*Working Towards a Better World

Our country seems to be in a dark place at this time. We are all Americans no matter what our colour, ethnicity, race, belief or gender is. It is time to stop the hate, start the love, embrace our differences and work together to sort out our very real problems. With respect, understanding, determination and hard work we can resolve our problems and live and work together in friendship and harmony. We need to stop the fear, the slander that is being flown around, the greed, the inequality and start working towards equality for everyone!

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

'Well, you can knock me down

Step in my face

Slander my name all over the place

Well do anything that you want to do

But uh-uh, honey lay off of them shoes'

"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock-and-roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues, country, and pop music of the time.

We're here visiting Rock 'n roll shoes

www.fluidr.com/photos/barrentrees

Have a great weekend my very talented friends! These spoonbills are such a treat to photograph!

Roseate Spoonbill en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseate_spoonbill

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

A Clean Slate: How to Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt You

by Charles R. Swindoll

Walking closely with the Lord means we must come to terms with forgiving others. Yes, must. We can’t avoid or deny the fact that relationships often bring hurt and the need to forgive. Whether we have been wronged by another or the responsibility is ours, Ephesians 4:31-32 beautifully summarizes how we can have a clear conscience and be free to love and serve God with all our heart:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

In different stages in our life, we may be confronted with the difficult task of forgiveness. The following chart and steps help us get started toward a choice of obedience and godly love.

Cultivate a Heart of Forgiveness

Deepen your understanding of God’s forgiveness through Bible study and meditation. God has been astoundingly, absurdly generous to us. Let that grace prompt humility and gratitude. See Romans 5:8.

Learn to recognize the signs of a forgiving heart: letting go of the need for punishment, looking at the offender with pity and compassion, and choosing to reach out in love.

Learn to respond well when old feelings come back. Rely upon the Shepherd’s help to change your heart. Turn (repent), tune in to the Shepherd’s voice (depend), and travel His path for us (obey).

Steps to Forgiveness

First, realize that forgiveness is risky. Even a repentant offender is likely to fail again, perhaps in the same area.

Second, rely on God. Cry out, “Lord, I lean on You for the grace and strength to love this one who has hurt me and to work for what is best for him.”

Third, actually cancel the debt. Through prayer, express to God that you relinquish the right to collect debt on any level and to release your bitterness.

Fourth, evaluate whether you should tell the offender what you have done before God.

Fifth, if appropriate, verbally offer them forgiveness. If they repent, your relationship can resume. If not, the relationship cannot be resumed; but with forgiveness offered, good can be returned for evil (Romans 12:21).

What If Forgiveness Can’t Be Had?

If you want to make things right with someone you’ve hurt, but they are unavailable, allow God’s forgiveness to suffice. Trust Him to intervene on your behalf to ease any heartache you have caused. It may help to confess your sin to a trusted friend.

If the person is available but refuses to forgive you, ask yourself, Does their refusal indicate that I haven't genuinely repented? Test yourself by the standards found in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. If genuine, then God’s forgiveness is sufficient. Realize, too, that forgiveness can be a process. They may need time to be willing to forgive.

May the following prayer help you get started on the journey of forgiveness today.

Dear Forgiving Father,

Thank you for your greatest gift, Your Son Christ Jesus, who came that we might be forgiven. Thank You so much for Your mercy.

Give us the courage to show that mercy and the humility to ask for it. When we have offended, make us quick to acknowledge our wrong and do whatever is necessary to be reconciled. And with those who have hurt us, may we release all resentment and grudges. Enable us to forget all that holds us back from a grace-filled life.

Finally, may we find our greatest joy in granting others what they don't deserve . . . and thereby modeling Your mercy that has set us free. Amen." written by Chuck Swindoll

www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/follow-god-along-the-roug...

Introduction

I

You spend yourself for God, I devote myself to Him,

forsaken by family, slandered by the world.

The path to follow God is not easy at all.

I put all my heart and soul into expanding the kingdom of God.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

II

Walking the road of loving God, I endure bitter tests.

Danger and distress draw not a single complaint from my mouth.

Though my flesh suffers a lot, my heart is in love of God.

I go everywhere as a witness of God’s deeds.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

III

Trials and tribulations heavily weigh upon me.

The ups and downs of life I live.

Yet I’m willing to do God’s will,

spending my whole being for Him.

I’ve made up my mind that I will suffer all my life.

Yes, I will suffer all my life. And I will satisfy God’s heart!

I will suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

Terms of Use： en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_deer

The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), also known as the western roe deer, chevreuil or just roe deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe deer are widespread in Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from the British Isles to the Caucasus. It is distinct from the somewhat larger Siberian roe deer.

Etymology

English roe is from Old English raha, from Proto-Germanic *raikhon, cognate to Old Norse rá and German Reh. A fifth-century runic inscription on a roe deer ankle bone found in England (the "Caistor-by-Norwich astragalus") transliterates as raïhan, thought to refer to the deer itself. Ultimately, the word may be drawn from the Proto-Indo-European root *rei-, meaning "streaked" or "spotted." Another translation suggests that roe is an ancient word meaning the colour red.

Distribution and related species

The roe deer is distinct from the somewhat larger Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) that is found from the Ural Mountains to as far east as China and Siberia. The two species meet at the Caucasus Mountains, with the European species occupying the southern flank of the mountain ranges and adjacent Asia Minor and the Siberian species occupying the northern flank of the mountain ranges.

Within Europe, the European roe deer occurs in most areas, with the exception of northernmost Scandinavia (north of Narvik) and some of the islands, notably Iceland, Ireland, and the Mediterranean Sea islands; in the Mediterranean region it is largely confined to mountainous regions, and is absent or rare at low levels. Scottish roe deer were introduced to the Lissadell Estate in Co. Sligo in the Republic of Ireland around 1870 by Sir Henry Gore-Booth, Bt.[2] The Lissadell deer were noted for their occasional abnormal antlers and survived in that general area for about 50 years before they died out and there are not believed to be any roe deer currently extant in Ireland.

In England and Wales roe have experienced a substantial expansion in their range in the latter half of the 20th century and continuing into this century. This increase in population also appears to be impacting woodland ecosystems.[3] At the start of the 20th century they were almost extinct in Southern England but since then have hugely expanded their range for no apparent reason and possibly in some cases with human help. In 1884 there was an introduction of roe from Wurttemberg in Germany into the Thetford Chase area and these spread to populate most of Norfolk, Suffolk and substantial parts of Cambridgeshire. In southern England they started their expansion in Sussex (possibly from enclosed stock in Petworth Park) and from there soon spread into Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, and for the first half of the 20th century most roe in southern England were to be found in these counties. By the end of the 20th century they had repopulated much of Southern England and had expanded into Somerset, Devon, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and had even spread into mid-Wales from the Ludlow area where an isolated population had appeared. At the same time the surviving population in Scotland and the Lake District had pushed further down beyond Yorkshire and Lancashire and into Derbyshire and Humberside. Now roe can be found in most of rural England except for the very far south western tip of Cornwall, south east Kent and the greater part of Staffordshire and Cheshire although the expansion is continuing to the extent that before the end of this century anywhere in the UK mainland that is suitable for roe may have a population. Not being a species that need large areas of woodland to survive urban roe are now a feature of several cities, notably Glasgow and Bristol, where in particular they favour cemeteries. In Wales they are less common but have been seen as far south west as Cardigan and as far north west as Bangor and they are reasonably well established in Powys and Monmouthshire.

German colonial administrators introduced roe deer to the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia. They are hunted by locals in very steep and heavily vegetated terrain. The meat is openly sold in markets and restaurants in Kolonia, the capital city of Pohnpei and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Physical appearance

The roe deer is a relatively small deer, with a body length of 95–135 cm (3.1–4.4 ft), a shoulder height of 65–75 cm (2.1–2.5 ft), and a weight of 15–35 kg (33–77 lb).[4] It has rather short, erect antlers and a reddish body with a grey face. Its hide is golden red in summer, darkening to brown or even black in winter, with lighter undersides and a white rump patch; the tail is very short (2–3 cm or 0.8–1.2 in), and barely visible. Only the males have antlers. The first and second set of antlers are unbranched and short (5–12 cm or 2.0–4.7 in), while older bucks in good conditions develop antlers up to 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long with two or three, rarely even four, points. When the male's antlers begin to regrow, they are covered in a thin layer of velvet-like fur which disappears later on after the hair's blood supply is lost. Males may speed up the process by rubbing their antlers on trees, so that their antlers are hard and stiff for the duels during the mating season. Unlike most cervids, roe deer begin regrowing antlers almost immediately after they are shed.

Habitat and diet

The roe deer is primarily crepuscular, or primarily active during the twilight, very quick and graceful, lives in woods although it may venture into grasslands and sparse forests. It feeds mainly on grass, leaves, berries and young shoots. It particularly likes very young, tender grass with a high moisture content, i.e., grass that has received rain the day before. Roe deer will not generally venture into a field that has had or has livestock (sheep, cattle) in it because the livestock make the grass unclean. A pioneer species commonly associated with biotic communities at an early stage of succession, during the Neolithic period in Europe the roe deer was abundant, taking advantage of areas of forest or woodland cleared by Neolithic farmers.[5]

Behaviour and life cycle

The roe deer attains a maximum life span (in the wild) of ten years. When alarmed, it will bark a sound much like a dog and flash out its white rump patch. Rump patches differ between the sexes, with the white rump patches heart-shaped on females and kidney-shaped on males. Males may also bark or make a low grunting noise. Females (does)make a high pitched "pheep" whine to attract males during the rut (breeding season)in July and August. Initially it is the female who goes looking for a mate and it is common for her to lure the buck back into her territory before mating. The roe deer is territorial, and whilst the territories of a male and a female might overlap, other roe deer of the same sex are excluded unless they are the doe's offspring of that year.

Reproduction

The polygamous roe deer males clash over territory in early summer and mate in early fall. During courtship, when the males chase the females, they often flatten the underbrush leaving behind areas of the forest in the shape of a figure eight called 'roe rings'. Males may also use their antlers to shovel around fallen foliage and dirt as a way of attracting a mate. Roebucks enter rutting inappetence during the July and August breeding season. Females are monoestrous and after delayed implantation usually give birth the following June, after a ten-month gestation period, typically to two spotted fawns of opposite sexes. The fawns remain hidden in long grass from predators until they are ready to join the rest of the herd; they are suckled by their mother several times a day for around three months. Roe deer adults will often abandon their young if they sense or smell that an animal or human has been near it. Young female roe deer can begin to reproduce when they are around 16 months old.

In popular culture

The world-famous deer Bambi (the eponymous character of the books Bambi, A Life in the Woods, and its sequel Bambi's Children, by Felix Salten) is originally a roe deer. It was only when the story was adapted into the animated feature film Bambi, by the Walt Disney Studios, was Bambi changed to a white-tailed deer. This change was made owing to the white-tail being a more familiar species to the mainstream US viewers. Consequently, the setting was also changed to a North American wilderness.[citation needed]

A roe deer is also said to have helped Genevieve of Brabant to get food for herself and her child after having had to leave their home due to malicious slander.

BLUE SUEDE SHOES ~ written by Elvis Presley

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

Well, it's one for the money

Two for the show

Three to get ready

Now go, cat, go

But don't you

Step on my blue suede shoes

Well you can do anything

But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, you can knock me down

Step in my face

Slander my name all over the place

Well do anything that you want to do

But uh-uh, honey lay off of them shoes

And don't you step on my blue suede shoes

Well, you can do anything

But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Let's go, cat!

Ah, walk the dog

You can burn my house

Steal my car

Drink my liquor

From an old fruit jar

Well do anything that you want to do

But uh-uh, honey lay off of my shoes

And don't you

Step on my blue suede shoes

Well, you can do anything

But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Rock it

Yeah

Well, it's one for the money

Two for the…

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

128/365 -Around the house - Day 128

Dear Flickrs friends

Because of the harassment, and defamation that I'm being subjected these days, and the doubts that have arisen in "friends" ( I believed so), and now many of them have believed the lies and atrocities that have poured on me this miserable stalker, fails to enjoy your photos and compositions until my complaint that I did to the abuse department of Flickr (www.flickr.com/abuse/) can give me a solution to my problem.

It's really what we do here, Flickr not is a social network. Thank you very much to all who trust and supported in me . Is one very little group, but stronger and faithful.

Perhaps someday, if we unite will finished harassment in this site.

I have no guilt of being a young woman, and not be so ugly.

I took screenshots of the famous image, all comments and names. It was so sad what I saw. I am married and I have a little daughter and we live far from where live this slanderer.. God bless to all

***Model www.deviantart.com/art/Galadriel-Glamour-334196371

“The only thing more frustrating than slanderers is those foolish enough to listen to them.”

― Criss Jami

bonfire hearts

textures are my own and the lovely and talented lenabem-anna

more funny signs spotted about the grid lololol

seen@ Flux Sur Mer maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Flux%20Sur%20Mer/44/158/24

I’ve been noticing something lately that kind of disturbs me. I’ve noticed that there are a lot of people that seem to enjoy starting trouble with others where there should literally be no problems at all! I’ve noticed an almost school-child-like attitude where people complain about others or just spread negativity almost like it’s a game, and its one of the most unattractive things I’ve ever experienced. I’ve always seen things like this, but I guess with my own personal struggles and changes that are happening lately and with trying to figure out where I stand in the world, I’ve been noticing these things with more potency.

All I can say is that you should think before you speak and act. When you’re considering saying something negative about someone, think about how you’d feel if that comment was being directed at you. Also consider the fact that if you’re slandering people to others around you, it doesn’t make you look great to the people around you either; what will you go say about them once they’re gone? We live in a world where the success and failure of our existence is determined by the collective decisions of us all. Lets take hold of the opportunity to make this world a better environment, and treat everyone with grace and love rather than leaving scars.

And as a side note, the model for this image is the gorgeous Sarah Ann Loreth, and this message is the complete opposite of her… just want to make that clear because she is basically an angel! It was such a blast [almost] lighting her on fire... all in love of course!

Website | Prints | Facebook | 500px | Twitter | Blog

Figured I'd continue being my diva girrrrl self and wear what I'm reading at the moment. Alright, truth be told it's not exactly what I'm reading, but I'd like to think if the Countess de La Motte-Valois were alive today then she would certainly ensnare the Cardinal Prince Louis de Rohan in yet another scheme to commission the creation of such a necklace in secret and at supposed behest of the doomed queen, Marie Antoinette. And then it's off with Marie's head having her husband's court in ruin over the sordid scandal, and of course, exiled lives for the remaining lot all whilst throwing France into its revolution.

The book is "The Queen's Necklace," by Frances Mossiker. It's based on a historic footnote in the events leading up to the French Revolution. The infamous necklace comprised 647 diamonds weighing a total of 2,800 carats. Where it and/or its diamonds ended up is clouded in mystery, intrigue, and oodles of speculation. Regardless, the social climbing aspirations, selfish political agendas, theft, slander, and gossip of those by-gone days are a mere microcosm of the greed, party-towing, embezzlement, mud-slinging, TMZ-esque atmosphere of today's tumultuous economic times.

It makes me wonder if perchance a few hundred years down the road such a book will be written about the Wall Street CEOs and Titans et al who ran amuck with the fiscal infrastructure of their corporations and ultimately the world’s financial market. Bernie Madoff would certainly be one of the central players amongst other notable “luminaries” n'est-ce pas?

Fun Fact Du Jour: I got nothing…alright that’s not entirely true. So snapping this pic gave me an opportunity to examine the state of my neckline. Not too shabby considering. Yet, I must profess good fortune in having been a makeup artist for Lancôme at one point in my life. That stint taught me three valuable lessons about skincare: clean face always (morning and night), use proper moisturizer/sunscreen, and never ever forget your neck. And the cherry to that sundae of wisdom was my father’s perspective on life…laugh always, but first and foremost laugh at yourself.

American Halloween - The Sacrifice of Freedom by Daniel Arrhakis (2022)

Under the guise of Freedom of Expression, the Politics of Hate has spread conspiracy theories and Fake News in the populations, largely because of the lack of legal regulation to the platforms that govern social networks.

If, on the one hand, Democracy and its institutions guarantee Freedom of Expression, on the other hand, they are the direct victims of the attacks of an extreme right policy that does not look at means to achieve its ends!

The lack of regulation in the multinational technology and social media companies, and in particular the lack of a code of conduct as existed in the press in general, accentuated ideological extremisms, whether political, economic or religious.

Violence is openly cultivated as if it were freedom of expression, the expressed threat has become a form of political and social claim, slander and lies have become reliable information.

The end result is a new reality built and fed by ancestral hatreds, social and religious moralisms and civilizational dogmas that promote discrimination and persecution of those who do not belong to the same group.

In a society in which selfishness, profit and indifference are winning apologies for the cult of the strongest, we are moving towards a dehumanized society in which everything counts to achieve the ends, even the sacrifice of family, society, moral values ​​and most basic human rights!

The capitol invasion or the recent attack on Paul Pelosi are a reflection of this new intolerant society and dangerously radicalized by a few unscrupulous politicians and businessmen.

If we allow this intolerance and radicalization to contaminate the institutions of the states then it will not only be the War in Ukraine perpetuated by Russia our main problem but it will be Democracy, Freedom and Peace worldwide that will be at stake in the near future.

Ultimately, History has shown us that the worst dictators were put in power by the very people who elected them, and often applauded!

Our choice matters! And these days more than ever!

_________________________________________________________

Halloween Americano - O Sacrifício Da Liberdade

Sob o pretexto da Liberdade de Expressão a Política do Ódio tem espalhado as teorias da conspiração e as Fake News nas populações muito por culpa da falta de regulamentação legal das plataformas que regem as redes sociais.

Se por um lado a Democracia e as suas instituições garantem a Liberdade de Expressão por outro lado são as vitimas diretas dos ataques de uma politica de Extrema direita que não olha a meios para atingir os fins !

A falta de regulamentação nas empresas multinacionais de tecnologia e mídia social e em especial a inexistência de um código de conduta como existia na Imprensa em geral veio acentuar os extremismos ideológicos, sejam eles politicos, económicos ou religiosos.

A violência é cultivada de forma aberta como se de uma liberdade de expressão se tratasse, a ameaça expressa tornou-se uma forma de reivindicação politica e social, a calúnia e a mentira tornaram-se informação fidedigna.

O resultado final é uma nova realidade construída e alimentada por ódios ancestrais, moralismos sociais e religiosos e dogmas civilizacionais que promovem a descriminação e a perseguição dos que não pertencem ao mesmo grupo.

Numa sociedade em que egoísmo, o lucro e a indiferença são apologias vencedoras do culto ao mais forte, caminhamos para uma sociedade desumanizada em que tudo vale para atingir os fins nem que para isso, se sacrifiquem a família, a sociedade, os valores morais e os mais básicos direitos humanos !

A invasão do capitólio ou o ataque recente a Paul Pelosi são o reflexo desta nova sociedade intolerante e perigosamente radicalizada por uns quantos politicos e empresários sem escrúpulos.

Se deixarmos que esta intolerância e radicalização contamine as instituições dos estados então não serão apenas a Guerra na Ucrânia perpetuada pela Russia o nosso principal problema, mas será a própria Democracia, a Liberdade e a Paz a nível mundial que estarão em causa num futuro próximo.

Em ultima análise a História tem nos mostrado que os piores ditadores foram colocados no poder pelos proprios povos que os elegeram e muitas vezes em palmas !

A nossa escolha importa ! E nos dias de hoje mais que nunca !

This is among my favorites of a series of photographs I captured of a pure chance encounter with an ermine in an urban environment.

I originally set out to find a closeup picture of the sea ice, and set up my tripod with a 70-200 on it and worked on some compositions when suddenly this majestic mustelid appeared on the scene, quickly jumping under the ice and peering out occasionally every few minutes. Finally, it resurfaced with a vole it had presumably caught under the ice. It was a spiritual experience, albeit relatively short and hectic. Not just the part where I cursed the decidedly lacking animal tracking focus system of my camera - Nikon slander aside, the Z5 is really not a camera for fast-paced action - and the resulting half a dozen out of focus shots of the animal on the move that I did manage to point my camera in the right direction, for what little good it did. But while I am aware of that disappointment, it takes little away from just how special the encounter was, and how much I cherish the pictures that were successful. I truly understand wildlife photographers who thank the animals they photograph feel. This one was running, vole in mouth, across the snow covered paths and frozen shore off to another tiny island as the sun was setting, and I knew I had no chance of getting anything more that day, nor any right, and thanked the stoat in my mind as I packed my gear, and thanked it again on my way home.

No graphics in the comments, please

Press "L" and view in Lightbox

A post shared by Flickr (@flickr)

A Better Cut..per Messent and others! thanks for the input on this one...more of a horizontal composite now --no hdr ...deserves it's own space

Every season has its own glory (James Watkins)

Every season has its own glory,

Every purpose has its own time,

Every moment has its own story,

Every story has its own line.

I have walked deep into cities,

Shining brightly never to fail,

Listened to heart cries,

Lost in the morning,

Standing on corners

Stagnant and stale.

Where is the hope

That brought forth the laughter?

Where is the song?

The music unveiled?

Why are the choices so

Wasted and bitter?

Gathered in hatred,

Broken and pale.

I have seen (new) stars on the mountains,

Fed on the movement of heaven and earth-

Fired by the framework

Of perfect perspective,

Fueled by the turning of terrible truth.

Come now and sing of mists in the forest,

Sensual sonnets of songs in the dirt-

Come and behold the delicate balance

Of seasons and reasons and rhythms

And birth.

There are the voices lost in confusion,

Crushed in the thriving, deepening swale-

Calloused and cold the circling convenience,

Crippled commotion emotions prevail.

Beacons of quiet in last true performance,

Heralded nature in singular cause-

Perfect and pure

Though wasted and slandered.

Washed by confession

In smoldering awe.

Severed connections, squandered projections-

Revered reflections, stammering tongues-

Coined by controlling contriving convections,

In different directions now written in stone.

Now is the time to look to the heavens,

Now is the moment to take up the cause,

Now is the voice of blazing amazement,

Borne on the winds of the gathering storm.

Listen to stream, listen to forest,

Listen to flower, and staggering fawn-

Listen to voices rolling like thunder,

Drink of the waters

And dance with the dawn.

Wrapped in the garments of natural beauty,

Facing the force of burgeoning call-

Strong in the seasons of life and creation,

Firm on foundations that never will fall.

James Watkins 09-01-08

Every Season Has Its Own Glory (JHWatkins) not hdr

Every season has its own glory,

Every purpose has its own time,

Every moment has its own story,

Every story has its own line.

I have walked deep into cities,

Shining brightly never to fail,

Listened to heart cries,

Lost in the morning,

Standing on corners

Stagnant and stale.

Where is the hope

That brought forth the laughter?

Where is the song?

The music unveiled?

Why are the choices so

Wasted and bitter?

Gathered in hatred,

Broken and pale.

I have seen (new) stars on the mountains,

Fed on the movement of heaven and earth-

Fired by the framework

Of perfect perspective,

Fueled by the turning of terrible truth.

Come now and sing of mists in the forest,

Sensual sonnets of songs in the dirt-

Come and behold the delicate balance

Of seasons and reasons and rhythms

And birth.

There are the voices lost in confusion,

Crushed in the thriving, deepening swale-

Calloused and cold the circling convenience,

Crippled emotion commotion prevails.

Beacons in quiet of last true performance,

Heralded nature in singular cause-

Perfect and pure

Though wasted and slandered.

Washed by confession

In smoldering awe.

Severed connections, squandered projections-

Revered reflections by stammering tongues-

Coined by controlling contriving convections,

In different directions now written in stone.

Now is the time to look to the heavens,

Now is the moment to take up the cause,

Now is the voice of blazing amazement,

Borne on the winds of the gathering storm.

Listen to stream, listen to forest,

Listen to flower, and staggering fawn-

Listen to voices rolling like thunder,

Come drink of the waters

And dance with the dawn.

Wrapped in the garments of natural beauty,

Facing the force of the burgeoning call-

Strong in the seasons of life and creation,

Firm on foundations that never will fall.

James Watkins 09-01-08

Away, get away

You're such a freak

It's what people say to me

Different, too different

I'm scared of judgment

Your insults and your slanders stick on to me

Yes with your million eyes you're watching me

You talk behind my back, you spy on me

So I scream and shout to make you leave

But you're still here, you keep judging me

With your million eyes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=68EnJITH-5Q

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_deer

The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), also known as the western roe deer, chevreuil or just roe deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe deer are widespread in Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from the British Isles to the Caucasus. It is distinct from the somewhat larger Siberian roe deer.

Etymology

English roe is from Old English raha, from Proto-Germanic *raikhon, cognate to Old Norse rá and German Reh. A fifth-century runic inscription on a roe deer ankle bone found in England (the "Caistor-by-Norwich astragalus") transliterates as raïhan, thought to refer to the deer itself. Ultimately, the word may be drawn from the Proto-Indo-European root *rei-, meaning "streaked" or "spotted." Another translation suggests that roe is an ancient word meaning the colour red.

Distribution and related species

The roe deer is distinct from the somewhat larger Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) that is found from the Ural Mountains to as far east as China and Siberia. The two species meet at the Caucasus Mountains, with the European species occupying the southern flank of the mountain ranges and adjacent Asia Minor and the Siberian species occupying the northern flank of the mountain ranges.

Within Europe, the European roe deer occurs in most areas, with the exception of northernmost Scandinavia (north of Narvik) and some of the islands, notably Iceland, Ireland, and the Mediterranean Sea islands; in the Mediterranean region it is largely confined to mountainous regions, and is absent or rare at low levels. Scottish roe deer were introduced to the Lissadell Estate in Co. Sligo in the Republic of Ireland around 1870 by Sir Henry Gore-Booth, Bt.[2] The Lissadell deer were noted for their occasional abnormal antlers and survived in that general area for about 50 years before they died out and there are not believed to be any roe deer currently extant in Ireland.

In England and Wales roe have experienced a substantial expansion in their range in the latter half of the 20th century and continuing into this century. This increase in population also appears to be impacting woodland ecosystems.[3] At the start of the 20th century they were almost extinct in Southern England but since then have hugely expanded their range for no apparent reason and possibly in some cases with human help. In 1884 there was an introduction of roe from Wurttemberg in Germany into the Thetford Chase area and these spread to populate most of Norfolk, Suffolk and substantial parts of Cambridgeshire. In southern England they started their expansion in Sussex (possibly from enclosed stock in Petworth Park) and from there soon spread into Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, and for the first half of the 20th century most roe in southern England were to be found in these counties. By the end of the 20th century they had repopulated much of Southern England and had expanded into Somerset, Devon, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and had even spread into mid-Wales from the Ludlow area where an isolated population had appeared. At the same time the surviving population in Scotland and the Lake District had pushed further down beyond Yorkshire and Lancashire and into Derbyshire and Humberside. Now roe can be found in most of rural England except for the very far south western tip of Cornwall, south east Kent and the greater part of Staffordshire and Cheshire although the expansion is continuing to the extent that before the end of this century anywhere in the UK mainland that is suitable for roe may have a population. Not being a species that need large areas of woodland to survive urban roe are now a feature of several cities, notably Glasgow and Bristol, where in particular they favour cemeteries. In Wales they are less common but have been seen as far south west as Cardigan and as far north west as Bangor and they are reasonably well established in Powys and Monmouthshire.

German colonial administrators introduced roe deer to the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia. They are hunted by locals in very steep and heavily vegetated terrain. The meat is openly sold in markets and restaurants in Kolonia, the capital city of Pohnpei and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Physical appearance

The roe deer is a relatively small deer, with a body length of 95–135 cm (3.1–4.4 ft), a shoulder height of 65–75 cm (2.1–2.5 ft), and a weight of 15–35 kg (33–77 lb).[4] It has rather short, erect antlers and a reddish body with a grey face. Its hide is golden red in summer, darkening to brown or even black in winter, with lighter undersides and a white rump patch; the tail is very short (2–3 cm or 0.8–1.2 in), and barely visible. Only the males have antlers. The first and second set of antlers are unbranched and short (5–12 cm or 2.0–4.7 in), while older bucks in good conditions develop antlers up to 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long with two or three, rarely even four, points. When the male's antlers begin to regrow, they are covered in a thin layer of velvet-like fur which disappears later on after the hair's blood supply is lost. Males may speed up the process by rubbing their antlers on trees, so that their antlers are hard and stiff for the duels during the mating season. Unlike most cervids, roe deer begin regrowing antlers almost immediately after they are shed.

Habitat and diet

The roe deer is primarily crepuscular, or primarily active during the twilight, very quick and graceful, lives in woods although it may venture into grasslands and sparse forests. It feeds mainly on grass, leaves, berries and young shoots. It particularly likes very young, tender grass with a high moisture content, i.e., grass that has received rain the day before. Roe deer will not generally venture into a field that has had or has livestock (sheep, cattle) in it because the livestock make the grass unclean. A pioneer species commonly associated with biotic communities at an early stage of succession, during the Neolithic period in Europe the roe deer was abundant, taking advantage of areas of forest or woodland cleared by Neolithic farmers.[5]

Behaviour and life cycle

The roe deer attains a maximum life span (in the wild) of ten years. When alarmed, it will bark a sound much like a dog and flash out its white rump patch. Rump patches differ between the sexes, with the white rump patches heart-shaped on females and kidney-shaped on males. Males may also bark or make a low grunting noise. Females (does)make a high pitched "pheep" whine to attract males during the rut (breeding season)in July and August. Initially it is the female who goes looking for a mate and it is common for her to lure the buck back into her territory before mating. The roe deer is territorial, and whilst the territories of a male and a female might overlap, other roe deer of the same sex are excluded unless they are the doe's offspring of that year.

Reproduction

The polygamous roe deer males clash over territory in early summer and mate in early fall. During courtship, when the males chase the females, they often flatten the underbrush leaving behind areas of the forest in the shape of a figure eight called 'roe rings'. Males may also use their antlers to shovel around fallen foliage and dirt as a way of attracting a mate. Roebucks enter rutting inappetence during the July and August breeding season. Females are monoestrous and after delayed implantation usually give birth the following June, after a ten-month gestation period, typically to two spotted fawns of opposite sexes. The fawns remain hidden in long grass from predators until they are ready to join the rest of the herd; they are suckled by their mother several times a day for around three months. Roe deer adults will often abandon their young if they sense or smell that an animal or human has been near it. Young female roe deer can begin to reproduce when they are around 16 months old.

In popular culture

The world-famous deer Bambi (the eponymous character of the books Bambi, A Life in the Woods, and its sequel Bambi's Children, by Felix Salten) is originally a roe deer. It was only when the story was adapted into the animated feature film Bambi, by the Walt Disney Studios, was Bambi changed to a white-tailed deer. This change was made owing to the white-tail being a more familiar species to the mainstream US viewers. Consequently, the setting was also changed to a North American wilderness.[citation needed]

A roe deer is also said to have helped Genevieve of Brabant to get food for herself and her child after having had to leave their home due to malicious slander.

We welcome all truth seekers to contact us.

en.easternlightning.org/

The Origin of Eastern Lightning’s Prosperity

.........

"Now, in these last days, God has once again become flesh in China—the staunch bastion of atheism, the very nest of the great red dragon—to carry out His work of judgment beginning from His house. God issues forth truths to judge and cleanse mankind, the purpose being to save man completely from the dark influence of Satan, and finally, the saved will be brought into God’s kingdom by Him and enter rest together with God. However, the historical tragedy of Jewish resistance to the Lord Jesus is being enacted once again. As God does His new work of the last days which strikes back against the notions of people from the various religious sects, they do not welcome the return of the Lord Jesus. Instead, they spread all manner of heresies and fallacies. They attack and slander God incarnate, condemning His work as an “evil cult” or “heresy.” They even go so far as to collude with the Chinese Communist government to persecute and arrest those who spread the gospel of God in the last days. Their deeds are no different than those of the Jewish religious community that once framed and persecuted the Lord Jesus. This fact has completely fulfilled the prophecy of the Lord Jesus, “For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation” (Luke 17:24-25). God has been incarnated twice amongst man to speak and work, to redeem mankind and save mankind, and both times has suffered the condemnation, blasphemy, and resistance of religious leaders and ruling regimes; this fact alone is enough to prove that the true way has been persecuted since ancient times. The more the way is true and the more it is the appearance and work of God, the more it suffers the rejection and condemnation of religious leaders and satanic regimes. The clever can determine from the unscrupulous persecution and condemnation of Almighty God and His work of the last days by the pastors and elders of the religious world and the CCP government whether or not it is the true way, and thereby make the wise choice."

..........

Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html

NOVEMBRE

E poi - se accadrà ch'io me ne vada -

resterà qualche cosa

di me

nel mio mondo -

resterà un'esile scia di silenzio

in mezzo alle voci -

un tenue fiato di bianco

in cuore all'azzurro -

[...]

Antonia Pozzi - Milano 29 0ttobre 1930

NOVEMBER

And then - if it happens I go away -

there'll remain somethings

of me

in my world -

there'll remain a slander wake of silence

and the voices -

a tenuous breath of white

at the heart of azure -

[...]

Sorry for a boring 365 today, I just wasn't feeling too inspired. :P

These are Courtney's hands, by the way. I definitely couldn't do this picture on my own!

Well, not too much to tell about the day. Had school and then went shopping for a prom dress with Brooke. I didn't buy one, although I did find two dresses that fit perfectly and I loved. Darn those pricey stores! Oh well, good thing I started shopping several months early!

Oh and thanks so much to everyone who's been leaving comments, critiques, or favoring. :)

I promise I'll visit all of your streams as soon as I get the chance!

Mean-spirited slander is heartless;

quiet discretion accompanies good sense.

Proverbs 11:12

location :Kitano tenmangu ,Kyoto city,Kyoto prefecture,Japan

京都 北野天満宮

This shrine was dedicated to noted scholar and poet Sugawara-no-Michizane (posthumously named Tenjin) in 947. It was revered by the court and the shogunate and spawned many branch shrines along with temple schools throughout the country.

Kitano-tenmangu Shrine is one of the great shrines of Kyoto. It features elaborate architecture, plum trees which scent the air in spring, and a collection of treasures of special interest to those familiar with Japanese history.

Kitano-tenmangu Shrine enshrines the spirit of Sugawara-no-Michizane who was a scholar and adviser to the Emperor Uda in the Heian Period. He was a loyal civil servant who became the victim of slander and was subsequently exiled to the island of Kyushu where he died. Shortly after his death a series of severe thunderstorms and earthquakes shook the capital. To add to this, a number of the people who slandered him met with unexpected disaster. These events were interpreted to mean that his powerful spirit was unhappy, and the Imperial Court moved to placate it by granting him the posthumous name of Karai Tenjin (God of Fire and Thunder) and building this shrine. Tenjin is now regarded as the deity of scholastic studies and is extremely popular with students preparing for high school or university entrance examinations.

The many plum trees on the grounds were planted because of Michizane's known fondness for them during his lifetime. A plum blossom festival is held at the shrine every year in February. Kitano-tenmangu Shrine was the location of the famous mass tea ceremony conducted by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and among the shrine's treasures, are artifacts connected to that particular event as well as others connected to the life of Michizane.

- Kyoto City Travel Official Guide

EF-M22mm f/2 STM/ ƒ/4.5 22.0 mm 1/5sec ISO 1600 /all manual /hand held /no crop

best large...I wanted to update this picture with my new software and believe it has made it better. This is an early fall picture of a river between Knoxville and Nashville, Tn...a nice trout stream, too. Quiet and beautiful place!

FOR THOSE INTERESTED I HAVE AN EXHIBITION AT THIS LINK <a href=" www.flickr.com/groups/inspiringcollection/discuss/7215762... .

Every season has its own glory (James Watkins)

Every season has its own glory,

Every purpose has its own time,

Every moment has its own story,

Every story has its own line.

I have walked deep into cities,

Shining brightly never to fail,

Listened to heart cries,

Lost in the morning,

Standing on corners

Stagnant and stale.

Where is the hope

That brought forth the laughter?

Where is the song?

The music unveiled?

Why are the choices so

Wasted and bitter?

Gathered in hatred,

Broken and pale.

I have seen (new) stars on the mountains,

Fed on the movement of heaven and earth-

Fired up frameworks

Of perfect perspective,

Fueled by the turning of terrible truth.

Come now and sing of mists in the forest,

Sensual sonnets of songs in the dirt-

Come and behold the delicate balance

Of seasons and reasons and rhythms

And birth.

There are the voices lost in confusion,

Crushed in the thriving, deepening swale-

Calloused and cold the circling convenience,

Crippled commotion emotions prevail.

Beacons of quiet in last true performance,

Heralded nature in singular cause-

Perfect and pure

Though wasted and slandered.

Washed by confessional

Smoldering awe.

Severed connections, squandered projections-

Revered reflections, stammering tongues-

Coined by controlling contriving convections,

In different directions now written in stone.

Now is the time to look to the heavens,

Now is the moment to take up the cause,

Now is the voice of blazing amazement,

Borne on the winds of the gathering storm.

Listen to stream, listen to forest,

Listen to flower, and staggering fawn-

Listen to voices rolling like thunder,

Drink of the waters

And dance with the dawn.

Wrapped in the garments of natural beauty,

Facing the force of burgeoning call-

Strong in the seasons of life and creation,

Firm on foundations that never will fall.

James Watkins 09-01-08

Introduction

English Christian Movie "Deadly Ignorance" | Who Should We Listen to in Welcoming the Lord's Return

Zheng Mu'en is a co-worker at a Chinese Christian church in the US, has believed in the Lord for many years, and passionately works and expends for the Lord. One day, his aunt testifies to him that the Lord Jesus has returned to express the truth and do the work of judging and purifying man in the last days, news which greatly excites him. After reading Almighty God's word and watching the movies and videos of The Church of Almighty God, Zheng Mu'en's heart verifies that Almighty God's words are the truth, and that Almighty God might very well be the return of the Lord Jesus, so he begins investigating the work of God in the last days with his brothers and sisters. But when Pastor Ma, the leader of his church, discovers this, he tries time and again to intervene and stop Zheng Mu'en. He shows Zheng Mu'en a CCP government propaganda video that slanders and condemns Eastern Lightning in an attempt to make Zheng Mu'en abandon his investigation of the true way, and this video leaves him very confused: He can obviously see that Almighty God's word are the truth and the voice of God, so why do the pastors and elders of the religious world condemn Almighty God? They not only themselves refuse to seek or investigate, they try to stop others from accepting the true way. Why is this? … Zheng Mu'en fears being deceived and taking the wrong path, but also fears losing his chance to be raptured. In the midst of his conflict and confusion, Pastor Ma presents even more negative propaganda from the CCP and the religious world, producing many more doubts in Zheng Mu'en's heart. He decides to listen to Pastor Ma and give up his investigation of the true way. Later, after hearing testimony and fellowship from witnesses of The Church of Almighty God, Zheng Mu'en understands that in investigating the true way, the most fundamental principle is determining whether a way has the truth and whether what it expresses is the voice of God. Anyone that can express much of the truth must be the appearance of Christ, because no member of corrupt mankind could ever express the truth. This is an indisputable fact. If one does not focus on hearing the voice of God as they investigate the true way, and instead awaits the descent of the Lord Jesus on white clouds based on their imaginings, they will never be able to welcome the appearance of God. Zheng Mu'en finally understands the mystery of the wise virgins hearing God's voice spoken of by the Lord Jesus, decides to no longer believe the lies and absurd theories of the CCP government and the pastors and elders of the religious world, and escapes the constraints and bondage of his religious pastor. Zheng Mu'en experiences deeply the difficulty of investigating the true way. Without discernment or seeking the truth, there is no way to hear the voice of God or be raptured before God's throne. Instead, one can only be deceived and controlled by Satan and die in Satan's net, which entirely fulfills the words in the Bible, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos 4:6). "Fools die for want of wisdom" (Pro 10:21).

You may also like: Christian Testimonies

Hitler's Right-Hand-Man infamously said

"If you tell a LIE BIG ENOUGH and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it".

Gee- did Dominion Voting Machine Corporation's

lawsuit against Faux News for Malice and Slander just prove this to be true.?

The Election was Stolen - my ass!

The Indicted One-

LOST!

Loser!

Loser!

Loser!

Allegoria della calunnia

There are times to use discretion when saturating colors...autumn is not it :}

Every Season Has Its Own Glory (James Watkins) not hdr

Every season has its own glory,

Every purpose has its own time,

Every moment has its own story,

Every story has its own line.

I have walked deep into cities,

Shining brightly never to fail,

Listened to heart cries,

Lost in the morning,

Standing on corners

Stagnant and stale.

Where is the hope

That brought forth the laughter?

Where is the song?

The music unveiled?

Why are the choices so

Wasted and bitter?

Gathered in hatred,

Broken and pale.

I have seen (new) stars on the mountains,

Fed on the movement of heaven and earth-

Fired by the framework

Of perfect perspective,

Fueled by the turning of terrible truth.

Come now and sing of mists in the forest,

Sensual sonnets of songs in the dirt-

Come and behold the delicate balance

Of seasons and reasons and rhythms

And birth.

There are the voices lost in confusion,

Crushed in the thriving, deepening swale-

Calloused and cold the circling convenience,

Crippled commotion emotions prevail.

Beacons in quiet of last true performance,

Heralded nature in singular cause-

Perfect and pure

Though wasted and slandered.

Washed by confession

In smoldering awe.

Severed connections, squandered projections-

Revered reflections by stammering tongues-

Coined by controlling contriving convections,

In different directions now written in stone.

Now is the time to look to the heavens,

Now is the moment to take up the cause,

Now is the voice of blazing amazement,

Borne on the winds of the gathering storm.

Listen to stream, listen to forest,

Listen to flower, and staggering fawn-

Listen to voices rolling like thunder,

Come drink of the waters

And dance with the dawn.

Wrapped in the garments of natural beauty,

Facing the force of the burgeoning call-

Strong in the seasons of life and creation,

Firm on foundations that never will fall.

James Watkins 09-01-08

Slander with the kids.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come

out of your mouths, but only what is helpful

for building others up according to their

needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

with whom you were sealed for the day

of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness,

rage and anger, brawling and slander,

along with every form of malice. Be kind

and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ

Jesus forgave you.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)

The 3rd Gull species from this location (that I haven't yet captured) was this SLANDER-BILLED GULL.

It is a mid-sized gull which breeds very locally around the Mediterranean and the north of the western Indian Ocean (e.g. Pakistan)...Wikipedia.

You got the wrong wrong bitch

If you think you gon' slanderize my name

You done lost your mind I ain't got time for all these games

Bitch, you got the wrong bitch

Love God Without Regrets | Praise Song | "Follow God Along the Rough Path" (Christian Music Video)

www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/follow-god-along-the-roug...

Introduction

I

You spend yourself for God, I devote myself to Him,

forsaken by family, slandered by the world.

The path to follow God is not easy at all.

I put all my heart and soul into expanding the kingdom of God.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

II

Walking the road of loving God, I endure bitter tests.

Danger and distress draw not a single complaint from my mouth.

Though my flesh suffers a lot, my heart is in love of God.

I go everywhere as a witness of God’s deeds.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

III

Trials and tribulations heavily weigh upon me.

The ups and downs of life I live.

Yet I’m willing to do Following God’s Will,

spending my whole being for Him.

I’ve made up my mind that I will suffer all my life.

Yes, I will suffer all my life. And I will satisfy God’s heart!

I will suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs

Recommended for You：Gospel hymn

Image Source: The Church of Almighty God

Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html

Quick desc:

Made this Beryozka camo and Russian helmet a while ago, the green is Citadel paint and, as we know, Citadel's durability sucks. The KAR pouches are part of a commission for MMB.

Scary desc:

welp, this is the desk buddy I took with me after Spring Break, when I made the last photo. I really hope you guys enjoyed that. It's the only real art I feel I've put on here in a long time, something intended more for effect and thought than for showing off something I made to get basic social validation online. That is a lot of what we do, isn't it? That's exactly what this photo is. Let our peers slap a number on a creation of ours, and if it's a good number of faves, we can feel good about ourselves, get narcissistic ayyyy

Honestly I haven't been alright. With the girlfriend months ago went any semblance of regular in-depth discussion, you know, those conversations that are more than small talk, with some other intent than making the other person laugh, and of a failed idealogy built up over a couple years. Hell I have a different ex back home loudly slandering me with half-truths, the true parts of which are unfortunate, the untrue parts of which I am scared to learn the full capacity of, to all and sundry including my mother. Red flags are popping up all over the place to me. I'm dr|nking a little more than usual, I'm reverting to the affinity for Halo Reach's moody & badass ambiance that I held last time I was in a terrible emotional state, I spend a lot of time sleeping, I break down sometimes when I get to a private place after I see *the* one girl -- never a healthy idea to keep, always a false one -- and worst of all, I haven't been able to really, really release it all yet. The tears just haven't come.

What's weird is that this internally-driven feeling, unlike last time, isn't supported externally. It would be a lie to say that I'm at rock bottom because I keep having undeniably great days. I don't want to jinx that by writing it but like, shit. Classes are really hard but I'm learning really valuable stuff, and I'm enjoying social time -- and unavoidably having a lot more of it -- much more than earlier this year. I'm getting serious with coding computer-generated camouflage patterns, and guys, some of these patterns are gorgeous. The very best nights this semester have been when I've made breakthroughs in coding methods to produce the results I want, and when I'm done with my next one, I think I'm going to upload a composite photo of some samples of patterns I've created. I've successfully replicated the randomized checkerboard fractals of Marpat with irregular rectangles like the real pattern, among greater advancements, and this summer I hope to make advancements in macropattern generation to get results like the geometry that, surprisingly, Multicam, Pencott, and US4CEs sort of share.

So, I come to you all tonight somewhere in the middle of the elation and the tiredness. I'm getting super into The Witcher universe. Meddle by Pink Floyd, the whole album, is the best description of the state I'm in right now. (Best other meaningful songs discovered this semester - I highly recommend these - Maggot Brain by Funkadelic, Santeria by Sublime, Ride by Twenty One Pilots.)

I'm learning the science and math of camera and computer display color correction in one of my classes, fundamentals of human vision (which I will always be seeking to fool with my camouflage patterns) in another of my classes, and discussing really damn interesting war&PMC stuff in another. I'm even enjoying my mathematics course! Whoda thunk!

Anyway, I'll be home just a couple weeks from now, and boy, I have a flood of uploads and designs on projects for you all. I'll be working another food service job, this time feat. lots of highschool acquaintances, and hope that will keep me from becoming a hermit through the summer.

Ah here I am. At the end of writing my description. Woo. It's a big scary description. It's got taboo'd angsty stuff! Last time I did this was when the 10-best-figures bandwagon was going around. Should I upload this description at all? All it takes is a click on the Done button, and I look bad to you all, well, probably bad, hopefully relatable. Wooooo. Shouldn't do it. Should do it. Ah fek. Here we go kids GET SCHWIFTY I'M CLICKIN IT

First, before I forget, the woman in the photograph above is part of a band called Toupee, which is part punk, park experimental performance art and can be heard here:

toupee.bandcamp.com/

I'd like to talk a little about feminism, though, before I go any further.

I've always considered myself a feminist but always struggled quite a bit in terms of my own image and the pressures to be thin, be young, be beautiful forever..I think these feelings are pretty ubiquitous so I won't go on and bore anyone. But, I will say, that I think these standards are obviously not achievable in any long term stretch of the imagination for any woman, which is why we have airbrushed skin on magazines to keep prolonging all our damaging postmodern myths.

When I saw the lead singer of this band (forgive, I can't figure out what her actual name is), she was hanging out before anyone performed and I thought she looked unusually beautiful in her elegant dress, even despite the heat and discomfort I figured this must cause her. She definitely struck me as someone I wanted to photograph but I didn't want to make a request in case she said no (always, the dreaded no).

In any case, when I realized that she was part of the second band, I felt a little relieved that I could now photograph her in all her unusual looks.

When a woman wears a dress on the North American continent, I think several things are (unfairly) assumed about her. I think it will be assumed that she will act in a more polite, conforming way, for example. Her behavior will not be characterized by a frantic unpredictability. You will not think her bizarre...but you probably won't remember her either.

In any case, I did not expect the strangely beautiful and somewhat grotesque performance art I ended up witnessing Saturday afternoon.

I went to Experimental Sound Studio to hear music but I didn't really anticipate a transforming experience as much as I thought I simply might enjoy the music itself. I also didn't expect to be challenged.

A woman is a creative force in the universe. She breathes, she feels, she inspires, she changes the world in subtle and not so subtle ways. It's nice to be reminded of this.

So often, concert photographers in this age in particular don't feel valued or respected. We have to sign contracts often giving away all of our rights that basically scream the following message, "However much you have invested into this-money, time, energy, you are NOT the artist here!" It gets to you. You are the one sacrificing and it's your choice which images get out..which is an agonizing process in itself-defining your creative vision...

I have some pretty challenging photos of this set. I haven't ever really preferred gross food photos and shied away from posting those when I photographed The Black Lips (who are composed only of males) back in their early days. But, here I thought the message was quite different-it was one that broke stereotypes and was truly feminist in nontraditional ways. It was a message that said, "It doesn't matter what I look like and how you expect me to act. I am a deep feeling person and I will change the world whether you like it or not."

I have a few photos of this woman, who is a creative force in the universe, that I haven't posted. It's not that I won't get around to posting them but I'm in the process of examining who I am not only as an artist (or as, I hope, my own creative force in the universe) but what it means to be a feminist.

A true feminist is someone who functions well without the audience of men...who lives every day truly as she was meant to live without the influence of male mass marketing, for instance. Is it actually possible to be a feminist if you weren't raised in the woods by feminist wolves? (And, what are feminist wolves like-do they insist Little Red Riding Hood be taught kick boxing or what?) A feminist is secure in her thinking, in her process, in her art. A feminist is one to be admired and to be looked after still by all of us women. If we are divisive, if we find reasons to criticize the nature of women, we become less of who we yearn to be. Or, simply put, we become less. We need to stop depending on stereotypes and start depending on ourselves and our fellow female creative forces.

See, I have been thinking quite a bit about feminism these days. I feel like somehow we're always under attack. We're technically the majority and we still let men make the decisions for us in many ways. We also still let slander stand and vote against our own self interest.

So, I challenge you just as I challenge myself-when you feel yourself falling into male defining stereotypes about beauty and behavior, resist that. Even better, challenge that. You are your own artist with or without an audience. With or without any men watching. You are yourself and you shouldn't want to be anyone else. You are woman and you are a creative force in the universe.

I'm going to work up to that tomato..that visceral picture, though you can imagine it in your head, can't you? It's magnificent...perhaps it's like the best films where they don't show what really happens because the artist/director gives you credit that your imagination is more powerful. Perhaps, it's a little bit or exactly like that. Either way, I think this shows a side of her that is a little wild and uninhibited and, if a photographer's true aim is to capture the real person inside, I hope I accomplished at least partly that with this one.

Love God Without Regrets | Praise Song | "Follow God Along the Rough Path" ( Christian Music Video)

www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/follow-god-along-the-roug...

I

You spend yourself for God, I devote myself to Him,

forsaken by family, slandered by the world.

The path to follow God is not easy at all.

I put all my heart and soul into expanding the kingdom of God.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

II

Walking the road of loving God, I endure bitter tests.

Danger and distress draw not a single complaint from my mouth.

Though my flesh suffers a lot, my heart is in love of God.

I go everywhere as a witness of God’s deeds.

I have seen the turning of the seasons.

I welcome the joy and sorrow ahead.

To satisfy God’s requirements, I obey His arrangements.

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

I’ll suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

III

Trials and tribulations heavily weigh upon me.

The ups and downs of life I live.

Yet I’m willing to do God’s will,

spending my whole being for Him.

I’ve made up my mind that I will suffer all my life.

Yes, I will suffer all my life. And I will satisfy God’s heart!

I will suffer all my life. I will satisfy God’s heart!

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs

Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.

Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html

The ant's nest!

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked! Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9

Never did any sin appear in the life of the vilest wretch who ever lived--but look into your own corrupt nature, and there you may see the seed and root that sin--and every other sin! There is atheism, idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, and whatever is vile--in your heart! Possibly none of these are apparent to you; but there is more in that unfathomable depth of wickedness than you know.

Your corrupt heart is like an ant's nest, which, while the stone lies on it, none of them appear. But take off the stone, and stir them up but with a straw--and you will see what a swarm is there, and how lively they are! Just such a sight would your heart afford you--did the Lord but withdraw the restraint He has upon it--and allow Satan to stir it up by temptation!

Christian! the remembrance of what you are by nature, should keep you humble.

"For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly." Mark 7:21, 22

Cussing me i think as two males about turn as i met them in a closer area.

"Greetings, Count."

~~~~~~~

Flashback in the story of Count Raymond, who had been slandered by his enemies and sentenced by the King to a long term of slavery. Raymond got into the hands of Ephraim Kaufmann, a man with a particular taste for breaking people down which he saw as a form or art. Cruel handling of slaves was illegal but Ephraim knew how to conceal his activities.

This succession of pictires portrays the day when King Miguel made a personal visit to Ephraim's house.

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips

and spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 10:18

It's Thanksgiving! Oliver and Koncedra Simmons have opened their home to family and friends for this happy occasion.

In the entertainment room, many of the guests are gathered. Shasta Simmons, along with Erin and Kat from the Ladies Bible Study Group, are rejoicing in all that makes for true Thanksgiving.

Shasta: -so thankful to God for my family and my friends. To be here with all of you. I think of Psalm 133:1, "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"

Erin: Amen!

Kat: I was thinking of Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." and Colossians 3:13, "accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive." Christian fellowship like this is a blessing from God, we're able to relax in peace with one another.

RC: Right. I need this kind of company. "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”"*

Erin: Yes, "A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends."** So, in contrast, we can "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." ***

Gene: I'm thankful for meeting a pretty girl like you, Erin!

Erin: Oh, Gene! That's not quite the track we're on.

Christian fellowship is one of the key blessings from God in which we can see the graces of the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated in others. "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

_________________________

Thanksgiving 2015:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/23317280855/

Thanksgiving 2016:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/31221411415/

Thanksgiving 2017:

www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/38546693116/

Thanksgiving 2018:

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/45946160821/]

Thanksgiving 2019:

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/49117569293/]

* 1 Corinthians 15:33

** Proverbs 16:28

*** Ephesians 4:31-32

Taken by surprise, Aiden's eyes snapped up as an antagonistic man strode up to their table from behind Vincent and Damien. "What the-?" Aiden started but cut himself off as the man slammed his hands down on the edge of their table and turned a wry, dark smile upon Vincent's sudden stoic expression. He leaned forward over Vincent slightly, challenge flashing in his eyes as he asked, "So Vincent, do you have it?"

From his left, Damien began to grumble but Vincent wasn't paying attention. A stoic expression remained upon his face as he gave a small sigh and stared down into his mug and said, "No." "No?" came the mocking tone. Vincent, appearing unbothered by this threatening man beside him, responded boredly, "No, and I'm afraid I do not know what you are talking about. I do not gamble and I have no debts." Beside him, Damien turned bodily, sliding one leg out from under the bench as he readied himself to possibly jump in at any moment.

"Then allow me to refresh your memory," came a smooth, slightly deep voice from behind Vincent. Aiden's eyes turned towards the speaker. The speaker was a lovely, effeminate man with a rose shaped eyepatch over his left eye and dressed up nicer than his apparent partner who was more muscular, scarred, and intimidating. To Vincent's right, the man gave a slight chuckle. "Do you even remember? Heh, after all you WERE pretty drunk off your ass. I'd be surprised if you can even remember what you had for dinner last night."

Aiden's brow furrowed as Damien moved to stand. "You best watch yourself," Damien snarled but Aiden's gaze returned to Vincent who had ignored the jab and lifted his mug to his lips and took a generous gulp as the man behind him began to explain, stepping closer as he paced slowly. "It may not be habitual of you, darling, but seven months ago you and your pretty boy guard dog over there were at The Fat Lady's drinking and betting that no one could beat him in the arm wrestling. Micah here was winning until you did that silly stumble of yours and broke his concentration. We lost a lot of money that night." Vincent said nothing as he set his mug down and gave a sigh as if bored with the whole conversation.

Finally after a moment, the man who was apparently Micah growled, "Well, don't you have anything to say at all for yourself?" Vincent turned his bored gaze upon the man and then glanced over his shoulder to quickly cast his gaze over the man behind him. A moment later his eyes met Micah's and he responded firmly, "You are lying. I don't know who you are or why you're even here but I'm going to warn you one time: Leave."

There was a loud silence and all was still in the tavern. Then suddenly, Vincent found his collar grabbed and was yanked off the bench and to his feet by Micah with rough force.

"HEY!" Aiden exclaimed as Damien simultaneously cursed, "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Damien had jumped to his feet, spreading his arms wide in taunt. Aiden had begun to rise as well!

Meanwhile, from behind them the other part of the antagonistic duo stood there, watching with an air of annoyance as the two converged upon his partner. "Bloody Hell," he groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose and gazed out at the scene before him. "What a fucking idiot."

Micah's fingers clenched tightly upon Vincent's collar as he roughly pushed him to stand straight and glared into his face before grinning darkly. "One way or another, I'll get what I'm owed out of you. At this point, I don't care if it’s coin or flesh."

What happened next was exceedingly fast! Aiden had just pulled his leg out from under the table and was standing when suddenly Vincent's hand grasped his attacker's wrists. Micah's eyes widened in what Aiden fleetingly recognized as fear as Micah gazed back into Vincent's eyes. Whatever it was he saw there made him falter that split second. The next thing Aiden realized, Vincent had maneuvered around, twisting the larger Micah around so his arm was twisted up behind him! Vincent's left hand pressed to Micah's head and roughly pressed him face down into the table beside them and drew his left foot to press to the bench for better leverage. Micah exclaimed, "SHIT!" in surprise and pain as he twisted his face to gaze up over his shoulder. His right cheek was an angry red and swollen from the impact!

Behind him, the other man who was with Micah gasped and stared in clear surprise. He...hadn't expected Vincent to be so skilled and ready to fight back. Glancing over, he saw a smug smirk on the one bionic man's face and the rather impressed expression on the blonde's.

Vincent's fingers curled into Micah's scalp as he growled, "Now you're just being rude, Micah. It IS Micah, right? I warned you to leave and now here we are. The next time you decide to slander my name..." He pressed up on Micah's arm, causing him to gasp and jump with momentary pain as he clung to the side of the table and tried to get his footing better. Instead, Vincent pressed his face harder into the table and raised his arm higher so it nearly dislocated causing Micah to grit his teeth. "...remember I'm not just a pretty face."

From behind them, Damien smirked and chuckled. He was all for stepping in but the truth was he knew Vincent was more than capable. Beside him, Aiden stood with wide eyes as he gazed upon Vincent handling and manhandling his attacker with calm and ease. "Wow," he murmured, causing Damien to glance over with a tiny smirk. To be honest, the sight of seeing the smaller, quiet captain suddenly defending himself so epically was...quite arousing! Well there was definitely more to Vincent than he let on!

"Well THIS has certainly been an invigorating experience," came the wry voice of the nicely dressed man with the rose eyepatch. Hearing that, Micah let out a grunt of frustration and shouted with a slight muffle, "Damn you, Thorn! Help me out!"

Vincent glanced slightly over his shoulder, fingers tightening on Micah's wrist as he gazed at the man called Thorn. Thorn stared and finally gave a dramatic sigh and nonchalantly began to head for the door. "To what end? You've done gone ahead and got yourself into this mess. Why should I dirty my hands to help you when you're the one going off being an idiot?" He pulled open the door and turned, fingers gently tapping the door jamb as he waited for his partner even though Micah was still under Vincent's leverage.

There was a loud clearing of the throat from across the room where the tavern keeper spoke firmly, "You boys need to take this quarrel outside! I won't tolerate this!" Vincent glanced over at the man with a small sigh, nodded, then released Micah before taking a step back and standing between Damien and Aiden.

Micah groaned in pain as his arm was released from the painful pressure it’d been under for the last fifteen seconds or so. He barely managed to catch himself from sliding over, pushing to stand and facing Vincent and the other two men as he breathed hard and heavy, shoulders moving with each frustrated breath. For a long moment, no one said anything as the crew stared down Micah who seemed like he was going to charge like a bull.

Micah stared at Vincent who gazed back into his eyes, seeing how his right eye was swollen, nearly shut and scratched up from the roughness of the table. The tiniest smirk touched the corner of Vincent's lips as he felt a touch of pride in his handiwork which made Micah see red. He took a step forward, but Thorn's sharp voice commanded, "Micah!" which made him stop on the spot. He stared into Vincent's eye then turned on his heel and walked out, cursing under his breath, "One way or another...fucking Hell..."

Thorn held open the door with a wry smile though his eye reflected his inner frustration with his partner. "Idiot," he scoffed. Once Micah made his way out to the sunny street, Thorn turned to look at Vincent and his crewmates with that same wry smile. "Not quite the pleasure to see you again but we will be in touch." And he left, shutting the door.

Vincent's eyes followed the pair of them as they quickly ducked their way around the tavern to the alleyway though he could make out the silhouette of Thorn smacking the side of Micah's head. With a roll of his eyes, Vincent went to sit at the bench and tried to ignore all the stares from the few other patrons as Damien walked to the door and peeked out to make sure they were really gone.

Across from him, Aiden slowly sat down with wide eyes. "That was...unexpected. What was THAT about?" Vincent huffed and stared down into his empty mug and reached for the pitcher so he could refill it. He needed it now. "Fuck if I know," he explained with a shrug. "I've never seen either of them before. No matter how drunk I have ever been, I don't gamble; stupidest thing I've ever heard: me betting on an arm wrestling competition."

Damien returned at that moment and took his seat beside Vincent and furrowed his brow as he went into thought. "I...don't know, Vincent. I mean we DID go out to the Fat Lady's last time we were here. You know sometimes I do those competitions for extra coins." Even Aiden had seen Damien go at it once. If he had the money he might have even considered betting on him! Aiden's concerned gaze moved from Damien to Vincent once more. "Is it possible you might have just that one time?"

Vincent frowned into his now filled mug and then drained halfway with a small shrug. "No. Maybe. I don't know!" He leaned forward, hunched slightly and drew the mug a little closer. He couldn't remember the duo or even being at the Fat Lady's Tavern but if Damien said they were indeed there that night...was it possible he HAD done it after all in his drunken stupor?

The rest of their meeting didn't last very long at all. The whole mood had dampened and even the rest of the patrons in the tavern were quiet and often staring and it was causing Vincent's anxiety to spike. He quickly paid for his crew's drinks and bit extra for the inconvenience of his attacker. Vincent approached the table once more, eyes downcast as he said to Aiden, "I'll be at the ship tomorrow around three o'clock. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow..."

"Damien, I'll see you tomorrow too?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. Want me to walk you home?"

Vincent shook his head. "I'll be fine as I just demonstrated." He didn't look at them as he turned, ducking out behind the door and heading back towards his home quickly as he tried to analyze all that had happened and tried to sort truth from lies.

Aiden wanted to follow him but he could see Vincent was in one of those moods where he really just wanted to be alone to sort out his thoughts. He hadn't known the man very long but there were parts of him that were very telling. He glanced over at Damien who quirked his mouth and sighed. "Doesn't sound like it's over, does it?" Aiden shook his head and frowned.

Meanwhile, out in the alley, Thorn stood with Micah who was lowering his hand from his eye with a hiss as Thorn looked it over. Finally he gave a huff. "You are a fucking idiot, Micah, I swear. I'll take care of that when we get back...maybe" Micah frowned and turned as he leaned against the nearby building and rotated his now sore arm. "Fucking Hell. He just caught me off guard is all." "No shit!" snapped Thorn, lip curling in disgust. "Why can't you just THINK for one Goddamn minute instead of rushing in. God, THIS is why you can never go off on your own. You. Need. Me."

Micah didn't give a response. He knew Thorn was right. Feeling frustrated, Thorn glanced over towards the road...and saw Vincent Dubois walking alone with his head down and hunched slightly as he focused on just getting home. A smirk grew on Thorn's lips as he said, "Seems like we may be able to have some fun after all."

To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:

www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127

Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/51186193945/in/datepo...

***

This scene was taken in Second Life at Victorian London - Time Portal in the Meat Pie Shop behind the Ten Bells Tavern (located in city square)!

You can check out this AMAZING roleplay-type parcel and even rent from there! Its so realistic! Seriously! The details here are incredible!

***

***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***

***

Special thank you to Vin Raven-Mysterious/Be My Mannequin? Pose Store for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!

FUN NOTE: Vin also made the poses for both these shots of Part 2! Isn't his attention to detail awesome and so natural looking?! Go check out Be My Mannequin? Pose Store to see more of his epic poses!

Also thank you to our other costars:

Logan Owle- Damien

Toxzen OwO- Micah

Diavkha- Thorn

Please be sure to check out their awesome Flickrs in People in Photo!

~

DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!

discord.gg/qBa769TAC4

***NEW!!!!***

The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!

FACEBOOK PAGE:

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558531406088