The *HEXtraordinary* Unicorn Foal - Snow Wanderer is not just beautiful; its animation is indescribably stunning. You can acquire this enchanting creature at the *HEXtraordinary* main store.

Additionally, I want to highlight the exquisite Insurrektion [IK] The Ruins Set, which contributes significantly to the scene, and the HISA - Flora wildflower grass - Dark Greens, providing a vibrant touch to your grassy land. Both of these items are available at their respective main stores.

*HEXtraordinary*: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Old%20Salem/73/154/27

Insurrektion: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tikka/192/32/1852

HISA: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hisa/196/69/23

*alirium* DwarfForest [OldGold]

Hecates Oak v4

HPMD* Cliff Hill - green B

Skye River Set P2 Curve Right +ground

Oficialmente conocido como Valle de Cuelgamuros desde octubre de 2022.

La nave de la basílica se excavó en la roca y está a un nivel más bajo para realzar el presbiterio y romper la monotonía de un espacio tan largo. Está dividida en cuatro tramos, marcados por series de grandes arcos fajones, cruzados en la bóveda para formar casetones.

Las dimensiones del templo actual son superiores a las de la primitiva perforación, que era de 11 por 11 metros, ahora tiene un ancho de 18 metros. Las dificultades técnicas de la ampliación del túnel fueron muy grandes por la estructura granítica del risco, con diaclasas que podían producir desprendimientos, hasta el punto de que se tomó la decisión de macizar el túnel existente con los escombros de la ampliación del suelo y costados, y una vez terminada y consolidada esta, proceder al vaciado total. En agosto de 1954 se realizó el revestimiento interior, con grandes arcos fajones hormigonados, así como los laterales y el suelo, lo que contribuye a la estabilidad del conjunto y a la sujeción de la masa de piedra que gravita sobre la bóveda.

Los muros de las capillas albergan los restos de miles de combatientes de ambos bandos de la Guerra Civil española (1936-1939).

The nave of the basilica was excavated in the rock and is at a lower level to enhance the presbytery and break the monotony of such a long space. It is divided into four sections, marked by series of large transverse arches, crossed in the vault to form coffered ceilings.

The dimensions of the current temple are greater than those of the original perforation, which was 11 by 11 meters. Now it has a width of 18 meters. The technical difficulties of expanding the tunnel were very great due to the granitic structure of the cliff, with joints that could cause landslides, to the point that the decision was made to solidify the existing tunnel with the debris from the expansion of the floor and sides. and once this is finished and consolidated, proceed to complete emptying. In August 1954, the interior lining was made, with large concreted transverse arches, as well as the sides and the floor, which contributes to the stability of the whole and to the support of the mass of stone that gravitates over the vault.

The walls of the chapels house the remains of thousands of combatants from both sides of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

Wikipedia: The red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) is a tropical bird in the family Phasianidae. It ranges across much of Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. Red junglefowl are the primary ancestor of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), but the grey junglefowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl and green junglefowl have also contributed genetic materials to the gene pool of the chicken. Evidence from the molecular level derived from whole-genome sequencing revealed that chicken was domesticated from red junglefowl about 8,000 years ago, with this domestication event involving multiple maternal origins.

This beautiful Queen Anne style house was constructed in 1890. The house is located on the west edge of the Jacksonville Historic District. Almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district which was listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places,

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

Calendar cliché or not, mere mortals cannot resist this scene for its sheer 'stand-&-stare' qualities. (Mere mortals evidently don't drive white vans on the A82.)

Even late on in the morning a remarkable quality of light shone through. The compelling properties of that 'clingy' cumulus contributes to the overall wonder, also: a blank, blue sky would have photographically killed this image off, I reckon.

The grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) originally from North America was introduced into the UK in the 1800s. It provides an easy encounter with wildlife for many people, but can be damaging to woodlands and has contributed to the decline of the red squirrel. These squirrels have grey fur and often sit upright with their large bushy tails arched over their backs.Grey squirrels are active during the day, foraging for food in trees and on the ground – they often visit peanut feeders in gardens. In the autumn they spend time storing nuts to eat during the winter. Their nest, called a drey, is a compact, spherical structure. It is slightly larger than a football and constructed of twigs, leaves, bark and grass. Grey squirrels tend to breed in between January and April and, if food is plentiful, they may have a second litter in the summer.

Excerpt from the plaque:

Moyer Wharf: Jacob Honsberger Moyer bought this farm property in 1860, and built this house in 1867. By 1871 local farmers had advanced from clearing land and growing grain for their own use to a situation of surplus production. Recognizing an excellent business opportunity, Moyer set up as a grain merchant and shipper. On this site, he constructed a large wharf and warehouse to store and ship farmers’ grain. It became a very busy lakefront, with docked schooners and long lines of farm wagons waiting to unload. When those vessels sailed off, the cargo aboard them represented some of the earliest agricultural exports from this area and provided farmers with funds to improve homesteads and to expand to other crops. When the business shut down in 1885, it had contributed significantly to the prosperity of agriculture throughout the area.

The mouth of the Bega River on the NSW Far South Coast. This is one of the few rivers presently contributing sand size sediment to its adjoining embayment. This only occurs during floods when flow velocities are sufficient to move coarse sediment through the estuarine basin, facilitated by the extensive infilling that has occurred over the last few thousand years. Because of their size, these sands can continue to nourish Tathra Beach. In non-flood times, breaking waves aided by flood tide currents can sweep some of the sediment back into the estuary. The balance between river flow, tidal currents and onshore wave power also controls the frequency and duration of river mouth opening.

Malus sylvestris, the European crab apple, also known as the European wild apple or simply the crab apple, is a species of the genus Malus, native to Europe and western Asia. Its scientific name means "forest apple"

The wild apple is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree, but can also grow into a multi-stemmed bush. It can live 80–100 years and grow up to 14 metres (46 feet) tall with trunk diameters of usually 23–45 centimetres (9–17+1⁄2 inches), although diameters exceeding 90 centimetres (35 in) have been recorded. The leaves are roundish-oval and sometimes hairy on the underside. The hermaphrodite flowers appear in May, slightly preceding hawthorn, have white or pinkish petals and are insect-pollinated. The small pome-fruits are around 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, ripen in autumn and fall to the ground. The bark is light brown and breaks up in flakes. The branches are thorny, especially in response to pruning or browsing.

In the past M. sylvestris was thought to be the most important ancestor of the cultivated apple (M. domestica), which has since been shown to have been primarily derived from the central Asian species M. sieversii. However, DNA analyses confirm that M. sylvestris has contributed significantly to the genome. They found that secondary introgression from other species of the genus Malus has greatly shaped the genome of M. domestica, with M. sylvestris being the largest secondary contributor. They also found that current populations of M. domestica are more closely related to M. sylvestris than to M. sieversii. However, in more pure strains of M. domestica, the M. sieversii ancestry still predominates.

If so, here are some answers you could choose from:

1. It's embarrassing, I know, but I had no idea that Epstein was a delinquent paedophile.

2. Actually, I have never witnessed any wrongdoing.

3. Unfortunately enough I was introduced to Epstein, it wasn't my choice, but I did stay far longer than I should have.

4. I am male and gay, so could not possibly have had intercourse with underage girls.

5. I don't sweat, so it can't be me in that picture.

6. I didn't contribute. It's not my signature, and I didn't draw the female torso. Biden did.

Fuji X-Pro3. I am aware that there are more important matters in the world, but it is interesting to watch how some of the illuminati, literati and men of money and power wriggle out of this shady affair. Ah, yes, this is satire. Did you take it for the real thing?

A street view looking south from Central Park at the 100 block of N. Water Street in downtown Decatur. All but two of the buildings seen on the west (right) side of the street are either contributing or significant buildings in the Decatur Downtown Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The non-contributing buildings are the single story (Murphy & Co.) building on the southwest corner of N. Water and E. Prairie streets, and a three story, modern retail and office building seen at the opposite end of the block on the northwest corner of on the N. Water and E. Main St. The buildings on the east side of the 100 block lie outside the boundaries of the historic district.

All of the architectural contributing and significant buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1915. The most interesting of these buildings will be highlighted in future posts.

Decatur is the seat of Macon County. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in central Illinois. Decatur has an economy based on industrial and agricultural commodity processing and production. The city is home of private Millikin University and public Richland Community College.

Decatur's estimated population for 2019 was 70,746, making Decatur the thirteenth-most populous city in Illinois, and the state's sixth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

Well the time has come......which tbh I didn't really think was going to happen and at the last minute by some miracle all would work out.....

(bad habit me thinking like that its beginning to appear 🙈).....There would be space at the ideal local SEN provision for 'H'

In one way I've saved myself a summer of worry thinking it would all work out in the end......

Other hand - BAM I'm now a Yr 7 teacher.......

So for teacher's perks (and yes we are following the curriculum and have a classroom set up - even a list of our school policies 😁) I declare photography on the time table.....

And I'm pleased to say the lesson has contributed immensely to 'H's photography skills......

As demonstrated by him Sunday morning when we went to watch the 'swan song' for the Class 507's at Hooton Station ......

He skidded onto the platform floor like a footballer with his celebration knee slide that even Mbappé would have been proud of .....don't quite know what the other photographer's thought.....but there again he's just like his Mom 😁

Architekturinszenierung „Colours of Life“

Als absolute Festival of Lights Institution trägt die juristische Fakultät der Humboldt Universität auch dieses Jahr wieder zu einem farbenfrohen Lichtspektakel am Bebelplatz bei. Das einst als königliche Bibliothek dienende Gebäude erstrahlt dieses Jahr mit einer kräftigen und leuchtenden Architekturinszenierung und entfaltet so seine volle Pracht.

Architectural production “Colours of Life”

As an absolute Festival of Lights institution, the Humboldt University Law Faculty is once again contributing to a colorful light spectacle at Bebelplatz this year. This year, the building that once served as the royal library shines with a strong and luminous architectural display, revealing its full splendor.

This beautiful bungalow was built in 1916 by Walter Crawford, a lumberyard owner. According to the Philip H. Decker book A Window On The Past. Residences of Jacksonville, Illinois: Their History And Design 1833-1925, it is one of the few houses in Jacksonville that was designed and to a large extent built by its original owner.

The one-and-a-half story house has a flat lapped clay tile roof which, according to Decker, was brought from France as ballast in a ship and gives the house something of the feeling of a country cottage. The house also features a country garden on the south and east sides, It is the result of Mrs. Crawford's abiding interest in China, the land where she was born and raised as a child of Methodist missionaries. Note the carved wooden gates on the right leading to the back yard.

The Walter Crawford House is contributing to the Jacksonville Historic District. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district.

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

Source: Decker, Philip H. A Window On The Past. Residences of Jacksonville, Illinois: Their History And Design 1833-1925. Morgan County Historical Society

The land area of Ooty features a wonderful blend of lofty mountains, plateaus, valleys, rivers, streams, lakes that contribute to the scenic advantage of the city.

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The PrintAid Project was started in April to raise money for the earthquake disaster in Japan by selling photography prints (including one of mine). It eventually raised £1,133 for the Red Cross! THANKS to everyone who contributed. Although this particular project has been wrapped up, people in Japan are still in need and there are numerous ways to continue helping out.

Blue-eyed Ground-Dove - Critically Endangered - Endemic to the southwest Brazilian cerrado. Massive and more or less uncontrolled habitat modification within this region has unquestionably contributed to its apparent great rarity, although it seems to have been uncommon even historically; the last, published record dates from no more recently than 1992, although some sources claim that the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove persists in small numbers in the Serra do Espinhaço - MG.

I was very happy to have the privilege to see and photograph this rarity in its environment. They may go extinct soon. So, so sad.

Picture taken in Botumirim - Minas Gerais - a moment of peace to behold - Have a Peaceful Wednesday.

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats

Today is the 12th day of Valentine's month of February; I must include laughter in my February love group. Laughter keeps one younger, lightens up everyone's mood, and can change the direction of the general mood from a sad, gloomy one to a happy and joyous one. Laughter in itself is a kind of medicine, one that we cannot live without!

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - The Laughing Song [Live]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C25cTs5J9P4

I Love To Laugh (Sing Along Songs)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvAGNSJ7Wrc

Laughing Song

William Blake

When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,

And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;

When the air does laugh with our merry wit,

And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

when the meadows laugh with lively green,

And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,

When Mary and Susan and Emily

With their sweet round mouths sing "Ha, ha he!"

When the painted birds laugh in the shade,

Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread:

Come live, and be merry, and join with me,

To sing the sweet chorus of "Ha, ha, he!"

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Charlie Chaplin

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

E.E. Cummings

We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.

Ellen DeGeneres

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, stay safe, and laugh often! ❤️❤️❤️

View LARGE

Lincoln's City Hall and Fire Department sits at the intersection of Broadway and N. McLean St., kitty-corner from the Logan County Courthouse on the northeast corner of the square. Constructed in 1886, the handsome Romanesque Revival building is a significant property in the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The telephone booth seen on the roof of City Hall is a Route 66 landmark. In the old days, the roof was used by the fire department as a lookout for weather spotters. If severe weather was spotted, a direct line from the booth to the fire house alerted the department to activate the storm siren.

The phone booth was added in the 1960s, and I can't imagine standing in it with the wind howling. This unique roof ornament was nearly lost to history when City Hall received a new roof in 2009 but, because of the historic value and the tradition, citizens spoke up and the historic conversation piece was kept in place.

The two buildings seen to north (left) of the courthouse in the 100 block of N. McLean St. also lie within the historic district. The closest building with two different facades at 114-116 N. McLean St. is an early 20th century commercial structure that is a contributing property in the historic district. The second building at 118 N. McLean St. dates to the 1890s. Originally an Italianate design, the structure was remodeled in the 1970s and is a non-contributing property in the district.

Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.

The Golden Hind at Brixham, Devon is a full sized replica of one of the most iconic ships from the age of exploration. The Ship has been a feature of picturesque Brixham harbour for over fifty years, entertaining and educating thousands of visitors during this time - as well as being featured on many television programmes and films. The Ship is open come rain or shine and is an all weather attraction with many indoor displays as well as wide open decks.

A striking landmark in Brixham, Devon every visitor on board contributes to the restoration and maintenance of the Ship, ensuring that 'Brixham's Treasure' will continue to enhance Brixham's beautiful Quayside for future generations...

A view of W. Main Street as seen from above Capitol Ave. in the heart of the Mount Sterling Commercial Historic District. The district includes four entire city blocks and parts of four others. Nearly all of the buildings in the district are Italianate commercial buildings; the only exceptions are a Classical Revival bank building (a portion of which is seen in the lower left) and the courthouse (shown previously), which incorporates both Italianate and Classical Revival elements. The district was added to the NRHP in 1987.

Mount Sterling is the seat of Brown County. The city had a population of 2,006 at the 2020 census.

Sources:

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Mount Sterling Commercial Historic District; Mount Sterling, Illinois (Wikipedia); Mount Sterling Commercial Historic District (Wikipedia), Brown County, Illinois (Wikipedia)

The recent rain and the perfect weather brings out the beauty of the Arizona Desert. Saguaro and Cholla cactus all contributing to the green. #notalwaysthisgreen #afternoonhike

The Luman Burr House was built about 1864 in the Federal style. The two-story brick was remodeled around the turn of the century and now shows characteristics of the Queen Anne style. The house apparently didn't originally have the left wing (first image), back wing (second image), and gabled roof. The gable with return, hipped, and pediment dormers with Queen Anne type shingles, were also added around the turn of the century.

Luman Burr (1836-1920) was born in Connecticut, and arrived in Bloomington at the age of twenty. Working in the courts, Burr rose to become clerk of the circuit court in 1864. While in this position he worked with many of the famous citizens of Bloomington such as David Davis (who became an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Senator from Illinois.) He is also said to have known and heard Abraham Lincoln argue cases in court. Burr resided at this home on Franklin Square from 1864 until his death in 1920.

The Luman Burr House is a contributing property in Bloomington's Franklin Square Historic District, which is located northwest of downtown Bloomington. The Square is named in honor of Franklin Price, who was the mayor of Bloomington Mayor in 1856 when land for the Square was gifted to the city.

Franklin Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and was designated a local historic district in 1979. The houses of Franklin Square were built in a variety of architectural styles from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, including Georgian Revival, Italianate, Colonial, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque.

Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is home to State Farm Insurance, Country Financial and Beer Nuts. Illinois Wesleyan University is located here, while the neighboring city of Normal is home to Illinois State University and Heartland Community College. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.

A view of the Washington Elementary School in Jacksonville. Erected in 1932, this beautiful art deco building was designed by the famed Urbana architectural firm of Royer, Danely & Smith. A $13M renovation of the school building is being completed in 2024.

The Washington Elementary School is contributing to the Jacksonville Historic District. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district.

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

This beautiful Queen Anne style house was constructed in 1890. The house is located on the west edge of the Jacksonville Historic District. Almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district which was listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places,

The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.

The soft pink plumage on these galahs glowed in the early morning sunshine just after sunrise. These were just three out of maybe a hundred that were in the gum trees above my head! They were out-numbered by the hundreds of little Corellas in the surrounding trees, and all were contributing to the amazing dawn chorus!

Happy Feathery Friday!

Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are characterized by their gray to rosy brown backs, gray limbs, and dark gray heads and necks, with tails featuring 13 alternating black and white bands. Unlike most lemurs, they spend 40% of their time on the ground, moving quadrupedally.

These primates, known as the "gardeners of the forest," play a crucial role in seed distribution and plant pollination. They inhabit southwestern Madagascar, living in arid areas and forests within territories of 15 to 57 acres (0.06 to 0.2 square kilometers). Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups of 3 to 25 individuals, with females being dominant. They are territorial and communicate through vocalizations and facial expressions.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the ring-tailed lemur as Endangered (IUCN, 2018). Despite their adaptability, they are severely impacted by deforestation in Madagascar, primarily due to sapphire mining, which leads to habitat fragmentation. This isolation from resources and other lemur groups significantly contributes to their endangered status.

• Ring-tailed lemur

• Lémur colianillado, lémur de cola anillada, maki de cola anillada

Scientific classification:

Domain:Eukaryota

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Mammalia

Order:Primates

Suborder:Strepsirrhini

Family:Lemuridae

Genus:Lemur

Species:L. catta

Lemur experience - Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura

La Lajita, Fuerteventura, Islas Canarias

Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. The archaeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán State, Mexico.

Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic (c. AD 600–900) through the Terminal Classic (c. AD 800–900) and into the early portion of the Postclassic period (c. AD 900–1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the Northern Maya lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature. The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site.

The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site's stewardship is maintained by Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatán.

Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with over 2.6 million tourists in 2017.

As night falls, I find comfort in the serene moments just before succumbing to sleep. Bathed in the gentle glow of muted lights, my surroundings transform into a sanctuary, signaling the peaceful journey that lies ahead. Beyond my window, the world recedes, making way for a tranquil tableau painted with the muted symphony of the night.

Captured within the frame is a snapshot of this tranquil interlude – a ritualistic pause before entering the realm of dreams. The interplay of shadows and the soft warmth of ambient light create a soothing ambiance, inviting a sense of calm that washes over me.

The image is a visual ode to this serene pause, a conscious moment before surrendering to the embrace of slumber. The unmade bed, carefully arranged essentials, and the quiet stillness all contribute to a delicate symphony of tranquility.

In this captured moment, I embrace the quietude, recognizing the beauty often overlooked in the hustle of the day. It serves as a daily reminder of the importance of finding peace amid chaos, offering a gentle prelude to the dreams awaiting in the realm of sleep.

Built in 1911, this Queen Anne-style house features a buff brick facade with a front gable roof, corner turret with a conical roof, decorative stone trim and details, quoins, and decorative glass attic windows, double-hung windows in one-over-one and nine-over-one configurations, half-timbering on the gable ends, bargeboard at the front gable, concrete porch columns and railings, a rough-hewn stone base, a first-floor picture window with a decorative glass transom, and a double front door with decorative glass lights and a decorative glass transom. The house is a contributing structure in the East Row Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and expanded to include this part of the neighborhood in 1985.

Recently the field of theoretical cosmology has been enervated by the suggestion that our universe is the mirror image of another one stretching back in time before the Big Bang (see, for example, www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/icpti-symmetric-uni... ).

Intrigued, I set out to test whether this was observable in practice. After a quick calculation on the back of an old envelope (cigarette packets now being not Politically Correct) I worked out that conditions would be favourable for an experiment in the period around the vernal equinox for my latitude (51N). At this time the angles of the Earth’s gravitational field, the neutrino flux from the sun and a local EM field could be arranged to the optimum.

So, setting a sufficiently powerful Tesla coil in a glass envelope with an inert gas (I used Nitrogen), I tried it out.

And it worked!

Sometimes I could actually see the dim reflection of the alternate universe appear in the glass capsule, but perhaps the best result was this one where I managed to create a wormhole bridging the paired universes.

If you look carefully at the image though you might observe that the energetic feedback created by the wormhole burnt out my coil… such are the sacrifices of science…

---

Storytelling idiocy aside, this image was one of the fun results of an evening spent with a local friendly group of photographers taking images of lightbulbs on tablets (and other things but I didn’t get that far :( ).

I used a clear glass bulb on my iPaddle which I set up to show some very colourful graphic images that I had generated using Midjourney (I finally found something useful to do with that toybox… The text prompt for this one, if you are interested, was ‘Close - up macro HDR photograph of the centre of mirrored 3D circle sculptures, overlapping rainbow circular fractal, vivid rainbow colours, graphic abstract’).

The bulb was lying on its side at an angle resting on the bayonet fitting so I made the canvas larger and rotated it. Starting in Capture One I dropped the greys to black using a levels adjustment and played with the Clarity and a little Dehaze. In Affinity I sharpened it with High Pass/Linear blend and a bit of Unsharp mask and enriched the colour. Then quite a lot of work with inpainting to remove the vestiges of the iPad and a lot of dust.

PS I forgot to mention that this was a focus stack of ten images, though I suspect only four or five contributed anything useful. The camera did the focusing and I used Helicon Focus for the stacking, which I've not really done before (it was fast, worked with raws and produced a dng output).

Thanks for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy Easter and 100x :)

...like something out of a fairy tale. I've waited nearly 10 years to capture a scene like this as it is reminiscent from a scene from the Pixar / Disney movie Brave. The winner of the day was without a shadow of a doubt the lighting; the lighting really enhanced the scene as the sunlight began breaking through the clouds, the mist began making its appearance within the confinements of this delicate yet mysterious forested scene. Other contributing factors which need to be acknowledged are the ferns, scattered fall foliage, the moss and darkened areas throughout the frame. Enjoy.

Photo captured via Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 28-85mm F/3.5-4.5 Lens. Western Cascades Lowlands and Valleys section within the Cascades Range. Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Lewis County, Washington. Late October 2022.

Exposure Time: 1 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/16 * Bracketing: None * Color Temperature: 5400 K

E.V.E LUXE for Bandana Day 2018

Francois l'Olonnais Black west

Scene: The looking grass

E.V.E LUXE for Bandana Day 2018

Hair Fair 2018 opens on September 22nd and E.V.E has designed special textures for one of the official bandanas with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that has been serving children suffering from hair loss since 1981. Each year the Hair Fair collects millions of Lindens for Wigs for Kids and this year E.V.E wanted to contribute to the cause.

The unisex LUXE Bandana is material enabled to produce a shiny raven scales effect and gold line embellishment.

Wear your E.V.E Luxe bandana on Bandana Day! (Last day of event.)

Bandana Day in Second Life began in 2007. On this day people remove their hair and wear bandanas decorated by residents grid-wide to support children who have lost their hair due to illness or medical treatments.

“I ought to be jealous of the tower. She is more famous than I am.” – Gustave Eiffel

View of Paris from the Eiffel Tower.

10 Things you may not know about the Eiffel Tower

1. The Eiffel Tower was once yellow

2. It was built to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution

3. For four decades it was the world’s tallest structure

4. The Eiffel Tower was once the world’s largest billboard

5. Gustave Eiffel designed part of another famous landmark

6. Parisian artists petitioned against the “monstrous” structure

7. Radio saved the Eiffel Tower from destruction

8. The Eiffel Tower contributed to the capture of Mata Hari

9. The tower housed a scientific laboratory

10. Daredevils have died attempting aerial feats at the tower

The Multicolored Tanager (Chlorochrysa nitidissima), endemic to Colombia, is one of the most vibrant and sought-after birds in the Andes. This photograph was taken at La Minga Ecolodge, situated in the Río Bitaco Forest Reserve near Cali, at an elevation of 1988 meters. The bird’s striking green, blue, and orange plumage contrasts beautifully against the muted tones of the surrounding cloud forest, creating a visual masterpiece of color and texture. Capturing such a rare and dynamic species in its natural environment is both a privilege and a technical challenge.

The exposure settings for this photograph were carefully selected to meet the demands of the environment and the bird’s behavior. A shutter speed of 1/350 sec ensured that the tanager’s brief moment of stillness could be captured without motion blur, while an aperture of f/6.7 provided the perfect balance between depth of field and light intake. This allowed the tanager to remain sharply in focus while softening the background for an appealing bokeh effect. The ISO 400 setting optimized image quality by minimizing noise while maintaining light sensitivity in the shaded, diffused lighting conditions of the cloud forest. Shot from a distance of 6.12 meters with a Canon R5 and a 100-500mm lens, this image highlights the vivid colors of the tanager’s plumage and its serene surroundings. Every technical decision contributed to showcasing the delicate beauty of this rare species and its fragile habitat, making this photograph a celebration of nature’s brilliance and a reminder of the importance of conservation.

©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer

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The Rufous Motmot is is the second largest and arguably the most spectacular of the motmots, even though it lacks the bright, iridescent patches of turquoise blue on its head that are characteristic of many other motmot species. The large size, overall rich coloration and contrast between rufous head and underparts and intensely green-blue green back, wings and tail contribute to the striking appearance of this species. It is nearly identical in overall coloration and pattern to the smaller Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyryhnchum), with which it shares a similar range extending from Honduras south to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia and east to northwestern Brazil. The Rufous Motmot prefers humid lowland and hill forest where it consumes a large variety of food items ranging from various fruits to invertebrates and even small vertebrates, sometimes in the company of army ants. When foraging, it is a typical low energy specialist sitting quietly on a shaded horizontal branch for long periods of time from which it suddenly darts out after passing insects. It nests in burrows that it digs and/or refurbishes.

Make it a great day my friends! It is a choice ya know...

17 de Agosto

Se fundó el 17 de agosto de 1904, coincidiendo con el aniversario de la muerte del General San Martín, por lo que se eligió denominarlo con esa fecha.Se destaca por su prolijidad, siendo admirada por quienes la visitan y orgullo de sus vecinos que, en forma mancomunada, dan vida a esta localidad aportando sus ideas y trabajando a la par de sus autoridades. La estaciòn Pertenece al Ferrocarril General Roca en su ramal entre Darregueira hasta Bahía Blanca. No presta servicios de pasajeros desde 1978, sin embargo por sus vías corren trenes de carga, a cargo de la empresa Ferroexpreso Pampeano

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17 de Agosto

It was founded on August 17, 1904, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of General San Martin, so it was chosen to name it with that date. It stands out for its prolixity, being admired by those who visit it and the pride of its neighbors who, in a joint manner, they give life to this locality by contributing their ideas and working alongside their authorities. The station belongs to the General Roca Railway on its branch between Darregueira to Bahía Blanca. It does not provide passenger services since 1978, however its routes run freight trains, run by the company Ferroexpreso Pampeano

A huge early nineteenth-century country house built in the style of a Norman castle on the site of much earlier high-status dwellings, set within a wide park on a natural promontory between the Ogwen and Cegin rivers at the eastern end of the Menai Straits. Penrhyn castle dominates the surrounding landscape to an extraordinary degree. The Grand Lodge which forms the entrance to the park, and the high stone walls which surround it, contribute strongly to the sense of a wealthy, aristocratic enclave, yet its proximity to, and visual relationship with, the Quarry (NPRN 40564), the railway systems and Port Penrhyn (NPRN 306314) indicate the source of much of the vast wealth of the owning Pennant and Douglas Pennant families. Now part-owned and entirely managed by the National Trust, the Castle and Park are open to the public.This Neo-Norman residence was built for George Hay Dawkins Pennant (1764-1840), inheritor of the Penrhyn estate, in which work of the period 1827-37 overlays a Medieval hall, itself ‘gothicised’ in the late eighteenth century by Richard Pennant, Lord Penrhyn, the previous owner. The Castle is preserved in its late nineteenth century condition. A remarkable feature of its lavish interior is the use of slate in some furniture – a state bed, a desk, as cisterns and meat cupboard in the kitchen, as inkwell-holders and a billiard table. It is set within extensive grounds which were emparked in the early nineteenth century, and which are surrounded by a high mortared stone wall capped with slate. The grounds include extensive gardens, stabling and a home farm. The setting and relationship of the house to the park and landscape is outstanding. Within the castle stable block is an industrial railway museum which displays locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts from the Penrhyn Quarry Railway and the Dinorwic Quarry Railway.

The present building was created by the architect Thomas Hopper between the years 1822 and 1837 for George Hay-Dawkins Pennant who had inherited the Penrhyn estate from his cousin, Richard Pennant. Pennant himself had married into the Penrhyn family and had subsequently made his fortune through slate quarrying industries in north Wales and slavery in Jamaica.

Text source: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/16687/

Eagles

First Trust Company Building is a historic commercial building located at Broadway and State Street in Albany, New York, United States. It was designed by noted architect Marcus T. Reynolds and built in 1904. Currently, it is the main offices of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also a contributing property to the Downtown Albany Historic District.

Phlegm is an internationally renowned street artist and has contributed many murals to Sheffield’s walls over the years. His surreal illustrations are normally monochrome, although Sheffield has had some rare multicoloured murals painted by the artist.

This Skull and Crossbones is on the wall above the now closed book and record shop, Rare and Racy, on Devonshire Street In Sheffield.

Bright sunlight, fall foliage and a gentle breeze were the conditions that contributed to this vibrant river abstract.

Not far from where we were staying, I recorded this with little time to get there. Fortunately, I had scouted this place earlier in the day, just incase an opportunity were to arise. The clouds in the rest of the sky refused to play their part, and instead went from white to grey. However, remembering the power lines in this location, gave me an idea to use with this "Dragon's Tail" of light.

Lasting for what seemed no more than an instant, the light quickly faded. The silhouettes of both power lines and poles, served as major elements to the success of this shot, contrasting with the light. The dark greyish blue sky helped accentuate the bright streaking cloud, while the hill contributed as the ideal negative space.

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He is kissing John Lennon.

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney that appears on the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. John Lennon started production of the song, and then Paul McCartney contributed to it in a songwriting session.

Have you seen an image of Pelé hugging some famous in the streets? It is the "Pele Beijoqueiro", a series of lambe-lambs by the artist Luis Bueno, 35, from São Paulo, present in walls and walls of several cities in Brazil.

Pele's Lambe-licks

Bueno has already put Pelé next to the Mona Lisa, of Leonardo da Vinci; characters from the "Star Wars" franchise; the painter Salvador Dalí and even the singer David Bowie, the biggest assembly of the series.

The lamb-lambes, artistic technique of assembly and collage, were inspired by a photo of Pelé embracing Muhammad Ali in 1977, in the United States.

"I fell in love with the image, which brought this gesture of affection and affection of a great symbol of Brazil that is Pelé. Immediately I realized that I could reconstruct the image and enjoy the gesture of the kiss, replacing Muhammad with other people," said Bueno , in an interview with Batanga.

The works are produced in stages. The artist took the photo and started a digital painting process that took months to get ready. Then it is scaled, separated into several parts for printing and cut manually. "Many pieces in the series are hand-painted too, which would be a fourth step," he says.

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Pelé passed away yesterday in São Paulo, at the age of 82.

Rest in peace, King Pele.

December 29, 2022.

I love old pines....the smell, the forest floor they contribute to - the warmth and softness.... tiny canopy gaps where stars poke through high above in the darkest hours- they're home, a safe place even when all around is dark a place I can just fade into ♥

I even chose the pine forest by my childhood home to bunk off school - a good book and a pack of fags, few club bars (mint has always been my preference) better than all that school socialising and I hated English - 2 doubles on a Wednesday.

We camped as teenagers by the river on the soft floor though I definitely remember cold toes but so happy hearted a rite of passage - though perhaps more so the milkman clocking me walking home and telling the parents when I'm 'sleeping at a friends'

I felt steady as a teenager life before me, strong and ready..........been wobbling a bit ever since

but just like those nights grew into mornings we have to grow into ourselves - even if i do wobble, I suppose I'm less fade and more fall though 🙈

The "street of spices" in Salamanca (Spain). Great light and contrasts in the city. The yellow stone (piedra de Villamayor) is common in most buildings, old and new, which contributes to the unity of the townscape. This stone is known to resist important changes of temperature during the day.

The Peacock Flower holds symbolic importance in some cultures, often associated with beauty, pride, and joy.

This plant is often celebrated for its spectacular flowers and its ability to bring a tropical touch to gardens and landscapes.

The Peacock Flower produces beautiful, showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or a combination of these, often resembling a peacock's tail in appearance.

The flowers are large, with long stamens that contribute to their dramatic look.

The plant itself can grow as a shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters), though it can grow taller in ideal conditions.

The leaves are finely divided, giving the plant a feathery or fern-like texture.

The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK in the 1800s. It provides an easy encounter with wildlife for many people, but can be damaging to woodlands and has contributed to the decline of the red squirrel.

Ghent is the capital of the province of East Flanders.

Ghent is a Celtic settlement at the mouth of the Leie into the Scheldt.

Thanks to the flourishing cloth trade, Ghent was one of the largest and most important cities in Europe in the Middle Ages. The right to stack grain acquired by the city also contributed considerably to its prosperity.

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Gent ist die Hauptstadt der Provinz Ostflandern.

Gent ist eine keltische Siedlung an der Mündung der Leie in die Schelde.

Dank des florierenden Tuchhandels war Gent im Mittelalter eine der größten und wichtigsten Städte Europas. Auch das von der Stadt erworbene Recht, Getreide zu stapeln, trug erheblich zu ihrem Wohlstand bei.

Can you see the little red me in the picture? ;))

The ever-changing weather conditions also contribute to its beauty. The mountain is often shrouded in mist or surrounded by dramatic clouds, creating an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere. The interplay of light and shadow on the mountain and the surrounding landscape can create a truly magical and surreal experience.

DJI Mavic 3

Hasselblad L2D-20c

ISO200, 12.29mm, f/2.8, 1/1250s