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Statue of a Victorious Youth, 300-100 B.C.E, Getty Villa. This statue made of bronze inlaid with copper, depicting an Olympic winner wearing an Olive wreath was found submerged in international waters off the Adriatic coast.
This is what I used as my prop for yesterday's mystery photo. Although I took this photo from much higher than I did for the original.
The mystery
www.flickr.com/photos/44506883@N04/33665879548/in/datepos...
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites. :O)
I know I'm not alone on this... i worry if I'm making the right decision, or I'm frustrated with where my life isn't... and I can't seen to get any clear cut answers from my family or friends as to which direction to take.
And then I take the time to read it again... just like I have before, except this time the words just jump off the page and nail me straight in the heart... He knew all along that I would be right here, at this very moment in my life, and he had these words written over 2,000 years ago just for me... so I could see clearly the path that lies before me...
Thanks for not giving up on me...
On a less personal note... this young man is modeling for a friend of mine who runs an outreach program for incarcerated youth in the local jails. I was asked to help with some pics for their new brochure. I have this one and a couple more that I would love your critique on... thanks :)
To yesterday's photo.
It's actually the top, rather than the bottom, but I think you all guessed it. Going to have to make these harder!!
Related to this photo:
www.flickr.com/photos/44506883@N04/43983620332/in/datepos...
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites. :O)
This is my answer for the challenge in Get Pushed Round 15 that I got from Skippys1229
Chris has a photostream with fantastic macro shots and beautiful nature shots and lots more. Go check it out.
Here is what he wrote to me : " The month of December seems to bring two types of themes to mind. The first is "celebration" with all the holiday festivities leading up to Christmas and New Year's. The second is "reflection" as there are many year-in-review lists that go over certain important events that happened during the year. I would like to see something that expresses these two themes. The subject can be whatever you choose. Also, you can either have them expressed in the same shot, or you can frame it as a diptych."
This one got me thinking a lot! And that's good of course :)
I've been trying out the diptyching since this push was sent my way a lot with a tool I mostly operate from my Ipad. The app is called Diptic. It works very well I think. I can take my Nikon shots into the photostream and so forth. These photos I've also done a bit of processing on in Picnik.
Now for the presentation that I have chosen. The photo to the left is a snow flake ornament in my parents' Christmas tree (Celebration) and the shot to the right is from the sea close to my parents house (Reflection). Since when I look back on 2011 what comes to my mind the most are all the threats to nature and the meeting that took place in Durban, South Africa - unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/meeting/6245.php this november/december. Unfortunately it seems hard for the world to come to good solutions.
The climate changes are very present! This summer has been the rainiest and 'coldest' I can remember and this winter so far the 'warmest'. No snow here yet! Last year we had snow for almost 6 months!
The sea in the picture, I read yesterday, is short on oxygen! Which means that 'things' that live there cannot survive... I can only hope and try to do some of my share to save the Earth we've been given.
Happy New Year everyone!
Get Pushed group admins and all other members I'm thankful to you. This group is lots of fun :)
"Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!"
A 12x12 vignette showcasing the courage and care for one another shown by the race of men in Middle-Earth. Built for MELO 2025 with the theme "free peoples vignettes" and the subtheme "men" as well as for the 12x12 vignette category of Summer Joust 2025.
Thanks for checking it out,
Math Wizard
Interesting looks of maialen while chatting www.safecreative.org/work/2002103056982-maialen-answering
An old, broken down telephone/telegraph pole along an abandoned train track in rural Ohio no longer carries a message.
We had to say fair-well to our our old (C&W) answer phone; it was slowly becoming more doddery, confusing callers by mumbling inanely about something to do with messages.
Our new BT answer phone can send and receive text messages too!
Segura estoy en mi corazón tu seguirás, viviendo en mi ser no te podré olvidar. Lose en verdad ya no hay mas vuelta hacia atrás, estamos ocultando el dolor al sonreír.
RD17293. Question: When is an Avonside not an Avonside?
Answer: When it's a Hunslet like CHAKA'S KRAAL No.6!
This attractive looking 2ft gauge 0-4-2T was built by Hunslets in 1940, but to a design of the Avonside Engine Company of Bristol which the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds had taken over in 1934. It spent its working life on a Sugar estate in Natal, South Africa, but now lives in retirement on the Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway in Gloucestershire.
Over the weekend 22nd - 24th June, 2018 however, CHAKA'S KRAAL No. 6 had a trip to the 2ft gauge Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales which held a gala to celebrate the 125th birthday of the 1893 built 2-4-0 ST/T Hunslets LINDA and BLANCHE.
Lots of other 2ft gauge engines built by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds also came to the party, so 'CHAKA' was in good company. In this shot it has just arriving back at Porthmadog harbour Station following a trip up the Welsh Highland Railway.
Sunday, 24th June, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Ron Fisher.
Ginger & Jagger is a contemporary brand that answers the demand for a product differentiator, with an intense and passionate personality in the field of furniture design, taking as its starting point the dichotomy nature / sophistication.
Main Concept
Opposite and complementary
Natural / Upscale
Soft / Rough
Fashion / Differentiator
Trend / Arrojo
Pure / Transformed
The new brand is for those looking for novelty, for those who prefer originality, unique.
"The new brand is not for boring people."
"Questions, we never will find answers to,
Questions which never stop coming to our minds
Questions that build us till we die
Questions, that intrigue us all our lives...
But to live it without answers is a question that keeps knocking us always... "
~ I found this quote on the web somewhere and then changed it some...
and in response to the most obvious question regarding this picture. It is a tugboat on the Arthur Kill (between Staten Island and Bayonne, NJ) at night. These are easy to take. Zoom in on some lights. Preferably some lights of varying colors. Street with traffic lights work well. So do tugboats - if you can find one.
After finding a target select MF (manual focus) and make everything out of focus. Then fire away. I find these easier to take with a fast shutter speed so I set the ISO to 1600. This is definitely wise if you are shooting a street with traffic since you want still lights rather than moving lights.
... To yesterday's Wacky Wednesday.
When I went to buy a new bucket last month, they only had them with the mop attachment available.
As I use a floor cloth and stiff bristled broom to wash the floors the extra part isn't used and is usually under the kitchen sink.
Reference photo : flic.kr/p/2p8w2yi
Now you know what the wacky photo is.
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites. :)
Whilst perusing the back streets of Cambridge we came across this on a slab of stone type material just lying randomly in the street.
Is this a question, or an answer?
Everything I know I forget on Guru Road as instructed by the seeds sewn by the stones of complete and total self doubt.
Further analysis of the 'known' and information in general by the eminent American logician Donnie Brasco - tell us to 'Forget About It'
E.g. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf0ZyoUn7Vk
However being constitutionally unable to ever 'forget about it' or anything completely and hence therefore consequently have found formal logical use for that 'issue' as answer to being driven ceaselessly to attempt to compute comprehensively the 'billion dollar question that solves for X,Y, and Z: Power, Expansion, and Shrink of the Universe in the micro to macro -- so as to go for broke (and be 'first v. last') in the Dark Matter and Energy Derby -- well well what the hell, then' lets be the first to reconcile the quantum dynamic with the quantum mechanic by means the gears of nature to explain the manufacture, combustion, and bending of light as the best set of questions worth answering in science which might be very well be concluded in the; 'Abstract' by considering en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter as 100% presently accounted for in the form of atomic bits of Bacteria. Primarily the family of Bacteria know as en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria which serves as the common subatomic denominator (complimentary quark loop repair - as cosmic glue+fuel) for both food and combustion chains by means of its role the natural manufacture and fixation of Nitorgen in the form of N2O that can be seen powering this photo as the Dark Matter and Energy of contained in the atomic stack of examples of reality in search of a theory that drives the expansion of the Universe and a burger chain, whereby it is possible 'Billions' are successfully 'Served' so much Bacterial Dark Matter that proves fuel as Energy as expressed as so many 'Big Macs' and or 'Happy Meals' or plates of pasta + the decision process over which to choose as dinner which results in a chain reaction of Hiesenburgian proportions rippling though the micro economics of the BTU (British and or Bacterial Thermal Units) of calories and bacteria as slow and fast food to power a world served by the billion by the 'Golden Arches' and iron skillet as examples of how my reasoning flows from the following data set and where it points after being clued into the role of bacteria and its large role in the combustion chain of N20 mfg. (c/o reading reporting in the Science News over the years and drawing conclusions from that, confirmed by) what wikipedia has condensed as the entire 'nutshell' of the case (which makes possible nutshells): "Nitrous oxide is emitted by bacteria in soils and oceans, and thus has been a part of Earth's atmosphere for millennia. ... Nitrous oxide reacts with ozone in the stratosphere. Nitrous oxide is the main naturally occurring regulator of stratospheric ozone. Nitrous oxide is a major greenhouse gas. Considered over a 100-year period, it has 298 times more impact per unit weight than carbon dioxide. Thus, despite its low concentration, nitrous oxide is the fourth largest contributor to these greenhouse gases. It ranks behind water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. Control of nitrous oxide is part of efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. " - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide . In addition there is the world of undersea Bacteria which seems to be massive as source of gasses, energy and life as explored in; moreintelligentlife.com/content/ideas/some-it-very-hot?pa...
Thus, in the quest to complete the Dark Energy and Matter puzzle the need to grab the 'keys to the car' of conceptually total comprehension of the 'bits of information' scooped up over the million miles of the road 'less traveled' at high and low speed on the highway of life in a peddle to the metal race to complete the General Unified Theory, and having had and idea or two, while being singularly motivated by a clear understanding of 'the need for speed' in completing as a thought started explained in the sports terms of the 'mantra' of the movie 'Talladaga Nights' as ultra apt metaphor for the race to identify Dark Matter and Energy;
"If you ain't first, you're last!"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talladega_Nights:_The_Ballad_of_Ric...
Ergo, therefore, hence, consequently I reason ("the old fashioned way"; between my ears for days, weeks and years) and take detailed -- note (in this space) that; phys.org/news/2012-12-dark.html "The excitement now is that we are closing in on an answer, and only once in the history of humans will someone discover it. There will be some student or postdoc or experimentalist someplace who is going to look in the next 10 years at their data, and of the seven or so billion people in the world that person will discover what galaxies are mostly made of. It's only going to happen once."
One more time with meaning; It is hypothesised here that the bactarial subatomic bits and bonds of the; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phylogenetic_tree.svg whose branches are gaseous and or part of the combustion/food chain as discovered/understood, 'that therefore, in the words of the late Carl Woese;
“Imagine walking out in the countryside and not being able to tell a snake from a cow from a mouse from a blade of grass,” he said. “That’s been the level of our ignorance.” on the subject as understood best ' by the late great Carl Woese ( www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/science/carl-woese-dies-discov... ) who was able to "prove that all life on earth was related.” It is suggested here (again) that light and thus life is made possible by single celled life running the combustion chain by means nitrous oxide manufacture without which combustion is not possible is the singular candidate for being Dark Matter begets Dark Energy due to its immutable nature of the nuclear core of the nucleus of Bacteria.
Accordingly every angle of a drop of something such as: salsa in the micro should bend light by the same 'dark material/energy' means of 'economic activity of biological growth drawn from the Sun and the field by the roots reaching for energy and drawing them to a plant to form sugar that creates the shade being cast by Phylogenetic tree as so much gas/power as a by product in the process that moves at near the speed of light as observed and made a example of the micro case of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractometry that corresponds to the macro of 'cosmic microwaves' (which act as break and limit on the speed of light [in another evolving story line located at] -->);
This is set of data points in process for for the best possible explanation of cosmic expansion in terms of Dark Matter and Energy being made possible by the interplay of the nuclear material of the Phylogenetic tree burning to bring the light while explaining how the grow the Universe at the variable speed of -1 which is not constant see graphic and apply this logic to the fluctuations inherent in the construct presented in conjunction with the notion of a cyclical super vast redundant Universe we are at some random point in the 'Grande Scheme of Things' as well illustrated, and described, with the Dark Matter piece well described, but alas the missing variable that my Theory here now and for all time offers up as the nuclear head of cyanobacteria on a pike as the little prick that is responsible for all N20 in nature, hence combustion. Therefore, working in conjunction with that nuclear illumination running the logic and providing a set of clues to run down the road to find every last stone that could possibly be Dark Matter and Energy in the Math of the Solar System, and find every thing we need to know according to the he words of Andrew Liddle who wrote; "the cosmological principle [means that] the universe looks the same whoever and wherever you are." in Darkness on the Edge of the Universe
By BRIAN GREENE Published: January 15, 2011) www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/opinion/16greene.html?scp=6&am...
Some disagree and say Dark Matter is nonexistent and or immaterial. I respectful disagree, and hopefully have provided additional information in order to assist with understanding how my view came to be on this subject, such that some some new common ground can be broken by bacteria being the dark energetic means and motor of forging the fabric of the food and combustion chains by means algaes bloom as the base note to the mass fixation and productions of the nitrogen that is the gas of the Universe -- which therefore permits and powers the rest of life as we know it over time and space by means forming the basis food pyramid that enables combustion and thus gearing perfectly the solar to black hole ongoing process -- in this solar system and every other.
As more data is generated in understanding how perspective can never stay the same as per the logic contained in a draconian application of the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_transformation to a unwillingness to see the shadow as being cast by the flip side of a reflection, as light is consumed by and transformed by the power of life the is the foam of space which are quarks of bacterial nuclei in repair.
Details in the photo captions herein.
That the same transformation that powers the light switch where I might find enough between my ears to communicate the understanding that the bugs have been digesting themselves into energy per this chart; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:080998_Universe_Content_240.jpg
If in the words of Bronkowski: "All science is the search for unity in hidden likeness." as being understood to be what makes the world go round in the compost heap, vineyard, farm that power a food chain, that provides a Inn and given Industry with the bill of fare via the "Stars that power" them c/o the means of 'paired quark technology' that recompose itself atomically to 'key' the light -- which furthers expand our understanding by means of the power of light and dark matter to producing 'grey matter' which is consciousness. That the grass is not 'greener' or made of substantively some wonder material of a Dark Nature in another galaxy, therefore Dark Matter, and Energy 'is what it is' the immutable atomic information of 'microorganisms' cycling at relative light speed as so many 'cups of tea', or conceptual coffee, 'primordial soup' to perhaps nuts -- or maybe, just maybe, the 'hidden likeness' is before us in the form of Microorganisms nuclear core that make up the macro.
There is a possibility that this particular pointy and self seeking 7th now up to 8th billionth odd needle in the haystack of discovery has made most of the case in this long improbable form and location that the seeds of nuclear material that keep and make us all connected as singular and a planet grade life/being/form and function -- is the Dark Energy and Matter which is the basic building blocks of life which are ID'ed here and now for all time by me - 'like I have been sayin' as the three families of Bacterial life which produce combustion gasses, as best understood by the late great Carl Woese; www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/science/carl-woese-dies-discov... which contains the seeds/strings if you will* of a expanding en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersymmetry
with the nuclei of bacteria standing in for Dark Matter in a Universe at the speed of the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_constant with enough force to power back the sun in resolution of the Faint Young Star Paradox, and bending light with enough economic activity to explain the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_transformation by dint of glare of the photons on the matter that it transforms bringing them to life as measured by growth of waters expansion in the 'foam of space' when heated by the addition of light, or measured from any given distance -- one notices a relative difference this is due to the presence of the nuclei of bacterial matter or their radiological remains as rendered as the unpaired quarks/photon gas/ of the foam of space in mid re-mix of its perpetual quantum dynamic seeking a natural release and propulsion which explains the roads to and fro, the tides, as well as both the past and presents process of quantum tunneling whereby “we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” with a eye toward the west and what that brings thus therein lays the answer to the riddle of the ages. Energy is yin and yang forward and backward moving of quarks in motion over time and space under power of the Sun that set the chain of events and matter in motion will that Sun never set as a series of consequences beating ceaselessly into the past against the current to bring the light found shining at approximately my end of the conceptual quantum tunnel of a nitrogen rich solar system where in a Universe full of Dark Energy and accordingly full of potential life, with therefore accordingly the magic to run the both the food, and combustion chains - while turning worlds in the quantum dynamic process; organically by means the power of light to be the gearbox of life in the mechanical dynamic of the process of Nature, sorting the matter of matter and energy over Time -- to produce the Universe as at the present rate with the math holding the reality of this theory together to be found in the ground breaking work of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Noether and her en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noether%27s_theorem if I am not completely unclear on the concept; applied.
Ending by Noting:
That if this hypothesis that comports with my reality jibes with that of the Universe then that is my aim which seeks to be 'true' so as to best serve to better focus the tuning out the noises in the signal, that impair this singular quest for multiple answers on Dark Matter and Energy along with the consequences of riddle the behavior patterns of the Universe understood as clues to answer this rather vexing and formerly huge mystery -- which suites me perfectly.
I'll be all over this limb (that makes limbs) with the logic to process the roll of material over Time and Space with more detailed answers as they become wildly obvious.
Presented: as a easy read for free buried deep in the bowels of flickr waiting; and getting glacially self edited -- while I get the totality of this picture 'dialed', so as to relearn the ways of writing a science paper, and get the movie and record recorded on my shoestring so as to communicate on the broadest possible band my message in several 'flavors' of media mixed; and served on the platters of the day -- not unlike -- the one you behold.
So the whole thing does not stand as a photo essay w/ captions, a 'one in a million' more or less unread arxiv.org/ paper, or any other form factor of media that is worth mailing from one in stream of conscious though a modified megaphone and Fender Twin stereo pair; to a bongo/trombone surf combo bounced off as well quantum tunneled through a mountain to gather ever so much more 'foam of space rock' on a standing wave of sound powering the present, by means of the past, with a eye to the future -'Coming Soon' to bring the whole thing home in a nutshell so dynamic as to perhaps be led to completely: 'forget about it' -- by dint of having put in the 'dirty work' of intuitively thinking the process through to the point then freshly connecting that with known science as proof of a fabric in need of being stitched together providing the corresponding logical + academic strength to help everybody concerned balance the cosmic accounting that powers the 'big equation' in the macro to micro forward and backward that completes the chain of material logic with lock tight answers for the OS of the 'semi steady state' Universe; expanding at a rate of -1 such that the physical to electrochemical to radiological relationship between the Stars, planets, and Black Holes can be filed in and out of a black hole by means a finely tuned theory that is completely Universally Theoretically Physically 'forget about it' -- then again personally I "KNOW ONLY ONE THING... [I] DON'T KNOW ANYTHING" until my crazy intuition is vetted by a better set of combined minds than my own.
Until then -- work continues on these essays and 'the problem'.
at 2016 Rattlesnake Avoidance Training for Dogs, "Gov Snake" helps people recognize the differences between gopher snakes and rattlesnakes. "Gov Snake" is a Great Basin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola). 1st of a series of pictures. Photo by Frank. .
Some of you may have noticed that, unfortunately, owing to the fact that a certain person who sells truck photos on eBay commercially has been lifting my images from this album and selling them I have had to remove 2300 photos that didn't have a watermark. I have now run around 1700 through Lightroom and added a watermark with the intention of bulk uploading them again. Rather than watermark the existing (hidden) files in Flickr one at a time it will be easier to do it this way. I definitely won’t be adding individual tags with the make and model of each vehicle I will just add generic transport tags. Each photo is named after the vehicle and reg in any case. For anyone new to these images there is a chapter and verse explanation below. It is staggering how many times I get asked questions that a quick scan would answer or just as likely I can’t possibly answer – I didn’t take them, but, just to clarify-I do own the copyright- and I do pursue copyright theft.
This is a collection of scanned prints from a collection of photographs taken by the late Jim Taylor A number of years ago I was offered a large number of photographs taken by Jim Taylor, a transport photographer based in Huddersfield. The collection, 30,000 prints, 20,000 negatives – and copyright! – had been offered to me and one of the national transport magazines previously by a friend of Jim's, on behalf of Jim's wife. I initially turned them down, already having over 30,000 of my own prints filed away and taking space up. Several months later the prints were still for sale – at what was, apparently, the going rate. It was a lot of money and I deliberated for quite a while before deciding to buy them. I did however buy them directly from Jim’s wife and she delivered them personally – just to quash the occasional rumour from people who can’t mind their own business. Although some prints were sold elsewhere, particularly the popular big fleet stuff, I should have the negatives, unfortunately they came to me in a random mix, 1200 to a box, without any sort of indexing and as such it would be impossible to match negatives to prints, or, to even find a print of any particular vehicle. I have only ever looked at a handful myself unless I am scanning them. The prints are generally in excellent condition and I initially stored them in a bedroom without ever looking at any of them. In 2006 I built an extension and they had to be well protected from dust and moved a few times. Ultimately my former 6x7 box room office has become their (and my own work’s) permanent home.
I hope to avoid posting images that Jim had not taken his self, however should I inadvertently infringe another photographers copyright, please inform me by email and I will resolve the issue immediately. There are copyright issues with some of the photographs that were sold to me. A Flickr member from Scotland drew my attention to some of his own work amongst the first uploads of Jim’s work. I had a quick look through some of the 30 boxes of prints and decided that for the time being the safest thing for me to do was withdraw the majority of the earlier uploaded scans and deal with the problem – which I did. whilst the vast majority of the prints are Jims, there is a problem defining copyright of some of them, this is something that the seller did not make clear at the time. I am reasonably confident that I have since been successful in identifying Jims own work. His early work consists of many thousands of lustre 6x4 prints which are difficult to scan well, later work is almost entirely 7x5 glossy, much easier to scan. Not all of the prints are pin sharp but I can generally print successfully to A4 from a scan.
You may notice photographs being duplicated in this Album, unfortunately there are multiple copies of many prints (for swapping) and as I have to have a system of archiving and backing up I can only guess - using memory - if I have scanned a print before. The bigger fleets have so many similar vehicles and registration numbers that it is impossible to get it right all of the time. It is easier to scan and process a print than check my files - on three different PC’s - for duplicates. There has not been, nor will there ever be, any intention to knowingly breach anyone else's copyright. I have presented the Jim Taylor collection as exactly that-The Jim Taylor Collection- his work not mine, my own work is quite obviously mine.
Unfortunately, many truck spotters have swapped and traded their work without copyright marking it as theirs. These people never anticipated the ease with which images would be shared online in the future. I would guess that having swapped and traded photos for many years that it is almost impossible to control their future use. Anyone wanting to control the future use of their work would have been well advised to copyright mark their work (as many did) and would be well advised not to post them on photo sharing sites without a watermark as the whole point of these sites is to share the image, it is very easy for those that wish, to lift any image, despite security settings, indeed, Flickr itself, warns you that this is the case. It was this abuse and theft of my material that led me to watermark all of my later uploads. I may yet withdraw non-watermarked photos, I haven’t decided yet. (I did in the end)
To anyone reading the above it will be quite obvious that I can’t provide information regarding specific photos or potential future uploads – I didn’t take them! There are many vehicles that were well known to me as Jim only lived down the road from me (although I didn’t know him), however scanning, titling, tagging and uploading is laborious and time consuming enough, I do however provide a fair amount of information with my own transport (and other) photos. I am aware that there are requests from other Flickr users that are unanswered, I stumble across them months or years after they were posted, this isn’t deliberate. Some weekends one or two “enthusiasts” can add many hundreds of photos as favourites, this pushes requests that are in the comments section ten or twenty pages out of sight and I miss them. I also have notifications switched off, I receive around 50 emails a day through work and I don’t want even more from Flickr. Other requests, like many other things, I just plain forget – no excuses! Uploads of Jim’s photos will be infrequent as it is a boring pastime and I would much rather work on my own output.
At the end of the first fit-check day, 12 days before launch, the prime crew of the Soyuz TMA-20 (Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli, Cady Coleman) and the back-up crew (Anatoly Ivanishin, Satoshi Furukawa, Mike Fossum) are questioned about any discrepancies, complaints or requests. These will need to be addressed before the next final fit-check,a few days before launch. Baikonur, 4 December 2010
Dodici giorni prima del lancio, alla fine della giornata della prima ispezione da parte dell’equipaggio, l’equipaggio titolare (Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli, Cady Coleman) e l’equipaggio di riserva (Anatoly Ivanishin, Satoshi Furukawa, Mike Fossum) fanno rapporto indicando le discrepanze che hanno trovato e eventuali richieste addizionali. Tutto dovrà essere sistemato per la prossima e ultima ispezione che avverrà pochi giorni prima del lancio. Baikonur, 4 Dicembre 2010
Credit: ESA
Once Sir Joseph of Baeth learnt of Lenfald's separation, he feared that Djorn and Roger were in danger on their way to Garheim. This fear was realized when he received a note stating that the traveling duo had in fact been captured at the Lenfald-Loreos border and were being held for ransom at the old Garhim embassy; roughly ten miles north along the western coast. At this same time Joseph had received an order to go fishing in Lenfald in order to spy on the province. Figuring this was a perfect time to do so, he proceeded to hire a crew, pack his wares and fishing rods, and load up the Rogue Spur for the rescue of Roger and Djorn.....
Several weeks had passed since their departure from Dalmunatha. It took time for Joseph to sail far enough south in order to steer clear of the Magic Isles and plot a very careful course through the Sea of Despair to reach the safer coasts of the Western side of Roawia. Upon arrival to the cliffs that held the old Garhim embassy, its banners changed to the colors of Lenfald, Joseph told his crew to prepare to be boarded with weapons at the ready- if they had previously kicked the Garhims out of the embassy, who knows what they would do to them as Loreesis.
Surprisingly enough however, Sir Joseph and his crew were met with open arms as they docked to the old embassy with dock hands helping to immediately unload the sea-wary contents of their journey. Djorn and Roger were waiting along the lookout just above the docks holding on to two beautiful women each with giant grins on their faces. Standing next to them was a Lenfel knight with a light grey beard and swept back hair, wearing black lapels, noting him as a higher lord. He yelled out, "What ho Sir Joseph! How thee fare on this fine day?! Did thy winds give you quick course to mighty Lenfald?!"
Not sure if this was a ruse or sincere question Joseph knew to keep his tongue witty and his sword close for this encounter. He called back to the lord,
"Greetings noble Lenfel! The winds were sure in helping us get 'ere at the best pace it could!" He began to walk up the stairs to talk to the noble more clearly, "I dont think we have had the pleasure of acquaintance, I am Sir Joseph of Baeth, merchant and knight of Loreos. I was requested to come rescue my two colleagues here, who seem to have both made themselves rather comfortable. I feel I have brought more than enough gold and treasure to negotiate with for their immediate release. Exactly who do I have the pleasure of doing business with my lord?"
At this, the "captured" duo had begun laughing while the noble wrapped an arm around the confused Joseph and gave out a hearty laugh too. Gathering himself, the high lord finally spoke to Joseph, "Nay Sir Joseph! Yer friends aren't our prisoners! Why they have been great fun in our little castle! That note was written just to scare ye to get yer booty out here sooner! Twas a big misunderstanding that has happened since the separation of Lenfald from the nations of Roawia. Thou first think we kicked out the Garhims from their embassy, tis a false accusation- all the occupants left when Garheim was in most dire trouble with the Queen's soldiers. We took up residence because we didnt want them damn filthy Dragon soldiers to find and take root in this abandoned outpost.."
He turned and gestured to Roger and Djorn, "And the capturing of these two twas a complete accident, I had not yet returned from the council meeting so when word of our separation began to incorrectly spread- the local militias deemed it best to start building a wall and patrolling the Lorseesi-Lenfel border which is where your companions were taken. Our most sincere apologies for this mistake, we do not request any form of ransom and if you'd like you can set up a booth in the courtyard and sell thy wares! Stay awhile and let thy crew rest from your long journey! Im sure many 'ere would love to buy some gems and trinkets! AH I almost forgot the pleasantries, I am Lord Jon of House Dragmar.'
Surprised at this revelation and indeed tired from his journey here, Joseph was still suspicious of this Lord Jon and those Lenfels around him. He decided it would be best to accept the invitation and let the crew rest for a few days so he could dig a bit deeper into the mystery that Lenfald had become... He accepted the high lord's apology and invitation to set up shop and rest for a couple days. He finished by giving a sly grin and asking a single question, "So Lord Jon, I have heard that Lenfald's western shores are home to some of the best fishing the realm has ever seen! I just so happen to have my fishing rods with me, would you be up for a spot of fishing tomorrow?"
The old Lenfel replied, "Well of course we have the world's best fishing! I will take you up on that offer Sir Joseph! Tomorrow at mid morning we shall fish!"
.......
It was summertime in Roawia and like the other nations, Lenfald's denizens were enjoying this time of peace. This gave the old embassy a very festive feel. Merchants were selling their wares, people were milling about and talking, children were laughing; jesters juggled and told jokes, the men were having fun practicing their archery and sword skills. Roger had met a cute baker so while he managed Joseph's booth, he allowed her to sell bread to hungry customers. Djorn was off of his shift so he resumed courting the fair ladies he had previously been seen with.
The Garhims had set up a rather good system of agriculture here so many were tending and harvesting the varieties of produce and food that was growing around the castle though the guard presence was quite large for such a small outpost...Joseph noticed this.
Just a few meters down from the dock that held the Rogue Spur was a wooden outlook that jutted out over the cliffs, a perfect spot for fishing. It was here that Lord Jon and Sir Joseph had cast out their lines and began to wait for something to bite.
"Ahhh... a lovely day ain't it Lord Jon?" Asked Joseph. Slipping the objective of spying to Roger and Djorn late in the night, he knew that the information the three could collect would be valuable to his Areani allies. Joseph had also given the Lord some of his strongest Loreesi ale at breakfast to loosen him up before their little fishing excursion.
"Yes, tis a great day after all Sir Joseph! Nothing quite like men of stature relishing in the simple enjoyments of the commoners."
Looking away, Joseph rolled his eyes and nodded. "Aye milord, tis always a surreal experience. Tell thee, what dost thou think of Lenfald's separation from the Roawia?"
"Not much to be honest with ya lad. Everyone be a little tenser with being afraid of how the other nations will react, but we will all get along in the end Im sure. I will tell ya what Joseph, I dont give much trust to them Loreesi or Garhim diplomats and politicians. Tis the tried and true men of Roawia, those who work its land and seas that I trust the most. Men like you lad... I will tell you this though my new friend, something you'd like to hear but cannot tell anyone..."
He leaned in close to Joseph, so close Joseph could smell the Loreesi ale on the high lord's breath.
"I heard something remarkable has happened that gives reason for the sudden movements of Lenfald's ships-- the reason why there wasn't a vessel stationed here upon your arrival. There are trusted rumors that us Lenfel's have discovered something." He pointed out to the sea, "Something out there...-"
His sentence was cut off by Joseph being startled by the sudden jerking of his fishing line. "AHA! I believe I caught me a fish!" He yelled as he pulled up a medium sized fish.
Broke from his drunken trance, Lord Jon exclaimed, "Oi! That is a fine lookin fish me boy! Let us cook it up and get more of that fancy ale of yours!"
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First off, sorry for the rather long story! But it is needed for the continuation of Sir Joseph of Baeth's story which will probably be shorter in upcoming installments.
(Also, apologies for the kind of crappy pics- my actual camera isnt working and my light box didnt fit this size MOC so a lot of photoshop was used in the first pic so sorry about that.)
Secondly, Wow! This was a big entry to both the Loreos Local Challenge LCXXII and the second Journeyman task of the Merchants guild!
This was originally apart of a display last year for a local Lego event here in the Northern Colorado area but I never got around to posting it as life got in the way and I wasn't sure how to incorporate this into my character's story at the time. The base had been sitting around while the original castle was taken down to build something for my next Merchants Guild task.
It was really my first attempt at building an actual castle for once and since it was intended for a display- I wanted an open area for easy viewing while keeping the castle modular so that is why it doesnt really have a keep or anything. But after my quick redux I think it turned out quite well!
If you've made it this far thanks so much for viewing! It's good to be actively building again and there is still quite a bit in store! :)
For those who have been wondering why I disappeared from the face of the earth for more than 2 weeks here is your answer: I have been working one of the most challenging and painstakingly detailed doll projects of my life - the Mother Earth.
This OOAK fashion consists of a hand painted sequin gown that can be altered to be worn either long with a cascading silk chiffon shirt or as an edgy short dress; either nesting a leaf gold "egg" at the model's tummy making the wearer pregnant or without it. The sequins are layered is sculpted from that resembles a feathery armour and under the hand painted copper exterior of the sequins movement reveals crevasses of deepest black. The gown's 2-tone silk hem is cut short from the front to reveal a pair of Alexander McQueen inspired platform sandals. These sandals use my Hokusai heel and are covered all over in leaf gold and decorated with golden straps with butterflies. The outfit is crowned by an Isis inspired hand sculpted helmet, which is also covered in leaf gold.
The model is a Sybarite Raja repaint by me and the wig she wears in some of the photos is from Ilaria (Time of Doll).