN 2015F

The Identification of Failed Supernovae

An archive to detect the progenitors of massive, core-collapse supernovae

Red: ACS/WFC F814W + ACS/WFC F658N + SARA H-alpha + WFPC2 F814W

Green: WFC3/UVIS F555W + WFPC2 F606W

Blue: WFC3/UVIS F438W + ACS/WFC F435W

North is 18.10° counter-clockwise from up.

"One of Buchanan’s most recognized architectural structures is the Buchanan Swinging Bridge. The Bridge is 366 feet long, 57.5 feet tall and the only one of its type to cross the James River. Portions of the bridge date back to 1851 and have witnesses Hunter’s Civil War Raid, the rerouting of U.S. Route 11, and numerous floods. The Swinging Bridge is a contributing structure to the Town of Buchanan Historic District.

Portions of the large stone piers rising from the James River were constructed in 1851 as part of the Buchanan Turnpike Company’s Toll Bridge. Toll for every person to pass through this wood covered bridge was five cents with an additional five cents for each horse, mule or oxen and five cents for each wagon. On June 13, 1864 the covered bridge was burned by Confederate General McCausland in an effort to prevent Federal troops from crossing the James River on their way to Lynchburg. The bridge was rebuilt following the war but washed away in a flood of 1877. At this time, the R&A Railroad Company rebuilt a toll free covered bridge. In 1897 this wood covered bridge was replaced with a steel bridge that remained in use until 1938.

In July of 1937 construction of the current concrete James River Bridge was started with an agreement with the Town under Mayor C. W. Blount to maintain pedestrian access to Pattonsburg via the swinging bridge. In the photo to the left you can see the concrete bridge under construction and the old steel bridge sitting of footers which would be replaced with the new swinging bridge on those same footers. On July 4, 1938, the new bridges were dedicated by former Governor E. Lee Trinkle as speaker.

For more than 150 years, portions of the Buchanan Swinging Bridge have played a critical role in the Town of Buchanan’s history earning it the role as symbol of the Town of Buchanan. The bridge is a favorite landmark of residents and visitors alike providing a scenic view of the James River and surrounding mountains. The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is proudly featured on the Town Seal.

Visitors wishing to visit the Swinging Bridge may park at the Buchanan Swinging Bridge Park located at 687 Lowe Street. The site offers beautiful flowers, a picnic table, kiosk with Bridge history, Calendar of Events Listings as well as a view of the Bridge itself with easy access to the Bridge by way of a sidewalk."

(www.buchanan-va.gov/visitors/page/buchanan-swinging-bridge)

PLEASE, NO GRAPHICS, BADGES, OR AWARDS IN COMMENTS. They will be deleted.

Almost an optical illusion. We loved that garden.

Beautiful flowers at Reford Gardens.

Visit : www.refordgardens.com/

Ripples in water. Concentric circles in water.

MAKING CIRCLES IN THE WATER (2011)

Faire des ronds dans l'eau (2011)

Balmori Associates, New York, USA.

Visit: www.balmori.com

GROUNDED IN ECOLOGY

Balmori Associates is an international urban and landscape design firm founded by Diana Balmori. Balmori Associates is recognized across the globe for its creative interfacing of landscape and architecture and expanding the boundaries between nature and structure. As distinguished leaders in the field of urban design and the design of innovative public spaces Balmori Associates gives form to the processes of sustainability, producing ‘green infrastructures’ while revealing the constructed and natural operations of a site.

Balmori Associates strives to achieve the highest standards of environmental responsibility by rooting our work in two basic sustainable design principles: Low-Impact and Regenerative . Low-Impact to reduce potential detrimental effects of local and project-related construction, development or consumption and to minimize environmental impacts, while sustaining the health and resilience of ecological systems. Regenerative Design to integrate building systems within landscape for resource renewal and the restoration of constructed landscape.

Our diverse portfolio includes executed projects at all scales, and award-winning competitions and has garnered numerous awards for design excellence; and sustainability is a central concern in all our work. In 1998, Balmori Associates’ Master Plan won the international competition for the waterfront development of the Abandoibarra district of Bilbao, Spain. We provided design leadership on the greenroof at Silvercup Studios in Queens, New York, the largest scientifically monitored green roof in the United States. In the fall of 2012 Korean Prime Minister and several ministries moved from Seoul to Sejong, South Korea new multifunctional administrative city, a zero-waste urban plan designed by Balmori Associates. (Info from Balmori's website)

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LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS | REFORD GARDENS

Visit : www.refordgardens.com/

From Wikipedia:

Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.

Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.

Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.

She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.

In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.

During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.

In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.

Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.

To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.

Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.

In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)

Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford

LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS

Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.

Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.

Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada

© Copyright

This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.

Recognizing 2023 Presidents Day in the U.S.

Traveling to various parts of the world and seeing the history of the obelisk has been interesting as well.

thanks for looking!

Recognize any of these buildings? This is probably one of my personal favorites from my Northeast trip:

LIRR #515 departs Long Island City Yard with a four-car train set behind the backdrop of the NYC skyline. Directly underneath the yard are the East River Tunnels which take the LIRR and the Northeast Corridor into Penn Station in Manhattan.

Perry is proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South cozily nestled along Florida's Nature Coast. We are a family friendly community in which to raise your children, work, or simply to stop by and visit. Our historic downtown is lined with friendly home town shops and features our recently restored steam locomotive era train station. Perry is a full-service, low cost place to call home.

The City has been honored to receive the highest national financial reporting award for twenty years in a row. Our taxes are lower than over 170 other cities in Florida. We are home to an "A" scholastically rated high school. We have a variety of festivals throughout the year highlighted by the Florida Forest Festival which includes the "World's Largest Free Fish Fry." Some of the finest fresh and saltwater fishing (including scalloping) is centered here.

Hunters come from all over to experience prime Nature Coast hunting. Many freshwater springs, including the world's largest, are just minutes away. The area's economy is diverse with both manufacturing and agricultural employment opportunities. Our state of the art hospital recently opened a multi-million dollar medical arts facility. We welcome you to learn more, come visit, and experience family friendly Perry!

Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead. It is not known how this name was chosen. In 1875 the name was changed to Perrytown after Madison Stark Perry, Florida's fourth Governor. Later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

The City of Perry is the only incorporated city in Taylor County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. The City's population as of 2004 was estimated to be 6,703. (U. S. Census Bureau)

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.cityofperry.net/

Almost 110 species of Fuchsia are recognized; the vast majority are native to South America, but a few occur north through Central America to Mexico, and also several from New Zealand to Tahiti. One species, F. magellanica, extends as far as the southern tip of South America, occurring on Tierra del Fuego in the cool temperate zone, but the majority are tropical or subtropical. Most fuchsias are shrubs from 0.2 to 4 m (8 in to 13 ft 1 in) tall, but one New Zealand species, the kōtukutuku (F. excorticata), is unusual in the genus in being a tree, growing up to 12–15 m (39–49 ft) tall.

Fuchsia leaves are opposite or in whorls of three to five, simple lanceolate, and usually have serrated margins (entire in some species), 1–25 cm long, and can be either deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species. The flowers are very decorative; they have a pendulous "teardrop" shape and are displayed in profusion throughout the summer and autumn, and all year in tropical species. They have four long, slender sepals and four shorter, broader petals; in many species, the sepals are bright red and the petals purple (colours that attract the hummingbirds that pollinate them), but the colours can vary from white to dark red, purple-blue, and orange. A few have yellowish tones. The ovary is inferior and the fruit is a small (5–25 mm) dark reddish green, deep red, or deep purple berry, containing numerous very small seeds.

The fruit of all fuchsia species and cultivars is edible, with the berry of F. splendens reportedly among the best-tasting. Its flavor is reminiscent of citrus and black pepper, and it can be made into jam. The fruits of some other fuchsias are flavorless or leave a bad aftertaste.

Wiki

Chopin Spring Waltz

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrcP0VWV320

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Rollingstone1's most interesting photos on Flickriver

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Plaza Alfaro plaque recognizing the 200th anniversary of the 1820 Ecuador Revolution.

At the turn of the 18th century, Enlightenment ideas were sweeping across the world, and the inequality and oppression of South America’s native population came under fire from political progressives.

At the same time, the criollo population (those born of Spanish descent in South America) were increasingly frustrated by the privilege given to those born in Spain.

This coincided with a depression in Spain that crippled their economy and weakened their control over their South American colonies.

Jose Joaquin Olmedo took this as a cue to declare Ecuador’s independence at a junta in Guayaquil 09 October, 1820.

While earlier attempts to unshackle their colonial bonds had failed, Olmedo strategically appealed to Simon Bolivar and San Martin, who were already involved in the liberation of other South American nations.

Thanks to their help and the cunning military brilliance of the young general Jose Antonio de Sucre, Ecuador was finally able to win its independence at the victorious Battle of Pichincha in the central Ecuadorian Andes on May 24, 1882.

Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall of China actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many running parallel to each other. The best-known and best-preserved section of the Great Wall was built in the 14th through 17th centuries A.D., during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). I had seen so many different photos of the wall, so I decided to add a creative element to my compositions. It was a long day of hiking, but well worth the effort as we had the wall almost to ourselves.

No Group Invites/Graphics Please.

www.alexstoen.com

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Duchess Kate & Constantine playing with the flying snowball.

This shot was taken at midday.

They are a Lagotto Romagnolo dog.

This is the only breed of dog that is officially recognized as specialized in truffle hunting.

#87/100

Hello people,

I think that I win every time with each picture more experience.

Although it is not very much, but the quantity makes it.

Every time you see something new and if not then it gets old on again, trying to make it better.

I think that I will start after my 100 days project in .... 365 days. :)

By the fall

your René

Facebook | Instagram

Happy #CosmonauticsDay and happy @YurisNight everyone!

#Tiuterra

Credits: ESA/NASA

[122B5971]

Grey wolf

A very recognizable symbol of the Pennsylvania Railroad remains in service today in a location far away from a PRR served location. Union Switch & Signal was able to sell a couple of the H-2 pot signals to the Chicago & Illinois Midland for use with crossing warning indicators. This one is at Shops in Springfield, IL at the North Grand Ave crossing. Another one I recall was in Pekin, IL. ETTS may come one day when North Grand becomes a bridge over the NS and I&M diamond.

The pot is displaying the stop indication. Clear is displayed once the crossing warning devices have been activated. This signal does not appear to convey authority across the interlocking.

11-30-2024

The Banas, like the Hamers, in the Omo valley of Ethiopia, have a special ceremony: the bull jumping. When a teenager becomes a man and want to marry a girl, he needs to jump across 10 bulls. During this ceremony, the family girls of the jumpers (mother, sisters..), to show their strength, ask a man to...whip them! The whipper is the man on the picture: you can recognize him thanks to the feathers he wears on the head and the special haircut he has.

It is very violent, lot of blood and scars, but nobody complains. The game is to be whipped and whipped again, without showing any pain, and some girls even fight to be the first to be whipped.

The whipper is a boy who has succeed the bull jumping, and before getting married, he whips!

© Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

Recognized as the oldest surviving train station in Ontario, the King City Station is part of the original track that ran from Toronto to Collingwood and was among the first stations built using local labour. The station became a prototype and template for FW Cumberland, and many other stations were made to this same spec. The station was never replaced and saw continued use under Grand Trunk and Canadian National until 1967 when passenger service ceased. The station fell into disrepair, and King City got a couple of offers to salvage the station, including Black Creek Pioneer Village. Eventually, the local King Twp. Museum rescued the station in 1989, where it remains today.

Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D

Editor: Adobe Lightroom CC

The Mallard, or Wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos[1]), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical Americas, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (where it is currently the most common duck species), and Australia.

The male birds have a bright green head, while the female's is light brown. The Mallard lives in wetlands, eats water plants, and is gregarious. It is also migratory. The Mallard is the ancestor of all domestic ducks, and can interbreed with other species of genus Anas.[2] This interbreeding is causing rarer species of ducks to become genetically diluted.

The Mallard is 56–65 centimetres (22–26 in) long, has a wingspan of 81–98 centimetres (32–39 in), and weighs 0.9–1.2 kilograms (32–42 oz). The breeding male is unmistakable, with a bright green head, black rear end and a yellowish orange (can also contain some red) bill tipped with black (as opposed to the dark brown bill in females), and is also nature's most feared duck. The female Mallard is light brown, like most female dabbling ducks. However, both the female and male Mallards have distinct purple speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest (though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult). In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage the drake becomes drab, looking more like the female, but still distinguishable by its yellow bill and reddish breast.

In captivity, domestic ducks come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours. Most of these colour variants are also known in domestic Mallards not bred as livestock, but kept as pets, aviary birds, etc., where they are rare but increasing in availability.

A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female has a "quack" stereotypically associated with ducks.[3]

The Mallard is a rare example of both Allen's Rule and Bergmann's Rule in birds. Bergmann's Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds. Allen's Rule says that appendages like ears tend to be smaller in polar forms to minimize heat loss, and larger in tropical and desert equivalents to facilitate heat diffusion, and that the polar taxa are stockier overall. Examples of this rule in birds are rare, as they lack external ears. However, the bill of ducks is very well supplied with blood vessels and is vulnerable to cold.

The Mallard, or Wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical Americas, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (where it is currently the most common duck species), and Australia.

The male birds have a bright green head, while the female's is light brown. The Mallard lives in wetlands, eats water plants, and is gregarious. It is also migratory. The Mallard is the ancestor of all domestic ducks, and can interbreed with other species of genus Anas. This interbreeding is causing rarer species of ducks to become genetically diluted.

The Mallard is 56–65 centimetres (22–26 in) long, has a wingspan of 81–98 centimetres (32–39 in), and weighs 0.9–1.2 kilograms (32–42 oz). The breeding male is unmistakable, with a bright green head, black rear end and a yellowish orange (can also contain some red) bill tipped with black (as opposed to the dark brown bill in females), and is also nature's most feared duck. The female Mallard is light brown, like most female dabbling ducks. However, both the female and male Mallards have distinct purple speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest (though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult). In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage the drake becomes drab, looking more like the female, but still distinguishable by its yellow bill and reddish breast.

In captivity, domestic ducks come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours. Most of these colour variants are also known in domestic Mallards not bred as livestock, but kept as pets, aviary birds, etc., where they are rare but increasing in availability.

A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female has a "quack" stereotypically associated with ducks.

The Mallard is a rare example of both Allen's Rule and Bergmann's Rule in birds. Bergmann's Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds. Allen's Rule says that appendages like ears tend to be smaller in polar forms to minimize heat loss, and larger in tropical and desert equivalents to facilitate heat diffusion, and that the polar taxa are stockier overall. Examples of this rule in birds are rare, as they lack external ears. However, the bill of ducks is very well supplied with blood vessels and is vulnerable to cold.

(3 photos)

I never recognize this bird when I see it, and never can remember it's name, even a few minutes after someone tells me his name. I don't think I have ever gotten a decent shot of one before. Can I use that as an excuse? Thanks to Conniespixels for identifying it for me. I'll be asking again.

By the way, my excellent "Encyclopedia of North American Birds" couldn't remember his name either. In fact, he's not even in the book. Did this guy come in on a ship?

© All Rights Reserved

Thanks for the wonderful comments, fav's and invites, which I always appreciate. I love to share my vision of the world , through my lens, with my friends.

recognize her?! ;-P

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope."

- Maya Angelou

An African elephant reaches out towards the Asian rhino.

Philadelphia zoo

After a busy day I have drawn the doorway. 17th century doorways were embellished with a good deal of shallow carving, quite a challenge in a pencil drawing.

was the universally recognized code for a rendezvous at The Crescent department store. Crescent was sold to F&N Acquisition Corporation of Seattle, due to financial issues

and a change in shopping habits. The name was changed to Frederick & Nelson.

Although it was the same building, it was no longer the same store. The charm, history

and connection to Spokane was no longer the same, and in 1995 the store

closed for good.

though the doors may have closed, inside

the building, and inside the hearts of

Crescent’s shoppers, remain countless

memories of a store that was the heart of

the city.

Toco toucans are recognized as the largest species in the toucan family and flaunt the biggest beak in regard to body size of all birds. Bonito, Brazil.

The Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps the most recognizable icon in the world had a fireworks and light show commensurate with its status. Loved this spot which required about 4 miles (round trip) hiking over some terrain similar to Mission Peak in steepness.

If you're wondering how to capture fireworks, I wrote an article on my BLOG that you might find useful.

*Explored May 28, 2012 #48*

© Copyright 2012, Steven Christenson

StarCircleAcademy.com

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All rights reserved. Curious what "all rights reserved means?" it means that without written permission you may not: copy, transmit, modify, use, print or display this image in any context other than as it appears in Flickr.

Explored 2012-05-28 # 264

Paying tribute to WINN on her 102nd birthday,

whose love will never grow old and for whom her family is precious.

Her Centenary came and she sat on her throne

Tiara her crown, the whole town was there,

Even the Mayor; and the Queen had her say.

And we saw her beam, her smile was everywhere

For her love rebounded in a surprising way.

That day relatives reconciled to each other,

And cousins, who now look like their mothers,.

Came in waves, two years ago to pay tribute

with a special flower and a salute,

honouring she who was Queen Mum, that special day.

For years she remembered us all

A card would be sent, $10 inside,

On each birthday inscribed in her book,

To all her family, however wide,

with a prayer and hope that God was on their side.

For her, Mum, Nan, Nanny, Nanna,

her love knows us all to the fifth generation.

Every child, even if occasionally precocious,

is held with esteem in high admiration:

her love knows them all, for her family’s precious.

Now her body grows old, as her memories dim

Her mind, like a stone, skips across the pond,

Oblations to her Lord are a remembered hymn

Whilst her love for her family is a special wand,

Touching also lives of friends, neighbours, young and old.

To her Lord, her church, her town flows devotion;

To her nieces she is their inspiration;

To her Man, “Dearest Darling”, penned with emotion;

To her Mum she was a Rose, while her Dad was biased,

And to her Lord, she gave her ‘Utmost for the Highest’.

Ian

20170427.USA.JO©.SEA.SS.00028

The four levels of obscurations ~ Kalu Rinpoche

The failure of the mind to recognize its own nature is what is meant by the term “ma-rik-pa,” or ignorance, the first level of obscuration or defilement in the mind. As a result of this ignorance, there arises in the mind the imputation of an “I” and an “other,” something that is other than the mind. This dualistic clinging, something that we have had throughout beginningless time and that never stops, is the second level of obscuration, the obscuration of habits. Based upon this dualistic clinging arise the three root mental afflictions: mental darkness, desire, and aggression. Based upon those three afflictions are the 84,000 various mental afflictions, the third level of obscurations, called the obscuration of mental affliction. Under the influence of this, we perform actions that are obscured in their nature – the fourth level, called the obscuration of actions or karma. These four levels or types of obscurations are the cause for all sentient beings to wander in samsara. If these are removed or cleaned, then the inherent qualities of mind’s nature, which we refer to as wisdom or “yeshe,” will naturally manifest and spread like the rays of the sun. The word in Tibetan for the removal of these obscurations, “sang,” means “cleansing,” and the word for the spreading of the inherent qualities of the mind that occurs as a result of that is “gye,” or “increasing.” “Sang-gye,” these two words together, is the Tibetan word for a Buddha. Therefore what is meant by Buddhahood is the recognition and realization of the complete purity of the mind.

Watch the Movie!

www.flickr.com/photos/adrian_valentin_murphy/sets/7215761...

Recognized by the arrow shaped mark on segment 2 just back from the head

Rome as seen from Monteporzio Catone. Few notorious monuments are recognizable, among them the St Peters Basilica dome.

Original image captured @ Historic 1930s Wray Home

(If you want to see more images of this beautiful place)

AMERICA'S FIRST BASILICA

THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY

Recognized as one of the finest examples of Beaux Arts architecture in the country, the Basilica of Saint Mary was constructed between 1907 and 1915. It's also the first Basilica in the United States, honored by Pope Pius XI in 1926. And it has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Dominating its own city block on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, the Basilica of Saint Mary is a grand architectural landmark housing a bustling and lively urban community. But the Basilica is more than just a beautiful building. It is a gathering place for people of all faiths and races, a center for the arts and a refuge for the poor. It's a community very much committed to the growth and social well being of Minneapolis.

Starting with Father Hennepin's courageous voyage up the Mississippi River in 1680 to Father Michael O'Connell's bold struggle in the 1990s to save the deteriorating Basilica of Saint Mary, the Basilica story is about inspiring, hardworking, and committed people. From the early Catholic pioneers who built simple log churches in the Minnesota territory to present-day community support for ongoing restoration projects in this ornate stone structure, this story inspires us. (info from the basilica of St Mary website)

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I recognized the pattern, it was my grandmother’s “good” china. So good in fact it only left the cabinet once a year to be cleaned and returned unused.

A nice mid range set by a American company is currently hard to sell. They usually languish for weeks then are sold on half price day becoming someone’s every day dishes.

I guess it will take a couple of decades for them to return to favor.

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal

The Taj Mahal (/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/ often /ˈtɑːʒ/; Hindi: ताज महल, from Persian/Urdu: تاج محل‎, ultimately from Arabic, "crown of palaces", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj") is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

-I'm back Andrew ... Andrew ? Andrew !!

-He can not respond to you right now ...

-What ? Who are you ? What have you done to my apprentice ?

-Oh, nothing, really. You will see him soon. But, Peter, I'm dissapointed. You don't even recognize your old friend ?

-Joe ... I thought that you were dead.

-But I'm not.

-How did you found me ?

You know, it was not really hard. There's not a lot of scientifists in London. And since you're not anymore under the protection of your dear Queen, you could only hide your machineries and you in an old warehouse...

-Ok ... So why did you came ? You know that you will never obtain anything from me !

-I know that my good friend ! But I think that you will cooperate now. Bring him !

-Wait, what ?

-Knell here, now

-I'm sorry Professor, I couldn't stop them ! They were armed !

-I saw that Andrew... So that's how act the great Joe now ? You have to call street thugs and convicts to help you ? Where are your old bodyguards ?

-Stop it right now Peter. The time has changed. We both sank into misery, like almost everybody. But it shall change now. I intent to take advantage of the Apocalypse. You know, with the differents colonies, gangs and individualist, there's a lot of weapon to provide. And a high demand includ a lot if cash ...

-You devil ! There's no weapons here. I only create Steam Motors !

-You should think before talking ! You have some weapons here.

-Yes, I have my old rifle, and a pistol, but you don't need that, isn't it ?

-Right, I'm not searching for these weapons... Let me help you. I know that you never throw away your creations, done or not. Do you remember on what you worked 5 years ago ?

-No .. I see from what you're talking about. But I will never give it to you !

-No ?? Allan ? Kill the apprentice !

-Noooo, stop it !! Joe, this weapon is a prototype ! It's too dangerous !! The damage of the weapon could kill the bearer !!

I know that. But that's not my problem, I 'm not the bearer. And the gang who want this weapon has a lot of money. So ... Give it to me right now !!

-And then what ? You will kill both of us !

-Yes, that's what I usually do. But, I remembrance of our old friendship, I will break my habit.

-It's... It is under my bed...

-You see when you want ! Allan ! Go search it. Now ! Well, goodbye Peter !

-Get off my house, devil !!

-Hey, calm down. I don't want to try your flammethrower here ...

-Get off !!

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My entry to the contest, category scene : Show us a glimpse into the world of Vapourlypse. Whether from the perspective of a survivor, soldier, farmer, worker, etc.

And this is my last build for 2 week, because I'm leaving in holidays. I will maybe post some Vapourlypse figs, but I'm not sure.

Carpet design goes to Brick_head

Recognized, illegitimate child of Manfryd Redwyne and Denyse Florent.

Recognized for being forgotten

The Indian spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is a large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population. When in water it can be recognized from a long distance by the white tertials that form a stripe on the side, and in flight it is distinguished by the green speculum with a broad white band at the base.

This yellow-eyed, black-beaked white bird is easily recognizable. It is 52–71 cm (20–28 in) long, with a 125–150 cm (49–59 in) wingspan. Also, these owls can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 3 kg (3.5 to 6.6 lb).[4] It is one of the largest species of owl and, in North America, is on average the heaviest owl species. The adult male is virtually pure white, but females and young birds have some dark scalloping; the young are heavily barred, and dark spotting may even predominate. Its thick plumage, heavily feathered taloned feet, and colouration render the snowy owl well-adapted for life north of the Arctic Circle.

Snowy owl calls are varied, but the alarm call is a barking, almost quacking krek-krek; the female also has a softer mewling pyee-pyee or prek-prek. The song is a deep repeated gahw. They may also clap their beak in response to threats or annoyances. While called clapping, it is believed this sound may actually be a clicking of the tongue, not the beak. The snowy owl is typically found in the northern circumpolar region, where it makes its summer home north of latitude 60º north. However, it is a particularly nomadic bird, and because population fluctuations in its prey species can force it to relocate, it has been known to breed at more southerly latitudes. During the last glacial, there was a Central Europe Bubo scandiacus gallicus, but no modern subspecies are recognized.

This species of owl nests on the ground, building a scrape on top of a mound or boulder. A site with good visibility is chosen, such as the top of a mound with ready access to hunting areas and a lack of snow. Gravel bars and abandoned eagle nests may be used. The female scrapes a small hollow before laying the eggs. Breeding occurs in May to June, and depending on the amount of prey available, clutch sizes range from 3 to 11 eggs, which are laid singly, approximately every other day over the course of several days. Hatching takes place approximately five weeks after laying, and the pure white young are cared for by both parents. Although the young hatch asynchronously, with the largest in the brood sometimes 10 to 15 times as heavy as the smallest, there is little sibling conflict and no evidence of siblicide. Both the male and the female defend the nest and their young from predators, sometimes by distraction displays. Males may mate with two females which may nest about a kilometre apart.[5] Some individuals stay on the breeding grounds while others migrate.

Hardly recognizable as one of the holiday boats in the downtown Frederick, Maryland winter exhibition, still this seriously tricked out, dragon-themed canal boat was a visual stunner to be sure. I had the pleasure of hanging around all nine boats during the winter solstice festival and, when the "Best Boat" judging takes place in February,

I'm guessing that this specimen will get a lot of attention, especially from the kids. In fact, the kids might just put this one

over the top.

The smart phones were clicking away at this end-of-the-line design each time that I made my way over to the Historic District display. Well. Not clicking, exactly. That term really dates me.

Recognize this view?

Summer Sunrise on the Tidal Basin

I failed to recognize what phase of life cycle these insects were at. But their fascinating movements on water caught my eye. Unfortunately, I was with no tripod that added a problem to the situation as only trails were what's important in this photograph. I also wanted them to evenly spread across the frame. So I took many photographs on that day for all those concerns. Finally, I got what I wanted.

The instantly recognizable Sword-billed Hummingbird is the only hummingbird whose bill is longer than its body. Its very long bill is clearly an adaption that allows it to feed on the deepest tubular flowers, although it was quite agreeable to feed on smaller flowers and nectar feeders.

These acrobatic birds are also good photographic subjects, because they tend to hover in the vicinity of the feeder or flower they are interested in. They are found in the higher elevations of the Andes, from Venezuela to the north to Bolivia to the south.

I headed back from Rykers. SHIELD is getting their asses kicked by Hex, so I think I'm good. Four Freedoms Plaza.

Isolated, quiet, deserted to most who'd look at it. To me, It's already occupied.

"Thud" "Crash" The plaza shakes. Walls, are toppling over. A tentacle rips through the wall. I recognize it's substance.

Carbonadium. One of the only danmed things that can stop my healing factor. And the only one with that is..

"I am Omega Red!"

Oh, crap, things just got more complicated.

Cabonaduim tentacles pound into the ground around me, shaking the floor.

"Wolverine, comerade.." "How I wish to put this tentacle through your heart." "I always wondered if it would slaughter you."

All I gotta do now is run.

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Wolverine moves from 063. Ryker's Island to his own territory 057. Four Freedoms Plaza.