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Celia Farber claims to be an investigative *ahem* journalist. Really she is nothing more than a person who gets paid for spreading HIV denialist propaganda. Every cause has their mouthpiece. Celia Farber is an expert. Not in HIV or AIDS. No Celia is an expert in very publicly stitching herself up! The following extracts from an interview are taken from bookslut all comments in bold are my own observations:
BS:You are constantly described as an AIDS dissident that does not believe HIV causes AIDS -- but nowhere in your book is this explicitly stated. So how would you describe your views?
CF: Thank you for noticing that critical detail. I have never written that HIV does not cause AIDS. I don’t think I’ve ever said that HIV does not cause AIDS. I took one semester of journalism in college. Thanks Celia. Good to see that you spent a hell of a lot of time earning the title of journalist!!!
CF: It is not for me to say as a journalist -- as a nonscientist -- what causes or doesn’t cause AIDS. Great Celia. You are off to a blinding start. Not only do you admit to having no substantial education as a journalist but you make it perfectly clear that you are not a scientist...
BS:Do you wish you had taken a different approach reporting? Is there anything you would have done differently?
CF:My quick answer is usually yes, of course. But it’s unanswerable… What I wish I had done differently, in retrospect, was to calculate the damage and the blight, both on myself and on my family and ask myself, “Is it fair to do to others?” Because what you actually do is you invite financial ruin. The damage and the blight Celia? Oh poor you and your poor family! How many of your denialist chums have died? How many people who have listened to your warped rhetoric are now dead because they did not access the treatments that could have prolonged their life? That is the damage and that is the blight Celia. NOT the fact that you did not earn more money. But I think that is more to do with just the one semester at journalist school than anything else...
BS:As a non-gay male AIDS reporter and Westerner investigating Africa, did you have to deal with identity politics?
CF: I never got that kind of guff from any Africans, [but] certainly from the gay community. Those that were opposed to what I was doing -- that was one of the charges: that I wasn’t gay and how the hell could I know what I was doing and what right did I have to say anything? But that’s inconsistent with the core belief system, which is that AIDS is everybody’s disease... Yes darling but you started spouting your denialist crap in 1988. Do you also have selective amnesia? Of course the Gay community were going to take exception to your denialist crap because Gay men were bearing the brunt of the numbers of deaths and the social stigma. The last thing they would have wanted when they were dying would be for someone like you to add more bulshit to the fire...
I would go to AIDS conferences and go through an immense crisis each time, “Am I crazy or are they crazy?” Answers on a postcard...
BS: Do you think The Constant Gardner was able to voice political dissent as it is shielded as fiction?
CF:I would caution people against assuming that John le Carre is writing fiction. Let me make a generality: fiction writers today like John le Carre are doing journalism, and the journalists are writing fiction. Thanks again Celia.... i didn't need to read this interview with you to know that you talk a pile of stinking shit! But thanks for the clarification!
I do wish that I could crawl away, quietly and turn up on some completely other part of the beach. So do we Celia, so do we... and take your denialist chums with you...
Celia worked as a researcher on the BBC documentry "Guinea Pig Kids" This is what the BBC had to say about the programme in question:
ECU ruling: Guinea Pig Kids, BBC2, 30 November 2004 and related websites
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/news/2007/11/30/51154.shtml
Publication date: 30 Nov 2007
Complaint
The Director of Planning and Policy Research of the New York-based Center for HIV Law and Policy, supported by several academics and other agencies involved in HIV research and treatment, complained that the programme unfairly claimed that New York City's Administration for Children's Services, together with a number of medical and child care institutions, "effectively conspired to force helpless children of colour into inappropriate and sinister 'experiments' when in fact they made life saving drugs already approved for adults available to children living with HIV/AIDS who were in the foster care system", that it gave a misleading impression of the effects of anti-HIV medication, and that it falsely claimed that "denying medication to children with AIDS will improve their health while appropriate treatment will kill them".
BBC Editorial Complaints Unit's ruling
The programme explored legitimate concerns about a research project involving the testing of anti-HIV drugs on children in the care system, where (it had emerged) there had been a failure in some cases to provide independent advocacy as required by the research protocols. However, the programme portrayed this failure as being the more serious because the drugs being trialled were, it claimed, both "lethal" and ineffective. In support of these claims, the programme interviewed an expert witness who was, though the audience was not told, a leading advocate of the propositions that HIV is unconnected with AIDS, that anti-retroviral drugs do not work in the treatment of AIDS and that they are, in fact, responsible for deaths attributed to AIDS. The audience was not told that his was a minority and controversial view which would be challenged by mainstream medical opinion. No other medical opinion was heard on this subject.
The programme also gave the false impression that parents or carers who objected to their children being placed in the trials risked losing custody of their children. In fact, the three case studies which created this impression did not involve children connected with the trials. Though there was no explicit claim that "denying medication to children with AIDS will improve their health while appropriate treatment will kill them", the treatment of case studies in the programme contributed to that impression. This complaint has been partly upheld.
Further action
A correction will be published on bbc.co.uk, as part of the pages on which the material complained of appears, with a link to this summary. In addition, the ECU will contact other websites featuring the material in order to draw their attention to its ruling. The management of BBC News is addressing the issues arising from the ruling for the commissioning and supervision of independent productions of this kind.
Celia Farber: An AIDS Denialist Masquerading as a Journalist
Celia Farber, the author of the March 2006 Harper's Magazine article attacking HIV clinical research, misrepresents herself to the popular media as a legitimate journalist and science writer, interested only in doggedly covering a good story. She is in fact an AIDS "dissident" who has been publicizing and extolling the claims of AIDS denialists and attacking scientific research on HIV/AIDS since the late 1980s. Farber has signed the two defining petitions of HIV denialism and she co-authored with members of the denialist group HEAL a core tract of the denialist movement called "HIV: Against Science." She described herself in the subtitle of one of her articles as "an AIDS Dissident" and she is a prominent member of the denialist "Group for the Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV/AIDS Hypothesis." Her denialism is well documented, but she conceals her beliefs in order to fool the mainstream media into allowing her to promote them in print.
Farber's main contribution to the AIDS denialist movement is to broadcast their views to the general public in the disguise of objective journalism. In her writing for the popular press, she has consistently and deceptively refused to fully disclose her deep involvement with, and her role as a spokesperson for, the denialist camp. She has also evaded explaining clearly her own understanding or beliefs about HIV and AIDS. Instead, she allows other denialists to make the case for her in extended, laudatory quotes, while maintaining the pretense that she is just an objective reporter asking honest questions, and one who is unfairly abused for her honesty:
All I ever did was follow and report, with what some may consider excessive attention, the vital debate about whether HIV is the cause of AIDS. And whether AZT is a viable therapy for those who are HIV antibody positive. And whether being HIV antibody positive is the same as "having" HIV. And whether "having" HIV necessarily means your immune system is decaying. Etc. I consider all of these questions to be very straightforward, logical, and of obvious importance. I simply picked up a thread and followed it. (Farber , "AIDS Inc." 1994).
Farber's disingenuous claim to "follow and report" on an issue in which she is deeply committed to one side is one she has tried to maintain even as the Harper's Magazine piece brought new attention to the denialist clique. She is reported in The New York Times as saying that she "does not endorse [denialist Peter] Duesberg's position but is simply reporting on an unpopular view. 'People can't distinguish, it seems, between describing dissent and being dissent [sic],'" she wrote in an email to the reporter, Lia Miller. But in fact, people can distinguish between reportage and the party line, and Farber has always toed the latter. She has for two decades consistently attacked medicine, belittled scientific research and enthusiastically promoted denialists and their various claims. There is nothing even remotely balanced in her work.
Despite the denialist motive that drives her writing, Farber lacks the courage of her convictions and won't publicly stand behind the denialist ideology she promotes so relentlessly. She even cravenly disclaims her own positions when cornered. In a recent email she sent to a wide circulation list, she wrote of her Harper's Magazine article, "It does not, for example, say that all AIDS drugs are ghastly, or worthless." No, perhaps not in those exact words, but Farber is being disingenuous. What her article does say is "Duesberg thinks that up to 75 percent of AIDS cases in the West can be attributed to drug toxicity. If toxic AIDS therapies were discontinued, he says, thousands of lives could be saved virtually overnight." In the same email, she asserted "In each article [in the past] where I have addressed HAART I have included, clearly, the fact that the regimens have absolutely helped people who are very sick." That statement's as absolutely false as it is hypocritical. For example, in an article about HAART published in 2000, she made two comments about the benefits of antiretroviral drugs:
There are facts and figures, studies and counter-studies, a virtual blizzard of data that could be arranged to show any number of things. The new AIDS drugs have saved people's lives: that's one piece of truth. The new AIDS drugs have killed people: that's another. The new AIDS drugs have damaged and deformed some people so badly that although they are alive, they wish they were dead.
And:
Precisely what it means for a life to be "saved" is complicated, especially when the patient was not sick to begin with. As [German denialist Claus] Koehnlein wryly commented, "If you treat completely healthy people you can claim great therapeutic success."
Both of these statements, spun by sarcasm, are in effect claims that no people with HIV/AIDS have benefited from HAART, which is a blatant lie.
Farber has tried to portray herself as a neutral observer to The New York Times and critics by claiming she merely presents the contradictory views of others for the edification of the reader. But when we reviewed 34 articles about AIDS by Farber, we found that the clear thesis and topic of every single one was some variant of AIDS denialism--HIV does not cause AIDS; AIDS doesn't exist; there is no heterosexual AIDS; there is no AIDS epidemic in Africa; HIV is not transmitted by sex or by semen or by breast milk; HIV does not exist...
Farber's writing style typically highlights extensive quotes from denialists, whom she describes in warm, laudatory and respectful terms and whose claims are given great credence. By contrast, she consistently attacks legitimate HIV science, medicine, researchers and AIDS activists. Occasionally, she takes the words of legitimate doctors and advocates out of context to support the denialist argument. All of this is held together with her grandiose narrative of her Quest for The Truth: This, she says, "is my private hell, but also my great Sisyphean challenge. My labyrinth…" (Berkowitz: "Interview" 2000).
Celia Farber wants the world to regard her as a courageous and objective investigative journalist, but in reality she's nothing more than a lying propagandist for the denialist mini-movement. What is shocking is that Harper's Magazine's editors fell for this scam.
Roger Hodge: In Cahoots or Just Incompetent?
Roger Hodge, Farber's editor and, sadly, the man replacing Harper's Magazine's legendary editor Lewis Lapham, has defended his ignominious debut by claiming that he is merely airing an important controversy. It is not yet clear if he actually shares Farber's denialism or was, by failing to exercise due diligence, merely deceived by her masquerade as a journalist. Quite possibly, both of these things are true. On the question of HIV as the cause of AIDS, he told Gay City News "I don't feel like I am qualified to judge it"-a dodge similar to Farber's feints when she's in the headlights. The New York Times reported that "Mr. Hodge said the magazine stood behind the article and Ms. Farber. 'The fact that she's been covering this story does not make her a crackpot - it makes her a journalist. She's a courageous journalist, I believe, because she has covered the story at great personal cost.'"
Hodge also continues to assert the accuracy of the article against the overwhelming evidence presented to him that the piece is a farrago of fabrications, errors and innuendo. Gay City News reported that he said: "It was very, very thoroughly fact-checked over the course of three months. … A lot of what people are describing as errors are differences of opinion about the data." But his fact-checkers were either biased or incompetent, because at least 58 scientific and non-scientific howlers made it into print (www.aidstruth.org). Did Farber provide Hodge with her own list of "experts" to consult as fact-checkers? Or did Hodge select them based on his own knowledge of science and medicine? In either case, this vital task in the editing of any article was thoroughly botched.
If all it takes to get a science-bashing article into the new, dumbed-down Harper's Magazine is to warm-over baseless conspiracy theories and wild speculation, then we can expect the next issue to feature a piece from the Discovery Institute that promotes Intelligent Design – let's teach the controversy, brave Sir Roger! And perhaps he'll offer space to the oft-maligned Holocaust denialists, too, who make the same claim that legitimate scholars will not pay attention to their theories.
Hodge's quotes in Gay City News reveal that he still sees AIDS denialism as something honorable, a case of the little guy taking on the big bad wolves of the federal government and the pharmaceutical industry, standing up to be counted, risking it all for the sake of the truth and freedom of speech. If this were true, Hodge would have the full support of all of us, for we share this predisposition. We, like most scientists and AIDS activists, are liberals and progressives. That's why it's so difficult for us to accept that Harper's Magazine, a journal aimed at liberal intellectuals, would print Farber's article. The AIDS denialists are not honest dissidents, and they tarnish the word by using it. In South Africa, they even have tried to link their dissidence to that of Nelson Mandela, as if the two positions could in any way be equated. And when it comes to craven profiteering and the unethical exploitation of people with HIV, the denialists' champions, such as Matthias Rath and David Rasnick, take the cake.
Where Roger Hodge got it so badly wrong was to allow such an obviously error-ridden and biased article into a once-reputable magazine. In the circumstances, Hodge should now do what is honorable and resign for the sake of his magazine's reputation. He's proven himself not up to the task of editing an article. He's proven unable to exercise intelligent judgment about scientific discourse, medicine, public health and the HIV epidemic. He's proven himself gullible and sloppy by being fooled by a writer he told Gay City News he's known for "many years." Perhaps you knew Farber both too well and not well enough, Roger? And perhaps, Lewis Lapham, you knew Roger both too well and not well enough when bequeathing your legacy to him?
Jeanne Bergman, PhD, Health GAP, New York, NY
John P. Moore, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York
Well done Celia... keep on digging.....
The view from the east shore of Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park, looking west toward the Cathedral Spires, including the Sharkstooth (first spire from the right), the Foil (tallest of the spires), the Saber (to the left of the Foil), and Petit Grepon, with Taylor Peak (13153 ft / 4009 m) on the far left, part of the Continental Divide. I had hoped to make it to Sky Pond closer to sunrise to get some low warm light and shadows on the spires, but several things conspired to prevent that, including road construction (20 minute wait) and a full parking lot at the trailhead, despite arriving at sunrise. The full parking lot dictated a drive back to a larger parking lot and shuttle bus back to the trailhead, a common event in RMNP since the pandemic sent everyone to the national parks.
This is an 8 shot panorama to get the full view of the spires and their reflection in Sky Pond. Note the silhouette of the hikers on the rock above the lake in the middle of the photo.
Circumstances have conspired against Iain and I getting out for what seems like an age. We put that right yesterday with a trip up to Gairloch and beyond. First stop, one of those 'must-do locations', was along Loch Maree looking towards Slioch. There are a few lone trees scattered about but this was a new one for me. The 'lone' cloud was an added bonus with just a few minutes to wait for it to centralise above the peak.
2022-08-31, Day 5
Under a setting crescent moon, a wandering braid of Upright Creek separates itself from the main channel and finds its way down a broad meadow on its way to the Moose River, Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia.
The descent from Upright Pass to this valley felt like something of a small miracle. We stood at the apex of the pass and looked down into a vast glacier carved depression, with massive amounts of ice still clinging to the uppermost halls of stone. The lower parts of the depression were forested, and on first inspection, the way forward appeared steep and comprising an incredibly difficult mess of twisted trees and rocks. It would take many hours to navigate the 2 ½ miles to where I thought we might camp, and the time was already past 3:00p in the afternoon. My spirits deflated, and I began to seriously question why I ever thought 4 days of off-trail travel was a good idea.
We began to pick our way down through the wreckage of trees, and it was not long before I saw a curious flat and highly weathered vertically oriented surface on a small diameter downed piece of wood. The maps we carried were produced in the 1990s, and these maps showed no trail from Upright Pass down to the valley below us. However, that flat surface could only have been made by a saw, which strongly suggested a trail once navigated the slope down which we stared, albeit how many decades ago we could only guess. Short, cool summers and long, cold winters with plenty of snow means decomposition proceeds slowly. Maybe that cut was made in the 1970s? The 1950s? The only thing that was clear was that a faint trail was discernible, and we continued to find the cut surfaces belying the work of some long disbanded crew of trail builders as we proceeded steeply down slope. The euphoria we both felt at the discovery of this long-lost right-of-way was immense, and it was an interesting indication of how much the uncertainty and difficulty of the previous four trail-less days had weighed upon us.
The cut logs and the old route were capricious, sometimes obvious and sometimes disappearing, but always trending downward and keeping somewhat near the stream that carried the glaciers away. We managed to follow the trail to the bottom of the slope and the head of the valley shown in this photo. At this point, there was a confluence with another stream coming in from a different short valley to the north and we lost all traces of trail amongst innumerable braided channels running overland and amongst the trees for over a ¼ of a mile. Wandering amongst the trees and wading through the abundant shallow water, we found occasional dry patches of ground and evidence of long-gone horse camps.
My first thought was to walk to the side of the meadow on the right in this image, and hopefully find dry ground near the toe-slope. I thought to push onward and find a spot to camp near a lake I had seen while planning the route. As it turned out, this was a poor idea, and it was not long before we found ourselves navigating piles of logs thoughtfully arranged by numerous avalanches over years past. Jumping down from one log I discovered I had incautiously plunged myself into a patch of nettles growing under some other, larger-leaved plants. Welts grew on the backsides of my hands and it was abundantly clear that horse packers had never navigated this side of the valley. We turned around and headed back to a horse camp we had seen some 30 minutes prior, and when we arrived, my friend wisely counseled that we should stay put for the night, and search for trail and find our way out of the valley on the morrow. As if to agree, the sun, moon, and clouds conspired together to create an enchanting display as we ate and nursed our tired feet. The sleeping bags called persistently as the light faded.
Having completed its daily chores at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Mehoopany, PA, Reading and Northern's train MEPI returns to the yard in Pittston with each wheel dancing in unison off another joint for every 39 feet of travel along the rails of the former Lehigh Valley parallel the Susquehanna River, muted foliage of late fall barely clinging what little vibrancy remains atop the bluffs lining its waters. A pair of green and yellow "GP30s" lead up a typical progression of paper boxcars that MEPI delivers to Mehoopany each day in support the production of Charmin toilet paper, a product that has become unexpectedly precious during this events conspiring over this past year.
On a recent trip to the coast I was hoping to find a nice spot to catch the sunset... The clouds conspired against me. I had just called it a day and was tidying away the tripod when I turned back to see the last rays reflecting off the clouds. Well worth the wait.
For prints please visit my website: gibsondesignnz.wixsite.com/photography
I had planned to be in the mountains today, but circumstances conspired against me.
I had to settle for this view from the garden instead.
The circle of days has drawn the longest one again
And Earth, Water, Forest want to celebrate
Everyone who steps past the first patch of grass
Past the first stooping twig and hidden leaf
Is fair game.
The sun tickles the skin with dappled fingers
Conspiring with spiders, ants and little flies
Shining in golden motes and silver grains of dust
Today he's king and every being knows it
There will be no dark.
Spirits are dancing in a whirl, snatching at pine cones, stripping bark
And laughing at the awe in our humble eyes
The wind is whizzing clouds and rays
Shaking the branches, our hair, our hands
Caressing our hearts.
Third time lucky on Friday as finally train & sun coincide and I nail 37403 on the 14.37 BIF - CAR at Langthwaite Farm.
Not been able to get out and about too much lately.
A thrilling combination of gout and medication requiring proximity to a lavvy have conspired to prevent any photowalks.
Hopefully, this weekend will see the back of this particular episode.
So here is another image from the Rock in Nottingham.
We rented a tiny car in Montpellier and decided to spend a while randomly driving around the south of France. Regular visitors know that I'm enamored with the impressionists of the late 19th century. Even though I have yet to embark on the full tour of the homes of my favorites, I did make a point to stop in the hometown of Vincent Van Gogh for a quick look.
This is Arles, which is only a short drive from Montpellier and less than an hour from the Côte d'Azur. The streets are quaint and quiet. There are a few tourist areas, but after a few steps in a random direction, you're back in the old streets. I needed to stay for longer for more exploration (!), but I did my best to make use of the short time I was there.
Trey's Tip: Often times, I don't like to get people in my photos, unless it is unavoidable. This means there is a lot of waiting involved. It can seem sometimes like the universe is conspiring against you, when one person after the next keeps walking down the lane in your shot. Try to be patient and set your mind at ease... Maybe you can take this chance to let your brain think free and clear about different things. That free-association time may help you on other shots for the rest of the day.
Weathered bricks, a rusty fire escape, a plethora of bird droppings, and some old funky windows conspire to make an attractive composition. I had to go around into the alley to get this shot, which just goes to show, that sometimes you have to explore the less attractive more seedy locations to find the interesting shots.
San Francisco CA
One of my firm favourites from last weeks trip to Torridon.
It was a chance set of circumstances and a case of being in the right place at the right time which conspired to make this picture possible.
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One piece of an ongoing collaborative abstract project with the painter Jolene, mixing egg tempera, light and iPhoneography.
Apps: Hipstamatic, Snapseed, Glaze, Mextures, Superimpose
Night Storm
Beautiful light; wonderful shapes that repeat in a pattern; brilliant drama in color. All conspire to created a visual piece that calls for closer study. A single frame. No layers added. It is as shot with a color shift to deep red tones.
Shot at the same site as yesterday's post.
www.roxanneoverton.com – where you will find more photography and information on my instructional and travel series photography
🇬🇧 Paris, June 1999. Waiting for the train to Versailles, she looked straight at me with that calm, knowing gaze that says, “Yes, I know you’re taking another picture.” The yellow seats, the green wall, the cap, the leather jacket — everything conspired to turn an ordinary wait into a frame of quiet style and subtle irony.
🇮🇹 Parigi, giugno 1999. In attesa del treno per Versailles, mi guarda con quello sguardo tranquillo e consapevole che dice: “Sì, lo so che mi stai fotografando di nuovo.” Le sedie gialle, il verde sullo sfondo, il cappellino, la giacca di pelle — tutto contribuisce a trasformare un’attesa qualunque in un fotogramma di stile silenzioso e ironico.
“Walking alone through autumn while the crow
Conspires his evil journeys, there remains
Only the mind’s gold summer — in my veins
The tug of darkness and the breath of snow.”
—Loren Eiseley, ”Toward Winter”
Icarus Wings
Song by Tom Baxter
The stars conspired to bring me here, on a day like this;
The sun beats down upon my pride, like a wounded star.
What did you want from me?
Why did you bring me here?
I'm facing my foolish fate, oh
I'm too high, too close to the sun;
I'm too high, my curious Icarus wings melt from my skin.
Don't stand, don't stand so close to me,
I'll bring you down,
But I'll fly, oh I'll fly beneath the sun
Watch me burn, oh, watch me burn.
What did you want from me?
Why did you bring me here?
I'm facing my foolish fate, oh
I'm too high, too close to the sun;
I'm too high, my curious Icarus wings melt from my skin.
Oh, I'm too high, too close to the sun;
Too high, my curious Icarus wings melt from my skin.
I'm too high...
I'm too high...
I'm too high...
I'm too high...
Oh, I'm too high...
I'm too high...
I'm too high...
I'm too high...
No, no, no, no, no...
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Tom Baxter / Judie Tzuke
tea can be such a political hot topic
just ask the patriotic dumpers and their frolics at the boston tea party
i thought they were good citizens doing what was right
but soon i found out what really happened that night
they were political influencers and smugglers indeed
they were angry that england was hoarding in on their greed
seems they were going to lose their cheating schemes
to a bigger group who was legal and had means
so they grabbed some blankets not indian attire
and set out to conspire
to throw some tea into the sea
and so you see the truth is out there
they weren't nice guys doing their duty
they were political crooks trying to cash in their booty.
Ragged and overhanging portions of the canyon walls conspire with a fallen tree to create the illusion of an archway entering the verdant confines of Oneonta Gorge, in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon.
Oneonta Gorge is another of those places that rose higher and higher on the must-see list as my passion for photography has grown over the years, so it was awesome to finally get there while on a fantastic photography outing with Sky Matthews last month. We got into the gorge a little late, as the morning light had already gotten quite harsh on the higher portions of the canyon walls, and quite a crowd of people had already begun working their way up the gorge toward the waterfall, the cold water being little impediment in the unseasonably hot and sunny weather. Since we were planning to stay in the gorge to see how the light would change throughout the day, we had plenty of time to contemplate different compositions that might work with the conditions of the day and that could possibly be photographed during brief lulls in the steady stream of visitors.
For a good while I found myself focusing too much on always looking deeper into the gorge and rarely looking back toward the entrance. When I finally did turn around and pay attention, I noticed that the shape of the gorge walls appeared to close in above from certain perspectives--which looked particularly cool with the golden sunlight visible back near the "logjam" at the entrance to the main portion of the gorge--and so the search began for a place where an illusion like this could be captured. Needless to say, it took a little while, but I did finally find this location which I think communicates the effect fairly well.
If you look closely, you can see the next group of visitors surmounting the log jam under the "archway" in the distance. While the large number of people moving in and out of the gorge did not make landscape photography easy that day, a place as beautiful as Oneonta Gorge is a place to be shared happily with all comers.
Thanks for visiting.
At a time when dampness, squally showers and Storm Doris are conspiring together, here is another from the archives...
Anytime (Unlike the last, unlike the past)
Diving into the reflection of one's self
is a lesson in how to fly beyond time
through the mind of hallowed ground
stepping on gilt radiated sunset riverbanks
flowing between wet and dry memories profound
this then, the elevated stepping-stone
marks a point, a hurdle, an accomplishment
be it nothing at all, or the very essence of all
it bequeaths nothing, yet everything is here
and to take this moment, is to catch a fall
wherever I was is presently deemed meaningless
for this placement recalls nothing,
and thus, this perspective seeks a point
for the convergence of elements hereby conspire
to breathe life again into the hope it can reappoint
a daredevil of mystery fires warnings across the sky
from dawning hurt to twilight muses burning
horizontal - it's shadows are me in disguise
keeping me warm until I am reunited as one
with the health that's lost within it's own demise
intermittently thoughts travel all around the world
those that I hold most dear are free to wander
it's this very vision that has the means to follow
a deeper, wiser dream of being unafraid
capturing all fears and returning them, each one hollow
taking me away forever a reflection of reality
absorbed by Wensumesque-flowings
and resuscitated by filtered Oaken Spring light
bathed in it's rechargeable energy apparent
my life holds...just...for a secular flight.
by anglia24
16h05: 30/04/2008
©2008anglia24
A late evening last night attempting to catch the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This was the only usable frame I captured. Lots conspiring against me including light pollution and a full moon. At least the moon lit up the foreground nicely. Camera aimed in a NWW direction.
Walking In A Winter Wonderland
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
To sing a love song
While we stroll along
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, are you married?
We'll say, no man
But you can do the job when you're in town
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, are you ready?
We'll say, no man
But you can do the job when you're in town
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jeremy Stuart Smith
Winter Wonderland lyrics © Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music LLC
As crowds began camping out in Whitehall under a grey blanket of stratus cloud on the Sunday evening before Her Majesty The Queen's funeral, a weird light grew on the western horizon at the edge of the cloud base. Dropping beneath the clouds, the strong setting sun briefly illuminated the top of Parliament and the Great Hall of Westminster. The newly restored Queen Elizabeth Tower which houses the bell known as Big Ben blazed in all its glory. To enhance this stunning view, the elements conspired to provide a smirr of rain to create a double rainbow arcing over the Elizabeth Tower down to the Great Hall where Her Majesty lay in state. A truly magnificent tribute from nature to the end of the Second Elizabethan Era - if you choose to believe in such things.
[This photograph made it into In Explore in 2022 but Flickr zeroed all my pictures by reclassifying them as Restricted having identified that I inadvertently had not made 30 photographs of the London Naked Bike Ride marked as Moderate/Restricted out of 3900 photographs. This removed them from all Groups instantly without any prior warning or threat and despite my remedying the issue immediately I became aware of it. As a consequence all my Groups have been removed and, despite Flickr reclassifying them all as Safe; Flickr cannot apparently restore them to their Groups meaning I have to go through literally thousands of pictures to add Groups.
Truly Draconian : You have been warned.]
Day 137/365:
Definitely Dreaming - Building
The remains of Beeston Priory in Norfolk.
Everything is conspiring against me with this 365. We've been away for a few days in Norfolk, on the East Coast. I left my computer charger there. I have ordered a new one which should be here tomorrow but in the meantime my computer is likely to take a well earned break!
The door is open to this my luck
slyly short and coated
of a part of life half dead
conspired to never see you.
Open my pain to this strong love
and this emotion to your open illusion.
Woman or enigma of the open door,
Look at my glass that pours into your vein.
Deserted ship for my song is shattered
strange concert uttered away
and ears of wheat I cry every time I hear.
The open door
towards your being slide
the broken drop in mirror light
with which I desperately struggle.
by Gabino Alejandro Carriedo
Turtle Cove - www.flickr.com/groups/14833591@N21/, Porter Islands (38, 86, 22) - Moderado
This April, the energy of the universe begins to stir, and a powerful lunar phase is on the horizon – the Pink Moon. This full moon in April is not actually pink – the name comes from the flowering of pink moss phlox flowers in North America at this time. It does however bring an abundance of celestial energy. The Pink Moon is a cosmic invitation to align with your purpose, manifest your dreams, and embrace the abundance of the universe.
The Astrology of the Pink Moon
The Pink Moon falls under the sign of Libra, which is an air sign that is ruled by Venus. Libra is associated with balance, harmony, and relationships. Its symbol is the scales, which represent the need for balance and harmony in all aspects of our lives. Libra’s energy encourages us to seek fairness, equality, and justice, and it inspires us to find common ground with others. During the Pink Moon, the energies of Libra are magnified, and we are called to focus on nurturing our relationships and fostering a sense of balance and harmony in our lives.
The Pink Moon’s ruler is Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and abundance. Venus’s energy is all about creating harmony, bringing people together, and cultivating beauty in our surroundings. Venus encourages us to embrace the love and beauty that surrounds us and to connect with others on a deeper level. Its energy inspires us to find joy in the simple things in life and to express our creativity. During the Pink Moon, Venus’s energy is amplified, adding an extra layer of love and abundance to the energies of Libra.
The combination of Libra’s energy of balance and harmony and Venus’s energy of love and beauty creates a powerful and positive energy that can have a significant impact on our lives. During the Pink Moon, we are encouraged to focus on nurturing our relationships, finding balance and harmony within ourselves and our surroundings, and expressing our creativity. This is a time to let go of any negativity or imbalances in our lives and to focus on manifesting positivity and abundance.
Harnessing the Energy of the Pink Moon
The Pink Moon is a powerful time for manifestation and transformation, providing an opportunity to align with our purpose and manifest our deepest desires. To harness the energy of the Pink Moon, it’s essential to set intentions and focus on what you wish to bring into your life. Start by creating a clear vision of what you want to manifest, using positive affirmations and visualization techniques to anchor your desires in the present moment. Let go of any doubts or fears that may be holding you back and trust in the universe to bring your dreams to fruition.
The Pink Moon is also a time for letting go of what no longer serves you. Use this lunar phase to release any negative emotions, limiting beliefs, or old patterns that are holding you back from reaching your full potential. Trust that by releasing these old patterns, you make space for new growth and transformation in your life.
Rituals for the Pink Moon
The Pink Moon is a powerful time for cleansing and purifying, and there are many rituals you can do to harness this energy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Smudging
This practice involves burning sage or palo santo to purify the air and cleanse your space and energy. It is a common practice in Native American and Indigenous cultures and is believed to have spiritual and healing benefits.
Crystal Grid
Create a crystal grid using stones like rose quartz, amethyst, and citrine to amplify the energy of the Pink Moon. You can arrange the stones in a specific pattern or design, and place them in your space to enhance the energy of the full moon. This ritual is believed to help bring love, abundance, and manifestation.
Moon Water
Place a jar of water outside under the light of the Pink Moon to infuse it with the energy of the moon. You can use this water for rituals, such as cleansing or blessing, or even to drink. Moon water is considered to have powerful and transformative properties, making it an excellent tool for your spiritual practice.
Candle Magic
Light a pink candle and focus on your intentions and desires. Use the candle to release any fears or doubts and to bring in the energy of manifestation. This ritual is believed to help you align your energy with the energy of the Pink Moon, allowing you to attract positivity and abundance into your life.
How to Make the Most of the Pink Moon
To make the most of the Pink Moon, it’s essential to plan and prepare. Take the time to reflect on your goals and desires, and create a clear plan of action to bring them to fruition. Stay grounded and centered, using meditation or other grounding practices to connect with your inner wisdom and guidance. Trust the process, and know that the universe is conspiring in your favor. Finally, take inspired action, following your intuition and taking steps towards your goals.
Nikki Harper
Lush green meadows, marshmallow clouds, translucent water, and the distant rumble of an afternoon thunderstorm all conspired to make this the perfect high sierra afternoon.
Kyburz Flat, Sierra County CA
Koda the Magnificat; baited and harassed daily, by the amoral humans involved in Gang Stalking. He still has a wagging tail and kisses, for anyone with a warm heart.
Gang Stalking is real. Its Conspired Hate, Mobbing and Domestic Terrorism have been allowed to thrive in the United States for decades,
1-25-21, between 2:24-2:53 pm, again the Walmart Staff in Buckeye AZ; were more than happy to block, bait and harass us.
Thanks for visiting my photostream
Boy, that was close. I arrived in the car park behind the loco and the maps showed it just around the corner, then when I ran up onto the Campbell Road bridge, there was a southbound liner approaching. Talk about conspiring against the shot. So, this was a snatch shot and its just worked in the clear morning light.
A pristine 60046 approaches Eastleigh some 32 minutes early (when does this run early?) taking the empties back to Willesden DC Sidings, the 6Z92 from Southampton Up Yard. The loaded train worked down late afternoon to Bevois Park from Westbury the Thursday previous and with the bank holiday friday, the train wasn't unloaded until the Monday, hence this working 5 days later. 13/5/2020
Phil Varney Photography || Facebook || 500px
A shot of Catawba rhododendrons has eluded me for years. Every spring I remind myself that I have to make it to the mountains in June to see the pink flowers, but every year events have conspired against me. I put an end to the drought yesterday afternoon, when I decided to make the 3.5 hour drive from ATL to Black Balsam Knob, even though I only had that single afternoon/evening.
I knew the drive was going to be interesting when I crested a hill near Buford/Gainesville and saw the cars in front of me disappearing into a thick sheet of gray. I've never experienced such a torrential downpour in my life, and it was just a harbinger for the weather on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I eventually made it with plenty of time to spare, and started the hike up the Art Loeb Trail, which heads to the summit of Black Balsam Knob (and then towards Cold Mountain). Just as I stepped onto the bald, a massive crack of thunder forced me back into the spruce trees for cover. When the rain came pouring down, I decided to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway until the clouds broke - this ended up being a great decision!
The clouds did indeed break apart, spilling awesome golden light onto the mountains, and illuminating cascading sheets of rain in the distance. The set of circumstances was incredibly fortuitous for this picture to come together for me, and I can finally check 'Catawba rhododendrons' off my list!
Hi everyone.
I won't carp on this. But it is a big anniversary for me. I actually feel very free from this now. It clouded all off 2010 and took my light away. But it is back, I found it in Arosa and through the passage of time.
My father was a gigging musician, so this shot, from my November tour, is a tribute to him and the nights he spent.
Many of you already know the story.
But some of you don't. If anyone is interested, this is a record of what happened with my father. I won't mention it again any time soon, but I need to make another tribute to his memory after all that happened.
I never met my father.
Easter Day 2008 a woman contacted me about him, and I decided to try to find him. We spoke for the first time the day I learned the friend in this video was killed in a car accident.
www.youtube.com/user/piano4film#p/u/70/cL4oJ7K1KY8
After this I had a few phone calls and some letters and gifts from my father. July 2008 I drove to the remote area in the Catskills to meet him, but I could not find him.
We were never in the same room, face to face. We never touched or saw each other's expression. I had not heard from him in about 3 months and we had not spoken in about 6.
I never learned much about him and had many questions.
I still do. I learned 1/11/10 he died sometime in the last 2 weeks.
1/12/10
He lived in a very remote area, in a 12 by 5 foot trailer with no electricity, a battery powered radio, and a propane heater. He was last seen Dec 22, and had probably been dead since around Christmas. I am waiting for the coroner's report, a few of my father's things, and his ashes. I am used to the idea, though sad, and full of questions. He obviously chose to be alone. He was free, and lived out the consequences of his actions.
1/20/10 a box with some of his belongings arrived. The smell was horrible.
I have salvaged a few documents and a xylophone. It is strange to see the remnants of a life. You can hear it here:
www.flickr.com/photos/piano4film/4311045566/
The box was very hard to open it. It contained all I will get of my father's belongings.
A man I never met.
It had eye-glasses, a Bible, papers, some interesting family documents, a photo album with several pictures of a dog in a burned out house, and this photo of me:
www.flickr.com/photos/my_fake_plastic_earth/3431723004/
I sent it to him after my recital on Horowitz' piano.
1/25/10 His ashes and a letter from Veterans Affairs offering burial stones and services arrived today.
I am relieved to have them and hope to spread some of them in Kamakura. He was stationed for a time in Yokohama.
1/11/11
I took the ashes to Japan in June of 2010... I made this video
www.flickr.com/photos/piano4film/4744584201/
A year has past since the phone call from the police. I am much more at peace.
But puzzle at what almost was.
The insurance, coroner, and bank conspired so I got no money. I learned how the people looking in on him would wait weeks to see him. He really was alone.
The hardest part for me is there are no happy memories, only questions, horror, and disconnection. But I found my light again. The last Swiss trip really helped me.
Thanks if you got this far.
All the best
Tony
"Color needed" or "Post-apocolypse sunset" (working title)
This is the view from the southern-most point of Merritt Island (Florida) looking directly at the sunset, but the clouds would effectively conspire to block all colors. So this is the colorless view in a 15-second exposure, with about 3 filters applied from Color Efex Pro 4.
Work and the weather have been conspiring against me recently, meaning I haven't been able to get out and about with my camera for a few weeks, whilst it's looking like being another few before I can rectify that.
In the meantime, here's one from an early morning trip to Blea Tarn a month or so ago.
Any comments appreciated :-)
In the land of verdant dreams, where rivers weave and play,
Portlandia stands proud and bright, a beacon in the fray.
But midst the wooden giants tall, a hero felt the strain,
For Pete Hegseth, valiant knight, succumbed to heat's cruel rein.
Beneath the sun's relentless gaze, his armor felt the weight,
The fires of a thousand suns conspired to create,
A thirst that gnawed within his core, a call of nature's need,
To quench his lips, restore his strength, a desperate, noble deed.
From hills where mighty trees do rise, the whispers softly came,
"Seek ye the finest nectar sweet, and stave off weakness' claim."
In bustling lanes of hipster cheer, where artisans reside,
The city's heart, with vibrant pulse, would not let hope subside.
A barista of copper, wise and sprightly fair, with kindness in her eyes,
Brewed forth the nectar of the gods, a golden, sweet surprise.
With hints of berry, floral notes, it shimmered in the light,
"Drink deep, brave warrior,” she smiled, "revive your fading might."
With trembling hands, he raised the cup, the chalice of his fate,
He sipped the brew, a symphony; his spirit it did sate.
And as the elixir flowed within, life surged through every vein,
Pete, emboldened, stood once more; no longer naught but pain.
He rallied forth, with vigor new, his mission now restored,
The noble cause of truth and light, embraced him as his sword.
Portlandia, land of shade and sun, your nectar, pure and true,
Had steered him back from parched despair, to skies of brighter blue.
Thus sing we now of this great quest, where unity did thrive,
For even heroes need a pause, to feel the pulse alive.
So let us toast to friendships forged, in the cool city air,
For Portlandia saved Pete Hegseth, with love and sweetest care.
— Poem courtesy of Editpad Poem Generator.
Tualatin Fred Meyer, 11:25 PM.
Media:
* C-SPAN: President Kennedy's Final Address to the United Nations General Assembly (00:17:52) — September 20, 1963
* C-SPAN: President Trump addresses U.N. General Assembly - FULL SPEECH (00:56:43) — September 23, 2025
See also: IMG_2423 Only I Will Remain
You can never have enough Aurora Borealis images.
For maybe 10 minutes or so during this fantastic Aurora display, the Gods of Composition conspired to align the Aurora exactly towards the lighthouse.
It was an amazing moment of awe and frustration with many camera phones pointing skywards. I've cloned out said camera phones and their holders. May they never be seen again!
Fall is here at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut.
The house was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter, an architect from New York City. When it was being built, the Hartford Daily Times noted, "The novelty displayed in the architecture of the building, the oddity of its internal arrangement and the fame of its owner will all conspire to make it a house of note for a long time to come."
(3/12 For Elsie-cat)
A new variation on leapfrog... Elsie cat (and sneaky shadow-cat) jump over Barney-dog. Last week, I was trying to find a way to get Elsie jumping predictably, so I could take action photos... Turns out, she's quite happy to jump repeatedly from a stool to a table - so long as I put out some really tasty food in a bowl on the table, as a reward. Barney was initially banished from the garden while I photographed Elsie but he squeaked so pitifully from inside (the camera shutter works the same as a clicker for him - he knows it means treats and fun!), that I let him join us and made use of him as an obstacle. Last week, Barney was, at times, a little unsure about whether he was OK with being jumped over by a temperamental cat and it took quite a bit of patience to get Elsie to make the leap.
This week, we tried again and both participants were much better in their roles as obstacle and athlete :) Barney held his nerve, stayed very still and smiled for the camera. Elsie was almost too keen - she definitely remembered the "training" we did last week - the instant I sat her on the stool, she wanted to take off, which made getting even a halfway decent shot of her in flight rather difficult. Half the time, she'd be leaping before I was in position with the camera. Attempting to take action shots of an independent kitty cat was entertaining but reminded me that having a model like Barney-dog, who happily stays until told to move and jumps on queue (not two seconds before, or 3 minutes after being asked!) is really rather handy when it comes to taking photos... .
It was a fun little session and I was pleased that Barney and Elsie got on so nicely throughout. Although I've technically had Elsie longer than I've had Barn, they lived separately until quite recently - Elsie at mum's, Barney with my dad and step-family. Barney's great with cats and has been extremely gentle with her, but Elsie is taking a while to trust him. It's coming though... she's definitely less grumpy interacting him these days, more relaxed and friendly. They've even started conspiring to take my own bed off me, happily stretching out within a few inches of each other and not leaving much room for the human!
*To those over on ipernity, sorry - I know this shot is very similar to last week's over there :)