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Allow me to explain what happened. I was sitting on the sofa playing with my zoom lens and began focusing on a painting I had of Jesus (the one on the left). When I began looking at the photos I took I noticed that four of the photos I took came out different. The photo on the right is what came out. If you look closely his eyes are blue and the shape of his eyes are more human and shaped different. He has more of a flesh color in his face rather than the brown tones in the original painting. I took the original painting and the photo that came out to a photography store and had the owner keep both of them for a few days. He said the eyes are definitely blue and he could see the retna. He told me that he is not Christian and he's very skeptical -but he also said something happened and that the eyes are very human and not of the original painting.
I've kept this private for a long time and don't ask me why I'm sharing it now... I'm not trying to convert anyone - just thought I would share this.
This was technically my first photo shoot where I actually asked someone to be my model for at least an hour of just shooting. As you might know this is Cassandre the same girl from the fair. I was so impressed by her tranquility in front of camera that I asked her if she wanted to my model for the afternoon. She accepted and after explaining what I wanted as far as background and expressions, she began to do her own poses. This is one of them.
All shots from the shoot where in RAW. Lightroom for some minor contrast editing, then in Pixelmator to add a soft texture for the background. I realized that when shooting in Raw it is much easier to get rid of the noise when using a high ISO then shooting in jpg. This was shot at ISO 1600.
Have it in Winter Size!
{Explore - 23.12.09 - #309}
This is the last shot of the year. I will be gone to the mountains for New Years and hope to get some shots up there. Till then:
Have a Merry Christmas & and a Happy New Year!
Nathan
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Paramount, 1979).
putlocker.bz/watch-star-trek-the-motion-picture-online-fr... Full Feature
Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Persis Khambatta, Stephen Collins, Grace Lee Whitney, Mark Lenard. Directed by Robert Wise.
In Klingon space, three Klingon battle cruisers encounter a huge cloud-like anomaly. On the bridge of one of the ships, the captain (Mark Lenard) orders his crew to fire torpedoes at it, but they have no effect. The ships take evasive action.
Meanwhile, in Federation space, a monitoring station, Epsilon 9, picks up a distress signal from one of the Klingon ships. As the three ships are attempting to escape the cloud, energy beams shoot out and engulf each ship one by one, and they vanish. On Epsilon 9, the crew tracks the course of the cloud and discovers that it is headed for Earth.
On Vulcan, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has been undergoing the kohlinahr ritual, in which he has been learning how to purge all of his emotions, and is nearly finished with his training. A female Vulcan Master (Edna Glover), surrounded by two men, is about to give him an ornate necklace as a symbol of pure logic, when Spock holds out his hand to stop her. Confused, she mind-melds with him and senses a consciousness calling to him from space that is affecting his human side. She drops the necklace. "You have not yet achieved kohlinahr. You must look elsewhere for your answer," she says as they leave Spock. "You will not find it here."
In San Francisco, Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) arrives at Starfleet Headquarters in a shuttlecraft. He sees Commander Sonak (Jon Rashad Kamal), a Vulcan science officer who is joining the Enterprise crew and recommended for the position by Kirk himself. Kirk is bothered as to why Sonak is not on board yet. Sonak explains that Captain Willard Decker (Stephen Collins), the new captain of the Enterprise, wanted him to complete his science briefing at Headquarters before they left on their mission. The Enterprise has been undergoing a complete "refitting" for the past 18 months and is now under final preparations to leave, which would take at least 20 hours, but Kirk informs him that they only have 12. He tells Sonak to report to him on the Enterprise in one hour; he has a short meeting with Admiral Nogura and is intent on being on the ship.
Kirk transports to an office complex orbiting Earth and meets Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), the Enterprise's chief engineer. Scotty expresses his concern about the tight departure time. The cloud is less than three days away from Earth, and the Enterprise has been ordered to intercept it because they are the only ship in range. Scotty says that the refit can't be finished in 12 hours, and tries to convince him that the ship needs more work done as well as a shakedown cruise. Kirk insists that they are leaving, ready or not. They board a travel pod and begin the journey over to the drydock in orbit that houses the Enterprise.
Scotty tells Kirk that the crew hasn't had enough transition time with all the new equipment and that the engines haven't even been tested at warp power, not to mention that they have an untried captain. Kirk tells Scotty that two and a half years as Chief of Starfleet Operations may have made him a little stale, but that he wouldn't exactly consider himself untried. Kirk then tells a surprised Scotty that Starfleet gave him back his command of the Enterprise. Scotty doubts it, saying that he doesn't think it was that easy with Admiral Nogura, who gave Kirk his orders. They arrive at the Enterprise, and Scotty indulges Kirk with a brief tour of the new exterior of the ship.
Upon docking with the ship, Scotty is summoned to Engineering. Kirk goes up to the bridge, and is informed by Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) that Starfleet has just transferred command from Captain Decker over to him. Kirk finds Decker in engineering, whom is visibly upset when Kirk breaks the news that he is assuming command, but recognizes it is because Kirk has more experience. Decker will remain on the ship as 2nd officer. As Decker storms off, an alarm sounds. Someone is trying to beam over to the ship, but the transporter is malfunctioning. Kirk and Scotty race to the transporter room. Transporter operator Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) is frantically trying to tell Starfleet to abort the transport, but it is too late. Commander Sonak and an unknown female officer are beaming in, but their bodies aren't re-forming properly in the beam. The female officer screams, and then their bodies disappear. Starfleet signals to them that they have died. Kirk tells Starfleet to express his sympathies to their families.
In the corridor, Kirk sees Decker and tells him they will have to replace Commander Sonak and wants another Vulcan. Decker tells him that no one is available that is familiar with the ship's new design. Kirk tells Decker he will have to double his duties as science officer as well.
In the recreation room, as Kirk briefs the assembled crew on the mission, they receive a transmission from Epsilon 9. Commander Branch (David Gautreaux) tells them they have analyzed the mysterious cloud. It generates an immense amount of energy and measures 2 A.U.s (300 million km) in diameter. There is also a vessel of some kind in the center. They've tried to communicate with it and have performed scans, but the cloud reflects them back. It seems to think of the scans as hostile and attacks them. Like the Klingon ships earlier, Epsilon 9 disappears.
Later on the bridge, Uhura informs Kirk that the transporter is working now. Lt. Ilia, (Persis Khambatta), a bald being from the planet Delta IV, arrives. Decker is happy to see her, as they developed a romantic relationship when he was assigned to her planet several years earlier. Ilia is curious about Decker's reduction in rank and Kirk interrupts and tells her about Decker being the executive and science officer. Decker tells her, with slight sarcasm, that Kirk has the utmost confidence in him. Ilia tells Kirk that her oath of celibacy is on record and asks permission to assume her duties. Uhura tells Kirk that one of the last few crew members to arrive is refusing to beam up. Kirk goes to the transporter room to ensure that "he" beams up.
Kirk tells Starfleet to beam the officer aboard. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) materializes on the platform. McCoy is angry that his Starfleet commission was reactivated and that it was Kirk's idea for him to be brought along on the mission. His attitude changes, however, when Kirk says he desperately needs him. McCoy leaves to check out the new sickbay.
The crew finishes its repairs and the Enterprise leaves drydock and into the solar system. Dr. McCoy comes up to the bridge and complains that the new sickbay is nothing but a computer center. Kirk is anxious to intercept the cloud intruder, and orders Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) to go to warp speed. Suddenly, the ship enters a wormhole, which was created by an engine imbalance, and is about to collide with an asteroid that has been pulled inside. Kirk orders the phasers to be fired on it, but Decker tells Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) to fire photon torpedoes instead. The asteroid and the wormhole are destroyed. Annoyed, Kirk wants to meet with Decker in his quarters. Dr. McCoy decides to go along.
Kirk demands an explanation from Decker. Decker pointed out that the redesigned Enterprise channeled the phasers through the main engines and because they were imbalanced, the phasers were cut off. Kirk acknowledged that he had saved the ship; however, he accuses Decker of competing with him. Decker tells Kirk that, because of his unfamiliarity with the ship's new design, the mission is in jeopardy. Decker tells Kirk that he will gladly help Kirk understand the new design. Kirk then dismisses him from the room. In the corridor, Decker runs into Ilia. Ilia asked if the confrontation was difficult, and he tells her that it was about as difficult as seeing her again, and apologizes. She asked if he was sorry for leaving Delta IV, or for not saying goodbye. He said that if he had seen her again, would she be able to say goodbye? She says "no," and walked around him and entered her quarters nearby.
Back in Kirk's quarters, McCoy accuses Kirk of being the one who was competing, and the fact that it was Kirk who used the emergency to pressure Starfleet into letting him get command of the Enterprise. McCoy thinks that Kirk is obsessed with keeping his command. On Kirk's console viewscreen, Uhura informs Kirk that a shuttlecraft is approaching and that the occupant wishes to dock. Chekov also pipes in and replies that it appears to be a courier vessel. Kirk tells Chekov to handle the situation.
The shuttle approaches the Enterprise from behind, and the top portion of it detaches and docks at an airlock behind the bridge. Chekov is waiting by the airlock doors and is surprised to see Spock come aboard. Moments later, Spock arrives on the bridge, and everyone is shocked and pleased to see him, yet Spock ignores them. He moves over to the science station and tells Kirk that he is aware of the crisis and knows about the ship's engine design difficulties. He offers to step in as the science officer. McCoy and Dr. Christine Chapel (Majel Barret Roddenberry) come to the bridge to greet Spock, but Spock just stares alarmingly at their emotional outburst. Spock leaves to discuss fuel equations with Scotty in engineering.
With Spock's assistance, the engines are now rebalanced for full warp capacity. The ship successfully goes to warp to intercept the cloud. In the officers lounge, Spock meets with Kirk and McCoy. They discuss Spock's kohlinahr training on Vulcan, and how Spock broke off from his training to join them. Spock describes how he sensed the consciousness of the intruder, from a source more powerful that he has ever encountered, with perfect, logical thought patterns. He believes that it holds the answers he seeks. Uhura tells Kirk over the intercom that they have visual contact with the intruder.
The cloud scans the ship, but Kirk orders no return scans. Spock determines that the scans are coming from the center of the cloud. Uhura tries sending "linguacode" messages, but there is no response. Decker suggests raising the shields for protection, but Kirk determines that that might be considered hostile to the cloud. Spock analyzes the clouds composition, and discovers it has a 12-power energy field, the equivalent of power generated by thousands of starships.
Sitting at the science station, Spock awakens from a brief trance. He reveals to Kirk that the alien was communicating with him. The alien is puzzled; it contacted the Enterprise--why has the Enterprise not replied? A red alert sounds, and an energy beam from within the cloud touches the ship, and begins to overload the ship's systems. Bolts of lightning surround the warp core and nearly injure some engineering officers, and Chekov is also hurt--his hand is burned while sitting at the weapons station on the bridge. The energy beam then disappears. A medical team is summoned to the bridge, and Ilia is able to use her telepathic powers to soothe Chekov's pain.
Spock confirms to Kirk that the alien has been attempting to communicate. It communicates at a frequency of more than one million megahertz, and at such a high rate of speed, the message only lasts a millisecond. Spock programs to computer to send linguacode messages at that frequency. Another energy beam is sent out, but Spock transmits a message just in time, and the beam disappears. The ship continues on course through the cloud. They pass through many expansive and colorful cloud layers and upon clearing these, a giant vessel is revealed. It is roughly cylindrical in shape, with large spikes jutting out from the surface at equidistant angles between each other, forming a hexagon-like shape.
Kirk tells Uhura to transmit an image of the alien to Starfleet, but she explains that any transmission sent out of the cloud is being reflected back to them. Kirk orders Sulu to fly above and along the top of the vessel. The Enterprise is so small compared to the size of the alien vessel that it appears only as a little white dot next to it. The ship travels past many oddly-shaped structures, including a sunken area where the energy beams originate.
An alarm sounds, and yet another energy bolt approaches the ship. It appears on the bridge as a column of bright light that emits a very loud noise. The crew struggles to shield their eyes from its brilliant glow. Chekov asks Spock if it is one of the alien's crew, and Spock replies that it is a probe sent from the vessel. The probe slowly moves around the room and stops in front of the science station. Bolts of lightning shoot out from it and surround the console--it is trying to access the ship's computer. Spock manages to smash the controls to prevent further access, and the probe gives him an electric shock that sends him rolling onto the floor. The probe approaches the helm/navigation console and it scans Lt. Ilia. Suddenly, she vanishes, along with the probe.
Ahead of the ship looms another giant section of the vessel. A tractor beam is drawing the Enterprise toward an opening aperture. Decker calls for Chief DiFalco (Marcy Lafferty) to come up to the bridge as Ilia's replacement. The ship travels deep into the next chamber. Decker wonders why they were brought inside--they could have been easily destroyed outside. Spock deduces that the alien is curious about them. Uhura's monitor shows that the aperture is closing; they are trapped. The ship is released from the tractor beam and suddenly, an intruder alert goes off. Someone has come aboard the ship and is in the crew quarters section.
Kirk and Spock arrive inside a crewman's quarters to discover that the intruder is inside the sonic shower. It is revealed to be Ilia, although it isn't really her--there is a small red device attached to her neck. In a mechanized voice, she replies "You are the Kirk unit--you will listen to me." She explains that she has been programmed by an entity called "V'Ger" to observe and record the normal functions of the carbon-based units (humans) "infesting" the Enterprise. Kirk opens the shower door and "Ilia" steps out, wearing a small white garment that just materialized around her. Dr. McCoy and a security officer enter the room, and Kirk tells McCoy to scan her with a tricorder.
Kirk asks her who V'Ger is. She replies "V'Ger is that which programmed me." McCoy tells Kirk that Ilia is a mechanism and Spock confirms she is a probe that assumed Ilia's physical form. Kirk asks where the real Ilia is, and the probe states that "that unit" no longer functions. Kirk also asks why V'Ger is traveling to Earth, and the probe answers that it wishes to find the Creator, join with him, and become one with it. Spock suggests that McCoy perform a complete examination of the probe.
In sickbay, the Ilia probe lays on a diagnostic table, its sensors slowly taking readings. All normal body functions, down to the microscopic level, are exactly duplicated by the probe. Decker arrives and is stunned to see her there. She looks up at him and addresses him as "Decker", rather than "Decker unit," which intrigues Spock. Spock talks with Kirk and Decker in an adjoining room, and Spock locks the door. Spock theorizes that the real Ilia's memories and feelings have been duplicated by the probe as well as her body. Decker is angry that the probe killed Ilia, but Kirk convinces him that their only contact with the vessel is through the probe, and they need to use that advantage to find out more about the alien. Suddenly, the probe bursts through the door, and demands that Kirk assist her with her observations. He tells her that Decker will do it with more efficiency.
Decker and Ilia are seen walking around in the recreation room. He shows her pictures of previous ships that were named Enterprise. Decker has been trying to see if Ilia's memories or emotions can resurface, but to no avail. Kirk and McCoy are observing them covertly on a monitor from his quarters. Decker shows her a game that the crew enjoys playing. She is not interested and states that recreation and enjoyment has no meaning to her programming. At another game, which Ilia enjoyed and nearly always won, they both press one of their hands down onto a table to play it. The table lights up, indicating she won the game, and she gazes into Deckers eyes. This moment of emotion ends suddenly, and she returns to normal. "This device serves no purpose."
"Why does the Enterprise require the presence of carbon units?" she asks. Decker tells her the ship couldn't function without them. She tells him that more information is needed before the crew can be patterned for data storage. Horrified, he asks her what this means. "When my examination is complete, all carbon units will be reduced to data patterns." He tells her that within her are the memory patterns of a certain carbon unit. He convinces her to let him help her revive those patterns so that she can understand their functions better. She allows him to proceed.
Spock slowly enters an airlock room. He sees an officer standing at a console, his back to Spock. Spock quietly approaches him, and gives him the Vulcan nerve pinch to render him unconscious.
Decker, the probe, Dr. McCoy, and Dr. Chapel are in Ilia's quarters. Dr. Chapel gives the probe a decorative headband that Ilia used to wear. Chapel puts it over "Ilia's" head and turns her toward a mirror. Decker asks her if she remembers wearing it on Delta IV. The probe shows another moment of emotion, saying Dr. Chapel's name, and putting her hand on Decker's face, calling him Will. Behind them, McCoy reminds Decker that she is a mechanism. Decker asks "Ilia" to help them make contact with V'Ger. She says that she can't, and Decker asks her who the Creator is. She says V'Ger does not know. The probe becomes emotionless again and removes the headband.
Spock is now outside the ship in a space suit with an attached thruster pack. He begins recording a log entry for Kirk detailing his attempt to contact the alien. He activates a panel on the suit and calculates thruster ignition and acceleration to coincide with the opening of an aperture ahead of him. He hopes to get a better view of the spacecraft interior.
Kirk comes up to the bridge and Uhura tells him that Starfleet signals are growing stronger, indicating they are very close to Earth. Starfleet is monitoring the intruder and notifies Uhura that it is slowing down in its approach. Sulu confirms this and says that lunar beacons show the intruder is entering into orbit. Chekov tells Kirk that Airlock 4 has been opened and a thruster suit is missing. Kirk figures out that Spock has done it, and orders Chekov to get Spock back on the ship. He changes his mind, and instead tells him to determine his position.
Spock touches a button on his thruster panel and his thruster engine ignites. He is propelled forward rapidly, and enters the next chamber of the vessel just before the aperture closes behind him. The thruster engine shuts down, and the momentum carries Spock ahead further. He disconnects the thruster pack from his suit and it falls away from him.
Continuing his log entry, Spock sees an image of what he believes to be V'Gers home planet. He passes through a tunnel filled with crackling plasma energy, possibly a power source for a gigantic imaging system. Next, he sees several more images of planets, moons, stars, and galaxies stored and recorded. Spock theorizes that this may be a visual representation of V'Gers entire journey. "But who or what are we dealing with?" he ponders.
He sees the Epsilon 9 station, and notes to Kirk that he is convinced that all of what he is seeing is V'Ger; and that they are inside a living machine. Then he sees a giant image of Lt. Ilia with the sensor on her neck. Spock decides it must have some special meaning, so he attempts to mind-meld with it. He is quickly overwhelmed by the multitude of images flooding his mind, and is thrown backward.
Kirk is now in a space suit and has exited the ship. The aperture in front of the Enterprise opens, and Spock's unconscious body floats toward him. Later, Dr. Chapel and Dr. McCoy are examining Spock in sickbay. Dr. McCoy performs scans and determines that Spock endured massive neurological trauma from the mind-meld. Spock tells Kirk he should have known and Kirk asks if he was right about V'Ger. Spock calls it a conscious, living entity. Kirk explains that V'Ger considers the Enterprise a living machine and it's why "Ilia" refers to the ship as an entity and the crew as an infestation.
Spock describes V'Ger's homeworld as a planet populated by living machines with unbelievable technology. But with all that logic and knowledge, V'Ger is barren, with no mystery or meaning. He momentarily lapses into sleep but Kirk rouses him awake to ask what Spock should have known. Spock grasps Kirk's hand and tells him "This simple feeling is beyond V'Ger's comprehension. No meaning, no hope. And Jim, no answers. It's asking questions. 'Is this all that I am? Is there nothing more?'"
Uhura chimes in and tells Kirk that they are getting a faint signal from Starfleet. The intruder has been on their monitors for a while and the cloud is rapidly dissipating as it approaches. Sulu also comments that the intruder has slowed to sub-warp speed and is three minutes from Earth orbit. Kirk acknowledges and he, McCoy and Spock go up to the bridge.
Starfleet sends the Enterprise a tactical report on the intruders position. Uhura tells Kirk that V'Ger is transmitting a signal. Decker and "Ilia" come up to the bridge, and she says that V'Ger is signaling the Creator. Spock determines that the transmission is a radio signal. Decker tells Kirk that V'Ger expects an answer, but Kirk doesn't know the question. Then "Ilia" says that the Creator has not responded. An energy bolt is released from V'Ger and positions itself above Earth. Chekov reports that all planetary defense systems have just gone inoperative. Several more bolts are released, and they all split apart to form smaller ones and they assume equidistant positions around the planet.
McCoy notices that the bolts are the same ones that hit the ship earlier, and Spock says that these are hundreds of times more powerful, and from those positions, they can destroy all life on Earth. "Why?" Kirk asks "Ilia." She says that the carbon unit infestation will be removed from the Creator's planet as they are interfering with the Creator's ability to respond and accuses the crew of infesting the Enterprise and interfering in the same manner. Kirk tells "Ilia" that carbon units are a natural function of the Creator's planet and they are living things, not infestations. However "Ilia" says they are not true life forms like the Creator. McCoy realizes V'Ger must think its creator is a machine.
Spock compares V'Ger to a child, and suggests they treat it like one. McCoy retorts that this child is about to wipe out every living thing on Earth. To get "Ilia's" attention, Kirk says that the carbon units know why the Creator hasn't responded. The Ilia probe demands that the Creator "disclose the information." Kirk won't do it until V'Ger withdraws all the orbiting devices. In response to this, V'Ger cuts off the ship's communications with Starfleet. She tells him again to disclose the information. He refuses, and a plasma energy attack shakes the ship. McCoy tells Spock that the child is having a "tantrum."
Kirk tells the probe that if V'Ger destroys the Enterprise, then the information it needs will also be destroyed. Ilia says that it is illogical to withhold the required information, and asks him why he won't disclose it. Kirk explains it is because V'Ger is going to destroy all life on Earth. "Ilia" says that they have oppressed the Creator, and Kirk makes it clear he will not disclose anything. V'Ger needs the information, says "Ilia." Kirk says that V'Ger will have to withdraw all the orbiting devices. "Ilia" says that V'Ger will comply, if the carbon units give the information.
Spock tells Kirk that V'Ger must have a central brain complex. Kirk theorizes that the orbiting devices are controlled from there. Kirk tells "Ilia" that the information cant be disclosed to V'Ger's probe, but only to V'Ger itself. "Ilia" stares at the viewscreen, and, in response, the aperture opens and drags the ship forward with a tractor beam into the next chamber. Chekov tells Kirk that the energy bolts will reach their final positions and activate in 27 minutes. Kirk calls to Scotty on the intercom and tells him to stand by to execute Starfleet Order 2005; the self-destruct command. A female crewmember asks Scotty why Kirk ordered self-destruct, and Scotty tells her that Kirk hopes that when they explode, so will the intruder.
The countdown is now down to 18 minutes. DiFalco reports that they have traveled 17 kilometers inside the vessel. Kirk goes over to Spock's station, and sees that Spock has been crying. "Not for us," Kirk realizes. Spock tells him he is crying for V'Ger, and that he weeps for V'Ger as he would for a brother. As he was when he came aboard the Enterprise, so is V'Ger now--empty, incomplete, and searching. Logic and knowledge are not enough. McCoy realizes Spock has found what he needed, but that V'Ger hasn't. Decker wonders what V'Ger would need to fulfill itself.
Spock comments that each one of us, at some point in our lives asks, "Why am I here?" "What was I meant to be?" V'Ger hopes to touch its Creator and find those answers. DiFalco directs Kirk's attention to the viewscreen. Ahead of them is a structure with a bright light. Sulu reports that forward motion has stopped. Chekov replies that an oxygen/gravity envelope has formed outside of the ship. "Ilia" points to the structure on the screen and identifies it as V'Ger. Uhura has located the source of the radio signal and it is straight ahead. A passageway forms outside the ship as Kirk Spock, McCoy, Decker, and "Ilia" enter a turbolift.
The landing party exits an airlock on the top of the saucer section and walks up the passageway. At the end of the path is a concave structure, and in the center of it is an old NASA probe from three centuries earlier. Kirk tries to rub away the smudges on the nameplate and makes out the letters V G E R. He continues to rub, and discovers that the craft is actually Voyager 6. Kirk recalls the history of the Voyager program--it was designed to collect data and transmit it back to Earth. Decker tells Kirk that Voyager 6 disappeared through a black hole.
Kirk says that it must have emerged on the far side of the galaxy and got caught in the machine planet's gravity. Spock theorizes that the planet's inhabitants found the probe to be one of their own kind--primitive, yet kindred. They discovered the probe's 20th century programming, which was to collect data and return that information to its creator. The machines interpreted that instruction literally, and constructed the entire vessel so that Voyager could fulfill its programming. Kirk continues by saying that on its journey back, it amassed so much knowledge that it gained its own consciousness.
"Ilia" tells Kirk that V'Ger awaits the information. Kirk calls Uhura on his communicator and tells her to find information on the probe in the ship's computer, specifically the NASA code signal, which will allow the probe to transmit its data. Decker realizes that that is what the probe was signaling--it's ready to transmit everything. Kirk then says that there is no one on Earth who recognizes the old-style signal--the Creator does not answer.
Kirk calls out to V'Ger and says that they are the Creator. "Ilia" says that is not logical--carbon units are not true life forms. Kirk says they will prove it by allowing V'Ger to complete its programming. Uhura calls Kirk on his communicator and tells him she has retrieved the code. Kirk tells her to set the Enterprise transmitter to the code frequency and to transmit the signal. Decker reads off the numerical code on his tricorder, and is about to read the final sequence, but Voyager's circuitry burns out, an effort by V'Ger itself to prevent the last part of the code from being transmitted.
"Ilia" says that the Creator must join with V'Ger, and turns toward Decker. McCoy warns Kirk that they only have 10 minutes left. Decker figures out that V'Ger wanted to bring the Creator here and transmit the code in person. Spock tells Kirk that V'Ger's knowledge has reached the limits of the universe and it must evolve. Kirk says that V'Ger needs a human quality in order to evolve. Decker thinks that V'Ger joining with the Creator will accomplish that. He then goes over to the damaged circuitry and fixes the wires so he can manually enter the rest of the code through the ground test computer. Kirk tries to stop him, but "Ilia" tosses him aside. Decker tells Kirk that he wants this as much as Kirk wanted the Enterprise.
Suddenly, a bright light forms around Decker's body. "Ilia" moves over to him, and the light encompasses them both as they merge together. Their bodies disappear, and the light expands and begins to consume the area. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy retreat back to the Enterprise. V'Ger explodes, leaving the Enterprise above Earth, unharmed. On the bridge, Kirk wonders if they just saw the beginning of a new life form, and Spock says yes and that it is possibly the next step in their evolution. McCoy says that its been a while since he "delivered" a baby, and hopes that they got this one off to a good start.
Uhura tells Kirk that Starfleet is requesting the ship's damage and injury reports and vessel status. Kirk reports that there were only two casualties: Lt. Ilia and Captain Decker. He quickly corrects his statement and changes their status to "missing." Vessel status: fully operational. Scotty comes on the bridge and agrees with Kirk that it's time to give the Enterprise a proper shakedown. When Scotty offers to have Spock back on Vulcan in four days, Spock says that's unnecessary, as his task on Vulcan is completed.
Kirk tells Sulu to proceed ahead at warp factor one. When DiFalco asks for a heading, Kirk simply says "Out there, thataway." With that, the Enterprise flies overhead and engages warp drive.
youtu.be/4n2dGwYcp9k?t=8s Star Trek Theme
In a previous post, I explained why a “blood moon” eclipse is tinted red… this image of a sunrise might explain it a little better. This was taken at the East Fork Overlook at milepost 418.3 along the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the tripod, the camera was at an elevation of nearly exactly 5,000 feet… that makes the horizon where the Sun popped up roughly 85 miles away from the lens. This was shot fullframe with a 400 mm lens, so the distance is compressed, but it shows the effect of denser atmosphere concerning the penetration of sunlight.
Officially, according to the European Space Agency, Earth’s atmosphere extends to 60 miles straight overhead. The atmosphere consists of gasses, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, water vapor, and dust. On a clear day, sunlight when the Sun is at zenith is not merely white but scattered throughout the color spectrum. The reason a leaf on a tree is green is because that leaf absorbs all wavelengths of light except green, which is reflected. The sky is blue not because it’s reflecting blue, but rather that it absorbs only blue light and is transparent… of all the colors, blue has the shortest wavelength of visible light. All the longer wavelengths just shoot right through.
Looking directly to the horizon as in this image, the depth of the atmosphere is nearly 145 miles… more atmosphere absorbs more light, yet the longer wavelength of red light easily affects the visible light of this sunrise. The red band on the Sun is due to a layer of vapor in the distance which scatters just about all visible light but red. Red pouring off that Sun sitting on the distant ridge looks quite like a beacon… it’s bright enough that the fog between mountaintops is reflecting it a bit. Other than evident vapor in the air to the east, there was no cloud cover in that direction on this morning. There’s a steep cliff to my back as I shot this, so I couldn’t tell about cloud coverage in that direction… but if there were clouds in that direction, they would have reflected the deep red light apparent here, and perhaps even more as they would be even further from the horizon. I hope this makes sense.
ok ok...this might need some explaining.
so there are three people wearing the same pair of jeans. mandy, my friend is in the middle and the other two are some cool people we met along the way.
my grandpa always used to say you could tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear.
The work of ESA's 'Mars Yard' for planetary rover testing, part of ESTEC’s Planetary Robotics Laboratory, explained to visitors during the Sunday 4 October 2015 ESTEC Open Day by Gianfranco Visentin, head of ESA’s Automation and Robotics section (far left).
Credit: ESA-G. Porter CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
For Macro Mondays, theme: Comforting.
After the stress of previous Macro Mondays, Badly Cast man finds comfort in being extremely comfortable.
For anyone who's paying attention, this isn't the rug ... it's a cushion in the same style, which explains the colour difference. It's also very comfortable.
During the Malay Emergency, RNZAF 41 Sqn had the task of para-dropping supplies to the many Malayan jungle forts.
Roy Follows, Commander of a Malay Police Platoon at Fort Brooke, explains the reason for jungle forts and the important part jungle forts played in eventually defeating the Communist Terrorists during the Malay Emergency.
"The High Commissioner of Malaya General Sir Gerald Templar said. 'The Aborigines hold the key to the outcome of the Emergency.'
The Aborigines, orang Asli, lived in deep jungle and were made up of several different tribes, and had been under Communist Terrorist (CT) control. The CTs had even had their own Aborigine/orang Asli organization since the Japanese occupied Malaysia during WWll, when the communist led 'Malay Peoples Anti Japanese Army' (MPAJA) first coerced them.
The Aborigines not only grew food for the CTs, they were also their eyes and ears, alerting them if security forces were in the vicinity.
To try and break the hold the CTs had over the Aborigines, it was decided to build forts in deep jungle. From these remote and isolated outposts, contact could be made with these little known jungle tribes, and thence destroy the propaganda and lies with which the CTs had been brain washing them for years. Such little things as - Should they see an aircraft flying overhead, the CTs would tell them it's one of theirs. Having no means or reason to dispute this, the Aborigines believed them. Also whereas before security forces had a several days trek to reach their operational area, now they had deep jungle bases, where they could be airlifted into and from where they could operate."
And so the forts came into being and became one of the security force's most important strategic bases. They were dangerous places. RNZAF 41 Sqn had the task of para-dropping supplies to these forts.
www.fight4thepjm.org/memories_police_fort_brooke.htm
1 Mar 2023, Larry Southern, NZ Army, commented:
On ops in Malaya 1959-61, we had to be resupplied by airdrop. When the RAF Andovers did the drop we spent a lot of time dislodging the chutes from the branches of trees surrounding the drop zone. Not so the RNZAF Bristol. She would lumber in at a snails pace and you would swear she was almost in the hover mode when the load was despatched. Dead centre of the DZ every time.
Click here to email Gary garydanvers@gmail.com if you have comments or details to add to this photo.
Source credit: Photo Image No: DPRSEA65
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Some Rights Reserved
OK let me explain, and apologize to Flickr Folks who don't share my love for PLANESPOTTING. I know how crazy this seems. Why all the pictures of the same airline, in this case, FedEx? Well if you look close, you will find a Registration Number that's unique to each airplane. If you type that into Google, you can see that airplane's history, including where it's been flying. I belong to a group Planespotters and they are interested in each individual airplane's history and photographs of it on different days at different airports. So with that, here they are, ENJOY!!!
April 17, 2018
Memphis International Airport (MEM), Memphis, Tennessee
I explained this in our blog. You can read about it at:
2goodclaymates.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-brooch-and-pendan...
Anybody out there have any explanation what Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes Vario R184OCW is used for nowadays..........and perhaps why !. The former bus appears to be used in some sort of emergency support role, but carries no lettering to give any clues away. It was seen outside Fort William station by the way.
Description of the artwork at center right
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Artist: Polly Apfelbaum
Title: Wallflowers (Mixed Emotions), 1988
Materials: Wire, paper, tacks, pencil, glitter
Venue: University of Louisville's Speed Art Museum
Wow. That's it, huh? A whole year has gone by and it feels like just yesterday that I started this crazy ride.
Twelve months ago, I somehow found myself on Brigid's photostream. It was in that moment that I fell in artistic love with her. I feel like I don't even have to explain that to you because it is totally understandable how that could happen if you've seen her photos. (Seriously Brig, you are a fountain of talent.) From there, I found my way over to Xe's stream and well, that's it. I was hooked to Flickr and NEEDED to start my own 365.
I never imagined that a website or a project could grow to mean SO much to me. You all have been tremendous sources of support, inspiration, and friendship. I am amazed on a daily basis by the creativity, drive, and passion you all show everyday - in your photos and in your lives! I owe you a HUGE thank you for helping me get this far and giving me the drive to be more.
Now, as you can imagine, a lot has happened in the past year. So, here's a small recap of sorts:
- I spent a lot of time increasing my stress levels by doing tons of homework and papers
- I wrote a fabulous paper about the clitoris and now, a year later, I will be presenting for the first time at a Women's Studies conference…on March 20th, to be exact.
- I dressed in drag
- I became EVEN MORE superfly
- I moved back to school and into an apartment that I share with my best friends.
- Connecticut legalized same-sex marriages and I had a full on "yay for gay!" weekend
- I voted for the first time and OBAMA WON!
- I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and landed a role in the VagMonz!
- I hit an all time low and started therapy.
- I lost twenty pounds.
- I met some of the coolest people ever all thanks to VagMonz.
- Therapy has started to help me to find peace with some aspects of my life and I am forever thankful.
Honestly, it is hard to break down all of the year's change into individual moments in time. I cannot mark the moments with certainty, photos, and links. All I know is that in the past year, I have grown tremendously as a person. I am more sure of myself, my beliefs, and my identity. I know who I am as an activist. As a feminist. As a daughter, sister, aunt. As a nerdy sociologist with a love for all things gender & sexuality. I have found comfort and acceptance more than ever before. I've learned that the world won't end if I don't have control. I've embraced fluidity..on various levels. Most of all, I have learned to let out and let go. Not let irrational worries, doubts, and boundaries hold me down anymore. When it comes down to it, I'm not going to spend my life held down. Rather, I'm going to keep my head high and FLOAT ALONG!
So where do I go from here? A bunch of people have been asking if I'll start a year two. Well…not just yet. I think I deserve a bit of a break from the daily self-portrait world. This in NO WAY means that I won't be posting. I really want to use my time photographing things other than myself now…friends, family, plants, and buildings! I want to get out with my camera and EXPLORE. I'm also likely to begin to use my creativity in other ways. I'm interested in getting back into writing. I used to write a lot when I was younger (mostly stories and poems) and I miss it. So, stay tuned for that.
Thanks for a fabulous year, Flickr. You light up my life. <3
A few words to explain to my wonderful and dear Flickr Friends, why I labelled this photo of the beautiful koi a Rosh HaShanna Fish Special!
Wednesday night marks the beginning of Rosh HaShannah, or Rosh Hashanna, marks The Jewish New Year. In Hebrew, "rosh" means head and "ha shanna" means the year. as commanded, we assemble to give praise and to ask haShem for forgiveness as we pledge our repentance for transgressions and omissions against people and the holy one. We vow to return and start anew.
Part of the service, based on legend, is taking breadcrumbs to bodies of living fresh or salt water with fish. There we pray for forgiveness to HaShem, and throw breadcrumbs into the water. In the lake at Fort Lowell Park, where I take pictures of ducks and Great American Egrets, the fish never get the breadcrumbs;)) In the koi pond they might.
That's why Sylvia wrote: "With these photos of fish, water ....... how not to see a good omen, Blessed Be The Name (of The Lord)" I would like to send, C.B., to you and all yours a Shana Tova, Ou, Gamar Hatima Tova."
Which is Hebrew shorthand for "A Good New Year, and, May You Be Well Sealed In The Book of Life."
Summer's end, and the beginning of the harvest season, and the restart of school activities is the perfect time for the Real New Year, not the pagan winter solstace when it's already been cold and bleak for months.
Melissa wrote:
"May you immediately be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year and for a Good and Peaceful Life
שנה טובה ושמחה והרבה צילומים יפים
A Happy New Year and Many Beautiful Photos"
How perfect for Flickr
Here is her exquisite Rosh Hashanna Mosaic
flic.kr/p/8u67DG
OK, so for all my dear friends on Flicker, here is my Rosh HaShanna wish and Blessings for you and yours... May you and your wonderful family have a meaningful, happy, healthy, productive, fruitful, and successful New Year filled with All Good Things! And, may you all be Inscribed and Sealed In The Book Of Life!!
IMG_7611_2
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - May 5, 2021: Information sign explaining the stats of the Ha Ha Tonka Castle in the state park
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF VR on Nikon 1 J5 using FT1 adaptor. 60 frame focus stack shot as JPEG Basic Small with Nikon Z6 and AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G.
Another photo of the Bodie Lighthouse (prounounced BODY) along the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Still more views are coming. Can't quite explain why I'm enamored with lighthouses, but this one certainly is an interesting one. A while back they completed repairs and it's now possible to climb the stair case to get a view. Haven't done that yet, but if you'd like to spend a week hunting for iconic photos on North Carolina's Outer Banks we've got just the opportunity for you! You'll be well fed and get to try your hand at day, night, and wildlife photography. starcircleacademy.com/workshops/outerbanks
For a prior photo of this lighthouse see here
Belgium be blessed. I am overdue a pilgrimage to this admirable country that has given us such splendid beers.
A mere 9.8% ABV, perhaps explaining my semi-delirious prose.
So we cover off some of the guns you can have here in NZ see more on www.themancave.tv or www.facebook.com/themancavetvnz
A soidier in uniform circa 1850 liexplains cannon operations to the crowd during sArmy Days at Fort Tejon in Kern County California.
In 1996, Malta was a paradise not just for fans of old UK and USA bus chassis but also cars which had long disappeared from Britain's streets-- Ford Anglias, BMC 1100s, early Datsuns and Toyotas. A few Skodas had been imported, including this neat model,which, thanks to the climate, may still be running today.
The German Wikipedia page explaining Maltese vehicle registration plates is here
Let's show the world we can dance... Bad enough to strut our stuff... The music gives us a chance... We do more out on the floor
Groovin' loose or heart to heart... We put in motion every single part... Funky sounds wall to wall
We're bumpin' booties havin us a ball y'all
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.......***** All images are copyrighted by their respective authors ......
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.....item 1a).... youtube video ... Peaches & Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing(extended version) ...
6:42 minutes ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=45GTRrz2L6s
fab70smusic
Published on Mar 2, 2012
UK hit 1979 peaked at No.26, 10 weeks on chart
Category
Music
License
Standard YouTube License
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.....item 1b)....song lyrics ... LyricsMode.com ... www.lyricsmode.com ...
Peaches And Herb
Shake Your Groove Thing lyrics
www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/peaches_and_herb/shake_your_g...
Shake it, shake it
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now
Show 'em how we do it now
Let's show the world we can dance
Bad enough to strut our stuff
The music gives us a chance
We do more out on the floor
Groovin' loose or heart to heart
We put in motion every single part
Funky sounds wall to wall
We're bumpin' booties havin us a ball y'all
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now
(repeat)
We've got the rhythm tonight
All the rest know we're the best
Our shadows flash in moonlight
Twistin', turnin', we keep burnin'
Shake it high or shake it low
We take our bodies where they want to go
Feel that beat, never stop
Or hold me tight, spin me like a top
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now
(repeat)
There's nothing more that I like to do
Than take the floor and dance with you
Keep dancin'
Let's keep dancin'
Shake it, shake it
Shake it, shake it
Groovin' loose or heart to heart
We put in motion every single part
Funky sounds wall to wall
We're bumpin' booties havin us a ball y'all
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now
Shake your groove thing
Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah
Show 'em how we do it now, yeah
Shake it
Show 'em how we do it now, yeah
Shake it, shake it
More lyrics: www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/peaches_and_herb/#share
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......item 2).... Snapchat, solipsism and stupid cups
... FSU News ... www.fsunews.com/ ...
Jun. 26, 2013 |
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img code photo ... What’s the better experience
cmsimg.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CD&D...
What’s the better experience: playing with the dog or snapping the dog to share with friends? / Perry Kostidakis / FSView
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FILED UNDER
FSU News
FSU News Views
www.fsunews.com/article/20130627/FSVIEW03/130626021/Snapc...
Phones don’t belong in cups. Tables, desks, car cupholders, possibly pockets (still haven’t figured that one out, have we science?) are all suitable locations for phones. Cups, not so much. However, that is where I discovered mine after a lovely night out in Orlando’s finest establishment. If you desire an image of this bar, think Potbelly’s, but replace the FSU athletes with the broiest of bros and picture it somehow more trashy. It was lovely.
Anyway, the phone in the cup problem is the point here. I’d like to imagine my phone wanted a cozy cover to sleep away the night’s fun dreaming of future Snapchat selfies and inappropriate late-night texting conversations…but no, this is a nightmare where the camera lens is cloudy with moisture and the shutter refuses to open on my iPhone. All is for the worst in the worst of all possible worlds.
The moisture’s bastardly tentacles had only seeped its way to infiltrating my phone and corresponding apps, which meant one thing in particular—no more Snapchat. Okay, full disclosure: I’m sort of a Snapchat whore. I can’t explain its addictive quality, but I now I was like a meth addict on the Heisenberg Blue special the first time I snapped. Okay fuller disclosure: I’m a mass Snapchatter. When I made videos of myself singing Beyonce’s “Ego (Remix) with Kanye West in the mirror without a shirt, sunglasses off, wearing a participation medal from an adventure race like it was my Jesus piece, I felt compelled to share with everyone. I had to give the people what they wanted. They just didn’t know they had wanted that.
But this “no camera” problem posed a particularly difficult situation: I was headed to Itchetucknee Springs with my high school friends. Not to get overly sentimental or anything (a.k.a. that’s exactly what I’m about to do), but, as incoming seniors, this was sort of a last hurrah for us. Of course I wanted some photos to keep (and upload on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and to Snapchat obviously).
While on our car ride to Itchetucknee, a couple of my friends started Snapchatting my caravan, almost as a direct taunt to me. They knew my addiction, they knew my current withdrawals, yet they flashed that wondrous white ghost dancing in front of the kaleidoscope-flashing colors. I missed my ghost friend.
But then my buddy Tom launched an interesting quandary at us: “Speaking as someone looking from the outside on this, isn’t Snapchat kind of strange? Photos are supposed to capture memories, or at least they used to, but Snapchats disappear after like five seconds.”
And he’s right—Snapchat, once you take a step back from the narcissistic, instant gratification of it, is pretty dumb. Some joke Snapchat was created for nude pics sent, but that would entail somebody sending a single Snapchat to a specific person. Unless it’s a response, that never happens. When it comes to sending out those Mission Impossible, self-destructive photos, everyone exists on different tiers, at least that’s how it is for me. It’s Google-Plus circles, except people actually use them.
1) Elite Tier:
Reserved for childhood best friends and possible/current love interests. If we’re dating, you’re receiving every, single Snapchat I send. You will not forget my bushy face.
2) Buddy Tier:
Reserved for people I regularly hang out with and know of my daily adventures (a.k.a. what I read on the Internet that day). These friends receive a large majority of Snapchats, but if things get too personal or emotional, I’m leaving them out of it.
3) Acquaintance Tier:
Reserved for those friends only tolerable for a day or two every three weeks. You’re receiving this Snapchat from me because I need attention and if my buddies or girlfriend don’t respond, you’re my last hope to stroke my ego. Please don’t let me down.
4) D-Tier:
Otherwise known as #drunj tier. If you are in my Snapchat contact list, and I have had a few, I’m sending you some pictures. I don’t care if you respond or not, because we’re not really friends, but it would be a delightful surprise if you did, like discovering an extra jelly bean in what was believed to be an empty bag.
Regardless of where you exist on those planes, each Snapchat isn’t sent to you for memory’s sake. People may have the ability to save by screenshotting, but social media has fundamentally changed our purpose for personal photography (professional photography’s intention has stayed relatively the same). We don’t snapshot our lives to remember later; we snapshot to share with others. Whether this sharing of pictures is more designated so those “friends” who see them will like those pictures on Facebook, or favorite them on Instagram and Twitter, or respond how goofy/attractive/happy/sad you look on Snapchat remains unknown. It seems like social media’s intention is to engage others and include them in our daily lives on a large scale operation. But this may come at the cost of cheapening our own experiences. Instead of simply enjoying a tube ride down the river, or a night at a bar, we’re overly concerned with others knowing we’re doing those things. How many dumb duckface selfies does this world truly need to see?
Maybe this digital era of photography isn’t so different, as we used to share those photo albums the second a relative visited, and maybe I’m just a sad solipsistic bored without Snapchat. Liquid can be a real ponderous bitch like that, sometimes.
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I have to explain this one -
There is one large rock quite close to the shore between Rivaz and Cully. Every morning, my train passes by and I see a few cormorants and maybe a heron standing there still as statues. For the past few days, my train goes past just after the sun has risen and shines on the lake, and I see the cormorants stretching out their wings to dry them.
So, every morning, I sit in the train, camera poised, trying to get a photo of them. Every time, I have ended up with a lot of lake and a small black blob. So today, I tried with the zoom. I caught the cormorants the way I wanted, but somehow a bush got in the way.
But, well, there's something I like about it, and I clicked on the I feel lucky thing in picasa, and this is how it came out.
I just looked up the proper term for a group of cormorants and found gulp, flight, paddling or sunning - I thought "sunning" the best of all.
The Jack of Diamonds
“As a jewel thief, you go for the challenge. It's dangerous, it's glamorous, there's an adrenalin rush."
MK
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It was an early morning in mid-October when my twin sister woke up in her bed, only to discover that someone had burgled her room, taking away the jewels she had been wearing out the night before.
The burglary wasn’t a straightforward occurrence, but rather a culmination of several diverging paths crossing
Allow me to explain…
^^^^^^^^
That October my 15-year-old twin sister was invited to attend a very formal evening affair with a classmate (Kimber) and her wealthy parents.
My sister got herself all dolled up, slipping into her really beautiful ultra-soft high-necked silk gown of deep violet: A sheer bodice with long cuffed sleeves, ending in sweeping fashion with a pleated skirt.
She had winningly worn out the gown only a fortnight ago at our aunt's black tie-only wedding held at the fashionable Ischoyd Park House and Grounds.
As she had at the wedding, with her silk gown, my sister added on her favorite rhinestones: wildly sparkly long wide rhinestone filled ‘Y’ shaped necklace, matching long rhinestone earrings, her 7-strand diamond bracelet, and 4 rings from her large collection.
Her hair was held by a pair of our mum’s fancy clips which contained real chips from man-made diamonds, they looked very pretty, allowing her long natural ginger hair to fall curling down behind her back.
Though Mum had allowed her to wear the pricy clips to the wedding, there was some argument over her wearing them at a function where she would be out alone. My sister won that argument.
To complete the elegant ensemble she was wearing silver satin pumps and carried a black satin clutch purse.
She looked smashing and I told her so as she was heading out, and as hoped, receiving a warm bear hug for my words, her gown chinchilla soft in my arms.
Our parents were also out for one of their long weekends, so I spent that first evening alone watching movies on the Telly.
^^^^^^^^^^^
As it happened that evening a movie was on about a jewel thief who calls himself the “Ace of Diamonds.”
As the thief went about his business, it didn’t escape me that my twin sister, who was out in public wearing her fetching silk gown and loaded down with dripping rhinestones, (not to mention mom’s glimmering clips) looked like she would have fit right in as a potential target of the thief.
I actually was beginning to be a bit on edge that my cute sister would possibly be in danger of suffering a similar fate while gallivanting out and about, all dressed up like those girls being robbed in the movie.
I uneasily shifted my position on the couch as I pictured in my mind the perils she could encounter if an inept thief thought all my Twin’s jewels were the real thing.
Which, real life is not a stretch of imagination that a thief wouldn’t know the difference, right?
Not that she was that gullible, but I know she got rather heady by all the young males giving her pawing attention at the Ischoyd Park wedding.
The place had a lot of outdoor gardens containing a multitude of dark nooks and crannies.
So I could, and did, imagine her losing guard by swooning over a handsome young con man, whose intentions centered on her jewels, who managed to lure her off outside alone into those gardens.
As I fantasized, I could picture my twin sister in her beautiful gown, her rhinestones flickering, diamond chip hair clips shimmering, suddenly cringing when she realized he had led her into a trap and into the clutches of her “admirer’s” waiting ruffian friends.
Rough grasping Lads who looked with bug-eyed amazement over what had just been caught in their net, demanding more than the lovely lass just be handing over her satin purse.
As she balked, they would then pounce and strip down their slippery squirmy victim, head to toe, of all her valuables, leaving her shivering, hair in her face, wearing nothing more than her long thin white silk slip, if even that!
Having those those overactive, imaginative, concerns on my mind made me happy to finally hear the key turn the lock around ten
Sis came swishing(and glittering) into the room to say hello and tell me about the party.
Sounded to me like it had been a brilliant night for her. I wished I had been invited along also. Better than sitting alone at home.
As she was prattling on, I saw her eyes kept drifting towards the Telly, finally, she broke off her recount as something the thief was doing really caught her eye.
She quizzically asked whatever was I watching?
Her eyes lit up with interest as I explained what the movie was about, and teased her that she appeared to be a prime target for the movie’s antagonist. Then I teased by wondering out loud if that thought had ever occurred to her this evening.
She flicked her earrings, teasing me back, then said…
“No idea what you're in about me lad..no one was thieven tonight!”
She then just smiled, chirping, while her eyes were on the screen.
“0ui’ does sound like a fun movie then. Let me just get out of this and I’ll join you”
I secretly was happy she was now home safe and secure, but as I watched her gown swishing with fetching provocation along her figure while she went upstairs, I still had my lingering thoughts over her fate if a jewel thief indeed would ever target her.
^^^^^^^^^^
Not long after she went upstairs I heard her come quickly back down and felt her plop down beside me on the couch.
She was comfortably wearing her long-sleeved chocolate satin PJs.
I did a double take, she still had on her ultra glittery necklace. And her finger still had on one of her pretty rhinestone rings.
I was curious at the time why she had changed into her satin pjs, and left the necklace on, was she still teasing me? Was she expecting me to say something?
We watched on, my sister had her eyes glued to the screen, absentmindedly playing with her sparkling necklace.
At one point the movie thief was himself admiring a diamond necklace worn by a well-dressed-up lady.
I looked down at my sister, now cuddled in beside me.
I was feeling a bit piqued, thinking how pretty the necklace looked on her, when suddenly my sister blurted out…
“You know at the party tonight there was this smarmy bloke who took a great deal of interest in me, then as we talked, he suddenly appeared to have lost all interest. Weird huh?”
“Yes. Weird he took an interest in you atoll luv…”
I teased, receiving a poking for my witty efforts, after tussling a bit, we both went back to watching the movie.
My mind drifted back over to why had the bloke approached my sister only to abruptly leave her. Was it an innocent act, or a sinister one?
The movie ended and, on a rather silly note I thought. Yawning, I was thinking of calling it a night and heading up to bed.
But there was a second movie of a similar vein as the previous was playing next. As the preview was shown. I felt my sister snuggling in even closer.
“Looks interesting, let’s watch it and see if it is any good?”
The movie was Italian. With English subtitles.
Titled “Perras Callejetas” it concerned a group of lady thieves.
It was a fun watch.
The gang at one point in the movie infiltrated an upper-class restaurant and began robbing the patrons of their wallets and some rather pretty jewels.
My sister, who had been half asleep, jumped and held onto me. As I placed a hand around her shoulder she mumbled.
“That startled me, if that lot had been
to the party I was at tonight, they would have made a bloody killing.”
I lifted her necklace…
“If that had happened. It’s a good thing you were only wearing rhinestones…”
She looked up at me, her heavily mascara-lined eyes blinking sleepily, taking her necklace from my hand,
“Oh no, you bet they would make me hand mine over …. And mum’s clips, that would never do. Of course, you’d protect me if that happened wouldn’t you?”
I chuckled as I assuredly stroked her arm.
“Yes If I was there. I would twit!”
She looked up into my face, holding her necklace.
“That reminds me. I was having issues with the clasp. Here be a luv and help me.
She turned around and lifted her hair, the ring on her finger flashing.
I located the clasp and pried the stubborn bugger open, then handed it back to her.
She took it in her hand and pecked me on the cheek, then yawned, and started to speak before it was done.
“T-Thanks, I m getting tired. Good movie, fun watching those thieves at work. Thinking I’ll be heading off to bed now.”
She rose,
“Sweet dreams.”
“Sweet dreams luv…”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
She went upstairs, and I turned back to the movie, hoping for another jewellery heist like the one at the restaurant.
But I found it hard to focus as my eyes began drooping.
^^^^^^
My sister and I were at our kitchen table. I was wearing my bathrobe, my sister her satin pajamas, and her rhinestones.
Female thieves dressed as jesters came in and started to rob the people sitting at the other tables that suddenly were in our dining room, I recognized them as being the same guests from my Aunt’s summer black tie wedding.
The thieves got to our table and my Aunt, wearing an A-line white satin gown with rhinestone trimmings, started to hand over her pearls. An argument broke out as the thieves told her they wanted diamonds and not pearls and my Aunt said she had to go to my sister’s room to change into them…
My Aunt got up and I saw my sister sitting on the couch.
She is again wearing her alluring violet gown, she is also wearing diamonds all along her figure.
As I watch, helpless to help her, hands begin reaching out, locating and removing her diamonds, and placing them into a basket that is being held out from the Telly screen, all except for the diamond clips.
Then the cat was made to hand over her pearled collar.
At this point, I knew I was dreaming and told myself to wake up. We don’t even have a cat.
^^^^^^
When I woke from my dream at 2:00 am it was to a staticky Telly screen.
I shook my head, rose, and went up to bed.
Reaching the top stair I saw my sister had left her bedroom door ajar.
Still half asleep, the dream lingering, I just had the compelling urge to look inside her room to make sure she was indeed ok and not being tied up and robbed of her jewels ( a stark image of which was imprinted on my mind)
I peered in, and suddenly I was wide awake, of course, she was ok, but in the moonlight streaming through her window I could see my sister’s richly clad figure, half covered by the satin sheets, laying deeply asleep on her bed. Her shiny back was facing her vanity.
The vanity had her jewel case sitting off on one side, where jewelry was just sparkling.
Uncannily this looked like the scene in the earlier movie when the jewel thief entered his vulnerable sleeping victim’s room.
I saw that her glamorous necklace was curled up on top of the jewel case lid, the the wide end of the necklace was hanging out over the edge, glittering itself up a storm.
I remembered my sister commenting on how fun it was watching the movie Thieves at work.
I was thinking it may be fun to see her reaction after a burglar did his…
A warm tingling rush of adrenaline swept over me at the thought of doing a burgle. The idea of stealing the rhinestones from m my sister’s room was like the feeling I had had when I watched it happening in the movie, but tenfold better seeing the opportunity unfold now in real life.
It was indeed an arousing feeling that one would assume any cat burglar worth his salt had when seeing a sleeping lady’s diamonds, invitingly laid out in the open.
Unwilling to suppress my urge, I quickly went to my room and grabbed a few things.
Then thinking as I thought a jewel thief would, I snuck back and crept ever so softly as I stole into my sister’s room.
Looking around like it was my first time there. I had brought a small torch but decided I didn’t need to use it. The moon was providing enough light to see by.
She looked so very vulnerable, fast asleep, wearing her shiny satin pjs, I saw her equally shiny gown reflected in her vanity mirror as it hung from the back of her bedroom door.
I saw diamonds glittering from her antique vanity. I observed her jewellery case sitting upon it.
Her back was still facing the vanity. This should not be difficult atoll.
I went to her vanity, one eye on her, the other on her jewelry case, my heart thumping with increasing force as I got closer, hoping she did not wake and catch me in the acte before I had had my fun.
I lifted her black satin clutch purse and opened it, carefully laying it back down on the satin sheets of my victim’s bed, it sat there daringly close to her back.
I then eyed the jewel case containing the sleeping girl’s jewels.
I carefully scooped up her necklace, which blazed into a stormy fire, dangling it over my sister’s sleeping form as I was admiring the total allure, and then I slipped it into her purse.
I slowly opened the wooden top lid of the 2 drawer case. Here lay the rest of the glittering rhinestones my sister had been wearing out, now fully exposed, crying out to be taken.
Slowly, carefully I silently extracted each glimmering piece as I thought how pretty each had looked when she wore them out.
I then opened both drawers and removed the glittering trinkets they contained.
In my mind I imagined the jewellery was real, worth a mind-blowing amount.
I took everything, not just what she had been wearing out that evening.
What proper thief wouldn’t?
She stirred in her sleep, and I froze. She flipped over and I snatched up the purse just in time, her nose came so very close to hitting it.
Still, in her sleep, she rubbed that nose with a satin sleeve, But her eyes did not even flutter open.
When she settled back down(and my heart came back down from up my throat) I continued on with my work. Setting the now weighty purse next to her jewel case.
When I had finished looting her rings from the bottom drawer I closed the case, I took out of my pocket a playing card, the Jack of Diamonds. And placed it inside where her rhinestones had been.
Then I did a quick Look around for any stragglers. I spied only the one…
Emboldened, I knelt next to her bed.
As she was rubbing her nose I saw she was still wearing her real diamond-looking rhinestone ring.
In for a penny….
And that hand, half covered by her satin pj sleeve, was mere centimeters away.
I touched her soft sleeve, but she did not budge. I peeled it back and then lifted her warm finger with as delicate a touch as my trembling excited fingers could muster.
Still nothing from my happily slumbering victim.
Slowly I worked off the conveniently loose ring with a subtle dexterity, holding my breath.
It finally came off and I exhaled while
plopping the stolen jewel on top of the sparkling stash already inside the purse.
I felt that if she had still been wearing her necklace I would have welcomed the challenge, my victim was that much out of it.
I rose, Then picked up the now much heavier purse and backed out of my victim's room, looking around.
I saw her white A-line satin gown with rhinestone trimmings hanging in the corner. My sister’s debutante gown. Then I realized I had not found her pearls.
I sighed, having mixed emotions about trying vs not trying to locate her too real pearls.
Truth be told, I had no idea where she kept them.
I suppose a real thief would have seen the white gown, read the clue realizing its significance, and been able to find where she kept her pearls based on experience in such matters as to where females like to hide jewellery in their room.
But this burglar was not that well-practiced, getting sleepy and needed a bed. Her “diamonds” would be it for me.
I did stop at her door, watching my victim sleep as I contemplated my deeds while fingering the far too-soft gown hanging there.
I pictured my sister as she had been prettily dressed up in silk and flashy jewels that evening, how people must have eyed, even briefly, her richly decorated figure.
I found myself wondering if that was how real Cat Burglars sought out their prey beforehand, by looking for ladies and girls provocatively dressed up like my twin had been, except wearing real diamonds, then followed a jeweled-up girl home, creeping in and out of the shadows like a cat.
It was both an enticing, as well as stimulating, idea to ponder over.
Was it possible that is what the weird bloke who had approached my sister was thinking?
Maybe he spotted the diamond chip hair clips and got in closer to see if the rest of the jewels my sister was wearing were the real thing? Then he got a closer look and realized not. Was he a thief, or just some gigolo looking for wealthy girls to meet their Mums?
An unlikely scenario, but an intriguing titillating pondering nonetheless.
I closed her door, and stealing back downstairs to the study, hid her now weighty clutch purse behind some books.
Then stole back upstairs to my room, where falling into sleep, figured I would be wakened in the morning by my sister angrily demanding I return her jewels.
Instead, I was roughly shaken awake a few hours later by a frantic, albeit cutely satin pj clad, sister telling me she had been robbed last night!
Woken from a deep sleep I had actually forgotten my exploits.
I told her she was only having a bad dream from watching those movies.
She squealed ..,
“It’s not a dream. Come I’ll show you!”
By then I had remembered what I had been up to in her room earlier, and that she was telling the truth.
Playing dumb I got up and had her show me what she was on about.
Taking me to her room she showed me her empty jewel case.
Quivering she looked up at me…
“I never heard a thing, took everything they did!”
In my head, I had a vision which made me say…
“So that smarmy bloke was up to something.”
She looked at me very wide-eyed as she recalled the incident at the party.
“O my Lord, do you really think he had something to do with this? Mum will kill me, he nicked her clips!”
That realization, had her coming into my arms. I soothingly patted her back.
“At least they didn’t nick your pearls. “
With worried eyes, she looked up at me and moved to her wardrobe, opening it she pulled a case from a drawer.
She opened the case and looked inside, seeing her pearls were still there. Then she looked up at me with an interrogating suspicion in her eyes ….
“Lad, just how did you know that?!”
^^^^^^^^^^
Thus the first time I did a role play as a jewel-hunting Cat Burglar was achieved.
Fini
^^^^^^^^^
Perras Callejetas clip
youtu.be/vaz9Nn90UIg?si=6xxpQcddmC9l4NoF
Burglary Clip
When emotions takes over we start to see things in another way, much blurry and devotional at the same time. Dogmatic sessions leads to believing even when you don´t understand, and that´s what feeds Faith. Most of us need to believe since we can´t explain. We know there´s something, it´s there, but we can´t yet see.
In the other hand, masonic and reason driven cults try to enlighten through understanding the man before the God and the God inside the man. For this, they first understand then believe, leaving the dogmatic approach behind.
Either this or that, Christ-Jesus will always be in the middle of many theories and will always be the target for the man who seeks to be complete, free and enlightned.
Of course, I´m talking about the Ocidental culture, not oriental.
One Quechua woman kindly offered to explain the way they traditionally dye their clothes and textiles. It was an amazing experience. What's on her lips also is a kind of dye from an insect she just crushed. She mixed lime juice to make the vivid red color from the insect into orangish color. And her magic kept going on.
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Gears:
Camera: Nikon D5000 (newer version of the camera is Nikon D5300
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Dinner at Fuentes culinary theater, where they explain and cook everything in front of you. At El Dorado Casitas
The Firefly served as a carrier-borne reconnaissance fighter in both World War II and the Korean War. Fairey Aviation (Britain) Company's original prototype first flew in 1941 and, two years later, the aircraft became operational with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. In total, 1623 Fireflies left the assembly lines. One of the aeroplane's most interesting features is the housing of the pilot and navigator/weapons officer in separate compartments. In addition, the innovative wing flaps, when extended, increased both the wing area and, in turn, their lift. This last feature made the heavy Firefly docile during landings on aircraft carrier decks.
The Royal Canadian Navy employed 65 Fireflies of the Mk AS5 variety on board its own aircraft carriers between 1946 and 1954. The letters 'AS' stand for anti-submarine, which was the intended primary role of the RCN's Fireflies.
The Museum's Mk 6 was the first aeroplane type acquired for CWH's collection, which explains why the Firefly is pictured on the CWH decals and letterhead (although this is not the original aircraft). The Camden Air Museum (Australia) provided the Museum with this Firefly, which has been restored in the colours and markings of 825 (RCN) Squadron, which flew Mk 5's from the aircraft carrier HMCS 'Magnificent,' circa 1953.
A garage sale purchase of an elegant imitation glass lotion bottle.
Purchased yesterday, gone today.
The thing parted at all the thinner "joints" between each lens. Another shot that would benefit from an animated .gif explaining what the before looked like.
Cheers.
There are satellite's everywhere in the sky these days but this had me scratching my head.
If you count each separate light trails there appears to be 7 satellite's, possibly 8, from the start of the exposure to the end of the exposure, travelling relatively close to each other from my point of view.
I can't recall seeing this ever before
This is a 90 second shot at ISO 400 with 35mm lens at 04.44 am 10/02/2025
This was Grainne's first time at the beach and her first time playing frisbee. Dusky, in contrast, is an old hand at this game. Tristan explains the rules to the newbie.
I could see the tower of a church from the main road. I saw it from a good two miles away, towering over the mature trees of a wood.
It must be one heck of a church I thought, turning down the lane leading to it, to find the lane lead to Worstead.
Worstead: that explained it. A village so associated with wool, a type of woolen cloth is named after it.
Beside the church is the market square, lined with fine buildings, and to the west, St Mary. A huge cathedral of a church. After snapping the village, I walk to the porch on the south side and go in, smiling.
I was met by a warden who saw the look of delight on my face, and took me on a grand tour. How lucky was I?
------------------------------------------
In the reign of Edward the Confessor, the lordship of this town belonged to the abbot of St. Bennet of Holm, with 2 carucates and an half of land, 8 villains, 30 borderers, 2 carucates in demean, 3 among the tenants, 8 acres of meadow, paunage for 16 swine, a mill, and 3 socmen, valued at 60s. and at the survey at 4l.
There were 2 churches with 28 acres, valued therein, and was for the provision of the monks.
At the survey, Robert, an officer of the cross-bow-men, held it of the abbot; it was one leuca long, and half a leuca broad and a perch, and paid 18d. gelt. St. Bennet's abbey held also in the said town, in King Edward's time, a carucate of land, with 2 villains, 10 borderers, one carucate in demean, and 2 among the tenants and 2 acres of meadow, &c. valued at 40s. (fn. 1)
Odo, son of Robert, the cross-bowman, assumed, according to the custom of that age, the name of Warsted, from this his town and lordship; he held it of the abbot by one knight's fee, being the gift of King Canute to the abbey on his foundation of it. (fn. 2)
This Odo. and Robert his son, gave lands to the abbey, and the mill at Bordestede. He was father of Peter, whose son Philip held one fee in the 20th of Henry III.
Nicholas son of Philip de Wursted, gave to the abbot all his lands here by deed, dated in the 2d of Edward I. Henry being then abbot.
Richard de Worstede was also a son of Odo, and had by Margaret his wife, daughter of Robert de Manteby, Sir Robert de Worstede, who died sans issue.—This Sir Robert and Sir John de Worstede, were witnesses to a deed of confirmation, of Jeffrey, son of Bartholomew de Glanvile, to Bromholm priory.
The temporalities of the abbot in 1428, were 3l. 12s. ob. q. This came at the Dissolution, to the see of Norwich; and in the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, was farmed of the Bishop, at 41s. and 3d. per ann. by Bertram Themilthorp.
The prior of Pentney had a lordship, granted to that house by John de Worstede, containing a messuage, a carucate of land, a mill, 50s. rent, 10 acres of wood, with the whole pond of Worstede and Crowbeck, and the whole alder carr, regranted by Simon the prior, to John for life.
In the year 1328, the temporalities of this prory were valued at 8l. 10s. 4d.—On the Dissolution, May 22, in the 36th of Henry VIII. it was granted to John Spencer.
The prior also of Hempton had a manor, valued with a mill, &c. at 4l. 8s. 11d. which on the Dissolution was granted as above, to John Spencer. Leonard Spencer and Catherina his wife, sold both these lordships to Robert Paston, and Thomas Thimblethorp, with their appertenances in Sloley, Westwick, &c. on June 3, in the 8th of Elizabeth; and after they are said to be aliened to — Utber, and so to — Mitson.
Matthew de Gunton had a manor here which he granted to William, son of William de Stalham, on his marriage with Isabel his daughter, being 49s. 3d. rent. This came to Sir Jeffrey Wythe, by his marriage with the daughter and heir of Sir William Stalham.
In the 9th of Edward II. Nicholas de Salicibus or of the Willows, and Elen his wife, conveyed to Jeffrey Wythe, and Isabel his wife, the 5th part of 28 messuages, 114 acres of land, 5 of turbary, with 27s. and 8d. rent here, in Dilham and Smalburgh, settled on Isabel; and Wynesia, widow of Sir Oliver Wythe, released to William Dunning of this town, all her right of dower in this town, and Westwick.
After this it came to Sir William Calthorp, by the marriage of Amy, daughter and heir of Sir John Wythe, and was sold by Edward Calthorp, Esq. of Kirby Cane, December 8, in the 21st of Henry VIII. to Leonard Spencer of Blofield, Gent. for 40l. in hand paid, and 40 marks more on full assurance being made. John Spencer was lord in the 2d of Edward VI. and Leonard Spencer in 1572.
Erpingham and Gaines's manor in Irstede, held by John Gross, Esq. at his death in 1408, which he left to his widow Margaret, extended into this town. John Skarburgh, Gent. had a prœcipe to deliver it to Miles Bayspoole, Gent. in the first of James I.
Before this, in the 17th of Elizabeth, William Chytham conveyed it to William Tymberley. The Grosses were early enfeoffed of a lordship under the abbot of Holm. Reginald le Gross was lord in the reign of Henry III. and had a charter for a weekly mercate on Friday.
Sir Oliver de Ingham held here and in Ingham, a knight's fee of Robert de Tateshale, in the first of Edward I. This came afterwards by the heiress of Ingham to the Stapletons; and in the 2d of Richard II. Sir Roger Boys, &c. trustees, aliened to the prior of the Holy Trinity of Ingham, a messuage, with 84 acres of land, 3 of meadow, one of pasture, in Worstede and Scothow, by license.
Thomas Moore, &c. aliened to the said convent, in the 16th of that King, 8 messuages, 221 acres of land, 22 of meadow, 4 of moor, and the rent of 11s. 11d. per ann. in this town, Ingham, Walcot, &c. held of the honour of Eye.
In the 3d of Henry IV. the prior's manor, late Sir Oliver de Ingham's, was held of Sir Constantine Clifton, of the barony of Tateshale.
The prior of Bromholm had also a lordship. In the 3d of Henry IV. the heirs of William Smalburgh held here and in Barton, &c. half a fee of the prior, with William Sywardby, and they of the Earl of Suffolk, as part of the honour of Eye, in 1428. The temporalities of this monastery were 104s. 2d. ob.
After the Dissolution, on May 26, in the 6th year of Edward VI. it was granted to Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk.
William Gillet, son and heir of William, had a messuage, a garden, 100 acres of land, 6 of meadow, 20 of pasture, and 2 of wood, called Fenn's and Skitt's, in the 23d of Elizabeth. John Kempt aliened it September 1, in the 7th of King James I. to Edmund Themilthorpe.
Thomas Seive of Worsted, had land here by the marriage of Margarel, one of the daughters of Sir James de Ilketeshale, Knt. of Suffolk, in the reign of Henry VI. she dying about the 30th of that King, left 3 daughters and coheirs; Cecilia, married to John Ovy, who left his lands here by will, in 1472, to Thomas his son, &c. by Emme his wife. Jane, a daughter and coheir of Seive, married William Smith; and Margaret, the 3d, Thomas Jeffrey.
The tenths were 14l. 10s. ob. q Deducted 1l. 19s. 1d. ob.
The town is seated in a flat country, and has a weekly mercate on Saturday
Worsted stuffs are said to have taken that name from their being first manufactured here. I find them mentioned in the 2d year of Edward III. and the weavers and workers were then by parliament enjoined to work them up to a better assise than they had done; and an enquiry was to be made after the behaviour of Robert P - - - the alnager for these stuffs.
Many privileges were after granted to the workers of them, Ao. 1 Richard II. &c. the merchants came into England, as appears in the 37th of Edward III. to purchase them.
The Church is dedicated to St. Mary, has a nave, 2 isles, and a chancel covered with lead, and a square tower with 6 bells, and was a rectory in the patronage of the family of De Worstede.
Sir Robert de Worsted, son of Richard de Worstede, gave by deed, (fn. 3) sans date, to the priory of Norwich, the patronage of this church, about the beginning of the reign of King Henry III. to which Sir John de Wirstede, Bartholomew de Reedham, Eustace de Berningham, &c. were witnesses; and by another deed, he gave to them the chapel of St. Andrew, in this town: witnesses, Sir G. de Bocland, John de Wirstede, Jordan de Soukeville, then an itinerant justice in Norfolk, which was confirmed by Pandulf Bishop of Norwich.
He also gave them lands with certain villains, the abbot of Holm also confirmed it.
Sir Reginald le Gross quitclaimed all his right in the aforesaid church and chapel, to Simon the prior, and the convent of Norwich.
Thomas de Blundevile Bishop of Norwich, also confirmed to them the said church, to take place on the decease of John de Wurchestede, and Adam de Wurchestede, who then held it in 1226; and in 1256, on the 8th of the calends of August, a vicarage was settled on the appropriation of the said church to the monks of Norwich, when a manse or house was given to the vicar, with an acre of land, by the chapel of St. Andrew with all the altarage of the church, (except the tithes of the mills) and the rents of assise belonging to the said chapel, and the oblations thereof; but if the oblations and profits of the said chapel exceeded 5 marks, the remainder was to go to the prior and convent, and the vicar was to repair the said chapel, and to find all ornaments, &c.
The vicar was also to have tithe of flax, hemp, and all other small tithes, it was appropriated to the prior's table, and to the cellarer of the priory; but after this, in the first of April following, it was appropriated entirely to the prior's table, and the church of Hemlington in Norfolk, appropriated to him instead of this.
In the reign of Edward I. there belonged to the appropriated rectory, a house, with 27 acres and a rood of land, and the church was valued at 25 marks, the vicarage at 5l. Peter-pence, 12d. and the portion of Kerbrook preceptory was 3s.—The prior had also a manor, Edward I. in his 35th year granting him free warren.
Vicars.
1256, Warin de Festorton, instituted vicar, presented by the prior and convent of Norwich.
John occurs vicar in 1299.
1304, Edmund Johnes, vicar.
Peter de Reynham, vicar.
1346, William de Aldeby.
1353, Oliver de Wytton.
1355, Roger de Felthorp.
1357, John de Massingham.
1365, John de Kynneburle; in his time, Ao. 2d of Richard II. the chancel of this church was new built; the prior granted 13 oaks out of Plumsted wood, and timber also out of St. Leonard's wood; and the expenses in money were 24l. 4l. 4d.
1386, Edmund Martyn, vicar.
On the dissolution of the priory, the manor belonging to it, with the rectory, and the patronage of the vicarage, were granted to the dean and chapter of Norwich; and the vicarage is valued at 10l. per ann.
Mr. Henry Aldred, vicar.
In 1603, William Fleming, vicar, returned 296 communicants 1730.
1660, Edmund Wharton, (fn. 4) occurs vicar.
Mr. William Berney.
Richard Oram, by the dean and chapter of Norwich.
1762, Ephr. Megoe.
On a gravestone in the chancel,
Hic lapis in pannis Spicer tenet ossa Johannis Qui Quadringentesimo pius XL et iii - - - - Anno.
Hic jacet D'ns. Johs. Yop. quo'da' Rector. Ecclie de Boton.
¶Sir Robert Camownde, priest, was buried in 1482, in the chapel of St. John, of this church, and wills that all the said chapel be paved with marbyll stone, and to the gravestone of John Ovy, with his goods. (fn. 5) —Richard Watls buried in St. John Baptist's chapel 1509, and I will have a prest to sing and pray 6 years in the church except the Fryday in ev'ry week, in the chapel of St. Andrew of Worsted. Agnes Watts, his widow, buried in the said chapel, 1529, and benefactrix to the guilds of our Lady and St. Thomas, and to the repair of St. Andrew's chapel, and gives meadow land to find two lamps in the church for ever, if the King's laws will permit, otherwise to be sold and to buy cattle for that purpose.
Here was also St. John Baptist's guild. In the church were these arms; Gules, on a fess, argent, three flowers, azure, between three popinjays, borne by—prior of Norwich. Argent, a cross, sable, the priory arms. Calthorp and Stapleton.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol1...
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As a measure of how civilised East Anglia is, it is a simple and cheap matter to explore the region by train and bicycle. There is a flat rate of nine pounds a day for unlimited travel between stations in Suffolk, Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire. You can take a bike on any train for a pound, although in reality conductors rarely charge for this service. This practice dates back to pre-privatisation days, and Anglia Railways and One Trains have continued to honour it, for which I am mightily grateful. The Suffolk and Norfolk Churches sites would not be so extensive without it.
I left Ipswich at twenty to eight. It was a thinly bright April morning, the sun without power beyond dazzling through the haze in the eastern sky. I was glad of my jacket, but also glad I had sun glasses with me - it was going to be a perfect day for a bike ride.
As the train plodded through Ipswich's monotonous northern suburbs, I examined the ordnance survey map. I flicked through Pevsner and Mortlock, as industrial units gave way to green fields, copses and the winding Gipping. Restless, I gazed out the window. A swan awoke on a lake near Needham Market, stretching itself and beating its wings into life. Crows raided a skip on rubble near the Stowmarket paint factory. Then we were really in the countryside, rushing headlong through the sleepy fields beyond Haughley and Mendelsham. Near Finningham, a large female deer cowered silently in the hedge, not ten metres from the track. A few minutes later, and a wise old hare huddled in a furrow, flat-eared, patient.
The train pulled into the gathering surprise of Norwich. I hauled my bike a couple of platforms over to the Sheringham line. Other people out for the day got on, including a couple dressed in vintage railway costumes. I assumed they were bound for the steam line at Sheringham. Again, the monotony of another city's suburbs petered out into agricultural business, this time in bright sunshine, and so it was that just after nine o'clock we arrived at Worstead station. I was the only person to get off. "See you later" called the conductor cheerily as I rode off of the platform into the lane, and of course he was right. There is only one train that shuttles back and forth along this line all day, and he was in charge of it.
I cycled from the station up into the village, a distance of about two miles. I didn't pass anyone, and here in the large village there was nobody about, just a fat cat lazily rolling in the village square. The sun was cutting the haze, the sky wide and blue. It was like being in France.
The church is absolutely enormous, and hemmed in a tight little graveyard. My resolution to take more distant shots went right out the window. Like Salle, and Southwold in Suffolk, St Mary was all built in one go, pretty much. This happened in the late 14th century. As at Salle, it is reflective of a large number of bequests from different people over a short period rather than anyone fabulously rich doing it on their own, and the money, of course, came from wool. Worstead is still the name of a fabric today.
I said it was pretty much built at one go, but there was still plenty of money about in the 15th century to raise the clerestory and install a hammerbeam roof. This seems to have been such an ambitious project that flying buttresses had to be installed on top of the aisles to hold the top of the nave up, an expedient measure that has left the building both interesting and beautiful.
Inside, I feared another Happisburgh, but it was gorgeous. Stepping out of the sunlight into the slight chill of a vast open space, I wandered around feasting on this stunningly lovely building.
As regular users of the sites will know, I don't always warm to big churches, but St Mary is so pretty inside that it is hard not to love it. This is partly helped by the removal of all pews and benches from the aisle. Those that remain in the body of the church are lovely 18th century box pews, quite out of keeping with the medieval nature of the rest of the building, but quirky and oddly delightful. The great tower arch is elegant, and is thrown into relief by the towering font cover. The ringing gallery under the tower is dated 1501, and is reminiscent of the one at Cawston. The tower screen below it takes the breath away, and you find yourself looking around to see where it could have come from. In fact, it is almost certainly a work of the Victorians, but it is pretty well perfect. The paintings in the dado are apparently copies of windows by Sir Joshua Reynolds at New College, Oxford.
Worstead is rightly famous for its screen, but this is more because of its height, elegance and completeness than it is its authenticity. The figures on the dado have been repainted so recklessly that it is rather hard to see who some of them were ever meant to be. As at Woolpit in Suffolk, the Victorians appear to have repainted them more with an eye to enthusiasm than accuracy. I stood there, fantasising, making up stories, until, alongside familiar figures like St Peter, St James and St Matthew, I had identified St Lassitude, the patron Saint of a quiet night in, depicted reading his book. Other Saints, identified by their symbols, include St Quirinus with his hamster, and St Obligamus with his golden pineapple. Or so it seemed to me.
Not much less odd are the two figures on the extreme right. The Victorians do not appear to have repainted them. The first shows a man holding three nails, and is probably St William of Norwich, more familiar from the screen at Loddon. The second shows a figure crucified, arms tied to the spans. This may be the infamous Uncumber, the bearded lady of early medieval mythology - she grew a beard to fend off unwanted suitors, although you can't help thinking there'd be a niche market for that kind of thing somewhere on the internet. Later, she was crucified, probably upside down. This figure is probably a woman, so nothing seems to fit better, although she isn't bearded as far as I could see. Situated on the extreme right, she is reflected by a crucified Christ as the Man of Sorrows on the extreme left.
Across the top rail, a dedicatory inscription winds, mysterious and beautiful.
Either side of the chancel arch and screen, the two aisle chapels are both in use, which is unusual and lovely. Both have small screens, each with just four figures. That on the north side is particularly lovely, and is where the blessed sacrament is reserved. The four figures are St Peter, St Bartholomew, St John the Baptist and St John the Divine. At least three of these are also on the rood screen, suggesting that either the images there are wholly Victorian, or these aisle screens came originally from elsewhere.
The south aisle chapel is simpler - it is here you enter the church through the priest door. The screen features another St Bartholomew, along with St Lawrence, St Philip and a Bishop.
St Mary is a building to wander around in, a place to enjoy for its great beauty rather than to interrogate for its medieval authenticity. As you turn corners, vistas open up; the view from the font to the south door, for example, or that back to the west from the chancel. All perfect, all stunning. The high church nature of the modern furnishings chimes perfectly with these architectural treats. And there are other significant medieval survivals - a fine brass of a Catholic priest, scraps of wall painting beside the chancel arch, and so on.
As at other churches in this benefice, the war memorial is complemented by photographs of all those commemorated. What a splendid idea, and what a labour of love. Also in common with other churches around here, St Mary has a second hand bookstall. As I explored the Worstead area, I found myself buying more and more of them, until by the time I got back to Ipswich station that evening, my rucksack was laden down with a dozen or more.
Simon Knott, April 2005
A guy stopped to ask me about the photos I was shooting here. It was impossible to explain to him that Marley was easier to photograph on the snow than Troy because of the contrast issues, dark dog on snow, not easy, white dog on snow, lower contrast, easier to hold the details in the shadows and highlights.
He looked at me totally confused. "But he's white, can you even see him against the snow?" I thought I'd just explained that. Then I explained that I used manual settings to override the meter which will be confused by the white on white scene. Again, bemused. "Your camera must be crap then, all the new ones can do everything automatically!" A total waste of breath speaking to him, he didn't listen to a word. Idiot!
“Tracking the trackers: Gary Kovacs explains Mozilla Collusion” #data #privacy #opinions
It was said that data is the new oil [1]. The data mining industry is an annual US$39 billion business. Like it or not, data is being collected about you surf the web. The technology was not intended as evil, but as Internet citizens we have the right to know what data is being collected and how it might affect us.
During a recent TED Talk, Gary Kovacs, the CEO of the Mozilla Corporations, demonstrated Collusion, a free Firefox add-on which visualizes your browsing behavior in real time. [2, 3]
In the visualization: the blue dots are sites which you have visited, the red dots are third party sites which are tracking you, and the gray dots are tracking data which could not be identified.
In his demo, Gary showed that 25+ sites started tracking him by checking emails during breakfast. An even more alarming aspect of this was installing the addon on his 9 year-old daughter’s computer and visualizing what companies are tracking through her browsing kids’ sites.
What Gary showed is the tip of an iceberg. Through my own consulting gigs in New York, several multi-national corporations have demonstrated what their own tech can track—which goes far beyond what is thought to be humanly possible. A very alarming feat indeed.
Recommended.
1. Data is the new oil - Human Face of Big Data © Nigel Holmes 2012 www.flickr.com/photos/emcuki/8008798697/
2. TED: Gary Kovacs: Tracking the trackers: www.ted.com/talks/gary_kovacs_tracking_the_trackers.html
3. Mozilla: Collusion: discovers who is tracking you online: www.mozilla.org/en-US/collusion/
“Tracking the trackers: Gary Kovacs explains Mozilla Collusion” #data #privacy #opinions / SML.20130202.SC.Data.Privacy.Opinions
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