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As the sun rose over glacial peaks near Jokulsarlon lagoon, I groggily grabbed my gear and crossed the black sand and a narrow bridge to arrive on the ice-strewn shore. As brilliant orange-red light struck the countless chunks of glacier, I knew that I would never again see something so uniquely beautiful.
This is the first of several photos I will be posting from my trip to Iceland back in May; these and many more are available in print as part of my project "Eilifur: Eternal Iceland"! If you are interested in purchasing limited edition prints or a copy of the full photo book, please notify me via Private Message.
A bit of chilling after helping to put on a fresh coat of paint at the local school in Tegucigalpa.
Canon EOS Rebel T6 with EF 50mm f1.9 shot at f14 ISO 400 Shutter 1/100.
Lightroom Edit: Cropped, Shadows +36; highlights -100 Blacks +6; Whites -30 Dehaze +8; clarity -8; Vibrancy+8.
History of Cameras used
2004-05 Kodak DX 6490
2006 Canon PowerShot a570
2007 Canon PowerShot SD750
2 History of Cameras used
2004-05 Kodak DX 6490
2006 Canon PowerShot a570
2007 Canon PowerShot SD750
2008 Canon PowerShot SD970
2008-09 Canon Digital Rebel Tx
2010-11 Canon Digital Rebel t1i
2011-13 Canon EOC 60D
2013-14 Canon EOS 70D
2015-17 Sony A35
2018-19 Canon EOS 80D
2020-23 The Dark years. Lost
motivation and just used
cell phone
2023-24 Sony a7cii and Ricoh GR iii
My home for the last 7 months (and possibly a bit longer considering how hard it is to get a flight to Australia from India).
In the centre foreground is the town of Bhagsu Nag where I have been staying since March 10 (it is my 6th visit to India and 6th visit to this valley). Just up the hill a short distance to the right of Bhagsu you see the small hamlet of Dharamkot. Once Bhagsu and Dharamkot were two quite distinct villages, but they are slowly expanding into one settlement. The VAST majority of buildings in Bhagsu are Hotels or the more traditional family homes with a couple of floors of guest house rooms added on top.
From when India's hard lockdown was announced on March 23rd 2020 until mid September, when border restrictions were eased, nearly every one of those hotels and guesthouses was empty or very close to it. There has been a few dozen foreign tourists remain as well as a few longer term domestic tourists here for spiritual reasons, but most others had left by mid April. From a selfish point of view this has made the area wonderful, with peace and quiet being the norm in the valley (like it was on my first visit). It has however meant a very hard tourist season for some local businesses, especially all the larger hotels that have been built in the last 5 years (and which in my opinion are ruining the area). The valley has traditionally been a destination for spiritual pilgrims, a small retreat for students of meditation and yoga, or a base for those who wish to escape the madness, pollution, noise and filth of the plains of India. However the huge expansion over the last ten years is bringing all the madness, pollution, noise and filth with it. It used to be the case (and was during lockdown) that from sunset onwards the only noise you heard would be the sound of locals performing the evening puja, the calls of cicadas, and the barking of street dogs as they called to each other and warned strangers out of their area. It is very sad that the evenings (especially weekends) now produce a cacophony of blaring music, car horns, and screaming tourists (I am not sure what the attraction is but there is foul trend that has emerged where a certain type of domestic tourist get their childish kicks out of screaming at the top of the lungs so it reverberates at across the valley, this is then "answered" by another suitably immature and selfish arsehole from another hotel, and so on and so on. On a Friday and Saturday night this can go on until well after midnight).
Further to this, the once pristine streams and walking trails are now becoming littered with the rubbish thoughtlessly dropped by the hundreds of tourists who flock up from the Punjab each weekend. Groups of young to middle aged tourists now set up "picnics" on the rocks of the streams and dump all their rubbish (plastic, foil, glass, paper, ciggie butts etc) in the streams as they leave. I have noticed the slow decline in the area over the last 8 years, but in the last two weeks since the borders with the neighbouring state of Punjab have been opened, the destruction of this once idyllic location has gone into overdrive.
Back to the picture. Just to the left of Bhagsu and in the next small valley is the town of Mcleod Ganj. This is the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile (TIBET IS NOT CHINA). If you zoom in you can see a white "sail type" roof at near the top of the ridge at the left hand end of Mcleod Ganj. That is part of the roof of the Dalai Lama's residential and temple complex.
Further to the left of picture, and just visible among the blur of haze at the bottom of the valley is the city of Dharamsala.
This picture is taken from a path that leads to some small shepherds' settlements, and then goes on to become an alternative trekking route to the Triund ridge and lookout.
Out of picture to the right and back over the right shoulder the first high peaks of the Himalaya rise out of the Dhauladar Range.
I have spent 2-3 years in India over my 6 visits so far and out of 21 states I had visited this valley had always remained my favourite part of the whole country. However I fear this may be my last visit, or at least my last extended stay. The area is being ruined by weekend warriors who want to turn the valley into a party town. I know many locals in this area, and most are very unhappy with what has become of their home. Nearly all the original family run guesthouses, and the people who visited them (domestic and foreign alike), adhered to a policy of minimal noise at night time and minimal impact on the environment. The valley was a destination for nature lovers, those interested in the spiritual and cultural heritage of the area, Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims, and quiet peaceful people from all over India and many parts of the world. The plethora of new "higher end' ' hotels that have opened (particularly in the lower part of Bhagsu) are not locally owned or operated and are actively encouraging the transformation of the area from peaceful and spiritual nature retreat, into just another party town for inconsiderate two day tourists. I really hope something is done to reverse this, but without leadership from local political and police authorities, which is so far not forthcoming, the area will continue its downward slide. All the aspects that have made this beautiful location seem "fashionable" in the eyes of those who are now ruining it, will vanish. They will then move on to trash the next popular location, leaving yet another exploited Indian community in their wake.
Decided to cover something a bit different and give everyone a break from my bayou beasties. There are numerous ways to explore the bayou and there are tours available through Armand Bayou Nature Center. The tours cover more than just they bayou and include nature walks along with other activities. You can check them all out on their website.
www.abnc.org/pontoon-boat-cruises
If you wish to take things at your own pace and can do a bit of paddling, there are companies in the area that rent kayaks and canoes and deliver them to the put-in point at Bay Area Park.
I’ve included a trio of capture of the pontoon boat called Bayou Ranger II and not only will it give an idea of the size of the boat, but you can get a feel for how large the bayou is in at least this one particular. This is where Horsepen Bayou parallels Middlebrook Drive and flows toward Mark Kramer Lake and on toward the Gulf of Mexico. This is a prime spot for alligators as well and I can assure you that you’ll be perfectly safe onboard the Bayou Ranger. Hope you enjoy the photos and it’s not necessary to comment on each photo. If you are ever in the area, you can reference the Nature Center website and see what suits your fancy and they have a lot to offer. Enjoy.
DSC03831uls
Seri sonu
aşk nasıl biterse öyle bitti bu aşk da
Uzun bir hastalık gibi
Aralıksız dinlediğim alaturka bir fasıl gibi
Gökyüzüne bakmayı, dostlara mektup yazmayı
Çiçekleri sulamayı unutmuşluğum gibi
Bitti.
Bir aşk nasıl biterse öyle bitti bu aşk da
Yürümeyi yeniden öğrenen felçli bir çocuk gibi
Sokağa çıkmalıyım şimdi ve çoktandır
İhmal ettiğim dostlara yeni bir adres bırakmalıyım
Pencereleri açmalı, kitapları düzenlemeliyim
Belki bir yağmur yağar akşama doğru
Yarıda bıraktığım şiirleri tamamlarım
Aşk da bitti diyordu ya bir şair
Aşk bitti işte tam da öyle
AHMET TELLİ
Arkadaşlar seriyi zevkle ve merakla takip ettiğiniz için ve güzel yorumlarınız için hepinize teşekkurler
A bit of a blast to the past for this upload, isn't it incredible what you can find on your hard drive if you look hard enough?
A now dead breed at Abellio London is the Dart SLF, having served under Abellio, Travel London, Tellings Golden-Miller and their other predecessors in their wide area of operations. While most were Plaxton Pointers and Caetano Nimbuses, a few ex-Wings Buses ELC Sprytes operated for them too. Abellio/Travel London also acquired various Darts from operators such as Armchair and Ealing Community Transport, as well as some from out of London operators such as HTL Buses in Merseyside, Bluebird in Greater Manchester and Thames Travel in Oxfordshire.
The last three surviving examples (8020, 8024 and 8037) were all Fulwell(TF)-based Mini Pointer Darts, earning their keep on the tight but well-used commuter routes in and around Kingston.
8024/BU05HDY is seen here on one such route, the 481, in Hampton Wick, enroute to Kingston from West Middlesex Hospital. This bus holds many memories for me; back when I had more time and interest in going after buses, this used to drop quite frequently on the U9, being a Hayes(WS)-based vehicle back then. Before the Enviro infestation on the U9, it ran a wonderful mix of whatever 3 MPDs WS had spare, ranging from examples as old as 8041 (V301MDP) to examples as new as 8116 (MX56HYS). Like all good things, though, they must come to an end. At the time of taking the photo, I didn't think this had long left. In fact, it continued operating for just over a year before finally being withdrawn along with the other 2 Fulwell MPDs.
Was going to post an extreme close-up of these American White Pelicans but after a thorough search of all of my shots…there are none! On very rare occasions these guys and gal might stick around for a bit longer but they never allow most people to get close and can outdistance the canoe in a heartbeat, so there is usually no reason to pursue them once they head off into the distance! In this capture the tide is quite low and my unfriendly feathered unfriends have their wings poised for a quick exit! This is at the mouth of Horsepen Bayou just before it joins Armand Bayou and changes into Mud Lake!
DSC_2020uls
With a bit of clag, GBRF 66736 powers over the level crossing at St Germains with 6S45. This is on Saturday 27th May 2017 in a brief spell of sunshine at 1251. 66736 is working the Blyth - Fort William loaded Alumina train ( Alcans )
Out with my dad today, stopped for some food while driving up the Clyde Valley. I noticed their disabled parking bays were painted in straight lines on the bricks rather than the usual circular wheelchair and user symbol, and to my eyes it looked like a piece of old 8-Bit graphics, which made me smile (I had to explain to dad what 8-Bit was).
Gonna be a bit off the grid for the next few days, working on a film shoot.
I DO live in LA, you know. It's basically a law that anyone living in LA has to spend a little time working for the film industry.
And so I'm out in the streets, 14 hour days, not hard, necessarily, but long. And no naps. I've grown rather used to naps, so this is a major adjustment. They say taking a nap during the day drops your risk of heart attack by a third.
Maybe I should ask for hazard pay.
See y'all next week.
A bit of a ‘Flashback Friday’ post, to when Singapore operated the B747 into Melbourne Airport (MEL/YMML) - SQ248 (I think it was) departing 16 in the afternoon light to Singapore (SIN/WSSS) - January 2011!!
Went to SQ Cargo as 9V-SCA in May 2011, and was stored at Victorville 21 Dec 2012 with a rego of N313SQ.
My New Novel:
B♭ (B-flat)
This is the third time I'm sharing it. (^^;;
It's a rough sketch from the beginning, more like notes.
Hope you enjoy reading it. :)
I've added quite a bit.
I won’t be uploading any more. (^_^;)
Set in New York City.
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
Red, yellow, blue—
Light rain began to fall on East 52nd Street just after 7 p.m.
Anaya Patel leaned against the wall of the building next to Tot Ramen, where she was supposed to meet someone, and absentmindedly stared at the traffic light at the intersection to her right. Though it was already July, it felt like a cooler summer than last year, and she regretted stepping out in just a T-shirt.
When the light turned green, Anaya squinted and stared intently. Kana, her former classmate, was smiling and waving as she ran toward her—
The flat ceiling of Madison Square Garden looked as if it were swelling from the heat of the crowd to Jack. Cheers welcoming the presidential candidate mingled with angry shouts, shaking the air like a wave.
Jack surveyed the arena briefly before returning his gaze to his iPhone. Several social media feeds scrolled simultaneously on the screen, overflowing with rapid posts.
One post in the Meta feed caught his eye. A death threat.
Republican presidential candidate Justin Bradford was about to take the stage with his fiancée, Eleanor Blake.
As the red lights symbolizing the Republican Party lit up the center stage, the two appeared together.
Then came the gunshots.
Jack recognized it instantly—two shots.
While chaos erupted inside the arena, Jack calmly closed his eyes and visualized the scene. He traced the sound of each shot to its possible source.
The first shot had likely come from the PA area near his right side. But Secret Service agents were stationed there.
He recalculated the second shot—probably fired from the left side of the stage. The assailant must have known the couple's precise positions. A security leak, perhaps.
Then came the second report. Ben Holloway, his colleague, delivered it with practiced calm. The bullets had grazed Justin’s left shoulder and abdomen. No arteries were hit, but the bleeding was severe.
Jack replied with steady resolve:
"Justin has Bombay blood. I confirmed it three days ago with Bellevue Hospital. They have a reserve."
Ben acknowledged it calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Justin was rushed to Bellevue, the nearest hospital. Jack called Elijah Kane, who was already waiting there. Secret Service agents, of course, never used apps like WhatsApp.
Before the first ring ended, Elijah picked up.
"Jack, it’s bad. We don’t have the blood. The Bombay blood is gone."
Jack couldn’t believe it.
"I confirmed it personally three days ago with the staff. Saw the blood bags myself."
After a brief pause, Elijah answered:
"The person in charge of those bags died in a car accident yesterday."
Anaya waited for her husband Arjun at Tot Ramen. Her college friend Mika (Sato), a Japanese artist, was with her.
As the waiter placed her bowl in front of her, her phone rang.
It was Bellevue Hospital.
Without hesitation, Anaya answered. Mika watched her with concern.
"Ms. Anaya Patel? This is Sasha Wilson from the ER. You may have heard, but the Republican presidential candidate was shot. We need your blood immediately. A Secret Service vehicle will pick you up. Please do not move."
Anaya turned toward the display hanging over the counter. A male reporter was broadcasting live from MSG.
At the entrance, a well-dressed man in a blue suit approached quickly.
"I’m Rohan Shah with the Secret Service. Please come with me. The car is outside."
Just as he reached for her, Anaya's phone buzzed again. The caller ID was unknown.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Anaya Patel?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"Jack Vance, Secret Service. I'm almost there."
"How do you know my location?"
"We’re professionals. We have ways."
"But the agent is already here."
Jack’s urgent shout rang through the phone: "NO!"
The man before her drew a rifle from inside his suit and aimed it at her forehead.
A soft gunshot echoed inside the restaurant.
Anaya froze in shock, unable to speak. The man collapsed to the floor.
Then Arjun appeared—her husband, pointing a gun at her.
"Freeze! FBI!"
Several NYPD officers and suited FBI agents stormed in.
"Everyone down! Hands behind your heads!"
Classic movie dialogue. Anaya was trembling. So was Mika. But probably no one was shaking more than Arjun.
Moments later, Jack burst into the restaurant.
"Anaya Patel!"
Without looking up, she answered:
"Yes, that’s me."
Jack wiped sweat from his brow, lifted her up, and said:
"We’re going to the hospital."
At the hospital, Elijah sent Jack a message with a link.
Jack tossed his phone to Anaya in the passenger seat:
"Open the link!"
It was a live broadcast.
"Good evening, New York. And Los Angeles. My name is Zakaria Haddad. That’s my real name.
I used to live in Gaza. Now, I'm in a room modeled exactly after your President’s office."
Zakaria, a brown-skinned man with a beard, sat calmly in a chair identical to the Oval Office's.
He glanced at his watch, then back to the camera.
"There’s about to be breaking news. Watch your smartphone alerts."
Seconds later:
BREAKING: Former Democratic President Owen Reid shot at Los Angeles Convention Center.
Zakaria smirked and said:
"A sad alert, isn’t it, America? But don’t be too sad. What I went through in Gaza was 55,000 times worse. We lost more than 55,000 loved ones. And cried tears we couldn’t stop."
He bowed his head, clenched his fists, and pounded the desk.
When he looked up, his eyes were wet.
"We seek no money. No glory in death. We only ask that you cry as many tears as we did. Only tears can heal what we lost."
He placed his elbows on the desk, rested his chin on clasped hands, and closed his eyes.
His eyelids trembled slightly.
"I'm just one of the 55,000. If I vanish, 50,000 more remain. Our will cannot be silenced. I'm here to declare it."
From the drawer, he pulled out a Glock 17, chambered a round, and aimed it at his temple.
As a Sunni Muslim, he looked into the camera and said dryly:
"God bless you, America."
He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.
The screen went black.
The corridor to the ICU was tightly guarded.
Jack handed Anaya to Sasha.
Sasha had her sign a consent form and led her to a bed.
The bed next to hers was enclosed in vinyl sheets, a man inside, barely recognizable as the candidate.
Sasha gave detailed instructions to the staff.
Vital monitors, oxygen equipment, ventilators—every machine had someone watching it.
A nurse wiped Anaya's arm with disinfectant and inserted a needle.
Blood flowed into the tube.
Direct transfusion is usually avoided due to infection risk, but Bombay blood is an exception.
Anaya had signed, understanding the danger.
She didn’t feel it yet—that her blood was saving a life.
She stared up at the ceiling and breathed deeply.
She had only come to eat ramen with Mika.
What would happen to Arjun? Who had he shot?
As these thoughts swirled, sleep took her.
Justin's father, Cyrus Rajan Bradford, emigrated from Mumbai in 1971 and served five terms as a Democratic congressman from New Jersey's 6th District.
He was shot while giving a speech in Union Square.
Justin, then a child, couldn't grasp what had happened.
The shooter was a young Democrat—a white-collar idealist who demanded immediate healthcare reform. Cyrus’ gradual approach wasn’t fast enough for him.
Cyrus, himself an immigrant, believed real change took time.
But little Justin just wanted to hug his father.
Even as he stopped breathing.
He believed the hug might bring him back.
Justin never forgave that man.
Cyrus Rajan Bradford:
"We must dream big, but move forward step by step. Sudden change only divides society. Democracy means lifting the voices of the unheard and walking together."
Anaya and Mika drove from Paramus, New Jersey, to Williamsburg for the Artists & Freeze weekend event.
Mika had come from Japan to study at Montclair State University and admired Anaya's black-and-white drawings.
Anaya used pencils, pens, and everyday stationery to draw portraits and scenes.
Mika, who painted vivid oil works, was drawn to the simplicity of Anaya's work.
In the campus cafeteria, Anaya once told Mika:
"The place I grew up was barren. No green. No rivers. Just dry wind and sand. But I didn’t hate it."
She poked at her ham and eggs.
"There was nothing but paper and pencils. That’s all I had."
She smiled gently at Mika.
"But I felt I had to treasure it. Everyone on social media seemed so wealthy. But I didn’t envy them. I wanted to show the world my own everyday life. Isn’t it beautiful to share the place you love?"
Mika nodded deeply.
She had grown up in Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya, where the streets were quiet, lined with traditional homes, even as the rest of the district transformed with flashy ads and modern towers. That contrast shaped her art.
"The darkest hour is just before dawn."
Manhattan's dawn recalled that phrase.
When America fell into darkness, a trader once said it.
Amir had heard it from Zakaria, his professor at the Islamic University of Gaza.
Amir and Rafi Ghanem were both his students. They studied electrical engineering, electronics, and programming.
Understanding America’s weak IT networks was easy for them.
Zakaria helped scatter families of Gaza's 55,000 dead across the U.S., waiting.
Rafi and Amir were among them.
They had lost wives, lovers, families.
Those in darkness find no light.
Only those who gather at the bottom of the abyss, resolved, can rival true power—even the U.S. presidency.
Rafi had begun building a pirate radio two years earlier.
Using Caribbean and Hispanic immigrant communities as cover, he revived ancient communication: one-way broadcast.
They carried smartphones but used them only for idle talk. Nothing sensitive.
Rafi pressed the switch.
A tiny click was swallowed by the night.
A red lamp glowed.
The voltage meter twitched.
At exactly 2 a.m., on FM 87.9, a woman’s voice read poetry:
"If the world ends,
I want to be singing,
Alone."
To be continued...
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
1 U2 Helter Skelter (Live) youtu.be/OBL-gVSJp2I?si=CuYs7HKsxCaVTQb3
2 Jimi Hendrix: The Star Spangled Banner (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM
3 Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJunCsrhJjg
4 Tyler, The Creator: Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & Latoya Williams...): youtu.be/tSd85SmghYs?si=-E-M6dhSdcYzBFjU
5 The Weeknd: Niagara Falls: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWx5UuznGI
6 Drake: Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFm7YDVlqnI
7 Linda Sikhakhane: Inkehli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHbPFAlrO4
8 Freja Lundgren - Finding Silence – : Not found.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo7F3P2ObeLyC8Fwp70NEQ
9 Mathias Eick: Loving: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYh_orn9ydA
10 The Beatles: If I Fell (2009 - Remaster): www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Xm4TNF00
11 21 Savage & Summer Walker: prove it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIJmlhgqGk
12 Tiana Major9: On God!: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wp1Q5V2eKI
13 Usher: Kissing Strangers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fepftsv6RA
14 JUNG KOOK: Never Let Go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_n4Ysi5iUM
15 Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-EF60neguk
16 Taylor Swift: This Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsL45rr3VU
17 Metallica: Disposable Heroes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIiXONFj6lM
18 The Beatles:Across The Universe (Remastered 2009):youtu.be/90M60PzmxEE?si=DvkYgRwEK_lha6CT
19 Ganavya: Land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRmU6z6v1cs
Notes
1. "Bombay Blood Type (hh type)"
•Characteristics: A rare blood type that lacks the usual ABO antigens — cannot be classified as A, B, or O.
•Discovery: First identified in 1952 in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay).
•Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 10,000 people in India; globally, about 1 in 2.5 million.
•Transfusion Compatibility: Only compatible with blood from other Bombay type donors.
2. 2024 Harvard University Valedictorian Speech – The Power of Not Knowing
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3. Shots Fired at Trump Rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
Manhattan. New York. USA. 2007. (2 / 8)
Shot with a Nikon Coolpix 8700.
Today's photo has never been published before.
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僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
3回の公開です(^^;;
冒頭からの走り書きです。メモ程度です。
よかったら読んでください。:)
結構、加えましたよー^_^
もうアップしません。(^_^;)
舞台はニューヨークです。
— 赤、黄色、青ーーー
イースト５２ndストリートに小雨が舞いはじめたのは、午後七時過ぎだった。
アナヤ・パテルは、待ち合わせたトットラーメンのとなりのビルの壁面にもたれ、右手に見える十字路の信号機をぼんやり眺めていた。もう７月だというのに、昨年よりも冷夏に感じ、Tシャツ一枚で出かけてきたことを後悔していた。
十字路の信号が青に変わると、アナは目を細め、凝視した。同級生のカナがこちらへ手を振りながら微笑み、駆け寄ってきていた——
マジソンスクエアガーデンの平坦な天井は、吐き出された人の熱気でいつもより膨らんでいるように、ジャックには見えた。大統領候補を歓迎する声とそれを罵倒する叫び声が錯綜し、鼓膜の奥を揺らしていた。
ジャックは、軽く場内の隅々まで目を凝らしてから、再びアイフォンに目を落とした。画面には、いくつかのSNSが同時に広がっており、それぞれが激しい書き込みによって文字が流れてゆく。
右下の、メタの書き込みに、ジャックは目を留めた。殺害予告だ。
大統領候補のジャスティン・ブラッドフォードは、フィアンセのエリノア・ブレイクとともに間も無くステージに立つ。
共和党を示す赤い光がステージ中央に差し込むと、二人は同時に現れた。
と、同時に、銃声が響いた。
一聴しただけでは気づかなかったがジャックの耳は聴き分けた。弾は二発だ。
騒然とした場内をよそに、ジャックは静かに目を閉じた。発射音から着弾までを想像した。
一発目の弾は、ジャックの右手、たぶん、PA近辺からだ。しかし、ジャックと同じ配属のシークレットサービスが張り込んでいたはずだ。もうひとつの弾丸をジャックは再び目を閉じて計算した。
弾は、たぶん、ステージ左手側からだ。ジャスティンとエリノアの二人の立ち位置を計算しているようだ。ひょっとしたら情報が漏れていたかもしれない。
ジャックの耳に第２報が入った。同僚のベン・ホロウェイの冷静な声だ。心臓ははずれたものの、弾は左肩と腹部をかすめていた。動脈には達していなかったが、出血がひどかった。
ジャックも冷静に、ベンへ伝えた。
「ジャスティンはボンベイブラッドだ。三日前にベルビュー病院に確認した。予備の血液は保管されている」
ベンは、何事もなかったかのように、わかったと静かにいった。
マジソンスクエアガーデンにもっとも近いベルビュー病院に、ジャスティンを運び込む。ジャックは、病院で控えているイライジャ・ケインにスマートフォンから直接電話した。シークレットサービスではもちろんワッツアップなどのSNSはご法度だ。
ワンコールが切れる前にすぐイライジャは反応した。
「ジャック、大変だ。血液がない。ボンベイブラッドがないんだ」
ジャックは、耳を疑った。
「三日前に、俺は直接担当の、名前は忘れたな。とにかく目の前でブラッドバッグを確認したぞ」
イライジャは、数秒の沈黙の後、応えた。
「その血液の管理者は、きのう、交通事故で亡くなったんだ」
アナヤ・パテルは、夫のアルジュンをトットラーメンで待った。
学生時代からの親友、ミカ（佐藤）（日本人）も一緒だ。
店員が、アナヤの目の前にラーメンを差し出したとき、スマートフォンが鳴った。
登録してあるベルビュー病院からだった。
アナヤは、躊躇わずに出た。着信を見たミカは不安げにアナヤを見守った。
「アナヤ・パテルさんですか？ 私は救急部のサーシャウィルソンと言います。すでにご存知かもしれませんが、共和党大統領候補が撃たれました。あなたの血が必要です。すぐに病院へ来てください。シークレットサービスの車が迎えに行きます。動かないでください」
アナヤは、呆然としているミカの視線を追って、背後を振り返った。カウンターのちょうど左上に下がったディスプレイには、MSGの現在が男性レポーターによって放映されている。
アナは開いた入り口に目を移した。青い、洗練されたスーツをまとった褐色の肌の男性が、足早にアナに寄ってきた。
「シークレットサービスのロハン・シャーと言います。私と一緒に病院へ来てください。外に車を用意してあります」
彼は真剣な眼差しでアナへ伝え、手を引こうとした瞬間、アナのアイフォンが再び震えた。番号だけ浮かびあがっている。登録されていないようだ。アナは慌てて、タッチした。
「はい」
「アナヤ・パテルさん？」
「ええ、あなたは？」
「ジャック。ジャック・ヴァンス。シークレットサービスです。もうすぐそちらへ到着します」
「わたしの場所をどうやって？」
「わたしたちはプロだ。あらゆる手段を用意しています」
「もう、シークレットサービスの人が来てるわ」
ジャックの、違う！ という怒声が響いた瞬間、目の前の男性はスーツの内から小銃を引き抜き、アナの額に向けた。
店内に小さな銃声が響いた。
アナは、震えることすら忘れ、言葉を失い、放心していた。
目の前の男性がゆっくり床へ崩れると、夫のアルジュンが、やはりアナに銃を向けて現れた。
「フリーズ！FBI ！」
数人の制服を着たNYPDとグレイのスーツを纏ったFBIが叫んだ。
「全員、手を頭の後ろに回して床に伏せろ！」
映画のようなお決まりのセリフに、アナは震えていた。もちろん、ミカも。たぶん、アナの夫のアルジュンが最も震えていただろう。
遅れて、ジャックが店内に向け、叫んだ。
「アナヤ・パテル！」
アナは、見上げることなく、そのままに応えた。足がまだ震えている。
「わたしです」
額に汗を浮かべたジャックは、アナの身を起こすと、いった。
「すぐに病院へ行く」
病院にいるイライジャから、リンク付きのメッセージが届いた。
助手席に乗り込んだアナへジャックはアイフォンを放り投げると、リンク先を開け、と叫んだ。
慌てて、アナが触れると、どうやら生放送のようだった。
「こんばんは、ニューヨーク。そしてロサンゼルス。私の名前はザカリア・ハッダード。本名だ。
数年前、ガザに住んでいた。今は、みなさんがよく目にする部屋を真似た部屋に私はいる」
褐色の、顎髭をたくわえたザカリアは、アメリカ大統領執務室とほとんど同じ部屋の椅子に座っていた。
腕時計にゆっくり目を落としてから、再び、カメラに視線を向けた。
「そろそろブレイキングニュースだ。スマートフォンの速報に注目して欲しい」
ザカリアがそういった途端、速報が流れた。
【民主党前大統領のオーウェン・リードがロサンゼルス・コンベンション・センターで銃撃された模様です】
ザカリアは、一瞬俯いて笑いを堪えながらいった。
「悲しい速報じゃないか。アメリカのみなさん。でもどうか悲しまないで欲しい。私が経験したガザではこの55,000倍だ。55,000人以上の大切な人を失い、そして、涙を流した」
ザカリアは、再び俯いたまま、両手を固く握りしめ、力強く机を叩きつけた。
顔を上げたザカリアの目にはうっすらと涙が溢れていた。
「私たちは、お金を求めない。また、死による名誉も求めない。私たちが欲しいのは、55,000人が流した涙と同じだけの涙だ。流された涙と同じだけの涙だけが、私たちを癒す」
両肘を机につき、両手を組むと、ザカリアは静かに顎を乗せた。目を閉じて、しばらく沈黙が続いた。目尻が細かく震えているようだった。そのままゆっくり口を開いた。
「55,000人のうちの私はひとりに過ぎない。私が消えても５万人もの意思は決して消えず、引き継がれる。私は、私たちの意思をここに表明するためにいる」
ザカリアは、机の引き出しから、グロック１７を取り出すと、スライドしてチャンバーに弾を流した。そして、自分のこめかみに向けた。
スンニ派である彼は、まっすぐにカメラを見つめ、皮肉混じりにいった。
「神のご加護を。アメリカ」
ザカリアは、目を閉じると、トリガーを真っ直ぐに引いた。乾いた音が部屋に響いた。映像は、瞬時に黒へ切り替わった。
ICUまでの通路は、警官らによって厳重に確保されていた。ジャックは、サーシャにアナを引き渡した。
サーシャはアナに簡単な挨拶を済ますと、同意書にサインさせ、ベッドへ横たわるよう指示した。
となりに置かれたベッドは、薄いビニールシートに囲われ、男性らしい人が寝ているようだ。ネットで見た大統領候補とは到底結びつかない。
アナにはそこにいる男性が大統領候補だということにピンとこなかった。
サーシャがスタッフに細かい指示を出している。
バイタルモニター、酸素装置、人工呼吸器。それぞれにスタッフが張り付き、患者の血圧や心拍数が監視されているようだ。
スタッフのひとりが、アナの腕を消毒液で拭うと、静脈ラインに針を刺した。血液はビニールの管をすぐに見たした。
通常、ダイレクトトランスフュージョン、直接輸血は、感染症の危険が伴うので行われないが、ボンベイブラッドは別だ。
いままさに、となりにいるジャスティンに必要なのだ。その危険性について、アナはサーシャの説明を理解し、サインした。
アナには、実感がなかった。曇りガラスの向こう側にいる男性の命を、自分の血液が救っていることを。
アナは白い天井を見上げ、深い深呼吸をした。ミカとラーメンを食べにきただけだったのに。アルジュンは、男性を撃ったようだった。
いったい彼はどうなってしまうんだろう。撃たれた男性は何者だったのか。
アナは、今の自分を取り巻く状況に考えを張り巡らせているうちに、眠りに落ちていた。
ジャスティンの父、サイラス・ラージャン・ブラッドフォードは、7１年、ムンバイから渡米し、ニュージャージー州第6選挙区で下院議員を5期務めた民主党の重鎮だった。
ユニオンスクエアパークで、集まった労働者らに向け、演説中、聴衆の真正面にいた男に銃撃された。一瞬の出来事だった。
幼かったジャスティンは、呆気に取られ、何が起こったかを理解できなかった。父は、一瞬にしてその場に倒れ、病院へ運ばれたものの、即死だった。
犯人は、若い、民主党員のホワイトカラーだった。父の古い理想主義は彼に通じなかった。医療費の即時無料化を求めた彼は、父の段階を追った手法を受け入れることはできなかった。彼の母は、すぐにも医療費の無料化を必要としていたからだ。父は、早急な変化は退けた。医療だけでなく、あらゆるすべてが多くの人に浸透し、行き渡るためには、多くの時間を要するのだと、移民として、ムンバイからニュージャージーに移り住み、地域に溶け込むことに多大な時間が必要であることを身をもって知っていた。しかしーーーー
幼かったジャスティンは、父のそばに駆け寄って手を握り締めたかった。父の呼吸が止まっていても、そばに寄り添って、父を抱きしめたかった。
抱きしめることで、ひょっとしたら、父は目を覚ますかもしれないじゃないか、、、幼かったジャスティンは、そう信じていた。
ジャスティンは、ホワイトカラーを決して許すことはなかった。
サイラス・ラージャン・ブラッドフォード
「我々は大きな夢を見るべきだが、一歩ずつ確実に進まねばならない。急激な変化は社会の分断を深めるだけだ。民主主義とは、声なき者の声を拾い上げ、共に歩むことだ」
アナとミカは、週末に開催されるアーティスツ・アンド・フリーズに展示するため、（ニュージャージー州の）パラマスからウィリアムズバーグに向けて、車を走らせていた。だいたい５０分ほどで到着する。
モントクレア州立大学に日本からやってきたミカは、同じ美術学部に同籍していたアナの、白黒の作品に魅了された。アナは、鉛筆やシャープペンシル、ボールペン、万年筆など、日常に使われているステーショナリーで、人物や風景、静物を描いていた。多彩な油絵で表現するミカは、色らしい色のないアナの作品に関心を持った。
アナは、大学の食堂でミカに答えたことがある。
ーー わたしが住んでいた街は、殺風景だった。緑や川はなく、乾いた砂が吹き荒ぶ。それが私を幼い頃から囲んでいた。でも、私はそこが嫌いではなかった ーー
そこまで、静かににつぶやくと、プレートに乗ったハムエッグの真ん中を小さく突いた。続けて、いった。
ーー 風景だけでなく、実際、私の周りには何もなかった。あったのは、紙と鉛筆ぐらい ーー
アナは軽くミカに微笑んだ。ミカも笑い返した。
ーー でも、わたしはそれを大切にしなければならないと感じた。スマフォのSNSの人たちはとても豊かに見えた。でも、なぜか羨ましいとか、こうなりたいとか思えなかったの。むしろ、私は私の日常をもっとみんなに見せたいと思った。だって、自分が好きな場所を誰かに伝えることって、素敵だと思わない？ ーー
ミカは笑わずに深く頷いた。ミカも同感だった。渋谷の神山町で幼少時代を過ごしたミカは、ずっと渋谷の変遷を見てきた。渋谷の艶やかな広告やビルの外壁などの変化は彼女を魅了した。反面、自宅のあった神山町は穏やかで、古風な邸宅が並ぶ昔ながらの街並みだった。その対比が、彼女の内面を支えていた。
ーー 夜明け前が一番暗い ーー
マンハッタンの夜明けは、そんな言葉を思い出させる。
この国が闇に堕ちた時、トレーダーがそう言ったと、アミールは、イスラム大学工学部の教授だったザカリアから生前聞いた言葉だ。
アミールと同じようにラフィ・ガンナムもザカリアの師弟だ。二人は、電気工学をザカリアから学んでいた。
電子機器だけでなく、プログラムから幅広いコンピュータ機器まで学んでいた。アメリカの脆弱なITネットワークを熟知することなど彼らにしてみたら容易いものだった。
当時、イスラエルによって圧倒されたガザ地区の５５，０００人の死者の家族の一部は、ザカリアによってアメリカへ不法に散らばって居住し、時を待った。
ラフィも、そしてアミールもそのうちのひとりだ。ザカリアも、ラフィも、アミールも、妻や恋人、そして家族を失い絶望した。生きる意味を見失ったものに光など与えられない。光を見出せなどという人間は偽善者だ。与えられたのは、深い闇だけだった。闇の底で、集い、意を決したものほど、力強いものはいないだろう。おそらく、世界最高の実質的な権力を掌握しているアメリカ大統領に匹敵できるのは彼らのような存在だけかもしれない。
ラフィは、２年前からパイレーツラジオを仕込み始めた。カリブ系やヒスパニック系の移民コミュニティの傘を利用して、伝令を一方的に伝える、そんな古いやり方に答えを見出していた。SNSはもちろん、スマートフォンのやりとり全てはアメリカの情報機関に掌握されている。まったくやりとりをしないことも不自然になるので、ラフィらもスマートフォンは持ち歩いているが、日常的な、他愛ないやり取りだけだ。
ラフィは、放送機のスイッチを押した。微かに発したスイッチ音は、夜の静けさに吸い込まれていった。
小さな赤いランプが灯り、沈黙の中で、近辺に居住する同胞らにつながった。電圧計の針がわずかに震えた。
午前2時ちょうど、FM87.9から音が流れた。砂嵐に混じって、女の声が詩を読んでいた。
「この世界が終わるなら、私はひとりで歌っていたい」
つづく。
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
1 U2 Helter Skelter (Live) youtu.be/OBL-gVSJp2I?si=CuYs7HKsxCaVTQb3
2 ジミ・ヘンドリックス: The Star Spangled Banner (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM
3 ジミ・ヘンドリックス: Purple Haze (Live): www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJunCsrhJjg
4 タイラー・ザ・クリエイター: Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & Latoya Williams...): youtu.be/tSd85SmghYs?si=-E-M6dhSdcYzBFjU
5 ザ・ウィークエンド: Niagara Falls: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWx5UuznGI
6 ドレイク: Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFm7YDVlqnI
7 Linda Sikhakhane: Inkehli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHbPFAlrO4
8 Freja Lundgren - Finding Silence : 見つかりませんでした。https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo7F3P2ObeLyC8Fwp70NEQ
9 マティアス・アイク: Loving: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYh_orn9ydA
10 ビートルズ: 恋におちたら (2009 - Remaster): www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3Xm4TNF00
11 21サヴェージ & サマー・ウォーカー: prove it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIJmlhgqGk
12 ティアナ・メジャーナイン: On God!: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wp1Q5V2eKI
13 アッシャー: Kissing Strangers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fepftsv6RA
14 JUNG KOOK: Never Let Go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_n4Ysi5iUM
15 シニード・オコナー: Nothing Compares 2 U: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-EF60neguk
16 テイラー・スウィフト: This Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsL45rr3VU
17 メタリカ: Disposable Heroes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIiXONFj6lM
18 ビートルズ:Across The Universe (Remastered 2009):youtu.be/90M60PzmxEE?si=DvkYgRwEK_lha6CT
19 ガナヴヤ: Land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRmU6z6v1cs
メモ
1
「Bombay型（ボンベイ型、hh型）」
•特徴：通常のABO血液型を持たない（A、B、Oに分類されない）特殊な型。
•発見地：1952年、インド・ムンバイ（旧ボンベイ）で初めて確認。
•発生頻度：インドでは1万人に1人程度だが、世界的には約250万人に1人とも。
•輸血制限：同じBombay型しか輸血できない。
2
2024年ハーバード大学首席の卒業式スピーチ『知らないことの力』
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3
Shots fired at Trump rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
マンハッタン。ニューヨーク。アメリカ。２００７年。( 2 / 8 )
Nikon coolpix 8700 shot
今日の写真は、未発表です。
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bit of Barry the monkey fan art for my pals over at Rumpus Animation Studios - www.rumpusanimation.com/
When stuck for ideas, you can always rely on the cheese grater.
Photo 28/10 for the October Picture a Day challenge.
Also Photo 33/115 - Rigid - for the 115 Pictures in 2015 Challenge.
One day,the robot came earth from universe.The loud speakers on both sides are very noisy and speak a language that I don't understand well.Orange lights chase us.The face changes one after another
CHARO - DANCE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER (EDIT DJVJDELEY)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-I30ygP5Gc
Location: Barcelona, proud parade 2024
Nikon 180mm f/2.8 AF-D ED
According to Wikipedia - "The Rottweil Test Tower is an elevator test tower in Rottweil, Germany. It is owned by ThyssenKrupp. It is 246 metres tall, and was completed in 2017. It is the tallest elevator test tower in the world."
Personally, I don't think it looks completed (the crane give it away?) but it definitely looks like a drill bit for a drill.
I took this image handheld as we were driving out of the valley.
I hope you enjoy it.
Wishing you a little of everything
A little bit more joy, a little bit less sorrow
A little bit more peace, a little bit less strife
A little bit more progress, a little bit less obstacle
A little bit more fulfillment, a little bit less work
A little bit more variety, a little bit less of the same
A little bit healthier, in mind, body and spirit
A little bit wealthier, in what really counts
A little bit stronger, to weather the storm
A little bit happier, with enough to share
For a little bit is all you need but I wish you
Lots and lots of love in the coming year!
Check out -
a1000reasons.blogspot.com/2013/01/wishing-you-little-bit-...
With a bit of a Triumph Herald creeping in we have Chester Corporation FFM138C parked outside the Cathedral around March 1966 (slide processing date).
I think this was the start point of the 7 service to Cliveden Road which the bus is about to operate. FFM138C was a Guy Arab 5 with Massey H41/32F bodywork a combination favoured by the corporation throughout the 60's.
I remember the posters stuck to the bus windows were usually advertising upcoming Chester Matches. That said I am struggling as to why they would be playing Frickley in 1966 so maybe it was a different sporting fixture as I can not quite make out the top name.
Image from a slide in my collection by an unknown photographer.
A bit too slow across the tracks, Cross Country 221127 Super Voyager pulls into Endiburgh Waverley with an unfortunate extra.
Edinburgh, Scotland.