The first of only two supermoons of 2021 rose in a Super Pink Full Moon last night (April 26). The next and last Supermoon of 2021 will occur in May.

April full moon is also called the Pink Moon, but it has nothing to do with its color. According to NASA, the April moon got its name after the herb pink moss, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox or mountain phlox, which is one of the earliest spring flowers appearing in the United States.

Supermoons are full moons that appear bigger in the sky than usual, though the difference may not be noticeable to the casual observer. During a supermoon, the full moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it is at its farthest from Earth. That’s because it coincides with the moon's arrival at perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit.

Summarized from: www.space.com/super-pink-moon-supermoon-rises-april-2021

Situated right on the waterfront between Carrie Cates Court and the Shipyards District (near the Tap & Barrel) in North Vancouver, is ‘Megabench’. Over 1,000 red cedar boards make up the structure, smoothly twisted and shaped into the 48-metre-long bench on the edge of Burrard Inlet facing the Vancouver skyline.

The impressive undulating cedar bench [encourages] visitors to sit, lie down, play, eat, drink and generally be merry on it [...].

Summarized from this article:

www.pocobuildingsupplies.com/2016/09/21/city-of-north-van...

...

Imagine to be here,

the city of magic, the city of art and architecture

the city of eternal romantic feelings in front of this sky lights and colors....

this is Venice....

I wish YOU all Magic....

© All rights reserved

The Torre Glòries, formerly known as Torre Agbar, is a 38-story skyscraper located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz, near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, which marks the gateway to the new technological district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel [...]. The Torre Glòries is located in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona.

The tower is 144.44 m (473 ft 9 in) high with a diameter of 39 m. (127 ft 11 in) and houses offices, technical facilities, an auditorium, and parking space. It cost €130 million to build.

It was officially opened by King Juan Carlos I on 16 September 2005. It is one in a collection of high-tech architecture examples in Barcelona. [...]. In 2017 it was renamed as Torre Glòries after the name of the adjacent square. [...].

The striking structure [known by several scatological nicknames] is built with reinforced concrete, covered with a facade of glass, and over 4,500 window openings cut out of the structural concrete. The building stands out in Barcelona; it is the third tallest building in the city, after the Arts Hotel and the Mapfre Tower, which both stand 154 m (505 ft) tall. [...].

Nouvel was strongly influenced by [...] the bell towers of the Sagrada Familia by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. The north side of the tower has an optimal view of the cathedral.

Additionally, Nouvel was inspired by the distinctive pinnacles of the Montserrat mountain range, which are of great significance for the people of Catalonia, as Montserrat houses their patron saint, Our Lady of Montserrat.

The use of the Agbar Tower by a water utility company led Nouvel to the design of a metaphor of a geyser sprouting from the deep sea. Summarized from a Wikipedia article.

youtu.be/S0T-wlxprWM

-Obscured by Klaus, Part 7

/********

Now, this is very interesting....

/********

The primary purpose, motivation, and effect of the Incarnation is the predestination of all creation to glory in various orders, which requires the unity of human nature and the Word. Therefore, for Scotus the question of sin is immaterial insofar as the primary motivation for the Incarnation and the predestination of Christ are concerned. The Incarnation was inevitable because of God’s love for creation. Or, as George Kilcourse once summarized it so well, “Scotus’s cosmic Christ was not an afterthought of God, but God’s first thought, the paradigm of creation, revealing the innate capacity of the human person to be fulfilled in love.”

-The Franciscan heart of Thomas Merton : a new look at the spiritual inspiration of his life, thought, and writing / Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

The rose hip or rosehip, also called rose haw and rose hep, is the accessory fruit of the various species of rose plant. It is typically red to orange, but ranges from dark purple to black in some species. Rose hips begin to form after pollination of flowers in spring or early summer, and ripen in late summer through autumn.

Rose hips are used in bread and pies, jam, jelly, marmalade, syrup, soup, tea, wine, and other beverages.

Rose hips can be eaten raw, like berries, if care is taken to avoid the hairs inside the fruit.

Rose hips are commonly used in herbal tea, often blended with hibiscus. An oil is also extracted from the seeds. Rose hip soup, known as nyponsoppa in Swedish, is especially popular in Sweden. Rhodomel, a type of mead, is made with rose hips.

Rose hips can be used to make pálinka, the traditional Hungarian fruit brandy popular in Hungary, Romania, and other countries sharing Austro-Hungarian history. Rose hips are also the central ingredient of cockta, the fruity-tasting national soft drink of Slovenia. Summarized from Wikipedia

Amsterdam - Bilderdijkstraat

Copyright - All images are copyright © protected. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

Explore Jul 5, 2011 #313

Bavella massif, Corsica, France

"Bavella is a highlight of the corsican mountain. For a very good reason : fon one side the mountain pass, and on the other side the forest. It summarizes itself the particularities of the island relief, with dramatic rock formation and colours from most delicate red to the darkest grey and all “sprinkled” with giant Laricio pines."

www.go-to-corsica.com/bavella.html

Textures:

Skeletal Mess

www.flickr.com/photos/skeletalmess/3171652976

www.flickr.com/photos/skeletalmess/3139835075/in/set-7215...</

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

Samples from Minais Gerais, Brazil

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). [...]. Since antiquity, varieties of quartz have been the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings, especially in Eurasia.

The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "Quarz", which had the same form in the first half of the 14th century in Middle High German and in East Central German[10] and which came from the Polish dialect term kwardy, which corresponds to the Czech term tvrdý ("hard"). The Ancient Greeks referred to quartz as κρύσταλλος (krustallos) derived from the Ancient Greek κρύος (kruos) meaning "icy cold", because some philosophers (including Theophrastus) apparently believed the mineral to be a form of supercooled ice.

[...] Its ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. [...]. Summarized from Wikipedia

-- Twilight of the Maine Central --

The westbound from Northern Maine Junction passes through the interlocking plant of the former Stetson Siding near Etna Maine. After waiting for what seemed like forever, the slow drone of EMDs could be heard and we'd begin the chase at Carmel. Turning once again to Google Maps, the remnants of a fork signal could be seen and we decided to take a chance to drive back in. Couldn't believe my eyes when we got back there, it was like Pittsfield only much better.

This shot summarizes my experiences on the PAR District 1 territory. The Maine Central and even the Boston & Maine are time machines. Old signal installations both active and dark litter the railroad, track is all lighter rail with 4 hole bars. Telltales are at many of the bridges and crossings have the "toy bell". While I'd want to pull my hair out waiting for a shot sometimes, just about every shot was worth the wait. My only regret is that I didn't start coming up here sooner.

Tonight, the property and equipment of the Maine Central and Boston & Maine are to be conveyed to CSX. And scenes like this will begin to fade over time as CSX begins to "improve" the railroad. While I'm sure John and I will return again, it will never be the same.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

Ananas - "Birdy Head" is a new release available now thru July 30th only at the Kustom9 Event. Comes in multiple texture options or be like my bird brained self and get them all in a nice fatpack with hud.

Kustom9:

@https://maps.secondlife://KUSTOM9/136/21/1003

Ananas MP:

@https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/197531

Ananas In-World:

@http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serenity%20Lane/195/97/2504

Ananas Flickr:

@https://www.flickr.com/groups/14692984@N24/pool/

Junk Food - "Sour Gummi Worms" includes a bento animated holdable bag and 3 gummy works for your bento mouth. Available now on MP and in-world.

Junk Food In-World (New sim, it's like Disney but for foodies!):

@http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Junk%20Food/192/72/36

Junk Food MP:

@https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Junk-Food-Sour-Gummi-Worms/18920799

Junk Food on FB:

@https://www.facebook.com/junkfoodsl/

Junk Food Flickr:

@https://www.flickr.com/groups/junkfoodstore/pool/

Talamaty (Madagascar) - Ce que j’aime à Talamaty, c’est que malgré la proximité de la capitale, Antananarivo, on est déjà dans les espaces ruraux typiques de la Grande-Île.

Peu mécanisée, l’agriculture encore largement familiale, pèse près de 30 % dans le PIB et emploie encore 80 % de la population active.

Cette photo résume ce qu’est Madagascar aujourd’hui. Au fond, on aperçois les faubourgs de la capitale. Les camions eux, sont affectés à la construction d’une route qui coupe la zone humide en deux. Une route financée par la Chine. On voit aussi des amoncèlements de briques en argile fabriquées artisanalement.

Ce qui m’a incité à prendre cette photo, c’est l’homme dans sa barque qui regroupe ses canards qu’il va mettre à l’abri pour la nuit. J’ai attendu que le cycliste qui traverse le « pont » à pied, soit sur le côté pour déclencher.

Magalasy atmosphere

Talamaty (Madagascar) - What I like about Talamaty is that despite the proximity to the capital, Antananarivo, we are already in the typical rural areas of the Big Island.

Not very mechanized, agriculture, which is still largely family-based, accounts for nearly 30% of GDP and employs 80% of the working population.

This photo summarizes what Madagascar is today. In the background, you can see the suburbs of the capital. The trucks are assigned to the construction of a road that cuts the wetland in two. A Chinese-funded road. We also see heaps of clay bricks made by hand.

What prompted me to take this photo is the man in his boat gathering his ducks that he is going to shelter for the night. I waited until the cyclist crossing the "bridge" on foot was on the side to trigger.

This unique hotel caught our eye as we were enjoying a sunny stroll on the beautiful seaside promenade in Barcelona.

Designed by world-renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, W Barcelona, this 5 star hotel offering a combination of luxury and comfort in each of its 473 fabulous guestrooms and suites, is located on the beachfront along the famous Barceloneta Boardwalk. Each guest room and suite provide panoramic views over the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Barcelona. [summarized from Google]

This is the haunting crypt of Winchester Cathedral, England. Visitors are now struck by the statue titled 'Sound II' by Antony Gormley, installed in the 1980s to introduce contemporary art in the ancient building. There are better photos of it online (especially when the crypt floods) but it was still so atmospheric to see it.

There's too much history about Winchester to summarize in a few sentences. An Anglo Saxon church was here in the year 648 - then a cathedral in 676 - the present cathedral was begun in 1079 (the crypt first). Winchester was effectively the capital of Saxon and early Norman England until London gradually took over. One of the many treasures of the cathedral are the bones of pre-Norman kings.

Wikipedia or the cathedral's website has a whole lot more!

A lovely Winter's day on the West Coast

The Welcome Figure Totem Pole by Stan Joseph, located on the end of a large groyne on a curve in the Ambleside Park beach, is a West Vancouver landmark that is visible from Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park and the waterfront of West Vancouver. This Squamish figure welcomes visitors to Vancouver and the Squamish's historic land.

Constructed from an old growth cedar log from Hollyburn Mountain, the Welcome Figure is a gift from the Squamish Nation, marking K’aya’chtn (gathering of ocean canoes). In honour of the teachings and wisdom of the Squamish Nation grandmothers, the sculpture fosters respect for the land, animals and people that occupy it. Summarized from Google

With a takeover date finally announced, the former Algoma Central will once again change hands, this time going from CN to Watco. While the line was somewhat profitable in the early years under CN, it faded over the years to nearly nothing except for the Agawa Canyon tourist train. In another sad note, the ACR union could not reach an agreement with Watco and the ACR employees will not be retained and will be forced to relocate on CN, resign from CN, or apply for Watco. Despite the doom and gloom, the line with train moves is an absolute gem to shoot in some absolutely beautiful scenery.

In a more surreal scene that summarizes the current state of the ACR is the only for sure train, the Agawa Canyon train past the sadly forlorn Searchmont Depot. Once a busy stop on the ski train for people traveling to ski at the nearby resort, the depot is pretty much only standing because no one has committed to tearing it down as saving it at this stage is not feasible or financially sensible. While the transition is a painful one for many reasons, here is to hoping Watco can turn things around and make the line a destinantion for more than just the tourist train.

Sitting regally on a glacial erratic of pink granite, the ground squirrel looked so good that I had to stop for a shot. Nice soft light. To spend any time photographing them is to invite all kinds of scorn from some of the locals, who can see no reason whatsoever for taking a picture of their nemesis rodent. The "gopher" that digs holes in their pastures and dams. To summarize, "They're not real popular around here."

So it goes. We humans tend to vilify any wildlife species that finds itself in direct competition with us. I knew an old woman who would swerve on the local roads to intentionally run over ground squirrels, while doing the same to avoid hitting rattlesnakes.

But without Richardson's Ground Squirrels, we wouldn't have any Ferruginous Hawks; their diet is comprised almost exclusively of these rodents. They feed a lot of coyotes, badgers, owls, eagles, weasels, foxes, and other predators, too. A keystone species, you might say.

I feel no need to explain myself to the incredulous or to those merely lacking imagination. I'm interested in anything with fur, feathers, or scales. Admittedly, these guys aren't very high on my want list, because they are so common and relatively easy to photograph. Nevertheless, if it is willing to pose for me so nicely, I'll take the shot!

Photographed along the access road to Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2025 James R. Page - all rights reserved.

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

Sovereign nations are obsolete. All forms of government are out of date. They lag behind technological development and modern ideas, such as Network states. These Network states will “transcend” nations. They will “regenerate the earth.” A variety of progressive ideas make up the concept of the Network state. These ideas form a dream of a new society. The Network state is a parallel society that will transform our world. It’s a “radical roadmap to replace democracy,” to “reshape society.” It’s a blueprint for the future. “The next Global superpower will be a Network state!” Corporations and billionaires are buying up land with the idea of forming independent countries (Network states) within sovereign countries. They want to establish their own governance. Divide and conquer! They want to operate outside the reach of government laws and oversight. They want to abolish the copyright system. They want to evade taxation. “We anticipate that the apparently solid power of nation-states currently devoted to mass democracy will splinter in tens of thousands of fragments into a system more reminiscent of the medieval period than the modern industrial age.” Like parasites, these Network states will kill the host country. Then we will enter the age of techno-feudalism, “the age of super-monopolies and super-exploitation.” The rich are playing a chess game for power. The peasants are but pawns.

They want to be kings of their Network states! Their feudal lands will be populated by peasants. People from around the world will migrate to them. Open borders! Quick, rubber-stamp all those work visas from the third world! The corporations and billionaires will have a constant flow of cheap slave labour. This system will “transition us beyond the confines of socialism and capitalism.” They don’t want socialist and capitalist governments impeding their ability to make money with roadblocks or red tape. They call their system Cosmo-localism. Woohoo! Cosmo-slavery! It’s a “post-capitalist” system. It “can be summarized with the acronym ‘DGML,’ or design globally and manufacture locally.” You got it, Network states are giant factories. Giant sweatshops! Network states will network with each other around the world. They sound a lot like the gulags. They are worldwide islands of slave labour camps. Or you could just call them 15-minute cities.

If you don’t think these things are happening, then watch Tech Billionaires’ Shocking Plot for Rural America:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHlcAx-I0oY

Revelation 17:12-13 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the Beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the Beast.”

Bow to the techno-feudal king, the man of the hour, the Beast! His Cosmo-slave system will require a biometric ID-chip. The Beast, with his ten horns, will trample the whole earth. He will crush his subjects underfoot with war, famine, and plague. The gulags of hell are ever-increasing; its captives are in torment every hour.

Jassim.

*Mashallah, allah layheenkum jmee3. :)

Photographed by: HBA.

You don't know how I'm feeling. I have yet to vocalize Desire deep inside me.

Can you see it in my eyes? I tremble when I'm near you

Heat travels up my thighs and I want you with an urgency

That I just can't describe. Dare I reach out to touch you? Do you think you'd realize

How much I want and need you? Can you see it in my eyes? I long to say, "I love you,"

But am scared of your reply. Terrified like a child I've become paralyzed.

The camouflaged emotions Lead to pain and silent cries.

And yet I just can't tell you. Don't you see it in my eyes?

Confessing through this poem my dilemma summarized.

The feeling's quite cathartic, But will lead to my demise.

Not new but still relevant!

The Cadini di Misurina form a subgroup at the southern end of the Sexten Dolomites and are located in the province of Belluno in Italy. The mountain landscape, which is very impressive due to numerous spectacular rocky peaks and pinnacles, is bordered by Lake Misurina in the west, the Drei Zinnen in the north and the Val d'Ansiei in the south and east and is considered a paradise for climbers. The highest mountain is the Cima Cadin di San Lucano (2839 m). As part of the Dolomite groups summarized by UNESCO under the "Northern Dolomites", the Cadini Group with all subgroups has been part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 26, 2009 (source: Wikipedia).

On the far right in the background I suspect the Sorapis.

Die Cadini di Misurina bilden als Untergruppe den südlichen Abschluss der Sextener Dolomiten und befinden sich in der Provinz Belluno in Italien. Die aufgrund zahlreicher spektakulärer Felsgipfel und Zinnen sehr eindrucksvolle Gebirgslandschaft wird im Westen vom Misurinasee, im Norden von den Drei Zinnen und im Süden und Osten vom Val d’Ansiei begrenzt und gilt als ein Paradies für Kletterer. Der höchste Berg ist die Cima Cadin di San Lucano (2839 m). Als Teil der von der UNESCO unter „Nördliche Dolomiten“ zusammengefassten Dolomitengruppen, gehört die Cadini-Gruppe mit allen Untergruppen seit dem 26. Juni 2009 zum UNESCO Welterbe Dolomiten (Quelle: Wikipedia).

Ganz rechts im Hintergrund vermute ich die Sorapis.

From Bill Davenport: "Like a lot of the exotic foreign art we like best, it's a mirror of ourselves: "Jurassic Age" by Chinese artist Sui Jianguo summarizes the current craze for Chinese art with such an unexpectedly astute awareness of American perceptions of China and Chinese art, it makes me wonder if the artist was educated here, or lived here, or has simply hired a topnotch US market research team. That box isn't just a cage; it's a shipping crate- plates of steel attached to the bronze dinosaur's feet are to facilitate mounting the piece in a sculpture garden. It's chin and tail rest on padded foam inserts. It's a portrait of a piece of art fresh off the boat. It's a satirical portrait of the cheap, garish toys that define Americans perception of Chinese imports. Silly but menacing, it evokes and ridicules our xenophobic fears: if it gets loose, this dinosaur is going to take over the museum. And of course, being from China, it's hastily sprayed a bright Communist red."

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

The novel "Cuore" written by Edmondo De Amicis is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces of Italian literature.

The novel is written in the form of a diary, written by the young protagonist Enrico Bottini, known as "Cuore". Bottini recounts the daily experiences of his classmates, each of whom represents a different aspect of Italian society at the end of the nineteenth century.

Enrico narrates the daily experiences of his classmates, each representing a different aspect of Italian society at that time. The main themes of the novel are: the importance of education, friendship and solidarity, patriotism as a national identity, which can be summarized in the importance of moral values and a sense of duty.

Reminder: there is a truly AWESOME exhibition by Sina Souza @ Nitroglobus

When Sina contacted me a few months ago and told me her inspiration was back and she started creating again, I was really thrilled coz I love Sina and her art and I think I'm not the only one who does.

I cleaned my part of the gallery and Sina placed her images there as well as a sculpture she made.

LM to Nitroglobus: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/166/4...

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Frank Atisso summarized it as follows in his article in ART KORNER:

'We all know that it is necessary to leave our past behind and move ahead in life but it is only when we attempt to break free, that we realize we are shackled to it by a chain much stronger than we had originally imagined. This happens to be an underlying theme in many of the works displayed. However, as is always the case with Sina’s artwork, each piece is layered and rich in meaning.'

In case you overlooked the article in Art Korner, here's the url: artkornersl.com/2021/04/29/retrospective-return-sina-souza/

image made today when Pip Parkes visited Sina's exhibition.

This is a composite image of the same photo, one with the bird (Yellow Warbler) and the other with the bird removed. Needless to say that the photo with the bird looks much better and more appealing than the one without it. The same goes with mother nature. A recent study, published in the journal Science, summarized that 3 billion birds disappeared from Canada and US in the last 50 years as a result of the habitat loss, pesticide use and other environmental impact. Hard to imagine a world without birds or bird song. Here's the link to more detailed info from Cornel Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/vanishing-1-in-4-birds-gone/?__hstc...

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

The Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is a medium-sized raptor specialized almost exclusively in hunting apple snails in freshwater wetlands. This strong dependence on a single type of prey closely ties it to healthy marsh environments, where it finds both food and the vegetation it uses as support during its foraging movements.

In the image, a single individual appears in three successive flight positions, the result of a stacked sequence that shows how it progresses with controlled, relatively short movements, alternating gentle rises and drops while keeping its gaze fixed downward. This pattern allows it to carefully scan the water surface and emergent vegetation in search of snails.

The individual shows the typical adult male coloration, with dark gray-brown tones and reddish-orange legs and cere. In flight, the white base of the tail contrasts clearly with the rest of the body and is an important field mark for identifying the species. Its broad, rounded wings sustain slow, steady movement appropriate for this precise search behavior. The slender, strongly hooked bill—visible in the image—is a specialized adaptation that allows the kite to extract the snail’s flesh from its shell, demonstrating the high degree of ecological specialization of this raptor.

This low, buoyant, and attentive flight style summarizes the Snail Kite’s strategy as it patrols the wetlands where it feeds.

• Gavilán caracolero, Milano caracolero

• Gavião-de-aruá, Gavião-pescador, Caramujeiro

• Snail Kite

Scientific classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Accipitriformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Rostrhamus

Species: R. sociabilis

Adult specimen

Laguna Garzón area, Maldonado–Rocha border, Uruguay

What pops up in your mind when you hear the name Africa? Well, its’s the natural forests and wildlife. This photo above summarizes how scenic and interesting Safari’s in Africa are. To witness the orange and yellow glow gleaming on a Safari Jeep at the fall of dusk from your own eyes can be pleasing, isn’t it?

By: Travel Center (The best cheap flights finder in UK)

La façade de Brissac est de style Louis XIII. Elle fut élevée au début du XVIIe siècle, mais elle est restée inachevée. Elle est encadrée par deux tours médiévales, qui sont les derniers vestiges d’un château plus ancien, construit au XVe siècle par Pierre de Brézé, ministre de Louis XI. Ce contraste, de style et d’époque, est tout à fait fortuit, en voici l’explication: Pendant les guerres de religion, les armées catholiques et protestantes se disputèrent le château, qui fut même assiégé un temps par Henri IV. Cette longue période de troubles laissa le château fortement endommagé et inhabitable, jusqu’en 1600 année qui marque le début de la reconstruction. Le premier duc de Brissac confia les travaux à son architecte Jacques Corbineau et ensemble, ils décidèrent d’élever un vaste château-palais en lieu et place de l’ancienne forteresse. Les ouvriers se mirent à l’œuvre en démolissant l’ancien édifice au fur et à mesure qu’ils construisaient le nouveau. Mais la mort du premier duc en 1621 a pour conséquence l’arrêt brutal et définitif du chantier qui ne sera jamais achevé par ses successeurs. Les deux tours vouées à la démolition subsistèrent, tandis que l’aile droite ne sera jamais construite et voilà pourquoi la porte d’entrée n’est pas au centre de la façade. Le grand-père de l’actuel propriétaire usait d’une formule pour résumer l’histoire de sa demeure, il disait : Brissac est « un château neuf à demi-construit dans un château vieux à demi-détruit ».

The facade of Brissac is Louis XIII style. It was raised at the beginning of the 17th century, but it remained unfinished. It is framed by two medieval towers, which are the last vestiges of an older castle, built in the 15th century by Pierre de Breze, minister of Louis XI. This contrast, of style and period, is quite fortuitous, here is the explanation: During the wars of religion, the catholic and Protestant armies disputed the castle, which was even besieged a time by Henry IV. This long period of unrest left the castle heavily damaged and uninhabitable, until the year 1600 marked the beginning of the reconstruction. The first Duke of Brissac entrusted the works to his architect Jacques Corbineau and together they decided to build a vast castle-palace instead of the old fortress. The workers set to work demolishing the old building as they built the new building. But the death of the first duke in 1621 resulted in a sudden and definitive stoppage of the construction site that will never be completed by his successors. The two towers dedicated to demolition remained, while the right wing will never be built and that is why the front door is not in the center of the facade. The grandfather of the current owner used a formula to summarize the history of his home, he said: Brissac is "a new castle half-built in a half-destroyed old castle."

We were walking down the path when we saw and heard this tree fall. It was loud. So we can summarize that when a tree falls in the woods, yes ti does make a sound, a very loud sound

Artist Rebecca Bayer's Merge, a 366-metre-long shock of colour, stretches along Highway 1 between Mountain Highway and Fern Street is one of the final pieces of the $200-million Lower Lynn Improvement Project, intended to shield the Inter River neighbourhood from highway noise. Bayer chose the 20 different colours specifically because they are found in the flora, fauna and landmarks from the Lynn Valley area. Summarized info from: www.nsnews.com/local-news/massive-art-piece-adorns-highwa...

Pausanias identifies the subject of the east pediment:

the preparations for the chariot race between Pelops, who gave his name to the Peloponnese, and Oinomaos, king of Pisa, for the hand of Oinomaos's

daughter, Hippodameia .

The basic elements of the myth can be summarized as follows:

Oinomaos had invited suitors to vie for Hippodameia by competing with him in a chariot race.

Thirteen had made the

attempt and failed, costing them their heads.Pelops was the fourteenth to compete, and he succeeded, winning both the hand of Hippodameia and the kingdom of Oinomaos.

Differing accounts of how Pelops won are preserved in written

sources, from which two distinctive variants emerge.

The "divine favor" version claims that Pelops won with help from Poseidon, his erstwhile

lover, who provided Pelops with special, infallible, winged horses.

The earliest preserved written source for this version of the myth is Pindar, Olympian 1, composed ca. 476 B.c.15 The "cheating" version maintains that Pelops bribed Oinomaoss charioteer to substitute wax for the metal linchpins of

Oinomaoss chariot, so that, when the race began, the chariot fell apart

and Pelops won.

The charioteer subsequently threw himself, or was

pushed, off a cliff and, as he fell, he called down a curse on the house of Pelopsthe famous curse of the house of Atreus, one of Pelops's descen

dants. Pherekydes, provides the first attestation of this version of the myth, though it may have existed prior to this

date.

Pelops is often credited with founding the Olympic games, which,

according to legend, were instigated by this chariot race

Campione del Garda ist ein Ortsteil von Tremosine sul Garda auf der westlichen Seite des Gardasees in der Provinz Brescia in der Region Lombardei.

Campione del Garda is a frazione of Tremosine sul Garda Lake on the Western side of Lake Garda, province of Brescia, in Lombardy.

The history is here very well summarized:

Die bewegte Geschichte ist hier sehr gut zusammengefasst:

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campione_del_Garda

Unten am See, ein Stück der bekannten Strasse "Gardesana Occidentale".

Down at the Lake, the famous road "Gardesana Occidentale".

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strada_Statale_45_bis_Gardesana_Occ...

Apart from the mind-blowing experience of seeing an active volcano, we also experienced another thing I dreamed of a long time: flying over some of the amazingly beautiful river deltas in Iceland. Since I really like abstract compositions, this was a dream come true and I was very excited, especially since it was a custom photo flight with an old Cessna in which you can open a part of the window such that you don’t have to photograph through the window glass. We booked this tour via the guys from flightseeing.is and they were super friendly and we highly recommend them if you are also looking for such a flight. They even do photo flights over the highlands which we would have also loved to do, but you can’t have it all, especially not on your first visit to such an outstandingly beautiful country.

But let’s start from the evening before on which we drove to the Skaftafell campsite and noticed the building right next to the junction. We thought: This must be the Skaftafell terminal, but shouldn’t there be a runway for the planes? As it turned out, the gravel strip right next to the building was the runway :) When we arrived the next morning, we had a small chat and waited for our pilot which then showed us the Cessna and explained us everything while we were waiting for the plane to warm up its engine. We then took place on the same side of the plane - I was sitting in the back and my girlfriend in the front right next to our pilot - such that we both see the same compositions as we fly in arcs over the river deltas. He then told us that there are usually three bigger rivers and we will fly over all of them while we can also tell him what exactly we want to fly over (or also over again). Then he finally allowed us to open our windows and we both were constantly looking through our viewfinders taking images, even though we were told that we shouldn’t do this since one usually gets sick after some time, but we just had to take as many images as possible. I also felt a little under pressure since you have to choose your settings wisely such that you don’t risk having motion blur from the vibrations of the plane in your images, especially since you are typically zoomed in quite a bit. As we then flew in an arc over one of these river deltas, I noticed the sparkling created by the light reflecting off the water in the left part of the image. Even though I took a few frames of this compositions, it was only at this very specific angle that this sparkling was visible and that’s exactly what makes this images special to me.

Summarizing, it was just amazing and we again were extremely lucky with the weather. It was actually so good that our pilot explicitly pointed out that there are not that many days as calm and sunny as this in Iceland (he also told us that there are many cancellations for the next days due to pretty bad weather). Since I took quite a lot images up in the air, I’m sure I will upload more of them in the near future, but until then I hope that you enjoy this one!

Excerpt from uwaterloo.ca:

Description of the District

St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District runs along St. Clair Avenue between Main Street and Delaware Avenue. The district consists of 23 properties. Twenty-one of these properties are residential and two are commercial.

Cultural Heritage Value of the District

The Heritage Conservation District Planning Study summarizes the value of the district in three points:

• Area has relatively significant historical/architectural structures that represent early 20th century architecture.

• Area was first developed in 1912 on the west side of the avenue, and development on the east side started in 1923.

• Original homeowners were significant individuals in the City of Hamilton.

Designation of the District

The designation of St. Clair Avenue Heritage Conservation District was initiated by the local residents association. According to the planning study, “The St. Clair Heritage District Planning Study evolved from the interest and effort of the St. Clair Homeowners Association and was encouraged by the Hamilton-Wentworth

Regional Planning and Development Department”. The district is protected by By-law 86-125, passed in 1986.

Yeah, I shoot about 300 rolls with my Mamiya 7ii since it was gifted to me by imaginary santa nearly 3 years ago. The gift also included the 135 mm adapter kit and the 43mm and the 150mm lenses. On christmas eve I opened the package. There she was, my Isabella (aka the Mamiya 7ii).

So, what do I think about the Mamiya... after 300 rolls with film?

I can summarize my experience with two words; WAAAAY OVERRATED!!!!

I really thought this camera would make me a better photographer. But the fact is; I have only about 1-3% "success" rate or "keepers" since I've starting making photos with it. That is about one good photo or keeper for every 3 rolls I shoot. I have no problem to admit I'm not worthy of a Mamiya 7.

It's like giving a formula one car to a blind guy.

A couple of months after I got the camera, I went to Venice. I remember the first night. I was out taking night photos. A couple of german dudes came up to me asking if I was shooting with the Mamiya 7? I proudly said; yeeees! One of them followed up by asking how long I been doing analog photography. I politely replied I've been doing film for about a year. They both rolled their eyes in disbelief. And, went off without sayin one more word.

The few photos I even think is "good", peoples have questioned. A while ago I posted a night photo (long exposure) from Venice. I REALLY thought this was my moment to shine on Flickr. The photo started well after I posted it. Then, a russian guy commented the photo. Saying that my exposure was way of, that the highlights was blown away and poorly executed. After that comment, the photo "died" faster than the speed of light.

Not even one more like. Flickr users sure read the comments, and thats a good thing. The day after I went to my archives,

to check the negative. Scanned the photo numerous times. I found nothing wrong with it. The negative was perfect. It was developed with stand development. So I even had more latitude to work with. I deleted the comment. The guy commenting has over 8000 followers, so he was probarbly right. I indeed think my photos is actually better than they actually are, so I use the hastag #shittyphotograper on ocations just to remind myself.

Note; I posted the photo in the comment section. I really like to know what is wrong with this photo. So I can learn from my mistakes, and avoid this in my future work/posts. Used a diffusion filter (not a fan of sunstars in my photos). Also, shot this at f/11 to retain as much shadow details as possible. Maybe that's why this might look overexposed, overdeveloped etc.) I don't know....

The lenses;

Like I said, I was gifted this camera with the 80, 43 & 150mm lenses. I read a lot of reviews sayin' these lenses has exellent micro-contrast. I have no idea what that is, so I'm not going to bother you with those details. Some complain with focus issues with the 150mm lens. I have no problem with mine.

My Isabella deserves better, no doubt about that. But we are slowly getting along. The goal for 2026 is a 4-5% keepers or "hit-rate". Maybe I'm reaching for the sky here.

Despite my serious "lack of bangers for likes" issues with my Mamiya 7ii, it feels like I scored the hottest "chick" at the prom, every time I load her (the camera) with film (howdy Bergger Pancro).

Thanks for reading this "not so in-depth review" of the Mamiya 7ii.

Cheers, Jonny

Location; Pałac w Bożkowie, Poland

Mamiya 7ii

Bergger Pancro 400

Dev; Adox Atomal 49

Developed and scanned at home

A scene that seemed to be summarizing for me all the randomly and rapidly changing New Zealand weather we had experienced on this day, ranging from brilliant sunshine to pouring rain. About an hour's drive from Queenstown.

One of two compositions.

#Above

The chaos summarized in a single picture. From the top of the Charminar monument and using a slow shutter speed to give some emphasis on the motion.

Picture chosen for a Nikon article about travelling:

Travelling photography

Image selected for I'm Nikon 2015 short video.

Thank you all for your appreciation.

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Vielleicht würde man irgendeine andere Aufgabe in der Redaktion für ihn haben. Oder er würde als Sachbearbeiter zu einem Buchverlag gehen, dafür sollte es wohl noch reichen.

Dumpf sass er da und starrte auf die alte Schreibmaschine. Eigentlich starrte er ja nur zurück, denn die Maschine, so schien es ihm, schaute ihn höhnisch an; höhnisch und auch regelrecht feindselig. Von seinem Onkel hatte er sie geerbt, einem erfolgreichen und beliebten Korrespondenten der «Goldenen Zwanziger». Mit Beginn der grossen neuen Zeit hatte man ihn dann aber mit sanftem Zureden in den wohlverdienten Ruhestand genötigt. Er selbst benutzte die Maschine nur sparsam: Nur, wenn er etwas wirklich Grosses und Wichtiges hatte, so wie eigentlich jetzt.

Noch einmal hatte er sich Kaffee eingegossen, noch einmal war er das dünne Heft durchgegangen, in dem er die Kernpunkte seiner Recherche zusammengefasst hatte. Jetzt lag das Notizbuch nutzlos vor ihm und er sah dem Kaffee beim langsamen Erkalten zu.

Gefühlt unzählige Blätter hatte er in die Maschine gespannt, einige Worte, vielleicht auch mal ein bis zwei Sätze geschrieben, schliesslich die Seite herausgezogen – oder eher herausgerissen – und zerknüllt.

Die Recherche hatte er in seiner Freizeit durchgeführt, die Bilder zum Beweis mit seiner eigenen Kamera gemacht, die Filme privat gekauft und entwickelt. Eine fertige Arbeit von massgenauer Leitartikellänge hatte er in einigen Tagen dem Chefredakteur und dem Herausgeber auf den Schreibtisch legen wollen, so wie er es schon einmal gemacht hatte. Damals hatte man ihn schon wissen lassen, dass man sein Vorgehen nicht wirklich schätzte. Eine Sonderzahlung und einen Sonderurlaub hatte er dennoch bekommen. Und so wäre es wohl wieder gekommen, wobei es ihm darauf nicht wirklich ankam.

Doch jetzt, wo er dachte, dass es eigentlich schon so gut wie geschafft sei, wusste er nicht, wie er beginnen sollte. Und er wusste auch, dass das so bleiben würde. Und wenn er DIESE Geschichte nicht schreiben konnte, konnte er überhaupt nichts mehr schreiben – jedenfalls nichts, was irgendeine Bedeutung hatte.

(Teil der Serie: Ein Bild und eine Geschichte. Copyright Der Sekretär, 2024. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.)

---

They might have some other job for him in the editorial department. Or he could go to a book publisher as a clerk, for which he should probably still be good enough.

He sat there dully and stared at the old typewriter. Actually, he was just staring back, because the machine, it seemed to him, was looking at him with a sneer; with a sneer and downright hostility. He had inherited it from his uncle, a successful and popular correspondent of the "Golden Twenties". At the beginning of the great new era, however, he had been gently coerced into a well-deserved retirement. He himself only used the machine sparingly: only when he had something really big and important, like now.

Once again, he had poured himself a cup of coffee, once again he had gone through the thin notebook in which he had summarized the key points of his research. Now the notebook lay uselessly in front of him and he watched the coffee slowly getting cold.

He had fed what felt like countless sheets of paper into the machine, written a few words, maybe even a sentence or two, then finally pulled out the page - or rather ripped it out - and crumpled it up.

He had done the investigation in his spare time, taken the pictures as proof with his own camera, privately bought and developed the films. In a few days' time, he had wanted to put a finished piece the exact length of an editorial on the desk of the editor-in-chief and the publisher, just as he had done once before. At that time, they had already let him know that they didn't really appreciate his approach. Nevertheless, he had received a special payment and special vacation. And so it would probably have happened again, although that wasn't really important to him.

But now that he thought it was as good as done, he didn't know how to start. And he also knew that it would stay that way. And if he couldn't write THIS story, he couldn't write anything again - at least nothing that had any meaning.

(Part of the series: A picture and a story. Copyright by Secretary, 2024, all rights reserved.)

september 2020

This hotel "zum Schwarzen Kreuz" is one of the oldest hotels in the city.

It's mentioned in 1166 under an other name, An der Brücke"

People of different ranks and nationalities have come here over the centuries: Dutch, French, Swedes, Spaniards and locals, knights, brushwood, pilgrims, merchants, musicians, couriers, mercenaries and marauders, citizens, farmers and officials, students, artists and the Tourists today who are looking for relaxation or tranquility here.

All of these types were captured by artists on the oak shutters of the upper floors of the house in the costumes of their time.

The copper disc in the gable above it represents a sun wheel with the signs of the zodiac. In it, as it were, the times and fates of all people who went in and out of this house are summarized. The 4 window frames on the ground floor show the location and the historically significant dates for the house and place in copper drifting. You will find the detailed explanation in our house.

.

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Found a set of images from one of our last trips while still living in Arkansas. Even though we lived right on the Missouri border, I never paid much attention to the attractions in the area. But when we did a cursory search, some exciting spots came up, and the Hodgson grist mill was relatively close, and on a Sunday, we were able to visit and enjoy the natural spring and the historic mill without any crowds.

The lack of any crowds meant I could test out the many composition techniques and what caught my attention here at the spring was how an image changes by changing the tripod's height while using a wide focal length. To summarize, the height at which you mount the camera and the angle of tilt determines the amount of mid-ground in your image. Here I have kept the camera at eye level, angling down to completely remove the overcast sky and get some blurred water in the stream. With the tree trunk adding visual interest to the foreground.

Please read my blogpost in which I summarized all reviews, articles in magazines and blogs as well as a short video which were published about the June 2021 exhibition 'Anja's Surrealism' by Anja Neobookie @ Nitroglobus

exploringslwithdido.blogspot.com/2021/06/in-press-anjas-s...

AND... don't forget to visit the exhibition Anja's Surrealism' it will be on the walls of Nitroglobus till the end of June.

I'd say that this picture summarizes this year

-dark concerns and light hopes above

-fog further away and closer clear waters

-harbor of resilience from those close by and those far away

-stable beacon of hope

~be good~

"Wrentits form tight monogamous pair bonds, which are normally lifelong. Both sexes defend the territory throughout the year with distinctive songs that have been aptly called "the voice of the chaparral." The male habitually shares in incubation and is normally in vocal contact at all times with the female, and the pair is even known to roost together, forming contiguous "feather-balls," and to mutually preen. The young commonly remain in family flocks for at least 30 days after fledging and, on occasion, use their natal territory for breeding.

With few exceptions, most of our current knowledge on the behavior, life history, breeding ecology, and demography of the Wrentit has come from two studies, both in the San Francisco Bay region of California. Most information on life-history originated from Mary M. Erickson, under the guidance of Professor Joseph Grinnell, in an intensive 4-year study in a chaparral canyon in Berkeley, California (Erickson 1938). Her insightful and highly detailed study (summarized in a 332-page monograph), followed, year-round, the life history of 21 territorial pairs and individuals. "

birdsna.org