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The lives of Alexander Croll and John Wright represent one of the most enduring and successful partnerships in the pioneering history of the New South Wales North Coast timber and shipbuilding industries.
To a lesser extent, their early venture also aligned with fellow pioneer John Rodger, laying the foundational roots for the timber communities of the Myall Lakes and Great Lakes regions of NSW, Australia.
The Early Bond: From Glasgow to the Colony
The deep lifelong connection between Alexander Croll and John Wright began across the globe in Scotland.
Born just a few years apart in Banffshire (Wright in May 1835 and Croll in August 1835/1837), the two men moved to Glasgow as youths to train in the demanding trade of shipwrights. During their grueling apprenticeships on the Clyde, Croll and Wright shared living quarters, developing a mutual trust and work ethic that would define their future. Though they initially planned to settle in New Zealand, trade disruptions caused by the New Zealand Wars redirected their ambitions and they moved on to Australia, arriving in New South Wales around 1860–1861 aboard the Lord Worsley.
Like many young men of the era, they first tried their luck panning for gold along the Snowy River. When the goldfields failed to yield a fortune, they relied on their trade skills and journeyed to the dense, untouched coastal forests of the Myall Lakes district.
Pioneering the Myall Lakes (1860s–1872)
Arriving in the Bulahdelah region, Croll and Wright started out in the grueling business of pit-sawing. They soon gained employment at Boolambayte Creek working for Duncan MacRae, who had established the area's first timber mill. The two Scotsmen put their shipwright training to immediate use, constructing vessels—such as the Caledonia—to transport MacRae’s timber. During this period of foundational hard work,
Croll settled down, marrying Eliza Jane MacKay in 1867. By 1872, after years of working alongside MacRae, Croll and Wright were ready to strike out on their own. Partnering with a third skilled associate, John Rodger, they established the first official sawmill at Bungwahl on the top of the Myall Lakes. This industrial site was strategically chosen to allow their flat-bottomed punts and newly built timber vessels easy access to navigable water, ensuring they could ship heavy logs and sawn timber out to the booming Sydney market.
Diverging Paths and Legacies
While the Bungwahl partnership was highly successful, the three pioneers had different long-term geographic ambitions, leading them to amicably divide the business over the next few years.
John Wright sold his share of the Bungwahl sawmill and shipwright business to Croll in 1877 for £2000, having earlier, in 1875, moved to the North Shore of Forster, by 1879 known as Tuncurry. On arrival in Tuncurry Wright leased waterfront land to build a massive new sawmill, slipway, and established John Wright & Son Shipyards, which operated for nearly a century. By 1878 John Wright had also taken up several thousand acres of land just east of Krambach where he built another large sawmill known as Avalon.
The third Bungwahl Mill partner, John Rodger, eventually migrated north as well, moving his sawmilling focus toward the Camden Haven River and Laurieton to tap into new forest reserves.
Alexander Croll remained firmly anchored at Bungwahl. He bought out Rodger and Wright's shares and expanded the Bungwahl mill, running it it as a highly prosperous family empire.
Croll spent the rest of his life at his Bungwahl estate, "Huntley." As he aged, he passed the management of the mill to his capable sons, Alexander Jr. and James (who later expanded the family timber legacy into Dungog as J. Croll & Sons). Alexander Croll passed away at home on August 16, 1917, at the age of 82.
Reflecting the immense respect he commanded, his funeral was the largest ever seen in the district at the time. His coffin was carried 19 miles by river launch to Bulahdelah, where 32 of his sawmill employees formed a solemn guard of honour as he was carried to his final resting place—marking the end of a grand colonial journey that began in a shared Glasgow boarding house room.
Image Source - Great Lakes Museum
Information, Restoration and colourisation of image by Chat GPT Ai.
Landsat image that shows the extent of Carr wildfires in Shasta and Trinity Counties, northern California, as of August 11, 2018. The Carr fires started on July 23, 2018, and were associated with 'fire tornadoes". Included in this image are Trinity Center, Lewiston, Redding, Anderson, the Sacramento River, Interstate 5, Trinity Lake, Whiskeytown Lake, and Shasta Lake.
Even though I've changed the format of this image, relative to the earlier one on the Carr fire, I'm confident that you'll be able to see how much this wildfire has grown—and continues to grow! The image above shows continuing fires to the southwest and, especially, to the northeast. Also included in this image is a new wildfire: the Hirz Fire, to the right (east).
This is a high-resolution, false-color satellite image, from Landsat 8; image acquired on August 11, 2018. Please place your cursor above the image, then click on the image in order to see more detail; click on the image a second time to get back to your normal viewing.
A panorama of the 7-day-old first quarter Moon on March 13, 2019, showing the full disk and extent of incredible detail along the terminator, the dividing line between the day and night sides of the Moon where the Sun is rising as seen from the surface of the Moon. Note the tiny points of light at the centres of some of the craters (particularly Alphonsus and Arzachel below centre) in the Southern Highlands from sunlight just catching the central peaks of those craters. At top in the north the slash of the Alpine Valley is obvious as well as the curve of the Apennine Mountains.
I have boosted the colour saturation and contrast somewhat to bring out the colour difference between the grey Sea of Serenity above center and the bluish Sea of Tranquillity right of centre.
TECHNICAL:
This is a panorama or mosaic of three images, for the southern, middle, and northern portions of the Moon, taken through a Celestron C9.25-inch SCT telescope but also with a Canon 1.4x telextender to increase the effective focal lengh even more to 3300mm at f/14. Each segment is a single exposure at ISO 100 of 1/20 second with the Sony a7III. Stitching was with Adobe Camera Raw using Perspective projection. So this is not an example of using a planetary camera to shoot hundreds of frames to stack and blend only the sharpest but rather an example of what can be done with simpler DSLR/Mirrorless camera techniques. The result does suffer from atmospheric blurring which varies across the disk, so this can’t compete with the images from skilled lunar photographers using specialized cameras, but it’s not bad!
Also, shooting this phase of the Moon in March or April helps ensure sharper images as the evening Moon sits highest in the sky at this time of year for the northern hemisphere. However, I did apply unsharp and high-pass sharpening to snap up the detail.
While the disk did just fit into the camera frame when it was turned 90° to fit the Moon along the long axis of the frame, allowing capturing the disk in a single exposure, inevitably optical aberrations blur the image at the edges of the frame. The mosaic method produced a sharper result across the entire disk even though there were differences in sharpness due to atmospheric seeing from frame to frame. I picked the sharpest frames for each segment.
On the balcony looking south
To all who visit and view, and – especially – express support and satisfaction: you are much appreciated!
Ostseite des Turms
This adult male is perched on a branch above our fountain and has paused for a look around. There are not that many different species of Grosbeaks in North America. In New Mexico this bird favors the high mountains that have aspens and mixed conifers. These flocks are scattered across middle North America, and are recovering from a serious population decline thought to be caused by chemical budworm treatments carried out in Canadian forests that they frequent in summer. Up here (8600 ft msl) they are seasonally regular... but not predictable. This cooler high-altitude region is near the southern extent mapped for the species.
IMG_2227; Evening Grosbeak
Westernmost extent of mainland Portugal, continental Europe and the Eurasian land mass. Worth a visit. (Nice flowers too.)
Sorry, I couldn't resist the most literal interpretation of P for Macro Monday. Yes, I might think like my five-year-old boy a bit too much. May or may not be a test tube of the real thing. 32mm extention on kit lens, off camera flash. HMM. Might just be my photo #123/366, an hour early, but still "documentation" in an odd way!
Restharrow scrape, Sandwich, Kent, England.
An unusual bird amongst the flock.
A shot showing more clearly the extent of the blush.
See:
Zoetermeer, Benthuizerplas, The Netherlands, March 3, 2012.
Adult Black-headed Gull with distinctive pink underparts, reportedly due to the secretion from the preen gland, with which the feathers are maintained. This effect is supposedly diet-related. It apparently does not interfere with finding a partner (inset).
www.flickr.com/photos/little-w/6949695665/
See also :
morgithology.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-headed-gull-varia...
62149 leaves Guild St as a 5 for the "last stop" on Bridge St but effectively would morph into a 20 enroute.
Atlantic Ocean cliffs and granite boulders at Cabo da Roca Portugal
The westernmost extent of continental Europe.
(From Wikipedia)
Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District of Shan State, part of Shan Hills in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m). During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet (2.1 m), with the deepest point being 12 feet (3.7 m), but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet (1.5 m).
The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The lake drains through the Nam Pilu or Balu Chaung on its southern end. There is a hot spring on its northwestern shore.
Although the lake is not large, it contains a number of endemic species. Over twenty species of snails and nine species of fish are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these, like the silver-blue scaleless Sawbwa barb, the crossbanded dwarf danio, and the Lake Inle danio, are of minor commercial importance for the aquarium trade. It hosts approximately 20,000 brown and black head migratory seagulls in November, December and January.
In June 2015, it becomes the Myanmar's first designated place of World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It was one of 20 places added at at the Unesco's 27th Man and the Biosphere (MAB) International Coordinating Council (ICC) meeting.
The people of Inle Lake (called Intha), some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake's shores, and on the lake itself. The entire lake area is in Nyaung Shwe township. The population consists predominantly of Intha, with a mix of other Shan, Taungyo, Pa-O (Taungthu), Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar ethnicities. Most are devout Buddhists, and live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts; they are largely self-sufficient farmers.
Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with single cylinder inboard diesel engines. Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar. This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. However, the leg rowing style is only practiced by the men. Women row in the customary style, using the oar with their hands, sitting cross legged at the stern.
In addition to fishing, locals grow vegetables and fruit in large gardens that float on the surface of the lake. The floating garden beds are formed by extensive manual labor. The farmers gather up lake-bottom weeds from the deeper parts of the lake, bring them back in boats and make them into floating beds in their garden areas, anchored by bamboo poles. These gardens rise and fall with changes in the water level, and so are resistant to flooding. The constant availability of nutrient-laden water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile. Rice cultivation is also significant.
Two flower macros in a row.. I must be sick.. LOL.. I'm suppose to be a landscape/seascape photographer.. :-)
See what happens to me when I'm on break.. :-)
It's raining hard to the extent that the droplets can be spotted against the dark wall of the warehouse on the other side of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Lostock Gralam. And you had to feel sorry for the fork truck drivers and outside staff at Tudor Griffiths Builders' Merchants who were busy marshalling lots for loading on to customer's vehicles.
Meantime GBRf Shed 66741 'Swanage Railway' is putting in an appearance with the 7.11am Liverpool Biomass - Drax loaded wooden pellets (6E09). She's seen here threading her way through the low hanging steam generated by the Tata Chemicals plant - a much photographed backdrop and an atmospheric by-product of the synthetic soda ash manufacturing process located here.
Suffice to say the camera and lens got seriously soaked rendering a time out necessary for liquid refreshment and drying off the kit.
A day for messing about on the river? Not.
10.02am, 7th March 2019
Was bored looking out at the rain the other night so banged on my macro lens ala extention tubes and ventured out into the gloom. Saw this seed suspended on a web with the wee drop on it, snapped it then the heavens broke. :)
Fotografia analógica realizada con una cámara Nikon F-65, posteriormente digitalizada con un scaner EPSON Perfection 4990 Photo y editada con Lightroom 3.3.
L'Inle és un llac de l'estat Shan de Birmània amb uns 500 km², mesurant 100 km de llarg per només 5 km d'ample. Té a la vora unes 200 ciutats i llogarets, la majoria poblats pels Intha (que vol dir fills del Llac). La ciutat principal de la rodalia és Yawnghwe que té un canal de 4 m. de fondo fins el llac (Canal de Nankand). El llac és aprofitat i cultivat i les seves aigües formen canals entre les terres de conreu. Són famosos els jardins del llac i les cases flotants. També hi ha un mercat flotant. A la vora del llac hi ha la important pagoda de Phaung Daw U, una de les tres principals de Myanmar, del segle XVIII amb imatges del segle XII de Buda.
El Inle es un lago del estado Shan de Birmania con unos 500 km ², midiendo 100 km de largo por 5 km de ancho. Tiene cerca unas 200 ciudades y aldeas, la mayoría poblados por Intha (que significa hijos del Lago). La ciudad principal de la cercanía es Yawnghwe que tiene un canal de 4 m. de fondo hasta el lago (Canal de Nankand). El lago es aprovechado y cultivado y sus aguas forman canales entre las tierras de cultivo. Son famosos los jardines del lago y las casas flotantes. También hay un mercado flotante. Al borde del lago está la importante pagoda de Phaung Daw U , una de las tres principales de Myanmar, del siglo XVIII con imágenes del siglo XII de Buda .
Inle Lake (Burmese: အင်းလေးကန်, pronounced: [ʔɪ́ɴlé kàɴ]) is a freshwater lake located in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District of Shan State, part of Shan Hills in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an altitude of 2,900 feet (880 m). During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet (2.1 m), with the deepest point being 12 feet (3.7 m), but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet (1.5 m).
The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The lake drains through the Nam Pilu or Balu Chaung on its southern end. There is a hot spring on its northwestern shore.
Although the lake is not large, it contains a number of endemic species. Over twenty species of snails and nine species of fish are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these, like the silver-blue scaleless Sawbwa barb, the crossbanded dwarf danio, and the Lake Inle danio, are of minor commercial importance for the aquarium trade. It hosts approximately 20,000 brown and black head migratory seagulls in November, December and January.
Acrantophis madagascariensis, llamada boa de Madagascar meridional, y también conocida como boa terrestre, es una serpiente nocturna. Se alimenta de pequeños mamíferos y aves que encuentra utilizando los orificios sensibles al calor que tiene alrededor de la boca y que le permiten cazar sus presas de sangre caliente en completa oscuridad. Las víctimas, una vez capturadas, son retenidas por el cuerpo de la boa, que las enrosca, restringiendo el flujo de sangre al corazón y, finalmente, causándoles insuficiencia circulatoria.
Las boas no son venenosas.
Todas las boas dan a luz por lo general 12 crías a la vez. El embarazo tiene una duración de seis meses y las crías emergen solo con 25 cm de largo y son de color rojo. Obtienen sus colores adultos gradualmente a lo largo de su primer año de vida.
Se puede encontrar en dos variaciones de colores, de la misma especie, en la mitad oriental de las cordilleras la de color verde a verde grisáceo suele encontrarse alrededor de dos tercios más abundante que la de color mandarina. Esta última puede ser amarilla y naranja, mientras que en lagunas partes de la zona oeste se encuentran individuos de color marrón.
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrantophis_madagascariensis
Acrantophis madagascariensis is a species of boid snake in the subfamily Sanziniinae that is endemic to the island of Madagascar. Its common names include the Madagascar ground boa and Malagasy ground boa.
This species is included in the Boidae family of snakes, subfamily Sanziniinae. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Adult females can be up to 10 feet (3.0 metres), males are typically smaller, the average size of the population is 8 feet (2.4 m) in length. This is the largest snake species found on the island of Madagascar. Acrantophis madagascariensis, like others in the family, dispatch their prey by constriction.
The color pattern consists of a pale reddish-brown ground color mixed with gray, overlaid with a pattern of dorsal rhombs outlined with black or brown. Sometimes, this creates a vague zigzag impression. The sides are patterned with a series of black ovoid markings with reddish blotches, often bordered or centered with white.
A. madagascariensis is endemic to Madagascar, occurring in the central, northern and western parts of the island.
The species usually occurs in sparse, open woodland, such as the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.
Acrantophis madagascariensis is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2011. Previously it was classified as Vulnerable (VU) with the following criteria: A1cd (v2.3, 1994). This means that a population reduction of at least 20% has been observed, estimated, inferred or suspected over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat, and based on actual or potential levels of exploitation. The species was last assessed in 2011.
It is also listed as CITES Appendix I, which means commercial international trade is prohibited and non-commercial trade is regulated.
Current threats include deforestation, human population growth, agricultural and industrial development, and collection for the illegal pet trade. For the time being, it is only threatened locally, and this species is not in any danger as a whole.
The species shelters in mammal burrows, fallen trees, debris piles and similar sites that offer some protection. Brumation takes place during the cool and dry winter months, usually May though July.
The diet consists of small mammals and birds, including rodents, bats, tenrecs, lemurs, and ducks.
Mating takes place after emerging from brumation. Females may be courted by and copulate with more than one male. Ovoviviparous, females give birth to 2-4 large young after a long gestation period of 4–6 months. Neonates are 19–24 inches (48–61 centimetres) in length and are already capable of feeding on small rodents and birds.
The war between the former kingdom of Iliran, now called the empire of Iliran and what is generally known as the Northern Alliance (consisting of the kingdom of Edoria, the wood elves of the forest of Haldalon, the dwarfs of the steel mountains, and to a lesser extent, the kingdom of Bregonas.) had been going on for a few months now. The Empire had attempted to take the stronghold of Gaugenheim and the dwarven hold of Barun-Dar, more commonly known as Silvergate, but had been repelled at “acceptable” losses. Now it was the northerners’ turn to hit back. A mighty force was assembled, led by prince William Edweadson of Edoria and they began the march towards their first target: the city of Lalbor, an important center of trade. However, there was a slight problem, there was something in the way called Ilan castle. So they had to take it and take it quickly, before the empire could make a counter attack.
William gathered his fellow commanders and together they came up with a plan: In the night, the army would move up under the cover of darkness and at the end, early morning, a team of rangers would scale the walls, knock out the guards in silence and open the first gates and hold them for just a few minutes, in which more men could enter the courtyard. Then it would be up to the engineers to continue the good work.
Roger peeked his head above wall and immediately pulled his head back behind the crenellations to avoid the attention of the two imperial soldiers. Knowing that his mates relied on him to take this part. He sweared silently, asking the gods why he had to deal with the guards. Then he got to work fabricating a few spells: one to silence any noise and an illusion so that anyone who looked, would just see guards, well guarding instead of a rather suspicious group of cloaked individuals. He sweared again and leaped up between the crenellations. “Good evening chaps, how are we?” not expecting an answer, he jumped in while pulling his blades. He would preferably have put a sleeping spell on the two, but any further magic would break through his other spells and well, people tend to notice it when you’re throwing bloody fireballs all over the place. “That everything you’ve got mate?!” Roger yelled as he ducked under a spear thrust, then he quickly cut through the spear with his blade, leaving the owner with something little more than a stick. This made the man understandingly quite angry and the rather tall man roared, pulled a knife and stormed our friend of barely four foot while the other prepared to do the same. Roger was almost so desperate of using magic when suddenly, the faces previously filled with rage, emptied of al emotion as the lifeless bodies fell on the walkways, two arrow sticking of their backs. “you’re alight little friend?” a redheaded wood elf asked “No, I’m fine Celdric, but if you could just hurry up a wee bit, it would be much appreciated.” The elf grinned “Oi, you’ve heard that Martin?” “Aye, I think we should give the ungrateful sod a little more privacy next time.” Roger rolled with his eyes “ha ha, very funny.” “Eh lads, a lil’ help here.” Came it from the wall. Roger stretched his arm and grabbed Thirns arm and pulled him on the wall “Here, there ya go mate.” “Thanks lad.” The dwarf nodded, then he turned and pulled the others up until the entire group stood on the wall: their old friend Uther Stormwind, Holfar Ragnarson, Bob and Rob Rodrickson and Balor Ironstone, one of Thirn’s many cousins. Uther looked around, suspicious of his surroundings. “You sure noticed us?” Martin lifted his eyebrow. “sorry, I usually don’t have the pleasure of having a mage with me.” “Eh lads.” Thirn said “I hate to interrupt ya, but it’s late, so I’d say we get our asses movin’.”
The extent of a shadow trying to find itself in the light.
L'ampleur d'une ombre qui se cherche au milieu de la lumière.
Hasselblad 500C/M + Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 + Kodak Tri-X 400TX + Ilford ID-11 selfdeveloped + Epson V700 Scan Color 48 Bits Scan (No photoshop except from dust)
Bruno Servant © All rights reserved - Downloading and using images without permission is illegal.
PoissonSoluble92@hotmail.fr
Kurt Schwitters abandoned his Merz pictures to a large extent during the mid- to late 1920s to concentrate on paintings, constructions, and reliefs in which the influence of Russian Constructivism and the work of his friend Theo van Doesburg is discernable. He eliminated found materials from these compositions and thereby reduced the Dada element of chance they contributed in order to achieve a less idiosyncratic and hence more universal form of expression. This development accorded with his belief in the ascendancy of formal values, which he felt should not be jeopardized by references to anything outside the work of art.
When Schwitters returned to the Merz idiom in 1930, he placed more emphasis on the act of painting than he had in his early collages. Though the planes are shaped with the impersonality of geometric contour, they are animated by the variation of rhythmic brushstrokes and the addition of collaged forms. In the tradition of his Merz works of the classic period of 1919 to the mid-1920s, the objects he adopted were disposable articles—the top of a corroded tin can and a metal butterfly; the picture once included a broken piece of china to the right of the tin circle and two wooden balls below the butterfly. While the objects function as abstract elements within the flat confines of the support, their projection contradicts the two-dimensionality of the picture plane and implies an extension of the work of art into the observer’s world.
Lucy Flint
This artwork is, to some extent, a reflection of my experience with meditative practices and the visual effects that accompany them.
As sea ice at far northern latitudes approached its annual maximum extent, the Terra satellite captured this natural-color image of sea ice and clouds off of Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province. Though sea ice has been significantly below normal extent and thickness across much of the Arctic, the ice in the Labrador Sea has been relatively close to normal.
In this image, acquired on Feb. 18, 2018, the coastline, the sea ice edge, and offshore clouds all present a clear edge to distinguish one from the next. Ice hugs the coast, where it receives the full chilling effect of offshore winds, and the water is shallower and fresher than in the open sea. The swirl patterns on the eastern edges reveal areas where ice is new and has not yet consolidated into a solid sheet, so it is more susceptible to stirring by winds and by ocean eddies.
Image credit: NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response/Mike Carlowicz
1989 Jaguar XJ-S 3.6.
Last MoT test expired in September 2020 (SORN).
It failed a test on 3rd September 2021 -
Nearside integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced centre chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i)) - Major
Offside integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced chassis rail various places front to rear (6.1.1 (c) (i)) - Major
Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii)) - Major
Nearside rear seat belt anchorage prescribed area is inadequately repaired upper wing corroded (7.1.1 (a) (i)) - Major
Nearside seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced floor pan and sill (7.1.1 (a) (i)) - Major
Offside seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced floor pan (7.1.1 (a) (i)) - Major
Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor pans as marked front and rear (5.3.6 (a) (i)) - Major
Offside front service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f)) - Major
Rear service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f)) - Major
One more image from a great session at Reynisdrangar about a month ago. Endless foul weather and rain has kept me home and going through my archive. In a way it is good to go through the archive but I would rather be out there somewhere shooting.
If you would like to visit an ice cave consider join my Winter Photo Tour
The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved medieval northern European trading city on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The city developed as a significant centre of the Hanseatic League during the major period of activity of this great trading organization in the 13th-16th centuries.
The combination of the upper town on the high limestone hill and the lower town at its foot with many church spires forms an expressive skyline that is visible from a great distance both from land and sea.
The upper town (Toompea) with the castle and the cathedral has always been the administrative centre of the country, whereas the lower town preserves to a remarkable extent the medieval urban fabric of narrow winding streets, many of which retain their medieval names, and fine public and burgher buildings, including town wall, Town Hall, pharmacy, churches, monasteries, merchants’ and craftsmen’ guilds, and the domestic architecture of the merchants' houses, which have survived to a remarkable degree. The distribution of building plots survives virtually intact from the 13th-14th centuries.
As photographers, we are easily drawn towards mesmerising landscapes, minimalistic architecture, beautiful design products and pretty faces and bodies. Over the last couple of years, I have travelled to 25 countries on four continents to capture the most beautiful and exotic places, in order to add them to a well-diversified portfolio. Most professional and aspiring photographers’ portfolios should show to a certain extent their dedication to travel to remote places or to go the extra mile at least. That has worked out very well so far for me.
Now, as I want to grow my business to become a successful commercial photographer, I have to diversify my portfolio by adding a different kind of pictures to my portfolio: Commercial pictures - pretty pictures of ordinary things. It is fairly “easy” for a photographer to make beautiful places and things look even more beautiful. The real challenge is, to make those things look nice that look fairly ordinary and that your clients want you to photograph. Of course, I’m striving for high-paying clients with a big reputation, bu you have to start small and work your way up.
Long story short, I’ve started to capture very ordinary architecture in Nuremberg in a compelling way.
Here are the the pictures of the Merian Forum, in North Eastern Nuremberg.
Follow me Behind the Scenes when I capture more pictures on location:
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
A text, in english, from Birdlife International:
Justification
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.
SACC. 2006. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: #http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html#.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'common' (Stotz et al. (1996).
Trend justification
This species is suspected to lose 15.9-17.6% of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations (12 years) based on a model of Amazonian deforestation (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). It is therefore suspected to decline by <25% over three generations.
References
Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Further web sources of information
Explore HBW Alive for further information on this species
Search for photos and videos,and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.
IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Thalurania furcata. Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 14/12/2015. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2015) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from www.birdlife.org on 14/12/2015.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
Beija-flor-tesoura-verde
Texto, em português, da WikiAves:
O beija-flor-tesoura-verde é uma ave da ordem dos Apodiformes, da família Trochilidae.
Também é conhecido como beija-flor-de-barriga-violeta. No livro Aves do Brasil, edição Pantanal e Cerrado, consta como beija-flor-de-ventre-roxo.
Seu nome significa: do (grego) thalos = criança, descendente de; e ouranos céu, celeste, referente ao azul do céu; e do (latim) furcata, furcatus = bifurcada. ⇒ Pássaro filho do azul celeste com cauda bifurcada.
Mede cerca de 9,7 cm de comprimento. Macho com partes superiores esverdeadas, garganta verde-metálica, peito e barriga azul-violeta-brilhante; fêmea com as partes inferiores cinza.
Possui doze subespécies:
Thalurania furcata furcata (Gmelin, 1788) - ocorre no extremo Leste da Venezuela, Guianas e Norte do Brasil, ao norte do Rio Amazonas;
Thalurania furcata refulgens (Gould, 1853) - ocorre no Nordeste da Venezuela, na Península de Paría e na Serra de Cumaná;
Thalurania furcata fissilis (Berlepsch & Hartert, 1902) - ocorre no Leste da Venezuela, e na região adjacente no extremo Oeste da Guiana e Nordeste do Brasil;
Thalurania furcata nigrofasciata (Gould, 1846) - ocorre do Sudoeste da Colômbia até o extremo Sul da Venezuela e Noroeste do Brasil;
Thalurania furcata viridipectus (Gould, 1848) - ocorre do Leste da Cordilheira dos Andes na Leste da Colômbia até o Nordeste do Peru;
Thalurania furcata jelskii (Taczanowski, 1874) - ocorre na região tropical Leste do Peru e na região adjacente no Brasil;
Thalurania furcata simoni (Hellmayr, 1906) - ocorre na Amazônia ao Sul do Rio Amazonas no extremo Leste do Peru e no Oeste do Brasil;
Thalurania furcata balzani (Simon, 1896) - ocorre na região Norte e Central do Brasil ao sul do Rio Amazonas;
Thalurania furcata furcatoides (Gould, 1861) - ocorre no baixo Rio Amazonas, na região Leste do Brasil ao Sul do Rio Amazonas;
Thalurania furcata boliviana (Boucard, 1894) - ocorre nos sopés da Cordilheira dos Andes no Sudeste do Peru e no Nordeste da Bolívia;
Thalurania furcata baeri (Hellmayr, 1907) - ocorre da região Central e Nordeste do Brasil até o Sudeste da Bolívia e no Norte da Argentina;
Thalurania furcata eriphile (Lesson, 1832) - ocorre do Sudeste do Brasil, Leste do Paraguai até o Nordeste da Argentina, na região de Misiones.
Alimenta-se em flores à pouca altura, buscando também insetos na vegetação ou capturando-os no ar.
Faz ninho em forma de taça profunda, preso por teias de aranha a forquilhas ou pequenos ramos, a cerca de 2 m de altura. Põe 2 ovos brancos. Os filhotes deixam o ninho após 18 a 24 dias.
Comum no sub-bosque de florestas altas, capoeiras e florestas de várzea. Vive solitário, defendendo seu território de maneira agressiva.
Distribuição Geográfica:
Quase todo o Brasil, da Amazônia ao Paraná. Encontrado também do México à Bolívia, Paraguai e Argentina.
Referências:
Portal Brasil 500 Pássaros, Beija-flor-tesoura-verde - Disponível em webserver.eln.gov.br/Pass500/BIRDS/1birds/p159.htm Acesso em 09 mai. 2009
CLEMENTS, J. F.; The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Cornell: Cornell University Press, 2005.
Classificação Científica
Reino: Animalia
Filo: Chordata
Classe: Aves
Ordem: Apodiformes
Família: Trochilidae
Vigors, 1825
Subfamília: Trochilinae
Vigors, 1825
Espécie: T. furcata
Nome Científico
Thalurania furcata
(Gmelin, 1788)
Nome em Inglês
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Estado de Conservação
(IUCN 3.1)
Pouco Preocupante
PINK for OCTOBER..................... best viewed on black
Hybrid Perpetual ROSE— The dominant class of roses in Victorian England, they first emerged in 1838 and were derived to a great extent from the Bourbons. They became the most popular garden and florist roses of northern Europe at the time, as the tender tea roses would not thrive in cold climates. The "perpetual" in the name hints at repeat-flowering, but many varieties of this class had poor reflowering habits; the tendency was for a massive spring bloom, followed by either scattered summer flowering, a smaller autumn burst, or sometimes nothing at all until next spring.
They were opulent, however, this 'head' of 5 beauties opened one day... the next day it was mad, raining, thunder and lightning, so in between showers... yep, I rushed out, yep another 'rescue' job, lol.
I wanted to make this photo as a 'period' image.
Have a wonderful day, filled with love and thank you for your visit, M, (*_*)
For more of my other work or if you want to PURCHASE, visit here: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
A female Trypetoptera punctulata, a member of the marsh flies (Sciomyzidae).
For a species found in Sweden - this is a pretty exotic look. Body length about ~6 mm.
The larvae of T. punctulata actually prey on some snails and it's to some extent used as biological pest control.
The extent to which I have read about the prototype is this webpage:
www.lner.info/locos/Electric/ner_tyneside.php
No buffers lol
Love this time of year.
Please press L to view full screen.
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But, if you do use, it would be nice to know where and what for - hit me up on twitter @ianlivesey
For many hours he, and his friends, carry coal from one place to another, on their head. Needless to say that they are rather black from head to toe; and I wondered to what extent, a good bath can remove the dust from their skin.
i figured out the joy is not in your arms
i know ill always ache with an empty heart
I like this but i think somethings missing from it i dont know what!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_bush_chat
The pied bush chat (Saxicola caprata) is a small passerine bird found ranging from West Asia and Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. About sixteen subspecies are recognized through its wide range with many island forms. It is a familiar bird of countryside and open scrub or grassland where it is found perched at the top of short thorn trees or other shrubs, looking out for insect prey. They pick up insects mainly from the ground, and were, like other chats, placed in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now considered as Old World flycatchers.
They nest in cavities in stone walls or in holes in an embankment, lining the nest with grass and animal hair. The males are black with white shoulder and vent patches whose extent varies among populations. Females are predominantly brownish while juveniles are speckled.
Taxonomy
In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the pied bush chat in his Ornithologie based on a specimen collected from the island of Luzon in the Philippines. He used the French name Le traquet de l'Isle de Luçon and the Latin Rubetra Lucionensis.[2] Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.[3] When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson.[3] One of these was the pied bush chat. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Motacilla caprata and cited Brisson's work.[4] The specific epithet caprata is from the local name which according to Brisson was Maria-capra.[2][5] This species is now placed in the genus Saxicola that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1802.[6] There are 16 recognised subspecies.
Description
At 13 cm, the pied bush chat is slightly smaller than the Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus, although it has a similar dumpy structure and upright stance. The male is black except for a white rump, wing patch and lower belly. The iris is dark brown, the bill and legs black. The female is drab brown and slightly streaked. Juveniles have a scaly appearance on the underside but dark above like the females.
A number of geographic populations have been given subspecies status:
•nominate caprata (Linnaeus, 1766) is found in Luzon and Mindoro, in the Philippines.
•rossorum (Hartert, 1910) is found in NE Iran SC Kazakhstan S to Afghanistan and Baluchistan; migrant in SW Asia (vagrant in Arabia, Israel).(shows more white below than bicolor, described by Hartert, Jour. f. Orn. 1910:180 but not always recognized[8])
•bicolor Sykes, 1832 is found in SE Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and N India; migrating to central India and possibly southern India.[9][10]
•burmanicus Stuart Baker, 1922 is found in peninsular India E to Myanmar and S China (S Sichuan, Yunnan), S to Thailand and Indochina. This has the white on the abdomen restricted towards the vent.
•nilgiriensis Whistler, 1940 is found in the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Hills.[11]
•atratus (Blyth, 1851) is restricted to Sri Lanka. This has a large bill.[8][12]
Some of these isolated populations are found on islands and they include:
•randi Parkes, 1960 found in the central Philippines (Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor).
•anderseni Salomonsen, 1953 found on Leyte and Mindanao, in the Philippines.
•fruticola Horsfield, 1821 found in Java E to Flores and Alor.
•francki Rensch, 1931 is found on the Sumba Islands
•pyrrhonotus (Vieillot, 1818) found in the E Lesser Sundas (Wetar, Kisar, Timor, Savu, Roti).
•albonotatus (Stresemann, 1912) found in Sulawesi (except N peninsula) and Salayer I.
•cognatus Mayr, 1944 on Babar Island.
•belensis Rand, 1940 in WC New Guinea.
•aethiops (P. L. Sclater, 1880) in N New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago.
•wahgiensis Mayr & Gilliard, 1951 in EC & E New Guinea.
This species is closely related to the European-African stonechat complex. [13] S. c. fruticola from Indonesia (Moyo Island population appeared to be well differentiated from specimens from Lembata Island with a divergence estimated to about 360,000 years ago.), S. c. pyrrhonota from West Timor (Indonesia).[14]
Local names include Kala pidda in Hindi Shyama in Gujarati Kavda gapidda in Marathi Kallu kuruvi in Tamil, Kampa nalanchi in Telugu.[15] The Fore people of New Guinea called it pobogile.[16] They were once popular in Bengal as cage birds.[17] They are still found in the local bird trade of some parts of Southeast Asia.[18]
Distribution
The pied bush chat is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from the Greater Middle East through the Indian subcontinent eastwards to Indonesia. They colonized Papua New Guinea around 1950.[19] It is found in open habitats including scrub, grassland and cultivation.
Some populations are partially migratory. A ringed individual of subspecies rossorum has been recovered from Israel.[20] The populations in India also appear to show seasonal movements but the patterns are unclear. Subspecies bicolor is found in peninsular India in winter.[21] In Karwar on the western coast, it is said to appear in October and stay till May but not seen during the rainy season.[22] Said to be absent in the Baroda district of Gujarat from April to September.[23][24] Claud Buchanan Ticehurst noted that it was a summer visitor to Baluchistan leaving in October and further that the birds from Baluchistan were indistinguishable from rossorum of Turkestan.[24]
Behaviour and ecology
The breeding season is mainly February to August with a peak in March to June. Males sing from prominent perches. The whistling call is somewhat like that of an Indian robin and has been transcribed as we are tea for two with tea at higher note. The nest is built in a hole in a wall or similar site lined with grass and hair, and 2-5 eggs are laid.[8] Paired males did not reduce their dawn singing behaviour when their mates where trapped and temporarily excluded from the territory. This study suggests that males use dawn chorus to mediate social relationships with neighbouring males to proclaim an established territory.[25] The eggs are small and broadly oval with pale bluish-white or pinkish ground colour and speckles and blotches towards the broad end. They measure about 0.67 by 0.55 inches.[10] Eggs are incubated chiefly by the female for 12 to 13 days.[21]
Brood parasitism by the common cuckoo (race bakeri) has been noted to be common in the Shan State of Burma, with the cuckoo visiting the nest at dusk and removing an egg before quickly laying its own.[26][27] The female has dark brown upperparts and rufous underparts and rump. She has no white wing patches. Juveniles are similar to females. Males display during the breeding season by splaying the tail, fluttering and puffing up the white scapular feathers.[10]
This species is insectivorous, and like other chats hunts from a prominent low perch. They have been noted to feed on Pyralid moths and whitefly.[28][29]
Nematode parasites in the genus Acuaria have been noted.[30][31] Adult birds have few predators although bats (Megaderma lyra)[32][33] and wintering Asio flammeus have been noted[34] to prey on them.
In culture
Among the Toda people in the Nilgiris, the pied bushchat or kāŗpiłc, is a bird of omen and the origin of its white wing patches is described in a story of a dairy priest Piu.f who in the ritual of churning milk forgot to remove the churning stick before fetching water from a stream. The bird attempted to obstruct him by blocking his path but he disregarded it and flicked off butter from his hands. The white spots remained but Piu.f met his death. The Kotas of the Nilgiris have an origin story to explain the sexual dimorphism of the pied bushchat but they consider the "karyvaky" bird to be one that foretells good omen.
Seen from Riederalp
Cloud iridescence is the occurrence of colors in a cloud similar to those seen in oil films on puddles, and is similar to irisation. It is a fairly uncommon phenomenon, most often observed in altocumulus,[1] cirrocumulus, lenticular clouds and cirrus clouds.[2][3][4] The colors are usually pastel, but can be very vivid. Iridescence is generally produced near the sun, with the sun's glare masking it, so it is more easily seen by hiding the sun behind a tree or building. Other aids are dark glasses, or observing the sky reflected in a convex mirror or in a pool of water.
Iridescent clouds are a diffraction phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals produce halos.
If parts of clouds have small droplets or crystals of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as colors. The cloud must be optically thin, so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Iridescence is therefore mostly seen at cloud edges or in semi-transparent clouds, and newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colorful iridescence. When a thin cloud has droplets of similar size over a large extent, the iridescence takes on the structured form of a corona, a central bright disk around the sun or moon surrounded by one or more colored rings. In one instance a lunar corona was observed, with the iridescent cirrus cloud 11–13.6 km (36,000–45,000 ft) above the mean sea level at a temperature of −70 °C (−94 °F). The pure corona was 9.5 km (31,000 ft) above the mean sea level, at a temperature of −60 °C (−76 °F).[5]
Source: Wikipedia
The sea ice cap of the Arctic appeared to reach its annual maximum winter extent on Feb. 25, according to data from the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. At 5.61 million square miles (14.54 million square kilometers), this year’s maximum extent was the smallest on the satellite record and also one of the earliest.
Read more: 1.usa.gov/1Eyvelz
Credit:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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(Aral Sea: left 2014 and right 2000, 1960 extent black line)
In the 1960s, the Soviet Union undertook a major water diversion project on the arid plains of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The region’s two major rivers, fed by snowmelt and precipitation in faraway mountains, were used to transform the desert into farms for cotton and other crops. Before the project, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers flowed down from the mountains, cut northwest through the Kyzylkum Desert, and finally pooled together in the lowest part of the basin. The lake they made, the Aral Sea, was once the fourth largest in the world.
Although irrigation made the desert bloom, it devastated the Aral Sea. This series of images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite documents the changes. At the start of the series in 2000, the lake was already a fraction of its 1960 extent (black line). The Northern Aral Sea (sometimes called the Small Aral Sea) had separated from the Southern (Large) Aral Sea. The Southern Aral Sea had split into eastern and western lobes that remained tenuously connected at both ends.
By 2001, the southern connection had been severed, and the shallower eastern part retreated rapidly over the next several years. Especially large retreats in the eastern lobe of the Southern Sea appear to have occurred between 2005 and 2009, when drought limited and then cut off the flow of the Amu Darya. Water levels then fluctuated annually between 2009 and 2014 in alternately dry and wet years. Dry conditions in 2014 caused the Southern Sea’s eastern lobe to completely dry up for the first time in modern times. Continue reading: 1.usa.gov/1nLX9Ku
Read more: 1.usa.gov/1pqEnDj
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
Follow us on Twitter
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Find us on Instagram
A silver Fuchsia flower pendant made by my very talented wife.
The chain is a commercial item and the vertical extent of the image is 3".
The Red Grasshawk, also known as Common Parasol, and Grasshawk dragonfly, (Neurothemis fluctuans) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
DESCRIPTION
The male has a brownish-red thorax and abdomen. The wings are almost entirely brownish-red except for the tips and a thin tapering clear band around the hind margin from about its midpoint. The extent of the colored part of the wings is somewhat variable. The female is light brown (greyish when old) with dark streaks along the abdomen and has clear wings. In males, the hindwing 22 to 25 mm in length and the total body length ranges from 30 to 34 mm.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT
The Red Grasshawk is a widespread species in tropical Asia, extending from eastern India to Viet Nam and southwards to Java. The dragonfly is native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India (Andaman Is., Assam, Mizoram, Nicobar Islands), Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan, Sumatera), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak), Myanmar (mainland), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The species can be found at ponds, marshes, swamps and other stagnant waters. It breeds in open and disturbed habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
We are living in times of great destruction of the world as we know it, earth changes, fires, floods, earthquakes.
Here alone in Australia we sit in horror at the extent of the fires rampage across the country. Unprecedented fires and weather in the history of our existence (well what is on record)
Whilst horrific - the earth we live on has always been full of cyclic changes.
Ancient cities have been discovered under the sea, we are naive to think that the world as we know it will remain the same.
What continents exist now may no longer exist. What coast line exists now is slowly being swallowed up by the ocean.
Volcanic eruptions are changing the face of the planet as are earthquakes - the list is long.
We cannot stop the force of Mother Nature. We live on a planet that has always endured such destruction.
We have pole shifts taking place - all kinds of catastrophic events happening across the Globe. We are but a spit in the ocean to the wide Galaxies that we know of. Yet we think we are precious in some way.
I cannot help but wonder why I was so drawn to create this "Black Winged Goddess" let alone give her the name of Black Winged Goddess. But I was drawn, my soul was pushing me for weeks with a "slight vision" of what I needed to create. It now makes total sense to me why I was so drawn to create The Black Winged Goddess, given the state of our world and humanity.
My soul as always when I listen guides me with powerful messages and reminds me to just 'be' to accept 'what is'.
We may not like the current state of our world but it is what it is and all we can do is stay strong within ourselves and hold the power of 'love' in our hearts despite seeing so much being played out on the planet.
Kali (Hindu) - was known as a deity of the Fearsome Demon destroying Goddess who represents death and rebirth - so her name means "Black One".
We can never truly comprehend or understand the power of mother nature - we have abused her for centuries, taken her for granted and she is a living breathing consciousness so powerful that we dare not go up against here.
In recent years we have seen the influence of the feminine energy on earth which for eons has been dominated by the male energy.
So it makes complete sense to me that we are witness to so much destruction on the planet.
We are witness to the destruction of our societies as we know it, breakdown of families, law, politics.
So much of humanity is at war with the 'system', the injustices, and the lack of balance within our society. The homeless, the abused, the forgotten souls, the mental health issues that seem to have become rampant, the rise of Corporate wealth while humanity is trapped in slavery. We have learnt nothing as a humanity over the past how many hundred years?
In order for rebirth, for new growth, a culling needs to take place - hence the energy of the Black Winged Goddess she is both the Destroyer and the Giver of New Life.
We have elected to be here at this time on the planet - despite the suffering we witness or endure - I know at a higher level it is absolutely necessary for real change to take place.
Our world is a very different place to the one we have known - and whilst we have believed we have had a safe and reasonable planet in which to live, the reality is much Evil has existed and people have been brainwashed to the point of being zombies. There has been so much suppression imposed upon humanity even to the extreme of vaccinations and fluoride to our water supply. All of these chemicals act as suppressants to our brain! It has been a deliberate agenda of the existing power on earth. Their agenda has always been to rule, control and suppress the populous.
Humanity is awakening and with this will be uproar, dis - ease, a culling if you like. It is time for humanity to step out of fear and into their true power which is within each and every one of us.
New growth, new beginnings but not before the dismantling of the old - it has to be this way.
These times we are living through were written in history.
So I have created "The Black Winged Goddess" she is available in different styles, inside a Dome with beautiful etched glass or stand alone. She will rotate or can be static.
She is available on MP in the Stand Alone version (rotating) or can be seen in world at my store.
I hope you enjoy and embrace 'The "Black Winged Goddess' and rather be in fear of her - understand she brings 'New Life" but first the old has to die for the new to be born.
How appropriate for a New Year of 2020 fast approaching.
Interestingly and unconsciously I created 4 of these Black Winged Goddesses.
The year 2020 equates to the number 4 in Numerology.
The #4 represents a Universal energy. (see below for a deeper understanding of the #4)
The # 2 - Is the most feminine and often underestimated when it comes to power and strength. She is always gentle, tactful, diplomatic, forgiving and understanding. She likes to keep peace and likes to avoid confrontation. # 2 is the survivor and extremely resilient force. Her shape looks as though she is bent back on a knee with head bowed in humility and service. However when enough pressure is applied to the # 2 energy. Some would perceive her as weak and powerless due to this servitude shape. However never underestimate the power behind #2 because she represents the power (double) #1 who is the all powerful warrior who will shake and destroy no matter what. So #2 brings the balance but never underestimate the power of 2 Energy.
The #4 Energy in more detail
The 4 is without a doubt masculine, reflecting strength and stability. His chief characteristics are dependability, productivity, punctuality and obedience. He is trustworthy, patient, conventional and a traditionalist.
Tend to be rule followers. 4 is the area of sciences, upholding the law (such as Government and the military). The #4 represents Disciplined, systematic, Dependable, Strong. Loyal
Four is the basis of all solid objects. Four points are used in constructing the simplest solid and thus four is the number symbolizing the way of construction. In many religions, four is seen as the number for earth, and representing the four elements, Air Earth, Water and Fire.
At its extreme 4's can tend to overreact to violence.
So 2020 seems to have more challenges ahead and I suspect we will be seeing more uprising across the planet (#2 energy) with totalitarianism (#4 energy) being played out like never before. Perhaps more of what the world has witnessed in Hong Kong this year.
It is as if the two energies Masculine & Feminine are battling against one another. But at the same time I cannot help but feel and acknowledge UNITY - and this is what I will remain focused upon during the year ahead. We must stand united. We are after all 'one humanity'
We are without doubt living in very challenging times.
May peace be with you!
Taxi
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20Of%20Currents/243/2...
I can’t help it, I love ruins —they sadden me of course, on the one hand, because destruction is never pleasant to behold, but on the other there is also survival, albeit partial, and ruins are so full of atmosphere and so evocative that I can very much understand (and, to some extent, share) the attraction that 19th century “Romantics” felt for them. It is this very attraction that gave rise to the conviction that historic ruins should be protected and preserved, and that conviction, at the beginning only shared between the members of an intellectual élite, trickled down into the general public and turned into our modern concepts of heritage, protection and restoration of “old stones”... hopefully before they do turn into ruins!
The ruined priory church in the Burgundy village of Le Puley, which we will visit over a couple of days, exemplifies both this interest of mine, and the more and more widespread conviction that historic monuments and buildings must be cared for and, if at all possible, saved, or at least preserved from further decay, as I will explain below.
It is said here and there that the church was built between 1100 and 1150, but personally, I would rather date it between 1050 and 1100. For a Cluny subsidiary (which this priory of Benedictine nuns was from the beginning, except for the very few first years during which the sisters were canonesses), I find the apparel quite rough, and this indicates old age. I also see the beautiful bandes lombardes on the façade, and the archaic shape of the apse and apsidioles I will show tomorrow: all of this tells me that the church was built before 1100. If it had been built after, it would look more “accomplished”, so to speak. Cluny had the technical and monetary means to do better, and they did in all the subsidiaries I have visited to date.
What I would also like to stress is that the church was restored and saved from ruin entirely by volunteers between 1969 and 1984. Its bell tower had fallen during a thunderstorm in 1877. Even now, two-month restoration periods are conducted on the site every Summer under the ægis of the Rempart non-profit organization, the works being carried out mostly by architecture and archæology students.
A first view of the apse, seen from the outside. In French, we have two words, one to refer to the apse when seen from the inside (“abside”), and another one (“chevet”) to describe what you see when you’re outside, as in this photo. When people know their vocabulary and use the proper term, it makes things much easier, especially when reading descriptions not accompanied by photos or drawings.
Here you can clearly see the rough, unrefined apparel, and the absent or minimal (and very eroded) decoration on the modillons, which are signs of archaism. This is not a post–1100 chevet, it is at least 50 years older. The wide windows were of course opened later; only the narrow, axial one which I showed in the previous photo (and which you can glimpse near the right edge of the frame) is period.
Notice also the massive buttress I spoke about in the caption under the nave photo I uploaded today: it is much too big for whatever support the apse may need, and it is not alone, you can see its brothers on the left and right. Those are the typical expression of unexperienced builders who thus voice their fear that the church might collapse, and take whatever precautions they can think of against such a misfortune. Building such enormous (and utterly out of proportion) reinforcements was for a kind of reassurance typical to the countryside, and which I also found among sailors, who in France have a saying that goes Trop fort n’a jamais manqué, i.e., “Too strong never failed”... :o)