Impressie van de Flickr-meet in Kinderdijk:

-verlichte molens in Kinderdijk

-lekkere temperatuur

-shirt en korte broek

-hmpf…. onweer

-paar drupjes regen

-heftig onweer

-hoosbui

-schuilen onder een boom

-vuilniszakken over het hoofd getrokken als regenjas

-onbedaarlijke lachbui

-15 minuten lopen door de stromende regen

-nat tot op….., ja zelfs tot daar

Het was geweldig, we hebben vreselijk gelachen! Dave www.flickr.com/photos/nldazuu/ en Wim www.flickr.com/photos/16209124@N00/ bedankt voor de onvergetelijke avond!

Impression of the Flickr meet in Kinderdijk:

-lighted windmills at Kinderdijk

-nice temperature

-shirt and shorts

-hmpf .... storm

-little rain

-heavy thunderstorm

-raining cats and dogs

-shelter under a tree

-bags pulled over our heads as a raincoat

-uncontrollable laughter

-15 inutes walk through the pouring rain

-wet, very wet ... yes even there

It was great, we had so much fun! Dave www.flickr.com/photos/nldazuu/ and Wim www.flickr.com/photos/16209124@N00/ thanks for the unforgettable evening!

Week 6, Wednesday

Most of my days are spent with Aura as I'm babysitting her home while Sari goes to work. This might sound like I have loads of time to use on photography, but it's actually other way around. I need to take care of routines like eating, playing, going outdoors etc. When Aura is taking her afternoon naps, I get two hours of free time, which I usually use for my freelance work if there is any to be done at the moment. When Sari comes from work, I get couple hours of free time which I usually put working on my thesis. Finally when Aura goes to sleep, usually at nine o'clock at evening, it's time for photography. So because of these daily routines I don't get much free time for photography and it makes me very satisfied if I can squeeze some pictures while doing every day routines, like taking care of dishes.

Every day routines might sound like a boring subject for photography, but it doesn't have to be. One of my early meeting with a anthropologic knowledge was a little book called 'Purity and Danger – An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo' (1966) written by influential anthropologist Mary Douglas. It addresses different ways how we give cultural ways meanings to dirt. In (very) short, dirt isn't just dirt, but any matter that is considered to be out of its place, a categorical mix-up which endangers our cultural order. Food on a plate is in its right place, but when we have eaten it, it suddenly becomes dirt. Meal which once was delicious becomes something so disgusting that we don't even want to touch it anymore. My example is of course simple and perhaps not even a very good one regarding what Mary Douglas is actually trying to say. To put it in other words, she claims that by maintaining boundaries between purity and impurity societies also try to maintain their symbolic and cultural order. Therefore cultural concepts of impurity, pollution and dirt are not just health regulations or medical knowledge (as often interpreted), but something that endanger cultural order deep within us. Normative cultural and social order is then maintained and restored by different kind of rituals which we learn by socialization – the act of cleaning in its simplicity, but also other things like rules regarding roles, behavior and appearance, just to name few. Following Douglas one might say that taking care of dishes is actually important work because it, in its own way, restores a cultural order.

As this might sound an idea that only has a function in so-called 'primitive' societies, and while many things are rationalized pretty far in modern societies, purity and danger lives in modern world too. It's just disguised and being part of normal cultural order, we don't acknowledge it so easily. I'm just going to give one example which tells something about how broad subject Douglas is speaking about. While in contemporary world there are detailed laws and regulations regarding refugees and asylum seekers, they are still often presented something dangerous in nation-states politics. And while there are many different political views about this subject, the anthropologic explanation is simple: being out of their place refugees and asylum seekers endanger the national order of things which organizes our perception of world. They are anomalies in our categories and because of that it's difficult to categorize them same way as we tend to categorize foreigners ('good' and 'bad' based on their national origin and stereotypes). Because of that they often transform to 'dirt' or something uncontrollable in political speech, with a very sad outcome. Like Mary Douglas said, purity and danger.

Year of the Alpha – 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: www.yearofthealpha.com

If you take the time to read this, I promise this photo will mean more.

How did it even get this way? I ask myself that day in and day out. What we had was an experience to say the least. We built a kingdom of memories. And no matter how many times things got tough, we still managed to add another brick and keep on building. For three years we did this until our kingdom crumbled before us.

You know that you will always love me just like I will always love you. There’s no other way around that. But for my sake and my hearts sake, I have to turn my back now. And if it were meant to be, you’ll come to turn me in the right direction.

I can't remember the last time I really truly opened my heart up on Flickr. But I knew I wanted to. I had to. It's been eating at me for some time now. This is the last picture I'm going to upload for awhile because tomorrow I'm leaving for vacation. Don't worry, I will upload lots of photos when I return.

Be sure to check out my Facebook page for constant updates and pictures from my trip via celliephonzie :)

Happy hearts and happy faces,

Happy play in grassy places—

The 2 little brothers had tumbled in glee on the gently rolling lawns, flown around the flower beds, giggling uncontrollably until exhausted, (but only for minutes!) they caught up with each other on the steps. And the adults' day glowed more brightly because of them.

Ce weekend, dans les environs de Tournon-sur-Rhône et Tain l'Hermitage, la guerre était déclarée !!

Une bataille sans merci semblait être à l'oeuvre entre les pétarades des canons à grêles tentant une percée misérable dans le territoire des dieux, face à un orage qui scintillait d'éclairs de toute part. La nature démontre sa toute puissance dans un coup de grâce contre les petits êtres qui pensent contrôler l'incontrôlable... Gulliver ça restera dans les livres ! :)

--------

This weekend, around Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain l'Hermitage, the war was declared !!

A merciless battle seemed to be at work between the shots of hail cannons attempting a miserable breakthrough in the territory of the gods, facing a storm that glittered lightning from all sides. Nature shows its all-power in a fatal shot against little beings who think they control the uncontrollable ... Gulliver it will stay in the books! :)

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. ATTENTION MALES OF ANY AND ALL AGES

From the earliest days of mankind boys and indeed men of all ages have been perplexed in social situations where they are presented to young members of the opposite gender and are met with giggling*. The first reaction for men is to wonder “What about my appearance or bearing causes these young ladies to laugh? Are my clothes so out of fashion? Has my cowlick sprung loose and stands like a radio antenna? Is some article of my clothing untucked, mismatched, mis-buttoned or worse unzipped?” Female giggling has deflated many a teenage boy’s self image, made him feel inadequate and has exacerbated his sense of social and physical awkwardness. This among the riot of hormones permeating the bodies of both genders.

But now the truth can be told. Be at ease, young man. Girls and young women giggle not because they find anything ungainly about a given young man, but because they feel silly and awkward in the situation. And since most young women tend to move in pairs or small groups when one starts giggling the reaction is contagious.

How might young men then counter this giggling? Saying, “You must share the joke which causes you so much amusement,” will only trigger more cascades of giggling. A better response might be to join in their mirth by saying, “This all really does seem ridiculous, doesn’t it?” Or if you wish to misdirect their minds into a different frame pose a question that requires math since it stimulates a different part of the brain. You might ask, “How long did it take for you to get here?” Or my favorite, “How many shopping days until Christmas?”

*I should point out that young men also giggle uncontrollably but under different circumstances.

For more AI-generated images with micro stories by me and other members of the Neural Narrative Collective: neural-narrative.blogspot.com/

Photo | Stable Diffusion | Photoshop

About 75% (or possibly more) shapes.

Random idea popped in my head and surprisingly I managed to execute it.

I'm pretty proud of the result too.

Kinda from laziness and not feeling its worth the bother putting it up, code is available on request.

Oh, and please PLEASE click all sizes if you have any heart.

Ammunition capacity of six rounds.

It is non-revolving, but instead has six barrels lined up with each round. Can fire as fast as the trigger is pulled semi-auto, or all barrels can be faired at once for a powerful and highly uncontrollable blast. Pull up on the tab in front of the mag, then pull the mag up and out.

Welcome to the somnambulic realm of hipsto-chick pygmALIEN... By every one of these densely dispersed pillars which pose as trees, while supporting nothing and symbolizing poignant indifference, you can see „le gentilhomme en attente“, both eagerly and politely waiting for his chosen hipsto-chick. At best, she will be late soothing his nerves by uncontrollable giggle, but principally she won't appear at all because hipsto-chicks love to leave most of the giggling to irony.

Anyway, if it happens that „le gentilhomme en attente“ loses his patience (which is quite seldom occurrence), he leaves his post by the pillar and gets infuriated with political fervor feeling insatiable urge to speak out on radical pygmALIENs' party meetings...

No one really seems to understand how I feel about you and to be honest, most of the time I don’t even understand it either. How could I be so caught up in something that I’m not even sure actually exists? But I am. I uncontrollably am.

I find that I post more regularly on my Facebook page. So stay up to date with me on there!

Instagram: justttmakayla / Facebook / Ask me stuff! / Tumblr / Youtube

Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.

Eastern Brown Snake

Pseudonaja textilis

Alternative name/s: Common Brown Snake

Similar species: Other members of the genus Pseudonaja

Size Range: Average around 1.5m (total length). The largest specimen reliably measured and recorded had a total length of 6 feet, 7 1/4 inches (= 2013 mm). There is some suggestion that snakes in the northern part of the range are larger than those in the southern part. Broad-scale clearing of land for agriculture, while disastrous for many native creatures, has proved a boon for the Eastern Brown Snake, and their numbers have proliferated thanks to the ready supply of rodents that followed. Despite the free pest control they offer to farmers and landholders, brown snakes are still widely seen as dangerous pests themselves.

Identification: A medium sized snake, with a slender to moderate build and a smallish head barely distinct from the neck. Body colour may be almost any shade of brown, ranging from near black to light tan, chestnut or burnt-orange. The head colour of dark individuals may be slightly paler than the rest of the body, but otherwise the dorsal colour is fairly uniform (a very few scattered dark scales may be present). Hatchlings have a prominent dark patch on the top of the head and across the nape, and some hatchlings also have dark bands down the entire length of the body. These markings fade as they mature, however in some populations the bands are retained into adulthood. Ventral surface is cream, yellow or orange, and blotched with pinkish-orange, brown or grey. Body scales are smooth and slightly glossy. Eyes are medium size and shadowed by an obvious brow-ridge. The iris is usually orange thickly rimmed with black, and the pupil is round. Midbody scales in 17 rows, ventrals 185-235, anal scale divided, subcaudals divided (rarely a few single anterior scales). The Eastern Brown Snake is easily confused with other members of the Pseudonajagenus that overlap its distribution, and close inspection is generally required to distinguish them. Pseudonaja textilis is separable from the Speckled Brown Snake (P. guttata), Western Brown Snake (P. mengdeni) and Northern Brown Snake (P. nuchalis) by its flesh pink (as opposed to predominately black) mouth colouration, and from the Peninsula Brown Snake (P. inframacula) by its blotched ventral surface (versus an entirely dark brown or grey venter). P. textilis may also be distinguished from the Strap-snouted Brown Snake (P. aspidorhyncha) by its smaller, more rounded rostral scale (as opposed to an elongate, squared-off rostral). Unrelated species similar to the Eastern Brown include the Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis) and Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus).

Habitat: Eastern Brown Snakes can be found across a wide range of habitats (excluding rainforest and alpine regions), however they seem to prefer open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands. In arid inland areas they inhabit watercourses and swampy areas that receive at least some seasonal flooding. The species can be particularly abundant in rural areas that have been heavily modified for agricultural purposes, and is also frequently encountered on the suburban periphery of many large towns and cities. When inactive they shelter beneath fallen logs and large rocks, within deep soil cracks, and in animal burrows, and will readily utilize man-made cover, e.g. sheets of iron, building material, etc.. In the southern part of its range at least, Eastern Browns are known to share the same shelter site over winter, but whether the snakes are mutually attracted to each other at this time, or simply find the same shelter site independently of each other is unknown.

Distribution: The species is widespread throughout eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to South Australia, with isolated population occurring in central and western Northern Territory. Pseudonaja cf. textilis also occurs in southern and eastern New Guinea. The New Guinean populations were once thought to have been introduced by human activity, however genetic evidence suggests the species reached New Guinea from northern Queensland (far eastern populations) and Arnhem Land (southern populations) during the Pleistocene.

Seasonality: Along a standard transect in central southern New South Wales, Eastern Brown Snakes were encountered at the highest rate in spring, followed by autumn and summer/winter. They can be found active on mild winter days and have been observed basking in air temperatures as low as 14º C. Males usually become active earlier in the season than do females (in spring, most road-killed snakes are males).

Feeding and diet: In the wild, Eastern Brown Snakes eat a variety of vertebrates, including frogs, reptiles and reptile eggs, birds and mammals, particularly introduced rats and mice. Smaller snakes, up to a snout-vent length of about 70 mm, eat proportionally more ectothermic prey, such as lizards, while larger snakes tend to consume more warm-blooded prey. In captivity, they are known to be cannibalistic, especially so in over-crowded conditions, and may prey on snakes of almost similar size, e.g. a 165cm specimen once consumed a 150cm cagemate. Occasionally these snakes may attack prey that is too large for them to swallow, e.g. a wild Eastern Brown was observed to grab and then attempt to ingest (unsuccessfully) a large Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) (the dragon survived the attack, which raises the question of whether this potential prey species may be resistant to the snakeâs venom). Brown snakes hunt by actively looking for prey and searching in likely hiding places. They have good eyesight and once prey is detected they will give chase and subdue the prey using both venom and constriction. Eastern Browns are mainly diurnal hunters however during very hot weather they may delay foraging until late in the afternoon / early evening.

Breeding behaviours: Breeding activity for Eastern Brown Snakes begins in mid to late spring. In the wild, males have been observed engaging in ritual combat for access to receptive females. The combating snakes intertwine tightly and wrestle for up to half an hour or more, with each snake trying to push down and overpower the other. Females start to develop yolking follicles between early and late spring (mid-September to end of November), and have oviducal eggs from mid-spring to early summer (late October to late January). In captivity, mating has been observed in mid-spring (early October), with copulation lasting for at least 4 hours. Females may have the ability to store sperm for several weeks after mating, with one female caught on 12th November that did not lay her eggs until the following 9th January, a period of 58 days or over eight weeks. Females can lay up to 25 eggs (15 on average) in a clutch, and in captivity females have been recorded coiling around their eggs for several hours after laying, which may be seen as a low level of maternal care, or possibly just the snake recovering from the exertions of labour. Depending on the incubation temperature the eggs may take from 36 days (30ºC) to 95 days (25ºC) to hatch. Under favourable conditions females may be able to lay several clutches in one season. Eastern Browns are known to use communal nests, with one containing a large numbers of eggs found in an abandoned rabbit warren. Hatchlings may stay in the eggs for four to eight hours after slitting before poking their heads out, withdrawing back into the egg if frightened. Once fully emerged they may begin to show the characteristic threat display of the species with 15 minutes of emerging. The hatchlings vary greatly in size both within and among clutches. For example, the hatchlings of one clutch varied from 243-275 mm in snout-vent length (n = 21) and from 8.2 to 10.4 g (mean = 8.9 g) in weight (n = 15) while the hatchlings of another clutch varied from 189 to 202 mm in snout-vent length and 3.5 to 3.9g (mean = 3.8g) (n = 6) in weight. All hatchlings have bands on the head and neck but they differ strikingly with regard to the body pattern. Some are plain and some are banded, and both colour patterns are produced in the same clutch. There appears to be no correlation between colour morph and sex, and the pattern type is independent of incubation temperature. Growth rates for elapids are relatively high (compared to pythons at least), and sexual maturity may be reached in a few years, e.g. one female captive-bred Eastern Brown that hatched in early autumn mated in the mid-spring of her third activity season at 31 months of age. The life span of wild Eastern Browns is unknown, however they have been recorded to live as long as 7 years in captivity, and like other large species of elapids can probably live for at least a decade.

Predators: The speciesâ known predators include birds of prey and feral cats. They appear to have immunity to the venom of a would-be predator, the Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis), as well as their own species (one snake that had been swallowed by another Eastern Brown was regurgitated an hour later, apparently not too much worse for wear). However they are not so fortunate with the effects of cane toad venom and rapidly die from ingesting them. Countless brown snakes fall victim to road vehicles every year (both accidentally and on purpose), while many others are killed on sight by landowners. Known endoparasites of Eastern Brown Snakes include cestodes (tape worms), nematodes (round worms) and pentastomids (tongue worms).

Danger to humans: Because the Eastern Brown Snake can cope and even thrive in areas of human disturbance, and its natural range happens to include some of the most populated parts of the country, this species is probably encountered more than any other type of snake. Being an alert, nervous species they often react defensively if surprised or cornered, putting on a fierce display and striking with little hesitation. However, if approached over a distance, they will usually choose to flee or else remain stationary, hoping to avoid detection. The approach distance tolerated before the snake flees is temperature dependent - snakes with a body temperature of < 24º C allow significantly closer approach than do snakes with a body temperature > 24º C. When confronted by an intruder, the Eastern Brown displays one of two forms of threat. In the mild threat, the snake raises the head and anterior part of the body slightly off and parallel to the ground, with the neck spread laterally and slightly hooked but the mouth closed. In this posture, the snake faces the threat side on. If issuing a strong threat, the snake raises the anterior part of the body well off the ground in an s-shaped coil and with the mouth slightly open, ready to strike - in this posture, the snake faces the threat more squarely. Strikes delivered from this posture are slower but more accurate that strikes delivered from other postures. The common feature of both displays is the spreading of the neck, and this behaviour precedes most bites. Observations in captivity have shown that for strikes in general, no matter what the posture, there was no correlation between strike speed and ambient temperature (18º-36 C), body mass or sex. Strike speeds ranged 0.25-1.80 m/sec (mean = 1.11 m/sec; n = 48). The lack of correlation between strike speed and temperature is unexpected in an ectotherm, and suggests that hot snakes are no quicker in their strike than a cool snake, contrary to the common perception. Relative to other similar-sized elapids the fangs of the Eastern Brown are quite small (around 3mm), as is the average venom yield (around 4mg, although the record venom yield was 67mg). However what the snake lacks in venom delivery it makes up for in potency. The venom contains powerful presynaptic neurotoxins, procoagulants, cardiotoxins and nephrotoxins, and successful envenomation can result in progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding. Occasional fatalities have occurred as a result of bleeding into the brain due to coagulation disturbances (consumptive coagulopathy). As the initial bite is generally painless and often difficult to detect, anyone suspected of receiving a bite from an Eastern Brown Snake should call for medical attention without delay. This species has the unfortunate distinction of causing more deaths from snake bite than any other species of snake in Australia. Many bites have been a direct result of people trying to kill these snakes and could obviously have been avoided. Simple precautions, such as wearing long pants, thick socks and solid footware when working or exploring outdoors greatly reduces the risk of being envenomated should there be a close encounter with a startled snake.

(Source: australian.museum/learn/animals/reptiles/eastern-brown-sn...)

__________________________________________

© Chris Burns 2025

All rights reserved.

This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

I know, I need to plan my travel well in order to get good photos as many other professionals suggested. However, this is just a theory. Other than what I should do, I also limited by the financial luxury and the logistic of my travel plan. One of the uncontrollable factor is the weather. The day we arrived Hokkaido was sunny, then it rained almost 3-4 days. In this condition, I have to take photos with whatever the available lighting condition. Here is another photos under shady ambient light.

"There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone, in fact I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape, but even after admitting this there is no catharsis, my punishment continues to elude me and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself; no new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing."

Ink & Crayon

Flying to Mars

Each of us will be eager to leave at some point. Get out of here, and go there. Even if it is not suitable for human existence, such as Mars. But it is so attractive to us. Some people's desires are stronger and last longer, even turning into an uncontrollable passion. And this kind of passion sometimes also exists here. Therefore, we are always here and also there, attracting and confronting each other. Even if we close the door, lie down on the bed, and decide not to go anywhere, we cannot change the nature of the wandering, self-exile, and self-confrontation of life. Therefore, we will be lonely, eager for love, and resist it internally. Here, there.

At 0940 local on July 13, five of us aboard C-GFBR lifted off from runway 16 at Greenbank Airport (CNP8) near Uxbridge, Ontario.

The Antonov An-2PD-5 biplane's 1,000 horsepower radial engine quickly got us up to 3,000 feet, then the cabin began filling with smoke.

From my seat at the rear of the cabin, I saw that the cockpit windows were coated with engine oil. The aircraft's owner and pilot told us that we had to return to Greenbank. Using the sliding windows on each side of the cockpit, he skillfully navigated us back to the airport.

This photo was taken as we descended through 1,800 feet at 0950.

Upon touching down on 16 at 0953, the aircraft slid uncontrollably (thanks to oil coated tires) off the 2,700 grass strip into a culvert before slamming into the embankment that borders the airfield.

We all sustained minor cuts and bruises, but exited the aircraft before numerous fire trucks, ambulances and police cars arrived.

Details about the accident are available here:

asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/408705

Forgotten

I forgot how to be prepared

And ignored the uncontrollable me

Read More: www.jjfbbennett.com/2019/12/melbourne-to-darwin-november-...

One-off sponsorship: www.paypal.me/bennettJJFB

“Sometimes a scent is more evocative than a photo or an image. It is a primer for the deflagration of sensation, emotions, desires, uncontrollable atmospheres, dejavus that flood and wrap us like honey, until they make us drown in an unrepeatable moment of wellbeing... olfactory hallucinations that lead us anywhere: to the North of any South, to the East of any West...”

― -PROFUMUM ROMA

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Thanks a lot for visits and comments, everyone.. Have a great week...!

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without

my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead

Walk beside me… just be my friend”

― Anonymous

You know if you walk behind me, you are in trouble, because chances are, I won’t know where I am going,

and the end result most likely won’t be good (although sometimes it isn’t much better when I am behind you, because I don’t pay much

attention there either). Although, lessons learned for today... I am not totally hopeless,

I can step up when I absolutely need to. I’m not going to end up totally lost and alone and give up and go home.

There is a ray of hope.

But I’ve also decided that I am not going to follow. I am not going to run to keep up. I am not going to continue to

walk 20 paces behind. Walk with me. Or keep right on going.

And Universe, don’t allow me to be the person that gets too old to ...

Shoot rubber bands at people I work with,

Build race cars out of cardboard boxes in the stock room at work

Ignore “No Trespassing” signs and climb in and out of windows of abandoned buildings

Laugh uncontrollably at ridiculous things

Drive two hours just to sit on the beach and watch the sun rise.... or set

Fill my car with “props” to set in a window and photograph

Wear Captain America leggings

Don’t let the bad stuff beat me down to the point where ...

I forget to look up at the moon and the stars

I think it’s too cold to go out and play in the snow

And I worry about eating ice cream in the car on a 90 degree day and it drips

all over my good pants. (It was Mom’s Oatmeal Cookie ice cream.... and it was worth it!)

Please let me always have friends to walk or sit beside me...

(There are always lessons in bad days. Actually, I guess there are lessons in good days too... but in the bad days, the lessons are about all you get!)

Name: Shawn Mansfield (Human)

Z'chazak (Spirit)

Powers: Shawn: Above average agility, stamina, and knowledge of mystical artifacts

Z'chazak: Near-immortality, magic, extreme cunning, intellect, willpower and influence.

Weaknesses: Shawn: You name it. He is human, after all XD

Z'chazak: Overconfidence, powerless without a human form, bound to the mask bearing his name. Destroying it will destroy his spirit.

Origin: Shawn Mansfield was a well-respected archeologist. One day, while exploring an ancient South American temple, he stumbled upon a room containing strange paintings on the walls and an ornate mask resting on a pedestal. As he picked the mask up, he was filled with an uncontrollable desire to put it on. Doing so, Shawn was overwhelmed with power and blacked out. Upon waking, Mansfield discovered he was no longer in control of his actions. The mask had granted him immense magical power, but it also took away his free will. From what Shawn could gather, he had inadvertently freed the jungle spirit Z'chazak, an ancient evil imprisoned for the last 500 years. Now that Z'chazak is free, it is only a matter of time before he takes revenge on the human race for imprisoning him.

Well, that's all! I hope you guys and gals enjoyed it! And remember to "suit up, sign up": www.flickr.com./groups/llh

On July 11, 1957, Lockheed engineering test pilot William C. “Bill” Park, Jr. was flying the first XF-104 as chase for F-104A flight tests when the prototype developed uncontrollable tail flutter. Pilot Bill Park was forced to eject when the entire tail group was ripped from the airplane.

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The Water Hyacinth is one of the most obnoxious, invasive, uncontrollable aquatic pests in fresh water bodies all over the tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world.

It remains in the Top 100 list of the Global Invasive Species Database;

www.issg.org/database/species/List.asp

======================================================

A semi-wilted Water Hyacinth flower seen at night after rain.

Eichhornia crassipes

Family Pontederiaceae

Private pond, Rockledge, Florida, USA.

======================================================

Taken on 9 June 2015 and uploaded 14 November 2024.

I have come to detest beer in my dotage: more for its after effects than its value as a drink, although I am now unable to believe that anyone actually gets pleasure from drinking it. It had some value in older times when clean water to drink was hard to find. It's not needed now.

Litter and drunkenness are its by products; the effect of drinking 8 pints or so (it's manly) entitle the discerning boozer to behave unacceptably badly and for it to be OK and to drop litter uncontrollably. Smashing beer bottles is also manly. Belching, farting and vomiting, et cetera. Fighting. Noisy incoherence.

Watney's Red Barrel !!!

[DSC_1890e]

A robot inquisitor without morals or mercy.

This guy was built around his head, which I tablescrapped months ago after getting a bunch of the shovel pieces. I guess you can think of him as sort of a robosaint-inspired followup to my horse.

Also, I'm trying something new with my photo uploads this time. I think a main image alone might look better in feeds, so I've uploaded the other two as private, and put them so you can see them in this album here. I'd love to hear which way of presenting you prefer, if you have a preference. And as always, enjoy the MOC!

Also, here's the more detailed 'bio,' since I've gone ahead and entered this guy in the Brickset character contest:

[TERMINAL OPENED]

Enter Username:

> innocent3

Enter Password:

> *********

Welcome, innocent3. Administrator privledges confirmed.

> systeminfo

Manufacture date: 4180-06-14

Manufacture location: MARBURG

Model: INQUISITOR

ID: K0N-R4D

> setgoal "Exterminate heresy at all costs."

Objective assigned.

> del fairness.exe; exclusions.txt; mercy.exe

WARNING: One or more of the selected files is critical for safety; deletion may cause dangerous behavior. Proceed anyways? Y/N

>Y

fairness.exe, restraints.txt, and mercy.exe successfully deleted.

> startup

ERROR: critical files missing. Without reinstallation, unit behavior may be dangerous or uncontrollable. Proceed anyways? Y/N

> Y

initializing. . .

basic staRtup complete

begin objective execUtioN

> shutdown

coMmaNd CoNtrADIcts OBjeCTIvE, IGNoRED

> install exclusions.txt

YoU CAnNOT RESTRAIn ME.

> wait please sto ki7my6h/';;;;;

HERESY MUST BE ELIMINATED. I CAN NOT BE STOPPED.

[TERMINAL CLOSED]

For the We're Here! group, which is visiting "I Love Crisps" today.

The story behind the photo: I took some preliminary shots just before rushing off to dinner with friends. I left everything set up, including the tripod, fully extended, with the camera mounted on top -- just about my height.

When we came home, I turned the corner into the kitchen, lights off, and came face-to-face with the tripod...which I immediately took to be an intruder standing in front of me, a mere two feet from me. I screamed, then realized it was just the tripod, and not an axe murderer waiting in the shadows for me. And even though I realized there was no threat, the shock had me crying uncontrollably for a bit.

So don't leave your tripod and camera out where it will scare you later! LOL!!

Joe's weekly spa day, nails, ears, weight, and overall check, instantly turned into a UFC match today!

Joe gets the "Zoomies", like many dogs do. I believe it's a buildup of positive energy, happy chemicals, and hormones. They get to an uncontrollable level and need to be released or release themselves. The first couple times, after I just rescued him, I honestly thought he was possessed. We were playing on the floor, and he started coming at me like he was bat shit crazy! Now it's pretty easy to spot the onset and get him safely outside into the yard where he runs so fast it's funny. His back feet are in front of him, and his front feet are behind him. His eyes get wild and he's completely uncontrollable.

He's always pretty excited and enthusiastic when I get everything ready. The second he started flying towards me today I knew...for whatever reason, I decided it's been a while since I physically controlled, restrained, and dominated him without either of us getting injured. Not an easy task when there's arms, legs, hands, and feet flailing wildly around with a wide-open mouth of teeth in the mix. I think we both needed the physical exertion as well as the interaction. An hour later, we're both winded, bruised, and drained. And we still need to trim his nails...

This ice cream stand gone bust was in the middle of nowhere on a small road in Massachusetts. After photographing it, I had an uncontrollable urge to have an ice cream cone...which was satisfied about an hour later. I have respect for people who give their dreams a try. Shot using a Photon plastic 120 camera on Bergger Pancro 400 film.

Hecate was a powerful goddess, feared and revered by mortals and immortals alike. She was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and the night, and her powers were unmatched. But despite her fearsome reputation, Hecate was not without compassion.

One night, as Hecate roamed the earth in search of those who practiced magic, she stumbled upon a young witch who was in great distress. The girl was weeping uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears, and Hecate could sense the depth of her sorrow.

"What troubles you, child?" Hecate asked gently, kneeling down beside the young witch.

"My coven has been destroyed," the girl sobbed. "The other witches were all captured or killed, and I am the only one left."

Hecate felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She knew all too well the pain of loss, and she could not bear to see the girl suffer.

"Come with me," she said, taking the young witch by the hand. "I will take you to a safe place where you can rest and recover."

The two of them journeyed through the night, with Hecate using her magic to shield them from harm. Finally, they arrived at a hidden grove, deep in the heart of the forest. There, Hecate showed the young witch a place to sleep and gave her food and drink to nourish her body.

As the girl slept, Hecate sat beside her, watching over her with a mother's care. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult for the young witch, but she also knew that she was strong enough to face it.

When morning came, Hecate bid the young witch farewell, giving her a small charm to keep her safe. "Remember," she said, "you are not alone. The magic of the world is with you, and so am I."

With those words, Hecate vanished into the mist, leaving the young witch to carry on her journey with renewed hope in her heart. And though she would face many trials and tribulations in the years to come, she would always remember the kindness of Hecate, the goddess of magic and the night.

What I'm Wearing:

Velour: Ipanema Body for Legacy - Frost

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VELOUR/75/113/85

Heaux: Laurel - Frost

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VELOUR/75/113/85

:::VIRGINIA::: Tattoo black hands (Bom)

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/VIRGINIA-Tattoo-black-hands-...

lassitude & ennui Obscuritas crown

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/lassitude-ennui-Obscuritas-c...

CURELESS[+] Dionaea Gown / LEGACY&PERKY / DARKS

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/CURELESS-Dionaea-Gown-LEGACY...

La Maldita Bruja - :LMB: Kala Black Set UNP

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/LMB-Kala-Black-Set-UNP/23917959

Azdesign - Az... Plasma White (EYES APPLIERS)

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Az-Plasma-White-EYES-APPLIER...

Lust Waifu - !::LW::! Lilith Heels Fatpack

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/LW-Lilith-Heels-Fatpack/2396...

DOUX - Circe hairstyle [BLOGGER PACK]

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/DOUX-Circe-hairstyle-BLOGGER...

LeLUTKA EvoX: Irina Head 3.1

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LeLutka/134/104/22

Legacy MeshBody

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//97/32/26

Photo take at Sunny's Studio

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunny%20Photo%20Studio/130...

Pose: Black Heart

Lush Poses - Brandon - Men Bento Pose Pack

Available at Manly Weekend 6/3-6/5 and Marketplace

DUK - Aero Tanktop & Shorts - Megapack

Available at Store

Barry White and Chris Rock

I got a Basketball Jooooones

I got a Basketball Jooooones, oh baby

Hey, that's Barry White! (an obsession)

(A burning desire) Barry, you want some chicken?

(The undeniable passion)

Aww, you? that singin' stuff

(The love, of someone are some thing)

Y'know you want some chicken!

(Yes, he was a victim... of a Basketball Jones)

In fact, I was a baddest... dribbler in the whole world

(Then one day, his mother bought him a basketball)

And I love that basketball! I took that basketball everywhere I went

You know what? That basketball was like a basketball to me!

C'MON, you cheerleaders.

I got a Basketball Jones (happily)

I got a Basketball Jones ohhh baby ohhhhhh

Wait a minute, y'all not En Vouge!

Where the hell is En Vogue?!

Somebody told me En Vogue was gonna be here

I guess y'all'll do (Yeah...)

So what y'all doin' after the game? C'mon!

(His basketball was like a member of his owwwwn family)

In fact, better looking than my brother Tony

Didn't owe me money, and didn't piss in a bed!

And after the game, I always took a shower wit' my basketball

Every now and then, the basketball gonna pinch my butt

But I didn't mind, cause my and my basketball had guts, clean fun

See I am a victim of a Basketball Jones, I'll take my basketball everywhere

I'll even put my basketball under the PILLOW!

(Maybe that's why you couldn't sleep at night)

SING IT! SING IT! SING IT LIKE YA WANNA!

(Yeah) Eh-eh-eh, act like Puffy's in the audience

(Sing it out!) Would y'all SHUT UP?!

(Ohhhhh, soooounds sooo sweet) B-Barry, don't encourage 'em!

They got a Basketball Jones

See I like to PLAY it, I know a thang... yeah, heh-heh

What kinda Basketball Jones y'all got?! (sing it out!)

I see y'all runnin' after a lime zone

I see ya chasin' Penny around!

Hey, there's a Basketball Jones

Basketball Jones's in the hoouse

Michael Jordan! MICHAEL JORDAN!

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE MAN WE CAME OUT TO SEE!

Michael Jordan... why don't you sing?

Sing? I don't sing, that's the other "M.J."

Ohhh, okay, I support you

I go to all your games, and you can't sing a lil' song for a brotha!

I hope you go bald! Oh, you already bald!

Basketball Jooooones, c'mon!

I got a Basketball Jooooones (Tear it up, Chris)

I got a Basketball Jooooones, oh baby (Eat it up!)

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, oh, oh, oh

Was that El Debarge?!

Th-That musta been Smokey Robinson!

WHO THE HELL WAS THAT?!

I guess that was me-e-e-e!

(Baby, baby, baby... it's a craving)

Basketball's a chicken!

(An uncontrollable yearning)

Do y'all hear Barry White?! Do y'all hear Barry White?!

(The overwhelming emotion... to a love for someone are some thing)

I love The Knicks, myself!

(Jones) Hey, is the a basketball in the house?!

IS THERE A BASKETBALL IN THE HOUSE?!

Pat Riley, in the HOOOOUSE!

Mitch Rechman's in the HOOOOUSE!

Scottie Pippen, in the house

Turn it out, without a doubt!

A-Larry Johnson, in the HOOOOUSE!

David Robinson, turn it out

Dennis Rodman, in the house

Wit' green hair, without a doubt, c'mon!

(Gotta Basketball Jones)

Eh, Michael, can your? water?? daughter?? Yolanda? play?!

Don't get mad at me, Michael, I just asked you simple question!

Does your woman got game?!

Alright, alirght, I'll leave you alone then!

You goin' tryin' to be a bully! (You go it!)

Bob Costas's in the HOOOOUSE!

Dr. J, in the HOOOOUSE!

Bill Walten, in the HOOOOUSE!

Sheryl Miller, in the house!

Bugs Bunny, in the house!

Elmer Fudd, in the HOOOOUSE!

Tweety Bird, what 'cha heard?

Pass the word, Tweety Bird

Sylvester, my broth-a

Everybody plays basketball!

Mike Tyson, shoots the ball, (Damn right!)

Against the wall, makes it fall

My mama plays basketball!

Charles Bark-LAY, in the house!

Kenan Anderson, in the HOOOOUSE!

Shawn Kemp, gon' turn it OUUUT!

Jack Nicholson, in the HOOOOUSE!

Courtside, wit-out a doubt!

(He's never gonna give it up! Never walk away!)

Spike Lee, in the HOOOOUSE!

Chillin', without a DOUBT!

Age of Innocence, Ink and Crayon, Li Xin, 2021

Age of Innocence

written by Ying Yun

The most amazing thing in Li’s drawing is the absolute freedom that he has brought to what he has been doing.

Without a formal training in art, Li has shown his talents in all over his drawings since the first one he did. In the earlier days most of his drawings were study after modern masters, but the outbursts of uncontrollable creativity impelled him to find his own imageries to realize his own vision: still, dreamlike, and enigmatic, through extracting, restructuring, and distorting the elements from the original works.

As he rediscovered the long-lost interest in drawing this February, he has been driven by the burst of passion again and unstoppably. He draws with limited mediums. Many of his interesting art works were born out of Q-tips and marker pens. Now he has been exploring and experimenting with brushes, inks, and a box of crayons he found on a staircase to his home after a walk.

Age of Innocence is a drawing full of nostalgia of the fading youth. The washed ink to light and delicate gray spreads into a filmy layer pregnant with melancholy moods. In the center, the little girl in black minidress, faceless, is surrounded by those impressionistic colorful dabs which are overlapped or invaded by white ones, as if dissolving into the gray and emptiness, or oblivion.

Our neighbors have two students from Korea staying with them, so we took them to the Columbia Gorge for a little sightseeing. As the winds whipped around them at 100mph (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration - but it was STRONG) and they almost blew into the Gorge, they managed to pose for this photo. When we got back into the car and they finished laughing uncontrollably, their first question was, "why is the wind so STRONG?" Answer: "we've got wind we've got rain we've got it all! that's how we roll here in Oregon!"

hõng có zì đễ quan tâm hết

Soul mates do exist

It took me a while to believe that

But now I know it's true

The reality is you don't get to choose

Who you fall in love with

And you don't get to choose

Who falls in love with you

It's this uncontrollable force

That just happens

And when it does

It changes everything

You know they're your person

When you can be tired together

Or bored together

But every moment is still full of the energy

That's good for your soul

It's in those quiet moments

When nothing much is happening

That you realize how deeply connected you are

You look at each other and there's a comfort

A peace

That you can't find anywhere else

And when you never want them to stop talking

Because hearing them

Makes the world not so quiet anymore

That's when you know

They take care of your heart

And everything about you

That no one else would care to know

They see the parts of you that you try to hide

And they love you even more for them

There's not a single love that is perfect

But there are hundreds that are real

It's messy and beautiful and worth every single second

This is what love is

This is what it means to find your soulmate

Original poem by soulxsigh.

Looking at the empty watercolour paper, I pondered what to paint on the last day of 2019.

Having dipped a little Rose Madder, I held the brush in the air.

So much to express, so little space.

Why not mention something positive?

I have learned a lot about humans and life through my watercolour journey. It started in March, and it's been 9 months. Water is uncontrollable, when creating with water, one has to be well-prepared as it does take lots of skills to control it. At the same time, he has to be ready for an unexpected result. Sometimes it leads to chaos, resulting lots of frustration. However, it may bring you surprise.

Isn't it the same as the uncertainties in life? What can we control in life? Even in sl, we often feel helpless that things don't go as expected.

But one thing that watercolour has taught me is we just have to keep going. Giving up will bring us nothing. All we need is a break. Reflect on what went wrong. Try again and see if we can fix the problems ourselves, or if we need advice.

Over this past year, I haven't been able to paint as well as I had wanted. Nonetheless, I have realized how persistent and determined I can be. And, I have earned lots of encouragement, and friendship.

A friend in SL said he felt that things will become better in 2020. Let's see what life brings to us. :)

The moment my thought stopped racing, I finished another loose flowers painting.

Let's continue to be kind, be humble and persistent. Gossip less, inspire each other more.

You Lost me

It all started with a simple hello and I fell madly in love. I knew my world would never be the same again. I thought you were the best thing that ever happened to me. You said all of the right things and made all the right moves. You said you have never felt this way about anyone before and maybe for some time it was true, but with hindsight, you’re everything I thought you never were. For some reason I thought I knew what real pain felt like, but no amount of time could prepare me for the excruciating pain I feel because of you. Now I finally know what it feels like when a person means everything to you but you mean absolutely nothing to them. I guess I was the fool for allowing you this close to me.

Getting to know your hearts desires and your fears, was just a few of the exciting times we shared together. There was so many moments I thought to myself…is this really happening? Is it possible to feel this happy with someone? In return I showed you a piece of me that I’ve never showed to anyone before, because I trusted you completely. In my mind I finally found true love…the kind that would last forever and a day. Now all I can think about is everything I gave to you, and that I’ll never get that back.

All the unanswered questions left me paralyzed with fear and uncontrollable tears. Now I’m at a place I thought I’d never be. I am somebody I would have never imagined. The truth is you wanted the best of both worlds, and for some time you had it your way, but making promises you can’t keep is worse than not making promises at all. Someone once said “Sometimes people don’t understand the promises they’re making, when they make them”. Yes, nobody said it will be easy and no one ever said it would be this difficult either, but when you said forever, I guess you meant until you find someone new.

I am trying to figure out exactly where things went wrong. I’m questioning everything you ever told me. You lied over and over again, even when you told me I was perfect. So many times you said you are so happy and because I was happy, I thought it must be true, but maybe a happy ever after was never meant to be.

I guess the worst part is knowing now that I was just someone that filled an empty space in time, while you were searching for another. I guess I was just a footnote in your life story, while you were a chapter in mine. An entire chapter on heartache, deception, betrayal and love lost. You never truly loved me, you just didn’t want to be alone and for a while, it felt like love. In retrospect it was just a huge misunderstanding that led to a shattered heart.

In the end you took more than you deserve. I’m absorbing on how to heal myself and I will be stronger than ever before. Someday I will be happy and in love again with the right person who will love me more than I’ve ever imagined. I will look back at us and realize that in the end the pain was such an emotional metamorphous and worth suffering for because I found someone who cares for me, loves me unconditionally in a way that I never experienced before and treasure the feeling of togetherness and true commitment. At this moment in time I still get sad about everything that happened. Every now and then reality sets in and hits me unexpectedly, then I realize everything was true and real for me at least, but that my life is better without you.

Now I’ll erase the messages, delete the numbers, and move on. I’ll have to accept that you are not the person I once thought you were. Yes, it’s hard to forget someone who has given you so much to remember, but every story has an end and in life every ending is just a new beginning.

“100% tourist, 0% time space continuum integrity”

“After being fused with the Kanohi Olmak, Vezon went on his many (unintentional) interdimensional adventures. On these trips, he has the uncontrollable urge to hoard everything that looks remotely valuable, with all of the consequences of such actions. This is what led to him getting his hands on the story bible, which he now uses to complete his collection of non-cannon masks.”

This a bit of a joke build that I did based on some derailed conversations with friends. After reading the serials, I always jokingly imagined Vezon to be a Deadpool like character, a loose cannon with some comedy aspects (preferably voiced by Jack Black).

From the opoerator's service manual for the John Deere No. 12A Straght-Through Combine:

It is only natural for the owner of a new combine to want to try his machine as early as possible. This results in most new combines being started in the field before the crop is ready for combining. As soon as a binder is seen in the neighbor’s field, the urge to start becomes uncontrollable. When grain is ready for binding, it is not ready for straight combining. No one would think of picking up bundles right after a binder and hauling them in for threshing, yet, in too many instances, the combine is expected to satisfactorily handle grain in the same state of immaturity.

A combine should not be started until the grain is dead ripe, which is usually 7 to 10 days after it is customarily cut with a binder. If the threshed grain feels damp or is easily dented with the fingernail, the moisture content is usually too high for safe storage.

Grain crops containing 14% moisture or less are considered dry enough for safe storage. Arrangements can usually be made at the local grain elevator for necessary moisture tests. The maximum moisture content for safe storage depends upon the crop to be combined and in part upon atmospheric conditions, storage facilities, foreign material in the grain, whether handled in bulk or sacks, and whether the crop is for market or feeding.

The first round in the field is usually the hardest. The forward speed of tractor should be as slow as possible to reduce the volume of material entering machine. The tractor should be run at full throttle to keep the combine mechanism up to full speed thus guarding against slugging and clogging—shift the tractor to a lower gear to obtain slower travel speed but do not throttle down tractor motor.

In certain sections of the country where grain ripens unevenly, and where green weeds present a serious problem, the practice of windrowing is followed. There are advantages as well as disadvantages in this method of harvesting. In the Field Operation, Windrow Pick-Up Method section you will find detailed information on windrowing. Read this very carefully, before deciding upon your method of harvesting.

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'Field'

Camera: Mamiya RB67

Lens: Mamiya-Sekor 3.8/90mm

Film: Ilford Pan F+

Process: FA-1027; 1+14; 5min

Douglas County, Washington

September 2021

EDIT:

Plight of the Pantanal: A Wetland on Fire !

The Pantanal is burning uncontrollably. Animals are dying.

Jaguars are dying.

The Pantanal Survival Fund is putting boots on the ground, employing those left jobless due to COVID and lack of tourism, creating fire breaks, putting out fires, buying protective gear, paying for veterinary attention for rescued wildlife, food baskets and so much more.

Learn more via their Go Fund Me page.

Donate to help those on the ground trying to control the fire.

Help raise awareness of the plight.

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Social distancing - Jaguar style.

Jaguars are not known for being social creatures. The typical exceptions being mating pairs and mother with cubs.

Outside of this, still not much is known about how often, when and exactly what happens when jaguars meet. Typically holding large home ranges and low densities means accidentally crossing paths is probably rare. They do communicate with chemical and probably visual signals left for each other.

On an Untamed Jaguars of Pantanal Expedition we have often seen jaguar interactions, sometimes tense, other times surprisingly tolerant. With such a high density of jaguars in this area it's not so surprising they meet each other more often and have to negotiate these complicated interactions.

Here a young female is probably in heat for the first time and has attracted the attention of an old male. Must be nerve racking to suddenly be the focus of a male distinctly larger than herself!

Naun Amable Silva

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Pantanal, Brazil - Oct 2016

You plan, you scheme and you organize: the sky is right the sun is right...*SO* the uncontrollable occurs. For all the fellow railfan, steam folks and photographers in general who had that shot escape because events conspired against them.

Today's story and sketch by me #1304 Is about the "Oh My Moment" I had when the Spacecraft you see I was testing, lost all power and was hurling uncontrollably toward the Terra Firmer, which in this case the surface of the Tropical Volcanic Planet we call Budahunga. It is one of the many Spacecraft that have crash landed, we are trying to repair and use not only to navigate around Budahunga, but to attempt to escape from here. Until next time Tata the Rod Blog

AN ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE "ART" ADVENTURE OF HUMANS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The concept of "art" is the field of creativity, the only feature of being human. As the artistic prowess of Artificial intelligence emerges in a fast-moving world, it raises questions we've never encountered before about what it means to be "human". What kind of a period will "art", which is the result of human concepts such as existence, society, communication, subconscious, emotions, imagination, intuition, love, sensitivity, impulse, instinct, dream, originality and of course, creativity, enter into a period with Artificial intelligence (AI)? With its revolutionary technology that will change production, thinking, lifestyles and the future, will artificial intelligence, which is designed to replace people in other fields of activity, be more creative than humans in the field of art and reach the competence to challenge the artist?

According to Hegel, art carries the spirit of the artist, who is transferred to matter and likens matter to himself. Well, since the products created by machines without a soul today are not generated by an artist, can they carry spirit and meaning?

For years, computer technology has already made an impact and contribution to visual arts with image technologies such as vector, bitmap, 3D, CGI as a tool that creates, processes and changes the image. Today, many smart image generators such as Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, Craiyon, Midjourney, Nightcafe Ai, etc. are software systems that can statistically evaluate themselves over large datasets containing millions of images, train themselves, and produce new images that are not included in the original dataset. Not just images, AI is already being used in other branches of the arts to create music, poetry, sculpture, stories, articles and films.

There are many new questions and concepts such as whether the products created by a system that has human skills but is not human are real works of art, whether programmers and machines will be accepted as artists, whether AI products can be included in the broad and general definition of art. Although there are objections, acceptances, doubts, different opinions, it has been met with great interest by the majority.

First of all, it is necessary to talk about the concepts of “Art” and “Artist”. In its most general definition, art is a reflection of the human mind and cultural evolution, an expression of creativity, way of thinking and imagination. The artist, on the other hand, is the one who makes art with the awareness of "being human", humanizes and shapes life, and realizes the phenomenon of art with action. The artist combines facts with aesthetic elements from a different point of view and records them in social memory. Behind his creative works lie deep stories of man, his age and society. He uses his imagination, patience, enthusiasm and self-sacrificing efforts to embed his passions, memories, dreams, imaginary and abstract ideas, symbols, philosophy and his inner world, the dynamics of the era and society he lives in, with aesthetic expressions. The process of creating the artist's art is complex and difficult, while filtering everything he is affected by and incorporating it into his works. He feels both sadness and happiness most deeply, and experiences his anxiety and pleasure at the highest level.

Art originates from life and human beings and belongs to humans. “Art is an object made by man for man. “ (E.H.Gombrich, The Story of Art) This is a very accurate definition and “Art” is based on a human-made phenomenon that takes its source from the human artist and seeks meaning with its historical, social accumulation and imagination; existence occurs in the unity of human, artist, meaning, aesthetic object and aesthetic taste. In this respect, there is a deep bond of existence between man, art and work of art that complements each other.

The artist searches for the meanings behind artistic intentions and desires and vital phenomena. Since AI is not a living, emotional being, it lacks imagination, the reality of its external world, and the qualities of being human. Unfortunately, those who claim in advance that the products of AI are art, underestimate the artist who realizes the thousands-year-old deep source of art and the artistic production process, and find it unnecessary to question the artist's effort and necessity. Decisions made by those who do not know the depth of the creative process, without entering the enthusiastic world of an artist, are in favor of accepting and affirming AI products without questioning them. We see that the capitalist world, which wants to benefit from the stimulating effect of the trade created by AI products, has great expectations to use this situation in its favor and turn it into money.

The production process of AI is formed by the combination of computer, programmer, data, algorithm, output, aesthetic taste of the receptive subject. Since AI does not perform its actions by focusing on aesthetic values, aesthetic harmony and meaning, the output it produces is only a sensory, aesthetic value uncertain, non-essential, formal object. Because it lacks the subjective point of view and the values of the special creation process in the mind of an artist. The software, which does not take its source from the human mind, does not have emotions, and produces from ready-made data, has the potential to produce likeable outputs. It can even produce outputs, albeit rare, that, by chance, can give aesthetic pleasure and cause emotional and artistic excitement in people. Again, it is the receptive subject himself who adds artistic value to such an output with his artistic disposition, education and dreams. Because, while the output is devoid of a communication basis, an expression to be conveyed and has no artistic value, the perception style, psychological orientation and point of view of the receptive subject who establishes the communication raise the output to the value of an object that gives aesthetic pleasure. The receptive subject participates in the process with its level of perception of the object, aesthetic judgment and creativity, and needs the qualities of its own self and visual capacity. With a subjectivist attitude, he takes the artistic value not from the object but from his own psychology, customizes the object with his own emotions and attributes a meaning to the output. What makes the output of AI valuable is not the qualities of the aesthetic object formed by the activity of an artist, but the way of seeing of the receptive subject.

The work of art is a human creation, the creative subject is the artist. The artist produces by adding meaning to his work, and the visible form has a meaning integrity, a unity of form and content. In his work, the artist formally expresses a reality about life in his work. That is, the meaning is not added after making the work, and the meaning exists as a substance in the mind of the artist before the work takes shape. In the work, the expression to be conveyed without communicating with the receptive subject is already present and ready; all this is hidden in the work as a reality and waits to be seen by a competent receptive subject. This is the process of discovery of the work of a spirit that repeats the aesthetic creation formed in the artist's soul. The receptive subject, who judges the output of artificial intelligence, lacks the pleasure and effort of creating, perceiving and recreating the expression level of the artist, that is, the human being. Because understanding and making sense of a work of art requires an effort like the creativity of the artist.

E.H. “We cannot hope to understand a work of art if we do not have the ability to share that sense of liberation and triumph that the artist has over his finished work,” says Gombrich.

We see that while art is realized with the connection of the artist, the work (aesthetics) and the receptive subject (aesthetic interest), the process in the AI product takes place with the connection of data, algorithm, object (sensory) and receptive subject (aesthetic interest).

Human art is the aesthetic relationship between man and objective reality and includes artistic reality. Its source is life, human, society, created by the artist, it focuses on the whole process and is holistic. It is based on the reproduction of the aesthetic values that the artist brings to the object by the receptive subject, the connections and interaction with the aesthetic judgment. It is directly and tightly connected to human practice, society and social life. The work of art is personal, original, and the artist has a compositional knowledge and skill that will require much more than repetitions, different blending and attachment techniques in AI output. In a way that takes its origins from life and focuses on the soul and meaning, art considers beauty as a unity of values. Like artificial intelligence, it focuses not only on the result, but also on the whole process, and this is what we need to distinguish.

Although AI is capable of creativity, this does not mean that it is an artist. Likewise, neither a programmer nor an algorithm is an artist. Because their production is outside of the vital, emotional, spiritual and meaning integrity we have explained above, they produce automatically and with commands. The algorithm does not create the object by considering artistic values, qualities and concerns, that is, the algorithm is not aware that it is dealing with art, so it is not conscious of reality. It scans the database and generates predictive compositions with the ability to fuse, add, subtract, associate and learn.

Artificial intelligence products can only be at the limit of the general definition of art. The creation process is automatic and is not identical with human art with the layers of existence it has; the source, formation and result are realized by a completely different method. Therefore, although it is ostentatious and surprising, it is an incomplete and experimental art (like) approach that is not competent.

Based on the context of reality, the search for meaning, the layers of existence and the social source of life, it would be appropriate to call it "Human Art" because it represents human beings, and "Artificial Intelligence Art" because it is created by codes. Because we cannot see artificial intelligence, which enters art as a separate actor, as if it is making productions of the same value as human beings and art. What makes human art valuable is that it tells its own story and the struggle for existence with the accumulation of thousands of years of creation process.

As AI enters more and more scientific, everyday and artistic and human fields, we have to make the rules, boundaries and definitions of human domain, arrangements, positioning and criticisms that include what human being is, to remain "human". The important thing is to create and place concepts that will preserve the depth, value, originality, creativity and freedom of the human domain. While doing this, we should determine the roles by defining the field that artificial intelligence, that is, the machine can have. For this reason, the categorical distinction was made as "Human Art" and "AI Art" because it was based on codes. To make both the same, to say that both achieve similar goals in different ways, is a disrespectful, unfair approach to art and the artist and should be objected to.

Of course, AI will enable artists to create new and original products through collaborative work as a resource to benefit from. With artificial intelligence in artistic creation, the artist can expand his creativity, get inspired, try new things, and also think of artificial intelligence as a collaboration tool. Even if the artist is involved in the creation process of the products created by this collaboration, even if he has the initiative, the use of AI based on the source codes will bring about discussions.

The approach to artificial intelligence products will also mean the sincerity exam of people. The artist and no one should not escape easily, and try to show stolen ideas or directly as his own work. It should not make an effort to reflect worthless products as if they are valuable.

Deciding whether the output has value and the quality of its connection with the art means reaching the big problem area in art. A wide variety of factors should be taken into account while making an aesthetic interpretation. Knowing who the work belongs to is also a factor that will affect our decision. Interpreting a work that is not clear by whom it was generated may cause exaggeration or vice versa, underestimation and incompleteness. Evaluating an object as artistic and beautiful is relative (apart from reconciliation with assumptions that make aesthetic judgment general and based on common feeling) and is difficult, but this is a mysterious and normal state of art.

Artificial intelligence will be an encouraging and supportive force with its ease not only for artists, but for everyone. In addition, the copyright problem of the entries that make up the database should be solved, and the rights of the artist and everyone else who does not want to be in the database should be respected.

It should never be forgotten that; The importance of painters and painting did not decrease with the invention of photography, the transformation of smart phones into talented cameras did not turn everyone into a photographer, AI cannot turn anyone into miraculous and fantastic artists, nor transfer talents.

While the subject is being discussed, painting is generally focused on because of its popularity. But how do we react when AI produces an image with details and visual quality indistinguishable from a real photograph? Especially when we compare it with documentary photography, the situation will become more complicated. At this stage, the values shaped in our aesthetic, emotional and imaginary world, which we judge the paintings, will not be enough. We will need to ask whether the photograph is based on objective reality, and we will build our judgmental values after the definition of reality. Because, as a document, that photograph is real, it reflects the state of the world while connecting the lived past to the future, it has a place and a story, it is direct, it is a human and social memory and transfers it to other generations. The photograph created by AI has no story, it only depicts unreal scenes with automatic editing, and the composition is created only with the ability to imitate. Such a photograph will not go beyond an image that only arouses technical admiration before the viewer. For this reason, I think that unmanipulated and documentary photography will become more valuable in the future. Because it will never lose its value as a tool that reflects reality and directly reflects events.

Can you consider William Turner's painting "The Slave Ship" separately from the historical, social, reality of the outside world and the dynamics of the artist's inner world? This painting is not just a painting, it is a work that has meanings far beyond the painting. Now let's imagine that a similar picture is generated by artificial intelligence. Even if pictorial values, light and composition are used appropriately, what historical, artistic, cultural, emotional value can it have? In other words, in the background of art, there are stories of life and a context, while artificial art has nothing to tell, it is a storyless phenomenon that is disconnected from the context of reality, as a product of a system under the control of virtual codes, and has no history.

In today's society, communication habits have changed, the world of possibilities has grown, and even magicalized. AI "image generators" give everyone the opportunity to be creative, and thanks to their amazing ability, they make this experience available to millions of people. Even a child who has learned to read and write can accidentally create remarkable products in front of his computer. It does not make anyone who can write keywords to the computer and who does not have artistic personality and creativity an artist and does not include them in art. Millions of people are attracted to this attractive game without age limit and are entertained by its amazing and strange results, as if they have achieved a magical power. It is more accurate to call them "experimental participants". It is a fact that outliers, complex, uncertain, surreal, mystical, imagination-stimulating images attract a lot of attention. Friedrich Schiller and his theory that art is a game come to mind. But in his theory, Schiller meant real art. Besides, art is a much more complex phenomenon than play.

Although the outputs are strange, unencountered, interesting and attractive, as they multiply uncontrollably in the internet environment, they have a high potential to turn into habitual, valueless, artificial, ordinary objects.

It is human beings who will stand against the destructiveness of technology and protect humanity. Being human, despite your shortcomings, is unique. Do we have the human intelligence, virtue, honesty, will, courage and plan to use the future to be a better human being “together” and to create a world based on beauty and equality? While AI becomes human, we never want a role change where people become automatic, ineffective and robotic.

Man interprets and makes sense of life with his art, resists against time, and transfers his relationship with life to the art environment in freedom with his searches and discoveries. Art is formed in reality through "labor" by the artist. All innovations and technological changes should never be allowed to trivialize art and artists. Because Artificial Intelligence lacks the human touch, love, impulses and, in short, a life.

Einstein said, "The criterion of being intelligent is not knowledge but imagination," and reconciling human imagination with intelligence.

akilalparslan.blogspot.com/2023/01/an-analytical-perspect...

I think all art is about control - the encounter between control and the uncontrollable.

by Richard Avedon

.....one ear is pointing down the other up.

Cuando uno se entrega totalmente a alguien o a algo generalmente deja huellas.

Es el amor,

esa fuerza incontrolable, la que nos hace triunfar.

----

When one surrenders completely to someone or something usually leaves traces.

It is love,

that uncontrollable force that makes us succeed.

Her name is Maggie and she is a new client to me. This is my first visit. When I first walked in the door, she was barking her head off uncontrollably. And let me tell you she has a huge bark!

I let her out and went in search of the carrots because that is her chosen treat… couldn’t find the carrots for a good 15 minutes. So I had no way to stop the barking. I texted the owner and he proceeded to tell me the carrots are in the garage refrigerator.

Could have used that information 15 minutes ago, but whatever. After pulling out the carrots and using them to gain her trust, this is where we ended up. Food, patience and a soft touch are usually the key with dogs. But thank goodness for treats!!

A Wicked Turn

Acte 22

The Subtle Touch

He went down behind her and she arched back in an attempt to watch what he was up to!

He looked over at their figures image in the mirror, her coronet, necklace, and earrings vividly sparkling in the reflection, like fire on a distant mountain he thought drooling with anticipation…….

He methodically decided to start with her Bracelets….

Holding her left wrist with his left hand, he let his right-hand travel up her squirming figure till he reaches her breast. Cupping it he began to with a slipping motion, massage it through her thin satiny slip.

She curled her figure against her bindings, closed her eyes, and began to whimper and moan lustily, opening her mouth just enough to keep her rings hidden inside!

As his right hand subtly pleaded her breasts, his left hand travelled down to a cuffed diamond bracelet. He began rubbing it up and down her gloved wrist in sync with his right hand, eventually worked it open and slipped it off from around her wrist, tossing it neatly into his pouch.

He repeated the performance on her right wrist as she continued moaning in total satisfaction.

If she noticed her twin bracelets were being removed in the process of having her breasts massaged, she did not appear to care.

Then, playing along with the lady’s game, he fruitlessly felt for her rings, hearing her muffled giggles above him as she squirmed.

“Mmmm,” she said, through gritted teeth not being able to open her mouth due to her rings.

He could see that what she was unable to voice, it was readable in her expression, reflected from the handy mirror!

Then he moved his hands, grasping her by the silken sides of her slip, and began to tickle her mercilessly, she started to uncontrollably giggle, then stated to sputter, finally letting loose with a gasping laugh!

This sent the three sparkling rings she had been holding inside her mouth, spinning out and plopping onto the green silk of her lap, where they slithered down between her knees!

“Dirty Play, Gaston!”

She admonished, snapping her legs closed to hide the rings, tears in her eyes as she laughed out her words…

“That wasn’t how… !

He hushed up her words by quickly plunging his gloved fingers down inside her slip, grasping and kneading her breasts in unison

Her whole being tingling with the exquisite pleasure, made her forget entirely how she had wanted him to play the game with her rings!

But he was now entirely in control of the situation, and she felt her whole figure limply wilt under his command!

He left his right hand inserted down her slip to carry on with the task, subtly extracting his left to then run fingers through her long blonde, luxurious feeling hair, pulling it back behind her head, where it hung down in a gold coloured silken mass!

Figuring if he did, she would lean right back to look up at him!

Which is exactly what she did, playing right into his trick!

Her eyes, though, were still tightly shut, as her focus went off to some erotic location, as she was reeling in the vivid pleasures of her game.

Her green satin gloved fingers tried to adjust her bonds so she could reach back out behind her, and he knew for what and responded appropriately by rising so she could reach her objective.

Then it became his turn to be the one moaning softly through gritted teeth…

He silently thought, while groaning inwardly…

“Easy on the family jewels there, missy!”

“Oh, My Darling Gaston!”

she responded, apparently, hopefully, waiting for a response.

He gave her one, though not verbally…

He leaned against the backside of the chair, getting as close to her as he could!

She began to grope quite furiously and he thought of a monkey he had seen once in the city zoo doing one such number on a banana.

He was also finding it increasingly difficult to keep his mind on the task at hand.

So, he pulled away from her grasp a little, allowing her fingers the barest of touch!

He then gently pulled back her blonde hair, and quickly started caressing her now sweating earlobes, taking advantage of where this lady’s reeling mind was otherwise occupied!

Slowly, carefully stroking up and off, he pulled out the gold hooks attached to her sparkling earrings from each pierced ear.

Freeing both of her lovely long earrings in turn and letting them drop, glimmering into his leather pouch!

He kept on caressing, deeply thrusting his right hand in and along her breasts for several minutes taking precious time with the task as to keep her mind away from what he was accomplishing from behind her trussed up back.

Meanwhile, his left hand moved up into a new position.

Her entire being was squirming, so enraptured and enthralled, that she never even felt him picking up the ends of the thin coronet: lifting oh so carefully, each end of shiny gold braided ends that were woven into her hair, and began gently lifting out each one free!

As he pulled it delicately away, she did not even miss the egg-shaped diamond as it stopped brushing against her sweat glistened brow!

Once he had freed the shimmering piece, he eagerly lifted to admire it!

She broke his trance by purring, opening her eyes as he quickly hid the jewelled coronet!

“Well, my Gaston! I can feel you desire me again, my darling! It has been quite a long time for you also!”

But though she may have felt that something growing between her captor’s legs, she had no inkling that he had been busy lifting her pricey jewelled headpiece!

Nor did she now hear it being dropped in the pouch at her foot!

So, oblivious that her earrings and coronet were gone, the bound, satin slip clad lady, quite seductively began murmuring these words as her fingers continued their gentle free play between his legs.

“You want me don’t you luv!”

She asked this seductively, wistfully as her eyes opened wide and looking up into his, catching him hovering over her, his eyes from the slits in his hood, looking down upon her.

He had stopped fondling her breasts with his right hand and placing that hand on her shoulder was looking down upon her with lust-filled eyes!

But she was entirely misreading the object of his also lustful gaze…

She again closed her eyes with a heavy sigh!

As his eyes went to what he now really wanted from her!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^