Un diverbio finito in battibecco (scatto non ottimale, solo foto documentiva) / An argument ended in a bickering (not optimal shot, only documentary photo)

- Loures, Portugal -

Always trying to be controversial ... I know that most viewers will see blue and not teal. Let the arguments begin!

Tree Swallow

STAND BY ME. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - John Lennon (official music video HD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqB8Dm65X18&list=RDYqB8Dm65X1...

Life is slippery. Here, take my hand.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The world is ours if we want it, we can take it, if you just take my hand

Demi Lovato

Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear

Jon Bon Jovi

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.

William Shakespeare

Selfishness is not living your life as you wish to live it. Selfishness is wanting others to live their lives as you wish them to.

Oscar Wilde

The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it.

George Bernard Shaw

Don't lose faith. Promise yourself that you will be a success story, and I promise you that all the forces of the universe will unite to come to your aid; you might not feel today or for a while, but the longer you wait the bigger the prize.

George Bernard Shaw

With heartfelt and genuine thanks for your kind visit. Have a beautiful day, be well, keep your eyes open, appreciate the beauty surrounding you, enjoy creating, and stay safe! ❤️❤️❤️

A couple of summers ago, I witnessed the most meaningful ceremony I've ever seen. My friend G married her longtime love. And before I go on... a word about their love.

It's something you can feel when you walk into their house. It emanates... not just from them, but from the house itself... the furniture... the animals... the garden... the bric a brac. Entering that house is like walking into some big yellow-warm sunshine embrace; it is nothing short of palpable. And seeing them together is even more powerful.

These are two people who just so clearly delight in each other's company. Like all of us, they have their share of less than stellar days, but they're strong for each other, they support one another, they complement each other... and, like I said, when you see them together, you can't help but share a little hiccup in your heart... a skip-step of giddiness. In short, if ever two people should be married, G and her love were those two people. And they're both from backgrounds that value marriage; that see it as the highest expression of togetherness.

But there was one more factor at play that made their wedding the specialest occasion. Until that year, they had not had the legal right to marry. Why? Because G and her One True Love are women. To which I say... So fucking what??

Marriage, as I understand it, is all about love and commitment. And no two people were ever more in love or more committed.

And to those who argue same-sex marriage somehow undermines the so-called sanctity of the so-called institution of marriage... I say heterosexual couples... with their soaring divorce rates, and rampant infidelity, and vicious child-custody disputes... are doing that themselves.

Besides. Why should anyone's choice of who to love... or who to marry... be anyone else's business? As long as no one's being victimized, what's the problem?

One of the arguments advanced here in Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal (for the time being, anyway)... is that, if THIS is okay, then what's next? Polygamy?

To which I say... what's the hairy issue with polygamy? If three people (or four or five or whatever) choose to form a legal bond and raise their family collectively... again, as long as no one's being victimized... what is the problem?

Oh, say the critics, but polygamy's tied to child abuse. Uh, right. That's the same thing they say about same-sex unions... based on their ludicrous assumption that all homosexuals are somehow pedophiles, or sex fiends. Ridiculous.

I've heard otherwise rational men say... I'd never go to a gay male doctor.

To which I say.... don't flatter yourself. Just because a man may be in a love with another man, that doesn't mean he's uncontrollably flinging himself at every damned man who walks through the door. I mean... I have a straight male doctor. That means... oooooohhhh.... gasp.... he has sex with women!!!! But that has absolutely nothing to do with him examining me in his professional capacity.

We have a polygamist sect here in British Columbia, and it's under near-constant scrutiny for child abuse. The allegation is that very young girls are married off to men, against their will.

To which I say... if that's the case, it's child abuse, for sure. But it's an entirely separate issue from the marital status of the parents involved.

Sorry if I'm ranting here, but this whole issue gets my knickers in a major twist. I think it's because... as one of those kids who was teased and taunted for simply being who I was... I sort of understand what it must be like to face such senseless discrimination.

We have today, in too many parts of North America, a culture that says... while most other forms of organized hate and discrimination are frowned upon... it's okay to ostracize and mistreat people... solely on the basis of who they love.

It's insane. I mean... I remember when I first encountered boys. There was an instant ZING! From that time on, I pretty much always had a crush on some boy or other and... lucky me... I was part of a majority, so having those feelings was a-okay.

The gay and lesbian people I've talked to had similar experiences somewhere in their lives.... where they felt that overwhelming sense of attraction and excitement and curiosity. But... unlucky them, they were part of a minority, and made to think that what they felt was somehow bad or wrong.

I'm on this topic today because our federal government (recently elected and right wing) is threatening to undo the same-sex marriage law. This is just the latest in a string of reversals that's included:

- killing the nearly-enacted bill that would've decriminalized marijuana

- killing an agreement with aboriginal people that would've finally begun addressing the deplorable conditions many of them live in

- reversing the country's commitment to do its part to address climate change, and

- killing a multi-year agreement with the provinces that would've made child care somewhat more affordable and accessible.

In the government's eyes, child care is bad. I mean, everyone knows mommies should stay home with their babies while daddies work. Climate change is just a bunch of made-up garbage; after all, those scientists are all a bunch of liberals. Aboriginal people... notwithstanding the fact that white people stole their land, stuck them on reserves, legislated away their rights and tore a whole generation of children away from their families and communities... Notwithstanding that, "those people" are just lazy; they just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. As for marijuana... well, we all know it's FAR more harmful than booze, which government not only endorses but shamelessly profits from. I mean... just look at all the domestic strife, and public brawls, and armed standoffs, and traffic carnage caused by those crazed, violent potheads. And those humsexuals... well. We can't deport them 'cause they're from here (darnit anyway). But we sure as hell owe it to the citizenry to make sure they're denied the most fundamental of human rights... the right to freely love.

I'm sorry if this is a downer but I'm sick at heart for my country today. I fear where we're going and I feel so helpless... watching our common sense progress slip away.

I guess I should just be glad that G and her One True Love are already married... and no one... not even right wing governments... can take what they have away from them.

A series of World Press Photo photographs related to global environment are on display at the Caprilli riding stables (one of Italy's most beautiful structures). The exhibition is organized by the Rotary Club of Pinerolo.

There was one subject on which we were unanimous. No arguments whatsoever on this one. From the moment Lee shared a black and white beauty he’d found in these pages, the deal was done. Whatever else we came here to take pictures of, the little bent tree in the wilderness was going to be one of them. At least assuming we could actually find it, that was. All we were certain about was that it was on Dartmoor, and that none of us had seen it on our travels. And although there are a number of very compelling images of it on this platform, none of you was very forthcoming about how to find it. A well guarded secret. And with nine hundred and fifty-four square kilometres of national park to explore, simply happening across it was about as likely as picking the correct numbers for the National Lottery. We needed somebody to tell us where it was. But it didn’t stop us digging. Dave managed to find an article that convinced us he’d narrowed it down to a few sprawling hectares.

It so happened that the author of Lee’s discovery was one of my regular contacts, so I messaged her and asked if she remembered where it was. But as an overseas visitor who’d been chauffeured around the moors for a couple of days, she had no idea. Perhaps she had been sworn to silence. I suspected I knew who’d shown it to her, so I asked him next. “Ah yes you won’t find that on your own. I’ll come along and show you where it is.” Nick’s wealth of Dartmoor inside intelligence seemed to be matched only by his stellar photographic talents and his generosity of spirit. We arranged to meet up with him during our visit, and he sent me details of where I’d need to park. I recognised the screenshot from Google Maps straight away. It seemed Dave’s hunch wasn’t too far from the mark.

In the event, although Nick was able to join us earlier in the day to share another of his secret locations (more of that in another tale), he had to dash off before the afternoon took hold. A good job I’d also arranged to meet another local photographer in the shape of Carl, who spent the day with us traipsing around the moors. It turned out that Carl had also asked Nick for the keys to the kingdom, and having been granted the freedom of the moors, he’d already visited the tree once before. He was keen to return to the scene for another mission. And so after lunch, we headed off towards what would be the final location of the day.

Even though we now knew roughly where the tree was, it was a good job we had a guide. Because standing here at the edge of the car park, it might have well as been on Exmoor for all we could see. Stick a pin in the huge rambling rock strewn green landscape and hope for the best. It was far away enough to deter visitors, its anonymous location protected by an enchantment of bogs and streams in a terrain where only welly boots would take the stubborn few. With a good set of binoculars we might have been able to see it from the top of the rise beyond the car park, but even as we approached the crag upon which the dwarfish hawthorn tree sat, it wasn’t entirely obvious as to exactly where it was. But then we spotted it, clinging to the edge of an expanse of granite tor, tiny and twisting towards us, changing shape from every angle. I hadn’t expected it to be quite so small. “Three ways to shoot it,” Nick had said to me conspiratorially. I hoped to find a fourth.

And here is (maybe) that fourth point of view, the small hunched shape leaning forward, her long locks flowing behind her as she careers down the slope. “I don’t know whether it’s a witch or a skier,” wrote one of my faithful correspondents when I shared this first image on another platform. “Maybe it’s both,” I replied. I don’t know anything about skiing, but “knees bent, lean forward and brace for impact” seem to fit the bill here.

I never did discover the three ways - I found two others that I liked a lot, and three more that I wasn’t so keen on. Excuse me if I’ve been a bit vague about exactly where it is - but seeing as I was entrusted with treasured information and I’m hoping my friends across the river are going to let me in on the inside track again next time I visit, well you know how it is - got to keep the Cornwall and Devon entente going you know. What a beauty she is though, even if finding her was like searching for a very small needle in a city made of haystacks. With such outlandish beauty, she deserves that veil of anonymity.

Curiosity...endows the people who have it with a generosity in argument and a serenity in cheerful willingness to let life take the form it will.

-Alistair Cooke

This is the first ladybug I saw this year. Seeing so many wonderful ladybug images here on Flickr I wanted to take one myself. And it wasn't easy. This lady just wouldn't cooperate. She wouldn't stay still not even for one split second. I wonder how you guys get them to cooperate...

© All rights reserved. Please do not use my photo without my explicit permission.

Here in Thailand, you can encounter these creatures, the macaques, in many regions.

That was also the case here in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. These little monkeys are very curious and not at all averse to stealing (so always be on your guard).

So, this friend spontaneously took advantage of my short break to take a closer look at my backpack (to check for weak spots, of course).

Fortunately, a camera backpack is quite sturdy, so it didn't sustain any damage.

However, it took a lot of persuasion (and the use of a stick) to get the backpack back. Every time I even approached, the monkey went into attack mode.

In the end, though, I had the better arguments.

Hier in Thailand kann man in vielen Regionen diesen Zeitgenossen begegnen, den Makaken.

So war es auch hier im Khao Sam Roi Yot Nationalpark. Und diese kleinen Affen sind sehr neugierig und dem Stehlen überhaupt nicht abgeneigt (also immer schön aufpassen).

So nutze dieser Kamerad eine kurze Pause meinseits spontan, um sich näher mit meinem Rucksack auseinander zu setzen (natürlich um ihn nach Schwachstellen zu untersuchen).

Zum Glück ist so ein Kamerarucksack jedoch recht robust, so dass er keinen Schaden genommen hat.

Es kostete mich jedoch einiges an Überredungskunst (und den Einsatz einen Stockes) um mir den Rucksack wieder zurück zu holen. Denn jedes Mal, wenn ich mich auch nur näherte, ging der Affe in Angriffsposition.

Am Ende hatte ich jedoch die besseren Argumente.

the world is made of stone and shadow.

it is a place of hard edges, of permanence, of gravity.

its laws are simple and unbreakable.

what is heavy must fall.

what is dark must remain.

and yet, for a single, brilliant moment,

a counter-argument is made.

a simple, weightless thing of light and air

that defies all the written rules.

it is a brief, successful appeal to a higher law.the world is made of stone and shadow.

it is a place of hard edges, of permanence, of gravity.

its laws are simple and unbreakable.

what is heavy must fall.

what is dark must remain.

and yet, for a single, brilliant moment,

a counter-argument is made.

a simple, weightless thing of light and air

that defies all the written rules.

it is a brief, successful appeal to a higher law.

BULLΞTSTΘⱤM [[ Full Clip Edition ]] - ╲╱2

//UPG☈ΛDΞ_JULY_2018:

♦ Res: 4k

♦ ReShade v3.4.0.346 [[ 64-bit ]]

♦ Custom Shaders [[ July 2018 ]]

♦ My own LUT's [[ including, for example filmic-tonemapping LUT ]]

♦ Massive amount of lighting tweaks in: StormLightmass.ini

♦ Some essential tweaks for better quality in StormEngine.ini & StormSystemSettings.ini

♦ Otis Cam Tool [[ not fully working anymore: some extra fixes needed // c below 4 info ]]

♦ nVIDIA Display Driver v398.11 WHQL [[ June 2018 ]]

♦ HUD toggle, FX & Time Alterations Cvars

▼▼▼ TWEAKS & FIXES ▼▼▼:

► Launch options // Skip intro videos:

Use the -nostartupmovies command line argument

► After the latest game update in 26 Jun, 2017 the latest cam-tool [[ from 30 Apr, 2017 ]] isnt fully working anymore, to fix this ―► StormInput.ini: add beneath section [StormGame.BSPlayerInput] these lines:

Bindings=(Name="F8",Command="showhud",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False)

Bindings=(Name="F9",Command="set Engine.PostProcessEffect bAffectsLightingOnly true")

Bindings=(Name="F10",Command="set Engine.PostProcessEffect bAffectsLightingOnly false")

Bindings=(Name="NumPadZero",Command="set Engine.WorldInfo bPlayersOnly true",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgnoreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

Bindings=(Name="NumPadZero",Command="set Engine.WorldInfo bPlayersOnly false",Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=True,bIgnoreCtrl=False,bIgnoreShift=False,bIgnoreAlt=False)

F8 ―► HUD toggle [[ wasnt working anymore in cam-tool ]]

F9 ―► toggle all post-processing effects off

F10 ―► toggle all post-processing effects on

NumPadZero ―► activate time-stop

Alt+NumPadZero ―► deactivate time-stop

► Nvidia Control Panel:

Adaptive V-sync + Max pre-rendered frames = 3

Turns out it was almost the full half hour (sorry Monty P). Two Lesser Black-backs having a right ding-dong

WICCA'S ORGINALS

Tonya Outfit @ Black Fair // July 4 - 18

Maitreya, Hourglass, Freya, HUD: 10 Colors & 6 Metals It is sold as outfit (top & skirt) and as well the top can be purchased single.

ZIBSKA

Trix @ The Liaison Collaborative

Trix Eyemakeup in 15 Colours

Trix Lips in 21 Colours and 2 fits

Hat and Eyepatch from *Gothic Officer* outfit by L'Emporio,

Maitreya Body, Catwa Kimberly Head, Skin by Essences, Eyes by Core

Blog for links to Mainstores and Events

rachelswallows.blogspot.com/2020/07/no-arguments.html

For my Flickr friends:-)

Take your pick:-) No arguments;-)

I was surprised that the female House sparrow (on the right) was able to win the argument. The female Northern Cardinal flew off right after this encounter.

The most recent 'argument' between Steve Balcombe and myself is over the naming of these birds. The more he calls them Goosanders the more I refer to them as Common Mergansers... It's amazing that we ever get any photography done...

You never win with a Starling but this Woody stood his ground and started yelling that he was working out and did not want to be bothered, but to no avail, the Starling stood fast. A comical image for sure.

Thanks for visiting and for all the kind words always appreciated very much.

Macro Mondays ~ Teddy Bear

This little teddy sits in the bottom of a mug. He slowly appears as any liquid in the mug is drunk.

My grandchildren love the mug and always vie to be the first to use it. I wish I'd had two of these, so many arguments could have been prevented!

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

Painted by the Window – Blue and Gold

🇬🇧 Here, colour isn't a choice. It's the whole argument.

Light crosses a cloister window and paints the wall — the projection becomes a picture, the surface a canvas. Cold blue receives warm gold, and the two hold a quiet argument.

At the foot of the frame, a checkerboard of tiles anchors the abstraction in stone — geometry keeping the organic in place, without explaining it.

Cloister of La Cambre Abbey, Brussels, Belgium, 2025.

🇫🇷 Ici, la couleur n'est pas un choix. C'est tout l'argument de l'image.

La lumière traverse une fenêtre du cloître et peint le mur — la projection devient tableau, la surface devient toile. Le bleu froid reçoit le doré chaud, et les deux tiennent une dispute silencieuse.

Au bas du cadre, un damier de dalles ancre l'abstraction dans la pierre — la géométrie qui retient l'organique, sans l'expliquer.

Cloître de l'Abbaye de La Cambre, Bruxelles, Belgique, 2025.

Star Wars www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1m_AJYnVAU&feature=related

De súbito, estalló la guerra. Se abrió como una bomba de azúcar arriba de las calas. Primero, creíamos que era juego; después, vimos que la cosa era siniestra. El aire quedó ligeramente envenenado. Se desprendían los murciélagos desde sus escondites, sus cuevas ocultas caían a los platos, como rosas, como ratones que volvieran al infinito, todavía, con las alas.

Por protegerlos de algún modo, enumerábamos los seres y las cosas: "Las lechugas, los reptiles comestibles, las tacitas..."

Pero, ya los arados se habían vuelto aviones; cada uno tenía calavera y tenía alas, y ronroneaba cerca de las nubes, al alcance de las manos pasaron los batallones al galope al paso. Se prolongó la aurora quieta, y al mediodía, el sol se partió; uno fue hacía al este, el otro hacia el oeste. Como si el abuelo y la abuela se divorciaran.

De esto ya hace mucho, aquella vez, cuando estalló la guerra, arriba de las calas.

M.d.G.

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) (also called hoodie)

Oban Bay Argyll - Scotland

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.

DSC_6282

Meerkats having an argument

Design is fine. History is mine. An argument for art.

Prim-cakes and some technology.

Around the corner there is some extreme context.

Others, so deliberately meaningless.

If you want, it’s slathering jam on a toast.

Sticking just for fun.

And may whatever holds you up stay forever beneath you.

TOMORROW @ 1pm SLT

DiXmiX Gallery presents:

“ArtNeveux”

- a mix of 2D & 3D styles

- a mix of movements: Art Nouveau (1890 - 1905) and Art Deco (1900 - 1945).

- a mix of 3 colors

And if it’s art, it’s for you to decide.

DiXmiX Gallery @ The Womb

reviews:

virtuality.blog/nevereux-dixmix-art-gallery-in-second-lif...

modemworld.me/2018/12/27/art-neveux-in-second-life/

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Runa Photography, Daniel © 2022

© Some rights reserved, don´t use this image without my permission

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Esta fotografía la dedico a mi hijo primogénito Mirko

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Muchas gracias a todos por sus favoritos y comentarios

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Amor, amor

Anda libre en el surco, bate el ala en el viento,

late vivo en el sol y se prende al pinar.

No te vale olvidarlo como al mal pensamiento:

¡lo tendrás que escuchar!

Habla lengua de bronce y habla lengua de ave,

ruegos tímidos, imperativos de amar.

No te vale ponerle gesto audaz, ceño grave:

¡lo tendrás que hospedar!

Gasta trazas de dueño; no le ablandan excusas.

Rasga vasos de flor, hiende el hondo glaciar.

No te vale decirle que albergarlo rehúsas:

¡lo tendrás que hospedar!

Tiene argucias sutiles en la réplica fina,

argumentos de sabio, pero en voz de mujer.

Ciencia humana te salva, menos ciencia divina:

¡le tendrás que creer!

Te echa venda de lino; tú la venda toleras;

te ofrece el brazo cálido, no le sabes huir.

Echa a andar, tú le sigues hechizada aunque vieras

¡que eso para en morir!

Gabriela Mistral

I know that is not so polite to overlook or overhear the conversation of some strangers... actually I was interested in shooting this beautiful small fountain near Via Babuino but “the laws of street photography” and very “speakable” poses of those men made me break the rules of politeness, especially it was “the time of closing arguments”...

RKO_6112. They both tried to keep the competitor under water! A little far and I got surprised about this interaction. No time to change all settings.

More of my work and activities can be seen on:

linktr.ee/robertkok

www.instagram.com/robertkok_photography/

robertkokphotography.com

Please do not use my photos on websites, blogs or in any other media without my explicit permission.

Thanks a lot for your visit, fave and comments. Its truly appreciated!

Last Saturday, I made a nice hike with a friend. The pedometer nearly reached the 20km.

We came along a field with old sunflowers. That field was filled with birds, especially Bramblings. Beautiful bird, a visitor in the winter and coming from northern Europe.

Here are two of them in argument.

Sony A6700 + 200-600, handheld at a distance of about 15 mtrs.

The years have taught me to appreciate these simple moments, far from the noise and chaos. Over time, you realize there’s no need to fight, no need to convince. You learn to let go of what no longer brings you peace, and to cherish those who remain by your side. Here, by the water, I savor this moment, the fruit of all that life has taught me. No more arguments, no more drama... Just the sweetness of simply being.

Les années m'ont appris à apprécier ces moments simples, loin des bruits et des tumultes. Avec le temps, on comprend qu'il n'y a plus besoin de se battre, plus besoin de convaincre. On apprend à laisser partir ce qui ne nous apporte plus de paix, et à chérir ceux qui sont encore là. Ici, au bord de l'eau, je savoure cet instant, fruit de tout ce que la vie m'a enseigné. Plus de disputes, plus de drames... Juste la douceur d'exister, simplement.

its function is to make the worse appear better ;-)

George Santayan

HFF! Words Matter!

cosmos, sarah p duke gardens, duke university, durham, north carolina

Peoria, IL

Another from the archives - Lesser Black-backs having an argument

Some tea stains. So treated them and laundered. Stains all gone. But now there are different ones. Re treat and re wash. I wonder if there will be an improvement!

The juvenile starlings are very quarrelsome!

These are some of my friends. I bet they were having one of those endless Nikon/Canon discussions. While an obviously brave, fantastic, tremendously good and amazig Olympus was watching them... :-))

If ever there was an argument for leaving the bulky and heavy DSRL back in the digs this iPhone shot should serve the purpose and remind me that I can save a little weight in my rucksack. If in doubt try looking at the image in large format.

The view looks south from the summit of The Ahornspitze and is dominated by the triangular lump that is the true summit of the mountain. The twin summit where I took this image from is slightly lower but unlike the one shown here can be seen from the nearby town of Mayrhofen. As a result a large cross has been erected on the slightly smaller top.

Most hikers and climbers venture as far as the summit shown here, however there is an interesting scramble between the two tops which reduces the numbers who make it to the cross. If you look closely you will be able to see a couple of hikers in the shadow of this prominent summit.

Incidentally the red and white painted markers on the rocks are the accepted indicators of the path. They can be found throughout Europe but the practice doesn't seem to have caught on in the UK. We tend to build a plethora of rocky cairns instead.