Four acres granted to St Paul’s Church of England 17 Nov 1847 for a cemetery, earlier there had been a few burials, closed 15 Jan 1874, last official burial 1922 (although later burials noted in newspaper), transferred 1938 to City of Port Adelaide. Headstones cleared c1972, info plaque erected 1990, developed 1994 as Pioneer Park. The burial register indicates 3,000 burials; seven headstones remain. The Portonian Walk was established 2003 with pavers engraved with names of former residents of Port Adelaide. Now a peaceful park, the cemetery was so neglected in the 1920s & 1930s that a two-up school was hidden amongst the prickly pear & boxthorn, cows were pastured in clear areas and children played with broken headstones & bones.

“The remains of Thomas King, the unfortunate carpenter of the Lightning, found drowned a few days ago, at Port Adelaide, were yesterday interred in the Cemetery reserve, at Albert Town.” [Adelaide Observer 15 Aug 1846]

“Alberton Church of England Cemetery closed, except to persons who have already acquired a portion for the burial of members of their families.” [Express & Telegraph 16 Jan 1874]

“a fire, which was caused through some dry grass becoming ignited, started on the eastern side of the Alberton Cemetery. . . Many of the tomb fences and headstones suffered damage.” [Daily Herald 10 Mar 1911]

“Near Port Adelaide, north of Albert, Albert Town, or Alberton, as it was variously called, is one of the oldest South Australian graveyards. It is now closed. The first burial was on October 28, 1846.” [Register 5 Mar 1917]

“The Friends of the late Robert Cruickshank are respectfully informed that his Remains (Ashes) were Laid to Rest in the Family Ground, in the Alberton Cemetery.” [Register 30 Mar 1922]

“Mrs. Hephzibah Beulah Channon. . . recalled the times when funerals from ships were taken to the old Alberton Cemetery by .boats along the canal.” [Daily Herald 22 Jun 1922]

“In the middle of the cemetery is a capacious vault erected, so blackened letters on a slate slab above indicate, to the memory of John Snoswell and his wife Eliza. John Snoswell was buried there in 1878 [sic], but the weather has removed the record of the exact year in which his wife was interred. . . Alberton cemetery is a graveyard of tears. Everywhere there are broken headstones, some crushed by careless feet into a thousand fragments, and some half buried in a tangle of undergrowth. Though it is difficult to trace the history of the burial ground from its headstones there is plenty of evidence to show that beneath its unkempt surface many of the pioneers of South Australia sleep. The inscription on one stone indicates that Grace Parsons, who died at Port Adelaide in 1845, sleeps beneath. . . Though an occasional burial still takes place in the cemetery, holders of land exercising the right to inter relatives there, the place has been closed as a public burial place for years.” [The Mail 11 Jun 1927]

“cows had been allowed to roam in the cemetery. . . The owner of the cows was no better than the other wretches, for to pen his cows where he wanted them on that day he had attached the barbed wire to the railings of the graves. . . A ‘two-up school’ frequents ‘God's acre’, particularly on Sundays. Rabbiting with dogs is one of the most inoffensive of the pastimes indulged in there. . . It was not to be expected that any reputable cemetery trust would have allowed prickly pear, cacti, boxthorn, and other weeds to spread all over the property and smother the graves.” [Port Adelaide News 24 Jun 1927]

“Alberton Cemetery Fund Opened. . . Mayor of Port Adelaide (Mr Lewis) . . . is endeavoring to raise £200 to have the neglected graveyard cleared of boxthorns, prickly pear, and other weeds, and the graves restored to a state of decency. The cemetery is the resting place of many pioneers of the district. The last lease was issued about 60 years ago. Since then there have been no funds available for upkeep.” [News 3 Dec 1931]

“Captain G. H. McKay . . . interred in the Alberton cemetery on Monday afternoon. The late Captain McKay who was 56 years of age, had been connected with the shipping industry on the S.A. coast all his life. . . leaves a wife and large family” [Kangaroo Island Courier 9 Apr 1932]

“Alberton Cemetery. . . was given by the Government in the early 1850s as a burial ground for Port Adelaide, the management being vested in the Church of England. The cemetery ceased to be used as burial ground about 20 years ago, when the Cheltenham Cemetery was opened, and within recent years had fallen into a state of neglect. About two years ago, the council took the matter up with the trustees, and an arrangement was made whereby the council was to assume control of the cemetery. Because of the terms of the original trust, however, the ground cannot be taken over by the council until the authority of Parliament is given.” [Advertiser 3 Jun 1938]

“the control of the Alberton Cemetery to be transferred to the Port Adelaide Corporation.” [Chronicle 15 Dec 1938]

“The Old Cemetery at Alberton, which is now 100 years old, was the first burying ground of the Port Adelaide district, and many pioneer families are represented there. The headstones include such well-known names as Bayly, Barratt, Bowen, Bower, Brock, Blake, Dixon, Grosse, Hannay, Hodge, Fisher, Le Messurier, Moyers, Newman, Risely, Quin, Yeo, Wells, Weman, and Dr. Duncan. Originally it adjoined the Church of England Rectory, and was controlled by that body, but as a general cemetery and open to all creeds. After the establishment of the Cheltenham Cemetery by the corporation, it fell into disuse, and the graves became very neglected. In November, 1936, however, the Church of England handed it over to the Municipal Council, together with £100 for its upkeep, and it is therefore now under the same control as the Cheltenham Cemetery.” [The Citizen, Port Adelaide 30 Jun 1939]

“The Port Adelaide City Council will recondition the Alberton Cemetery and make several improvements. The cemetery has been overgrown with weeds and in a shocking condition for some time. Vandals have committed numerous acts of desecration and few of the headstones remain in good condition. Members of the cemetery committee of the council found on inspection last week that the burial ground had been haphazardly laid out. On only 25 per cent. of the tombstones were the inscriptions legible, and only half a dozen graves received attention from relatives. Although the council has a list of those buried, it is unable to determine the position of the graves, except by the headstones. . . There have been only occasional burials at Alberton during the last 40 years, and no maintenance work has been carried out for a quarter of a century. Seven years ago the public subscribed £120, and prickly pear and weeds were cleared from the land. But the cemetery again became an eyesore.” [News 12 Oct 1939]

“MOORE.—The friends of the late Miss Mary Ann Moore, of 13 Hastings st., Glenelg, are respectfully informed that her funeral will leave the residence of her niece (Mrs E. Peake), 17 Boundary rd., Glenelg, on Monday, at 4 p.m., for the Old Alberton Cemetery.” [Advertiser 16 Mar 1942]

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

Read about the issue of Mediocrity vs. Decency

I would tell you about the things

They put me through

The pain I've been subjected to

But the lord himself would blush

The countless feasts laid at my feet

Forbidden fruits for me to eat

But I think your pulse would start to rush

Now I'm not looking for absolution

Forgiveness for the things I do

But before you come to any conclusions

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes

If you try walking in my shoes

Morality would frown upon

Decency look down upon

The scapegoat fates made of me

But I promise you, my judge and jurors

My intentions couldn't have been purer

My case is easy to see

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience

Peace of mind after what I've been through

And before we talk of repentance

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes

If you try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

Now I'm not looking for absolution

Forgiveness for the things I do

But before you come to any conclusions

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes

Now I'm not looking for absolution

Forgiveness for the things I do

But before you come to any conclusions

Try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps

Keep the same appointments I kept

If you try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

If you try walking in my shoes

Try walking in my shoes

[Depeche Mode - Walking in My Shoes]

Edward Barkham 1633 , Lord Mayor of London, who bought the manor in 1621 lies in the north mortuary chapel he built before his death. He lies with wife Jane Crowche who died 16 Jun 1661, and some of his children on a monument completed c 1654

"My will and mynd is that my bodie shall bee buried within the chappell of the Church of Southacre in the Countie of Norfolk within the vault of the North side of the chancell there which I lately made for that purpose without any name pomp or great solemnitie onely with decency and upon buriall lying as shall seeme best to my Executors"

He was the son of Edward Barkham 1599 & Elizabeth daughter of Henry Rolfe of White Parish Wilts and Agnes Boteler

He was Lord Mayor of London in 1621/ 1622 & knighted in June 1623

He m Jane daughter of John Crowch / Crouch 1605 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/79QMcP of Cornbury & Layston Herts (a cloth merchant) & Joan 1583 heiress of John Scot & Elizabeth Pickard

Her elder sister Eiizabeth Flyer Freman is at Aspenden Herts www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/kA3uG8 widow of William Freman www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6693KP

Children www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/166591 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Uw5WFy www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/119GJs

1. Elizabeth 1593-1632 m 1611 Sir John Garrard, 1st Bart 1590-1637 of Dorney Bucks, (buried at Wheathampstead www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/mB6uvN ) son of Sir John Garrard, Mayor of London & Jane daughter of Richard Patrick / Partridge

2. Edward 1595-1667 m 1622 Frances daughter of Sir Thomas Berney of Park Hall in Reedham & Juliana daughter of Sir Thomas Gawdy of Redenhall & Frances Richers (died at Tottenham, buried here)

3. Susan 1596-.1622 m 1619 Robert Walpole 1593-1663 of Houghton son of Calibut Walpole & Elizabeth daughter of Edmund Bacon Esq and Elizabeth Cornwallis

4. John b/d 1597

5.Robert 1599-1661 m Mary daughter of Richard Wilcox

6 Jane 1602- 1661 <https://flic.kr/p/8gS5Zo www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw136315/Jane-... m 1626 (2nd wife ) Charles Caesar 1643 flic.kr/p/8gS5Zf of Benington Herts, Master of the Rolls; Son of Julius Caesar Adelmare 1636 & Dorcas Martin; Widower of Anne 1625 flic.kr/p/8gS5Z3 daughter of Peter Vanlore &Jacoba Teighbott / Thibault

7. Margaret 1602 - 1603

8. Margaret 1603-1640 m (3rd wife) Anthony Irby 1605-82 flic.kr/p/hjG5U9 son of Sir Anthony Irby 1610 of Irby Hall Whaplode & Elizabeth flic.kr/p/hjJpJr third daughter of Sir John Peyton 1616 www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/10740503164/ of Isleham by Alice daughter of Edward Osborne, Lord Mayor of London

9. John b1604

10. Thomas b/d 1606

11. Hugh d 1628

At the top are the arms of Barkham & Crouch between figures of victory and death with winged hourglasses

His Will

"In the name of god Amen

Edward Barkam of Southacre in the county of Norfolk yeoman being in p(er)fect minde & memory the xxnl (18) daye of ffebruary in the xly(?) year of the reaigne of our sovereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of god of England ffrance & Ireland Queene

First he committed his soule to god Allmighty and his body to the earth

Item he gave towards the rep(ar)ations(?) of the p(ar)ish church in Southacre XXs(20s)

Item he gave to the poore (there xx’s (20s) ) there Xs (10s)

Item he gave to the other poore people dwelling neere there abouts to be delt at his funerall XX’s(20s)

Item he gave to my^or^(4?) poore men that shall carry him to church my’s (4s)

Item he gave to the ringers at his funeral my’s (4s)

Item he gave to two of his mayde servannts dwelling with him at his decease XXs (20s)

Item he also gave to my men servannt my’s (4s)

Item he gave to Elizabeth Rolfe Xs (10s) & to Mrs Smith his daught’r being goddaught’s to the same Edward X’s (10s) of lawfull money of England

Item he gave to his grandchildren the some of xx1’lb (£21) of like mony to be paid evenly x’ted amongst them at their severall ages of xx1 (21) years

Item he gave to his sonne Barkam of London his children the some of my’lb (£4) to be x’ted equally amongst them at their severall ages of xx1 (21) year

The residue of his goods & chattells what soend he gave to his daughter Margaret Gallard(?)

Witness: Thomas Barkam, Robt Barkam"

- Church of St George, South Acre, Norfolk

Picture with thanks - copyright Picture with thanks .layston-church.org.uk

Four acres granted to St Paul’s Church of England 17 Nov 1847 for a cemetery, earlier there had been a few burials, closed 15 Jan 1874, last official burial 1922 (although later burials noted in newspaper), transferred 1938 to City of Port Adelaide. Headstones cleared c1972, info plaque erected 1990, developed 1994 as Pioneer Park. The burial register indicates 3,000 burials; seven headstones remain. The Portonian Walk was established 2003 with pavers engraved with names of former residents of Port Adelaide. Now a peaceful park, the cemetery was so neglected in the 1920s & 1930s that a two-up school was hidden amongst the prickly pear & boxthorn, cows were pastured in clear areas and children played with broken headstones & bones.

“The remains of Thomas King, the unfortunate carpenter of the Lightning, found drowned a few days ago, at Port Adelaide, were yesterday interred in the Cemetery reserve, at Albert Town.” [Adelaide Observer 15 Aug 1846]

“Alberton Church of England Cemetery closed, except to persons who have already acquired a portion for the burial of members of their families.” [Express & Telegraph 16 Jan 1874]

“a fire, which was caused through some dry grass becoming ignited, started on the eastern side of the Alberton Cemetery. . . Many of the tomb fences and headstones suffered damage.” [Daily Herald 10 Mar 1911]

“Near Port Adelaide, north of Albert, Albert Town, or Alberton, as it was variously called, is one of the oldest South Australian graveyards. It is now closed. The first burial was on October 28, 1846.” [Register 5 Mar 1917]

“The Friends of the late Robert Cruickshank are respectfully informed that his Remains (Ashes) were Laid to Rest in the Family Ground, in the Alberton Cemetery.” [Register 30 Mar 1922]

“Mrs. Hephzibah Beulah Channon. . . recalled the times when funerals from ships were taken to the old Alberton Cemetery by .boats along the canal.” [Daily Herald 22 Jun 1922]

“In the middle of the cemetery is a capacious vault erected, so blackened letters on a slate slab above indicate, to the memory of John Snoswell and his wife Eliza. John Snoswell was buried there in 1878 [sic], but the weather has removed the record of the exact year in which his wife was interred. . . Alberton cemetery is a graveyard of tears. Everywhere there are broken headstones, some crushed by careless feet into a thousand fragments, and some half buried in a tangle of undergrowth. Though it is difficult to trace the history of the burial ground from its headstones there is plenty of evidence to show that beneath its unkempt surface many of the pioneers of South Australia sleep. The inscription on one stone indicates that Grace Parsons, who died at Port Adelaide in 1845, sleeps beneath. . . Though an occasional burial still takes place in the cemetery, holders of land exercising the right to inter relatives there, the place has been closed as a public burial place for years.” [The Mail 11 Jun 1927]

“cows had been allowed to roam in the cemetery. . . The owner of the cows was no better than the other wretches, for to pen his cows where he wanted them on that day he had attached the barbed wire to the railings of the graves. . . A ‘two-up school’ frequents ‘God's acre’, particularly on Sundays. Rabbiting with dogs is one of the most inoffensive of the pastimes indulged in there. . . It was not to be expected that any reputable cemetery trust would have allowed prickly pear, cacti, boxthorn, and other weeds to spread all over the property and smother the graves.” [Port Adelaide News 24 Jun 1927]

“Alberton Cemetery Fund Opened. . . Mayor of Port Adelaide (Mr Lewis) . . . is endeavoring to raise £200 to have the neglected graveyard cleared of boxthorns, prickly pear, and other weeds, and the graves restored to a state of decency. The cemetery is the resting place of many pioneers of the district. The last lease was issued about 60 years ago. Since then there have been no funds available for upkeep.” [News 3 Dec 1931]

“Captain G. H. McKay . . . interred in the Alberton cemetery on Monday afternoon. The late Captain McKay who was 56 years of age, had been connected with the shipping industry on the S.A. coast all his life. . . leaves a wife and large family” [Kangaroo Island Courier 9 Apr 1932]

“Alberton Cemetery. . . was given by the Government in the early 1850s as a burial ground for Port Adelaide, the management being vested in the Church of England. The cemetery ceased to be used as burial ground about 20 years ago, when the Cheltenham Cemetery was opened, and within recent years had fallen into a state of neglect. About two years ago, the council took the matter up with the trustees, and an arrangement was made whereby the council was to assume control of the cemetery. Because of the terms of the original trust, however, the ground cannot be taken over by the council until the authority of Parliament is given.” [Advertiser 3 Jun 1938]

“the control of the Alberton Cemetery to be transferred to the Port Adelaide Corporation.” [Chronicle 15 Dec 1938]

“The Old Cemetery at Alberton, which is now 100 years old, was the first burying ground of the Port Adelaide district, and many pioneer families are represented there. The headstones include such well-known names as Bayly, Barratt, Bowen, Bower, Brock, Blake, Dixon, Grosse, Hannay, Hodge, Fisher, Le Messurier, Moyers, Newman, Risely, Quin, Yeo, Wells, Weman, and Dr. Duncan. Originally it adjoined the Church of England Rectory, and was controlled by that body, but as a general cemetery and open to all creeds. After the establishment of the Cheltenham Cemetery by the corporation, it fell into disuse, and the graves became very neglected. In November, 1936, however, the Church of England handed it over to the Municipal Council, together with £100 for its upkeep, and it is therefore now under the same control as the Cheltenham Cemetery.” [The Citizen, Port Adelaide 30 Jun 1939]

“The Port Adelaide City Council will recondition the Alberton Cemetery and make several improvements. The cemetery has been overgrown with weeds and in a shocking condition for some time. Vandals have committed numerous acts of desecration and few of the headstones remain in good condition. Members of the cemetery committee of the council found on inspection last week that the burial ground had been haphazardly laid out. On only 25 per cent. of the tombstones were the inscriptions legible, and only half a dozen graves received attention from relatives. Although the council has a list of those buried, it is unable to determine the position of the graves, except by the headstones. . . There have been only occasional burials at Alberton during the last 40 years, and no maintenance work has been carried out for a quarter of a century. Seven years ago the public subscribed £120, and prickly pear and weeds were cleared from the land. But the cemetery again became an eyesore.” [News 12 Oct 1939]

“MOORE.—The friends of the late Miss Mary Ann Moore, of 13 Hastings st., Glenelg, are respectfully informed that her funeral will leave the residence of her niece (Mrs E. Peake), 17 Boundary rd., Glenelg, on Monday, at 4 p.m., for the Old Alberton Cemetery.” [Advertiser 16 Mar 1942]

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

ICE Out of the Bay!

Thurs Oct 23, 2025

Coast Guard Island, Oakland

At dawn on Thursday, hundreds of people from around the Bay Area came together at the base of Coast Guard Island Bridge in Oakland to stand up for their Bay Area communities and against the promised surge of ICE to SF by Trump. Coast Guard Island is where ICE agents were starting to deploy and where a force of over 1000 was expected.

When we arrived around 7:30am, we were told that about 15-20 minutes earlier, several ICE vehicles had raced toward the crowd of interfaith leaders, grandmothers and community members and proceeded to dispense several flash bang grenades and chemical agents into the crowd... in one instance, aiming directly and quite intentionally ("with direct eye contact" is what we were told) into the face of a clergyman - Jorge Bautista, at very close range. Someone else's foot was run over.

As the very peaceful (except for ICE thugs!) rally proceeded, organizers got word that Trump had changed his mind about surging ICE and federal troops into San Francisco, at least for now. This was cause for very limited celebration at the rally. Which federal forces was he referring to? ICE? CBP? Coast Guard? Natl Guard? Was he only referring to San Francisco? What about all the other Bay Area communities? Organizers remain on high alert and extremely vigilant and will continue to actively engage with communities at risk all around the Bay for the foreseeable future. Surge or no surge, ICE is still in our communities and continues to brutally kidnap non-citizens and citizens alike with no regard for due process and human decency.

You can tell a lot about a person by the manner in which they dress their scone.

A Devonian is supposed to place the clotted cream against the scone; the jam on top. For the Cornish the dressing stratigraphy is overturned. Some reason that the jam goes on top to prevent smearing the cream embarrasingly on one's face. This unreasoning supposition implies that to smear one's face with jam is acceptable. I say open your mouth wider or be less extravagant with your jam and cream.

I was subjected to possibly the worst cream tea offence at what should have been a proper Afternoon Tea in a posh establishment at Tavistock, on the border of these counties. The cream, not proper clotted cream like my mother made using the milk of Molly the cow, was horrid frozen and thawed supermarket rubbish still in the nasty plastic cup in which it was bought. At least here in Port Isaac they have the decency and inclination to respect tradition and their guests. In Tavistock I was clearly a customer; a commodity.

These are my scones. Can you tell my West Country heritage from this snapshot? I'll tell you more. If that jam is commercial grade — soft and gooey — it really must go on top. It is simply impossible to spread proper clotted cream on such pap. Jam as I know it — a means to conserve fruit for when there is none — is firm, its pectin relished, it's moisture reduced so that it will set and keep unmolested by fermentation or mould; without pasteurisation and vacuum sealing. This is jam on which clotted cream can be spread.

Perhaps, I wonder, you can tell as much about the jam maker and the practical nature of the Devonian and the Cornish as you can about the spreader? My inclination is that there is something in that notion.

Attempting to maintain some ladylike decency. FAIL.

Arctic Council Ministerial Dinner at Artikum Glass Hall. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland.

Finland hosts the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting on 7 May in Rovaniemi. Minister-level representatives from the eight Arctic States will convene to review and approve work completed under the two-year Finnish Chairmanship to improve sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Arctic Council Ministerial Dinner at Artikum Glass Hall. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland.

Finland hosts the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting on 7 May in Rovaniemi. Minister-level representatives from the eight Arctic States will convene to review and approve work completed under the two-year Finnish Chairmanship to improve sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Women: whalebone corset was a necessity- serving as both a foundation to support the outer layers as a measure of internal female decency. Clothing of late Romantic period called for a narrower sleeve that fit low on the shoulder. These close fitting sleeves coupled with the low shoulder seam kept women from lifting their arms much above their heads. Detachable undersleeves- or rectangular pieces of cloth with a cuffed end- were sewn into the sleeve and could be removed for regular laundering.

By the mid 1840s, the shape of the skirt took on a bell shape and stiff crinolines along with multiple layers of petticoats became necessary to aid in lifting the circumference of the skirt. Double flounced skirts became quite popular. Bodices of the late Romantic period typically had basque waists (or elongated waistlines which ended in a point at the front). Necklines were round, V-shaped, and wide for both day and evening wear. Oftentimes interchangeable chemisettes and collars were worn during the day (see left).

Gowns of the late Romantic period were often made in one piece (the bodice attached to the skirt) but jacket and skirt combinations were also popular. The Gilet corsage was a French term for a woman's jacket made in the style of a man's waistcoat.

Mens: Shirts were cut with deep collars, long enough to fold over a carvat or neckcloth wrapped around the neck. Daytime shirts had tucked insets at the front; evening shirts had frilled insets. Sleeves were cuffed, closing with buttons or studs. Stocks have wide, shaped neckpiece fastening at the back which were often black. Carvats are square, were folded diagonally into long strips and tied around the neck, finishing in a bow or knot.

Italian postcard by Tre Oci for the exhibition 'Mario De Biasi, Fotografie 1947-2003, Venezia /Tre Oci, 13.05.21 > 09.01.22'. Photo: Maria De Biasi, Milano. Caption: Brigitte Bardot, Venezia (Venice), 1957. Sent by mail in the Netherlands in 2021.

French actress Brigitte Bardot (1934) died on 28 December 2025, at the age of 91. In the 1950s, she was the sex kitten of the European film industry. BB starred in 48 films, performed in numerous musical shows, and recorded 80 songs. After her retirement in 1973, she became an animal rights activist. In the coming weeks, we will continue to post a BB postcard every day to remember her as she once was.

Brigitte Bardot was born in Paris in 1934. Her father, Louis Bardot, had an engineering degree and worked with his father in the family business. Her mother, Ann-Marie Mucel, was 14 years younger than Brigitte's father, and they married in 1933. Brigitte's mother encouraged her daughter to take up music and dance. At the age of 13, she entered the Conservatoire Nationale de Danse to study ballet. By the time she was 15, Brigitte was trying to launch a modelling career and found herself on the cover of the French magazine Elle in May 1949. Her incredible beauty was readily apparent, and Brigitte was noticed by Roger Vadim, then an assistant to the film director Marc Allegrét. Vadim was infatuated with Bardot and encouraged her to start working as a film actress. BB was 18 when she debuted in the comedy Le Trou Normand / Crazy for Love (Jean Boyer, 1952). In the same year, she married Vadim. Brigitte wanted to marry him when she was 17, but her parents quashed any marriage plans until she turned 18. In April 1953, she attended the Cannes Film Festival, where she received massive media attention. She soon was every man's idea of the girl he'd like to meet in Paris. From 1952 to 1956, she appeared in seventeen films. Her films were generally lightweight romantic dramas in which she was cast as an ingénue or siren, often with an element of undress. In 1953, she made her first US production, Un acte d'amour / Act of Love (Anatole Litvak, 1953) with Kirk Douglas, but she continued to make films in France.

Roger Vadim was not content with the light fare his wife was offered. He felt Brigitte Bardot was being undersold. Looking for something more like an art film to push her as a serious actress, he showcased her in Et Dieu créa la femme / ...And God Created Woman (Roger Vadim, 1956). This film, about an immoral teenager in a respectable small-town setting, was a smash success on both sides of the Atlantic. Craig Butler at AllMovie: "It's easy enough to say that ...And God Created Woman is much more important for its historical significance than for its actual quality as a film, and that's true to an extent. The immense popularity, due to its willingness to directly embrace an exploration of sex as well as its willingness to show a degree of nudity that was remarkably daring for its day, demonstrated that audiences were willing to view subject matter that was considered too racy for the average moviegoer. This had both positive (freedom to explore, especially for the French filmmakers of the time) and negative (freedom to exploit) consequences, but its impact is undeniable. It's also true that Woman is not a great work of art, not with a story that is ultimately rather thin, some painful dialogue, and an attitude toward its characters and their sexuality that is unclear and inconsistent. Yet Woman is still fascinating, due in no small part to the presence of Brigitte Bardot in the role that made her an international star and sex symbol. She's not demonstrating great acting here, although her performance is actually good and much better than necessary, and her legendary mambo scene at the climax is nothing short of sensational." During the filming of Et Dieu créa la femme / And God Created Woman (Roger Vadim, 1956), directed by her husband, Brigitte Bardot had an affair with her co-star, Jean-Louis Trintignant, who at the time was married to French actress Stéphane Audran. Her divorce from Vadim followed, but they remained friends and collaborated in later work.

Et Dieu créa la femme / ...And God Created Woman (Roger Vadim, 1956) helped Brigitte Bardot's international status. The film took the USA by storm, her explosive sexuality being unlike anything seen in the States since the days of the 'flapper' in the 1920s. It gave rise to the phrase 'sex kitten', and fascination with her in America consisted of magazine photographs and dubbed over French films - good, bad or indifferent, her films drew audiences - mainly men - into theatres like lemmings. BB appeared in light comedies like Doctor at Large (Ralph Thomas, 1957) - the third of the British 'Doctor' series starring Dirk Bogarde - and Une Parisienne / La Parisienne (Michel Boisrond, 1957), which suited her acting skills best. However, she was a sensation in the crime drama En cas de malheur / Love is My Profession (Claude Autant-Lara, 1958). Hal Erickson at AllMovie: "This Brigitte Bardot vehicle ran into stiff opposition from the Catholic Legion of Decency, severely limiting its U.S. distribution. Bardot plays a nubile small-time thief named Yvette, who becomes the mistress of influential defence attorney Andre (Jean Gabin). Though Andre can shower Yvette with jewels and furs, he cannot "buy" her heart, and thus it is that it belongs to handsome young student Mazzetti (Franco Interlenghi). Alas, Yvette is no judge of human nature: attractive though Mazzetti can be, he has a dangerous and deadly side. En Cas de Malheur contains a nude scene that has since been reprinted in freeze-frame form innumerable times by both film-history books and girlie magazines." Photographer Sam Lévin's photos contributed considerably to her image of sensuality and slight immorality. One of Lévin's pictures shows Brigitte, dressed in a white corset. It is said that around 1960, postcards with this photograph outsold in Paris those of the Eiffel Tower.

Brigitte Bardot divorced Vadim in 1957, and in 1959 she married actor Jacques Charrier, with whom she starred in Babette s'en va-t-en guerre / Babette Goes to War (Christian-Jaque, 1959). The paparazzi preyed upon her marriage, while she and her husband clashed over the direction of her career

Her films became more substantial, but this brought a heavy pressure of dual celebrity as she sought critical acclaim while remaining a glamour model for most of the world. Vie privée / Private Life (1962), directed by Louis Malle, has more than an element of autobiography in it. James Travers at French Films: "Brigitte Bardot hadn’t quite reached the high point of her career when she agreed to make this film with high-profile New Wave film director Louis Malle. Even so, the pressure of being a living icon was obviously beginning to get to France’s sex goddess, and Vie privée is as much an attempt by Bardot to come to terms with her celebrity as anything else. Malle is clearly fascinated by Bardot, and the documentary approach he adopts for this film reinforces the impression that it is more a biography of the actress than a work of fiction. Of course, it’s not entirely biographical, but the story is remarkably close to Bardot’s own life and comes pretty close to predicting how her career would end." The scene in which, returning to her apartment, Bardot's character is harangued in the elevator by a middle-aged cleaning lady calling her offensive names was based on an actual incident, and is a resonant image of celebrity in the mid-20th century. Soon afterwards, Bardot withdrew to the seclusion of Southern France.

Brigitte Bardot's other husbands were German millionaire Playboy Gunter Sachs and right-wing politician Bernard d'Ormale. She is reputed to have had relationships with many other men, including Samy Frey, her co-star in La Vérité / The Truth (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1960), and musicians Serge Gainsbourg and Sacha Distel. In 1963, Brigitte Bardot starred in Jean-Luc Godard's critically acclaimed film Le Mépris / Contempt (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963) opposite Michel Piccoli. She was also featured along with such notable actors as Alain Delon in Amours célèbres / Famous Love Affairs (Michel Boisrond, 1961) and Histoires extraordinaires /Tales of Mystery (Louis Malle, 1968), Jeanne Moreau in Viva Maria! (Louis Malle, 1965), Sean Connery in Shalako (Edward Dmytryk, 1968), and Claudia Cardinale in Les Pétroleuses / Petroleum Girls (Christian-Jaque, 1971). She participated in various musical shows and recorded many popular songs in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly in collaboration with Serge Gainsbourg, Bob Zagury and Sacha Distel, including 'Harley Davidson', 'Le Soleil De Ma Vie' (the cover of Stevie Wonder's 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life') and the notorious 'Je t'aime... moi non plus'.

Brigitte Bardot’s film career showed a steady decline in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1973, just before her fortieth birthday, she announced her retirement. She chose to use her fame to promote animal rights. In 1976, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals. She became a vegetarian and raised three million French francs to fund the foundation by auctioning off jewellery and many personal belongings. For this work, she was awarded the Légion d’honneur in 1984. During the 1990s, she was also outspoken in her criticism of immigration, interracial relationships, Islam in France and homosexuality. Her husband Bernard d'Ormal was a former adviser of the far-right Front National party. Bardot has been convicted five times for 'inciting racial hatred'. More fun is that Bardot is recognised for popularising bikini swimwear, in such early films as Manina / Woman without a Veil (Willy Rozier, 1952), in her appearances at Cannes and in many photo shoots. Bardot also brought into fashion the 'choucroute' ('Sauerkraut') hairstyle (a sort of beehive hairstyle) and gingham clothes after wearing a checkered pink dress, designed by Jacques Esterel, at her wedding to Charrier. The fashions of the 1960s looked effortlessly right and spontaneous on her. Time Magazine: "She is the princess of pout, the countess of come hither. Brigitte Bardot exuded a carefree, naïve sexuality that brought a whole new audience to French films."

Sources: Denny Jackson (IMDb), Hal Erickson (AllMovie), Craig Butler (AllMovie), James Travers (French Films), French Films, Wikipedia and IMDb.

And please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

This image is copyright, all rights reserved, and not part of the public domain. Any use, linking to, or posting of this image is prohibited without my consent. If you want to use this image in any fashion, please have the common courtesy and decency to ask.

92 Foot, Upper Bridal Veil Falls, Bridal Veil Creek, Columbia Gorge, Oregon

What an enjoyable day this was. Two visits to one of of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge a week apart, is more then I could ask for. Making the trek down that steep hill with good company on both occasions made the visit that much more pleasurable.

I'm in the process of adding my new watermark logo to past photos and will turn them back to public as I replace each image. A lot of work but I think will be well worth it in the end. I'm also thinking about a copyright statement that I want to add to each photo in the description.

Cerghan is a giant- 7ft tall and very very wide. Glenn, the 'little' guy, is 6'1" and a healthy size. Not overly muscled but obviously used to intensive physical exercise though with some down time. Something of a soldier's physique I guess. He's not small.

Despite that, Glenn's head looks bigger than Cerg's when not right next to each other, which I find funny. Cerghan's in the process of getting a face lift and I was expecting to widen the head and reshape it but not sure I can get it big enough to work. His head looks even smaller with hair though he will have custom made wigs eventually.

So again... opinions? I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need help with this one. Cerghan is a HUGE project, pun intended. The Titan body would be temporary though for years, I'm sure, as I really have to do a LOT of work with the AoD. Even then the Titan will need to be made taller. I want Cerg standing about 83cm if not more and that will be mostly be leg lengthening as Cerg has long legs.

Oh, great googly moogly.... decisions are the worst. *sighs*

Note: I added decency pants to Cerg! *L* Sheesh! Like the size of a baby's fist!

La Tomba di Dante fu costruita tra il 1780 e il 1782 per volontà del cardinal legato Luigi Valenti Gonzaga e su progetto dell'architetto ravennate Camillo Morigia, secondo i contemporanei dettami neoclassici, nell'intento di restituire nobiltà e decoro alla sepoltura dantesca, fino ad allora ospitata all'interno di una semplice cappellina, più volte ristrutturata nel corso dei secoli. Le spoglie del poeta, dopo essere state a lungo nascoste dai frati francescani, per essere sottratte ai Fiorentini che le avevano richieste, furono rinvenute nel 1865 e da quel momento riposano nella Tomba.

L'interno fu rivestito di marmi policromi per il Centenario dantesco del 1921: sulla parete di fronte all'entrata è collocato il bel bassorilievo con il ritratto di Dante, scolpito da Pietro Lombardo nel 1483; ai piedi dell’arca sepolcrale è posta una ghirlanda in bronzo e argento offerta nel 1921 dall’esercito vittorioso nella Prima Guerra Mondiale e sul lato destro si trova la raffinata ampolla realizzata da Giovanni Mayer e donata dalle città giuliano-dalmate nel 1908.

Built between 1780 and 1782, Dante's Tomb was commissioned by the cardinal Luigi Valenti Gonzaga, from a project by the architect Camillo Morigia from Ravenna, who followed the neoclassical norms of that time. The cardinal's aim was to restore the nobility and decency of Dante's burial. Up until then, the remains of the poet had been preserved in a little chapel that underwent several restorations over the centuries. After being kept hidden by the Franciscan friars for a long time, in order to protect them from the Florentines who had claimed them, Dante's remains were found in 1865 and they have been resting in the new tomb ever since.

In occasion of the 600th anniversary (Centenario dantesco) of Dante's death in 1921, the interior was covered with polichrome marbles; a beautiful low relief portraying the poet was carved in 1483 by Pietro Lombardo and placed onto the wall in front of the tomb's entrance; a bronze and silver wreath lies at the foot of the sepulchral ark, it was donated to Ravenna by the victorious army after the First World War; on the right side you find the refined ampoule by Giovanni Mayer, donated by the Istrian cities in 1908.

(Fonte: www.turismo.ra.it)

Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) on stage with Queens Of The Stone Age at the Henry Fonda, LA

* if you are going to post my images elsewhere on the web then please pay attention to the creative commons license and have the decency to credit me with them *

I decided the scenery at the bottom of the steps warranted some serious examination and sat there snapping away for some considerable time as i panted, gasped and groaned after the climb from the bottom of the valley. Fine scenery is always a good reason for stopping to take a few pictures. Not actually being able to stand unaided is another.

There are no actual fairies in this picture because they've all buggered off to London to work for Si Spurrier in his comic thing which appears to be on permanent hiatus, possibly due to trouble with the Lord Chamberlain's office over the gratuitous levels of sex, drugs and violence it contains. And fairies. Honestly, you couldn't make it up. Here's a link anyway but i warn you, it is not for the squeamish, easily offended or indeed anyone with even the barest vestige of taste or decency.

www.disenchantedcomic.com/webcomic/1/

Those poor Cottingly girls would be appalled.

I cannot understand what happens to people that they can collectively lose their control of decency and regard for the respect for human life and regardlessly kill men, women and children in a massacre such as what happened at the Battle of Bud Dajo, Mindanao 100+ years ago. This picture of this young woman is overwhelming sad.

A period hand-colorized postcard.

Hubbell Family Papers, Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Catching up on some back shots from the beginning of the year

On a walk around the Addington Cemetery with a wonderful Flickr friend. February 13, 2016 Christchurch New Zealand.

There is so much damaged in the cemetery because of the earthquake we have had. It is such a pity as I don' think it will ever be fully repaired.

The Addington Cemetery was established in 1858 when the Scottish Presbyterians of St Andrew’s Church purchased land for a cemetery in Selwyn Street. Although not the first cemetery in Christchurch, Addington was in fact the first “public” cemetery, “being open to all persons of any religious community” and allowing the performance of any religious service “not contrary to public decency”.

The first burial took place on the 10th of November 1858. The cemetery has several persons of note buried within its grounds including activist Kate Sheppard, Christchurch Mayor Tommy Taylor and members of the pioneer family, the Deans.

For More Info:http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/addington-cemetery/

Decency and good taste are harder and harder to find. People arent ashamed any more. A leaping leopard or three stripes legitimize barbarism. Dont you think?

This image is copyright, all rights reserved, and not part of the public domain. Any use, linking to, or posting of this image is prohibited without my consent. If you want to use this image in any fashion, please have the common courtesy and decency to ask.

Conboy Wildlife Rufuge, Glenwood, Washington

This is from the previous weekend's scouting mission in search of autumn colors with the aspen groves. This weekend I drove my Sis up there and we met up with Darlisa for an aspen good time. It's amazing the difference just one week makes. The previous weekend the aspens were at peak autumn color and this weekend the majority of the trees were bare. We did find a couple of nice spots which made everybody happy though we ventured deep into private property to find it. I'm happy that none of us were shot because that would've really ruined a good day. I realize this view of autumn aspen looks a bit messier then other people's aspen post but with messiness comes character, or at least that's what I'm telling myself. I used my polarizer to really make the colors pop.

Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide signing the Rovaniemi Joint Ministerial Statement at the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi.

Finland hosts the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting on 7 May in Rovaniemi. Minister-level representatives from the eight Arctic States will convene to review and approve work completed under the two-year Finnish Chairmanship to improve sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

This probably looks crazy out of place in my stream but, as I was processing the photos from this morning's baptism, it stuck out. Figured I'd toss it up here as evidence that I do occasionally take non-dog pictures :)

Before anyone suspects an obstruction of privacy or decency, I know all these people! The mass was over and we were just waiting for the priest to get on with things. As odd as I felt snapping pictures in a church, I was the designated photographer of the event. This was mostly an accident as I clicked to figure out my inside settings.

The central woman is the mother of the kids' mom (so, grandma) and everyone else is grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends with other children - all of whom I've watched at one point or another. So no harm.

It's tilted, the focus is sketchy (hadn't used my 50mm in months!), and it was indoors (obviously) which is not my strong suit, but I like what I happened to catch.

Without starting a religious debate, I'm a born (and baptized) Eastern Orthodox. From 4th grade until 12th, I went to Catholic school. By personal choice, I'm an agnostic atheist. I don't much believe in a higher power, or life after death, but if one or the other (or both) exist, then power to the people.

I generally find religion interesting, occasionally funny, and often dangerous. I respect and understand the need to have faith in something bigger, but it's not a need I myself have. I'll go to the events for family or friends - a church wedding, a baby's baptism - and play the part, but beyond that, I don't get much out of it.

'Cept for some photos from a different point of view.

What's really going on through that woman's head, I don't know. And I guess the "not knowing" is part of the appeal.

the days we live are hard ones. the chain which weds with the lock is lost. the door is wide open,there is no knock heard and all are free to enter. the code of decency is thrown to the dogs. waiting for the second coming. an old style bolt in a rural area of himachal pradesh india.

For TRP: I hate...

I hate intolerance, i hate hatred. I hate the over-complication of life that somehow allows individuals and groups alike to overlook common decency and ethical behaviour.

on a lighter note...

i hate obviously photoshopped and over processed photos that have no point to the photoshopping and/or processing. (if they have a point and are done cleverly, then okay!) :) this one is obviously (and deliberately) not done cleverly... does it annoy you?)

As I "patiently" wait for the new 2017 black recolour of the Hot Wheels McLaren P1 to hit our pegs at least I can console myself with plenty of these dark blue versions which I managed to find plenty of back in 2016. A very fine model of this super expensive and super exclusive British hypercar which Hot Wheels have captured nicely and have had the decency to give it some really neat colours and complimenting front and rear detailing. Bought from Poundland back in June 2016. Mint and boxed.

Finnish Meteorological Institute side event on the occasion of the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting at Rovaniemi Town hall.

Finland hosts the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting on 7 May in Rovaniemi. Minister-level representatives from the eight Arctic States will convene to review and approve work completed under the two-year Finnish Chairmanship to improve sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Law Enforcement Week - week of May 11th thru the 17th each year. A time to remember and reflect. Sadly, I know too many people whose name line the memorial wall. "Fidelis Ad Mortem". From the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial page.....On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 58 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 20,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Memorial Fund serves as a nationwide clearinghouse of information and statistics on law enforcement line-of-duty deaths. Our Research Department maintains a comprehensive fatality database, and we publish regular Research Bulletins examining trends and issues in officer fatalities.

If the information you are seeking is not provided here, please feel free to contact the Memorial Fund Research Department at 202-737-3400 or research@nleomf.org. Under each of the Memorial’s four lion statues are inspiring quotes that capture the spirit of the heroic men and women who are honored:

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived."

—Vivian Eney Cross, Survivor

"In valor there is hope."

—Tacitus

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

—Proverbs 28:1

"Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream."

—President George H.W. Bush

“freedom for the thought that we hate”

there is a trait that cannot be crossed...

www.saatchiart.com/art/New-Media-freedom-for-the-thought-...

HATE SPEECH

www.thefire.org/issues/hate-speech/

by FIRE

March 28, 2019

There is no “hate speech” exception to the First Amendment.

Contrary to a common misconception, most expression one might identify as “hate speech” is protected by the First Amendment and cannot lawfully be censored, punished, or unduly burdened by the government — including public colleges and universities.

The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly rejected government attempts to prohibit or punish “hate speech.” Instead, the Court has come to identify within the First Amendment a broad guarantee of “freedom for the thought that we hate,” as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes described the concept in a 1929 dissent. In a 2011 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts described our national commitment to protecting “hate speech” in order to preserve a robust democratic dialogue:

Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and—as it did here—inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a Nation we have chosen a different course—to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.

In other words, the First Amendment recognizes that the government cannot regulate “hate speech” without inevitably silencing the dissent and dialogue that democracy requires. Instead, we as citizens possess the power to most effectively answer hateful speech—whether through debate, protest, questioning, laughter, silence, or simply walking away.

As Justice Louis Brandeis put it, the framers of the Bill of Rights “believed that freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.”

Justice Brandeis argued that our nation’s founders believed that prohibiting “evil counsels”—what today we might call “hate speech”—would backfire:

They recognized the risks to which all human institutions are subject. But they knew that order cannot be secured merely through fear of punishment for its infraction; that it is hazardous to discourage thought, hope and imagination; that fear breeds repression; that repression breeds hate; that hate menaces stable government; that the path of safety lies in the opportunity to discuss freely supposed grievances and proposed remedies; and that the fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones. Believing in the power of reason as applied through public discussion, they eschewed silence coerced by law — the argument of force in its worst form. Recognizing the occasional tyrannies of governing majorities, they amended the Constitution so that free speech and assembly should be guaranteed.

Banning “hate speech” without restricting political speech is prohibitively difficult because of the target’s inherent subjectivity. Each American all but certainly has a different understanding of exactly what expression should lose First Amendment protection as “hate speech.” One citizen’s hateful screed is another’s religious text; one citizen’s slur is another’s term of endearment; or, as the Court put it, “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.” As a result, crafting a generally applicable definition of “hate speech” is all but impossible without silencing someone’s “legitimate” speech.

“Hate speech” is also a moving target, making a workable definition still more elusive. Conceptions of what constitutes “hate” do not remain stable over time. As ideas gain or lose acceptance, political movements advance or recede, and social commitments strengthen or erode, notions of what is unacceptably “hateful” change, too. Today’s majority viewpoint should not be allowed to foreclose that of tomorrow. For example, thirty years ago, the Board of Regents of Texas A & M University sought to deny recognition to a gay student organization because it believed that “[s]o-called ‘gay’ activities run diabolically counter to the traditions and standards of Texas A & M.” At the time, the Board may have voiced the majority view, which found the gay students’ speech to be beyond the pale. Today, the opposite characterization might be true.

Contrary to another common misconception, however, the First Amendment’s protection is not absolute. The Supreme Court has identified narrow exceptions to the First Amendment, including but not limited to speech that constitutes unlawful incitement, true threats, intimidation, or discriminatory harassment. Some of these carefully-defined exceptions encompass speech that one might identify as “hate speech.”

FOR MORE ON “HATE SPEECH”…

“It is quite clear that the perceived benefits of censoring psychically harmful hate speech are far outweighed by the costs of such suppression. The plus side, from the perspective of those who seek speech suppression, is quite limited. That is because the new suppression would extend to only a subset of hate speech, since we already punish hate speech that causes specific tangible harms: threats, harassment, incitement, and hate crimes. Of that newly suppressible subset–psychically harmful hate speech–we would only punish yet another subset, consisting of the most blatant expression. In contrast, even advocates of restricting psychically harmful hate speech acknowledge that free speech principles would nonetheless protect more subtle expressions of racism, sexism, and other bias. Yet, it is likely that these more subtle expressions may well be the most damaging precisely because they cannot as easily be dismissed as biased. On the cost side, permitting the government to punish psychically harmful hate speech would undermine equality and exert an incalculable chilling effect on any speech that challenges the prevailing orthodoxy in any community.”

Nadine Strossen, “Freedom of Speech and Equality: Do We Have to Choose?,” Journal of Law and Policy, December 2, 2016.

“There is no general 1st Amendment exception allowing the government to punish “hate speech” that denigrates people based on their identity. Things we call “hate speech” might occasionally fall into an existing 1st Amendment exception: a racist speech might seek to incite imminent violence against a group, or might be reasonably interpreted as an immediate threat to do harm. But “hate speech,” like other ugly types of speech we despise, is broadly protected.”

Ken White, “Actually, hate speech is protected speech,” Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2017.

“The big problem for proponents of hate-speech laws and codes is that they can never explain where to draw a stable and consistent line between hate speech and vigorous criticism, or who exactly can be trusted to draw it. The reason is that there is no such line.“

Jonathan Rauch, “A new argument for hate-speech laws? Um … no,” Washington Post, Feb. 4, 2014.

“The proposed remedies for ‘hate speech’ tend to be administrative. So in practical terms if you demand the policing of speech, what you want is to beef up the university administration. You are accelerating a process, already under way, toward bloating up the administrative apparatus in an increasingly corporatised university. It can’t be a good thing to turn the development of a culture of coexistence and decency—which is what you were rightly proposing—to turn it into a police matter. I think that is misguided, however motivated.”

Rosemary Bechler and Todd Gitlin, “Safe spaces, the void between, and the absence of trust,” openDemocracy, January 4, 2016.

“Defining hate speech is not just difficult; it’s impossible, as evident from the vastly different definitions surveyed by Sellars. This inability to agree on even a basic framework underscores the futility of creating a definition narrow enough to protect free speech yet broad enough to cover any discernible category of expression. Sellars’ research encompassing hundreds of irreconcilable definitions has yielded no happy medium, only the realization that the United States already strikes this balance through the narrow categories of speech unprotected by the First Amendment.”

Zach Greenberg, “Law review article ‘Defining Hate Speech’ attempts the impossible,” FIRE, April 4, 2017.

© theFIRE.org

FIRE’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of students and faculty members at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience—the essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates students, faculty, alumni, trustees, and the public about the threats to these rights on our campuses, and provides the means to preserve them.

FIRE was founded in 1999 by University of Pennsylvania professor Alan Charles Kors and Boston civil liberties attorney Harvey Silverglate after the overwhelming response to their 1998 book The Shadow University: The Betrayal Of Liberty On America’s Campuses.

FIRE’s work to protect fundamental rights on campus concentrates on four areas: freedom of speech and expression; religious liberty and freedom of association; freedom of conscience; and due process and legal equality on campus. Ultimately, FIRE seeks to end the debilitating fatalism that paralyzes students and faculty by bringing public attention to the issue while providing protection to those who are now helpless in the face of abuses of power on campuses across the nation.

The artist is grateful to this FIRE’s publication for optimally revealing the “hate speech” problem and way of its solution.

The artist expresses gratitude to the memory of the photographer Lucien Clergue whose work has changed our view of the world.

lucien-clergue.com/en/

Lucien Clergue © Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved | Mentions Légales

The artist will donate personal income from the sale of all the originals and posters of this Artwork sold at Saatchi Art, as his charitable assistance personally to anyone who really needs help on request.

Belief that each person is unique, special and a basic unit of nature. Open society that ideally treats everyone equally directness in relations with others a right to be well off and physically comfortable.

_______________________________________

Cordially, © Bohdan Rodyuk Chekan von Miller Esq.

To close up this group of photographs of kids from the School of Champions in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I have chosen this image of Huicho. He was the class clown and a troublemaker but he wore his heart on his sleeve and developed a special bond with my wife Celia. This photograph was taken on Celia's last day at the school, After the rest of the children had left and said their goodbyes, Huicho stayed and watched us drive away. He was crying and waving goodbye, broken hearted. Earlier in the day he had said that Celia gave him hope and a feeling of purpose, that he'd like to be a teacher like her when he's older.

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini meets Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture of Liechtenstein Aurelia Frick at Finlandia Hall.

The Session of the Committee of Ministers, to be held at Finlandia Hall on 17 May 2019, will mark the end of Finland’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. At the meeting, Finland will hand over the Presidency to France. More than 30 ministers from the member States of the Council of Europe will attend the meeting. The meeting will be chaired by Foreign Minister Timo Soini.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Photo: Kimmo Räisänen / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

Suomen ulkomaanedustustojen päälliköt kokoontuvat vuosittaiseen tapaamiseensa Helsinkiin 19.–22. elokuuta. Kokous järjestetään Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamolla Töölössä. #slsk19

Kuvat: Petri Krook/ Ulkoministeriö

Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides photo material for media representatives, participants and organisers of the meeting. Please feel free to use the photos, considering the following restrictions: Not for commercial purposes nor reselling. When publishing the pictures, the name of the photographer and organization shall be mentioned as the source. No picture manipulation is permitted. The holder of the picture rights and/or the organisation shall at all times retain the copyright to the picture. When publishing the pictures, the publisher shall ensure the legality of the context where the pictures are used, obtain the permissions and consents required for their publication, and observe the generally established practices and decency. The publisher shall ensure that publication of the pictures does not insult anyone’s privacy or dignity.

Not strictly a Finsec event, but here's a few photos of the Service and Food Workers' Union Nga Ringa Tota rally in Wellington on International Cleaners Day.

The 'Fair Deal for Cleaners' campaign that this rally is part of aims to provide a voice to the low-waged largely immigrant female workforce, in cities across Australia and New Zealand, who are calling on big property owners to support decency in their workplaces.

Hundreds of people gathered in Plano for two rallies; a morning one and an afternoon one. We protest the continuing evil, stupidity and graft of Trump, the Republican Party, MAGA, and anyone who supports them. It is critical that this evil man and his accomplices in crime be voted out of office come November. Vote and stop this wanna-be dictator and his fascist party once and for all.

ARARA-VERMELHA-GRANDE ou ARARA-PIRANGA

Nome em inglês: Red and Green Macaw

Nome científico: Ara chloroptera

Família: Psittacidae

Peso:600 a 1000 g

Tamanho: 0,80 a 1 m

Who guarantees the feeding of the female and of the younglings is the male,

that in this species is faithful, keeping the same friend the life all.

Ahhhh if the so intelligent "man" followed the example of the macaws male-female,

the world would be another one…With ALLEGIANCE AND LOVE, more health,

more joy, more humanity, more justice, more peace, more decency, more union,

more wisdom, plus everything! We have much that to learn with the animals and

with the nature! My Moments of dream & illusion...

As araras vivem em bandos, sempre aos pares. Possuem bico fortíssimo, capaz de quebrar os frutos mais duros. Emitem um som “a-ra-ra”, de onde originou seu nome.

Seus filhotes crescem com muita rapidez, com 2 anos de vida já abandonarão a família e já irão formais casais. As araras chegam a viver até 70 anos se viverem em lugares adequados. A arara vermelha tinha uma grande área de distribuição, pois era encontrada do Panamá ao Paraguai, e no Brasil existia até o Rio de Janeiro e no Paraná, mas hoje só sobrevive em quantidade na Amazônia, pois nas demais áreas está se tornando bastante rara. O ninho da arara vermelha é feito em ocos de árvores, mas também se aproveita de buracos em paredões rochosos para colocar seus ovos, os quais são chocados apenas pela fêmea, que fica no ninho numa incubação que demora 29 dias.

Quem cuida de garantir a alimentação tanto da fêmea como dos filhotes é o macho, que nessa espécie é fiel, mantendo a mesma companheira a vida inteira.

Ahhhh se o tão inteligente "homem" seguisse o exemplo das araras macho-fêmea,

o mundo seria outro...Teríamos FIDELIDADE E AMOR, mais saúde, mais alegria,

mais humanidade, mais justiça, mais paz, mais decência, mais união, mais sabedoria, mais tudo!!!!!!!!!!

Humhummm como temos muito que aprender com os animais e com a natureza afora!!!!!!!!!! Momentos de devaneio.........Utopia!!!!

After the shock of Donald Trump’s inauguration day, when millions of Americans (and visiting foreigners like me) felt understandably distraught, bereft, dismayed, as the grotesque, narcissistic, predatory, corrupt fraud that is Donald Trump delivered a bleak and graceless inauguration speech, it was nothing short of a delight on Saturday, Jan. 21, Day 2 of the aberrant Trump presidency, when, across the country and around the world, millions of women (plus large numbers of supportive men) marched in protest against Trump and all he and his administration stand for — his disdain for women, his racism, his xenophobia, his adherence to intolerant white Christian fundamentalism, and, last but not least, his opaque, but very obviously corrupt business practices. Two US academics have estimated that between 3.3m and 4.6m people marched in total across the US, with New York’s turnout estimated at between 400,000 and 500,000 people.

Stepping out of Grand Central Station into a river of protest, with more clever, witty and insightful handmade posters than you could imagine, and with chants and cheers punctuating the general hubbub at regular intervals was to feel that perhaps this dystopian vision of America can indeed be overthrown before it wreaks untold havoc at home and abroad. And with no beginning or end of the protest in sight, it was easy to believe that the number marching was much larger than even the academics’ estimate. This photo shows the crowd on Fifth Avenue joining in one of the chants.

It will take more than one day, of course, as the people of America need to unite like never before — everyone who didn’t vote for Trump, everyone threatened by Trump, everyone appalled by Trump, including, of course, those who voted for him but might already be having second thoughts. This could be a disastrous presidency, or it could be even worse than that, but people need to put aside any notions of complacency, and work out how to resist. This was a great start, and a historic moment that everyone there will remember, but now there needs to be much more action and organizing.

As you look at these photos, however, I hope they are a reminder of a day of hope across the US and around the world, when ordinary people demonstrated that fundamental decency will not be silenced, and that a tolerant, multi-racial society, featuring, at its heart, equality between women and men, and between people whatever their race, creed or color, has humour, intelligence and compassion that throw into even sharper relief how troublingly miserable, negative and ungenerous Donald Trump and his advisors are.

For an article by US Uncut about the numbers attending the protests, see: usuncut.com/news/womens-march-largest-protest-us-history/

For the turnout estimates, see: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xa0iLqYKz8x9Yc_rfhtmSOJQ2...

For an article in New York Daily News, which ran a front page devoted to the protests, under the headline, “See them roar,” see: www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/women-march-washington-...

For my website, see: www.andyworthington.co.uk

For my Facebook posts after Trump’s inauguration, see:

www.facebook.com/andyworthingtonUK/posts/1015497574252380...

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154975238073804&set...

For my most interesting photos, see: www.flickriver.com/photos/andyworthington/popular-interes...

I started the morning, online, by looking at the idea of self-isolation, and its connection with depression, but this wasn’t, and isn’t, quite apropos. It doesn’t fit. The thing is that I don’t think I am depressed, but then this could be delusional, but I don't think so. But then if you can delude yourself into the feeling that you are not depressed, surely this is a good thing. I feel that I cope well most of the time. Then I glancingly looked at couples isolating themselves together, especially with growing older, what the online ‘experts’ say, and the documented 'problems' generated there. We are doing this, that chosen 'isolation', but I can’t really see any problem. So, is it a problem then?

OK, I recognise that the writing is becoming a little strange, perhaps, whacky, even. But this might be the way, that no longer depending, or depending less, on feedback, on the other to stimulate me. It is part of the letting go, and I don’t think it’s premature either. There is an ‘about timeness' about it, about bloody time, even. I have said forever that I wanted to somehow incorporate images and words, and I appear to be eventually doing it, so it might just be time to soldier on. I wouldn’t want to not have this, not to feel that drive to communicate, beyond that communication which manifests as immediate human interaction. I feel a slight panic at it becoming the only outlet, the only means of communication, the only anti-isolation device in my armoury. But I am not panicked enough to stop.

armoury

noun

1.

a place where weapons are kept.

2.

an array of resources available for a particular purpose.

"his armoury of comic routines"

I like that, one’s armoury of comic routines. Spellcheck wants to change this to armory, but we ain’t in Kansas anymore.

There is a suspicion that one would go on weaving forever if one could. That’s just how it is. This might be what writers and artist are compelled to do, to continue describing for as long as this remains an option. The body rebels, of course, inevitably. This might manifest as depression if there wasn’t this possibility, that chance of adding to the warp and weft, of somehow insinuating some strands through the fabric. The inevitability of slowing down can generate strange bedfellows, bots and artists are a good example.

It’s a strange choice to make, at any age, that one of attempting to be a witness, and even stranger when you consider that at its core it has to be embraced without acknowledgement, other than a tendency to self-congratulate, something that you have to keep constantly in check. (I fail).

What joy there is has to be generated by the weaving itself, and that is a solitary pursuit. There is also that ‘Penelope’ aspect too, that unravelling, that gordian-knot picking apart, to discover the threads essential to that weave. Mixing mythologies there, but then I could also throw in Sisyphus, and even my beloved ‘Moontoad’ from Chinese lore. They all, more or less tell that same story, the relentlessness of describing, and the transcendental release to be found there.

I hate cute, I cringe at it, but I am foregoing the tendency to impose ‘taste’. Letting the bots decide, from an entanglement of words, combining depression, transcendental joy, Moontoads and Penelope might seem like a gamble. It is, it’s a type of roulette. Sometimes ‘cute’ comes to the fore.

But then I can always make her/him/them gender-neutral, with a well-placed turquoise decency strip, and thereby make them mine.

Don’t you just love now? I know that I do.

I particularly like this grumpy old man/woman/or couple stage, and can only encourage everyone to look forward to it.

1912 postmarked postcard photograph of the RFD (Rural Free Delivery) Route No. 8 mail carrier at Plymouth, Indiana. The carrier was posing in his horse-drawn vehicle for a photo that he used as a Christmas card for the patrons on his route. This copy was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Eli Silvius.

The carrier didn’t identify himself, but an undated document at the Indiana Genealogy Trails website provides information about the Marshall County post offices. That document includes a list of the rural route carriers for Plymouth as of 1908 and identified Roller Kleckner as the carrier for Route No. 8. The postcard owner has also found additional documentation showing Mr. Kleckner was still the carrier on Route No. 8 in 1910. Although the carrier in this photograph was probably Mr. Kleckner, that remains to be confirmed.

Postmasters were political appointees in those days and, prior to Mr. Kleckner’s appointment, there was some controversy regarding the examination and employee selection process at Plymouth. In 1905, F. M. McCrory had resigned as a Plymouth rural route carrier. In a November 15, 1906, letter to the editor of the Plymouth Tribune newspaper, Mr. McCrory took issue with Postmaster Yockey’s handling of the selection process for the new RFD carrier for Route No. 8.

“I desire to call attention at this time to a condition existing in rural route matters, to make a few predictions and the dear people can figure out the balance. A year ago Oct. 1st I resigned as carrier on rural route No. 1 and an examination was held of applicants for the place at which the postmasters prospective son-in-law was given highest grade and the place from which I had resigned. Roller I. Kleckner won second place and Ora Jacox fifth place there being nine applicants. This year Mr. John Nye decided to withdraw from the service and purchased the restaurant of Mr. Cripe taking possession Oct. 10th. Mr. Kleckner wrote the department stating the facts, making formal demand for his rightful place.

“At this time another letter was sent the department stating the facts more fully than Mr. Kleckner felt warranted in doing and reply was received that ‘there was no vacancy on route No. 8 and as soon as a vacancy occurred, if the Civil Service Commission recommended Mr. Kleckner, he would be appointed at once.’

“Now instead of sending his resignation to the department, Mr. Nye placed it in the hands of Mr. Yockey, who held it up until the department was notified by outsiders and demanded it at once, and it was sent in about Oct. 17, so we are credibly informed. Now why all this jockeying? First Mr. Kleckner is a Democrat. Second the mother and brother of Mr. Jacox we are informed are sureties on Mr. Yockey's bond and Mr. Yockey asked' permission for Mr. Jacox to drive the route from Oct. 10 on instead of sending in the resignation of Mr. Nye and asking that his successor be appointed at once. A notice is pasted in the lobby of the postoffice for examination for rural route carriers, since the commissions of those examined a year ago expire Nov. 16. Now we predict Mr. Jacox will be given first place and the route, at once after the examination, for which we will wait and see. Now let us moralize a little. When those men took that competitive examination a year ago Mr. Jacox virtually agreed to take his place according to what he won. If he entered into such machinations as above stated, is he the party the people on route 8 desire to trust to carry their mail? What do you think of a postmaster who will be a party to such scullduggery which amounts almost to a crime. My dear people this is the class of political scavengers and their methods against which Mr. Hendricks and his friends have waged war during the past ten months and will continue, if they so continue, for the next ten years. People who will lend themselves to such work would enter an orphan asylum and rob the baby of its nursing bottle and jaw the nurse for having allowed it to drink some of the milk. Nothing remains of h6nor and common decency but the grinning skeleton and they envy even that the little space it occupies. F. M. McCrory."

The following individuals served as Plymouth postmasters during those years.

Joseph A. Yockey, appointed June 6, 1901 and reappointed December 16, 1905

Monroe Steiner, appointed January 19, 1910

Francis E. Garn, appointed August 19, 1911

L. G. Hurley, appointed July 23, 1915

From a private collection.

A close-up section of this postcard can be seen here.

www.flickr.com/photos/hoosier_recollections/5419181794/in...

The message on the back side of this postcard can be seen here.

www.flickr.com/photos/hoosier_recollections/5418578783/in...

Copyright 2008-2018 Hoosier Recollections. All rights reserved. This creative JPG file package is an original compilation of materials and data. The package is unique, consisting of a wide variety of related and integrated components. Neither this package in its entirety nor any of the individual components may be downloaded, transmitted or reproduced without the prior written permission of Hoosier Recollections.

„No, I don't mind the photo at all, just go ahead. And you know why? Because you have the decency of asking. Other people just snap a photo. Whenever I see that, I turn around, so they end up with a photo of the back of my head.“

---

After finishing my 100 Strangers Project, I continue to photograph strangers based on the principles of the Project. Find out more about the project at the group page 100 Strangers.

View On White

Last night I saw a movie titled : Sophie Scholl, the final days.

If anything, it is a testament to courage and decency in the

face of evil. Sophie was a member of The White Rose, a group

of German students who sacrificed much as they rebelled against

the oppression of their leaders during WWII. She was executed

at the age of 21, along with her brother Hans, aged 24, and a young

medical student Cristoph Probst, aged 22, for exercising a basic human right: freedom of expression. This is a thought provoking movie because current events seem to be leading us into the dark once more.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose

15 MAR 13

Really all, I am sorry about all these sort of lame uninspired pictures as of late. I'm working with a bottle of mojo that is really low right now. It's strange because I can't seem to juggle my two sort of talents at the same time. When I am really inspired to write, I don't do that well in the photography realm, but when I am really inspired with photography, my writing brain sort of shuts down....strange...

Anywhoozal doozal. Today I transferred and staked my roma tomato plant out an onto the patio. The main stem is tied to the pvc with kitchen twine, and I hilariously duct taped the two polls together to give them more stability in the wind (its clear that I know what I'm doing here...*laughs*). The thing has definitely outgrown the window sill, so I thought I'd let it be outside where it needs to be soaking in the rays. I had to put a plastic bag into the pot to discourage squirrels from digging the pot up. They are going crazy underneath the sunflowers. Every morning I find fresh holes and new tracks. They will dig through the roots of this plant and destroy it to bury their pecans, if I don't cover it. I have now officially learned that lesson.

Let's talk about equality between the sexes. Just out of brain curiosity, I went online to see why it is women are not allowed to fight in the infantry. I knew this was going to be a slippery and insulting slope to slide down, but I went in feet first anyway. A lot of the pages and reason I found were written by clear bigots whom I often wondered if they had mother's and sisters the way they spoke of women in the military. Thankfully, though, my first exposure to this research was a page I found that was written by a male soldier from what I could tell, with decency. He wrote that it was more due to the fact that the equipment is largely much too heavy (he said this, and said, I'm not being an a-hole here, the sh-- is heavy!!!) and he explained that there have been various trials (some of which I later looked up) to see if women actually wanted to be on the front lines, and for all the hoopla in the media, the truth is, they weren't exactly chomping at the bit to get on in there. The ones that did want to join where usually career female officers looking for higher ranks (apparently the higher ranks tend to go to those that have done infantry) but the majority weren't really looking to get into that field.

Now believe you me, I like to fight for my sisters. I want to stand up for them and push equality any way I can, but this is one rare case where...I'm sorry...what would I be fighting for here...the right for you to go onto a field and possibly die? Hey, if you are a woman and you want to be out there, then by all means, sign the skull and bones contract and get out there and prove you're the same as everyone else, but I guess what I'm saying is I don't see a point beyond putting these women on the field. It's not like an office president, where a female running the company has growth potential, can foster positive changes in the workplace and can potentially get more women in the door with equal or greater pay...this is risking your life...and for what I'm not quite sure. To be fair, I'm probably the worst person to speak on anything related to the military. I generally abhor its practices and policies, but then again, part of the reason I have the freedoms I do, are because soldiers fought a long time ago so that I could stand and be free here today. This is one of those cases of, am I truly part of the solution here, or part of the problem. We like to say we can do anything just as well as men and largely that is true, but, and this is a big but...the same issue of heavy equiptment has been brought up in terms of female fire fighters. They exist, yes, but there certainly aren't' as many because to test in, you have to be able to pass rigorous physical fitness tests based on the equipment and various scenarios that do occur in the field. We are talking about your life, and the lives of others. If I am trapped in a burning building with my friends and family and you are struggling or can't lift whatever is necessary to save us, that is a real problem that has nothing to do with your sex. This is life and death and that's no joke, that's not about your pride or your ego, that's about being in a situation that you can physically handle in order to make a really messed up situation, better. Now again, if they can handle the physical bit of it, and want to deal with the whole host of other issues that come along with it, then go out there and do it by all means, I'm not going to stop you, but for now at least, that, I think is going to be a man's world out there in infantry.

In the uttering of Napolian Dynamite: Gaaaaaaaaaa!

Showing the neat conversion job, and matched seating. Note that whoever converted these ones has removed both decency screens around the rear door, fitted a wider window and removed the door control panel. Looks like detail spotters could be kept busy with these conversions.

This is one of the photos from a Power Point presentation explaining a study in Augusta, Georgia about a street named for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The “Claiming A Street Named King” Project is the brainchild of Rev. Terence A. Dicks of Augusta, Georgia.

These photos depict homes, building and abandoned structures along Martin Lutheran King, Jr. Boulevard in Augusta, Georgia.

It began with research in Athens and Augusta (Georgia) through the University Of Georgia School Of Environmental Design.

Research was led by Dr. Mary Anne Akers in collaboration with Georgia Legal Services Program, Georgia State Trade Association of Non-profit Developers (G-STAND) and Neighborhood Works America, INC.

“Claiming A Street Named King” Project study in Augusta, Georgia – conducted along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard - shows areas that need economic assistance – and that’s the same issue in many American cities that have streets named for civil rights leaders

For more information:

claimingastreetnamedking.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/Claimin...

Taken during our August 2011 photoshoot. I am posting this image for two reasons, one of them serious, the other anything but serious.

First, the serious reason. A few days ago I posted this, which was taken during the same shoot. To the photo itself, I added the text of the same Dante sonnet used here. My reasons for doing so today are essentially the same as indicated in my description for the first version, except that I believe this portrait more effectively captures Lisa's warmth, kindness, and decency, as well as her inner serenity that I mentioned in the earlier post. (Additionally, I prefer this version because I used Italic script for the text, which seems more appropriate for a poem in Italian and written by Dante.) At the risk of sounding like a variation on a time-worn cliche, I believe that about 70% of female beauty comes from within, with the other 30% supplied by such externals as makeup, clothing, and so forth. With that in mind, Lisa is beautiful all the way through.

Now for the not-so-serious reason, which I here explain while wearing an impish grin on my face. Lisa might be disappointed in me for revealing this here, but she was in fact fully clothed throughout the shoot, including for this shot. It was literally at the last moment of postprocessing that I decided to crop the image as you see it here, and in fact I will probably still post the full-length version of it at some point. But today the spirit of mischief descended upon me, so I post this version to make my viewers ask themselves, "Is she, or isn't she?"

During a shoot with Lisa back in December, I took this, of which Lisa later ordered a print for her mother. I have never met her mom, but I do know that she, like Lisa herself, is religious and a regular churchgoer; and I also suspect that she, again like her daughter, has a mischievous streak in her nature. Lisa told me that her mom did a double-take when she saw the picture, wondering for a moment if Lisa was wearing any clothes. When I was told this story, I responded that I only had one regret about the photo, which is that we didn't send it to her mom anonymously, in a brown envelope with no return address. I can only imagine how she would have reacted to that!

The story doesn't quite end there, however. Not long ago, Lisa went to visit her mother in Texas. That photograph, which Lisa now refers to simply as "The Picture," is prominently displayed in her mom's living room, where her visitors can see it -- including the ladies from her Southern Baptist congregation, who apparently drop by regularly. Mother and daughter thought of putting a sign under the photo to let viewers know that, yes, Lisa was in fact wearing clothes, but they decided against it. Lisa told me she prefers to keep people guessing, which I imagine she would like to do in this case as well. (For the earlier photo, she was wearing a red evening gown, but lowered the shoulder strap while posing in front of that abstract painting. The inscrutable expression on her face adds something to the mystery as well. Man, have she and I had fun with that picture, mostly since it was taken!)

(Update: The full-length version of this image can be found here.)