View allAll Photos Tagged SPECULATION

This was very much a speculation shot without my tripod and even more pleased that it came out ok with such a low shutter speed after forgetting to change my ISO.

It was the light on the city that I was after, it`s not perfect I admit but lets go for it anyway .

Photography is characterized by speculation, contemplation. And of course an interpretation of life. I want to to observe the relationship between photography and reality, to rouse the viewer to project her/his own meaning, so it becomes an integral part of the creative process.

 

Also I try to pay a lot of attention to emotion and association. I want to communicate how I felt when I looked at a subject/scene, with the viewers. This is sheer joy. It is my way of photography. I have a long way to go, though.

 

Shot from, Nikon D300. Focal Length: 26 mm. Aperture F/7.1. ISO 320. Exposure 1/100sec.

Exposure: Manual. Metering: Pattern. Auto Focus. White Balance: Auto, EV -0.3 Color Mode used: www.flickr.com/muha

Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS3. New Layer Canvas size increased by 3mm.

As we were having supper (at a tasty fish restaurant) on the first night a large flock of birds passed over the Casino. Our speculation was that they were going to greet the returning fishermen.

 

After dinner we headed over to the Casino to spend our evening watching (we thought) other people lose money. On recovering from the shock that it was, in fact, a very beautiful movie theatre, we made a snap decision to see a film. Which was? "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". Which proved, thankfully, to be rather funny.

 

Had we been visiting Catalina in the 30s and 40s our choice might have been a bit less prosaic. During its glorious heyday, when Catalina was the destination of the rich and famous (Marilyn Monroe lived and babysat in the town) everyone, including Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey and Woody Herman, played at the Casino.

In a historical period that is anything but magical, characterized by ancestral fears, hypocrisy, squalid windows of speculation, corruption, ruthless power games on the shoulders of honest people and total disrespect towards the human being; it is beautiful and healthy to notice the regenerating power that nature has on our souls, at times with almost whispered glimpses that seem to want to remind us about the impermanence of all things, even the forces of evil!

This is the therapeutic aspect of health through nature - the care of the soul and psyche in synergy with the organism - something totally forgotten in this period, indeed paradoxically even forbidden... within this increasingly inhuman design, which does not take care of the actual health of people in the least, indeed, quite the opposite it seems to be doing everything to irreparably damage it.

 

YouTube channel “Organo Santuario della Consolata”

YouTube channel “ALPS pictures & tales”

Instagram @roberto.bertero

 

Personal Website

_____________________

 

©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

 

A few days ago, the above art work appeared overnight on an outside wall of Reading Prison which has stood empty since it closed at the end of 2013. There was immediate speculation it was the work of the street artist Banksy whose identity has never been confirmed despite the fact his numerous works have appeared at various locations over a long period of years.

 

The paintings often form a social message and can be controversial. Reading Prison is very much a controversial place – it is owned by the Ministry of Justice who have been trying to dispose of it for the last 7 years. For them one of the problems is the property is designated a grade II listed building which means it cannot be demolished or substantially altered without prior consent from the Local Authority – Reading Borough Council. There have been calls for it to be used as a public amenity such as a theatre or arts facility and a deal to redevelop it has fallen through so in effect there has been little or no progress for 7 years.

 

Yesterday Banksy confirmed it was his art work although he did not shed any light on who the figure was supposed to be. Much of the local view is that it is a representation of Oscar Wilde, the Victorian actor, writer and poet who was incarcerated there from 1895 to 1897 – probably the prisons main claim to fame.

 

It is questionable as to whether the painting helps or hinders the current deadlock although it has provided some amusement for local residents in what is otherwise a depressing time!

 

———————————————————————————————--

 

Grateful thanks to everyone who has looked at my photostream and commented and/or faved this photograph. Your interest is very much appreciated.

 

Most important of all, continue to keep safe during these uncertain times!

 

————————————————————————————————

A pair of BNSF Geeps pulls ahead through the switch with about half of a unit grain train on the Superior waterfront. There was some speculation by the crew as to whether or not they could fit the entire train between the end of the track and the switch, but they made it with a few cars to spare.

The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic stone circle on the Mainland of the Orkney Isles, Scotland. There is still speculation about the actual age of the Ring but It is generally thought to have been erected between 2500 BC and 2000 BC.

 

The Ring of stones stands on a small strip of land between two lochs, the Loch of Harray (which is freshwater) and Sternness (which is saltwater) and is some 104 metres in diameter.

 

This stone ring is not alone in Orkney. Within a 2 miles radius from Brodgar there are two circle-henges, four chambered tombs, groups of standing stones, single stones, barrows, cairns, and mounds.

 

The exact purpose of the Ring is not known, but its proximity to the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Maeshowe tomb make the Ring of Brodgar a site of major importance.

After years of speculation and rumors, the roadrailers are finally slated to meet their end in under week. After some delays to the container conversion process, they managed to stick around for the end of the summer and I got one last chance to keep seeing them to kick off my senior year at Purdue. NS 255 hits the curves in downtown Lafayette, Indiana with a Dash 9 hauling a set of trailers at full track speed west (8/21/24).

Landform Ueda, The National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Scotland.

View of the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

 

Wow, I just realized that this is my first post of 2023! I have been quite busy and haven't been out much for photos. I am hoping to participate a little more again. Spring is coming soon and hopefully there will be lots of cherry blossoms to photograph.

  

About this photo: Yesterday was a gorgeous day here on the West Coast of Canada with lots of sunshine and about +12C (24F). I took advantage of it and went to Stanley Park to enjoy the beautiful views and take some photos. I took this photo from the Stanley Park overpass with a view of the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

 

This is a long exposure photo which makes it look like there is no traffic on the bridge, but if you look close enough you can see the light trails of the cars.

  

And here is a little history on the Lions Gate Bridge:

Here is a little history:

 

1937: Construction began on March 31, after years of speculation and planning. The bridge was an impetus to real estate development on the North Shore, uniting both sides of the inlet. The First Narrows Bridge Company employed numerous workers in an otherwise bleak depression period. It was funded by private foreign investment through the efforts of A.J.T. Taylor.

 

1938: The bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on November 12, 1938, and to cars two days later, on November 14.

 

1939: On May 29 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth crossed the bridge during the first Royal Visit to Canada.

 

1952: A third lane was added to allow for passing.

 

1955: The British Columbia Toll Highways and Bridges Authority acquired the bridge for $5,595,060.

 

1963: Tolls were removed on April 1.

 

1965: Lane controls were installed.

 

1970’s: Several renovations were completed to significantly improve bridge safety and upgrade the structure.

 

1986: On February 19, a string of white lights was added to the bridge which was a gift of the Guinness family to Vancouver.

 

2002: The bridge underwent a major upgrade that included roadway expansion, deck replacement, and the construction of more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly sidewalks. This type of replacement was the first in the world.

 

2004: The bridge was declared a national Historic Site of Canada.

 

Info found on westvancouver.ca/

  

~Camera Settings:

*Camera Model: Sony RX10 IV

*Focal Length: 22mm

*F-Number: F/16

*Exposure Time: 5 sec.

*ISO Speed: ISO-100

*Exposure Program: Manual Mode (M)

  

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you like this photo!

Ann :-)

  

Some information about Vancouver: Vancouver is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Vancouver is Canada's third largest city and is located by the Pacific Ocean on a peninsula surrounded by water and in the distance there are the mountains. Vancouver is considered a pretty clean and safe city with a great variety of shops, museums, theatre, outdoor activities (hiking, walking, kayaking, sailing, skiing on the local mountains in the winter) and more. Walking around Stanley Park is a favourite thing to do for tourist and locals alike. This beautiful park extends from the city centre of Vancouver almost to the North Shore. With wonderful views of the mountains and the ocean around every corner, downtown Vancouver is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Walk along Robson Street, the most popular shopping street. Experience Chinatown with the different kinds of building and stores, walk on the beaches of English Bay and the seawall of Stanley Park, enjoy a walk in Gastown with the old steam clock and the many gift shops.

 

Look out for some Hollywood film sets as Vancouver is used for many big Hollywood movies and shows. That's why you might hear that Vancouver is called "Hollywood North". Here are some examples of shows and movies that were/are filmed here: "Deadpool 1 & 2", "The X-Files", "The Good Doctor", "Colony", "Arrow", "The Flash", "Supernatural", "Stargate-SG1", "The 6th Day", "Kiss of the Dragon", "Small Ville" and many many more. Then there is also the Canada Place, the stadiums, the Harbour Lookout, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Science World, the Vancouver Art Gallery and much more! All of these attractions are located within minutes from the city centre.

 

Vancouver is also popular in the winter for winter activities. There are 3 local mountains where you can do any type of winter sport. There is Grouse Mountain, most famous for it's stunning views over the city and fresh powder snow. Grouse Mountain is accessible by skyride...this is a big gondola that will take you up to the top of the mountain. Mount Seymour and Cypress Mountain are famous too and you also get wonderful views from the top of these mountains. As you can see...Vancouver has lots to offer. The Winter Olympics were held here in 2010 as well.

There is much speculation on what this pool was used for; a well to supply drinking water or a source of water for cooking, a place to hold fish or even for the Lords and Ladies of the castle to bathe in.

 

Bodiam Castle is an archetypal 14th century moated castle with ruined interior - a glimpse of medieval splendour.

Unnojuku (海野宿) is a well-conserved post town under the government scheme of Conservation Area of Traditional Architectures (伝統的建造物群保存地区). But as you see in the photo, there is few people on the street and it looks like an outdoor museum rather than a town.

 

Tourism is often a key to conserve traditional townscape. This aspect varies considerably by the area of the government conservation scheme. Takayama (飛騨高山), Kurashiki (倉敷), Gokayama (五箇山) and Narai (奈良井) are successful examples in tourism. Unfortunately, it is not the case with Unnojuku.

 

There is a museum but commercial establishments for visitors are scarce. It is not certain if it is a will of the community or otherwise. Rigid regulation proposed by the government, if it is accepted without amendment by the community, could be a cause of the conservation without an economic return to sustain the conservation. It is just my speculation, and further research would be necessary to explain the real situation of the conservation area.

The basilica was consecrated in 1896 and incorporates extravagent Byzantine and Romanesque design elements. First conceived in the 1870s, construction was very rapid compared to medieval time lines, possibly due to having sufficient funding (my speculation).

 

This was taken with my new iPhone 14 Pro Max. Amazing detail!

[EN]Connection - speculation about connections on Earth (Transmitter), in the near universe (Venus) and distant stars (Pleiades)

[CZ]Vysílač + Venuše + Pleyady

The police in Muncie, Indiana have been inundated with reports of UAPs hovering low over the tops of houses. UAPs or Unidentified Aerial Pizzas have once again triggered speculation of visitations by alien pizza chefs. Once scoffed at by critics, now there are signs that government officials are taking this seriously.

For some reason 66424 just arrived in the bay of platforms 7 and 8 at Crewe. The driver jumped out and got in the other cab, waited for a few minutes before getting the road to leave.

Its these little workings that keep us meere uninformed mortals fascinated and intrigued with the railway network. I can imagine several conversations around Crewe's enthusiast community that spent a pleasant hour or so speculating the purpose of that move.

My speculation however, was brief and i quickly focused camera and mind on capturing the moment. The unplanned event had my creative juices flowing and having several conventional pictures in the bag i was on the hunt for that special opportunity.

The Crewe station anti suicide squad had recently set me free having convinced themselves that i was not a danger to myself nor society and had no intention of putting one toe beyond the yellow line thus endangering the lives of hundreds of other passengers.

I was behaving impeccably until they disappeared and then behaving like a crazy man i dropped to one knee to get a different angle my knee grazing the yellow line. Phew ! i got away with it.

The approaching Pendo had me fiddling with my camera settings to induce some intentional in camera movement whilst still keeping the Class 66 as sharp as i could. Referring to the manual step 1 said place camera on tripod......Bollocks ! tripod was in the car. Manual discarded i decided to wing it as carriage after carriage glided by.

Bingpot...this is pretty much what i had hoped for and no railway enthusiasts were harmed during the recording of this picture.

The battle took place south of the ancient town Issus, which is close to present-day Turkish town of Iskenderun (the Turkish equivalent of "Alexandria", founded by Alexander to commemorate his victory), on either side of a small river called Pinarus. At that location, the distance from the Gulf of Issus to the surrounding mountains is only 2.6 km (2 mi), a place where Darius could not take advantage of his superiority in numbers. Speculation on the location of the Pinarus has taken place for over 80 years. Older historians believed it to be the Deli Tchai river, but historians N.G.L. Hammond and A.M. Devine have made convincing claims that the Pinarus is actually the Payas River, the latter using eye-witness examination of the river, which may not have drastically changed since antiquity. Their evidence is based on Callisthenes' accounts of the measurements of the battlefield and distances marched by both side's armies in the prelude to the battle and distance given by Diodorus after the battle.

34:52 Choose your favourite poem and try to represent a line of it visually.

 

I do not have a favourite poem but song lyrics are poetic and this one resonates with me. I am sure you have all heard it...if not here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7rQvJgTQ9U

 

There is a town in north Ontario,

With dream comfort memory to spare,

And in my mind

I still need a place to go,

All my changes were there.

 

Blue, blue windows behind the stars,

Yellow moon on the rise,

Big birds flying across the sky,

Throwing shadows on our eyes.

Leave us

 

Helpless, helpless, helpless

Baby can you hear me now?

The chains are locked

and tied across the door,

Baby, sing with me somehow.

 

Blue, blue windows behind the stars,

Yellow moon on the rise,

Big birds flying across the sky,

Throwing shadows on our eyes.

Leave us

 

Helpless, helpless, helpless.

 

NB: There was always a lot of speculation about the town referred to in the opening line being Omemee Neil’s childhood town. Neil set the record straight in a 1995 Mojo interview with Nick Kent:

 

"Well, it's not literally a specific town so much as a feeling. Actually, it's a couple of towns. Omemee, Ontario, is one of them. It's where I first went to school and spent my 'formative' years. Actually I was born in Toronto..."

 

I love the reference to more of a feeling as opposed to a specific town. Many sights leave us feeling helpless…This was shot just outside of Omemee.

 

Protected with PIXSY

Lockheed F-35B Lightning II 168726 (BF-28) OF VMFAT-501 VM-18 made the hop across the pond after much speculation if they would succeed in bringing them to England. Aircraft departing RIAT 16 at RAF Fairford.

CN Q116 doubles up on 7 Lead at Homewood behind a pair of Illinois Central SD70s that came in on E271 the previous night. Despite ongoing speculation that they would continue south towards Champaign, the set was put on the eastbound Q116 back towards Michigan.

Rosslyn Chapel is a 15th-century Episcopal chapel located in the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. The chapel was founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness with a ground-breaking ceremony in 1456. After the Scottish Reformation in 1560, it was largely abandoned but, following a visit by Queen Victoria, it was rededicated in 1862. It was the target of a bombing in 1914 during the suffragette bombing and arson campaign. The interior contains some fine carvings which many historians have sought to interpret.

 

The original plans for Rosslyn have never been found or recorded, so it is open to speculation whether or not the chapel was intended to be built in its current layout. Its architecture is considered to be among the finest in Scotland.

 

Construction of the chapel began on 20 September 1456, although it has often been recorded as 1446. The confusion over the building date comes from the chapel's receiving its founding charter to build a collegiate chapel in 1446 from Rome.

 

Although the original building was to be cruciform, it was never completed. Only the choir was constructed, with the retro-chapel, otherwise called the Lady chapel, built on the much earlier crypt (Lower Chapel) believed to form part of an earlier castle. The foundations of the unbuilt nave and transepts stretching to a distance of 90 feet were recorded in the 19th century. Construction of the planned nave and transepts was abandoned.

 

The Lower Chapel (also known as the crypt or sacristy) should not be confused with the burial vaults that lie underneath Rosslyn Chapel.

 

The chapel stands on fourteen pillars, which form an arcade of twelve pointed arches on three sides of the nave. At the east end, a fourteenth pillar between the penultimate pair form a three-pillared division between the nave and the Lady chapel. The three pillars at the east end of the chapel are named, from north to south: the Master Pillar, the Journeyman Pillar and, most famously, the Apprentice Pillar.

Carvings

 

Among Rosslyn's many intricate carvings are a sequence of 213 cubes or "boxes" protruding from pillars and arches with a selection of patterns on them. It is unknown if these patterns have any particular meaning attached to them. Many people have attempted to find information coded into them, but no interpretation has yet proven conclusive. Unfortunately, many of these 'boxes' are not original, having been replaced in the 19th century after erosion damage.

 

One recent attempt to make sense of the boxes has been to interpret them as a musical score. The motifs on the boxes somewhat resemble geometric patterns seen in the study of cymatics. The patterns are formed by placing powder upon a flat surface and vibrating the surface at different frequencies. By matching these Chladni patterns with musical notes corresponding to the same frequencies, the father-and-son team of Thomas and Stuart Mitchell produced a tune which Stuart calls the Rosslyn Motet.

  

There are more than 110 carvings of "Green Men" in and around the chapel. Green Men are carvings of human faces with greenery all around them, often growing out of their mouths. They are found in all areas of the chapel, with one example in the Lady chapel, between the two middle altars.

 

Other carvings represent plants, including depictions of wheat, strawberries or lilies. The authors Robert Lomas and Christopher Knight have hypothesised that some carvings in the chapel represent ears of new world corn or maize, a plant which was unknown in Europe at the time of the chapel's construction.[35] In their book they discuss meeting with the wife of botanist Adrian Dyer, and that Dyer's wife told him that Dyer agreed that the image thought to be maize was accurate. In fact, Dyer found only one identifiable plant among the botanical carvings and suggested that the "maize" and "aloe" were stylised wooden patterns, only coincidentally looking like real plants.

With a lockdown in place it is against the rules for me to go to places I like to shoot, so I though I would try to create a series called Isolated creativity. The series is not intended to be a diary but a way of documenting thoughts and emotions via photography.

 

With the easing of some of the lockdown restrictions in sight there has been lots of speculation, particularly from the press, about how and when the easing will take place. Much of the speculation does not appear to have been based on any facts and has only served to give people incorrect expectations of a rapid return to normal.

 

The tea leaf reading and crystal ball gazing is not helpful and we sould really just wait and see.

There are speculations on why Jodhpur is painted in blue. One story is that colour blue is associated with Lord Shiva and his followers painted their houses blue. Another story says that the highest caste of Brahmin priests painted their houses blue to distinguish themselves from other castes. Some believe that blue colour keeps houses cooler or that copper sulphate in blue paint deters termites.

Sun setting on the peak of the Viking ridge in the Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alpine Ranges. Taken from the Mount Speculation summit.

The Kings in town, at least i think he was. The Royal Train passed through Teignmouth heading south at approx 0500. The train took refuge on the South Devon Railway until approx 1000hrs when it pulled into Totnes where the King alighted. This is where i enter into the world of speculation and i speculate that he went to Dartmouth Naval College for a passing out parade.

He then returned at about 1400.

The train eventually left at 1435 as 1Z53 heading north but where is unknown at this moment in time.

Here are 67005 67006 as 1Z53 Totnes to ? along the River Teign approaching Teignmouth.

Mount Speculation is centre of the image with The Razor on the far right.

View of the Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

  

About this photo: My friend and I enjoyed a quick visit to beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We stopped at Prospect Point and walked to the view of the Lions Gate Bridge which is always so beautiful. I took this photo from the Stanley Park overpass with a view of the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

  

And here is a little history on the Lions Gate Bridge:

Here is a little history:

 

1937: Construction began on March 31, after years of speculation and planning. The bridge was an impetus to real estate development on the North Shore, uniting both sides of the inlet. The First Narrows Bridge Company employed numerous workers in an otherwise bleak depression period. It was funded by private foreign investment through the efforts of A.J.T. Taylor.

 

1938: The bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on November 12, 1938, and to cars two days later, on November 14.

 

1939: On May 29 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth crossed the bridge during the first Royal Visit to Canada.

 

1952: A third lane was added to allow for passing.

 

1955: The British Columbia Toll Highways and Bridges Authority acquired the bridge for $5,595,060.

 

1963: Tolls were removed on April 1.

 

1965: Lane controls were installed.

 

1970’s: Several renovations were completed to significantly improve bridge safety and upgrade the structure.

 

1986: On February 19, a string of white lights was added to the bridge which was a gift of the Guinness family to Vancouver.

 

2002: The bridge underwent a major upgrade that included roadway expansion, deck replacement, and the construction of more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly sidewalks. This type of replacement was the first in the world.

 

2004: The bridge was declared a national Historic Site of Canada.

 

Info found on westvancouver.ca/

  

~Camera Settings:

*Camera Model: Sony RX10 IV

*Focal Length: 30mm

*F-Number: F/8

*Exposure Time: 1/250

*ISO Speed: ISO-100

*Exposure Program: Manual Mode (M)

  

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you like this photo!

Ann :-)

  

Some information about Vancouver: Vancouver is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Vancouver is Canada's third largest city and is located by the Pacific Ocean on a peninsula surrounded by water and in the distance there are the mountains. Vancouver is considered a pretty clean and safe city with a great variety of shops, museums, theatre, outdoor activities (hiking, walking, kayaking, sailing, skiing on the local mountains in the winter) and more. Walking around Stanley Park is a favourite thing to do for tourist and locals alike. This beautiful park extends from the city centre of Vancouver almost to the North Shore. With wonderful views of the mountains and the ocean around every corner, downtown Vancouver is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Walk along Robson Street, the most popular shopping street. Experience Chinatown with the different kinds of building and stores, walk on the beaches of English Bay and the seawall of Stanley Park, enjoy a walk in Gastown with the old steam clock and the many gift shops.

 

Look out for some Hollywood film sets as Vancouver is used for many big Hollywood movies and shows. That's why you might hear that Vancouver is called "Hollywood North". Here are some examples of shows and movies that were/are filmed here: "Deadpool 1 & 2", "The X-Files", "The Good Doctor", "Colony", "Arrow", "The Flash", "Supernatural", "Stargate-SG1", "The 6th Day", "Kiss of the Dragon", "Small Ville" and many many more. Then there is also the Canada Place, the stadiums, the Harbour Lookout, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Science World, the Vancouver Art Gallery and much more! All of these attractions are located within minutes from the city centre.

 

Vancouver is also popular in the winter for winter activities. There are 3 local mountains where you can do any type of winter sport. There is Grouse Mountain, most famous for it's stunning views over the city and fresh powder snow. Grouse Mountain is accessible by skyride...this is a big gondola that will take you up to the top of the mountain. Mount Seymour and Cypress Mountain are famous too and you also get wonderful views from the top of these mountains. As you can see...Vancouver has lots to offer. The Winter Olympics were held here in 2010 as well.

Oh sure, there was speculation, rumours, even some open gossip at the local coffee shop but, in the end, the mystery went to the grave. However, the undeniable fact was, someone... somebody with a reason to annually mark an unknown occasion, or perhaps just a date that meant something to the two of them, anonymously left a token... a symbol... an acknowledgment.

 

Semper Desiderari

 

Thy soul shall find itself alone

’Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone—

Not one, of all the crowd, to pry

Into thine hour of secrecy.

-Edgar Allen Poe

Sant Pere de Rodes, Girona (Spain).

Wiki Loves Monuments Code: RI-51-0000348

 

ENGLISH

Sant Pere de Rodes is a former Benedictine monastery in the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the North East of Catalonia, Spain.

 

It is in the municipal area of El Port de la Selva in the province of Girona, Spain. It has been constructed in the side of the Verdera mountain below the ruins of the castle of Sant de Verdera that had provided protection for the monastery. It offers exceptional views over the bay of Llançà, to the north of Cap de Creus. Near the monastery Santa Creu de Rodes is the ruins of a medieval town, of which its pre-Romanesque style church is the only remains dedicated to Saint Helena.

 

The true origin of the monastery is not known, which has given rise to speculation and legend; such as its foundation by monks who disembarked in the area with the remains of Saint Peter and other saints, to save them from the Barbarian hordes that invaded the Western Roman Empire. Once the danger had passed the Pope Boniface IV commanded them to construct a monastery.

 

The first documentation of the existence of the monastery dates 878, when it was mentioned as a simple monastery cell consecrated to Saint Peter, but it is not until 945 when an independent Benedictine monastery was founded, led by an abbot. Connected with the County of Empúries, it reached its maximum splendor between the 11th and 12th centuries until its final decay in 17th century. Its increasing importance is reflected in its status as a point of pilgrimage.

 

In the 17th century it was sacked in several occasions and in 1793 was deserted by the benedictine community, which was transferred to Vila-sacred and finally settled in Figueres in 1809, until it was dissolved.

 

The monastery was declared a national monument in 1930. In 1935 the first restoration work was initiated.

 

More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Pere_de_Rodes

 

--------------------------------------------

 

CASTELLANO

El monasterio benedictino de Sant Pere de Rodes se halla en el término municipal del Port de la Selva en la provincia de Gerona de Cataluña (España). Construido en la falda de la montaña de Verdera por debajo de las ruinas del castillo de Sant Salvador de Verdera que le había dado protección, con una vista excepcional sobre la bahía de Llansá y del Port de la Selva, al norte del Cabo de Creus. Cerca del monasterio están las ruinas del poblado medieval de la Santa Cruz de Rodes, del que sólo queda en pie su iglesia de estilo prerrománico dedicada a Santa Helena.

 

Fue restaurado a raíz de la publicación del libro que presentó el hallazgo y análisis de un reducido maletín conteniendo reliquias identificables como de san Pedro Apóstol, las cuales en el año 610 fueron alejadas por mar de la ciudad de Roma donde habían sido veneradas en la subterránea cripta ("la Confesión" bajo el altar) de San Pedro del Vaticano. Allí nunca regresaron.

Dentro de un "maletín" decorado con láminas de hueso, y envuelto con un delantal a la medida del pontífice Gregorio I "El Magno" había diminutos relicarios. Además incluyó en su interior una ara portátil (con inscripciones) destinada a celebrar misa los religiosos custodios durante su travesía marítima, cuando Roma estuvo seriamente amenazada por una invasión oriental.

El lote de relicarios (sin tapa) fue accidentalmente recuperado justo doce siglos después de su ocultación en el muro de la cripta subterránea bajo el altar mayor de Sant Pere de Rodes. Las excavaciones arqueológicas posteriores a 1990 dieron muy buenos resultados, promoviendo incluso la restauración de todo el complejo abacial, y en especial la iglesia.

 

Hasta descubrirse las dichas reliquias, era imposible justificar las vastas dimensiones de la iglesia y del monasterio, al ser un sector muy aislado en la costa del Golfo de Rosas, pero posteriormente se hallaron allí varios tesoros: Monedas de oro y plata, antiguas baldosas de cerámica, e incluso pinturas románicas en los muros de un claustro inferior, desconocido hasta mediados del siglo XX.

 

Se desconoce el verdadero origen del monasterio, lo que dio lugar en el pasado a especulaciones y leyendas, como la de la fundación por monjes que desembarcaron en la zona con los restos de San Pedro y otros santos, que debían custodiar para no ser profanados por las hordas bárbaras que caían sobre Roma. Pasado el peligro, el papa Bonifacio IV habría mandado construir el templo. Sin embargo, la primera documentación de la existencia del establecimiento data del año 878 siendo mencionado como una simple celda monástica consagrada a San Pedro, pero no es hasta el año 945 cuando se considera un monasterio benedictino independiente, regido por un abad. Ligado al Condado de Ampurias, llega a su máximo esplendor entre los siglos XI y XII. En él se celebran jubileos hasta su decadencia en el siglo XVII. Su importancia creciente lleva a convertirlo en un punto de peregrinaje de la época. A partir del siglo XVII es saqueado en varias ocasiones y en 1793 fue abandonado por la comunidad benedictina que se trasladó a Vila-sacra y, finalmente, se instaló en Figueras en 1809 hasta que fue disuelta. En 1930 fue declarado monumento nacional, y en 1935 la Generalidad de Cataluña inicia las primeras restauraciones.

 

Más info: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterio_de_Sant_Pere_de_Rodes

Ah, the allure of social media to see a world that confirms how one wants to see it. When it confirms how one wants to see the world there is no need to fact check. Just connect the dots however one sees fit. And then pass it on. Unfortunately, our traditional institutions are struggling to deal with constituents who have virtual worlds of their own facts and reality.

 

I've been wondering of late how to visually convey abstract concepts, such as the dilemma of an ever fracturing reality. For example, when one looks at this image, is this the wing pattern of a butterfly? A cone flower? Or, the belief that Covid-19 is only as harmful as any other cold virus? Choose your truth. I wonder what will be passed on, become viral, be the new reality? Nowadays it is incredibly easy to find others to confirm bad information, and to join in.

 

Come on! Jump into the rabbit hole.

 

(I'm playing with twirl art on PhotoShop. These swirls are derived from a photograph of a cone flower that I captured.)

Drifting away from its mainstay on the 50, National Express Platinum 6943 approaches Solihull Town Centre with a 6 service for Solihull Station

 

Though not currently the main allocation, there is wide speculation surrounding this service's reversion to double decker operation.

 

Forthcoming deliveries, 7518-7538, have been announced for Yardley Wood - where it is assumed they will be allocated to the 6.

 

Vehicle Details

Operator: National Express West Midlands

Fleet Details: 6943 'Nikki'

Registration: SK68 MJX

Vehicle Type: Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC

 

Vehicle History

New to Yardley Wood 01/19

Wood Stork descending.

 

On warm days the Wood Storks often soar on thermals thousands of feet in the air - much like a vulture.

If they are not on nest building or child rearing duty, they often descend to a tree perch by slowly flying long circular passes toward where they want to land. During this time their flaps and landing gear are lowered. They may do three or four long circular passes like this before they land on a tree branch.

 

My speculation as to why they do it - it's fun!!

The central idea in the mysticism of Catherine of Siena is not speculation about various forms of union, not inquisitive examination of how union takes place, or how to ascend to higher degrees of love and fruition: it is total self-sacrifice for the Church, concern for the purity and perfection of the Church rather than her own, a love for sinners and desire for their redemption. The fact that she was a laywoman is not secondary but absolutely primary: it stresses the relative unimportance of belonging to this or that order and the supreme importance of union with Christ Crucified for the redemption of sinners.

--A course in Christian mysticism : thirteen sessions with the famous Trappist monk Thomas Merton / edited by Jon M. Sweeney.

get in through the window...

This is Naked Paisley Pete.

He is currently on parole and would like your digits.

 

He's from a monstrous-looking, furred race. They have enormous eyes. They are omnivores. They are famous for producing negotiators. They have only one child at a time making Naked Paisley Pete a rare breed indeed. Their government is a technocracy that is entirely dysfunctional. They were once a dead people - what brought them back to life is a matter of speculation. Their world of origin is icy and is known for being an excellent place to observe astronomical phenomena.

 

He is approximately 5" tall and made of light tan fleshy felt with chocolate brown paisley accents. Naked Paisley Pete kicks a super duty chocolate felt back.

 

He is stuffed full with Poly-fil. Which makes him very huggable.

Naked Paisley Pete is a combination of hand sewn and machine sewn stitches. And he comes shipped to you in a sealed UltraPunch package.This is Naked Paisley Pete.

He is currently on parole and would like your digits.

 

He's from a monstrous-looking, furred race. They have enormous eyes. They are omnivores. They are famous for producing negotiators. They have only one child at a time making Naked Paisley Pete a rare breed indeed. Their government is a technocracy that is entirely dysfunctional. They were once a dead people - what brought them back to life is a matter of speculation. Their world of origin is icy and is known for being an excellent place to observe astronomical phenomena.

 

He is approximately 5" tall and made of light tan fleshy felt with chocolate brown paisley accents. Naked Paisley Pete kicks a super duty chocolate felt back.

 

He is stuffed full with Poly-fil. Which makes him very huggable.

Naked Paisley Pete is a combination of hand sewn and machine sewn stitches. And he comes shipped to you in a sealed UltraPunch package.This is Naked Paisley Pete.

He is currently on parole and would like your digits.

 

He's from a monstrous-looking, furred race. They have enormous eyes. They are omnivores. They are famous for producing negotiators. They have only one child at a time making Naked Paisley Pete a rare breed indeed. Their government is a technocracy that is entirely dysfunctional. They were once a dead people - what brought them back to life is a matter of speculation. Their world of origin is icy and is known for being an excellent place to observe astronomical phenomena.

 

He is approximately 5" tall and made of light tan fleshy felt with chocolate brown paisley accents. Naked Paisley Pete kicks a super duty chocolate felt back.

 

He is stuffed full with Poly-fil. Which makes him very huggable.

Naked Paisley Pete is a combination of hand sewn and machine sewn stitches. And he comes shipped to you in a sealed UltraPunch package.This is Naked Paisley Pete.

He is currently on parole and would like your digits.

 

He's from a monstrous-looking, furred race. They have enormous eyes. They are omnivores. They are famous for producing negotiators. They have only one child at a time making Naked Paisley Pete a rare breed indeed. Their government is a technocracy that is entirely dysfunctional. They were once a dead people - what brought them back to life is a matter of speculation. Their world of origin is icy and is known for being an excellent place to observe astronomical phenomena.

 

He is approximately 5" tall and made of light tan fleshy felt with chocolate brown paisley accents. Naked Paisley Pete kicks a super duty chocolate felt back.

 

He is stuffed full with Poly-fil. Which makes him very huggable.

Naked Paisley Pete is a combination of hand sewn and machine sewn stitches. And he comes shipped to you in a sealed UltraPunch package.

"Chocolat is my favorite because it's beloved by everyone who sees it. I've never had that experience: I've never had a movie where people come up to you and say, 'Thank you.'"

-- Producer David Brown

 

Mmmmm....

Chocolat is sweet! In it, mysterious strangers, Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol), wander into a quiet French village and set up a chocolate shop. For these villagers, such a change to the status quo--in the middle of Lent, no less--sparks endless speculation and gossip. While the town mayor, Comte De Reynaud (Alfred Molina), is determined to evict these newcomers from his town, the villagers are more receptive to Vianne's magical concoctions and unique views. Affecting everyone's lives, Vianne not only tips the town's status quo but also finds herself changed for the better. "I think what's wonderful about the story is that by Vianne selling small dreams and little comforts through chocolates, she's going to bit-by-bit transform people's lives." Juliette Binoche said. "That's always frightening when you have an outsider because things can change."

 

Based on the best-selling novel by Joanne Harris, Chocolat reunited Johnny Depp with What's Eating Gilbert Grape? director Lasse Hollstrom. I was very excited about that! I was also thrilled with the rest of the cast. Aside from Chocolat's star, Juliette Binoche, it includes Alfred Molina (who worked with Johnny in Dead Man), Lena Olin (Lasse Hollstrom's wife, who costarred with Johnny in The Ninth Gate), Carrie-Anne Moss (the lady from The Matrix), and Judy Dench. (They don't call her Dame for nothing.) Although she has a small part, most exciting to me was that Leslie Caron was also in this movie. Yeah, Leslie Caron of An American in Paris (Gene Kelly's Oscar-winning musical, which I've seen a zillion times)! Johnny gets to work with the coolest people.

 

Who doesn't want some Chocolat?

With an international cast, French subject, and Swedish director, Chocolat was a surprise hit around the world. From Kansas City to Berlin, producer David Brown noted, "The audience reaction is almost identical. It's remarkable how universal this story is." I can attest to this, as I saw Chocolat in Akron, Ohio, with my parents and a visiting Japanese business associate: We all really enjoyed it.

 

Chocolat has so many unique ingredients--a mix of interesting characters with strong personalities, a sprinkling of fantasy, a splash of adventure--It's hard not to find something to like about it. Even though it takes place in France, audiences related to this story and its characters, recognizing that the village could just as easily be their hometown. "Chocolat is a fable-like story. There are elements of fantasy in it, but Lasse always keeps it grounded in a kind of emotional reality," scriptwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs said. "Even if there's something magical going on, there's an emotional honesty about the performances and how the scenes are done that I think is one of Lasse's great strengths as a director."

 

"Hey, Melissa, where's Johnny?"

My dad asked me this, in a loud whisper from a few seats over, midway through Chocolat. While my eyes rolled at the time, it's a fair question: Johnny doesn't show up until the second half of this movie. But he was keen to work with Lasse Hollstrom again, hoping to show that he was in a better mood and easier to work with than he was during the Gilbert Grape shoot 7 years before.

 

This time, Johnny plays Roux, a traveling Irishman with his gypsy family--more outsiders (or, as Compte De Reynaud describes them, "ruthless, godless drifters"). Johnny was hooked as soon as he read Chocolat's screenplay and connected to the story's theme: "It's okay to break the sort of boundaries of what's normal," he said. "You've got to step outside of that and break the routine and not be so afraid to try new things."Aside from a new accent, Johnny shows off his guitar-playing skills in Chocolat, tackling some blues and Django Reinhardt tunes. (Now, that's exciting!) "He's a terrific musician," Lasse Hollstrom observed. "And he really enjoyed the whole angle of this story, of this character."

 

Lasse Hollstrom created a relaxed, happy set, even though everyone was sick of eating chocolate--some even physically--by the end of the shoot. (Johnny doesn't even like chocolate!) The director allowed all the actors to contribute ideas on any level. "Lasse is always hypersensitive to not just the emotions of the scene, but the emotions of the actors before going into the scene, the emotions of the crew," Johnny explained. "It allows you the freedom to be comfortable, to just create something on the spot, not just stick exactly to the words, but maybe find something different." As he did on the Gilbert Grape set, Lasse Hollstrom encouraged such improvisation. The collaborative atmosphere garnered positive results: While filming Chocolat, he noted, "I think it will show on the screen that we actually had fun making it."

 

Chocolat was nominated for a bunch of different awards all over the place, and won a few. Its five Oscar nominations included acting honors for Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench as well as nods for best music, best writing, and best picture.

 

The Kitties are chocolat-covered.

There are too many great characters in this movie to fit into one scene, so I created my own mixture. On the morning of the chocolate festival, Vianne (Lily) feels defeated, that everyone in town is against her. Having always travelled with the Northern wind, she feels it calling her to her next unknown destination. Just as she and Anouk (Mini) are set to leave, however, Josephine (Lena Olin/Ashes) reminds them of all the lives they've touched and the loving community they've harvested.

 

-- Armande Voizin (Judi Dench/The Mother Kitty) and her daughter Caroline (Carrie-Ann Moss)

are finally on good terms.

-- Caroline has eased up on worrying so much: Allowing her son Luc (Aurelien Parent Koenig/Simon) to ride his dad's bike around town is a big step!

-- Guillaume Blerot (John Wood/B.J). and Madame Audel (Leslie Caron) are finally out on a date, taking Charlie (the dog) out for a stroll.

-- Roux (Gordon) has returned! Maybe it's to check his handy-work on Vianne's front door, or maybe he's realized something more important.

-- Of course, Pantoufle is there too...for now. (All good stories should include a kangaroo, don't you think?)

-- And, don't worry--I don't think anyone but Pere Henri (Hugh O'Conor/Comet) has noticed Comte. De Reynaud (Norman), who has passed out after a valiant battle against Vianne's blasphemous window display of chocolates and all that it and she stand for.

 

When Comte. De Reynaud awakens, will he finally give in to all these changes in his town and accept Vianne with an open heart? Will the townspeople embrace the newfound lightness Vianne has instilled in them? Will Vianne be willing to break her own traditions by staying put, surrounded by a community she helped create? See the movie to find out. (I don't want to tell you everything!) For once, I recommend a chocolate snack instead of popcorn.

 

Bon Bon, anyone?

Next, Johnny gets dressed up for two cameo roles in Before Night Falls. One is clearly prettier than the other....

 

(To see images from Chocolat, visit Melissa's Kitties' blog here: melissaconnolly.blogspot.com/2012/05/johnny-kitties-celeb...)

Speculation as to its function here: lookup.london/martin-lane-oven-safe/

Martin Lane, City of London. DSC15113.

5 stars - read in one sitting, may read again before returning

© 2010 Aelin Quan – All rights reserved - Réf. 100926c

 

 

 

THE AELIN QUAN AFFAIR : NO MORE BODIES... NO MORE VICTIM !

 

The Decay Observer, Thurdsay 30 September 2010

 

 

DECAY SIM (SL) - What is now known as the "Aelin Quan affair" continues to generate intense speculation both within the Decay District community and the media. As relayed by the national and international press, the latest investigations confirmed Mrs Quan had no twin - the only plausible explanation proposed so far for the existence of two strictly identical bodies. One can thus easily imagine why the discovery of a THIRD body, similar in every aspect to the two already found, left yesterday the police and the community even more baffled.

 

As most questions concerning the murders, their underlying motive, the victim(s), etc., remain unanswered to date, speculations are at rife. Many theories have already surfaced, including the suggestion that the event could be the first sign of an alien invasion, or that Mrs. Quan was the first human to be cloned - her clones having been "silenced" by a secret government agency trying to keep the program secret at all costs. The one hour-long documentary shot by the Japanese television added virtually nothing to what was already known, besides confirming that nobody was sure of anything concerning the mysterious Mrs. Quan. Some people even dared to cast doubts about her mere existence.

 

The best was yet to come, however. This afternoon, as the autopsy of the victims was scheduled, it appeared that the three bodies were missing. The room was locked with no sign of a break-in, police said.

 

Later this evening, Mrs. Quan was spotted attending a photography exhibition opening party. "When I asked her what she was doing there and how she managed to get back to life, she laughed and asked me if she was under arrest for being alive!", said Chief Inspector Jo Linden, visibly shaken. "This is the most bizarre investigation of my career. I think I'll go fishing for a week or two with my family...", the policeman concluded.

 

 

 

Special thanks to Ava Verino for the texture and to Frigg Ragu for the pose.

 

 

1 2 3 4 6 ••• 79 80