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Widely recognized as one the finest organists of his day, but sadly more often remembered for having taken his own life.

 

Mr. Thayer was also the dedicatee of one of Dudley Buck's (1839-1909) most famous compositions for the organ: Concert Variations on "The Star-Spangled Banner", Op. 23, which you can listen to here (www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/56492) in a courageous performance (considering his current struggles with health and hearing) by David Lamb using the Hereford Cathedral Willis organ (via Hauptwerk).

 

Given the precarious state of American politics and the unrestrained epidemic of gun violence that threatens every citizen's pursuit of happiness, it's difficult to muster much unalloyed patriotic feeling on this our nation's birthday. Still, the national anthem does have a great tune and it is delightfully transformed in this set of variations. About 45 years ago I learned this work and presented it in a Fourth of July concert -- I'll have to see later today, how much of it I can still creditably play--this will be our musical fireworks celebration of the holiday, since it is far too hot to attend outdoor pyrotechnics displays, not to mention the risk of initiating wild fires.

Or, so she likes to believe. You might recognize the title as a line from Billy Joel's "She's always a woman." and you'd be correct.

 

Work was ok today. Very busy, but I was ok with it. If I look at my life right now, it's pretty good too. Kids are healthy and happy and everything seems to be in place.

 

I'm not complaining. About anything! I am having a struggle though... same as always. Trying not to put up the walls and hide, but finding that it's only barely in my control. I'm also not trying to be cryptic. How do I relate something that I have a hard time understanding myself?

  

She can kill with a smile

She can wound with her eyes

She can ruin your faith with her casual lies

And she only reveals what she wants you to see

She hides like a child,

But she's always a woman to me

 

She can lead you to love

She can take you or leave you

She can ask for the truth

But she'll never believe you

And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free

Yeah, she steals like a thief

But she's always a woman to me

 

Oh--she takes care of herself

She can wait if she wants

She's ahead of her time

Oh--and she never gives out

And she never gives in

She just changes her mind

 

And she'll promise you more

Than the Garden of Eden

Then she'll carelessly cut you

And laugh while you're bleedin'

But she'll bring out the best

And the worst you can be

Blame it all on yourself

Cause she's always a woman to me

--Mhmm--

 

Oh--she takes care of herself

She can wait if she wants

She's ahead of her time

Oh--and she never gives out

And she never gives in

She just changes her mind

 

She is frequently kind

And she's suddenly cruel

She can do as she pleases

She's nobody's fool

And she can't be convicted

She's earned her degree

And the most she will do

Is throw shadows at you

But she's always a woman to me

--Mhmm--

  

I've always felt this could have been written about me, word for word... except for the fact that no one knows me that well.

 

"Constructed circa 1865, Upton is a coursed gray ashlar two-storey residence located in the east end of the central residential core of Sault Ste. Marie. It visually provides a well proportioned, dignified elevation to a quiet dead end street.

 

Upton has been recognized for its heritage value by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, By-law 83-266.

 

Thought to have been constructed in 1865, Upton, as it was originally named, is one of the oldest residences in Sault Ste. Marie, second only to the Ermatinger Old Stone House (built in 1812). It was built as the home of Wemyss Mackenzie Simpson. Simpson had come to Canada in 1840, serving with the Hudson's Bay Company in various capacities, including that of chief factor of the Sault post from 1862 until its closure in 1865. Following the closure of the post, Simpson was elected as the first Member of Parliament for Algoma. He served in that capacity from 1867 to 1872, at which time he resigned to accept the post of Indian Commissioner.

 

One of the most important examples of Sault Ste. Marie's earliest residential buildings, Upton displays a Georgian style of architecture with Regency influences. It is similar in design to Bishophurst, built in 1874 as the home of Bishop Frederick Dawson Fauquier, the first Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Algoma. Similarities can be seen in the verandahs, the box-like structure of the main house and the low-hipped roofs with smaller projecting wings.

 

In the mid-1980's Upton was in danger of being lost to the community through neglect and abuse. It was saved by the efforts of Heritage Sault Ste. Marie, a local non-profit corporation that purchased Upton in 1987 and restored its exterior while converting the interior into three luxury condominiums. Now owned by private individuals, this important heritage building is secure in its future.

 

Key character defining elements that reflect Upton's heritage value include its:

- symmetrical fenestration and layout

- low, truncated hip roof

- coursed ashlar stone

- stone lintels, keystones and quoins

- six over six sash windows

- french doors

- Regency style wood verandah" - info from Historic Places Canada.

 

"Sault Ste. Marie (/ˈsuː seɪnt məˈriː/ SOO-seint-ma-REE) is a city on the St. Marys River in Ontario, Canada, close to the Canada–US border. It is the seat of the Algoma District and the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

 

The Ojibwe, the indigenous Anishinaabe inhabitants of the area, call this area Baawitigong, meaning "place of the rapids." They used this as a regional meeting place during whitefish season in the St. Mary's Rapids. (The anglicized form of this name, Bawating, is used in institutional and geographic names in the area.)

 

To the south, across the river, is the United States and the Michigan city of the same name. These two communities were one city until a new treaty after the War of 1812 established the border between Canada and the United States in this area at the St. Mary's River. In the 20th century, the two cities are joined by the International Bridge, which connects Interstate 75 on the Michigan side, and Huron Street (and former Ontario Secondary Highway 550B) on the Ontario side. Shipping traffic in the Great Lakes system bypasses the Saint Mary's Rapids via the American Soo Locks, the world's busiest canal in terms of tonnage that passes through it, while smaller recreational and tour boats use the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie Canal.

 

French colonists referred to the rapids on the river as Les Saults de Ste. Marie and the village name was derived from that. The rapids and cascades of the St. Mary's River descend more than 6 m (20 ft) from the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. Hundreds of years ago, this slowed shipping traffic, requiring an overland portage of boats and cargo from one lake to the other. The entire name translates to "Saint Mary's Rapids" or "Saint Mary's Falls". The word sault is pronounced [so] in French, and /suː/ in the English pronunciation of the city name. Residents of the city are called Saultites.

 

Sault Ste. Marie is bordered to the east by the Rankin and Garden River First Nation reserves, and to the west by Prince Township. To the north, the city is bordered by an unincorporated portion of Algoma District, which includes the local services boards of Aweres, Batchawana Bay, Goulais and District, Peace Tree and Searchmont. The city's census agglomeration, including the townships of Laird, Prince and Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional and the First Nations reserves of Garden River and Rankin, had a total population of 79,800 in 2011.

 

Native American settlements, mostly of Ojibwe-speaking peoples, existed here for more than 500 years. In the late 17th century, French Jesuit missionaries established a mission at the First Nations village. This was followed by development of a fur trading post and larger settlement, as traders, trappers and Native Americans were attracted to the community. It was considered one community and part of Canada until after the War of 1812 and settlement of the border between Canada and the US at the Ste. Mary's River. At that time, the US prohibited British traders from any longer operating in its territory, and the areas separated by the river began to develop as two communities, both named Sault Ste. Marie." - info from Wikipedia.

 

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Butterflies reproduce the way other animals do -- sperm from a male fertilizes eggs from a female. Males and females of the same species recognize one another by the size, color, shape and vein structure of the wings, all of which are species specific. Butterflies also recognize each other through pheromones or scents. During mating, males use clasping organs on their abdomens to grasp females.

 

Many male butterflies deliver more than just sperm to their mates. Most provide a spermatophore, a package of sperm and nutrients the female needs to produce and lay eggs. Some males collect specific nutrients to produce a better spermatophore in an attempt to attract a mate. Some females, however, don't have a choice -- in some species, males mate with females before they have left their chrysalis or swarm the chrysalis waiting for the female to appear. In most species, males and females look a lot a like, but females often have larger abdomens for carrying their eggs.

 

Females store the sperm in a sac called a bursa until she's ready to lay her eggs. She fertilizes her eggs as she lays them, using the last sperm she received first. For this reason, males of some species will leave a substance that dries into a film on the female's abdomen in an effort to keep her from mating with other males. Females lay their eggs one at a time or in batches of hundreds depending on their species.

 

A butterfly has to take special care when laying eggs. The eggs must be kept warm and at the right humidity level. Too much moisture and the egg will rot or be attacked by fungus. Too little and the egg will dry out. Caterpillars also need to start eating as soon as they hatch, so most of the time females place the eggs directly onto a plant the caterpillar will eat. Typically, the eggs attach to the underside of a leaf so they are hidden from predators.

 

In spite of all the effort female butterflies make to protect their eggs, very few make it to adulthood. Ants, birds and other animals can eat the eggs themselves. Also caterpillars and butterflies are popular snacks for everything from birds to bats. Some insects also lurk in or around flowers to prey on adult butterflies. A butterfly's chrysalis also has few defenses from predators and, at all stages of life, a butterfly can succumb to fungi and diseases.

 

Kite Butterfly, Rice Paper, Idea leuconoe

Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL

www.susanfordcollins.com

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.[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.

  

Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States. It is about 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Lake Tahoe, and 12 mi (19 km) east-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8,379 feet (2554 m). Bodie became a boom town in 1876 (146 years ago) after the discovery of a profitable line of gold; by 1879 it had a population of 7,000–10,000.

 

The town went into decline in the subsequent decades and came to be described as a ghost town by 1915 (107 years ago). The U.S. Department of the Interior recognizes the designated Bodie Historic District as a National Historic Landmark.

 

Also registered as a California Historical Landmark, the ghost town officially was established as Bodie State Historic Park in 1962. It receives about 200,000 visitors yearly. Bodie State Historic Park is partly supported by the Bodie Foundation.

 

Bodie began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859 by a group of prospectors, including W. S. Bodey. Bodey died in a blizzard the following November while making a supply trip to Monoville (near present-day Mono City), never getting to see the rise of the town that was named after him. According to area pioneer Judge J. G. McClinton, the district's name was changed from "Bodey," "Body," and a few other phonetic variations, to "Bodie," after a painter in the nearby boomtown of Aurora, lettered a sign "Bodie Stables".

 

Gold discovered at Bodie coincided with the discovery of silver at nearby Aurora (thought to be in California, later found to be Nevada), and the distant Comstock Lode beneath Virginia City, Nevada. But while these two towns boomed, interest in Bodie remained lackluster. By 1868 only two companies had built stamp mills at Bodie, and both had failed.

 

In 1876, the Standard Company discovered a profitable deposit of gold-bearing ore, which transformed Bodie from an isolated mining camp comprising a few prospectors and company employees to a Wild West boomtown. Rich discoveries in the adjacent Bodie Mine during 1878 attracted even more hopeful people. By 1879, Bodie had a population of approximately 7,000–10,000 people and around 2,000 buildings. One legend says that in 1880, Bodie was California's second or third largest city. but the U.S. Census of that year disproves this. Over the years 1860-1941 Bodie's mines produced gold and silver valued at an estimated US$34 million (in 1986 dollars, or $85 million in 2021).

 

Bodie boomed from late 1877 through mid– to late 1880. The first newspaper, The Standard Pioneer Journal of Mono County, published its first edition on October 10, 1877. Starting as a weekly, it soon expanded publication to three times a week. It was also during this time that a telegraph line was built which connected Bodie with Bridgeport and Genoa, Nevada. California and Nevada newspapers predicted Bodie would become the next Comstock Lode. Men from both states were lured to Bodie by the prospect of another bonanza.

 

Gold bullion from the town's nine stamp mills was shipped to Carson City, Nevada, by way of Aurora, Wellington and Gardnerville. Most shipments were accompanied by armed guards. After the bullion reached Carson City, it was delivered to the mint there, or sent by rail to the mint in San Francisco.

 

As a bustling gold mining center, Bodie had the amenities of larger towns, including a Wells Fargo Bank, four volunteer fire companies, a brass band, railroad, miners' and mechanics' union, several daily newspapers, and a jail. At its peak, 65 saloons lined Main Street, which was a mile long. Murders, shootouts, barroom brawls, and stagecoach holdups were regular occurrences.

 

As with other remote mining towns, Bodie had a popular, though clandestine, red light district on the north end of town. There is an unsubstantiated story of Rosa May, a prostitute who, in the style of Florence Nightingale, came to the aid of the town menfolk when a serious epidemic struck the town at the height of its boom. She is credited with giving life-saving care to many, but after she died, was buried outside the cemetery fence.

 

Bodie had a Chinatown, the main street of which ran at a right angle to Bodie's Main Street. At one point it had several hundred Chinese residents and a Taoist temple. Opium dens were plentiful in this area.

 

Bodie also had a cemetery on the outskirts of town and a nearby mortuary. It is the only building in the town built of red brick three courses thick, most likely for insulation to keep the air temperature steady during the cold winters and hot summers. The cemetery includes a Miners Union section, and a cenotaph erected to honor President James A. Garfield. The Bodie Boot Hill was located outside of the official city cemetery.

 

On Main Street stands the Miners Union Hall, which was the meeting place for labor unions. It also served as an entertainment center that hosted dances, concerts, plays, and school recitals. It now serves as a museum.

 

The first signs of decline appeared in 1880 and became obvious toward the end of the year. Promising mining booms in Butte, Montana; Tombstone, Arizona; and Utah lured men away from Bodie. The get-rich-quick, single miners who came to the town in the 1870s moved on to these other booms, and Bodie developed into a family-oriented community. In 1882 residents built the Methodist Church (which still stands) and the Roman Catholic Church (burned 1928). Despite the population decline, the mines were flourishing, and in 1881 Bodie's ore production was recorded at a high of $3.1 million. Also in 1881, a narrow-gauge railroad was built called the Bodie Railway & Lumber Company, bringing lumber, cordwood, and mine timbers to the mining district from Mono Mills south of Mono Lake.

 

During the early 1890s, Bodie enjoyed a short revival from technological advancements in the mines that continued to support the town. In 1890, the recently invented cyanide process promised to recover gold and silver from discarded mill tailings and from low-grade ore bodies that had been passed over. In 1892, the Standard Company built its own hydroelectric plant approximately 13 miles (20.9 km) away at Dynamo Pond. The plant developed a maximum of 130 horsepower (97 kW) and 3,530 volts alternating current (AC) to power the company's 20-stamp mill. This pioneering installation marked the country's first transmissions of electricity over a long distance.

 

In 1910, the population was recorded at 698 people, which were predominantly families who decided to stay in Bodie instead of moving on to other prosperous strikes.

 

The first signs of an official decline occurred in 1912 with the printing of the last Bodie newspaper, The Bodie Miner. In a 1913 book titled California Tourist Guide and Handbook: Authentic Description of Routes of Travel and Points of Interest in California, the authors, Wells and Aubrey Drury, described Bodie as a "mining town, which is the center of a large mineral region". They referred to two hotels and a railroad operating there. In 1913, the Standard Consolidated Mine closed.

 

Mining profits in 1914 were at a low of $6,821. James S. Cain bought everything from the town lots to the mining claims, and reopened the Standard mill to former employees, which resulted in an over $100,000 profit in 1915. However, this financial growth was not in time to stop the town's decline. In 1917, the Bodie Railway was abandoned and its iron tracks were scrapped.

 

The last mine closed in 1942, due to War Production Board order L-208, shutting down all non-essential gold mines in the United States during World War II. Mining never resumed after the war.

 

Bodie was first described as a "ghost town" in 1915. In a time when auto travel was on the rise, many travelers reached Bodie via automobiles. The San Francisco Chronicle published an article in 1919 to dispute the "ghost town" label.

 

By 1920, Bodie's population was recorded by the US Federal Census at a total of 120 people. Despite the decline and a severe fire in the business district in 1932, Bodie had permanent residents through nearly half of the 20th century. A post office operated at Bodie from 1877 to 1942

 

In the 1940s, the threat of vandalism faced the ghost town. The Cain family, who owned much of the land, hired caretakers to protect and to maintain the town's structures. Martin Gianettoni, one of the last three people living in Bodie in 1943, was a caretaker.

 

Bodie is now an authentic Wild West ghost town.

 

The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1962 the state legislature authorized creation of Bodie State Historic Park. A total of 170 buildings remained. Bodie has been named as California's official state gold rush ghost town.

 

Visitors arrive mainly via SR 270, which runs from US 395 near Bridgeport to the west; the last three miles of it is a dirt road. There is also a road to SR 167 near Mono Lake in the south, but this road is extremely rough, with more than 10 miles of dirt track in a bad state of repair. Due to heavy snowfall, the roads to Bodie are usually closed in winter .

 

Today, Bodie is preserved in a state of arrested decay. Only a small part of the town survived, with about 110 structures still standing, including one of many once operational gold mills. Visitors can walk the deserted streets of a town that once was a bustling area of activity. Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. Littered throughout the park, one can find small shards of china dishes, square nails and an occasional bottle, but removing these items is against the rules of the park.

 

The California State Parks' ranger station is located in one of the original homes on Green Street.

 

In 2009 and again in 2010, Bodie was scheduled to be closed. The California state legislature worked out a budget compromise that enabled the state's Parks Closure Commission to keep it open. As of 2022, the park is still operating, now administered by the Bodie Foundation.

 

California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2 million residents across a total area of approximately 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2), it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the most populated subnational entity in North America and the 34th most populous in the world. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions respectively, with the former having more than 18.7 million residents and the latter having over 9.6 million. Sacramento is the state's capital, while Los Angeles is the most populous city in the state and the second most populous city in the country. San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the country. Los Angeles County is the country's most populous, while San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the country. California borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south; and has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the west.

 

The economy of the state of California is the largest in the United States, with a $3.4 trillion gross state product (GSP) as of 2022. It is the largest sub-national economy in the world. If California were a sovereign nation, it would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy as of 2022, behind Germany and ahead of India, as well as the 37th most populous. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and third-largest urban economies ($1.0 trillion and $0.5 trillion respectively as of 2020). The San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area had the nation's highest gross domestic product per capita ($106,757) among large primary statistical areas in 2018, and is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people.

 

Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America and contained the highest Native American population density north of what is now Mexico. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization of California by the Spanish Empire. In 1804, it was included in Alta California province within the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and led to dramatic social and demographic changes, including large-scale immigration into California, a worldwide economic boom, and the California genocide of indigenous people. The western portion of Alta California was then organized and admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850, following the Compromise of 1850.

 

Notable contributions to popular culture, for example in entertainment and sports, have their origins in California. The state also has made noteworthy contributions in the fields of communication, information, innovation, environmentalism, economics, and politics. It is the home of Hollywood, the oldest and one of the largest film industries in the world, which has had a profound influence upon global entertainment. It is considered the origin of the hippie counterculture, beach and car culture, and the personal computer, among other innovations. The San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Los Angeles Area are widely seen as the centers of the global technology and film industries, respectively. California's economy is very diverse: 58% of it is based on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific, and technical business services. Although it accounts for only 1.5% of the state's economy, California's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state. California's ports and harbors handle about a third of all U.S. imports, most originating in Pacific Rim international trade.

 

The state's extremely diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast and metropolitan areas in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, and from the redwood and Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast. The Central Valley, a major agricultural area, dominates the state's center. California is well known for its warm Mediterranean climate and monsoon seasonal weather. The large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains.

 

Settled by successive waves of arrivals during at least the last 13,000 years, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America. Various estimates of the native population have ranged from 100,000 to 300,000. The indigenous peoples of California included more than 70 distinct ethnic groups, inhabiting environments from mountains and deserts to islands and redwood forests. These groups were also diverse in their political organization, with bands, tribes, villages, and on the resource-rich coasts, large chiefdoms, such as the Chumash, Pomo and Salinan. Trade, intermarriage and military alliances fostered social and economic relationships between many groups.

 

The first Europeans to explore the coast of California were the members of a Spanish maritime expedition led by Portuguese captain Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. Cabrillo was commissioned by Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain, to lead an expedition up the Pacific coast in search of trade opportunities; they entered San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542, and reached at least as far north as San Miguel Island. Privateer and explorer Francis Drake explored and claimed an undefined portion of the California coast in 1579, landing north of the future city of San Francisco. Sebastián Vizcaíno explored and mapped the coast of California in 1602 for New Spain, putting ashore in Monterey. Despite the on-the-ground explorations of California in the 16th century, Rodríguez's idea of California as an island persisted. Such depictions appeared on many European maps well into the 18th century.

 

The Portolá expedition of 1769-70 was a pivotal event in the Spanish colonization of California, resulting in the establishment of numerous missions, presidios, and pueblos. The military and civil contingent of the expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá, who traveled over land from Sonora into California, while the religious component was headed by Junípero Serra, who came by sea from Baja California. In 1769, Portolá and Serra established Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the Presidio of San Diego, the first religious and military settlements founded by the Spanish in California. By the end of the expedition in 1770, they would establish the Presidio of Monterey and Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on Monterey Bay.

 

After the Portolà expedition, Spanish missionaries led by Father-President Serra set out to establish 21 Spanish missions of California along El Camino Real ("The Royal Road") and along the Californian coast, 16 sites of which having been chosen during the Portolá expedition. Numerous major cities in California grew out of missions, including San Francisco (Mission San Francisco de Asís), San Diego (Mission San Diego de Alcalá), Ventura (Mission San Buenaventura), or Santa Barbara (Mission Santa Barbara), among others.

 

Juan Bautista de Anza led a similarly important expedition throughout California in 1775–76, which would extend deeper into the interior and north of California. The Anza expedition selected numerous sites for missions, presidios, and pueblos, which subsequently would be established by settlers. Gabriel Moraga, a member of the expedition, would also christen many of California's prominent rivers with their names in 1775–1776, such as the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River. After the expedition, Gabriel's son, José Joaquín Moraga, would found the pueblo of San Jose in 1777, making it the first civilian-established city in California.

  

The Spanish founded Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776, the third to be established of the Californian missions.

During this same period, sailors from the Russian Empire explored along the northern coast of California. In 1812, the Russian-American Company established a trading post and small fortification at Fort Ross on the North Coast. Fort Ross was primarily used to supply Russia's Alaskan colonies with food supplies. The settlement did not meet much success, failing to attract settlers or establish long term trade viability, and was abandoned by 1841.

 

During the War of Mexican Independence, Alta California was largely unaffected and uninvolved in the revolution, though many Californios supported independence from Spain, which many believed had neglected California and limited its development. Spain's trade monopoly on California had limited the trade prospects of Californians. Following Mexican independence, Californian ports were freely able to trade with foreign merchants. Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá presided over the transition from Spanish colonial rule to independent.

 

In 1821, the Mexican War of Independence gave the Mexican Empire (which included California) independence from Spain. For the next 25 years, Alta California remained a remote, sparsely populated, northwestern administrative district of the newly independent country of Mexico, which shortly after independence became a republic. The missions, which controlled most of the best land in the state, were secularized by 1834 and became the property of the Mexican government. The governor granted many square leagues of land to others with political influence. These huge ranchos or cattle ranches emerged as the dominant institutions of Mexican California. The ranchos developed under ownership by Californios (Hispanics native of California) who traded cowhides and tallow with Boston merchants. Beef did not become a commodity until the 1849 California Gold Rush.

 

From the 1820s, trappers and settlers from the United States and Canada began to arrive in Northern California. These new arrivals used the Siskiyou Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail and Old Spanish Trail to cross the rugged mountains and harsh deserts in and surrounding California. The early government of the newly independent Mexico was highly unstable, and in a reflection of this, from 1831 onwards, California also experienced a series of armed disputes, both internal and with the central Mexican government. During this tumultuous political period Juan Bautista Alvarado was able to secure the governorship during 1836–1842. The military action which first brought Alvarado to power had momentarily declared California to be an independent state, and had been aided by Anglo-American residents of California, including Isaac Graham. In 1840, one hundred of those residents who did not have passports were arrested, leading to the Graham Affair, which was resolved in part with the intercession of Royal Navy officials.

 

One of the largest ranchers in California was John Marsh. After failing to obtain justice against squatters on his land from the Mexican courts, he determined that California should become part of the United States. Marsh conducted a letter-writing campaign espousing the California climate, the soil, and other reasons to settle there, as well as the best route to follow, which became known as "Marsh's route". His letters were read, reread, passed around, and printed in newspapers throughout the country, and started the first wagon trains rolling to California. He invited immigrants to stay on his ranch until they could get settled, and assisted in their obtaining passports.

 

After ushering in the period of organized emigration to California, Marsh became involved in a military battle between the much-hated Mexican general, Manuel Micheltorena and the California governor he had replaced, Juan Bautista Alvarado. The armies of each met at the Battle of Providencia near Los Angeles. Marsh had been forced against his will to join Micheltorena's army. Ignoring his superiors, during the battle, he signaled the other side for a parley. There were many settlers from the United States fighting on both sides. He convinced these men that they had no reason to be fighting each other. As a result of Marsh's actions, they abandoned the fight, Micheltorena was defeated, and California-born Pio Pico was returned to the governorship. This paved the way to California's ultimate acquisition by the United States.

 

In 1846, a group of American settlers in and around Sonoma rebelled against Mexican rule during the Bear Flag Revolt. Afterward, rebels raised the Bear Flag (featuring a bear, a star, a red stripe and the words "California Republic") at Sonoma. The Republic's only president was William B. Ide,[65] who played a pivotal role during the Bear Flag Revolt. This revolt by American settlers served as a prelude to the later American military invasion of California and was closely coordinated with nearby American military commanders.

 

The California Republic was short-lived; the same year marked the outbreak of the Mexican–American War (1846–48).

 

Commodore John D. Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into Monterey Bay in 1846 and began the U.S. military invasion of California, with Northern California capitulating in less than a month to the United States forces. In Southern California, Californios continued to resist American forces. Notable military engagements of the conquest include the Battle of San Pasqual and the Battle of Dominguez Rancho in Southern California, as well as the Battle of Olómpali and the Battle of Santa Clara in Northern California. After a series of defensive battles in the south, the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed by the Californios on January 13, 1847, securing a censure and establishing de facto American control in California.

 

Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848) that ended the war, the westernmost portion of the annexed Mexican territory of Alta California soon became the American state of California, and the remainder of the old territory was then subdivided into the new American Territories of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah. The even more lightly populated and arid lower region of old Baja California remained as a part of Mexico. In 1846, the total settler population of the western part of the old Alta California had been estimated to be no more than 8,000, plus about 100,000 Native Americans, down from about 300,000 before Hispanic settlement in 1769.

 

In 1848, only one week before the official American annexation of the area, gold was discovered in California, this being an event which was to forever alter both the state's demographics and its finances. Soon afterward, a massive influx of immigration into the area resulted, as prospectors and miners arrived by the thousands. The population burgeoned with United States citizens, Europeans, Chinese and other immigrants during the great California Gold Rush. By the time of California's application for statehood in 1850, the settler population of California had multiplied to 100,000. By 1854, more than 300,000 settlers had come. Between 1847 and 1870, the population of San Francisco increased from 500 to 150,000.

 

The seat of government for California under Spanish and later Mexican rule had been located in Monterey from 1777 until 1845. Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California, had briefly moved the capital to Los Angeles in 1845. The United States consulate had also been located in Monterey, under consul Thomas O. Larkin.

 

In 1849, a state Constitutional Convention was first held in Monterey. Among the first tasks of the convention was a decision on a location for the new state capital. The first full legislative sessions were held in San Jose (1850–1851). Subsequent locations included Vallejo (1852–1853), and nearby Benicia (1853–1854); these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well. The capital has been located in Sacramento since 1854 with only a short break in 1862 when legislative sessions were held in San Francisco due to flooding in Sacramento. Once the state's Constitutional Convention had finalized its state constitution, it applied to the U.S. Congress for admission to statehood. On September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, California became a free state and September 9 a state holiday.

 

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), California sent gold shipments eastward to Washington in support of the Union. However, due to the existence of a large contingent of pro-South sympathizers within the state, the state was not able to muster any full military regiments to send eastwards to officially serve in the Union war effort. Still, several smaller military units within the Union army were unofficially associated with the state of California, such as the "California 100 Company", due to a majority of their members being from California.

 

At the time of California's admission into the Union, travel between California and the rest of the continental United States had been a time-consuming and dangerous feat. Nineteen years later, and seven years after it was greenlighted by President Lincoln, the First transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. California was then reachable from the eastern States in a week's time.

 

Much of the state was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. Vast expanses of wheat, other cereal crops, vegetable crops, cotton, and nut and fruit trees were grown (including oranges in Southern California), and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production in the Central Valley and elsewhere.

 

In the nineteenth century, a large number of migrants from China traveled to the state as part of the Gold Rush or to seek work. Even though the Chinese proved indispensable in building the transcontinental railroad from California to Utah, perceived job competition with the Chinese led to anti-Chinese riots in the state, and eventually the US ended migration from China partially as a response to pressure from California with the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.

 

Under earlier Spanish and Mexican rule, California's original native population had precipitously declined, above all, from Eurasian diseases to which the indigenous people of California had not yet developed a natural immunity. Under its new American administration, California's harsh governmental policies towards its own indigenous people did not improve. As in other American states, many of the native inhabitants were soon forcibly removed from their lands by incoming American settlers such as miners, ranchers, and farmers. Although California had entered the American union as a free state, the "loitering or orphaned Indians" were de facto enslaved by their new Anglo-American masters under the 1853 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians. There were also massacres in which hundreds of indigenous people were killed.

 

Between 1850 and 1860, the California state government paid around 1.5 million dollars (some 250,000 of which was reimbursed by the federal government) to hire militias whose purpose was to protect settlers from the indigenous populations. In later decades, the native population was placed in reservations and rancherias, which were often small and isolated and without enough natural resources or funding from the government to sustain the populations living on them. As a result, the rise of California was a calamity for the native inhabitants. Several scholars and Native American activists, including Benjamin Madley and Ed Castillo, have described the actions of the California government as a genocide.

 

In the twentieth century, thousands of Japanese people migrated to the US and California specifically to attempt to purchase and own land in the state. However, the state in 1913 passed the Alien Land Act, excluding Asian immigrants from owning land. During World War II, Japanese Americans in California were interned in concentration camps such as at Tule Lake and Manzanar. In 2020, California officially apologized for this internment.

 

Migration to California accelerated during the early 20th century with the completion of major transcontinental highways like the Lincoln Highway and Route 66. In the period from 1900 to 1965, the population grew from fewer than one million to the greatest in the Union. In 1940, the Census Bureau reported California's population as 6.0% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 89.5% non-Hispanic white.

 

To meet the population's needs, major engineering feats like the California and Los Angeles Aqueducts; the Oroville and Shasta Dams; and the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges were built across the state. The state government also adopted the California Master Plan for Higher Education in 1960 to develop a highly efficient system of public education.

 

Meanwhile, attracted to the mild Mediterranean climate, cheap land, and the state's wide variety of geography, filmmakers established the studio system in Hollywood in the 1920s. California manufactured 8.7 percent of total United States military armaments produced during World War II, ranking third (behind New York and Michigan) among the 48 states. California however easily ranked first in production of military ships during the war (transport, cargo, [merchant ships] such as Liberty ships, Victory ships, and warships) at drydock facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. After World War II, California's economy greatly expanded due to strong aerospace and defense industries, whose size decreased following the end of the Cold War. Stanford University and its Dean of Engineering Frederick Terman began encouraging faculty and graduates to stay in California instead of leaving the state, and develop a high-tech region in the area now known as Silicon Valley. As a result of these efforts, California is regarded as a world center of the entertainment and music industries, of technology, engineering, and the aerospace industry, and as the United States center of agricultural production. Just before the Dot Com Bust, California had the fifth-largest economy in the world among nations.

 

In the mid and late twentieth century, a number of race-related incidents occurred in the state. Tensions between police and African Americans, combined with unemployment and poverty in inner cities, led to violent riots, such as the 1965 Watts riots and 1992 Rodney King riots. California was also the hub of the Black Panther Party, a group known for arming African Americans to defend against racial injustice and for organizing free breakfast programs for schoolchildren. Additionally, Mexican, Filipino, and other migrant farm workers rallied in the state around Cesar Chavez for better pay in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

During the 20th century, two great disasters happened in California. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and 1928 St. Francis Dam flood remain the deadliest in U.S. history.

 

Although air pollution problems have been reduced, health problems associated with pollution have continued. The brown haze known as "smog" has been substantially abated after the passage of federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.

 

An energy crisis in 2001 led to rolling blackouts, soaring power rates, and the importation of electricity from neighboring states. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Company came under heavy criticism.

 

Housing prices in urban areas continued to increase; a modest home which in the 1960s cost $25,000 would cost half a million dollars or more in urban areas by 2005. More people commuted longer hours to afford a home in more rural areas while earning larger salaries in the urban areas. Speculators bought houses they never intended to live in, expecting to make a huge profit in a matter of months, then rolling it over by buying more properties. Mortgage companies were compliant, as everyone assumed the prices would keep rising. The bubble burst in 2007–8 as housing prices began to crash and the boom years ended. Hundreds of billions in property values vanished and foreclosures soared as many financial institutions and investors were badly hurt.

 

In the twenty-first century, droughts and frequent wildfires attributed to climate change have occurred in the state. From 2011 to 2017, a persistent drought was the worst in its recorded history. The 2018 wildfire season was the state's deadliest and most destructive, most notably Camp Fire.

 

Although air pollution problems have been reduced, health problems associated with pollution have continued. The brown haze that is known as "smog" has been substantially abated thanks to federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.

 

One of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States that occurred in California was first of which was confirmed on January 26, 2020. Meaning, all of the early confirmed cases were persons who had recently travelled to China in Asia, as testing was restricted to this group. On this January 29, 2020, as disease containment protocols were still being developed, the U.S. Department of State evacuated 195 persons from Wuhan, China aboard a chartered flight to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, and in this process, it may have granted and conferred to escalated within the land and the US at cosmic. On February 5, 2020, the U.S. evacuated 345 more citizens from Hubei Province to two military bases in California, Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, where they were quarantined for 14 days. A state of emergency was largely declared in this state of the nation on March 4, 2020, and as of February 24, 2021, remains in effect. A mandatory statewide stay-at-home order was issued on March 19, 2020, due to increase, which was ended on January 25, 2021, allowing citizens to return to normal life. On April 6, 2021, the state announced plans to fully reopen the economy by June 15, 2021.

 

Met this fellow at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen. Do you know what kind of animal it is?

   

When the Muslims conquered the area in 714, they recognized the value of this strategic location and built a fortress between two ravines.

 

In 1076, Cuenca was unsuccessfully besieged by Sancho Ramírez of Aragon. In 1080 there was a treaty between King Yahya al-Qadir and Alfonso VI. of León and Castile, through which some fortresses were ceded in exchange for military aid.

 

Cuenca was then conquered by Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad in 1086. However, when his country was attacked by the Almoravids, he again offered Cuenca to Alfonso in return for military support. The first Christian troops entered the city in 1093. However, the Almoravids conquered it in 1108. As part of the Reconquista, King Alfonso VIII conquered the city from the Moors in 1177 after a nine-month siege. The Diocese of Cuenca was founded in 1183. Alfonso X gave Cuenca the title “ciudad” in 1257.

 

Cuenca is divided into two different areas, the Old Town and the New Town. The first is located on a rocky hill bordered on the north by the gorges of the Júcar River and on the south by its tributary, the Huécar River. Cuenca is a vibrant city with a population of about 55.000.

  

The Cathedral, inspired by the early Gothic architecture of Central Europe (Soissons, Laon...), was built between 1196 and 1257, but many changes were made repeatedly in the following centuries. The entire choir area was renovated in the 15th century, and the decor of the apse were only created in the 17th/18th century.

 

In 1902, the bell tower collapsed after a lightning strike and damaged the facade, whose reconstruction in the neo-Gothic style, which was not true to the original, began eight years later. The current appearance shows that the structure remains unfinished.

   

This piece has been seen on Flickr before, but it was scarcely recognizable then.

 

On May 24, 2020, almost six months ago as of this writing, I found it on the beach where the tide had deposited it. At 80 inches (2.03 meters) in length, it wasn't something I could tuck into the ziplock baggie I use for my finds.

 

It was at the far end of the beach from our place. Dragging it all the way home seemed impossible. With much regret, I pulled it into the water and said goodbye.

 

To my delight, when we went for a beach walk the next morning, I discovered that the currents had carried it south overnight. It was directly in line with our beach path.

 

Pledging to bring it home, I set off northward with Frank. True to my word, when we returned I stopped to figure out my next move. Frank shook his head in disbelief and continued on to the house.

 

At that point the mat was a mess. Not only was it covered in sand, below the sand was a layer of slimy algae. The side that had been submerged was encrusted with tiny marine shells. It wasn't ready for my trophy shelf.

 

That day I only dragged it far enough so I could hide it behind one of the foredunes. Delighted that no one had swiped it overnight, I pulled it up the foredune the next day, down the other side, along the trail through the beach grass and into the first forest.

 

I continued down the forest path until I reached a sunny spot on a slope. There I left it exposed to the sun and rain for many weeks. During that time the shells fell off and the algae dried out.

 

Once the mat had lost the distinctive aroma of a tide flat, I dragged it the rest of the way through the first forest, across the beach-grass clearing, through the second forest and up the hill to the house.

 

What followed was several months of cleaning. First I scoured it with a large scrub brush of the kind used on floors. Then I got to work on it with a tooth brush. The algae was everywhere, but it was particularly hard to remove wherever the ropes crossed and inside the many nooks and crannies of the countless knots. I found that hot water softened the algae and made it easier to remove.

 

Soon I set to work on it with a needle, which I used to pry out the algae that concealed the beauty of the yellow and blue nylon rope.

 

Though the odor of dead fish was long gone, a disagreeable smell of mildew remained. I discovered that sunlight was the best remedy, so I laid it over the plastic Adirondack chairs in the sun when I wasn't working on it.

 

Not all my methods of cleaning were successful. The Water Pik® was a great disappointment. The breakthrough came when the double-ended stainless steel dental tool arrived. There was no bit of encrusted algae that could not be reached and removed.

 

Finally the day came when I could declare the cleaning complete. I had already decided to hang it in an unused doorway. The loose weave made it easy to run a dowel through the first row of knots at one end. Using a level, I made sure the row of holes for the heavy-duty hooks wasn't sloping in either direction.

 

When the moment of truth came and I hung the mat, the dowel slipped easily into the hooks' embrace. But when I stepped back a few yards to admire it, I saw immediately that the bottom was puckered and the loose knotting allowed it to be pinched in the middle. Two more dowels solved those problems.

 

Today I discovered a Reddit beachcombing group. I wasted no time posting this photo to the group and asking whether anyone knew the mat's origin and purpose.

 

I will update if and when any new information comes in.

 

Ocean Park, Washington.

 

The Nazca Lines are more than 1500 gigantic shaded images (geoglyphs) in the desert near Nazca and Palpa in Peru, which are best visible and recognizable from the air.

 

The Paracas and Nazca cultures are considered to be the originators of the lines.

The most recognized mouse around!

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#fujifilm_xseries

#fujifilmx_us

#fujixseries

#fujicamera

#fujifilm

#fujifeed

#fujifilm_northamerica

#X100F

#country_features

#photooftheday

#photography

#travelphotography

#shutterbug_collective #photographyeveryday

#fujifilmxseries

#throughthelens

#ipulledoverforthis

#ig_world_photo

#fujilove

#myfujifilm

#photo_collective

#wdw

#waltdisneyworld

#disneyworld

#mickeymouse

#magickingdom

so much inspiration here...I just started putting up mail from art friends on this inspiration board. I have more and will work on again tomorrow. Thank you to all my fabulous art friends. You So inspire me!!

www.artjunk.typepad.com

  

Smug Since recognizing his passion for Graffiti, He has quickly become one of the most talented street artists around.

Sam Bates known as Smug has high-quality murals demonstrate a photo-realistic style, and a careful and precise attitude to his work. Smug is inspired by the people he knows and whomever comes into contact with, creating thoroughly unique pieces that have been exhibited globally.

This mural took about a week to paint and thought to represent Mungo in modern-day clothes. Mungo is Glasgow’s patron saint, born in the 6th century. The story goes that when he was young, some boys from his village started throwing stones at robins that were pecking on the ground for scraps.One bird was hit and fell to the ground. The boys ran away. Mungo ran, too, but he ran to the fallen bird. Picking it up he smoothed and caressed its feathers and prayed over it. After a little while it revived and flew away. Perhaps it was only stunned. The villagers called it a miracle and so it was that a small boy should want to help a fallen bird in trouble.

You may recognize this structure from some of my other photos, but I just really love the shape and the way it plays with light. This is the Tacoma Glass Museum whose interesting design serves to house the Glass Blowing Shop and observation area while allowing exhaust and cooling for the giant blast furnaces. fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-jason-jacobs.html

Hopefully many of you recognize this as the one and only G-Man, Gunther belonging to lucky3110! ( www.flickr.com/photos/34485452@N08/4711209760/ )

I've had some recent inspiration and I realized I haven't drawn a digital Spoo in a LONG time. So I went hunting for a model...and who could pass up Gunther?!

 

I've spent so much time on this, what was meant to be a simple little drawing... haha... but I really love how it turned out! Let me know what you think.

 

Ingrid - I hope you don't mind that I used Gunther as a model, and if you don't like his image being up here on my stream just let me know and I'll take it down. I do hope you like it : )

 

Referenced a number of Ingrid's photos.

View On White

"The moon shines in my body,

but my blind eyes cannot see it:

The moon is within me, and so is the sun.

The unstruck drum of Eternity is sounded within me;

but my deaf ears cannot hear it.

 

So long as man clamours for the I and the Mine,

his works are as naught:

When all love for the I and the Mine is dead,

then the work of the Lord is done.

For work has no other aim

than the getting of knowledge:

When that comes then work is put away.

 

The flower blooms for the fruit:

When the fruit comes, the flower withers.

The musk is in the deer,

but it seeks it not within itself:

It wanders in the quest of grass."

 

-Kabir (13th Century Ecstatic Poet)

(Translation by Rabindranath Tagore)

 

…After rereading the “World House” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-lec...

 

The poem by Kabir and the words of Dr. King complement each other and light a way for the us to recognize a world family and realize that the small definitions of ourselves will no long serve a transcendant vision of love and unity. They both point back to the limitless capacities within each of us. This artwork is dedicated to the child of Light that shines on and on out of our very Being.

 

Why I love this poem: Blog

 

***ADDED NOTE: I'll be flying out west for a couple of weeks so I will catch up with you when I get back. Love to you all!!!!

 

Constantine, (The Great) born on March 17th 2014.

 

He is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog.

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

Thank you for all of your comments and favs. Much appreciated from me <3

 

View On Black

Recognize the lions?

*Working Towards a Better World

 

“No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” - Alice Walker

 

This is the twelfth in my new series, one which recognizes my friends here on Flickr. I wish to thank you for your friendship and your support! Some of you I work with, some of you I have worked with, some of you have given me opportunities and the rest of you my wonderful friends share an infinity with art and an ability to share our love, ideas and support thank you all!

 

Naughty Greek - Giorgos Rodis

www.flickr.com/photos/11336800@N00

 

ar-mart

www.flickr.com/photos/ar-mart/

 

Roiz Roiz

www.flickr.com/photos/127523566@N08/

 

sgrillo.angeloraffaele

www.flickr.com/photos/98440994@N08/

 

Gilda Tonello

www.flickr.com/photos/gildatonello/

 

joseruizramosjruizramos

www.flickr.com/photos/123370343@N02/

 

Budleigh mike .. talksport -Michael Kerswill

www.flickr.com/photos/talksport/

 

stanfarber62

www.flickr.com/photos/123265837@N08/

 

Dave-Mcclean 67

www.flickr.com/photos/davidmcclean67/

 

j0sh (www.pixael.com) - Giuseppe Milo

www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppemilo/

 

www.massimonicoli.com

www.flickr.com/photos/124091301@N07/

 

keith_fannon

www.flickr.com/photos/keithjfannon/

 

WaldyWhite - Waldemar Weiss

www.flickr.com/photos/weiswaldemar/

 

“'kenlwc - ken leung

www.flickr.com/photos/kenlwc/

 

nilliske - Cees

www.flickr.com/photos/nilliske/

 

***** PLEASE UNDERSTAND, that there are so many of you who have befriended and support me, that if you have not already been mentioned, you will be. Please be patient, my list is long and will continue!!!

 

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! xo💜💜

While not necessarily recognized by high society as posh, the Hudson automobile was not seen in most social circles of the American elite. One Hudson, however, stood a head above all the rest. “One”, is meant literally. This 1928 Hudson 4-door Town Car was a production of 1 – luxuriously finished and custom equipped. The body was built by Walter M. Murphy Body Company of Pasadena, CA. The instructions for building the body were that it not resemble any other Hudson.

 

The car was custom built for Mrs. Fredrich William Schmacher, wife of the patent medicine king of Columbus, Ohio. The chassis was acquired through her brother, an official at the Hudson Motor Car Company. It is a one-of-a-kind Town Car as elegant and well appointed as any Lincoln, Cadillac, Packard and even a Rolls-Royce of its time. During the period that Mrs. Schmacher owned this car, it was always chauffeur driven and was never left outside.

 

The car was powered by 288.6 cid six-cylinder engine. The estimated cost of the car was $14,000. a tidy sum in 1928.

 

This unique and beautiful restored Hudson is just one of many exquisite automobiles that can be viewed at the Hostetler Hudson Automobile Museum in Shipshewanna, Indiana.

 

The backdrop artwork is an illustration titled, “Envie” (envy) by the great 20th century French illustrator, George Barbier (1882-1932).

 

Hope you enjoy........

 

PS: Listen to "Margie" played by Pete Fountain - Margie

Recognize their friend?

The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building - The relationship

 

Probably the two most recognizable buildings in the world, the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, are often confused by new visitors to New York City.

  

It is a common occurrence on many private tours of the Best New York Sightseeing, when a guest will see the Chrysler Building for the first time and proclaim that it is the Empire State Building.

  

It is not so surprising that the two buildings can be confused since

The Chrysler building was built in 1930 and the Empire State Building was completed only 11 months later, both designed with a unique art deco style in the early 1930s.

  

The Chrysler Building, unlike the Empire State Building, was privately built by Walter P. Chrysler who wanted to boast of having a New York City-based building despite the fact that his corporation was primarily based in Detroit and its surroundings.

  

The Empire State Building, on the other hand, was built as a consortium between the New York State government and private industry in an attempt to economically rejuvenate a part of downtown Manhattan that had never really taken off, and was an attempt to attract Private industry to build more buildings in and around the new tower that breaks records.

  

Walter P. Chrysler, although he certainly had the influence of having his company pay for the construction of the Chrysler building, chose to pay for the incredible Chrysler building with his own money. When asked why he paid the bill for the construction of the Chrysler building directly, Walter P. Chrysler responded "... I would like my children to inherit the building ..."

  

The Empire State Building, completed less than a year later, in 1931, was for many years a kind of government's misguided effort to play with the generally natural way that real estate and buildings are usually built in American cities like New York. , that is, it depends on supply and demand.

  

Although it may be hard to believe for some, the Empire State Building was essentially a failure for many years after its completion in 1931. As little research was done in advance to determine if New York City needed another giant office tower in a time when the Great Depression was deepening, not to mention that at that moment, the location of 34th Street was a kind of no-man's land. very north of the downtown financial district and too far south of the new downtown core, which was rapidly becoming the area between 42nd Street and 50th Street.

Indeed, just a year after the Empire State Building opened to tenants of commercial offices, the vaunted New York Times sent a reporter to visit the tallest building in the world and a story appeared in the New York Times shortly after proclaiming the Empire State Building as the "Empty State Building". Virtually no tenants occupied this already iconic structure.

 

The management of the Empire State Building, incredibly embarrassed by the sincere but painful history of the New York Times, quickly hired a few dozen employees to raise and lower the elevators of the buildings during the evenings and nights to turn the lights on and off at Several empty offices on different floors to essentially "cheat" the public by seeing this giant structure from all parts of the city and make believe that the building had "tenants" everywhere.

The recognizable profile of the Pelican Nebula soars nearly 2,000 light-years away in the high flying constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Also known as IC 5070, this interstellar cloud of gas and dust is appropriately found just off the "east coast" of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000), another surprisingly familiar looking emission nebula in Cygnus. Both Pelican and North America nebulae are part of the same large and complex star forming region, almost as nearby as the better-known Orion Nebula. From our vantage point, dark dust clouds (upper left) help define the Pelican's eye and long bill, while a bright front of ionized gas suggests the curved shape of the head and neck. This striking synthesized color view utilizes narrowband image data recording the emission of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the cosmic cloud. The scene spans some 30 light-years at the estimated distance of the Pelican Nebula. via NASA ift.tt/2frkU7N

gospel movies "Knocking at the Door" (4) - The Lord Is Knocking at the Door: Can You Recognize His Voice? (1)

Introduction

The Lord Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice" (Jhn 10:27). Clearly, the Lord is speaking to search for His sheep upon His return. The most crucial thing for Christians to do as they await the coming of the Lord is to seek to hear the voice of the Lord. How is one able to recognize the voice of the Lord, though? What is the difference between the voice of God and the voice of humans?

 

recommenda to you: gospel videos

 

View Feature Page: How Do the Wise Virgins Hear the Voice of God and Welcome the Lord?

  

Recognizable features:

 

Large head with strong beak Brown wings with white spots Light belly and throat Distinctive dark stripe through the eye Brown, banded tail feathers The kookaburra is known for its loud call, reminiscent of human laughter, and is originally from Australia. In Germany, this bird does not occur in the wild, but can only be seen in zoos or bird parks.

 

The recognizable profile of the Pelican Nebula soars nearly 2,000 light-years away in the high flying constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Also known as IC 5070, this interstellar cloud of gas and dust is appropriately found just off the "east coast" of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000), another surprisingly familiar looking emission nebula in Cygnus. Both Pelican and North America nebulae are part of the same large and complex star forming region, almost as nearby as the better-known Orion Nebula. From our vantage point, dark dust clouds (upper left) help define the Pelican's eye and long bill, while a bright front of ionized gas suggests the curved shape of the head and neck. This striking synthesized color view utilizes narrowband image data recording the emission of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the cosmic cloud. The scene spans some 30 light-years at the estimated distance of the Pelican Nebula. via NASA ift.tt/2frkU7N

Spago by Wolfgang Puck

Wolfgang Puck’s legendary flagship fine dining restaurant Spago is recognized for igniting Las Vegas’s dining scene into a culinary epicenter. Puck’s revolutionary Las Vegas Strip restaurant debuts with an entirely new look and menu and the exceptional level of service for which the restaurant is best known. The restaurant is beautifully situated for al fresco dining in front of the Bellagio Fountains. Spago’s re-imagined menu features Puck’s signature California fare paired with modern technique and inspiration from his chef’s weekly trips to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. At lunch and dinner, the market-driven menus feature handmade pastas, wood-oven pizzas, fresh seafood, all-natural meats and prime steaks, alongside handcrafted cocktails and a robust wine list. To complete the meal, dessert complements the menu with an array of seasonal delights sure to make your experience the Best Las Vegas Restaurant. Design and collaboration by Gelila Puck and Italian architects Massimiliano Locatelli and Annamaria Scevola of CLS Architetti, and inspired by Spago’s original flagship location in Beverly Hills, the new venue has a sleek look and warm feel. In the main dining room, beautiful floor-to-ceiling floating glass windows surround the space, imparting picturesque views of Bellagio’s famed lake. Two exquisite chandeliers highlight the room’s modern art pieces, while bold accents featuring rich hues of black iron, velvet walnut and polished grey express a contemporary aesthetic. The next era of Vegas dining begins here.

front of the two cushions are made of two napkins made by the talented Arounna of Bookhou

back is plaid wool fabric, bought in Paris, something like 10 years ago

 

the denim cushion was handmade by my mom, a couple of years ago

Recognized as ‘One of the Top 14 Places in the World to See Spring Flowers’ by MSN.com in 2010, Dallas Blooms is the largest floral festival in the southwest with over 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths abound in the 66 acre garden with vibrant colors creating an amazing backdrop to the city of Dallas. March 5-April 10, 2011

The recognizable profile of the Pelican Nebula soars nearly 2,000 light-years away in the high flying constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Also known as IC 5070, this interstellar cloud of gas and dust is appropriately found just off the "east coast" of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000), another surprisingly familiar looking emission nebula in Cygnus. Both Pelican and North America nebulae are part of the same large and complex star forming region, almost as nearby as the better-known Orion Nebula. From our vantage point, dark dust clouds (upper left) help define the Pelican's eye and long bill, while a bright front of ionized gas suggests the curved shape of the head and neck. This striking synthesized color view utilizes narrowband image data recording the emission of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the cosmic cloud. The scene spans some 30 light-years at the estimated distance of the Pelican Nebula. via NASA ift.tt/2frkU7N

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a small canid native to much of North America and Eurasia, as well as northern Africa and pakistan. It is the most recognizable species of fox and in many areas it is referred to simply as "the fox". As its name suggests, its fur is predominantly reddish-brown, but there is a naturally occurring grey morph known as the “silver” fox; a strain of domesticated silver fox has been produced from these animals by systematic domestication.

 

The red fox is by far the most widespread and abundant species of fox, found in almost every single habitat in the Northern Hemisphere, from the coastal marshes of United States, to the alpine tundras of Tibetan Plateau. It was introduced into Australia in the 19th century.[2] It is capable of co-existing with more specialized species of foxes, such as Arctic fox, in the same habitat. The red fox can withstand and sometimes thrive in areas with heavy human disturbance. It is nowhere near extinction, and its amazing adaptiveness is driving many other less competent species into extinction.

 

The red fox is frequently featured in stories of many cultures, and is often portrayed as a sly animal.

Living as it does in a wide variety of habitats, the red fox displays a wide variety of behaviours. In Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids,[34] MacDonald and Sillero-Zubiri state that two populations of the red fox may be behaviourally as different as two species.

 

The red fox is primarily crepuscular with a tendency to becoming nocturnal in areas of great human interference (and artificial lighting); that is to say, it is most active at night and at twilight. It is generally a solitary hunter. If a fox catches more food than it can eat, it will bury the extra food (cache) to store it for later.

 

In general, each fox claims its own territory; it pairs up only in winter, foraging alone in the summer. Territories may be as large as 50 km² (19 square miles); ranges are much smaller (less than 12 km², 4.6 sq mi) in habitats with abundant food sources, however. Several dens are utilized within these territories; dens may be claimed from previous residents such as marmots, or dug anew. A larger main den is used for winter living, birthing and rearing of young; smaller dens are dispersed throughout the territory for emergency and food storage purposes. A series of tunnels often connects them with the main den. One fox may only need a square kilometre of land marked by recognition posts that are special smells that come from a scent gland located just above a fox's tail.

 

The scent from this gland is composed of or very closely related to the thiols and thioacetate derivatives used by skunks (most notably Mephitis mephitis) as a defensive weapon. This gives the red fox a skunklike scent detectable by humans at close proximity (about 2 to 3 meters or less) but which is not easily transferred to other animals or inanimate objects; so the concentrations secreted and/or produced by the gland must be very much less than that of the skunk. The red fox cannot spray the thiolates like the skunks and does not appear to use the secretion as a defense.

 

The red fox primarily forms monogamous pairs each winter, who cooperate to raise a litter of 4–6 kits (also called pups) each year. Young foxes disperse promptly on maturity (approx. 8–10 months).

 

Though usually monogamous, evidence for polygamy (polygyny and polyandry) exists, including males’ extraterritorial movements during breeding season (possibly searching for additional mates) and males’ home ranges overlapping two or more females’ home ranges. Such variability is thought to be linked to variation in the spatial availability of key resources such as food.[1]

 

The reason for this "group living" behaviour is not well understood; some researchers[who?] believe the non-breeders boost the survival rate of the litters while others[who?] believe there is no significant difference, and such arrangements are made spontaneously due to a resource surplus.

 

Socially, the fox communicates with body language and a variety of vocalizations. Its vocal range is quite large and its noises vary from a distinctive three-yip "lost call" to a shriek reminiscent of a human scream. It also communicates with scent, marking food and territorial boundary lines with urine and faeces.

 

John James Audubon noted that cross foxes tended to be shyer than their fully red counterparts. He conjectured that the reason was due to the greater commercial value its fur, thus forcing it to adopt a warier behaviour to evade hunters.[35]

 

recognize anyone?

Many of you will likely recognize this spot if you have followed my stream at all. Yesterday I was mentioning about working your subject and this shot was also a result of doing just that. This is about twenty minutes before the sun was to crest the horizon and was a precursor to the shot below. The clouds, light and reflections provided for about two hours worth of shooting and the area provided endless compositional opportunities. This shot had a nice mix of warm and cool tones that were pleasing for me... which is another rule to follow... take photos that are enjoyable for you to take... and that will be enrichment for YOUR viewing. Even for "professionals" (those who sell their images) this rule is still a good one to abide by!!

 

Taken in Waterton Lakes National Park with Sofa Mountain in the background and an unnamed tarn in the foreground.

Cicadas are insects belonging to the family Cicadidae in the order Hemiptera. Cicadas are recognizable by their large size (body length of usually about 1 inch in length or longer) and clear wings held rooflike over the abdomen. Most cicadas are strong fliers that spend their time high in the trees, so they are rarely seen or captured. Their life cycles are long, usually involving multiple years spent underground as juveniles, followed by a brief (roughly 2 - 6 weeks) adult life above ground.

 

Common habitats for Tibicen canicularis are mixed and deciduous woods in Canada and the eastern United States. Geographic range includes the northern United States and southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains.

 

When mature Tibicen canicularis is recognizable by being mostly black with brown or green markings on its body. The body size is typically 1 - 1.3 inches (27-33 mm) long and the wingspan can reach 3.22 inches (82 mm). The wings are interlaced with green veins which are especially noticeable near the base. While nymphs of the species commonly feed on pine juice and the roots of pine and oak, the adults are not known to eat at all.

 

As adults, males produce a loud species-specific mate-attracting song using specialized sound-producing organs called tymbals. These sounds are among the loudest produced by any insects. In some species, the male calling song attracts both males and females to mating aggregations, while in other species males remain dispersed. Female cicadas do not have tymbals, but in some species the females produce clicking or snapping sounds with their wings.

 

Their song is often described as being a loud, high-pitched whine much like a power saw. It fades within 10 - 20 seconds, and starts again after a few seconds of silence. From my observation Tibicen canicularis tends to be the most vocal mid to late morning and then again late afternoon. It's common not to hear them during mid-day. At the peak of the season in late summer they can almost be deafening. To hear the sound of these cicadas, which was taped here in Indiana, please click on the below link...

 

www.cogsci.indiana.edu/farg/harry/bio/zoo/dogday.htm

 

After mating, females lay eggs in bark or twigs; the eggs hatch later in the season and the new nymphs burrow underground and begin feeding on roots. Tibicen canicularis spends most of it's life cycle underground as nymphs feeding on root juice. Typically 2 - 3 years. When it comes time to emerge and molt into an adult it uses its strong front legs for digging to the surface. Unlike periodical cicadas, whose swarms occur at 13 or 17 year intervals, Tibicen species can be seen every year, hence their other nickname "Annual Cicadas".

 

ISO1600, aperture f/10, exposure .001 seconds (1/800) focal length 300mm

   

"The Baldwin is a beautiful and unique setting in the heart of downtown Royal Oak. The gorgeous vaudeville theater was built in 1922 (older than the Fox, 1928 and the Filmore, 1925) and boasts a beautiful lobby and mezzanine area. The auditorium seats up to 372 guests" - events.detnews.com/royal-oak

 

and its haunted

 

"Recognized as one of metro Detroit’s best community theaters, Stagecrafters presents 10 productions each season on two stages at the beautiful Baldwin Theatre. Shows range from popular musicals to favorite comedies/dramas, from contemporary adult content to youth theatre" - visitdetroit.com

 

Hahahahahahah!!!

I really don't know what Marco Polo told Antonio Banderas because he is rolling on the floor laughing.

 

Marco Polo is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog.

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

animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-lagotto-romagnolo.html

 

Have a great Laughing Week Ahead, my dear Flickr Friends!

 

+ 1 photo underneath

Peegee Hydrangea

 

Even if you don't recognize this shrub's singsong name, you've likely encountered this gorgeous hydrangea in a Southern garden or two. Peegee hydrangea is a popular selection of Hydrangea paniculata, which takes the form of a shrub or a small tree. It is one of the most popular and widely grown of the panicle hydrangeas, and it is also known as ‘Grandiflora.' Peegee hydrangea is often grown as an upright tree; it can be trained to heights of up to 25 feet tall, but it is most often found growing at heights of 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Because of its height and spread, it is sometimes used as a hedge planting.

 

The foliage of peegee hydrangea is attractive, with dark green, oval leaves, each of which ends in a point and turns bronze in the autumn months. Peegee hydrangea also produces showy white blooms throughout its flowering season, which is one of the big draws in planting this particular selection of hydrangea. Big clusters of white flowers bloom out in a stunning spray, and then they fade to pink, bronze, and brown as they age.

 

This hydrangea thrives in full sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil that's attended by regular watering. It's a hardy, fast-growing planting, and it's also eye-catching when it blooms. Hydrangea paniculata blooms on new growth, so it requires some pruning in late winter. This is a great hydrangea for beginners because it's so easy to grow and is a relatively forgiving shrub in terms of care and environment.

 

Source: www.southernliving.com/garden/trees/pee-gee-hydrangea

  

Hydrangea

 

Hydrangea (/ha?'dre?nd?i?/;[1] common names hydrangea or hortensia) is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably Korea, China, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.[2]

 

Having been introduced to the Azores, H. macrophylla is now very common, particularly on Faial, which is known as the "blue island" due to the vast number of hydrangeas present on the island.[citation needed]

 

‘Hydrangea’ is derived from Greek and means ‘water vessel’, which is in reference to the shape of its seed capsules.[3] The earlier name, Hortensia, is a Latinised version of the French given name Hortense, referring to the wife of Jean-André Lepaute.[4]

 

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea

 

Dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is an extremely rare mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that alternately control a person's behavior, and is accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness. These symptoms are not accounted for by substance abuse, seizures, other medical conditions, nor by imaginative play in children. Diagnosis is often difficult as there is considerable comorbidity with other mental disorders. Malingering should be considered if there is possible financial or forensic gain, as well as factitious disorder if help-seeking behavior is prominent.

DID is one of the most controversial psychiatric disorders with no clear consensus regarding its diagnosis or treatment. Research on treatment effectiveness still focuses mainly on clinical approaches and case studies. Dissociative symptoms range from common lapses in attention, becoming distracted by something else, and daydreaming, to pathological dissociative disorders.[6] No systematic, empirically-supported definition of "dissociation" exists.

Although neither epidemiological surveys nor longitudinal studies have been done, it is thought DID rarely resolves spontaneously. Symptoms are said to vary over time.In general, the prognosis is poor, especially for those with co-morbid disorders. There are few systematic data on the prevalence of DID. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation states that the prevalence is between 1 and 3% in the general population, and between 1 and 5% in inpatient groups in Europe and North America.[5] DID is diagnosed more frequently in North America than in the rest of the world, and is diagnosed three to nine times more often in females than in males. The prevalence of DID increased greatly in the latter half of the 20th century, along with the number of identities (often referred to as "alters") claimed by patients (increasing from an average of two or three to approximately.DID is also controversial within the legal system[3] where it has been used as a rarely-successful form of the insanity defense.The 1990s showed a parallel increase in the number of court cases involving the diagnosis.

Dissociative disorders including DID have been attributed to disruptions in memory caused by trauma and other forms of stress, but research on this hypothesis has been characterized by poor methodology. So far, scientific studies, usually focusing on memory, have been few and the results have been inconclusive. An alternative hypothesis for the etiology of DID is as a product of techniques employed by some therapists, especially those using hypnosis, and disagreement between the two positions is characterized by intense debate.DID became a popular diagnosis in the 1970s, 80s and 90s but it is unclear if the actual incidence of the disorder increased, if it was more recognized by clinicians, or if sociocultural factors caused an increase in iatrogenic presentations. The unusual number of diagnoses after 1980, clustered around a small number of clinicians and the suggestibility characteristic of those with DID, support the hypothesis that DID is therapist-induced.[15] The unusual clustering of diagnoses has also been explained as due to a lack of awareness and training among clinicians to recognize cases of DID

  

Signs and symptoms]

 

According to the fifth Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), DID includes "the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states" that alternate control of the individual's behavior, accompanied by the inability to recall personal information beyond what is expected through normal forgetfulness. In each individual, the clinical presentation varies and the level of functioning can change from severely impaired to adequate. The symptoms of dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue and depersonalization disorder are subsumed under the DID diagnosis and are not diagnosed separately. Individuals with DID may experience distress from both the symptoms of DID (intrusive thoughts or emotions) as well as the consequences of the accompanying symptoms (dissociation rendering them unable to remember specific information). The majority of patients with DID report childhood sexual and/or physical abuse, though the accuracy of these reports is controversial. Identities may be unaware of each other and compartmentalize knowledge and memories, resulting in chaotic personal lives.Individuals with DID may be reluctant to discuss symptoms due to associations with abuse, shame and fear. DID patients may also frequently and intensely experience time disturbances.

The number of alters varies widely, with most patients identifying fewer than ten, though as many as 4,500 have been reported. The average number of alters has increased over the past few decades, from two or three to now an average of approximately 16. However it is unclear whether this is due to an actual increase in alters, or simply that the psychiatric community has become more accepting of a high number of alters.The primary identity, which often has the patient's given name, tends to be "passive, dependent, guilty and depressed" with other personalities or "alters" being more active, aggressive or hostile, and often containing more complete memories. Most identities are of ordinary people, though fictional, mythical, celebrity and animal alters have also been reported.

Developmental trauma]

 

People diagnosed with DID often report that they have experienced severe physical and sexual abuse, especially during early to mid-childhood, (although the accuracy of these reports has been disputed and others report an early loss, serious medical illness or other traumatic event. They also report more historical psychological trauma than those diagnosed with any other mental illness.[not in citation given]Severe sexual, physical, or psychological trauma in childhood has been proposed as an explanation for its development; awareness, memories and emotions of harmful actions or events caused by the trauma are removed from consciousness, and alternate personalities or subpersonalities form with differing memories, emotions and behavior. DID is attributed to extremes of stress or disorders of attachment. What may be expressed as post-traumatic stress disorder in adults may become DID when occurring in children, possibly due to their greater use of imagination as a form of coping. Possibly due to developmental changes and a more coherent sense of self past the age of six, the experience of extreme trauma may result in different, though also complex, dissociative symptoms and identity disturbances. A specific relationship between childhood abuse, disorganized attachment, and lack of social support are thought to be a necessary component of DID. Other suggested explanations include insufficient childhood nurturing combined with the innate ability of children in general to dissociate memories or experiences from consciousness.

Delinking early trauma from the etiology of dissociation has been explicitly rejected by those supporting the early trauma model. However, a 2012 review article supports the hypothesis that current or recent trauma may affect an individual's assessment of the more distant past, changing the experience of the past and resulting in dissociative states. Giesbrecht et al. have suggested there is no actual empirical evidence linking early trauma to dissociation, and instead suggest that problems with neuropsychological functioning, such as increased distractibility in response to certain emotions and contexts, account for dissociative features. A middle position hypothesizes that trauma, in some situations, alters neuronal mechanisms related to memory. Evidence is increasing that dissociative disorders are related both to a trauma history and to "specific neural mechanisms". It has also been suggested that there may be a genuine but more modest link between trauma and DID, with early trauma causing increased fantasy-proneness, which may in turn render individuals more vulnerable to socio-cognitive influences surrounding the development of DID.

dédoublement de personnalité

Il est important de différencier deux termes : le dédoublement de la personnalité et la personnalité multiple.

En effet, la définition donnée est celle de la , qui fait qu'une personne possède deux (voire plus) personnalités complètement différentes, chacune ayant une vie sociale et professionelle distinctes, parfois un nom propre à chacune d'entre elles et étant parfaitement adaptées à leur(s) milieu(x). Ce n'est pas vraiment un trouble, mais une surconstruction personnelle donnant naissance à plusieurs personnalités au lieu d'une seule.

Le dédoublement de personnalité, en revanche, est un trouble de la personnalité provoqué par le subconscient, qui impose occasionnellement à la personnalité "normale" un comportement incohérent, parfois violent, incontrôlé. Il arrive que la personnalité première ne se rende plus compte de ce qu'elle fait (elle est "déconnectée") ce qui donne l'impression d'une autre personnalité, inadaptée socialement , sentimentalement et intellectuelement.

 

Ce sujet prète à polémique, car certains se contentent du terme troubles dissociatifs de l'identité (Dissociative Identity Disorder) pour englober les deux cas. La différence est de taille : avec cette notion, il n'y aurait pas plusieurs personnalités égales, mais une majeure à laquelle on doit redonner pleine maîtrise de son corps. Comme expliqué plus haut, ce serait dans un cas de dédoublement que l'on peut envisager cette façon de voir les personnalités, et non dans un cas de multiples personnalités. En effet, comment décider qu'une personnalité a plus de droit qu'une autre sur un corps, lorsqu'il n'y en a pas d'originelle ?

Je pense que le sens donné est le sens courant, non ? On peut rajouter des précisions ou mises en garde sur le sens technique du point de vue médical. Lmaltier 18 décembre 2007 à 17:05 (UTC)

En fait, les deux sont liées pour la plupart des gens, c'est pour cela qu'il faut les différencier : on a tendance à croire que les personnes ayant des personnalités multiples sont dangeureuses, peuvent avoir des accès de violence incontrolée dirigés par une personnalité instable. Ce n'est souvent pas le cas (même si c'est possible, comme pour n'importe quelle personnalité dite "normale"). Ce n'est donc pas sur un plan médical qu'il est important de les différencier, mais sur un plan humain : les personnalité multiples sont des personnalités tout ce qu'il y a de plus banales, mais sont persécutées à cause de la mauvaise image que l'on a d'elles, dûe aux dédoublement de personnalités qui, eux, sont des cas de dissociation de personnalités potentiellement dangereux car instables. S Vidal 20 décembre 2007 à 13:20 (UTC)

Peut-être, mais on étudie le mot, pas la maladie (faut voir Wikipédia pour ça). On peut mettre en garde sur les différents sens utilisés, mais c'est tout. Lmaltier 20 décembre 2007 à 17:21 (UTC)

mais justement, le problème est là ! on utilise un même mot pour deux choses différentes... si la définition du mot est faussée, l'étude de ce mot n'a pas lieu d'être, pas sans précisions...

PRECISION:

Il n'y a pas de différence entre ces deux troubles, ils n'en forment en vérité qu'un seul. Le trouble de la personnalité multiple était le nom donné auparavent à cet état, et maintenant il s'appelle Trouble dissociatif de l'identité. Dans les deux cas (puisque ça n'est en fait qu'une maladie) des traumas subits de façon répétitifs ont poussé la personnalité de l'enfant à se dissocier, pour pouvoir supporter les chocs traumatiques, le manque d'attention, etc. Les personnalités apparaissent à différents moments, et peuvent même restées complètement cachées jusqu'assez tard dans la vie d'un individu, avant les premières vraies crises, souvent dues à un stress ou un choc émotionnel important. Elles ont différent degrés de constructions émotionnelles, intellectuelles et sociales, ce qui peut penser à une structure de multiples personnalités toutes égales. Il n'en est en fait rien. même quand on parle de personnalité hote qui doit rester alors que les autres doivent disparaitre, ce n'est pas encore tout à fait juste. Toutes les peronnalités doivent, petit à petit à petit et au long d'une thérapie qui apprendra au patient multiple à se construire et trouver le moyen d'affronter autrement ses traumas passés et à venir, fusionner et ne redevenir qu'une seule et même entité, plus stable, et capable de vivre pleinement sa vie.

dédoublement de la personnalité[modifier]

 

Ma soeur jumelle souffre de ce trouble depuis l'âge de 16 ans mais ne le reconnait que depuis peu,depuis sa première grosse crise. Elle peut changer de comportement d'une minute à l'autre,laissant place à une femme extravertie et sans limites..alcool,hommes,jeux.. Souvent il lui arrive de se réveiller sans souvenirs de la veille et découvre que son compte en banque a fondu p.ex. Elle devient également plus brusque,plus mauvaise.quand l'alcool s'en mêle elle n'a plus de limites et se bagarre violement(en général avec des hommes)et fini parfois à l'hôpital après avoir brutalisé le personnel infirmier.La plupart du temps perd connaissance. Mais reste persuadée que rien de tout ça ne s'est produit.. Qu'y a-t-il à faire pour atténuer cette maladie?Existe-t-il un moyens de guérison?

Ma plus grande question,pouvons-nous faire confiance aux personnes atteintes de ce trouble?

  

Il existe un moyen. Il faut emmener la personne a l'hopital, et les medecins vous donnerons un planing a respecter. (ex: ce coucher a une heure exacte et ne pas manger n'importe quoi). mais attention il faut emmener la personne au plus vite a l'hopital car elle peut passer a l'acte.

   

"Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

 

And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread".

 

– Luke 24:29-35, which is part of today's Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Easter.

 

This mosaic in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, Washington DC, specifically references the supper at Emmaus: Christ stays with us and is known in the Holy Eucharist, alleluia!

Sorry for going MIA again, after the boys went back to school and nursery I had so much to catch up on...I didn't do any house work while they were off :-o....I'll catch up with you all as and when I can today...poor Harry came down with a sickness bug last night...so I'll take the laptop and camp out in the living room with him, I don't think I'll get much else done today....a day of cartoons snuggled up on the sofa I think.

Monica Bellucci showing Marco Polo where she thinks she found a truffle :-)))

Taken on Jan 30th 2014.

 

Marco Polo is a Lagotto Romagnolo dog.

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

 

+ in comments below

Apis mellifera. There are at least 20 recognized “races” of Western honey bee here in Central Florida.

 

The field bees collect pollen to bring back to the hive for use as food for larvae and adults; they scrape pollen into special areas on their rear legs called corbiculae (pollen baskets) and form it into lumps. When they do, the bees may inadvertently sprinkle one flower with pollen from another, causing cross-pollination – a phenomenon that is a necessary step to reproduction in about 250,000 flowering plant species worldwide. Honey bees provide a substantial amount of the pollination needed for at least 13 major crops grown in Florida.

 

This shot shows the pollen basket on it's leg better than the one I used for MM.

 

The pollen basket or corbicula (plural corbiculae) is part of the tibia on the hind legs of certain species of bees. They use the structure in harvesting pollen and carrying it to the nest or hive

 

www.flickr.com/photos/nancysmith133/40766368013/in/datepo...

 

My friends will recognize this pond, as I have also posted pictures taken from the same spot in Winter (when it was ice-covered and when the ice was thawing) and in Summer.

 

I took this exactly one week ago today.

I just liked the Fall colors on the trees in the background.

It was pretty windy when I took this (see the Cattails bending in the wind) and a pair of ducks were also frolicking in the distance (view LARGE for more detail).

"Recognizing that prohibiting her honor altogether was impossible, the church co-pted and diabolized her symbols. Thus, for example, they taught that Friday, Freya's sacred day, was really a Catholic holy day on which fish, one of her sacred animals, was to be eaten. And they plunged her magical number 13, the number of the moon and menstrual cycles in a year, became the number to be shunned, especially when it fell on Freiday, which would have doubled its power for worshippers.

 

Carolyn McVicar Edwards, The Storyteller's Goddess, "Freya, Mother of All_ Scandinavia"

recognize anyone?

recognize anyone?

Recognized as one of the Midwest's largest living history festivals, come share in the excitement and make plans to join us August 14-16 2015, at Galesburg Heritage Days. A family event, featuring both pre-1840 early American Colonial Frontier Rendezvous, and a thoroughly fielded Civil War Battle Reenactment/Encampment, along with dozens of unique period merchants...all within walking distance of each other.

 

Offering 411 acres of woodland and prairie plus a 130 acre lake and your choice of primitive or modern amenities and the best period shopping available. We have one of the most beautiful and truly unique event locations in the Midwest, drawing well over 600 reenactors from 14 different states.

 

Info from,

www.galesburgheritagedays.com/